As a tribute to carefree traveling, I’ve been listing my most memorable travel experiences so far. You can read part 1,part 2, part 3 , part 4 and part 5 in the previous posts.
Without further ado, here are, in no particular order, the last 15 most memorable travel experiences:
For a major “market fan” like me, the Ecuadorian indigenous markets were a special treat. They’re loud and bustling with people from various Andean tribes gathering to buy and sell all kinds of goods. Handicrafts, textile, produce, livestock and everything in between. Beside the shopping possibilities, these markets offer the visitor a great opportunity to sample the local staples.
14. Working as a butcher in Muscat, Oman
Ummmm… Sometimes pictures say more than words.
13. Spending a few nights in a refugee camp
Dheisheh Refugee CampWe spent a few nights in a refugee camp during our visit to Palestine. Unlike in the other refugee camps I’ve seen over the years, the refugees here had cement housing instead of tents which reminded us of how long the situation has been going on. Travel is not just about the pretty sights and the adventurous bus rides, it’s also about trying to understand the world.
I loved everything about my stay on the small island group in northern Russia; the desolation, the scenery, the midnight sun… Click on th title to read what struck me in Russia
11. Party, beach and sunshine on Isla Margarita, Venezuela
Isla Margarita… Yes, it is as exotic and fun as it sounds! An absolute tourist mecca but entertaining nonetheless. Being only 20 years old, I felt proud to have flown to South America on my own dime and I was eager to party!
10. Climbing holy mount Agung at night to see the sunrise
Our group of 5 were the only people climbing the volcano that night. The hike was so long and strenuous, I cried on the way down. Cried. Like a baby. But as with everything in the world of travel, the toughest experiences are the ones you remember and cherish the most.
Albania is now on my list of favourite destinations. Partly thanks to the lovely town of Berat where I spent hours on end strolling through the cobbled streets. Click on the title to read why I love Berat.
East-Timor was quite tough to travel in, but I truly loved being there. I was thrilled to be traveling solo in one of the most difficult countries to travel through. I fell for its ruggedness and its authenticity. Click one the title to read more about my thoughts on Timor-Leste.Reading on the East Timorese beach…
I traveled to Turkey on a tight budget so taking a ride in the hot air balloon was not an option for me. However, watching hundreds of balloons soar through the morning sky with a new friend was one of the highlights of my trip. Click on the title to read more about traveling to Cappadocia on a budget.
6. New Year’s eve in Rantepao, Sulawesi
Spending NYE in one of the capital towns of Sulawesi, Indonesia was pure madness, to say the very least. With everyone -including 4-year-olds- randomly shooting off fireworks everywhere, it seemed like we had landed in a ‘post apocalyptic war zone’. Think explosions, smoke, loud music, hundreds of scooters racing around… Words, pictures or video’s couldn’t possibly convey what it was like. A real life Indonesian version of ‘Mad Max’, perhaps..
Montenegro was one of the best travel surprises. I found a deserted beach on Sveti Stefan, where I feasted on my picnic, bathed in the cool water and caught some rays while listening to music! Click on the title to read about my visit to Kotor and surroundings
4. Integrating in the Congolese village life
This one, I’ve been doing every so often while visiting family in DRC. I switch up my Western clothes for local wear and get involved in the daily village life.
3. Meeting sea gypsies in Borneo
Just off the island of Sabah, there are small settlements of “sea gypsies” living on their own terms, not necessarily by choice but by obligation as they are refugees and have no legal documents to enter Malaysia. Meeting these people and learning about their life on the sea left a deep impression on me, one I hope to share with you on this blog one day.
2. Watching the sun go down on African “booze cruises”
Imagine gazing at this view while floating on a small boat. A tropical breeze stroking your sunkissed cheecks, slightly hazed from the cool beers; all you can think about is how incredibly beautiful mother nature is…
1. Meeting incredible people and making friendships along the way
You may only spend a few days with new friends made on the road, but sometimes those few days or hours are enough for a lifelong connection and a treasure chest full of lasting memories!
Though the list goes on, the experiences listed here are the ones I cherish most. You may have noticed that for me, it’s not about the tourist attractions nor is it about the payed activities. To me, it’s about getting out of your comfort zone, embracing the “out of the ordinary”. I hope you enjoyed tagging along memory lane!
