Tagged With "Oscar Wilde"
Comment
Re: Sea World gives up its killer whale shows
I grow weary of political correctness. Orcas are highly intelligent animals, no doubt -- and have the "cruelty" we expect of intelligent animals (anyone who's seen them hunt a baby gray whale for hours, only to kill it, eat its tongue and let the rest go to waste knows what I mean). I never saw Blackfish, but I do recall at the old Marineland park in Southern California. The park was closed for a number of months, and the orcas got depressed. Listless, didn't eat, didn't look good. Someone...
Comment
Re: Sept 1, 2016: Wild Roses on the River Side.
A great moment of a wonderful day.... We have wild roses in North America too, at least in the mountains and northern parts. But they are smaller and while they smell nice, are not as fragrant as those you describe.
Comment
Re: Sept 1, 2016: Wild Roses on the River Side.
WILD ROSES Wild Fruit - before the birds eat them ! I've been told by other walkers that further along you can only smell wild Jasmine. On the waters edge - where these grow - can best be described as a cool climate. With the onshore breeze off the river it rarely passes above 21c / 70f. So about the same climate as your Mountain rose. The smell really takes you by surprise - like walking into a small room holding a large "Women's Institute"meeting ! Perfume overload !
Comment
Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#288)
Absolute extreme difficulty Travel Rob. Just had a family emergency and sent in my best wild guess without any real confirmation.
Comment
Re: The Worst Train in the World
I hope that wasn't your last venture into third world high speed travel. Reminds me of Austria on the Zillertal Bahn Valley Railway. The Train went so slow that passengers would lean out and pick wild flowers from the trackside. Each carriage had warning notices - in English - not to do this. But ....
Comment
Re: Greenland from six miles high!
I agree it's a spectacular sight not to be missed and that there's more to Greenland that just the ice sheet. 2014 will see me on my 7th month-long visit in the last 9 years. I will again hike alone from Sisimiut on the west coast to a location north east of Kangerlussuaq (something like 110 - 120 miles) and then join colleagues doing wild goose research. By all means aim to set foot on the ground there and enjoy camping in the remote arctic landscape - being alone out there is a unique...
Comment
Re: The Wild Horses of The Camargue, France
Sounds like a lovely experience! And great photos....you can really feel the wild energy of the horses.
Comment
Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#178)
Your pictures all look familiar but I cannot pinpoint the exact location. I have a feeling you have not wandered far from home and are somewhere in the Wild Rose province.
Comment
Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#128)
I admit it's a wild reach, but something about the not-parallel alignment tickled a neuron or two. Will be very embarrassed if it turns out to be John Portman.
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, May 22, 2014: Universal Studios, Orlando, Florida
Originally Posted by Travel Luver: What's the best ride? Hi Travel Luver! I can honestly say that I enjoyed all the rides at the Universal Studios Theme Parks, but if I had to pick a favorite or favorites, I would have to say that I particularly enjoyed the 3-D rides such as "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem" (where Gru turns you into a Minion and you embark on a wild ride through Gru's lab), "The Simpsons Ride" (where you embark on a wild ride through Krustyland and Springfield), and "The...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, November 25, 2014: Fall colors at Upper Kananaskis Lake, Alberta
Hi GarryRF, Yes, this part of the world includes vaste stretches of wilderness. Lots and lots of unspoiled mountains, valleys, forests, rivers and lakes. It is only an hour's drive from west Calgary, so lots of those of us who live here spend our weekends in the Rockies. Much like those in Denver. Camping is wonderful in the summertime, as the weather is mild and the days very long. It's also great to hike here at that time. Camping in the winter is only for the brave of heart. You need to...
Comment
Re: Finding Your Hike in Prospect Park
Sounds very familiar! Old money, big houses and the park becomes a buffer zone. But for now it's a great place to fill your lungs and for the kids to run wild - like kids need to !
Comment
Re: HOW YOU CAN SAVE THE ASIAN ELEPHANT
Thanks for sharing these thoughts. Elephants are highly intelligent animals, probably smarter than dogs for example. Wild elephants in Asia are having a hard time because of loss of habitat and conversion of their normal range to agricultural land. Most do not have ivory tusks so unlike their African cousins, they are not slaughtered for their teeth. In Sri Lanka I visited the elephant orphanage in Pinnawala a number of times, which I've previously written about on TravelGumbo at this link .
Comment
Re: A visit to Waterton National Park
I love the pictures, Roderick. Part of what makes Waterton so special are its many wild animals. Almost like going on safari in America! I'm especially fond of the little bear. He looks so very lost without his mother. Hope you didn't get between her and the little one! And thanks for your first contribution to Travelgumbo!
Comment
Re: Welcome to the town of Dawson City, Yukon
That's the nature of gold boom towns, PHeymont. I believe another gold vein had been found in Alaska near the mouth of the mighty Yukon River, and most of the Klondike prospectors flowed downriver to it. I've been fascinated by the Klondike gold rush since I was a school boy in Canada, reading the writing of Pierre Burton (famous Canadian author, former resident of Dawson City, whose father was one of those who came here during the Klondike Gold Rush and unlike most stayed in Dawson). On the...
