Flying High - MiGs over Moscow

A Top Gun Experience


Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
 www.incredible-adventures.com WHEN TO GO: Spring, summer, or fall.

Almost anything seems possible in adven- ture tourism these days—if you have a dream and a big enough bank account. In post–Cold War Russia, even the sky has no limit. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 70 who’s in relatively good health can mimic the world’s best-trained fighter pilots and fly a Russian military jet high enough to see the earth’s curve at 11⁄2 times the speed of sound. Just be pre- pared to pay for this fantasy flight: A 5-day package costs around $20,000, not includ- ing international airfare. Aviation aficiona- dos who have tried it say it’s worth every penny.
Incredible Adventures began offering these Top Gun–inspired flights in 1993 after the company’s founder, Kent Ertugrul, then a young American entrepreneur who trav- eled to Moscow in search of computer programmers for a software venture, took one ride on a MiG-29 and fell in love with the rush. He signed a deal to market similar flights worldwide, returned home to Flor- ida, and ran an advertisement for them in the Wall Street Journal.
An investment banker from New York was the first client to sign up, and since then more than 2,000 other daredevils have followed her lead. The company has offices in Sarasota, FL, and Moscow.
To climb aboard your own fighter jet, first you have to take a commercial jet to Russia’s capital.


After spending a couple of days exploring Moscow’s historic monu- ments and lively city streets, you head to Nizhny Novgorod, home of the Sokol Air- craft Building Plant—which is where you lift off for the flight of your life. This place has been manufacturing top-of-the-line Russian fighter jets for more than 70 years and has an air museum that’s worth a quick tour. Weather conditions permitting, you go through a final security clearance, safety briefing, and medical check.

 Then it’s time to put on your helmet and flight suit, dis- cuss the flight plan with your Russian co- pilot, and hop into the cockpit. Depending on which aircraft you’re flying, you can reach heights of 21,336m (70,000 ft.), race at speeds of 3,862kmph (2,400 mph), roll over in airborne somersaults, and attempt other fancy tricks like a real military jet fighter. As your co-pilot gives directions and keeps an eye on things, you can take control of the aircraft and try some maneu- vers yourself. You have two jets to choose from: the legendary MiG-29 or the high-flying MiG-31. The MiG-29, known for its top gun capabili- ties, was developed in Russia during the 1970s to counter the U.S. F-16 Fighting Fal- con and the F-18 Hornet.
Today, the Russian 2 Virgin Galactic The World’s First Spaceline Outer Space Air Force and many other nations around the world continue to use this elite model. The MiG-31 is Russia’s most advanced fighter, designed to fly high and fast but also perform well at lower levels. Whichever model you select, there’s only one way to go—and that’s up, at supersonic speeds. Mission accomplished. —JS

Extreme Sports

On this blog we are fans of "iExplore", a good website that gives some travel guides by destination and activity; Now we want to show you a list of the "10 Overall Extreme Sports"

Hope you like it


Piranha fishing, Brazilian Patanal
This would have to rate as extreme playing with one of the most deadly fish in the world and then eating it afterwards! Keep your fingers clear from their hungry mouths when you're reeling them in. The feast afterwards makes all those nerves and adrenalin worthwhile.

Mountainbike, Bolivia
The world's most dangerous road has to be biked simply for its title. The steep and bumpy road starts high in the rarefied air of the Bolivian Andes at La Paz and plunges for 40 miles through lush, sub-tropical Yungas to the sleepy town of Coroico. Be careful, the road is narrow, hugs the walls of the sheer valley as it snakes beneath waterfalls and rocky overhangs.

Cheese rolling, England
This sport is all about lunacy and danger. A cheese is flung down a hill at this annual event in Gloucestershire and competitors chase it. It might not sound that daunting until you consider the steepness of the slope, the dips, bulges and perils that claim a few ankles, bones and soft tissues amongst competitors and spectators every year. Of course, the winner gets to keep the cheese.

Bungee jumping, Victoria Falls
With Victoria Falls as a backdrop, this 365 foot plummet towards the Zambezi River, is arguably the best bungee jump in the world. It's also the world's highest commercial bungee jump.

Motor Biking, Ulaanbaatar
Follow in the wheel tracks of Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman of the Long Way Round Series while undertaking some the best off-roading in the world. Cross the mountains, grassland, desert and rivers on a 1,243 mile motor journey south into the Gobi Desert. In April there are young camels, foals and cattle. At all times of the year you'll come across monks and monasteries, river and range, desert and dust.

