Siargao is the Philippines surf capital, and Cloud 9 is why. A hollow reef break off General Luna, watched from a wooden boardwalk that runs straight out over the reef. You do not have to surf to get it. Walking that boardwalk at sunrise is the thing itself.
Air India Express has cancelled its Bengaluru-Patna flight from 1 to 15 November, and its Delhi-Patna flight on 8 November, Diwali day. If you are flying to Patna for Diwali or Chhath, check your booking now. via Times of India
I kept coming back to one place in Brazil this week. Chapada Diamantina, in Bahia. Its Fumaca waterfall drops 340 metres, and on a windy day the water breaks into mist before it hits the ground. That is where the name comes from. Smoke falls.
Rough cost. Delhi to Salvador returns have been seen from about Rs 1.08 lakh. A guided 3 day Fumaca trek runs from about 400 dollars. I would budget roughly Rs 1.6 to 2 lakh per person for a week. Indians need a visitor visa in advance, around Rs 8,000.
One practical thing. Start the Fumaca trail early, carry more water than you think you need, and ask locally about the flow first. In the dry months it can thin to almost nothing. The swim at Riachinho on the way back is the reward.
There is a boulder in Norway wedged between two cliffs, 984 metres above a fjord. People stand on it for a photo. It is called Kjeragbolten, above Lysefjord.
Rough cost, per person. Flights from India to Stavanger have been seen around Rs 52,000 return. The hike itself is free. A guided day trip from Stavanger runs about 190 euros. I would budget roughly Rs 1 lakh for a short trip, flights included.
One practical tip. Stepping onto the boulder is optional. If it is wet or windy, skip it. The view from the plateau is the same, and no photo is worth that drop.
30 flights cancelled today. 19 across Vijayawada, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam, plus 11 at Chennai. Cyclone Murasu makes landfall on the Andhra coast tonight, between Nellore and Narsapur, winds up to 120 kmph. via The Hindu
The shaft is 49 by 62 metres at the top and wider at the bottom. Rappelling needs a permit and real vertical-caving experience. Watching it costs almost nothing.
Best months are roughly March to October. Base in Ciudad Valles, day trip out. Get there before 6.30 and stay quiet. India to Mexico City returns I saw were around ₹1.3 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh.
606 fewer domestic flights a week this Diwali month. Airlines scheduled 22,306 weekly flights for November, down 2.6% on last year's festival month. Air India cut most, 543 a week. Worth checking timings before you book. via Business Standard
Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan is one of the deepest river gorges on earth. The Jinsha River cuts 3,790 metres down between two snow peaks. A tiger is said to have jumped it at its narrowest point. I think the name alone sells the walk.
The trek itself is cheap. Entry is about 45 yuan, dorm beds at Halfway run about 78 yuan. Flights to Kunming from India run roughly 35,000 to 48,000 return. A week in Yunnan around it, roughly 70,000 to 90,000 per person, ballpark.
One practical thing. Send your big bag ahead to the end guesthouse, it costs about 20 to 30 yuan. Walk with a small pack, water and good shoes. The trail is not technical, but the steps are relentless.