As a tribute to carefree traveling, I’m listing my most memorable travel experiences so far. You can read part 1,part 2, part 3 and part 4 in the previous posts.
Without further ado, here are the next 15 travel experiences in no particular order:
30. Bicycling on Nicaragua’s Isla de Ometeppe
The Nicaraguan island of Ometepe boasts two volcanic peaks rising from the lake, surrounded by lush greenery. Riding a bicycle crossed the island was simply exhilarating; smelling the colourful tropical flowers, riding through fields of butterflies and ending with a cooling dip in a natural pool.
29. Taking natural mud baths
I’m always up for a “natural mud bath”! It seems to be a reoccurring theme recently. I’ve lathered myself with mud in Turkey, Israel and Colombia so far. Where will my next natural mud bath be?
28. Whisky tasting in Scotland
After having discovered the delicate taste of fine whisky a few years ago, Scotland jumped to the top of my travel wish list. I made it my mission to learn about the different types of Whisky and to sample as many as I possibly could without getting wasted.
27. Bribing my way crossed an African border
I’d like to go back to that country one day, so maybe I should stay vague on this one… Why is it part of my top travel experiences? Because it’s a reminder of how your sense of morality is tied to your culture and situation. As much as corruption pisses me off and as much as I would plead for it to disappear from this world, I gave in that time in Africa as it seemed as though I had no other realistic options. This is one of the many ways travel broadens your world views and makes you reconsider your truths.
“Good morning m’am, would you like to go to a funeral?” was the unusual way I was greeted in Sulawesi, Indonesia. “Sure”, I replied. Click on the title to read about death rituals and funerals in Tana Toraja.
25. Hawker stall madness in Singapore
What I remember most about Singapore is how much and how well I ate! I spent hours in hawker stalls ordering a plethora of dishes from different vendors, comparing the same dish by different cooks and trying foods that looked unfamiliar. Blue rice, jiggly soup, floating fish heads… My love for Southeast Asian street food was born.
Armed with an old-school road map and a box of Portuguese tarts we tackled the wining roads of the Douro Valley in search of the perfect Port wine. Click on the title to read about our short getaway in Portugal.
23. Partying on Tel Aviv’s rooftops
I probably shouldn’t generalise but what the heck; Israelis know how to party! I found that out in Tel Aviv, where we were invited to one party after the other, each time in cool locations like a hidden beach shack, a secret basement, the desert or a boat at sea. My favourites where the rooftop parties.
22. Staying in a luxury lodge in Africa
One of the tips I give people travelling in African countries for more than three weeks, is to splurge at least once on their stay in a luxury lodge. Our top notch lodge in Uganda had an infinity pool with views on the national park. While sipping from our cool beers on our deck, we could spot troops of elephants traversing the plains. WOW!
21. Haggling in markets all over the world
If you ask me, markets are the beating heart of every country and the best school to learn the art of haggling. Going to the local market is what I look forward to most prior a trip.
With our rented motorcycle we slowly cruised the spice island, stopping in small villages and empty white sand beaches. Pictured here is the fish market in Stone Town. Click on the title to read more about Stone Town.
19. Receiving blessings from holy men/women
No matter the religion or philosophy, I never refuse a blessing. I feel as though the many blessings I’ve received from ‘holy men and women’ throughout the years, have really had their effect.
17. Spending lazy days in love on a South Indian beach
Or any beach for that matter…
16. Taking overnight trains in Zimbabwe
My friend and I were just 18-19 years old and the only tourists on the rusty Zimbabwean trains to Bulawayo and Victoria falls. Two nocturnal journeys talking to local youths, binging on snacks, laughing and doing everything in our power not to go to the extremely unhygienic toilets. Photo by Daryle Dickens
Next, the last 15 items on the list! Curious about Part 1, Part 2 , Part 3 or Part 4 of this list? This series will be continued every other Thursday!
As a tribute to carefree traveling, I’m listing my most memorable travel experiences so far. You can read part 1,part 2 and part 3 in the previous posts.