White water rafting, Zambezi River
Start a rafting journey beneath the thunderous Victoria Falls on a river like no other on earth. This one will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat as huge whitewater and powerful rapids pound you along through breathtaking scenery, complete with hippos lazing on the riverside.

Bungee Jumping, Queenstown, New Zealand
Go to the home of the bungee jump at Kawarau Bridge, Queenstown for your own 3-2-1 jump into nothing. An instant thrill and a complete adrenaline rush.

Ice diving, Antarctica
Plunge into the icy waters of Antarctica for a truly experiential dive. Dives vary from shallow ice diving along ice floes to deeper shore dives. The fantastic shades of color under the water are quite amazing and there is a superb variety of marine life. You might even see seals, penguins and whales.

Downhill mountain biking, Nepal
Get ready for serious downhill adrenalin in the playground of the Nepalese foothills. All climbs to the top are by van, cable car or plane so there's no low gears required. Take a flight to Jomsom (2800m) on the top of the Annapurna circuit and spend three days descending down the Kali Gandaki Gorge, one of the deepest gorges on the planet. It's pure mania.

Sand boarding, Swakopmund, Namibia
Experience the wonders of the Namib desert and sand board down some of the largest sand dunes on the planet.

Difference Between All Inclusive Resorts and Hotels

by: Owen Jones


If you are planning to go on vacation this year, how are you thinking of going about it? There are several options to explore, if you begin planning early enough. There are the self-planned, 'I will find a hotel when I get there' style; there are cruises and there are package vacations.

The self planned is for those without children and is more bold. Cruises are great, if you like being on the water more than being on land and there are the package holidays, some of which are all-inclusive package vacations.

If you choose a vacation package, you have the alternative of looking for an all-inclusive resort or an all-inclusive hotel. There is not much to pick between them, if you are going alone or with your spouse, but if you are taking children, the all-inclusive resort is the one for you.

This is because all-inclusive hotel rooms can be on the small side and if you have a small child or even children with you, your room will soon become overcrowded and suites are more highly priced. An all-inclusive resort, on the other hand, will normally provide accommodation in the form of cabins or chalets, which are designed with young families in mind.

You do not want to be living on the 12th floor of a large hotel with toddlers, because either they have to stay in the room until you want to go out, in which case they might get grumpy or they might learn how to get out and wander off in the hotel. A chalet, however, will inevitably be on the ground floor, frequently be in groups, so that you can help keep an eye on each other's kids and may even have a small garden with a fence.

Whether you go to an all-inclusive hotel or an all-inclusive resort really depends on whether you have or can put up with children. If you have children then a resort is for you, if you do not like children's racket, then you would be better suited to an all-inclusive vacation in a hotel.

Once you have selected your kind of all-inclusive package vacation, the rest is plain sailing. Actually what is all-included in these style hotels and resorts can vary quite widely, so you should make sure you know well in advance. Cost is a good clue. If one resort at the same location is much cheaper than the others, look into it more warily before booking.

Often the disparity will only be in degree. For example, an all-inclusive hotel or resort may offer the free use of diving equipment, but when you read on it might restrict that to non-mechanical diving equipment, so you only get a mask, snorkel and flippers. Others may only have ten units of equipment - first come first served.

However, having said that, most all-inclusive package vacations are fantastic deals. They include your transport to and from your home town to the destination, which depends on you and where the resort is of course. For St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands transport could be by cruise or flight - you must settle on that at the outset. Having to travel 500 miles to Orlando by bus or train with three young children might not be much fun.

When you get there, they almost always include all your meals and snacks and all soft drinks, tea and coffee, beer and non-branded spirits. An all-inclusive will also include all fees to on-site entertainment. That means the, pool, the club house, pool, snooker, table tennis, the gym etc, and access to any private beach attached to the hotel. It will also include night time shows usually.

¡The First Post!

Writing the first post is a hardworking task... that's why we decided to introduce you "Travel And Adventure Blog" with some very important facts about this blog.

1.- Who we are?
We are some students who wants to show you the best travel and adventure offers and stuff; we're taking a "course" to prepare our skills as "Tourist Guide".

2.-Why this blog?
Easy answer: A good place to take tips and information.

3.-What will we blog about?
Countrys, places to visit, museums, airlines, discounts and offers.

We're gonna appreciate your comments and your visits.

Here we go!