Outdoor Journal Magazine: The Bible for Adventure Lovers

To all you adventure travelers and adrenaline junkies in India,

Now, we also have our very own adventure space. We don’t have to look at international markets to satiate our adventure needs. India’s first truly adventure magazine is here! It is called the Outdoor Journal and personally I am a big fan of it and hence thought of sharing the love with you all.


The magazine is fairly new. They are yet to launch the 6th edition, but their quality and content is already top class. The people involved in this magazine are all adventure junkies including its founding committee. All the contributors to this magazine are adventure specialists in their own space. They are divers, endurance runners, climbers, Survival Gurus, underwater photographers, skiers, runners, free divers, Ex-Special forces, avalanche instructor, Sport biomechanics consultants, Wilderness survival expert, Kickboxer, Snowboarder, Ultra runner, Kite boarder and more.



As you all know, I am also a huge adventure aficionado and hence really connected with the high adrenaline content showcased in this magazine.


For starters, I absolute love their vibrant high quality adventure photographs. These are photographs that make you want to indulge in that activity. Experts share their personal experiences, gear tips, activity tips, destination ideas and much more. And all these activities can be either participated in India or abroad. The highlight of this magazine is the way it brings India’s top adventure destinations to the fore. Like skiing on the slopes of Gulmarg, taking a helicopter ride over the snow capped Himalayan mountains, feeling thin air at Siachen, rafting on the mighty Brahmaputra, running in the salt deserts of Rann and much more.


These guys do not talk about wannabe adventure. They talk about true adventure that is hard and yet brings in a lot of joy and kick. The experts help break down these tough adventure activities into simple forms so that even amateurs can take part in it and feel the thrill. For example, one of the skiing experts talks about yoga exercises that snow boarders and skiers should do to improve their core strength and balancing technique. In another example, they talk about the basics of kite boarding that includes managing the bars, learning the wind window, turns and transition, jumps, rotations, handle passes and more such interesting kite boarding learning lessons.


In a similar way, each edition of this magazine covers a variety of adventure activities from Dakar rallies to Tour de France, from snow boarding to free diving, from triathlons to ultra running, from yachting to kite boarding, from surfing to kayaking, from ice climbing to rock climbing, from para trooping to sky diving, from wildlife watching to trail running and from scuba diving to cycling. I am sure you get my drift!!

The Outdoor Journal is a well rounded adventure magazine that covers the following:

1) Interesting adventure destinations in India and abroad
2) Personal experiences straight from the experts themselves
3) Motivational adventure stories
4) Adventure tips for various kind of activities
5) Health tips for various adventure sports
6) Food Tips for various adventure sports
7) Gear Tips for different adventure activities
8) Important adventure events from India and around the world
9) Survival techniques if stuck in a bad place
10) Adventure 101 kind of lessons
11) Stunning locales and settings through rich photos (their website has great videos too)


It is a bit pricey at INR 200 for each issue of the magazine, but I feel it is worth it as the content is written by experts, focuses only on adventure and features stunning photographs. I am sure if you are an adrenaline junkie and if you buy one, you will stay hooked onto them for a long time. To know more, look up the Outdoor Journal website. And whatever you do, do not miss out on their stunning adventure videos.

Note: The videos in this article are courtesy of Outdoor Journal Magazine.

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Nakhon Nayok: Hub for Soft Adventure Sports near Bangkok

If you are living in Bangkok and looking for a weekend getaway amidst the green mountains, then one of your top choices should be Nakhon Nayok, a province located in Central Thailand and one that is famous for its mountains and greenery.


Situated at about 2 hours from Bangkok, Nakhon Nayok has all the ingredients of a great family weekend holiday destination as well as a longer nature holiday destination. This place has tons of things to do and see, but the one that stands out is soft adventure sports here that allows all kinds of travelers to let their hair down and enjoy themselves.


Be it the class 2 river rafting on the Nakhon Nayok river, the all terrain vehicle ride through slush and streams in the countryside, rock climbing or zip lining from on top of mountains, the options for adventure are many. And since most of these adventure sports are easy on the body, people of all ages can safely indulge in them.


If you go river rafting, not only do you enjoy the thrill of river rafting, but you can spot beautiful birds on either banks of the river, which is dense green forests and also go for a relaxed swim in the river whenever the water becomes calm. If it is all terrain vehicle riding, the slush, the many mountain streams, the dense forests and the overall raw joy of the vehicle is enough to keep you excited all throughout.