Without further ado, here are the next 15 travel experiences in no particular order:
45. Wild camping in Liechtenstein’s Alps
Unlike in most European countries, wild camping is legal in Lichtenstein. You can walk into the Alps and pitch your tent wherever you want to, away from campsites. Perfect for experiencing the whole “man vs nature” thing…
44. Visiting the cotton castle in Pamukale, Turkey
The cotton castle is just stunning at dawn. Besides, getting there before the crowds is key to this experience! Note that swimming in the main pools is no longer permitted.You can see why this rock formation is nicknamed cotton castle. In Pamukkale, Turkey.
New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh is a basically a crazy street party with concerts, fireworks, dj’s and dancing in the centre of the city. A fun and casual way to celebrate the new year. Click on the title to read about celebrating Hogmanay in Edinburgh.
42. Climbing an active volcano with streaming lava
The sole’s of my shoes melted off as I carefully stepped on the barely solid lava rocks. I could see and hear the boiling lava streaming right under my feet. I can’t say I felt comfortable on volcano Pacaya in Guatemala.
41. Floating on the Mekong and sipping on white coffee in Vietnam
40. Being spiritually overwhelmed in Jerusalem
Religious or not, witnessing thousands of pilgrims and locals alike sing hand in hand, burst into tears and pray rigorously at the religious sites of Jerusalem, is touching on a deep spiritual level. I too ended up saying a prayer for peace by the Wailing Wall.
39. Bathing in the natural hot springs and waterfalls of Dominica
The tiny island of Dominica has so many exciting nooks with waterfalls, hot springs and swimming holes. Nature on this Caribbean island is so lush and untamed, you feel like a pathfinder. WOW!I went in for a dip every occasion I got!
38. Connecting with kids in Africa
Kids in Africa LOVE to see visitors passing through their village. Their curiosity leads them to surround you, laugh, sing, dance and call you names (mostly the local slang for ‘white person’ even if, like me, you’re not really white). Connecting with these kids is something you should experience for yourself to know how heartwarming it can be. Picture taken in Rwanda.
Ok, I cheated a bit; there was a viewing platform… But that doesn’t take away from the wonder of seeing our wild “cousins” swinging from branch to branch. I’m not a particularly big fan of animals yet I stared at the baby orangutans in the rehabilitation centre for at least an hour. Click on the title to read about my visit to Sabah.
35. Shamelessly doing every tourist cliché in Paris
I’ve been to Paris several times and the French culture is quite close to mine (Belgian) but I just had to do it once: act like a cliché tourist in Paris! Barret, Eiffel tower, baguette, cheese, wine, macaroons and a long stroll along the Seine. Cliché or not, I loved it!
There are so many reasons to love Oman but what I enjoyed most were the natural pools and wadi’s. I felt so small climbing over rocks and wading in the desert valley pools. Click on the title to read about my road trip through Oman.
When I think of Myanmar, I think of gold. Not even in Dubai or Saudi Arabia did I see as much gold as I did in Myanmar. The Shwedagon Pagoda, pictured here, took the cake. Click on the title to read about the other thing there is in abundance in Myanmar: Buddha depictions.
32. Roadtripping throuh South Morocco
South Morocco is another fantastic place to take a road trip. Fields of roses, ancient towns, traditional villages, interesting desert landscapes and warm welcoming inhabitants, are just a few things you find on the way.
31. Eating strange foods along the way
Little shacks like this, don’t scare me. In my experience, they often serve something interesting to taste. Besides, when hunger strikes…I love trying all kinds of local foods. The weird and the ugly included. Usually, that translates into unusual meats. So far I’ve tried rat, dog, turtle, camel, grasshoppers, duck embryo, crocodile, toad, hippopotamus, smoked monkey, guinea pig… I think this subject may need a post of its own.
As a tribute to carefree traveling, I’m listing my most memorable travel experiences so far. You can read the first 20 items and the next 20 in the previous posts.
Without further ado, here are the next 15 travel experiences in no particular order:
60. Bicycling amongst the ancient temples of Bagan (Myanmar)
We rented some bicycles to explore the temples and pagodas of Bagan in Myanmar. To get the best light and avoid the crowds we left just after dawn and got a taste of what finding these masterpieces must have been like for western explorers back in the days.
