photo by Steve Weaver

Located twenty minutes west of San Jose, the White Cloud Sanctuary is a personal retreat high atop the mountains overlooking the town of Santa Ana. There, you can partake of the quiet and solitude to practice meditation techniques and learn Qigong and Tai Chi from sanctuary teachers. A cottage at the top of the mountain accommodates a single person in modern comfort (including a laptop connection) while giving you a view over the surrounding natural terrain which includes bamboo forests, fruit trees, the Rio Oro River, and an organic garden. You have the option of following a schedule comprised of deep meditation and training, or you may rent the casita to relax in the solitude and forego any lessons. Optionally you may book lessons on an individual basis. Residency programs are also available for those who would like to become involved with the running of the sanctuary, including caring for the multitude of animals on the property.

photo by tomsflickrphotos2

The West Highland Way is the oldest and one of the most popular hiking trails in Scotland. It stretches 152 kilometres (95 miles), from Milngavie to Fort William, and is commonly divided into seven stages. The route takes you through the sloping Lowlands, into forests and moors, passed lochs and eventually into the Highlands. The start is fairly easy, but later stages require quite a bit of stamina.

Being a well established and popular route has its advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, it is clearly marked with signs and there are sufficient facilities along the way. For those who don't fancy dragging their backpacks with them, there is even a baggage transfer service where your bags are transported between certain fixed locations along the route (mostly hostels) and you can pick them up when you get there. For those wanting to do it the hard way, it's good to know that wild camping is legal under the 'Outdoor Access Code', as long as you leave the places you camp in the same condition you found them.

On the negative side, especially in the summer months certain stretches can become quite crowded with holiday vacationers, somewhat hampering the experience of the wild outdoors.

-- Mascha Geerts

At West Edmonton Mall in Canada, participants have the chance to interact with one of three sea lions that were delivered to the mall from Scotland in 2004. The sea lions usually are at play in the mall's Marine Life pool at Sea Lion Rock where they perform daily shows, but you can book time with one of the creatures under the guidance of a trainer. With the trainer's help you will learn about the California sea lion and how to play games with it. Once geared up in a wetsuit and life jacket you can then join the sea lion in the water and have it tow you around the pool. Children as young as 14 years of age may participate.

photo from wikipedia

For divers willing to brave the long and often rough ride out to the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, a striking reward awaits. Blue holes are vertical limestone caves created from erosion and weather changes during the Ice Age. When the oceans rose, these caves were then submerged, creating watery sinkholes. The Great Blue Hole off the coast of Belize near Ambergris Caye is the largest in the world at nearly 1,000 feet across and 480 feet deep. The depth causes the water in the hole to look darker than the surrounding shallower water, resulting in its dramatic appearance. The deep, still waters hold limited sea life past a certain depth, although sharks make an occasional appearance. There, past 100 feet, the typical formations of a cave -- stalactites and stalagmites -- form a strange and beautiful landscape. The experience of diving the hole becomes similar to that of diving a horizontal cave system.

photo by therefromhere

The Moscow subway system is much more than a means to get around the city. Built to impress and also educate its users, many of its stations feature mosaics and paintings depicting scenes from Russia's history to inspire the socialist spirit. The stations were designed by multiple architects between the 1930s and 1950s and styles range from Neo Classical to Art Nouveau. From the marble floors to the chandeliers, every inch is used to reflect the grandeur of the former Soviet Union. You'll find yourself easily lost, looking up at the ceilings and around at the sculptures, rather than where you're suppose to be going. But in this subway system it's no trouble spending a few hours simply exploring before you go on your journey. It has more the feel of a presidential palace than a humble transport system and all for the price of a single subway ticket.

-- Mascha Geerts