Below the surface

RECENTLY named one of the Best Small Towns in #California by Country Living Magazine, the charming town of #MorroBay offers visitors some of the most breathtaking coastline and unspoiled open spaces in the state. But search just under the surface, or along Morro Bay beaches etched with tide pools, and find lingering living species that are uncommon to most—creatures that you cannot find everywhere. Here, kayaking and paddle boarding provide up close encounters with these underwater residents in their natural environment.

"Morro Bay is a very biologically diverse place," explains Mary Robinson, owner of Morro Bay Stand Up Paddleboarding. And she should know. Mary leads tours that focus on nature and animal life inside the Morro Bay harbor. "The harbor is not only home to a multitude of birds and marine mammals, but hundreds of species of the lesser known invertebrates, which are as biologically important."


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Picture credit: GComS 109111216@N05/42354492245 Sun stone wave via photopin.com

Falling for Flagstaff

AS the fall months begin to emerge, Flagstaff's LEAF-ometer is the answer to the question: What color are the fall leaves? To experience the autumn season at its most exhilarating, visitors can use the LEAF-ometer and catch the changing foliage on the trails and around town.

Flagstaff is only 80 miles from the Grand Canyon an ideal home base for visitors to explore some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Visitors experience Route 66, a charming historic downtown with trains, shopping, art galleries, events, music, restaurants and nightlife. Flagstaff is the World's First International Dark Sky City

Time your leaf-viewing trip and plan to get here to experience cool temperatures, amazing scenery and outdoor adventure. For more information, suggestions and conditions visit flagstaffarizona.org or www.flagstaffarizona.org/leafometer.

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Chile solar eclipse tour

ON July 2, 2019 a total solar eclipse will cross the Pacific Ocean and peter out in Argentina before sunset. La Serena in Chile sits on the Pacific Coast just south of the centerline of the eclipse. The closer you are to the centerline, the longer totality lasts. Eclipse viewing will be slightly inland and at a small gain in elevation. Probabilities of seeing the eclipse are in 80 plus percent range according to historical weather figures.

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes in front of the sun. Totality will last just over 2 minutes. At this time the moon will hang a black dot surrounded by the sun's corona.

A new 5-day 4-night tour is being offered by Tropical Sails Corp. It will feature the wines of Chile near Viña del Mar, the Total Solar Eclipse in La Serena and Santiago, Chile. There is an option to extend you visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina and Iguazu Falls for 6-days, 5 nights. The tour begins in Santiago and visits Vina del Mar, La Serena, Vina del Mar and ends in Santiago.



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Hawaiian Islands Unaffected by Volcano Activity

IN response to increased volcanic activity and a new flow of lava that began on May 3 from Kīlauea volcano on the island of Hawai'i, state and county government agencies are keeping residents safe, while assuring travelers the impact is limited to a remote region on the east side far away from the rest of the Hawaiian Islands.

The closest resort areas, in Kona and the Kohala Coast on the island of Hawai'i's west side, are more than 100 miles away from where the lava flow is occurring and shielded by the massive mountains of Maunakea and Maunaloa. Resort areas located on O'ahu and Kaua'i, and in Maui County, are located hundreds of miles from Kīlauea volcano.

Kīlauea has been an active volcano since 1983 and is one of Hawai'i's most popular attractions, with residents and visitors drawn to the wonder of seeing nature at work in the creation of new land via helicopter and ground tours or visits to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.

Due to the volcanic activity there is a no-fly zone over Kīlauea volcano. In addition, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park was closed on May 4 until further notice because of damage caused by earthquakes and aftershocks in the area.

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Feather filled vacation

IF you have a passion for bird watching, then South Africa is the place you need to be at. There are various places where you can be to have a closer look at birds while being surrounded by natural beauties all around. 

Absolute #Birding Tours and #Safaris make such tours possible one of which is Groot Karoo Birding Safari. The Karoo is a massive chunk of central #SouthAfrica that is characterized by a dry climate and harsh landscapes. Vegetation is sparse, but curiously still home to an abundance of life.

While at Karoo National Park with them you can expect to see about 238 species of birds. The park boasts at least 20 pairs of breeding Verreaux’s Eagle. Many mammal species have been re-introduced over the years, including African Lion and Brown Hyena. Many farms bordering the park have also been bought and consolidated into the park. The park has great bungalow accommodation, a pool, restaurant and bird hides.