59. Wandering and climbing around Petra
Instead of sticking to Petra’s main tourist route to see its remains, we drifted off and climbed ourselves to the “outskirts” of the Pink City. With no other visitors in sight for miles, we experienced ultimate freedom (to goof off).Of course we also visited the famous sites, like “The Treasury”.
Our Polish friend intrduced us to the fine art of vodka drinking. It’s not as straight forward as you would think! Click on the title to read about the rules of drinking vodka.
57. Camping in the African Savannah
After the safari, we pitched a tent in the savannah. Though it was an official campsite, we were still in the middle of the bush. Some hungry hippos came by at night and the hyena’s were laughing behind our tents.
56. Having a naked hamam experience somewhere in Turkey
Umm, I don’t have a picture of this… But unless you’re a bit of a prude, I do recommend going to a hammam in Turkey! Yes, you’re expected to be naked…
55. Tasting local rum mixes on the beaches of Guadeloupe
Not only does Guadeloupe produce some fine rum, they also have tasty homemade infusions like this one: lemon, honey and cinnamon rum. Can you imagine spending the day on a caribbean beach sipping on this?! Paradise!
I wasn’t consciously looking for it but living in Bali for a year helped me find a certain peace of mind. There is something in the air on that island.
53. Having traditional Shabbat dinner in Jerusalem
We were surprised by an Orthodox Jewish man blowing a horn on Friday afternoon in a market in Jerusalem. Shabbat was starting; according to this man’s faith, everyone needed to drop everything and close their shops immediately. He was yelling at the non-Orthodox shopkeepers, blowing the horn in their faces. It was quite an absurd sight to us, which we discussed in detail during the Shabbat dinner we were invited to.
52. Swimming with wild dolphins in Zanzibar
We spotted some dolphins near the wooden fishing boat we were sailing on. I tried to capture them on photo but it was so much more fun to jump in and swim along with them. I had no idea dolphins were so big, bigger than me it seemed!
51. Backpacking through Central America
From Guatemala to Panama with a backpack and a small budget. Honduras and Nicaragua were my favourite countries of the region.
Looking back, I can’t believe I made my way through this crowd without fainting.Thaipusam is an intense pilgrimage in Malaysia which involves hooks, chains, lemons and milk to name a few. Read all about the madness of Thaipusam by clicking on the title.
49. Sleeping under the Saharan star spangled sky
I rode a camel to an isolated spot in the Tunisian Sahara where our group camped and danced around a bonfire to the beat of the djembe. Though we had pitched some Bedouin tents, most of us fell a sleep in open air while gazing at the the countless stars.
48. Quite literally rolling in foreign money
OK, this one may need some explaining… I’ve often traveled to countries with strongly devaluated currency. In these cases, I’ve had to lug around lots of cash just to buy a a simple loaf of bread. Quite a hassle, for sure but on the other hand, it has allowed me to live out a childhood dream: rolling around in money like they do in the cartoons! *hello DuckTales* Cheers to living your childhood dreams!
Another absurd and oh-so memorable night… Midget boxing in the red light district of Manila. Click on the title to read more about the quirky things we did in Manila.
The food in Bologna is incredible; simple, fresh and local. A real foodie paradise! Click on the title to read about my foodie weekend in Bologna, Eataly!Fresh Italian produce
Without further ado, here are the next 20 travel experiences in no particular order:
80. Bathing in Budapest’s public baths in the snow
There is something incredibly ‘exotic’ to bathing in the outdoors with outside temperatures of -3°C . Add a stunning architectural backdrop and a blanket of snow and the picture is complete! At Széchenyi Thermal Baths
We tracked down the restaurants serving Michelin starred dim sum. “If I don’t like those, I can officially say I don’t like dim sum.” As it turns out, I do like dim sum! Click on title to read about surprising Hong Kong.
78. Floating in the dead sea in Israel
It’s a strange feeling to be almost completely weightless. Unlike anything else!
Swimming, eating, relaxing with cool beers, waking up to the chirp of little birds… That’s what our time in Bunyonyi was all about. Click on the title to read more about Lake Bunyonyi.
