Assam State India - Diphlu River Lodge

We flew from Delhi to Guwahati Airport to where we connected with our prearrange driver for the five-hour ride to the Diphlu River Lodge located on the edge of Kaziranga National Park. Check out

www.diphluriverlodge.com/ for more information. 

Assam State is located in north east India and has international boarders with Myanmar, Kingdom of Bhutan and Bangladesh. The food is less spicy in this state and the climate is cooler due to the higher elevation. We found the temperature very pleasant in November. The state grows tea which is well know and other agricultural products. Kaziranga National Park is a highlight of this area and is a frequent tourist spot for Indians.

Sunrise on the Diphlu River

Our room was located overlooking the Diphlu River which allowed us to watch what was happening along the river. Early every morning around 5 AM the men would be on their bamboo rafts and to catch minnows. At this time of the year, the mist on the river is often quite thick until the sun comes up.

Bamboo Raft

Collecting small fish

The lodge is beautiful with a common area open to the elements where visitors congregate, use the limited internet and have meals. The staff were extremely friendly and always smiling.

Our room was an independent cabin and Prince William and Kate had stayed there in 2016. The staff were very proud of the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had visited their lodge.

Cabin #5

The room was lovely and the shower was wonderful. You felt like you had an outdoor shower but the convenience of being indoors.

Grounds

Assam is known for producing excellent tea. There are many tea estates along the road. One of the interesting things about the tea estates that the wild Indian Elephants do not like to eat tea. But the elephants will pass through the tea estates when they move through the area and not cause severe damage to huts or be chased by the locals. We attended a very interesting lecture about the conservation being done in the area to protect the elephants and allow them to move between their natural habitat.

Tea Plantation in Assam, India

We had decided to stay at this lodge so we could visit Kaziranga National Park. This is one of the last areas in northeastern India that is not disturbed by human contact. They have been doing a lot of conservation work to reduce poaching and increasing the mammal population. The park has the largest populations of one-horned rhinoceroses and Indian elephants. The area is a floodplain for the Brahmaputra River which also provides a wonderful area for the migratory birds from Siberia.

The major road that runs parallel to the park has a restricted speed limit to help reduce the number of animals killed crossing the road. The people of Assam are very proud of the fact that the rhino population has increased.

While at the lodge we had the opportunity to go on six half-day Safaris into Kaziranga National Park. To learn more about the park check out the blog entry on Kaziranga National Park.

Crater Lake National Park

Sinnott Memorial Overlook

Crater Lake National Park is the deepest lake in the USA at 1943 feet. The lake was created when Mount Mazama exploded. They believe that there were numerous fishers that spued ash and lava into the air. These vents formed a circle around the mountain and when the lava below the mountain was gone the mountain collapsed into its self-creating the caldera which then filled with rain and snow. With no way for the water to leave the water is very pure and that helps to account for the deep blue colour. 

Sinnott Memorial Overlook is a great place to start and learn about the creation of the lake and the area. You can find the overlook at the Rim Village behind the Rim Visitor Centre.

You can drive the Rim road or take a trolly car around the lake. If you are driving take your time to stop at the numerous viewpoint to see the lake and geological features. There are a variety of hikes that you can choose to do while exploring the park.

Due to the purity of the lake, the light reflected is a deep blue on a sunny day. Only near the edge of the lake where the water is shallower is the water more of a turquoise colour.

Phantom Ship

Phantom Ship is an island in Crater Lake. It is as tall as a 16 story building. This formation is over 400,000 years old and is made of erosion-resistant lava. This is the oldest exposed rock in the caldera.

Pinnacles were created by volcanic gases escaping through the layers of volcanic ash, cementing the ash into solid rock. Some of the spires are 100 feet or 30 meters tall.

You can still visit the park into October but programs start to shut down mid-September with many facilities closed by October. Remember that the elevation at Crater Lake is high and the temperature in the park along the rim is cooler than the valley below.