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Over the rainbow

THE Vinicunca Mountain, also known as the Rainbow Mountain, is no longer a secret tucked in the central Andes of #Peru. It has become an alternative attraction to the famed Machu Picchu citadel, and nowadays you can find day tours to visit this geological wonder. In fact, it’s becoming one of the top activities to do while in Cusco.

Locals say that the Rainbow Mountain used to be covered in glaciers that melted due to global warming, thus its late touristic discovery. The minerals in the Rainbow Mountain caused the sandstones to acquire a red rust-like color that contrasts the yellow, maroon and turquoise stripes, caused by the presence of other minerals combined with weathering; truly a geological wonder.

The Rainbow Mountain is now more accessible than ever thanks to http://RainbowMountain.Center, where you can book a day trip that leaves from Cusco early in the morning and arrives four hours later to the towns of Chilca or Japura situated at the bottom of the mountain. From there you’ll hike five miles for about two or three hours until you reach the peak. It sounds easy, but it’s actually challenging due to the elevation (17,000 feet).

Getting to the top of the Rainbow mountain involves a steep hike that could be extremely challenging for individuals who are not fully acclimatized to the altitude. It’s recommended you spend at least a couple of days in Cusco prior to the excursion.

Horse rentals and muleteers are also available for travelers not wanting to hike in high altitude. Locals rent horses to take you and your gear up and down covering 98% of the entire trek. There are 2 very steep sections that everyone has to hike on their own for about 10 minutes each in order to protect the horses from exhaustion.

Once you reach the Rainbow Mountain, the most scenic view is to trek to the top of the opposing mountain in order to take the classic Rainbow Mountain picture that is currently so popular in social media. From this summit, you can see the entire Red Valley below. Venturing into the Red Valley below makes you feel as if you are in a completely different planet as the vibrant red and yellow rocks and multi-color sediments create a truly unique environment unlike any other on planet earth.

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Journey to the Blue Planet

WITH the release of the highly anticipated Blue Planet II on BBC One narrated by #DavidAttenborough, Netflights.com has shared a round-up of destinations around the world where you can discover the incredible creatures filmed in the series. From the leaping Mobula Manta Rays in Mexico to following the path from Alaska to Hawaii in search of Humpback whales, take a journey to explore the depths of the waters and uncover some extraordinary marine life.

Swim with dolphins in New Zealand: The first episode of the series, ‘One Ocean’, takes viewers on a journey from the heart of the tropics to the frozen poles exploring sea life.

Discover the marine life of the Great Barrier Reef: As the world’s largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland is a fantastic place to observe a diversity of marine life. Avid diving fans can visit the subtropical waters to find this clever fish along with plenty more wonderful creatures including the Oceanic Whitetip Shark, Grouper Fish and Octopus which are all seen throughout the series. 

Watch the amazing flying Mantas in Mexico: The Sea of Cortez separates the peninsula from mainland Mexico and every year, hundreds of Mobula Manta Rays congregate here to put on one of the most spectacular wildlife performances on earth and captured during the series.

Spot one of the largest Wrasse species in Japan: Asian Sheepshead Wrasse are one of the largest of the Wrasse family and are native to the western Pacific Ocean, inhabiting the rocky reef areas. Amongst many scientific discoveries in this series, the crew films a female Asian Sheepshead Wrasse switching gender.

Mauritius, a birder’s paradise: Twitchers can visit the south west coast of Mauritius to spot local species including the Sotty Tern and Common Noddy. These seabirds are incredibly valuable in maintaining healthy ecosystems, especially on islands as they help to improve soil quality and also indicate fish availability.

See Humpbacks during Whale season in Hawaii: Mating season for Humpback Whales last for up to five months where the creatures swim down from Alaska to the warmer climes of Hawaii. The waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands are a favourite for the Humpack and can be spotted across all of the Hawaiian Islands with the best viewing spots in the world between Maui, Lanai and Molokai.

Spot the mighty giant Trevally in the Seychelles: Found swimming in the waters of the Indian Ocean, the film crew venture out to the Seychelles to spot the Giant Trevally, a 40kg bulldog-like fish, jumping out of the ocean to catch sea birds mid-air, a sight that had never been recorded until now. 

Netflights.com


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Picture Credit: WanderingtheWorld (www.ChrisFord.com) 'I Found Nemo', Australia, Cairns, The Great Barrier Reef via photopin