Comment
Re: Why you should visit Borneo
Originally Posted by DrFumblefinger: Some GREAT photos. I presume you saw lots of animals on your travels in Borneo? Is there a specific park or place you'd recommend? Thanks very much! Yeah, we saw so many animals it was incredible. I'd highly recommend Sepilock in the North of Borneo, which is great for spotting wild Orangutans, Sun Bears and Proboscis Monkeys. Kuching, in the South, is a great base too if you want to visit Bako National Park, which is a great place for spotting Snakes,...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, June 16, 2014. "The beer guy", Canmore, Alberta
Love it! I'm going to take a wild guess and say he ordered a beer? For some reason I think this mystery will be easier to solve then Where in the World is Gumbo!
Comment
Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#85)
As I mentioned, it was a wild guess. I definitely would not have risked "a true daily double", even after seeing the clue.
Comment
Re: Yellowstone National Park in Winter
Thanks so very much for making us a part of your fascinating road-trip by sharing your visit to this unique place at such a special time. It's so rare to actually talk to someone who visited Yellowstone in the winter, much less to read such a wonderfully written report and to share in your experience through your beautiful photos. I'm sorry you didn't get to see wolves in the wild, but in this you are not alone. As many times as I've been in the wilderness, I've yet to see them (though I was...
Comment
Re: April 1, 2020: Lynx Family, Alberta
Beautiful! I can just see you standing there with your phone taking those wonderful photos. I am pretty jealous , I’ve never seen a wild lynx!
Comment
Re: May 17, 2017: Elephant Jam at Amber Fort, Jaipur
The Elephants certainly look well cared for. Maybe they have a better life than being out in the wild.
Comment
Re: Kruger National Park - South Africa. Pt 2
I'm amazed you were able to see let alone photograph all those Wild Animals! The photos are really incredible.
Comment
Re: Name Your Favorite Restaurants for Atmosphere, Past or Present
DrF - I'm sure that's what they were, or whatever the version is that grows in China. Young & tender. Sigh... But this place, as I mentioned, was out in the countryside, not even in a village, as close to wild growing things as you can get so no surprise.
Comment
Re: Sri Lanka: A Land Like No Other (Part 11). On safari in Yala Park, with a stop in Kirinda
Thanks, TravelandNature! And how about that Junglefowl. Looks like a fancy chicken but apparently a wild species.
Comment
Re: Little Crosby - 17th Century Village
DrF !!!!! The village still has no beggars - no alehouses - no protestants ! Its only a recent decision to have electricity into the village. You can see the village in an hour - its only small. But you can follow the ancient footpaths through the farmland. See the wild fox, geese and birds of prey that live there. Or walk down to the beach. When the tide goes out it leaves 5 miles of sand !
Comment
Re: Ryanair changes its tune: Plans for future growth tied to better customer service
He is a smart business man : "20 May 2013 - Ryanair , Europe's only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC) today (May 20) announced (record) annual profits of €569m, up 13% on last year" Its only Americans who hate Ryanair because they take the bait every time Michael O'Leary throws a wild punch ! He's great ! Like Travel Rob, we've used the carrier many times and never been disappointed.
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, July 29, 2014. Shira Plateau, Tanzania
Was this part of a guided tour DrF. ? A safari ? The further I get from civilisation - I get more concerned for safety. Wild animals, clean water and getting lost ! Was this a family vacation ? You must be a "hardened traveller"
Comment
Re: Those Beady Eyed Alligators!!
Wild gators rarely attack people unless you stumble onto them -- say fall off your bike on top of a gator sunning himself. They are happiest to avoid humans. Problems arising when people feed gators. Then they can become aggressive and associate people with food. If you don't give them any, they might decide to take a bite out of you.. That said, gator attacks are still very rare. And yes, they're great at hiding themselves, Pheymont. You really need to train your eye to see them as they lie...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, April 24, 2014: Statue of Oscar Wilde, Merrion Square, Dublin, Ireland
So that's Oscar Wilde lying on the rock? I thought it was you, Ottoman!
Comment
Re: A Day at the Zoo: San Diego, California
Thanks IslandMan! Probably the rarest animal at the zoo is the California Condor. Only the San Diego and Los Angeles zoos exhibit these birds and were instrumental in saving them from extinction. With only a few dozen birds left in the wild, a controversial decision was made several decades ago to capture them all and place the remaining birds in these two zoos for a captive breeding program. They now number several hundred and are slowly being re-introduced into the wild, with limited...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, April 24, 2014: Statue of Oscar Wilde, Merrion Square, Dublin, Ireland
DrFumblefinger... The gentleman sitting on the rock isn't holding a Guinness, that's how you can tell it's not a picture of me
Comment
Re: Stockholm's Skansen Museum Park: Where Gumbo Was #27
I'd never heard of this museum, PHeymont, and find it all fascinating. Another reason to visit Stockholm! But I did guess the building was a cache (name used in Canada for structures like these people use to store meat in the winter without any access except a ladder). Not claiming victory as I had no idea where it was, but you want a building without windows, large doors (although you need a way in, be it from the bottom or side) or an ability to chew threw on ground level to protect your...
