Komodo dragons - Indonesia

WHY NOW See these giant lizards fighting and mating, and see newly hatched little’uns. WHERE Komodo National Park DATES May Komodo dragons weigh upwards of 166kg, can take down and kill a full-grown water buffalo and loom large in the imagination of locals, who revere them as mythical ancestors. 

Reaching lengths of 3m, these prehistoric lizards are the top predator on the few islands where they live, and everything is potential prey – including humans. Visitors to the islands will almost certainly see dragons. During courting season, you may spot big males on their hind legs, struggling to pin each other down. During mating, females fight back so ferociously that an amorous male must fully restrain her in order to avoid being seriously hurt.

Borneo’s bat cave

Borneo has some of the most amazing wildlife in the world. The island is home to orangutans, gibbons, tigers, elephants, rhinos, and other species. Borneo is also known as the land of headhunters.

Borneo was once part of the Indonesian archipelago until it became independent from Indonesia in 1963. Today, Borneo is divided into two countries: Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia. Scientists were stunned in 1977 when they began exploring the massifs around Gunung Mulu and found one record-shattering cave after another. Deer Cave, they discovered, had the world’s largest cave passage and an immense population of bats, which make a nightly exodus. The cave’s 12 bat species (the largest variety for a single cave) are estimated to number in the millions. This colossal mass of critters begins pouring from the cave at around 5pm, while dayflying swiftlets pour back in.

Access to Gunung Mulu is from Miri via a 30-minute flight or 12-hour boat ride. July to September are the driest months to visit. There are several reasons why Borneo is called the Land of Headhunting. First, the indigenous tribes of Borneo were mostly hunters who hunted their prey using spears and arrows. Second, the headhunting tradition continues today. In fact, the practice is still practiced by the Dayak tribe. Third, the headhunting ritual is believed to bring good luck and prosperity. It is also considered a sign of courage and strength. Finally, headhunting is used for warfare, revenge, and intimidation.

The Bat Cave is a limestone cavern located in Sarawak, one of the Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. This cave is inhabited by bats. Most people visit this cave after seeing pictures online. There is no entrance fee to enter the cave but there is a small fee if you want to take a tour around the cave.

The Bat Cave is about 1,500 feet long – that’s about half a mile. The cave gets its name because the bats live inside the cave during the day and fly out at night. Inside the cave, the temperature is always between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The humidity level is high, which means that the air feels damp even when it isn’t raining outside.

The first person to discover the Bat Cave was an American named John White. He discovered the cave in 1881 while searching for gold. At the time, he didn’t realize that the cave had bats living inside. In the early 1900s, British explorers started exploring the caves of Borneo. They found many interesting things like ancient ruins, stalagmites, stalactites, and fossils. Some of these explorers died from diseases they caught such as malaria and dysentery. Others committed suicide because they were so depressed from being in the jungle for months.

In the 1950s, a local guide named Tengku Baharuddin led a group of tourists into the Bat Cave. After entering the cave, the group saw thousands of bats flying around them. Then, they heard strange sounds coming from behind a rock wall. When they turned around, they saw hundreds of bats hanging upside down from the ceiling. These bats were eating insects!

In the 1970s, a group of scientists decided to study the bats in the Bat Cave. They wanted to find out how the bats lived in the cave. To do this, they needed to know more about the bats’ diet. So, they placed cameras in the cave and watched what the bats ate. What they found surprised them. The bats only eat fruit. They don’t eat bugs or meat.

Today, the Bat Cave is very popular with tourists. People come here to see the bats and watch the sunset. If you go to the Bat Cave before noon, you can see lots of bats flying around. However, as the sun sets, the bats start leaving the cave. You might be able to see some bats flying around the cave until midnight.

Raft the Grand Canyon

WHY NOW Travel outside peak season to stand more chance of securing a trip WHERE Colorado River, Arizona DATES Mid-September If standing on South Rim peering down at the Colorado River has you twitching for a more intimate canyon experience, join the 22,000-plus people who raft it in inflatable boats each year. 

A run-down Colorado is an epic adventure. ‘Normal’ rapids are rated I to V, but the 160-plus rapids on Colorado are rated one to 10, with many V or higher. There’s a lottery system for permits for independent rafting. Commercial trips also fill up well in advance and take three forms: oar, paddle or motorized; paddle trips are the most adventurous. Note, motorboats can’t run after 15 September, so the river gets quieter from then. That would be great fun and a lifetime experience to raft at Grand Canyon. We're sure you would love it. 

The Solstice at Stonehenge

WHY NOW Watch the sunrise over Neolithic stones, along with druids and dawn-seekers WHERE Stonehenge, Wiltshire DATES Summer solstice, usually 21 June The celebrations to mark the longest day of the northern year date back to pre-Christian times and inspire various rituals, from fertility rites to invocations of future agricultural success.

