We love to let you hear from our most inspiring fellow travelers from time to time. Our friend Johanna traveled to Ecuador recently to tour none other than the Galapagos! Johanna and Stephanie are both Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and met getting their MBAs. Here are her top tips for going to the Galapagos.
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Tag: Bucket List
Top Travel Experiences of 2015
We tried so hard to narrow down our top travel experiences of 2015 to a Top 10 list, but it was just too hard! So many wonderfully exciting things happened! We eventually narrowed it down to our Top 15, our #Top15of2015, and we’ve been sharing them on Instagram for the past few days. These are, of course, in no particular order – how could we decide?!
Our Top 15 Travel Experiences of 2015
Meagan couldn’t believe her luck when she visited the most picturesque lavender fields in Provence. Every stop along the drive was like a photo from a book! All of the flowers were blooming brightly!
In January, Stephanie traveled with her husband to Thailand to show him where she studied abroad.
Our second photo for our top 15 experiences in 2015 comes from my trip to Thailand in January. It was my first time back since studying abroad there & I had so much fun watching my husband take in a country that will always hold a special place in my heart. One quintessential Bangkok experience we had was riding in a tuktuk, weaving in & out of traffic. What a rush!
A photo posted by A Friend Afar Blog (@afriendafar) on
Meagan had the most amazing experiences in France, and cycling through Burgundy with Beaune as a home base blew her away! She wants to go back again right now! It probably isn’t on your travel list yet, but is should be! Continue reading
Meet Our Friend Afar: Ja
Last month at A Friend Afar, we introduced you to inspiring fellow traveler Krista. This month we’d like you to meet Ja. We became fast friends with Ja when we were exchange students in Thailand, and since then she’s lived in Australia and now calls Southern California home. We hosted her on a visit to Atlanta once and can’t wait until we get to hang out with her again!
Tell us about yourself.
My name is Ja! I’m 35 years old, from Thailand, and a stay at home mom who lives in Los Angeles. I love photography and traveling! There’s a big difference from traveling when I was single to now being married and having a 9 month old baby, but I am still loving it. It’s my life, my journey. If I stop traveling, I’d die. Seriously!
Where did you travel for your first trip abroad. Was it for work, school, or vacation.
My first trip was in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I went with Meagan, Stephanie, and a bunch of other friends. We had so much fun! I still remember it vividly even though it was almost 10 years ago. It was adventurous, nothing fancy, but we had great time and now I have a memory with friends. My highlight was when we went to Angkor Wat for the day! What an amazing place!
Do you pack light or check a bag?
Of course, I packed light every trip until I had a baby. Now I have to check bag with all the stuff for the baby!
Is there a place that you keep going back to? and why?
San Diego! It is absolutely one of the best cities to live in. San Diego also has some of the best weather in the country. The views are gorgeous, and most importantly, it is where I was proposed to and got married!
What places are at the top of your travel list right now?
Paris, Edinburgh, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Monaco! Seriously, anywhere in Europe! I also would love to go back to Melbourne, Australia, but it’s more practical for me right now to do trips in U.S. Yosemite National Park, all over California (so much to see!), Alaska, Colorado Springs, Grand Canyon, Florida, Boston, Texas, and New York are all U.S. destinations on my list.
Do you collect a specific type of souvenir?
Postcards! I send them to friends and to myself.
What is your dream vacation?
Cancun and the Caribbean on a cruise!
If you could recommend one place for us to visit, where MUST we go?
Melbourne, Australia. My favorite! It’s a multicultural city with scenic views, so many galleries and museums, and great coffee! It’s super easy to get around the city using the tram network. It has beautiful weather that’s perfect, really – not too hot, not too cold. Some people say they have 4 seasons in a day. I found it’s true and loved it! You should definitely visit Melbourne!
