Goodbye 2015 and Hello 2016

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So you got your party hats, noise makers, streamers, balloons, confetti, and champagne all ready to go. You’ve decided which geocaching event to attend, or which geocache to find on December 31 and January 1 to earn your Goodbye 2015 and Hello 2016 souvenirs. But how will you share it with the world?

We got you.

Post your great New Year’s photos to Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram using the hashtag #Geocaching and this downloadable Goodbye 2015 / Hello 2016 template (see photos below). Tell us your favorite memories from 2015 and your geocaching resolutions for 2016. We can hardly wait to see what the New Year brings everyone!

Just for fun, here’s a list of interesting facts about different New Year traditions from around the world:

  • Samoans used to be the last to ring in the new year, but are now one of the first since the International Date Line was moved in 2011/2012.
  • Filipinos wear a polka dot dress and eat round fruits (such as grapes) to attract good fortune.
  • Germans and Austrians pour molten lead in a bowl of water, and the shape determines their fate for the new year.
  • Americans kiss at the stroke of midnight in the hopes of finding true love.
  • Geocachers reflect on their accomplishments from 2015, and set their goals for 2016.

What geo-accomplishments were you proud of in 2015? What is your geo-goal for 2016? Share your #Geocaching photos with us! 

 

Pack Deinen Reisepass ein!

Das letzte neue Ländersouvenir dieses Jahres ist hier!

Trommelwirbel bitte! Das letzte neue Ländersouvenir dieses Jahres ist… Thailand! Die Kombination aus weißen Sandstränden, blauem Wasser und uralten Ruinen führt zu unglaublichen Geocaching-Abenteuern in Thailand. Wenn Du in Thailand geocachen gehst, solltest Du das auf keinen Fall verpassen:

  1. Thailand_vFINAL_111215_InstagramBesuche den Großen Palast in Bangkok, der Hauptstadt Thailands.
  2. Logge diesen EarthCache und entdecke die Insel Ko Phi Phi, wo Leonardo DiCaprio bekannterweise im Film “The Beach” gefilmt wurde.
  3. Teste Deine Höhenangst und finde diesen Kletter-Geocache – manche behaupten, es sei der beste in Thailand.

Finde mehr zum Thema Geocaching in Thailand auf dem Geocaching Blog und sieh Dir die Geocaches mit den meisten Favoritenpunkten an.

Thailand ist, mit Slowenien, Estland, Litauen und der Türkei, eines der neuesten Ländersouvenirs. Wenn Du in diesen Ländern in der Vergangenheit Geocaches gefunden hast, wirst Du das entsprechende Souvenir auf Deinem Profil finden. Hier kannst Du Dir alle Souvenirs anschauen, die Du schon gesammelt hast. Gute Reise!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Guide to Geocaching in Thailand

Colorful is one word that perfectly sums up this unique and beautiful Southeast Asian country. Elephants and noodle soups, white-sand beaches and blue waters, Buddhist temples and ancient ruins, Thailand captivates the hearts of visitors from all corners of the world and leaves everyone with everlasting “Thai smiles” glued to their faces.

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Like attending a Muay Thai boxing match, geocaching has joined the list of fun activities to participate in while in Thailand. There are currently over 1,300 active geocaches hidden throughout the country, all waiting to be discovered by visitors and locals alike. And to make things more exciting, *Thailand is the newest country to receive a Geocaching souvenir!

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Although we all wish we could jump on a plane and head there now, this list of 5 amazing geocaches will have to do the trick. Enjoy!

 

1. GC2JDFG — Grand Palace
Cache Owner: JamieZel
Type: Traditional
D/T Rating: 1.5/1.5

PicMonkey Collage

There’s no place quite like the sprawling and bustling city of Bangkok. Golden Buddhist temples collide with large megamalls festooned with bright neon lights. And there’s no city quite as hot. Bangkok has an annual mean air temperature of 28°C. When geocaching, dress for the intense humidity and be on the lookout for muggles. This traditional cache was placed near the ornate Grand Palace which is a must-see attraction in the city. Afterwards, eat your heart out at any local food stand, as the street cuisine in Bangkok is phenomenal.

Be on the lookout for Siamese kitties as you wander the streets. They are native to Thailand.

 

2. GC24XKT — Ko Phi Phi Lee – (Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park)
Cache Owner: Calico-Jack
Type: EarthCache
D/T rating: 3.5/1.5

Thebeach

What’s a trip to Thailand without visiting the insanely famous island of Ko Phi Phi? This island served as the backdrop to the 2000 cult classic “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Although  the island is no longer uninhabited as it was in the film, it’s still just as breathtaking.

 

3. GC5G9N0 — Up and down! (Railay Lagoon)
Cache Owner: ChrisA33 & Damonstah
Type: Traditional
D/T Rating: 3/4.5

lagoon

Rumor has it that the best cache in all of Thailand is located in the rock climbing paradise island of Railay. If they attempt it, geocachers are sent on an exciting and challenging adventure to a hidden blue lagoon. It’s no easy task, though. Bring good hiking boots and a friend you can lean on (literally).

