One of the main reasons I ventured into the rainforests of Guyana was to witness the awesomeness of Kaieteur Falls, an 822ft single-drop waterfall. While there are taller falls in the world, very few have the same combination of height and water volume, making Kaieteur one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world. I had to see it.

If you did a random survey of people’s travel history, the likelihood of someone having been to Guyana is very slim. Which is unfortunate because the country has absolutely gorgeous and unique flora, fauna, and landscapes. As a nature buff, Guyana appealed to my sense of adventure and a part of me that thinks I must have been a jungle explorer in a previous life. Which would explain why I grew up loving the old computer game, The Amazon Trail. On this trip to Guyana, my game-inspired goal was to photograph a rare species: the tiny Golden Frog.

Getting a flight to Kaieteur Falls is an adventure in its own right. I met a pair of travellers who had been trying for five days! Luckily for me, I found out through a tour company that there was an American couple who had chartered a flight for themselves but were open to others joining them to cut back on the cost. Normally, it takes some doing to get a flight as tours run only when there are enough people to fill a six-seater plane (unless you’re Ms. Moneybags and rent the whole plane yourself). Some travellers just go to the airport and hang around hoping to get a spare seat on someone’s flight.

On the day of the tour, the organizers were about three hours late. Thank goodness for my sanity, the flight was still allowed to leave that afternoon. When the Universe gives, I take with both hands, smile, and run. But as I eyed that piece of shiny duct tape after we lunch-heavy folks clambered aboard the puny plane, I started to wonder if the Universe was actually trying to tell me that my quest to see some falling water and a two-inch frog wasn’t actually worth my life.

It was about an hour’s flight from Georgetown to the Kaieteur National Park, 627 square kilometers large. Once I decided to studiously ignore the duct tape, it wasn’t long before I became engrossed by the passing scenery – dense rainforests as far as the eye could see, deep green periodically punctuated by a pretty pink flowering tree or by grotesque scars made from Guyana’s mining industry.

When we landed at the park, our pilot went into the Visitor Centre and promptly came back out; it turned out that there was no one actually at the Centre. In fact, as far as we knew, there was no one at all in the park! We had an entire national park all to ourselves! It was fantastic.

The walk to the falls was fairly tame as the path was groomed. It wound its way through the rainforest, periodically spitting us out to various scenic points that allowed us to see that we were getting closer and closer to our goal. There are no guardrails at the various lookouts so this really was “look here at your own risk”. And of course I grabbed risk in both hands and peered over the various edges whenever possible. Falling would have sucked though – assuming one survives the long drop, there is a distinct impression that there are things down there waiting to eat you…

Soon enough, we reached the top of the falls. Standing up at the edge was mind-blowing, watching the water wind its way to the falls and thunder down into the valley. There was even a natural ledge that jutted out over the falls where one could walk and/or sit, depending on vertigo susceptibility. As we watched the water fall, we noticed that there was a depression behind the curtain. Our pilot-cum-guide explained that there was a cave back there and entry has been traditionally forbidden due to its sacred nature. Looking at the thunderous falls, I wasn’t sure how one could even get back there!

I ended up not needing to break out my computer game bush whacking skills to find the Golden Frog. This tiny yellow amphibian lives its whole life in Large Tank Bromeliads that are fairly common near Kaieteur Falls. After peeking into a few, it wasn’t long before I found one. It was rather anti-climactic since it really was just looking inside a giant plant instead of some expedition-style drama. Ah well – I was excited to have fulfilled my quest, anyway.

Visiting Kaieteur National Park was ultimately a fantastic afternoon of exploration. To me, this park summarizes Guyana perfectly – amazing landscapes, unique flora and fauna, and very few visitors save for a few hardy eco-tourists. I believe that Guyana has a great future ahead in eco-tourism and now is the time to go before it gets busy!

[Source:theplanetd.com]

People often pop in for a quick day trip to catch a glimpse of the massive waterfalls spanning 2.5 km with a total of 250 different cascades. They seem to forget that there is a thriving community in the town of Iguassu, plus an impressive surrounding jungle. If you give a little more time in Iguassu, you’ll come away from Brazil having one great adventure!

