10 Things I love about travel
This month’s travel linkup is all about love… here’s 10 things that I love about travel:
1. Waking up in the middle of nowhere and pinching myself that I’m actually there
Santorini, Greece
An island in the San Blas
Clouds reflecting at Salar de Uyuni
Me with Violet, babysitting a baby baboon in Namibia while volunteering, what a wake up that was!
Sunset over Spitzkoppe with the group, Namibia
2. Being surprised by creatures near and far
Whether it be a sloth climbing across power lines in Costa Rica.
Sloth crossing the road, Costa Rica
Or a leopard staring for a split second along a tree, before darting away.
Leopard, Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya
Or by how peaceful gorillas are in the wild.
Gorilla sleeping, Rwanda
Or by how caring baboons can be.
Baboons grooming
Baby baboon’s that are carried by cuddling the back or tummy of a parent, Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya
4. Seeing incredible architecture and wondering how humans ever managed to create it
Such as the Pyramids of Giza
Standing in front of the Pyramids of Giza
Or the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood in Saint Petersburg, Russia (full mosaic’s inside and out)
Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, Russia, 2014
Inside the Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood
Or Gaudi’s masterpiece – the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain.
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
5. Stumbling across festivals and markets
My first mini-trip in Prague that happened to be during Saint Patrick’s Day and the Easter Markets
St. Patricks Day amongst Easter Markets in Prague’s town square
6. Realising how much I can really handle
Whether it be ending up in multiple hospitals in multiple countries/continents… no photo for that one!
Bungee jumping over the Nile in Uganda.
Bungee Jumping, Jinja, Uganda. Definitely outside of my comfort zone.
White water rafting and seeing my life flash before my eyes when I lose my helmet in a rapid.
White water rafting in Jinja, Uganda through the Nile river
Or climbing beyond my wildest dreams to see a sunrise, despite my fear of heights.
Dune 45, Namibia
7. Being able to reflect on fantastic memories, close my eyes and be right back there one more time
Chimpanzee, Kibale Forest
8. Sample incredible delights that the world has to offer in food
Ceviche in Palermo, Argentina
9. Having my eyes opened by people, cultures and events, past and present
Some good.
African children waving
San Bushman dance, Namibia
Some sad.
Auschwitz, Poland
Srebrenica, Bosnia
Uganda child
9. Having those ‘Awww’ moments when you see incredible scenery that creates lasting memories
Of eating an apple as I stare across a lake at the Swiss Alps.
First, Switzerland
Of being scared S*#less of heights, yet climbing the stunning Machu Picchu Mountain and staring out over the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu, view from Machu Picchu Mountain
At the top of Machu Picchu Mountain, overlooking the ancient city below
Of watching ice break away and fall from Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina.
Perito Moreno Glacier, Santa Cruz, Argentina
Ice falling from Perito Moreno Glacier, Santa Cruz, Argentina
10. Making life long friends all around the world to hold in my heart forever
Friends from an Ireland tour meeting again years later, at an airport
Friends from studying in Austria in 2010, catching up almost every year since despite the distance
By now you can see how much I LOVE travel. I’ve learnt not to take any moment lightly, saviour it and learn from it, enjoy and remember it, forever.
Lovely post! You’ve seen so many amazing things, and I loved looking at all of your photos to accompany the stories. I also had that wow moment when I saw the ice breaking and crashing into the water in El Calafate, Argentina, it’s pretty incredible!
Yer that glacier was pretty incredible. Hard to believe sometimes that I’ve actually done all this! Thanks for reading!
great post! some amazing photos! #travel linkup
These photos are incredible! Especially the leopard, and the gorilla. And the chimp. Okay I’m jealous of how many cool animals you’ve hung out with! And I agree with all of the above. I particularly enjoy history when I’m travelling; understanding why a place is as it is and what has come before. A bit of a never ending quest but very mind-expanding!
Thanks Rachel, the animals are awesome. I’ve considered even going bush and becoming a ranger in Africa in the past I love them that much! Don’t think I could handle the bugs though… totally agree with the history, I feel I owe it to the people of the past to understand what happened, no matter how sad it is.
Beautiful post Ngaire! I agree, so many incredible photos to match the awesome stories. I love how travel challenges us and it’s awesome that you haven’t let your heights-phobia get in the way of some stunning views.
Thanks Jessi! Yer well trust me a few times in Namibia I was pretty close to tears as I came down from the top of the heights!
Travel really is just the best! And the architecture that humans have created over time, it always amazes me too!
Number 1 ALLLLLL the way for me!
The ‘awww’ moments and meeting people from different places – they make the memories for me but then so does the pinch myself moments and and and… great post!
I came for the Travel Link Up, I stayed for the cute baboon photos! XD
Hehe baboons and gorillas can be super cute!
I love all these feelings that travel gives you too! That photo of the leopard is incredible 🙂
WOW, some of your photos are absolutely stunning! I am incredibly envious of all of your baboon/chimp/monkey encounters!
Polly xx
Thanks Polly! Those are the favourite encounters!
Your travels are truly inspiring. You have seen so much outside the typical touristy cities and come so close to nature! I truly admire you! 🙂
Thanks Nano! I try to avoid big tourist spots if I can, but it’s not always easy!