Destinations I’m Dreaming About- Part II
I keep a note on my phone with a Travel List of the top places I want to visit and also use Pinterest to keep track of places I want to visit and places I’ve already visited. Recently, I was gifted a wonderful scratch off world map that is now on display in our guest bedroom. One night, I started erasing places off that I’ve been (way harder than I thought it would be, by the way) and quickly became distraught that “I haven’t been anywhere!” I bemoaned this fact to my husband who firmly brought me back to reality with a “you’re lucky to have gone as many places as you’ve been!” Alas, my wanderlusting heart won’t ever quite be satisfied, but I’m alright with that. It just means I’ll always be dreaming, listing and planning where to see next in this great big world we’re blessed to call home. Here’s my current Top Five Destinations I’m Dreaming About in no particular order:
New Zealand
I must confess that I’ve wanted to visit New Zealand ever since the Lord of the Rings movies came out. So of course Hobbiton is on my list, but also national parks for hiking, glaciers, and hanging out with Kiwis. As I research NZ, the more convinced I am that we’ll need at least two weeks if not more so we can experience both the North and South Islands. [Photos: Real Journeys for Featured Image and Flickr]
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fotravel/3360535294/in/photostream
Myanmar
I want to see Bagan before it becomes overrun with tourists, which is bound to happen because it’s fascinating and gorgeous. Sunrise at the pagodas with hot air balloons as backdrops, biking among the temple ruins, a sunset boat ride, and seeing this country also called Burma that’s only recently opened to the outside world. [Photo: Flickr]
Jordan
Petra! I long to see this New Wonder of the World and pretend that I’m Indiana Jones. Petra at night looks so dreamy! Also, I keep seeing the Dead Sea [update: I got to go as part of a work trip and float] pop up on lists of places to see before they vanish, so I’d definitely check it out and float in it. In Amman, I’d explore the Citadel and Roman Amphitheater. [Photo: National Geographic]
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gareth_weeks/4431758286/
South Africa
I’m really intrigued by Cape Town since it seems to have it all: beaches, Table Mountain, and a nearby day trip to visit penguins. Of course, a safari would be on the itinerary for a South Africa trip, but I’d also love to explore wine country and drive along the Garden Route. [Photo: Flickr]
Nepal
I love Asia in general after studying abroad in Thailand, so a second country on the continent makes my list. After the devastation of the recent earthquakes, Nepal continues to rebuild, and tourism is one way to support and help the country in its recovery efforts. I hear the scenery is breathtaking, and I’m intrigued by stupas, the culture, and whether trekking is for me. Plus the possibility to go on a safari to see rhinos and maybe elephants? Yes please! [Photo: Guidora]
I’m going to cheat a little by letting you in on a few close contenders for No. 5: Switzerland, Norway, Guatemala, Bhutan (again my love affair with Asia pops up), and a new country in South America since I loved Peru so much. It was so difficult to choose! What’s in your Top Five currently?
Santorini is a Dream
Friends, as I may have mentioned before in my Packing List post, Greece has been at the top of my list for quite some time. Santorini in particular had caught my imagination and my eye since it seems to be one of the most photographed travel destinations anywhere. Even though I’d done my planning and preparation for the trip, nothing could make me anticipate just how much beauty this Greek island possesses. I found it to be true in Santorini that even though it’s been hyped up it exceeds expectations and is so worthwhile to visit. I only wish we’d had more time to explore the island but isn’t that usually the case?
Oia
Oia (pronounced e-ah) is the perfect little village you see depicted in the postcard picture views of Santorini. While nearby Fira also has caldera views, Oia is built on a slant down to the caldera and has the famed whitewashed buildings and blue domed churches. It’s perfect for wandering around and taking a ton of photos because everywhere you turn there’s beauty. As you walk along the caldera in the direction of the windmill, there’s a crowded lookout perfect for taking in stunning views. If you want a space here at sunset, make sure you show up early.
Speaking of sunset, I’d read how it’s an event in Santorini, but nothing prepared me for the actual experience. First of all, we didn’t stakeout a viewing area very early since we were enjoying a leisurely dinner, so we checked out two different places. I didn’t love the first spot we went to, and it was madness getting through the throngs of people both coming and going. On top of that, we heard two heated arguments about photography and the sunset which made me glad that even though we did plan on seeing the sunset we didn’t have all these high expectations. I was happy with the second spot we ended up at for the sunset. After the sun dipped into the Aegean Sea, there were cheers from the crowds of people watching.
My Trip Details
Accommodation: Pelogos Hotel near Oia
Transportation: We flew to and from Santorini, but many people take ferries, and it’s a common stop if you’re on a cruise. On the island, we took taxis and buses. If we’d stayed for longer, it would’ve been nice to rent a car or ATV to explore more of the island.
Snack Break: Lolita’s for gelato
Dinner Recommendation: Karma and order the Soutzoukakia (Greek meatballs)
When to Go: High season is July-August so if you want to avoid crowds and high prices then go during shoulder season in April-June or September-October. We found May to be a perfect time to visit because of the weather. Plus, we were glad there weren’t even more tourists.