76. Crashing a grand Indian engagement party
The night I arrived in Delhi, my host took me to a party. Once there I realised it was a huge engagement party with incredible food, an open bar and blasting Bollywood music. Though totally underdressed and tired from my flight, I was warmly welcomed by my new friends.
75. Pick-nicking in the Summer Palace in St-Petersburg
As it was my travel mate’s birthday, we took the opportunity to indulge in a blini and caviar pick-nick with the Summer Palace as a backdrop. I don’t even like caviar but it seemed like the most appropriate thing to eat.
74. Spending 24 hours in Qatar with people I had never met before
A midnight drive around, shisha in the souq, Lebanese brunch and shopping in a recreation of Venice… Thanks to local expats who took me under their wings for 24 hours, I really enjoyed the city of Doha in Qatar.
73. Discovering the bizarre ghost towns of Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a peculiar country. The town seems deserted and overrun by desert sand, yet there is a certain mystique in the air… Notice this woman shovelling sand from her front door. The Saharan winds bring the dunes right into people’s homes…
The hummingbirds of Mindo touched my soul and brought back some inner peace . Click on the title to read more about magical Mindo.
71. Road tripping the Irish countryside
I was stunned by the natural beauty of the Irish country side. Stopping for a pint of Guiness and a minced meat pie in a local pub made the experience all the more memorable. A road trip not to be missed!
The rain doesn’t take hitchhikers into account… We hitched rides from Belgium to Denmark through The Netherlands and Germany. Even though we had it relatively easy being two women asking for a ride, hitch hiking turned out to be hard work! The exciting and fun kind of hard work. Click on the title to read about doing Copenhagen on the cheap.
68. Getting pampered with fantastic massages in Southeast Asia
Incredible how a luxury service in the West can be such an ordinary one in the East. Long live affordable massages and the soothing tea’s that follow!
67. Finding evidence of the slave trade in Ghana
Behind the walls of this fort, lie the dungeons where Ghanian men and women were held captive to be sold as slaves and shipped off in those parts of the world. You can actually still smell the human distress in the dungeons. very confronting…
66. Meeting the Garifuna tribe in Honduras
The Garifuna are descendants of the West African people living on the Central American Caribbean coast. They speak their own language and live in communities which reminded me very much of the African villages. Even their food and music have obvious African influences. It felt a little like home after having spent some time in Latin America.
65. Hiking to the top of Mt. Sinai to see the sunrise
The hike started in the middle of the night, following a trail of candle holding pilgrims. Once at the top we had just enough time to catch our breaths before the first rays of light made their appearance. Being surrounded by pilgrims singing, praying, crying and admiring the sun, it was almost a religious experience.
64. Fishing in South India
Though I didn’t work quite as hard as the fisherman, taking part of their daily activity and sharing the (slim) catch was nothing short of enriching.20 years earlier, I was doing the exact same thing (yes, that little girl in the bathing suit is me) Photo by A. Van Den Daele
63. Transforming into a Burmese lady in Myanmar
In a beauty parlour of small town in Myanmar, I found out the techniques Burmese ladies and ladyboys use to achieve their beauty ideal. Lightening the skin is just one of them. Here is the Burmese version of me and my talented make-up artist.
62. Snorkelling with manta rays
They’re so much bigger than I could have imagined, I was frightened. These majestic creatures slide under the surface of the ocean, not slightly fearing the clumsy “human fish”. Photo by Shawn Heinrichs
61. Going on spontaneous trips
There’s nothing more exciting than deciding to take a trip on a whim. Decide today, leave tomorrow… That’s how I ended up in Warsaw, Denmark, Paris, Kosovo, Brunei, Amsterdam, Cuba…
Continue reading part 3, part 4, part 5 and part 6! If you’ve mist the part 1, catch up here… I’ll be posting the rest of the list every other Thursday!
Are any of these experiences on your “been there done that” list?
It’s been quiet on Travel Cake these past few months. Some of you have been asking me where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to. Well, I can tell you this much: I haven’t been slacking!
