Discover some of my favourite places and what I've learned.
Japan
Live like the locals. One of the best ways to learn about a culture is to simply live like a local. From eating exotic foods, to celebrating rich history, Japan has a ton to offer and is best experienced with knowledge from a local who knows all the best places to eat or fun things to do. Just ask! Locals are super friendly in Japan.
Fuji Inari Shrines, Kyoto Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Kyoto, Japan
Portugal
Travel during low season. Low season provides more perks than just quiet streets and lower prices. Although I didn’t get to soak up the sun in Portugal, the winter/spring weather brought extremely breath taking views of the powerful ocean that you won’t find during the high season. The beauty of this world should be appreciated during every season of the year.
Ponta da Piedade, Lagos, Portugal
Ericeira, Portugal
Porto, Portugal
Spain
Challenge yourself. Surprisingly, out of all the countries I’ve been to, Spain has the least amount of English speaking tongues. It provided a nice challenge communicating with locals and getting to know the country better with only knowing English (and a small amount of French). Having to fully immerse into a culture even the language, is an experience everyone should give a try.
Plaza de España, Seville, Spain
Valencia, Spain
Park Güell, Barcelona, Spain
Morocco
Backpacking is no holiday (sometimes). There will be days while backpacking that buses are missed, locals will triple prices on you purposely, wallet is empty until the next ATM, food and water seem scarce, sickness seems like a never-ending occurence, or lost to the point of no return but these are all extremely important experiences to be learned. It’s no walk in the park, but it builds character and gets you out of the comfort zone.
Sahara Desert, Morocco
Chefchaouen, Morocco
Medina, Marrakech, Morocco
India
Find peace amongst the chaos. Overwhelming smells, shrill and loud sounds, crowds of people, cows, rickshaws, scooters, and cars that go on for miles, and yet there is a sense of calm energy amongst the bustling streets of India. Even if it seems you are in a chaotic place in the world, there is a certain rhythm to follow and accept in order to find peacefulness in a country that has it’s on groove.
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, India