We highly recommend taking the time to explore Iguassu Falls and spend a few days trying a some of these adventures. Let’s get started.

No visit to Rio de Janeiro is complete without a true churrascaria (traditional barbecue restaurant) experience, which is generally offered as a set menu that includes a selection of side dishes and salads – and, of course, the perfectly char-grilled, all-you-can-eat meat.

Rio has some of the finest churrascarias in Brazil. The most popular in the city include Porcão in Flamengo, Fogo do Chāo in Botafogo, and local favorite, the 63-year-old family restaurant Churrascaria Palace in Copacabana.

In its sleek, modern interior, the black and white photographs that hang on the walls are the only hint to Churrascaria Palace’s historic past. Every night, elegant bossa nova piano notes fill the space as the sushi chef slices sashimi and expert waiters skim from table to table, serving up succulent slices of meat to eager patrons. The peixe pintado (a meaty Amazonian fish) and sizzling butterflied picanha (beef top sirloin with a thin layer of fat) are some of the most remarkable options to try here. There is an impressive wine list with over 200 bottles, including a rare selection of the best Brazilian varietals. And for those who manage to save room for dessert, the Juliet and Romeo is a fantastic pairing of creamy white cheese sorbet and a tangy goiaba (guava) sauce.

Feijoada is a main staple of the Brazilian diet. It’s a feast of stewed beans in a pork or beef gravy, accompanied by crisp yellow potatoes, crunchy pork cracklings, fresh shredded kale, fluffy farofa (toasted cassava flour) and orange slices, which are meant to ‘cut through the calories’ and aid in digestion. Adapted from the food of slaves, it is now regularly eaten for lunch on Saturdays in Rio.

There are endless choices of feijoada restaurants in Rio. But for a truly classic experience, head to the beating heart of Rio’s tourist hub, Ipanema, to Casa da Feijoada on any day of the week. In the quaint surroundings, waist-coated waiters serve up the traditional fare in mini cauldron-like pots. Pair the meal with the smoothest filtered caipirinhas in town, known as ‘batidas’, and end with a selection of traditional Brazilian sweets – goiaba jam, doce de leite (a sweet milk puree) or caramelized banana paté.

On almost every street corner in Rio de Janeiro, a cart of fresh of sweets or salgados (savory snacks) awaits. The true essence of foodie entrepreneurship in Rio de Janeiro springs from street food vendors who are on the road tossing tapioca and popping pipoca (popcorn).

Tapioca is a mixture of cassava flour and shredded coconut, fried into a kind of crepe with a crunchy outer shell and gooey center. Served either savory, with cheese or chicken, or sweet, with cinnamon bananas or condensed milk, tapioca is a tasty and substantial snack. Head to Feira de São Cristavão in Tijuca to try this treat at some of the top tapioca bars in town.

On a sunny Sunday morning at Gloria’s vibrant food feira, breakfast consists of pastels – steaming hot pastry pockets filled with meat, cheese or palmito (heart of palm). And here, the top pastels in the city are best followed with a swig of pure caldo de cana (sugarcane juice).

It’s easy to work up an appetite laying on the beach all day. Fortunately, there is an assortment of snacks to sample without ever rising off that beach towel. Crumbly empadas, (pastries filled with chicken or cheese) quiejo coalho (a skewer of salty grilled cheese) and sacolé (a popsicle made from exotic fruit juices) are all easy to gorge on at a tempting price of R$1.00.

Over the last decade, gourmet food fever has spread across Rio de Janeiro. Fashionable fine dining is now a regular pastime for cariocas who can part with the cash.

One of the most impressive establishments is Restaurante Aprazível. Set on the highest point of Santa Teresa’s winding cobbled streets, the restaurant’s intimate bamboo-roofed huts boast stunning views of the city. Experience some of the best ingredients Brazil has to offer with dishes like the gigantic heart of palm starter, which is served with a fresh olive and basil pesto. You’ll be transported to the Amazon with the rainha do baoa fish main, featuring a splash of sweet bacuri (Amazonian berry) sauce to complement the salty, crispy-skinned fish. Finish with the classic banana de Santa Teresa, a sensory treat of caramelized bananas with cinnamon ice cream.