Mount Thielsen

Pumice Desert

On the northwest corner of the park, you will find the Pumice Desert. This area is the remains of the ash from the volcano. Very little grows in the area but plants are starting to establish themselves in the desert.

Pumice Castle

Hiking in the National Park. There are several short easily accessible hikes in the park that allow you to have great views of Crater Lake or areas of interest. For people that want a bit more challenge, there are hikes to the top of several mountains in the area.

We did several hikes. Most of the hikes are about 1 hour or less in length: Sun Notch, The Pinnacles, Plaikni Falls, Cleetwood Cove and Watchman Peak.

Plaikni Falls

Plaikni Falls is a very easy trail the ends at the falls. There are benches to rest on going up and several rock chairs when you arrive at the falls.













The only trail down to the lake is Cleetwood Cove due to the steepness of the caldera down from the rim.

Crater Lake at the water's edge

Cleetwood Cove is the area that the boat runs to Wizard Island. The boat ride shuts down the middle of September. 

Wizard Island

Wizard Island in the largest island in Crater Lake and is actually a volcano that started forming below the surface of the lake.

Looking for a great hike to see the sunset. Walk up to Watchman Peak. At the top is an observation tower. There are great views of the lake and the mountains towards the west.

Observation Tower

North view from Watchman Peak

Diamond Lake Resort

Scenic Byway

Driving along highway 138 from Roseburg to Diamond Lake you pass through the Umpqua National Forest area that is known for the number of waterfalls in the area. There are numerous hikes in the area. We did not have time to explore the area but it is a beautiful drive.

Diamond Lake is about 5 miles north of Crater Lake National Park. The area is surrounded by national forest reserves which have numerous hiking and bike trails. You can drive or bike around Diamond Lake on a paved trail.

There are five campgrounds around the lake.

Beach at Diamond Lake Resort

 Diamond Lake Resort is located on the north end of the lake and has a variety of cabins and lodge rooms available. They have a restaurant, sports bar and lounge. There is a boathouse and grocery store on the property. This area would be very busy during the summer months.

The lake is well known for its trout fishing. You can rent a boat spend the day out on the lake or take a half day trip on a pontoon boat. They will supply the rod and tackle for the half day trip.

Lake View

We stayed in a cabin that had a view of the lake. The cabin had a full kitchen, two bedrooms, and a sitting area with a wood stove and TV.  The cabin is very basic and old. The beds need to be replaced as well as the stove and some of the furniture. 

While we were staying there was a fire ban and we were not to light the wood stove. This made for some very chilly evening and mornings. We did get to have a fire when the ban was lifted and it truly made the stay more comfortable.

One morning the lake was completely covered with fog as it was only 29 F at 8 am.

Fog on the Lake

Wildlife Safari in Oregon

Wildlife Safari near Winston Oregon is a great opportunity to see a variety of animals that roam freely while the vehicles stay on the designated road through the park.

Gemsbok

They have a very successful Cheetah breeding program and the following cats are in cages: Sumatran Tigers, African Lions and Bob Cats.

Ostrich

While driving through the park you may encounter any of the following animals:

Demara Zebra

Girraff

Hippopotamus 

Sika Deer,

Southern White Rion

Guanaco

Watusi Cattle, Common Cape Eland, Scimitar Oryx, White-Bearded Gnu (Wildebeest), Waterbuck, Black Buck, African Elephant, North American Black Bear, Brown Bear, American Bison, Nilgai, Tibetan Yak, White Cheek Gibbons, White Naped Crane, Emu, Rhea

Roosevelt Elk

Aoudad (Barbary Sheep)

Once you have driven through the park make sure that you visit the Safari Village. There are exhibits of native and exotic wildlife from reptiles and fish to cougars, bobcats, and cheetah. There is also an area that you can feed the goats and pat some of the animals.

Just a Pig

Black Swan

Just Waiting

Please Feed Me

Oregon Trip 2018

This trip we decided to fly to Portland and drive south to Crater Lake National Park. The day we arrived in Portland we drove to Salem Oregon. We had a wonderful Korean meal at Happy Bimbap House.