If you feel like relaxing after a day of adventure, you can opt to take a Thai massage, play some golf in its fabulous gold courses, have your dinner next to a mountain stream, go bird watching or simply put up your feet, watch a scenic sunset and read a book. Basically, it is a complete weekend getaway and one of the top ones from Bangkok.

Note: The first 3 photographs in this post of me and the rest of the group were taken by the photography team of Tourism Authority of Thailand, who invited me to go on this trip.

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Taste Adventure Sports at Mui Ne, South Vietnam

It is very rarely that nature presents sand dunes next to the ocean. It is common to visualize ocean and sand dunes separately, but to see a sight of them together is quite special. Northern Africa is one such place where such sights are seen regularly, but for Indians, North Africa is a bit too far and hence I was very thrilled when I found such a place in South Vietnam.


This place is Mui Ne, located on the south eastern coast of Vietnam and kissing the waters of the South China Sea. This beach town is a hot favorite of the Russians, many of whom have made this place a permanent base outside of Russia. I guess the Russian influence came during the Vietnam war days and may be they liked the sun kissed beaches here and decide to settle down for good.


There is so much Russian influence in the hotels, tourist spots and restaurants here that it is a no brainer that Russians love this place. But, Mui Ne is not just about the Russians. It offers so much that all kinds of travelers and tourists will like it, especially nature and adventure lovers.


Mui Ne is famous for kite surfing. Apparently, the winds and waves here are perfect for someone who wants to learn to kite surf and wishes to indulge in some serious adventure. Basically, the place is a kite surfing mecca. There are different spots around Mui Ne for different levels of Kite Surfers. If you feel like learning this water adventure sport, avail the services of the many kite surfing schools based in Mui Ne.



In addition to adventure on water, Mui Ne offers interesting experiences on its land too. Near Mui Ne, there are two types of sand dunes. The red sand dunes that are located at about 15 kilometers from the city and the white ones that are located about 35 kilometers away. These are the larger sand dunes, but the small ones seem to be located all around Mui Ne’s landscape.


These sand dunes offer a great dune surfing experience. Either you carry your own dune surfing board or buy a piece of plastic and make it work like a surf board. It is serious fun to surf down these long and wavy sand dunes. The only issue is climbing up back to the top of the dunes as the fine sand keeps slipping under your feet and even a short climb can leave you gasping for oxygen.


These dune surfing activities are best done either in the early morning or late evening hours when the dunes are not overly hot and the sun and winds are gentle on the body. Apart from offering perfect conditions for dune surfing, these time slots also offer fantastic views of the South China Sea amidst eye catching colors of the sand dunes in the shining golden rays of the sun.


The best way to go around, visit all the hot spots and indulge in the adventure associated with it would be on a motorbike that you can hire at Mui Ne. The motorbike would also aid in carrying your surf boards and other gear. Plus, it will allow you to pick and choose remote adventure spots.


And once you are excited and tired after your adventurous day on either the ocean or the dunes, you can return to your beach house and enjoy a drink while enjoying the sunset in the distance. Great seafood and good nightlife is just the icing on the cake. But, Mui Ne’s foremost qualities are its rare sand dunes and its love for adventure.

How to get here: A 5 to 6 hour drive can get you to Mui Ne from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). There are many bus operators who take you right into the heart of the city. Train is also an option, though the nearest station is 45 minutes away from Mui Ne.

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Where to Find an Adrenaline Rush in Las Vegas

Betting it all on a card game is not the only way to make your heart beat faster in Las Vegas — this city also has a number of great extreme sport opportunities including skydiving (indoor and outdoor), kayaking, shooting and much more. Perhaps you aren’t into gambling, or you want to take a break from the casino floor? You can head out into the Las Vegas sunshine and get a thrill from one of these fun activities.

Here are a few of the most exciting extreme sport adventures that you’ll find when you search for Las Vegas vacation ideas.

Skydiving
Throwing yourself out of a plane seems absolutely crazy, but those who have done it say that it’s as good as it gets when you’re seeking a rush. If you feel like taking the plunge while in Vegas, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to do just that. Las Vegas Extreme Sky Diving offers tours that will take you up high above Red Rock National Park, Mount Charleston and the Las Vegas Strip, and then let you jump with qualified tandem instructors.

If you want to experience the thrilling weightlessness of skydiving without actually having to jump out of a plane, why not try simulated indoor sky diving? You can do this in Las Vegas Too, at Vegas Indoor Sky Diving. The simulator has foam padded walls, a trampoline floor and a vertical wind tunnel which produces enough wind to support the average adult.

