Rowena Jayne

Travel

Tahoe | An absolute must for any traveller

tahoe.jpg
 

Tahoe: Rain or snow, you know you should do it

Tahoe is absolutely stunning. It seems unnecessary to even put words to it, since I don’t know what value or interest I could add to the numerous accounts people have shared before. It’s the second deepest lake in the U.S. and the water is so pure it almost meets the standard of commercially distilled water—just 0.004% off.

It’s also an ancient lake, at 2 million years old, and this “noble sheet of blue water” (thanks Mark Twain) gets its color from algae. There’s a complicated balance between the blueness, clarity, and algae—when clarity increases, blueness decreases, and when algae goes up, the blueness goes down. Just as I can’t fathom the geology of the Grand Canyon, I can’t completely fathom the delicate balance of organic matter interacting with light particles to make this place as vibrant as it is.

 
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Things to do in Bangkok | Thailand travel tips
Things to do in Bangkok | Thailand travel tips

If your mate says, “I wanna go Thailand and hang with my brother and cousin", you know what to do. You ingratiate yourself into the plan, because Thailand. It was my first and, so far, only trip to Asia and I’ve been dreaming about those seas and skies ever since.

The Lake District | Must-visit places in the UK
The Lake District | Must-visit places in the UK

Seeking solace, healing, sanctuary?

You’ll find it in the Lake District, in the north of the UK. This is where you go to breath, smell the freshness, know yourself.

The Dark Arches & Leeds Canal | Must-visit places in Yorkshire
The Dark Arches & Leeds Canal | Must-visit places in Yorkshire

Leeds has a train station. Under that train station runs a canal. When it rains that looks canal swell, like it would swallow you whole. It really would.

Northern Ireland | Belfast and The Giants Causeway
Northern Ireland | Belfast and The Giants Causeway

Let it bee duly noted that if you stand too close to the sea, you’ll be warned away. The Giants Causeway is manned by tour shepherds, and it’s not as though they’re killjoys, but apparently I was pushing the limits. In fairness, it wouldn’t have been great to get washed away.

Tahoe | An absolute must for any traveller
Tahoe | An absolute must for any traveller

It’s the second deepest lake in the U.S. and the water is so pure it almost meets the standard of commercially distilled water—just 0.004% off.

Keough Hot Springs | California's hidden road trip gems
Keough Hot Springs | California's hidden road trip gems

Keough Hot Springs is an excellent place to while away a morning. With the mountains on both sides and electricity pylons overhead, it’s a bizarrely beautiful spot.

The Sand Dunes | Essential places to visit in Death Valley
The Sand Dunes | Essential places to visit in Death Valley

After a brief frolic we drove an hour down the road and pulled in to watch the stars. It was after sundown, before moonrise, and I’ve never seen a sky like it.

Badwater Basin | Essential places to visit in Death Valley
Badwater Basin | Essential places to visit in Death Valley

Just as we passed a few warning signs heading onto the long, unending road into the heart of it, the GPS started going crazy—it kept trying to have us make a u-turn right in the middle of nowhere, off-road, to head into non-existence.

Zabriskie Point | Essential places to visit in Death Valley
Zabriskie Point | Essential places to visit in Death Valley

It’s weird, breathtaking, and—perhaps because I’m dramatic—feels dangerous. Then again, there are signs everywhere reminding you to drink water and such.

Vegas | Nevada
Vegas | Nevada

Highlights included Vegas being dubbed “Atomic City” in the ‘50s, since mushroom clouds could be seen from Vegas during nuclear testing in the desert, and the dark history of mobsters like Bugsy Siegel, who were all up in that gambling biz.

Rowena Harris