Comment
Re: Any Guesses ?
I may be in the wild blue, but you'll notice the two pictures have a difference in hood emblems. I believe the second picture's V under the logo indicates it was a V8.
Blog Post
Gumbo's Pic of the Day, January 29, 2015: The art of lava
I'm often amazed at how beautiful the small things in nature can be. Whether a bee pollinating a flower, a wild animal stopping to look at you, a blade of grass struggling to grow in a desert, or how sculpted lava can seem. These photos...
Blog Post
The Loire River Valley
Many find a visit to the Loire Valley to be the highlight of their visit to France, as did we. When we were planning our journey I discussed our itinerary with my friend, Wayne. Wayne and his wife had...
Blog Post
The Bear Blog
I had a hunch when Shelly and I were planning our 59 National Park in 59 weeks tour that wildlife would be center stage. I knew that the buffalo would roam in Yellowstone, that the tropical fish would dance...
Blog Post
Saguenay Fjord — Deep and Long but not very Tall
I’d heard as a schoolboy that the Saguenay Fjord was one of the longest in the world. Years later someone told me the area around Tadoussac was pretty, sparsely developed and inviting. Given a spare day or...
Blog Post
Quebec — A Walled European Fortress In America
Quebec, like New York, is both a city and a state (or rather, a province). It’s an island of French heritage and culture within our Anglo-North American continent. We combined this visit with stops in Montreal and...
Blog Post
Liverpool - What do you mean. It has a Beach ?
When I tell folks I meet on Vacation I'm from Liverpool UK they say "You must be enjoying all this beach life. Long walks on the Sand. Fishing. Fresh air and gorgeous sunsets" so I reply "No. I get all this back in Liverpool- I'm...
Blog Post
Dry Falls – Home of The World’s Largest Waterfall!
Imagine a waterfall with a precipice over three and a half miles (5.5 km) long and a drop of over 400 feet (120 m)! By comparison, Niagara Falls is about 1/10th as wide. Think of the millions of gallons of water pouring over it each...
Blog Post
Washington state's Wild Horses Monument & Gingko Petrified Forest
The Columbia River is one of the most interesting and beautiful geographic features of the Inland Northwest, from its headwaters in British Columbia to the dramatic Gorge just east of Portland, Oregon. When...
Blog Post
Visiting Western Greenland. Part I – Three Towns
In July 2006 I gave in to curiosity and realized my ambition to visit West Greenland. I returned 6 times in the next 8 years! I knew that about 10% of the world’s freshwater was sitting on Greenland with the capacity to raise...
Blog Post
Visiting Western Greenland. Part II – Western Greenland on Foot!
Part I covered three Greenlandic towns I have visited but my real passion is being out in West Greenland’s wilderness. So this part is about what it has to offer those willing to get out there on foot and under canvas! I...
Blog Post
Gumbo's Pic of the Day, February 10, 2015: Arizona – The sunshine, the red rock desert and the survival of the fittest
Recently I attended a medical course in Scottsdale, Arizona. Using one afternoon, a few late afternoons plus evenings, I got chance to explore the area around Phoenix and Scottsdale. The clear...
Blog Post
Gumbo's Pic of the Day, April 14, 2015: Canada’s original safari – African Lion Safari in Hamilton Ontario
Southwest of Toronto, about one and half hours of driving, Canada’s original safari – African Lion Safari -- is situated near the city of Hamilton, Ontario. The 20 hectare wild life park has a slogan of,...
Blog Post
Gumbo's Pic of the Day, February 24, 2015: Where is Apache Trail??
Located at the northeastern edge of greater Phoenix area, the Apache Trail was recommended by our friend as Arizona’s oldest and most scenic driving trail. The winding 40 mile road takes you through the magnificent scenery of sometime steep...
Blog Post
Spain's "ghost airport" will come to life with Ryanair
Spain's embarrassingly-empty Castellon-Costa Azahar airport, unused since it was opened with great ceremony nearly five years ago, will finally get passengers. Ryanair will announce a schedule of flights from U.K. and northern Europe today, according...
Blog Post
Historic Route 66 (pt 2) - Needles CA to Flagstaff AZ
Leaving Needles CA, I drove a route that is a MUST DRIVE if you are the kind of person that loves road trips. The main portion of my day was spent on the longest continuous stretch of the original Route 66 that is still in place - From Topock AZ to...
Blog Post
Ireland's Answer to NY High Line: 16-mile path to the sea
Scheduled to open in 2017, Ireland's gift to cyclists and hikers uses an abandoned rail line from Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen along the wild and scenic Kerry coastline in remote south-west Ireland. It crosses Gleesk Viaduct, and gives views of...
Blog Post
Yellowstone National Park in Winter
Seeing all fifty-nine national parks was never a dream of ours--especially not in fifty-nine weeks. We'd call it more of a whim, an impulse or an inspiration. Going to Yellowstone National Park in the winter was something we had...