I’ve moved from Ecuador to Belgium where I have been slaving away at a 9 to 5 desk job. Being back in my hometown has been wonderful in terms of reconnecting with friends, family and the city. You may have read the mini luxury guide to Ghent I wrote for travel blog “Hippie in Heels”. You may also have read what I had to say about travel photography in an article for “Voyager for life“.
saying my goodbyes to Ecuador
But most importantly, I’ve been preparing for the trip of a lifetime. A new adventure, greater than any I’ve ever been on before.
Destination?
Motherhood.
That’s right,I said motherhood.
The journey began 10 months ago in Iran and continued in Ecuador and Colombia. It took a turn in the US and passed by the Netherlands. It then continued to Belgium where our daughter was born. Our ‘Mini Travel Cake’ is a sweet and funny baby with a traveller’s spirit. How could it be any different, she is only a month old and has already been to 6 countries!
Does this mean Travel Cake is turning into a mommy blog?
No. Plain and simple. It’s just not my cup of tea. However, I’ll probably publish an article related to kids and travel every once in a while. But in general I plan on publishing the same kind of content as I have so far.
As my pregnancy came to an end, I was stuck indoors with a swollen face hiding from the summer heat. Knowing that my life will never be exactly the same again, I thought about my passed travels. Motherhood is probably the most intense and life changing adventure of them all and I’m THRILLED not to have rushed into it. Thrilled to have taken time to see and experience as much of the world as possible while being relatively carefree. That’s why, as a tribute to carefree travelling, I will be posting a countdown of my 100 most memorable, essential travel experiences.
Here goes part 1, in no particular order:
100. Driving miles and miles on the rooftops of Nepali busses.
A drink, music blasting from your headphones and wind running through your hair… the best seats are in between the luggage on the roof of the bus!
Morocco’s riads are so romantic, so sophisticated and worth the occational splurge. I tried looking the part sippin’ on an overpriced martini in one of Morocco’s fancy riads. Click on the title to read about my weekend in Fez, Morocco.
98. Floating through life on a houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala
Waking up on the deck of our houseboat, having breakfast while we glide over the waterways, sigh…
Water party in a pop-up day clubThis is a common street scene in Yangon during the water festival. Click on the title to read about our experiences during Thingyan.
Our first and very ill prepared trek at 4300m altitude. Click on the title to read a post related to trekking.
95. Rum cocktails in Castro’s Cuba
Cuba during Castro’s reign was such a bizarre yet unique and enchanting place. At least for visitors. Things may have changed but I’m sure the rum cocktails are still just as delicious!
After a breathtaking hike, I reached the cabin of an Albanian family who welcomed me for tea and burek. Instant adoption. Click on the title to read about my hike in the Albanian Alps.
93. Spending the night in the garden of Eden in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Watching the sun set after a long walk in what seemed like the garden of Eden. DRC has fantastic nature, I wish I could say the same for the political situation.
A childhood dream came true when we spotted these cuties in the jungle of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Click on the title to read more about our time in Sulawesi.
91. Fishing, sunbathing and drinking on a catamaran in Los Roques, Venezuela
My first time on a caribbean beach, I was overwhelmed by the high tropical factor
90. Traveling by train in Russia
I got to know my cabin mates by communicating with signs on a 40 hour train ride to the Russian Arctic
Camping on a deserted beach in southern Oman.We stumbled upon some sea turtles laying their eggs in the sand. Click on the title to read about my road trip to Oman.
86. Learning to scuba dive
Wreck diving in the Philippines, a new world opening up…My first open water dive in Zanzibar, one of many more to come.
The more I talked to local people on both sides of the conflict, the more confused I was on the issues. No matter how much I hung out in the old streets of Jerusalem. Read more about my trip to Israel.Crossing the horrendous border to Palestine. Click on the title to read more about my findings in Palestine.
As I previously mentioned in my post on backpacking in Africa, travelling in that part of the world can add up to be quite pricey. But with a little imagination and a sense of adventure you can travel/backpack in Africa on a relatively low budget. Of course, it will never be as low as India, Nepal or South East Asia but still cheap enough that anyone could afford it.
One of the African destinations that lends itself perfectly for an interesting, budget friendly Africa vacation is Uganda. I’ve visited the country twice, both times as a backpacker using public transportation.
