Ultimate Vacation Spots

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 8

Right.  A quick update before we go as we have found a few small problems to change our plans yet again.

The flight to New York has been put back an hour, so we only get 3 hours from touch-down to take-off on the way out.  Not so sure we are going to get to see anything there then.  After customs and baggage claim then the time to clear customs again won’t leave many spare minutes - we’ll see when we get there as any further delays will just about leave us time to buy a hot lunch!

Secondly, we got a confirmation email from our hotel in Monteverde saying everything was fine and booked but we can only stay there 2 weeks - not 3.  For apparently no reason we can think of, they only take people for a fortnight maximum?  Weird, but we can check this when we are there or just find another place once we know what we like there.  It’s quite a spread out place so we might prefer somewhere at the other end of town, you never know. 

We also found that catching the train to the airport and back was around $140/£70 cheaper than taking the car or coaches. It’s a tiny bit riskier as we will have to travel down on the morning of the flight, but there are plenty of later trains if the worst happens…….

So, we’ve got all our essentials ready, the friend to house-sit, the bags packed, so all we need now is to actually catch the train to the airport.

See you when we get there……

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 6

If you have never brought binoculars, but are interested in getting started, then this is the guide for you.

It covers the 4 basic factors that you need to take into account above all else, while selecting your first pair of binoculars. Checking for these will make sure that you have the right binoculars for your interests and for the results you wish to achieve. I mean do you want a general pair for basic identification while on country walks, or do you need a pair that can identify different breaching whales 2 miles away while you are hanging off the side of a boat?

However, until you actually start using binoculars, you won’t know what the most important features are to you, so you really shouldn’t spend a fortune on your first pair, I mean you don’t need the worlds best binoculars to check out grey squirrels in your local park. So, as a starting point for you, this guide only covers the details of a basic pair of binoculars, costing around $100-$200/£50-£100. Once you know what you like and what you need, then get more specific with your next pair.

Right, here they are:

Specification - This is the factor that determines how well you can see something and from what distance it will be clear too. It is expressed with all binoculars using 2 numbers, for example: 10 x 32

Magnification is the first number (10 in this example) and the higher this is the closer the animal will appear when viewed through them. Numbers normally range from 6 to 12 for this. Higher numbers do not necessarily result in a clearer picture though, so don’t be put off by lower magnification.

The second number (32 here) represents the size of the larger lens (the objective lens) and the larger this is the more light enters the binoculars, and the brighter your picture.

The ‘exit pupil’ is a commonly quoted phrase to represent the brightness of the image, where the higher the number the brighter the image. You can calculate the exit pupil by dividing the first figure (10) into the second (32) = 3.2mm in this case.

Close focus is just as important as distance to some people, so make sure you look at this factor if you intend to watch smaller creatures such as insects!

Optical Quality - This is how true to life the magnified image is through the lenses. There can be a great deal of difference between manufacturers and models, so depending on your needs (or desires) this should be investigated prior to purchase. Cheaper models are more likely to offer poorer quality and sharpness of image because of course, you are paying less for them - say that however, the images will all appear better than the naked eye if the object is some distance away, so beginners are not normally so affected by the optical quality.

Focusing - This is governed by a twisting mechanism near the eye cups, which basically moves the lenses closer together or further apart to help focus on things at different distances from you. It needs to be easy to use and in a position you can easily access and adjust with your finger tips without looking up at it (otherwise you will lose the exact location of the animal or plant in doing so). Make sure that it doesn’t move too easily when you change your position, but also that it doesn’t get stiff at each extremity.

Handling and Weight - Most importantly, how well can you use them? Are they bulky or very lightweight? Depending on where you want to use them or whether another aspect is more important this is usually where you can get fussy. If you want to carry them around a lot, then they are best under 700g, but if you want brighter images then you may need to go for heavier, more bulky models, to house the larger objective lenses. Can you hold and adjust the focus with one hand if you need to? Or do you only use them in a specific location and quality of image is more important? Test a few in the store and try out different actions.

Make sure you actually try out binoculars in a store before buying your first pair, otherwise you won’t know what the choices are and how different they can be - a photo on the Internet or in a catalogue can’t do them justice. There are just so many to choose from.

Final tip - The duller the casing the less likely you are to scare off the very things you are watching - so you won’t find shocking pink professional binoculars!

Reader Comment: One of my readers just recommended the following supplier of binoculars incase it’s of any interest - click here.

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 4

We all know that everyone buys smart looking carry on luggage and print patterns aren’t usually the most popular, but aren’t you forgetting something important here?

Everyone else has plain dark luggage too!

