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Bromantic Travel: Heavy Objects and Kilts

Anyone can plan a golf excursion or a deep sea fishing trip, but only the brave would plan a mancation around attending a series of games that promise sweat, strength and the possibility of injury.

The highland games are celebrated all over the world as a way to embrace Celtic culture. Men in traditional garb compete in events such as the "caber toss," in which one attempts to launch a 100-pound, 20-foot-tall log as far as possible. We'd guess that your lady friends are unlikely to tag along.

The Cowal Highland Gathering held in Dunoon is the largest event of its kind held in Scotland. Set for the last weekend in August, this year brings the Red Hot Chilli Pipers to town. (Yes, they're a rock-and-bagpipe group.)

You can also celebrate your love for all things Celtic a little closer to home at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in North Carolina. About 50,000 people attend the games in the western part of the state each year. The events kick off this year on July 10 and bagpipe their way through July 13.

Related Stories:
· Grandfather Mountain Highland Games [Official Site]
· Cowal Highland Gathering [Official Site]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: sherseydc]

Tags: Mancations / Festivals / Culture / → All Tags

Mongolia Travel: Location, Location, Mancation?

April's half over and if you don't start planning this summer's mancation, you know none of your friends will. We suggest you join the thousands of spectators who flock to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar and its surrounding Gobi Desert each July for the country's annual "Three Manly Games."

OK, so officially it's the Naadam Festival, but our name for it is pretty accurate. Whatever you call it, this mid-summer Mongolian manfest is not your average guys getaway.

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Tags: Dangerous Travel / Oman / Mancations / Dick Cheney / Fishing / → All Tags

Dangerous Mancations: Fishing with Cheney in Oman

We told you Oman would go mainstream, but we didn't know it would go right-wing. As part of a 10-day tour in the Middle East, Vice President Dick Cheney took some time in the gulf state to rant about Iran and the nuclear threat--and then borrowed the sultan's 60-foot yacht to go fishing.

A fishing trip with the VP sounds a bit safer than, say, going on a hunt--just mind all those hooks. Cheney's wife and daughter, who accompanied him on the outing, came back without suffering any impalements. Sultan Qaboos bin Said, however, apparently thought better of it and didn't go.

Too bad Cheney didn't have time to do any shark fishing before heading back to the States!

Related Stories:
· VP talks about nukes in Oman [WaPo]
· Oman coverage [Jaunted]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Mathias M]

Tags: Alcohol / Scotland / Mancations / → All Tags

Single Malt Mancation in Speyside

There's a certain romance to the soft, bucolic green hills of Scotland--a romance that wouldn't normally inspire us to take a trip there with the guys. But after hearing about the whisky festival in Speyside we're changing our minds. Pack your best tweed jacket for this mancation, and come ready to quaff some of the finest single malts the island has to offer.

Speyside, an area taking its name from the river Spey, has a history of making whisky that stretches more than 150 years. Even back when distilling was a "crime against the crown," says the Guardian, it was home to more than 200 distilleries. Many of the world's most popular whiskies have emerged from the region (Johnnie Walker ring a bell?) but the more artisan single malts are Speyside's signature. Benromach, one of the smallest distilleries, has a shop in the town of Elgin that sells 750 kinds of malts.

The Spirit of Speyside whisky festival runs May 1 - 5, and includes a variety of tours, tastings, food events and (if you're still able to stand) even dancing. The festival drew about 16,000 people last year and some of the events are already fully booked. As always, classiness comes with a price--tastings run from about $10 - $40 each.

Related Stories:
· Whisky Galore at Speyside Festival [Guardian]
· Spirit of Speyside [Official Site]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]
· Scotland Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: kyleroth]

Tags: Mancations / Fashion / Shopping / → All Tags

Nothing More Manly than Denim and Beer

We'll admit it: Taking a trip to Wisconsin to shop for jeans is an unorthodox mancation. But it's also worth it. Context in Madison is one of the few stores in the country specializing in raw denim for men. The rugged material is made just like it was in the early 1900s, and store owners Sam and Ryan will set you up with a pair that hug in all the right places.