This is what our budget backpack trip in Uganda looked like:
COUCHSURFING IN KAMPALA
I’ve quite often used Couch Surfing in my “travelling career”; both as the guest and as the host. When I Couch Surf, I usually do so in big cities as they can be quite overwhelming when you first arrive and I prefer experiencing sprawling urban area’s through the eyes of a local or expat instead of following a guide book.
As it usually goes with CS, you don’t always know where you will end up. We were in luck in Kampala and stayed with an awesome expat in one of the city’s fanciest areas, Kololo. Our host took us to his favourite spots in town where we chatted and laughed over some cool beers and fresh tilapia.
spending the night in a stylish loft with a view over Kampalaweekend at one of Kampala’s lake side beaches with beers and new friends
On the second trip, I stayed in a quaint hostel (ICU guesthouse, dorm 15$) on the edge of town where many semi-long term volunteers reside. Alternatively you could stay at Red Chili Hideway, it’s also outside of town but with a swimming pool and a free daily shuttle to the city centre. Red Chili offers a good deal on trips to Murchison Falls as well.
EATING ROLEX AND OTHER STREET FOOD
When on a budget, street food is the way to go. In Uganda, you’ll find grilled kebabs and barbecued bananas/corn -to name a few- sizzling on every street corner. The most popular (and in my opinion most tasty) street side snack are rolex (comes from ‘roll eggs’): a tomato-onion-paprika omelette rolled onto a freshly baked chapati. One would really have to have two left hands to mess this snack up! We’d eat rolex from the street almost every day for lunch and it never disappointed.
getting rolex by the lake, a shocking sight for Ugandans as rolex is considered a snack for the poor. Some find it hard to understand why a “rich” tourist would choose to eat rolex.the smell of the grilling meat is often much better than the quality of the pieces on your stick, unless you like bouncy, chewy meat …I know these deep fried grasshoppers don’t look particularly appealing, but they’re delicious! Like a cross between salted nuts and potato crisps. Anyways, they’re much cheaper than the ones you get in trendy restaurants in the West nowadays!
SAFARI’S AND HIKES IN QUEEN ELISABETH NATIONAL PARK
Just having just crossed the border form DRC (that’s a story for another post) we were in desperate need for some luxury and internet. So we threw our budget out of the window (for a day) and checked into a higher end lodge. Considering most lodges in and around the African national parks often have rates starting at €250 per night, this lodge – Kingfisher Lodge Kichwamba- was a bargain at €160 a night, breakfast and dinner included for both of us!
Disclaimer: these were the rates in 2011, converted with an interesting currency exchange from US Dollar to Euro. Today’s rates in Kingfisher Kichwamba start at 205$ for a double room, half board.
R&R in paradise after roughing it in DRC.
It was exactly what we needed: relaxing by the pool, a western meal á la carte, getting some work done, a much needed wifi fix and a view to die for.
infinity pool with endless views over Queen Elisabeth National Parkspotted some elephants from our room’s porchnot a bad way to get some work done!
After soaking in as much as possible from our splurge, we returned to our backpacker’s reality the next day. We hitchhiked to Simba Safari Camp where we stayed in a dorm, talk about contrasts! It’s a great budget place to stay, they also offer private rooms.
hitchhiking on the equator
From there we arranged a boat safari on the Kazinga Channel, bringing along a cold beer to enjoy with the scenery. You don’t need to book a package tour, you can easily arrange transport to the departure point and buy a ticket for the boat trip once you are there. Though I can’t recall the exact price, I can tell you it was definitely less than 30$ per person.
crusing down the channel, spotting wild life and having a cold one… What a chilled out way to spend an afternoon!
Instead of booking a multi-day safari package, we hired a car with driver to take us on a game drive in the national park. Though Queen Elisabeth NP may be far from the most impressive safari I’ve been on, it very well is the cheapest. Perfect for animal lovers on a budget!
crown birds at dawncrater lakegetting close to some lazy lions
There’s plenty to do in QE National Park like chimp tracking or looking for tree climbing lions but we opted for a more economical activity: hiking in ‘Maramagambo Forest’. Since we already had a car and driver for the day, the only cost left was that of the entrance fee to the forest and a tip for the guide taking you along the trails, pointing out various species of primates, birds and medicinal plants.