One of the most famous summer solstice celebrations is at England’s Stonehenge. From 1972 to 1984 neo-druids and other alternative communities converged on the Neolithic stone circle for the Stonehenge Free Festival but in 1985 a clash between riot police and travelers setting up the festival led to the site being off-limits for solstice. Thankfully, it reopened in 1999, and the spiritual dawn now attracts more than 20,000 people.

The Solstice at Stonehenge gives the worshippers of the Sun a chance to see something they've never seen before. In addition to that, it is also one of the best times for making some impressive photos on your iPhone. The Solstice at Stonehenge is a time when time stands still and people can experience peace and harmony with nature. 

The ancient monument in Upper Swell, Salisbury, is one of the most impressive places for festivals. The Solstice at Stonehenge is the summer season's most important event for celebrating the longest day and shortest night of the year. This was a popular tradition for early Britons, who celebrated this event annually as part of their religious life. 

The celebration also incorporated other winter solstice events, like Fire-Festival and Animal Fertility Festival. The Solstice at Stonehenge is one of the most important events in history. It is an ancient and unique winter solstice festival for those who live in Britain. The ancient Druids used to perform a ritual to mark the shortest day and longest night on the solstice. 

This ritualistic event happens annually and this year also brings in its own set of celebrations with spectacular 17th-century buildings, like Stonehenge, still intact. Stonehenge has been a significant part of British culture since prehistoric times. It was built around 3000 BC and has continued to be significant ever since then, even now that it looks largely identical to its original form. 

Source - CP

Times Beach, Missouri

The small town of Times Beach, Missouri was once a thriving community with a population of over 2000 residents. But in 1982, the town became infamous when it was discovered that the soil and water had been contaminated with dioxin - a toxic substance that can cause serious health problems.

Due to the contamination, Times Beach was eventually abandoned and is now virtually uninhabitable. The buildings still stand, but they are slowly crumbling due to neglect. The town has a ghostly feel to it as if its residents just disappeared one day.

It's a tragic story and a cautionary tale about the dangers of chemical waste. Times Beach is a reminder of what can happen when greed takes precedence over safety. It's a place worth visiting if you ever get a chance, but don't stay too long. Times Beach is not safe for human habitation anymore.

The town has a ghostly feel to it as if its residents just disappeared one day. It's a tragic story and a cautionary tale about the dangers of chemical waste. Times Beach is a reminder of what can happen when greed takes precedence over safety. It's worth visiting if you ever get a chance, but don't stay too long - Times Beach is not safe for human habitation anymore.

The Howler Monkeys of Placencia Village Belize

WHY NOW To explore this compact wildlife wonderland before the rains descend 

WHERE Community Baboon Sanctuary

DATES - December to May - In Belize black howler monkeys are known as baboons, and the Community Baboon Sanctuary, 40km outside capital Belize City, is the only area established entirely for their conservation. It’s a community-based initiative, located in the village of Bermudian Landing. Landowners pledge to voluntarily manage their land in a monkey-friendly fashion, creating corridors for howlers. The scheme has spread to surrounding villages, resulting in the densest concentration of howlers found anywhere: up to 250 individuals per hectare. 

This density of monkeys makes for a particularly vocal population. When you hear their deafening calls resonating through the forest, you’ll quickly understand how they got their name. Although these howler monkeys are endangered due to habitat loss, and hunting. But thankfully, Belize still has a sufficient population of the loudest of primates. The Howler monkeys preferred to like vegetables and their diet consists of flowers, leaves, and fruits. Source - Charismatic Planet

Kiteboard on Maui

WHY NOW The wind is at its best – with August being Kite Beach’s blowiest month WHERE Kanaha, Maui, Hawaii DATES June to September Kanaha Beach, on Maui’s north shore, is a tranquil stretch of coast with wonderful views of the West Maui Mountains. But kiteboarding has become so popular here that they’ve renamed the place ‘Kite Beach’. There are even areas set aside solely for kiteboarders.

It’s an appropriate name change: Kanaha is considered to be the birthplace of modern kitesurfing, dating from the mid-1990s when water-pioneers Laird Hamilton and Manu Bertin started riding surf-style boards with foot straps on Maui’s north shore.

It’s impressive to watch, and hard to master. Instruction is available at Kite Beach. First, you learn how to fly the kite; then you practice body-dragging (letting the kite pull you across the water); finally, you step onboard. Anyone can try here, though: a reef keeps waters near shore flat for beginners, while the more experienced can head beyond the reef to tackle-breaking waves.