They'll also give you a bit of unexpected manly advice: don't wash your pants for at least six months. These jeans are truly au natural--no chemicals or fading treatments here--and are designed to be broken-in by the wearer. Expect to pay top dollar for these durable, non-sweatshop garments; they're often upwards of $200. At least you'll save on laundry costs.

Don't let that lightness in your wallet deter you from hitting the town. Right around the corner is the Great Dane Brewpub, where a hearty plate of brats and mash is only $8, and fresh in-house brews are always on tap.

Related Stories:
· Context Clothing [Official Site]
· Great Dane Brewpub [Official Site]
· Fashion coverage [Jaunted]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Mancations / Biking / Mountain Biking / South Africa Travel / → All Tags

Mountain Bike Mancations in SA

Flying down narrow singletrack trails on a mountain bike is challenging. Doing so after sundown in the South African wilderness sounds damn near crazy. But if there's a beer and a beach at the end of the road, then we're all in.

Live2Ride tours in Langebaan, South Africa--a coastal city roughly 60 miles from Cape Town--offers just that experience for only about $30. Starting at sunset, riders head out from the beachfront, winding through town and up into the woods. The ride is just shy of eight miles long, but the darkness makes dirt roads all the more tricky. (Yes, you'll have lights.) The trail spits you back out by the water where you can score drinks at Driftwoods restaurant.

If you're looking for something a bit longer, Live2Ride also offers day tours for about $70. The Aurora route is a grueling climb up into the Piketberg mountains with a total elevation gain of over 3,000 feet. But save some of that energy for a fast descent on the second half--you'll need it to squeeze your break levers.

Related Stories:
· Live2Ride [Official Site]
· South Africa Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Mountain Biking coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: coda]

Tags: Beer / Belgium Beers / Mancations / Brewery Tours / → All Tags

Mancationing at a Monastery

Belgium might not be at the top of your list of mancation destinations, but after suffering through six-packs of Pabst and MGD while scraping for travel funds the first thing you could use is a quality beer. And man, those Trappist monks deliver!

Breweries like Chimay and Rochefort have long been crafting beers that come closer in flavor and complexity to fine French wines than to the ambers and lagers common in the US--many can even be aged. Across Belgium, there are only six Trappist monasteries that brew these rich ales, and some have been doing so for over a hundred years as a way of sustaining their needs. (Rochefort has been at it since 1595.)

Almost all of the monasteries welcome tours, but only Achel has a brewery and cafe right inside the abbey, so you and the guys can sit and enjoy while watching monks prepare the brew. They even have a guest house for only €28 ($41) per night, so you won't have to stumble back into town.

Related Stories:
· Drink in the Atmosphere and More [NZ Herald]
· Achel Brewery [Official Site]
· Give Us a Belgian Beer [Jaunted]
· Belgium travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo:emotionblogger]

Tags: Adventure Fishing / Frankenfish / Mancations / → All Tags

Snakehead Fish Caught In Lincolnshire, You Can Hook Your Own Monster Fish In Thailand

A two foot long snakehead fish was caught by an angler on the River Witham in Lincolnshire over the weekend. This "frankenfish," dubbed the gangster of the sea, is deadlier than a piranha and tends to eat everything that might be in it path--even humans.

The fish has a mouth full of razor sharp teeth, and get this, it can crawl on land and live up to four days--so it is possible that this gangster fish can chase you down out of water.

While Lincolnshire locals are hoping this snakehead capture is an anomaly and not the start of a trend, some of the world's leading angling guides actually offer frankenfish heads the opportunity to hunt down these gangster predators in the wild.

Jean Francois-Helias of Angling Adventures Thailand, is one such angler who has led plenty of snakehead captures, just in case you were looking for an adrenaline junkies/gangster fish chase of a vacation.

[Photo: Graham and Shelia & Daily Mail]

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Tags: Mancations / Fishing / Sailing / Patagonia Travel / → All Tags

Post V-Day Travel: Mancations in Patagonia

So you were smart enough not to spend all your money on jewelry this Valentine's Day. And after all that romance, you've got an itch to angle in some of South America's most secluded spots on the ultimate mancation? Andrés Ergas is your man.

The Chilean millionaire's company, Nomads of the Seas, will helicopter you to prime fly-fishing spots throughout Patagonia, treat you to gourmet picnics and keep your glass full as you unwind on a 150-foot boat.

