Totally Tubular: Lava River Cave, Oregon
Lava in Oregon? What’s the first thing that comes to mind when contemplating a visit to Oregon? Chances are lava tubes weren’t among the responses. As it turns out, Oregon is a great place to explore volcanic landscapes. The city of Bend, along with several others nearby, are part of the central hub for caving activities […]
Wild Caving in Inner Space Cavern
Wild Caving Wild caves are often largely unexplored. Unlike show caves, like the famous Carlsbad Caverns or the lesser-known Dixie Caverns, wild caves haven’t been developed to allow easy access by the public. There are no handrails, no illumination, no stairs and ramps. Wild caving should only be undertaken by people with special caving equipment, […]
Beaucoup Buddhas in the Longmen Grottoes
The Longmen Grottoes Along the banks of the Yi River, about 15 kilometers south of the city Luoyang, China are the Longmen Grottoes, also known as the Dragon Gate Caves. Along with the Yungang Grotto carvings at Datong and the Dunhuang/Mogao Grotto in Gansu Province, they are the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist cave sculpture, some […]
Jeju Island: Bali in Korea?
Jeju Island Not sure if we can agree with the title “Bali of Korea,” but Jeju is indeed a pretty island. Volcanic and subtropical, Jeju is filled with natural beauty unmarred by the bountiful tourist attractions crawling with busloads of holidaymakers. It’s also the “honeymoon island” popular with couples who have the opportunity to visit […]
Waitomo
Though we were sorely tempted to join in some caving, abseil, blackwater rafting adventures in Waitomo, time and money were short, so we opted for a long walk followed by a leisurely tour of the Glowworm Cave. The cave was known by Maori long before any Europeans had been there. The guide was entertaining, and the […]
Yabba Dabba Doo. Enjoy the Cave in Aruba!
Soon after arriving in Aruba, we rented a Jeep and took off to explore. Resorts are comfy and relaxing, but we wanted, as much as possible in a place so heavily reliant on its tourist infrastructure, to see what Aruba was like away from the tourist hotels, beaches and malls. Aruba, along with Bonaire and […]
Carlsbad Caverns National Park
Carlsbad Caverns National Park The Guadalupe Mountains on the Texas-New Mexico border reach heights of almost 9,000 feet. Not far away, deep beneath the surface, are hundreds of caverns formed when sulfuric acid dissolved surrounding limestone. The limestone is what remains of a coral reef of an inland sea from around 250 million years ago. […]