Rock Climbing
Red Rock Canyon is a well-known climbing area located west of the Las Vegas city limits. Climbers have been coming here since the 1970s and more than 2,000 rock climbing routes have been established here. More than 100,000 people come from all over to climb at Red Rock Canyon every year.

The interesting rock formations of the region, such as enormous petrified sand dunes, layers of sedimentary rock and much more make it a unique and fascinating place to climb. You can rock climb here all year round, but spring and fall are the best times to visit. There are several different companies that offer guided rock climbing trips, including Jackson Hole Mountain guides, the National Outdoor Leadership School and Mountain Skills Rock Climbing Adventures.

Kayaking
Have you ever been kayaking? It’s something you should try at least once in your life and once you get a hang of the rhythm of paddling, you will love the adventure.

There are many different tour companies offering kayaking trips from Las Vegas. Most of these trips take place on the Colorado River from the base of Hoover Dam to Willow Beach. Some tour packages will also include a hike to the nearby hot springs from the river. Other more relaxing trips might include a gentle paddle to the island beaches of Lake Mead for swimming and sunbathing.

Shooting
Do you want to experience the thrill of shooting a big gun? It can be quite an adrenaline rush to hold a powerful weapon and shoot at a target.

There are six different Las Vegas shooting ranges that have opened up recently, where you can experience the thrill of shooting large weapons. For example, the Strip Gun Club on Las Vegas Boulevard offers packages including a t-shirt, rifle, pistol, target and all of the required ear and eye protection.

Some ranges will have age restrictions on how old you have be to shoot, while others will offer packages for teenagers and children. Make sure that you bring your Photo ID and remember that many of these places will have very long lines, so expect to wait a while or avoid going on a weekend.

Roller Coasters
Las Vegas has a great selection of roller coasters that will give you butterflies in your stomach! The Roller Coaster at the New York New York Hotel drops you down 144 feet and performs a jet-fighter-style barrel roll, and Insanity at the Stratosphere Hotel spins you at a force of 3 gs. Hold on tight!

These are just a few of the thrilling adrenaline rush activities that you can enjoy while you are in Las Vegas, so have fun on your exciting adventure!

About the Author: Mark Clarkson is a freelance travel writer and blogger. He loves to visit Las Vegas and has been skydiving, rock climbing and kayaking at this great destination.

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Best Honeymoon Destinations for Active Couples

You've just gotten married, but your fantasy event is far from over! Now it's time for the honeymoon! Maybe you and your spouse aren't ones to laze around on the beach…maybe you want adventure, and experiences that might put you outside of your comfort zone, or those that allow you to challenge yourself physically.

If you are looking for a trip full of unique experiences for you and the love of your life, there are so many travel options for you!

1. Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a small, budget-friendly country with plenty of activities for the active couple. Both the Caribbean (Puerto Viejo) and Pacific (the Nicoya Peninsula and Manuel Antonio) sides offer snorkeling, scuba diving and game fishing. If you're a hiker, the Poas and Arenal volcanoes are great mountains. You can also whitewater raft into the interior jungles along the Pacuare and Reventazon River and stay at primitive or "glamp"-orous camping sites among the monkeys and jaguars. At the end of your trip, there are great places either on the beach or in San José to wind-down too!

2. South Africa
South Africa provides plenty of adventure and romance for a couple. Watch lions and leopards at Kruger National Park while staying at a private five-star game lodge. Travel to the Drakensburg mountain range for activities like mountain biking, kayaking, mountaineering and more. Why not test your nerve by cage-diving with great white sharks near Capetown? By night, you can enjoy South Africa's breathtaking views and fine wines to toast your amazing day!

3. American West
Maybe traveling abroad isn't your thing (or simply not in your budget). The American West can offer many options including staying at all-inclusive guest ranches like Vista Verde Ranch. You can get beginning or advanced horseback riding lessons, go fly-fishing, hike, rock climb or kayak. Take advantage of America’s national parks like the Grand Canyon or Yosemite if you'd like to explore on your own.

4. Los Angeles
Not only does this city offer amazing food and entertainment, it is also a hot spot of physical activity. Los Angeles' "Muscle Beach" encourages visitors to get their workouts in while visiting the ocean. There are many opportunities to surf and participate in various other water sports, like jet-skiing and sailing. Famous yoga, Pilates and fitness instructors offer intro classes at their studios, making the city great for adventurous fitness buffs. If you happen to plan your honeymoon in the spring, it may fall over the weekend of the LA Marathon, which newlyweds may want to participate in together!

If you're adventurous but still can’t decide between all of the potential honeymoon destinations that we’ve laid out for you, check out websites like The Knot for further ideas!

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