Ergas' ship is the Atmosphere, which in addition to holding a crew of 32 that caters to just 28 passengers, also accommodates a Bell 407 helicopter and several custom Zodiac jet boats. To the dedicated angler the real hook is the chance to cast a line in virtually untouched spots--Nomads doesn't even issue maps to its guests and supposedly keeps the locations of fishing excursions tightly under wraps.

If fishing isn't your thing, wildlife packages are also available. You can try your hand at nature photography or scout out rare and endemic birds. Whichever options you choose, be prepared to pay pretty-penny for your week-long journey: packages start at about $12,000. Good thing you didn't get her those diamonds!

Related Stories:
· Adventure a la Carte [SMH]
· Nomads of the Seas [Official Site]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Mancations / Fishing / Ice Fishing / Upstate-NY-Travel-Map / Adirondacks Travel / → All Tags

Global Warming Destroys Crappie Competition

Our Upstate NY Travel Map will get you there.

As the weather grows colder, we start loosening our definition of "fun" outdoor activities. Today's pick: ice fishing in New York.

But be warned: As doomsday predictions of balmy Northern winters become a reality, lakes aren't freezing hard enough. Unless bone-chilling temperatures set in soon, the thick layer of ice needed to sustain ice fishing shacks and burly men may not form.

Things are so bad that organizers have already canceled the annual Crappie Derby in February, New York's largest ice fishing competition that usually happens on Whitney Point Lake, near Binghamton. (Funny, we'd call any event requiring us to sit on a frozen lake all day crappy, too.)

So far, it looks like the most reliable place to plan an ice fishing trip will be the northern heights of the Adirondack Mountains in what is really the upstate of Upstate New York. Lake Pleasant is shallow and at elevation, meaning it forms ice easily. And it's stockpiled with brown and rainbow trout, landlocked salmon, walleyes, pickerel, lake whitefish and yellow perch. Sushi on ice, anyone?

Related Stories:
· Ice Fishing Becomes Endangered [NY Times]
· Upstate NY Travel coverage [Jaunted]
· Mancations coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: 416style]

Tags: Adventure Travel / Diving / Sharks / Mancations / → All Tags

Shark Attack Travel: Mexico's Hungry Great Whites

So hunting for 844-pound sharks is too extreme for you? And you don't feel like pioneering the Iraqi shark fishing industry? Then you might want to reconsider your trip to Mexico's Isla Guadalupe with SharkDiver.com.

Passengers and crew on a recent excursion got plenty of action when they witnessed a great white attack a fur seal, says dive master Luke Tipple:

We were in the middle of cage diving operations on the back deck of the MV Islander when all of a sudden a 6 foot geyser of black foam and red blood erupted 50 yards from our position.

While the boys at Shark Diver have been working these waters for years, a surface attack like this surprised even them.

Of course, there's no guarantee you'll see great whites on any particular trip, but Shark Diver CEO Patric Douglas says the odds are good, especially in the winter months:

We have research data showing these sharks actively stalking the smaller Guadalupe fur seals early in the shark season. By November these pups are quite big and begin to play offshore, which is the equivalent of ringing the dinner bell for larger female whites.

Related Stories:
· SharkDiver.com [Official Site]
· Sharks coverage [Jaunted]
· Adventure Travel coverage [Jaunted]

Tags: Sharks / Fishing / Mancations / Iraq / Iraq Travel / → All Tags

Iraq Travel: The Next Hot Spot for Shark Fishing

Attention! A new force is threatening the sovereignty of Iraq, and it's very, very hungry. A man fishing in a canal near the southern city of Nassiriya caught a six-foot-long shark who somehow eluded barriers and swam up the Euphrates River into what is known as the cradle of civilization.

Some Iraqis believe the shark was planted by occupying American forces to scare the locals. But that doesn't answer the question of how the shark got to Nassiriya in the first place. If Iraq is a little exotic for you, visit our fishing map to find some more traditional spots for landing a big catch on your next trip.

Related Stories:
· Fisherman Nets Shark 200 km from Sea [Yahoo]
· Deep Sea Fishing Spots [Jaunted]
· Iraq Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: JawsMovie.com]