I ordered the Bimbap. It is served in a piping hot stone bowl. When bowl arrives you take your chopsticks and mix the raw egg into the dish so it cooks. Very tasty and filling dish.

Walking to the Game

Oregon Ducks Stadium

The next day we drove to Eugene. Bill really wanted to see a college football game so he had purchased a ticket for the Oregon Ducks. It was crazy the fans going to the game. We walked from Oregon University across the river to the stadium.

I went to The Museum of Natural and Cultural History on the University of Oregon campus. This was a small museum but has several interesting displays. There was information about the sabre tooth salmon. An excellent geology display. The hands-on displays are great for children to learn more about the topics. There were displays about the history of Oregon. Check out their website at http://natural-history.uoregon.edu.

While in Eugene we stayed at the Eugene Whiteaker International Hostel. The hostel is close to the tracks that run through the centre of town. There were about five trains that we heard during the night.

The next day we headed for Diamond Lake Resort in Southern Oregon. On the way, we visited the Wildlife Safari. For more information check out the posts on the Wildlife Park and Crater Lake.

The whole area from Portland to California has a great variety of wineries that can be visited. Depending on the area you can find a winery to visit.  North of Medford, we drove through the Rogue Valley and visited the Kriselle Cellars to check out their wines.

Bill relaxed on the deck in the sunshine while Elaine decided what to buy.

Grapes ready for Harvest

Leaving Diamond Lake we drove north on highway 97 to Bend Oregon. Three miles south of Bend is the High Desert Museum.

Otters

Burrowing Owl

 

The museum has several habitats for birds, snakes, turtles and a few mammals. 

There are excellent dioramas about the history in the area and the local indigenous people. Walking outside you can visit the raptor house, otter house, a working sawmill, and a settler's cabin and farm. When we visited there was staff dressed in period costume. There were numerous talks and demonstrations throughout the day that were free. 

This is a small museum and a great opportunity to learn about the area and some of the animals.

After the museum, we continued towards Mount Hood along highway 97 the highway 26. We had great views of Mount Jefferson as we passed through a deep canyon at Warm Springs. The Butte is a very impressive sight. Once you reach the Mount Hood area there is hiking, camping and skiing in the winter. The drive from Mount Hood to Portland is a scenic byway so be prepared for the drive to be a little slower through the communities.

Back in Portland, it was time to navigate the slow-moving freeways to return the rental car. You need to give yourself extra time as the traffic is gridlocked over an extended rush hour.

Bryce Canyon Utah

Bryce Canyon National Parks is definitely one of my favourite places that we visited this trip. The park is not really a canyon as you look down from the rim there is no rim on the other side. To really experience the park you need to walk down the 1600 feet or take a horse trip through the park. Trail rides can be arranged at the park lodge. You can still drive the whole park but there is a convenient shuttle service from the visitor's centre. The shuttle only goes as far as Bryce Point but you can drive to Rainbow Point.

It is a good idea to stop at the Visitor Center to find out hikes and guided activities. There is a  Lodge and a campground in the park but they booked up early so you need to plan ahead if you want to stay in the park. There is also lots of accommodation and campgrounds available outside of the park.

The trail we will be taking from Bryce Point

We decided to hike Peekaboo trail from Bryce Point along the left side of Peekaboo Loop rail and out of the valley via the Navajo Loop Trail on the right side of the loop.

Wall of Windows

Looking back at Bryce Point on the top of the rim.

We did not have to walk back to the starting point because we picked up the shuttle and rode back to our car parked near the Visitor Centre.

The climb out of the valley.

Inspiration Point View Point

When we got to the rim we walked from Sunset Point to Inspiration Point before catching the shuttle. Inspiration Point is definitely the area to see a great view. You can drive to this point and it is a short walk uphill to see the best view.

If you have the time to drive down to Rainbow Point. There are numerous viewpoints to stop at on the way. Make sure you take a picnic lunch and take time to stop at one of the picnic sites. The Natural Bridge area is an easily accessible viewpoint. The elevation at this viewpoint is 8627.