 

4. GC932A — Thailand’s Highest Point
Cache Owner: Steve (Licorice)
Type: Virtual
D/T rating: 1/1

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Thailand is home to some incredible mountainous regions. If you head up north towards Chiang Mai, also known as the “Rose of the North”, you’ll encounter these areas, all of which have been transformed into National Parks. This virtual cache is the location of Thailand’s highest point and the views are breathtaking. After exploring the area, spend some time wandering through the night markets and delicious restaurants in Chiang Mai.

 

5. GC48FEJ — Wat Mahathat
Cache Owner: thorshammers
Type: Traditional
D/T rating: 1.5/1.5

north

Located about five hours north of Bangkok, Sukhothai was the first ancient capital of Thailand (known as Kingdom of Siam at the time) from 1238 to 1438. The Sukhothai Historical Park is now a great place to explore. There are several geocaches hidden throughout the park including this well-placed micro. If time allows, explore some of the local rice fields. Thailand is the largest exporter of rice in the world!

 

*Thailand is the fifth and final Geocaching country souvenir to be released this year! Souvenirs are virtual pieces of art that are displayed on your Geocaching profile page when you find a geocache in certain locations. A list of of currently available Geocaching souvenirs and even the ones you’ve already earned can be found on Geocaching.com. And, if you’ve already found a geocache in Thailand, we will retroactively add this souvenir to your profile in December 2015.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or right here on our Blog to find out out more.

What geocaches are on your Thailand geocaching trip bucket list?

 

Kuş Evi / Bird House (GC4W8G4) — Geocache of the Week

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Geocache Name:

Left: http://bit.ly/1NU6qwr | Right: http://bit.ly/1jMLHwn
Left: http://bit.ly/1NU6qwr | Right: http://bit.ly/1jMLHwn

Kuş Evi / Bird House (GC4W8G4) — by haoral

Location:

Üsküdar, Turkey
N 41° 02.075 E 029° 01.926

Difficulty/Terrain Rating:

D3.5/T3.5

Why this is Geocache of the Week:

This week, we’re recognizing a creative geocache in a country that just got its first souvenir: Turkey!

Birdhouses, or Kuş Evleri in Turkish, are literally built into much of the Ottoman architecture in Istanbul and other cities in Turkey. This geocache was placed in tribute to those birdhouses.

“Kuş Evi / Bird House”  is a tree-climbing cache, the first of its kind in Turkey, in fact. Finding it qualifies you to add a special banner to your profile. Starting this week, you’ll also earn the brand-new Turkey souvenir for finding this, or any other geocache, in Turkey.

What geocachers have to say about it:

“This cache was my main target this afternoon: I like tree-climbing and I like banners . This one combined both. At least after I had found it! There were quite a few people around, thus I had to look carefully. After a looooong while I found a short trail and the tree. Getting to the cache was no problem but then there was the locking system that needed to be overcome. It wasn’t too difficult but something new to me! I really liked it! This whole cache is definitely worth a favourite point! Greetings to the owner! TFTC!” –kinderarzt

“I wanted this one to be my 300. cache, so i saved itaccordingly during our Kuzguncuk tour. I have bern listening to the praises of this cache for months. I found some bird house caches in Europe before but i encounter one with a puzzle for the first time. Initially, my wife went up the tree. But when she had some difficulties with opening the lock, we switched places. I also could not open it immediately. The numbers must be aligned precisely to open it. I didn’t have a magnet with me but a swiss army knife. The rest eas not so difficult. And for sure, it deserves a fav point.” –blastrula

What the Cache Owner has to say about it:

Tell us a little bit about why you decided to hide this cache?
“There were not many handcrafted caches in Turkey or Istanbul. I saw a lot of nice, maker caches in the web and want to make one myself. It should be not to difficult but should have some field puzzle elements in it. And it should be a example of handcrafted caches for the growing community in Istanbul.”

There don’t seem to be many tree caches in Turkey. Do you know if yours was the first?
“I am very sure it is. It is a tree cache where searchers have not to use technical equipment, but have to climb nearly 3 meters high. Today there are more caches in Turkey like this.”

Do you think this cache requires more maintenance that your other geocaches?
“No the place is more secure than the other caches in the city. Also it is chained to the tree, so Muggles are less a problem.”

Do you have anything in particular you’d like to say to the geocaching community?
“I produced this and some other caches in Istanbul to show the community that nice crafted caches are more fun than simple ones.”

Photos:

 

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The making of the cache.

 

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Intrepid geocachers in an attempt to disguise themselves as monkeys.

 

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The puzzle box that contains the cache.

 

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The cache itself.

 

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The littlest geocachers may need some help finding this one.

 

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View from the cache.

Continue to explore some of the most amazing geocaches around the world. Check out all of the Geocaches of the Week on the Geocaching blog.

If you would like to nominate a Geocache of the Week, fill out this form.

 

Geocaching bucket list: dreamy beaches edition

Geocaching bucket list: dreamy beaches edition

 

Geocaching bucket list: dreamy beaches edition

Ocean, n. A body of water occupying about two-thirds of a world made for man — who has no gills.”
Ambrose Bierce, The Unabridged Devil’s Dictionary

Any serious geocacher has a treasured list of geocaches they wish to find before they “kick the bucket”, so to speak. We feature an intermittent series dedicated to bucket list geocaches, and today’s theme is beaches.

Time to grab your swimsuit, some flip-flops, and go geocaching! Don’t forget your pen and some sunscreen. 😉

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