by Michel Gerard
Looking for something new to do? Phuket has been known as one of the best tourist spots all over Asia. It has offered many beautiful places for sightseeing, and many activities for those who have a thirst for adventure. Now, there’s something more that the hot spot is willing to offer to foreign and local vacationers: Sailing and scuba diving. (more…)
For many, summer ushers in opportunities for vacations and leisure activities. But for Spencer West, who at the age of five lost his legs, this summer will be marked by a challenging climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro with the goal of raising money for international charity Free The Children.
West, along with two friends, will begin the eight-day trek on June 12, hoping to raise $750,000 for Free The Children and bring sustainable clean water programming to thousands of Kenyans who last year experienced the region’s worst drought in 60 years. West is encouraging supporters to help him reach his goal by each donating $10, sponsoring one step in Spencer’s almost 20,000 foot journey up the tallest mountain in Africa. (more…)
Courtesy of The Vagabondish Team
The Indiana Jones movies did the impossible: depicting the dusty, grimy profession of archaeology as the stuff of action heroes. And while Indy may have solved some truly great riddles in his movies, there is a swathe of artefacts, antiques and ancient lands around the world still begging to be explored and explained. From uncrackable codes to ancient electricity supplies, these real-life mysteries are out there, waiting for the next intrepid explorer to figure them out.
Want to try it yourself? A sense of adventure (and leather coat and fedora) is all you need to tackle some of the world’s greatest enigmas. Here’s five to get you started.
The mystery of the Voynich Manuscript involves the kind of classic code-breaking that Indiana Jones would relish. Believed to be around 500 years old, linguists have been attempting to decipher it for almost as long. One unsuccessful attempt took four years (and several thousand scraps of paper, probably).
The Voynich Manuscript has never been translated and is thought to be written in a largely unintelligible and unique code. The two languages, Voynich A and Voynich B, are thought to have Polynesian, Latin and Arabic roots, but attempts to understand the text have largely failed. Although hand-written, there are hardly any errors in any of the 230 pages.
The book depicts and describes plants which do not exist, naked women bathing and drawings of microscopic human cell structures. Bizarrely, one picture is a near exact mirror-image of the Milky Way, and several of the pictures depict weird and wonderful, er, bathroom plumbing.
Astrological charts in the book correspond to Leonardo da Vinci’s birthday. There is said to be a similarity to his handwriting too. The plot thickens.
A cryptologist and a modern-day Enigma Machine would be essential.
If the language was invented, who did it, and why? And how did that person know what microscopic images looked like – or indeed our entire galaxy? This could take you to the furthest reaches of mediaeval science.
Perhaps there’s an evil plumber out there waiting to get their hands on some ancient secrets? If so, he’s almost certain to track down this book.
Possibly – if the manuscript was created by Leonardo da Vinci for a laugh, this adventure may leave architects feeling a little let down.
La Palma is one of the frequented Canary Islands where thousands of holidaymakers come each year to recharge their batteries. Not many people realize, the island is a hiking paradise and thanks to its volcanic origin, offers astonishing scenery and lots of mountaineering challenges.
The Canary Islands belong to the most attractive and popular destinations for European holidaymakers. Local resorts lure thousands of visitors and for many the islands represent the ideal of a peaceful, ‘lazy’ holiday. (more…)
Skipper Donald Lawson is making history on the water. He is one of just a few African-American professional sailors who holds the titles skipper and captain and is working towards breaking barriers in the sport of sailing. Donald Lawson anticipates becoming the first African American sailor to race around the world solo but his first stop will be on World Footprints. before he embarks we’re going to try to convince him that he must take this adventure radio crew with.
As a young woman studying Spanish in Mexico in the 1970s, Mary Jo McConahay fell in love with the haunting beauty and mystery of the rainforest. Determined to experience the jungle firsthand, Mary Jo traveled solo through the beautiful wild region that spans southern Mexico and northern Guatemala. That first trip was the beginning of her life’s work and adventures in Central America. Mary Jo’s newest book, Maya Roads: One Woman’s Journey Among the People of the Rainforest, draws upon three decades in Central America’s remote and dangerous landscapes where she traveled, lived, and worked as a war correspondent.
Aidah Fontenot wears many artistic hats. With over 16 years of experience and training, she continues to raise the bar in the artistic genres of fine art, photography, graphic and fashion design. Aidah is most recognized as an ethical fashion designer. Her Aidah Collection supports a “green mission” to empower women and protect the environment. The collection is handmade locally with natural and recycled materials and many designs have been spotted on the red carpet.