If you have ever gotten off a charter flight, packed full of tourists, and had to wait for your bag with 200 other people, you will certainly start to regret having that plain color suitcase.

I myself have a mango yellow suitcase, with a few discreet stickers on as well - just in-case anyone else out there was as bold as I was (and there have been a couple).

So unlike you - I never have to investigate little signs on every dark piece of luggage that trundles round the conveyor belt in-case it’s mine. I can see my beautiful suitcase a mile away, and have very little worries about finding my bag among a plane-load of other luggage.

Now you’re all thinking that the Hawaiian Luggage Floral Print suitcase set isn’t such a bad idea after all!

Don’t worry though if you have already got your plain cases - there are still some things you can do with them to make yours stand out. Examples include tying a brightly colored strip or material (like a shoelace) around the handle of your luggage, or investing in purple combination luggage straps to make your stand out (but make sure your luggage straps run through the handle and any other loops so that they don’t fall or get pulled off in transit).

Use bright stickers, or large more plain stickers on your solid cases so that whichever side up they get thrown out onto the conveyor, you can still tell which is yours from some distance. There’s nothing more annoying than seeing someone else nearer your case having a closer look at it in-case it’s theirs. Now with yours looking so different, hopefully they won’t prod it about or take yours home by accident!

Tapestry travelware luggage, crocodile pattern luggage and polkadot luggage sets are rarely seen and neither is a retro luggage set that is bright pink!!! Look at all these as potential niches for you to exploit - as long as you don’t mind everyone seeing you carry it around the airport of course…….

I know this article is only a bit of fun, but it really is something to consider before purchasing some expensive luggage for you or your family.

Other more serious things to consider about luggage include:

Weight of Hold Luggage: Maximum weight for individual hold luggage is 32kg per item. Most airlines will allow a certain weight for each person - usually 20kg - but that can be combined within your group, so for example 2 people can travel with a case each; one weighing 25kg, the other weighing 15kg or less. Many airlines will charge you per kg for overweight luggage and let you take it on-board, but ALL will refuse to take any one piece over 32kg. Therefore, do not buy a huge piece of luggage for airline use unless you can guarantee it will not be over this limit when you fly - if in doubt weigh it as you pack it.

Carry On Luggage: There are restrictions on the weight of this too and it is usually around 5kg in weight. Most airlines are ok with any style of bag, as long as it is not ridiculous in shape or size. Some countries are stricter than others and will actually weigh hand luggage before you leave the check-in desk, charging you for any excess.

There are also many restrictions about what you can HAVE in your carry on luggage and printing out the requirements for your AIRPORT (not airline) is advised so you can pack according to the ‘rules’, and put anything your are not allowed to carry on board in your hold luggage.

If you lie about what’s in your hand luggage at the check-in desk - they won’t know; but once you get to security - they will! And now you don’t have your hold luggage with you, so anything they find that is not allowed on the plane will be taken from you - without exception. You will lose it!

Internal Flights: Something I only recently came across myself was that internal flights in some countries may have a different weigh allowance per person than international flights, so say for example that you fly to Guyana in South America on an airline with a 20kg allowance per person - No problem? But what are you going to do if you want to travel on an internal flight there as you are only allowed 10kg per person! Where will you put your spare clothes and accessories?

Check all regulations on luggage for your whole journey before travelling to make sure you don’t have to throw your belongings away, or pay excessive charges for transporting it home.

Remember Hawaiian luggage - floral print……….

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 2

Sorry.  Couldn’t resist…..

Cat

posted by Travel Cat on Apr 1

According to several news agencies it has been reported that the peak of Mount Everest in the Himalayas has cracked into 3 pieces in unusually cold weather resulting in several huge landslides.

This would now mean that K2 and Kangchenjunga in the Himalayas are now the highest peaks with just cm’s between them.

Studies of the damage using satellite pictures from before the incident are still underway to make sure that no further damage will occur as the weather continues, with the mountain actually closed to all climbers until it can be declared safe.

Several parties of climbers were actually on the mountain when the cracks started to appear, and many were forced back due to the deteriorating weather conditions. As a result there were no serious injuries to any climbers or staff, with everyone now accounted for. It is not known when it will re-open.

Although Mount Everest is still a whopping 8504 metres high after the incident, it is now only the 4th highest in the world, causing a great stir in mountaineering societies across the world.

Mount Everest has maintained it’s title for some years now, ever since the area was first studied and has been the focus of many great struggles over the years. It even doubles as a serious but more fun attraction for tourists who can trek to the base camp as part of an organised trip. It is also believed that the mountain was getting higher each year due to tectonic movements in the area.

What is in store for the massive industries that have built up around this region, is the question on everyones  lips!