Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for international travel
The Redwoods of Micronesia
By Linda Tancs
Yela Ka Forest is a conservation area of “ka” trees (Terminalia carolinensis) on the island of Kosrae in the Federated States of Micronesia and represents the last stand of such trees in the world. The dense vegetation in the island’s interior, with almost no invasive species, is likely the reason for the trees’ preservation there. Their immense size strikes comparison with California’s redwoods, leading to the moniker “Redwoods of Micronesia.” Be sure to take an interpretative nature tour with an experienced guide. You can reach Kosrae via flights from Guam or Honolulu.
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Missions to Maharajas
By Linda Tancs
Saint Hill Manor is reputedly the finest 18th-century sandstone building in Sussex, England. It also boasts quite the history, having served a variety of purposes ranging from a Christian mission to the home of a maharaja of Jaipur. Its notoriety continued when it was acquired by L. Ron Hubbard as a family home and became British headquarters for his Church of Scientology. Tours of the house are available by advance booking, but the grounds are open daily and include nearly 60 acres of landscaped gardens, woodlands and lakes. The estate is located on the outskirts of East Grinstead, an ancient market town.
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A Flag, a Cup and a Horn
By Linda Tancs
Located on the Isle of Skye, Scotland’s Dunvegan Castle has been the seat of Clan MacLeod since the 13th century. As the country’s oldest, continuously inhabited castle, you might imagine that some family heirlooms have accumulated. Those include a flag, a cup and a horn. The Fairy Flag is a treasured clan possession, associated with a handful of tales concerning fairies and magical powers. Another relic is the Dunvegan Cup, a ceremonial cup gifted by the O’Neills of Ulster as a token of thanks to one of the clan’s most celebrated chiefs for support against the marauding forces of Queen Elizabeth I. A third historic treasure is Sir Rory Mor’s Horn, a drinking horn allegedly derived from a bull killed by Rory to save a man’s life. Capable of holding over six cups of liquid, custom has it that each successive clan chief should fill it with wine and drink it in one sitting to prove his manhood. Explore the clan’s history and legends by taking a guided or self-guided tour of the castle.
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The Wettest Place on Earth
By Linda Tancs
The Khasi Hills of the Indian State of Meghalaya boast the wettest place on earth, a title exchanged between the neighboring villages of Mawsynram and Cherrapunjee (now known as Sohra). Currently, Mawsynram’s annual rainfall is 11,871 millimeters compared with Sohra’s 11,777 millimeters. Don’t let the rainy weather discourage you from visiting. In particular, it’s worth donning the rain gear to experience Sohra’s living root bridges. Featuring a jaw-dropping entanglement of tree roots, the roots are trained by the Khasi tribe to grow in such a manner as to be in the form of bridges. One of the most popular attractions of the region, the most famous one is Umshiang, a double-decker bridge nearly 2 miles long and 2,400 feet high.
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Japan’s Ramen Museum
By Linda Tancs
Ramen is arguably the national dish of Japan, with styles varying according to the region in which it is served. There’s even a museum dedicated to the stretchy noodle. Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum in Yokohama is designed like a food court, offering up different styles of ramen and featuring original recipes from its inception. You’ll learn about ramen history and have the opportunity to participate in a noodle-making workshop.
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Experiencing the Hemispheres
By Linda Tancs
Kiribati is an independent republic within the Commonwealth of Nations located in the central Pacific Ocean about 2,500 miles southwest of Hawaii. In addition to boasting the biggest water-to-land ratio in the world, it bears the distinction of being the only country to fall in all four hemispheres. It comprises 33 coral islands, all but one of which are atolls. The majority of the atolls are surrounded by barrier reefs, creating picturesque lagoons for world-class fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming and other water sports. You’ll also find a fair share of historical and cultural experiences, like artifacts from the Battle of Tarawa during World War II and a demonstration of toddy cutting (a sap that comes from the blossom of the coconut before the spathe that contains it bursts). Fiji Airways serves the area from Nadi or Honolulu.
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The Dunes of Dorob
By Linda Tancs
Sea and sand meet at Sandwich Harbour along the Atlantic coast of Namibia. One of the area’s key attractions are the sand dunes backing the coastline, rising in many cases to over 300 feet. Historically a commercial fishing and trading port, legend has it that the name derives from an English whaler, the Sandwich, that operated in the area in the 1780s. The scenic locale is now part of Dorob National Park, a conservation area running from Walvis Bay to the Ugab River.
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Stanway’s Famous Fountain
By Linda Tancs
Located in the heart of the Cotswolds, Stanway is noted for its Jacobean manor house, which boasts a famous fountain in its watergarden that opened in 2004. Rising over 300 feet, the fountain is the tallest gravity-fed fountain in the world. The rest of the manor’s watergarden is, of course, much older, created in the 1720s and considered one of the finest of its kind in England. It features a canal, a cascade and a pond at the tithe barn. While you’re there, don’t miss the restored watermill with its massive 24-foot overshot waterwheel, the eighth-largest waterwheel in England.
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Wildlife of Skomer
By Linda Tancs
Designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest, the Welsh island of Skomer is a haven for wildlife. Over 22,000 puffins reside there alone. Also, together with its sister island Skokholm, Skomer has the largest known concentration of Manx shearwaters in the world. In addition to its wildlife wonders, the island sports a standing stone of unknown origin known as the Harold Stone as well as two large 19th-century lime kilns that were used to heat lime for mortar and fertilizer. This season is a great time to visit. During spring the island is covered in a display of bluebells so vast that the whole island appears blue. Just off the coast of Pembrokeshire, the island (open from April to September) is accessible by boat from the village of Marloes.
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London’s Oldest Bookshop
By Linda Tancs
Hatchards is London’s oldest bookshop. It was established in 1797 by publisher John Hatchard and has occupied its current space at 187 Piccadilly since Georgian times. Far from a crusty old bookstore, it shelves are lined with the latest bestsellers and contemporary works along with time-honored classics. The store’s dedicated team can even source out-of-print titles. As one might expect, they’re the Official Bookseller to the Royal Household.
