"Welcome to our home,” said Vivian, our guide for the day. Vivian grew up here in Masiphumelele, a township at the edge of Kommetjie and far from the glitz and glamour of Cape Town. Like the other 45,000 people living here, her parents and grandparents had come from the rural areas of East[...]
Millions of translucent white jellyfish dance and sway all around me, their short springy tentacles bobbing melodically in a synchronized rhythm, as if to welcome me into their world. This secret underworld must be one of the most magical places I’ve ever been -- as there[...]
Getting to Bazaruto Island, Mozambique, was an experience on its own. Onboard a light aircraft, we flew over the spearmint blue water off the sparkling coast of Vilanculos, past hundreds of submerged atolls, to get to Indigo Bay. The sea was painted in striated strokes of beige and white, with sub[...]
Driving the Cape Peninsula was the highlight of our South Africa itinerary and we highly recommend it if you love a good road trip! The road hugs the cliff, meandering along the edge of the Table Mountain range all the way to Cape of Good Hope, the southwesternmost tip of Africa. On[...]
Out on the brackish water, two enormous heads bobbed on the surface. We cruised nearer for a closer look. Two teenage elephants emerged from the water, their bulky bodies towering over our small boat. Flapping their ears, they moved swiftly towards the land. “They’re just swimming across the ri[...]
While in Guilin, China, we had the chance to visit Huang Yao, a 1,042-year-old town with beautifully-preserved remnants of the past. The time-warped, ancient city is a labyrinth of narrow streets and brick-laid houses, with giant marble paving the walkways and red lanterns hanging from the ceilings.[...]
One of the highlights of our trip to China was rice planting in Yangshuo and getting to know a local farmer and his family. Be sure to add this to your China itinerary! “Is this your first time planting rice?” said our host Mr Pan, a farmer from the rural outskirts of Yangshuo, Guilin. The grey[...]
A look at the world's tallest Buddha Statue in Leshan! It's an impressive sight that should be included in your China itinerary. World's Tallest Buddha Statue In our recent two-week trip to China, we had really wanted to explore more of Sichuan not just for the spicy foods the province is famous[...]
Our trip to North Korea was truly insightful and eye-opening. Here, we share our experience and answer all your questions on how to travel North Korea. Since our return from North Korea, we’ve been swamped by questions from readers who are all curious about the Hermit Kingdom. Rightfully so, sinc[...]
After six months of intensive traveling and working on the road, we’re now back at our home base in Granada, Spain, dizzy from the high of traveling and drained from juggling our crazy travel schedule and workload. It’s been quite a journey as we hopped from one country to the next, working[...]
We have just returned from North Korea (or more formally known as Democratic Republic of Korea) after spending the past five days making our way around the capital of Pyongyang to the ancient city of Kaesong and the DMZ border with South Korea. Although we’ve barely scraped the surface of the coun[...]
Flying to Bagan is like descending into a lost world: thousands of ochre stupas sprawl across the plains amidst wilting Acacia trees and whirlpools of brown earth. Wispy clouds hang low, shrouding the landscape in an eerie yet dreamy setting. Some of the best Bagan temples are those hidden from the[...]
Having left Southeast Asia behind us, we've just arrived in Guilin, China - a laidback, tree-lined city hemmed by karst mountains, rice fields and winding rivers. Coming from the chaotic traffic-congested metropolis of Bangkok, we've warmly welcomed the transition and eased into the peaceful setting[...]
A look at how over-tourism is destroying beautiful Halong Bay in Vietnam. In Northern Vietnam, thousands of grottos and limestone cliffs dot the emerald waters of Halong Bay. Junk boats ply its water, against the natural backdrop of dark green rock formations shrouded in mist. The limestone in t[...]
After three weeks of traveling around the Philippines, we simply wanted to kick back for a few days in Crusoe-esque splendor – and on Sumilon Island we did just that. Located 10 km from Cebu island, it might be just a hop away from civilization but it sure felt like a world apart. Landing on the[...]