Our main reason to hit the forest, was to see the massive python living in a bat cave. Apparently, it doesn’t hunt, it just opens its mouth and waits for one of the thousands of bats to fly in. This is all the python does, all day long. Therefore it has gotten so fat, it can hardly move. We were keen on seeing the spectacle. Unfortunately we missed the freak show as the python had already returned deep inside the cave after its daily suntanning moment, when it drags itself out of the cave.
a beautiful walk through the forest in search of the fat lazy pythonnow that’s what I call a bat cave!
TOTAL RELAXATION BY LAKE BUNYONYI
Next we headed to Lake Bunyonyi, if you’ve been following this blog for a while, you might have read my post on Lake Bunyonyi, my favourite spot in Africa so far.
Lake Bunyonyi
Both times we stayed in a magical place called Byoona Amagara, definitely the best value lodge I’ve stayed in. For just 15$ per person per night, we had a small geodome with private bathroom and a stunning view over the Ugandan lake. They also provide dorms (7$) if you’re really tight on cash but the beauty of staying here is undoubtedly the geodome experience. There are plenty of other places to stay on Lake Bunyonyi, I haven’t tried any of them as I’m totally hooked on Byoona Amagara…
(clockwise) typical Bunyonyi flowery tree, stretching with my sister on our geodome’s sun deck, boating on the lake, view from the bed in the large geodomethe small geodome, no doors. Just a mosquito net between nature and yourself.eco-shower with a view
The entire trip in Uganda took us about 10 days, travelling quite slowly, spending enough time at each destination. You could backpack the same trip in fewer days but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. If you have more time, why not add a stop in Jinja and/or a jaunt to Murchison falls to see more animals and a stunning waterfall.
Have you been to Uganda? Would you consider going?
One of the photography goals I’ve recently set for myself, is to focus more on themes: to capture recurring colours, patterns or situation. I find most of the themes I’ve been working around so far, quite average. I usually collect pictures of exotic drinks, dishes, mistranslations, strange signs and a couple of funny ones I’ll be sharing in future posts. That’s why it was quite a challenge to find suitable photographs to enter the “Explore the elements” contest organised by Thomas Cook.
Fellow travel blogger Colleen of “Colleen Brynn Travels“ nominated me to join the competition and it took me quite some time to browse through thousands of pictures, looking for shots that reflect the four elements, a theme that never really crossed my mind before. Since I love a good challenge, I kept searching and came up with these:
EARTH
After the rain (click to enlarge)
I took this picture in a small village in the hills of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most of the children in this village spend their days exploring this earth shoeless. Visitors often wonder how these children are so full of laughter and happiness when they can’t even afford to buy shoes. My theory: being connected with nature and having the freedom to play unrestrictedly outside, brings greater joy than any material thing could ever.
WATER
Water brings life (click to enlarge)
A man in Myanmar teaches his 7 year old son how to catch dinner. Presence of lakes, seas and oceans make us feel happy and calm because we know that where there is water, there is life.
FIRE
Burmese woman and her guilty pleasure (click to enlarge)
I met this lady near a temple in Myanmar. We didn’t speak each other’s language but we shared laughter and exchanged sunscreens- traditional natural Burmese sun protection for a squirt of western SPF20. We didn’t connect through words but through spirit and energy. When she lit up her big cigar, I just sat next to her and together we watched the smoke dance around us.
AIR
Clothes above the clouds (click to enlarge)
This shot comes from the Himalayas in Nepal. As a visitor, covered head to toe in (expensive?) hiking gear, you pass by small places like these… Reminding you that what is a physical adventure and a vacation to you, is someone else’s daily life with quotidian routines and chores just like yours but in a different setting.
So as it turns out, I did find a secondary theme while “exploring the elements”… That of daily life. These are all travel pictures, but they’re not of tourist attractions or cultural festivals… They all reflect life in local communities which is exactly what the elements do: they are part of our lives, we deal with them on a day to day basis, we need them. Such great power!
Though I’m posting this rather close to the deadline, I’ll still nominate a few bloggers to enter the competition. -All very cool travel blogs, if you want to check them out
