Well this entry has absolutely nothing to do with my current travels. Its really just a test to make sure that i've managed to get youtube videos embedded in the site.
Maybe now i'll be able to share a few of those Rio Carnaval clips that I promised from oh so long ago. But in the meantime, you can enjoy this clip
Pretty amazing though!
Finally! I've been able to upload and embed a few vids from the Rio Carnaval. Doesn't really get the atmosphere, but it gives a rough idea... (includes sound just in case you need to turn your speakers down!)
Well, i'm back from the depths and I can safely say that I wasn't alone down there! Quite simply the BEST diving i've EVER seen in the last 10 years as a diver.
It was 'touch and go' for a while as to whether the trip would even happen. A couple of months ago there was a huge upset with dive operator licensing. As a result, 12 operators out of 14 had to cancel their Darwin & Wolf dive trips - mine included. However, a slight 'change of heart' from the National Park Authority saw this licensing deadline extended to 31st December and a mad scramble began trying to arrange another trip. Well the upshot was I made it onto a boat and it was truely spectacular.
I've posted a collection of 8 videos which were taken during the 8 day diving trip around The Galapagos Islands. Most of the BIG stuff was found in the far north - after a 21 hour boat ride to the Darwin & Wolf Islands. A long trek, incredible currents, but certainly worth the effort.
And finally, after years of searching and 'near misses' i've seen a Whaleshark (well, FOUR actually). One happy diver!
AND, i've also posted a GALAPAGOS DIVING PHOTO GALLERY (61 Photos) from the dive trip.
Well, here's the videos...
Ah, the great dive adventure continues! (Of course, this talk of sunny tropical island is all very well, but you should also know that i'm writing this from South Korea and have just battled my way through a snow storm to reach the Internet Cafe. Its a journey of contrasts for sure :-))
So, when I booked the Micronesia itinerary, it had proved just about impossible to get a direct flight between Chuuk and Palau. So, unfortunately, this meant transiting back through Guam to reach Palau AND the ONLY flights available were on Christmas Day. At least the airports should be quiet and it gave us two shots at getting some kind of Christmas dinner. As it turned out the airports were indeed VERY quiet but leg one of our journey only managed to get us a COLD ham and cheese sandwich. All hopes for some festive cheer now rested on flight two of our journey and it has to be said that they improved over the first leg .... as this time the ham and cheese sandwich was served HOT! Some Christmas Dinner!
Chika and I were scheduled to be in Palau for 9 days - taking us through into the New Year and giving plenty of opportunity for more diving.
The diving in Chuuk had been VERY quiet with only 3 or 4 divers (including the 2 of us) on any dive. However, unfortunately, our arrival in Palau coincided with the Japanese holiday season and diving would appear to be a very popular pastime with the Japanese. The dives at the beginning of our Palau visit were a little 'overcrowded' to say the least. Its not unknown for Japanese dive groups to charter a flight and arrive 'en-mass' in groups of 200!
The first of our dives was 'German Channel' - A sandy channel with a few small pods of rock and coral. An area known to be home to a couple of cleaning stations and sometimes frequented by Mantas. Unfortunately, there were no Mantas on our dive, just a rather sparse, sandy channel and enough divers generating enough bubbles to give the impression of diving in a Jacuzzi!
Not the best start to our diving in Palau (although I managed to get 'cleaned' in a station by the cleaner wrasses) , but things did get better. Ultimately, Chika and I broke away from the main group and enjoyed the dives doing our own thing. We also managed to squeeze in a couple of days in the far south of the islands, in Peleliu a far more layed back get-away to beat the masses diving from the Capital - Koror.
One of the most famous sights in Palau is the 'Rock Islands'. The Rock Islands are certainly spectacular, and its here, in a freshwater lake, that I was lucky enough to experience the true wonder that is ... Jellyfish Lake!
THOUSANDS of non-stinging Jellyfish forming 'clouds' of pulsing life all heading towards the surface in search of sunlight. But, despite knowing that they were 'non-stinging' , the mental association between Jellyfish and potential pain is a difficult one to break. It really is a bizarre sensation to be swimming and surrounded by this mass of pulsing jelly. Hopefully my video posted below will give the idea. And of course, there will be a few Palau diving photos to follow soon.
Maybe I just spent to much time in Hollywood, I don't know, but I just made my first movie ;-)
Really, it was a great way to cram a lot of stuff into a small space. No writing on my part which lets me get on with all the other missing entries, and, It was fun to put together.
Hope you enjoy...
Any good movie needs a sequel... just look at Rocky 16 or Friday the 13th part 29. So, with that in mind its finally here (one of those films that went straight to video :-)) ... Jellyfish 2 (for those who saw Jellyfish 1 - Palau Lake).
These little video clips are really proving fun to put together. I'm fairly sure it's better than the book and if nothing else, the music is pretty good!
I filmed this on a trip to Monterey Aquarium in Northern California. Its definitely one of the best aquariums i've been to. Yes, they have all the usual suspects such as Hammer Head Sharks, HUGE Tuna, various Rays and 'touch pools' where the kids can man-handle the poor creatures. However, it was the small, unusual stuff that most interested me... Anenome Shrimp, Cuttlefish, Leafy Sea Dragons. But for me, the most unusual and most beautiful was the jellyfish collection. Uniquely presented and strangely hypnotic to watch. I hope this little video gives a feel of what they managed to achieve - Impressed me anyway (not always a tough job :-))
Enjoy...
Well, its been quite a while since i've posted anything here at 1Smallworld.com and the reason for that is quite simply that its my "Travel Site" and i've been back at "Home Sweet Home" since November 2008.
However, just to share a little news with my friends ...
I got MARRIED about six weeks ago!
I first met the wife (Chika) in Argentina then again in Peru, Japan, Micronesia and we spent seven months travelling together from Colombia through to Mexico. Well, we recently got married in Chicago.
Actually, the travel site is a GREAT place for this entry :-)
I've attached a 4 minute video clip of the Big Day and would like to say a HUGE thanks to our videographer Frank. Not your 'standard' wedding video! Job very well done Frank. Its more like the 'Rock Video' of the wedding world :-)
Make sure you've got some sound turned on as its a GREAT sound track too!
Enjoy....
Russ and Chika from Turning Point Productions on Vimeo.