"Filipinos have always bonded through food,” said Ivan, “The best deals have been settled on the dining table.” With that, we began our journey into the Philippine culinary world. In Manila’s Binondo district, also known as Chinatown, we met up with our guide, Ivan Mandy, who co-owns Old Ma[...]
The air was thick with humidity. We followed the trail that snaked through the dense tropical foliage, pushing past thick molave leaves as we ventured further. “Shhh…” Our 18-year-old park ranger, Ijie, stopped us in our tracks and pointed at a branch hanging above our heads. There they were[...]
It's wet, it's wild and it's loud. Songkran festival is synonymous with massive water wars and street parties. In Thailand and many other parts of Southeast Asia, Songkran is celebrated as the traditional New Year’s Day. Traditionally, people celebrate by paying respects[...]
I spent a month traveling overland through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia with G Adventures. This was definitely one of the best trips of my life: experiencing the backcountry of Southern Africa, camping out in the wild, meeting lifelong friends – all of which I would have missed i[...]
One of my favorite travel experiences of all time: swimming with whale sharks in Cebu, the Philippines. Read about our experience here. In the far distance came a spray of water and the faint outline of an enormous animal resembling a whale. We watched in awe as it glided gently by the bow of a sma[...]
“You are standing on what molded Philippines for over 400 years,” our guide Dustin announced. This spot has withstood centuries of battle and hardship: over 330 years of Spanish colonization, 14 years of American occupation and decades of revolution. It has protected and stood over the co[...]
'It's more fun in the Philippines' - the new tourism slogan reads. And we can't agree more.We arrived in the Philippines just a few days ago and in this short time span, we've already weaved through Manila's historical center, sampled its culinary delights, visited the beautiful Mount Mayon in Legaz[...]
To get a good glimpse into a country’s culture, you really can’t go wrong at the local market. From colorful, explosive food bazaars to classic vintage flea fairs, markets showcase local daily life and allow visitors a chance to dive deep. These markets can be[...]
2011 is a year that I’ll always remember – not just for the epic journeys, but also for the amazing people I’ve met and the major milestones in my life. I’ve been extremely lucky on the travel end - with trips to the Arctic, Madagascar and South Africa - places I'd dreamt of visiting for a[...]
Paragliding off Lion's Head in Cape Town was definitely the highlight of my South Africa trip! Highly recommend it if you have the time! Holding my hands out to feel the wind in my hands, I glide through the air so gently, it's almost like floating in the clouds. "This the closest feeling to flying[...]
Although Kruger is undoubtedly the largest and most popular National Park in South Africa there are plenty of other wild venues scattered across the country that are, in my humble opinion, just as interesting if not more so. For those who are wondering which national park to include in your South Af[...]
Over the past week in the Spanish Pyrenees, we canyoned down rivers, biked through golden meadows, kayaked off the coast, hiked on volcanoes and even flew over the mountains on a hot air balloon. My head is still reeling from the adrenaline-packed adventures and my eyes swirling from the visual feas[...]
One of the best things to do in Iceland is snorkeling Silfra Iceland. It's the ultimate adventure experience that cannot rival anything else on the island. Dressed in a bulky dry suit, airtight hood and gloves, I’m taking the plunge into the glacial waters of a narrow crack. It’s not just any[...]
Mention Iceland and you often conjure images of glaciers, waterfalls, volcanoes and most of all, the Northern Lights. Electrifying lights dancing in the night skies, lighting up the darkness with all kinds of color – this phenomenon occurs in few places in the world, and Iceland happens to be one[...]
Ice climbing on the Solheimajjokull Glacier is definitely one of the hardest yet exhilarating things we did in Iceland. If you love adventure as much as we do, you definitely need to try it! Left, right, ice sticks in; left, right, feet up. Forceful arm strides followed by small, heavy steps. It[...]