Ciao from a gondola on a grand canal in the middle of the desert:
Why Qatar?
Rub Aladdin’s lamp, and poof: Qatar, perhaps the most amazing miracle the desert has ever bloomed.
Watch the insane sport of “Dune Bashing,” and the ridiculously irresistible shopping…I went out for some suntan lotion and came back with a kingdom.
Prefer a good read? Then check out my
Huffington Post article that kicks some sand behind the scenes.
Costa Rica // Quest for Pura Vida
My Favorite Central American Adventure // Back in 2006, in a feature in the New York Times, I wrote:
“Though my job takes me around the world seeking adventure, the one place I return to for my own busman's holiday is Costa Rica, not just for its well-known attributes of long-standing democracy, model conservation efforts, and panoply of adventures; but for the fact that most Costa Ricans genuinely like Norte Americanos.”
One of the unstated reasons I’ve returned again and again (including this summer) is my friend of over 30 years, Michael Kaye, who founded and runs Costa Rica Expeditions.
Watch this video clip from our Costa Rica PBS special and you’ll see why.
Michael, who has been called “The Godfather of Ecotourism,” has been a pioneer ever since he landed in Costa Rica in the 1980s and opened up two of the first eco-lodges. Now he’s pioneering a way to customize and personalize the Costa Rica experience for optimum delight, a new way to look at vacation planning---less about seeing new sites---more about gaining new eyes.
If you're thinking about Costa Rica, click here and tell Michael your interests, and he’ll get right back with a tailor-made itinerary designed just for you.
The Best Adventure Shoe Yet (and 10 free pairs!!)
For the last couple years I’ve been wearing The adidas Terrex Fast X GTX, through North Korea, Borneo, Kashmir & Ladakh, Egypt, Easter Island, the Galapagos, up to Machu Picchu, and across Ethiopia. It’s a waterproof-breathable hiking shoe with a stiff sole tough enough for tramping up sharp slopes and down loose scree. It was named Outside Magazine’s “Gear of the Year,” and the outsole features mountain bike tire rubber, which adidas says is way grippier than any other outsole on the market. And, the shoes are quite light and seriously comfortable…they make for happy feet, and I wear them on long-haul flights, and even during extended speeches.
I like these shoes so much I called adidas to thank them, and they were delighted enough to offer up some free footwear and discounts to friends and family: The first 10 to correctly answer a simple quiz will receive a free pair of the $165.00 adidas Terrex Fast X GTX (or other adidas footwear of your choice), with free shipping included in the U.S.; the next 100 will enjoy 50% off (offer only available to U.S. residents.)
All you have to do is name a video within our YouTube Channel (
www.youtube.com/richardbangs) that clearly shows an adidas logo or product in the field…and there are many.
Click here to submit an answer.
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