Leblon’s Zuka is another choice spot to experience fine dining in Rio. The dining room blends seamlessly with the open kitchen, where expert chefs create plates of edible modern art. The ceviche salad pairs zesty fish with tiny, sweet biquinho peppers. Give the garlicky tomato gazpacho a try and follow it with the sweet, zingy lemon sorbet. For a divine meat dish, try the delicate flank steak.

There is only one place that can claim the title of best cakes and pastries in Rio de Janeiro: Confeitaria Columbo in Centro is the 125-year-old master of Brazilian sweets. The vast hall’s grand colonial features, stained glass ceiling and Art-Deco tiling is a feast for the eyes.

With surroundings fit for a king, Confeitaria Colombo serves up a selection of sugary temptations to match – try sweet strawberries and cream, rich chocolate or silky egg custard atop perfect tartlets. To beat the queues, the best time to go is before 12pm. Ask to be served by Orlando Duque, the humble in-house celebrity who has been famous throughout Rio de Janeiro as a proud garçom (waiter) for over 65 years.

[Source:lonelyplanet.com]

Mango season’s finally here. And they say you have not had mangoes if you haven’t tasted the Alphonso. In that case, why not head straight to the land of Alphonso – Ratnagiri, Maharashtra. Pristine beaches, quaint fisherman’s hamlets, historic forts and panoramic views of the Konkan shoreline come as added bonus.

A short trek uphill through a charming fisherman’s hamlet and occasional patches of forestland that are home to rare birds like the Indian Hornbill, lead you to the crumbling skeleton of the Purnagadh Fort. The dilapidated ruins, overrun by shrubs and bushes, do not offer much to explore but dazzling views of the ocean and the surrounding landscape will make it worth your while. The sounds of birds and crashing waves offer that much-needed break from the city noise.

6km from Purnagad fort, shimmering white sand, crystal clear waters, seagulls wading on the surf, crabs sprinting across the sand, and unmatched views from the surrounding cliffs, await you. If this is your view, you’re at Ganeshgule beach. You have the choice to either sit back, relax and ruminate, or go wild in the waters without worrying about onlookers.

The name might ring a bell if you have read author Amitav Ghosh’s The Glass Palace. In any case, if you are up for a lesson in history, spend a few hours exploring the Thibaw Palace or what remains of it. Situated on a hillock in Ratnagiri town, Thibaw Palace was where King Thibaw of Burma, exiled from his country by the British, was held prisoner. It is a beautiful piece of red brick architecture and the panoramic views of the surrounding landscape from the palace ground, an added bonus.

The rugged and robust ramparts of the Ratnadurg fort stand atop one of the barren cliffs overlooking the vast stretches of water. There is not much to see within the walls of this medieval fort except the Bhagwati Devi temple, an important pilgrimage for the locals. On an adjacent cliff a lighthouse stands solitary. But don’t miss taking a walk along the fort’s ramparts for spectacular views of the sea, the surrounding cliffs and the valley in the distance speckled with tiny villages and bustling fishermen’s hamlets.

The most popular beach in the region, Ganapatiphule beach is quite busy during tourist season. And, so, it may not be the ideal spot to unwind if you’re looking for some time alone. It is, nonetheless, somewhat customary to visit the beach and the Ganapatiphule temple that stands on it.

If you opt to drive down to Ganapatiphule from Ratnagiri town, a good place to stop and stretch would be the charming twin beaches of Aare and Waare.  But it is the drive from Aare Waare to Ganapatiphule that is likely to blow your mind.  The road, punctuated by dramatic viewpoints, coils up barren cliffs, and the sea is an almost constant company – the best stretch of 30km between Ratnagiri town and Ganapatipule.

[Source:lonelyplanet.com]