20 countries, 5 continents, and a new city to call home
Twenty Eighteen marked the year I finished university, the year I moved back to the UK and the year I began my career in London. While at first nervous about balancing a corporate gig with travel blogging – reflecting on this year’s travel highlights was a reminder that I don’t need to sacrifice one for the other… and this makes me extremely excited for what next year has in store 🙂
While it was tough to widdle it down, here are my favourite 20 travel experiences that defined my year.
20. Valetta, Malta
Discovering a secret rooftop with an incredible view
If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ll know I love scouting out secret rooftops with amazing views. Nothing makes me more excited than getting a unique perspective of a city to share with you all, so this was an epic start to the year. Full article with details on how to find the rooftop will be posted ASAP.
19. Dahab, Egypt
Quad biking through the Sinai Peninsula
Dahab is the adventure capital of Egypt. Famous for snorkeling and scuba diving, it’s a city I didn’t get the chance to visit during my first trip to Egypt. Quad-biking at 70km/hour through the valleys of the Sinai Peninsula was an absolute thrill and I think it’s as close to real life pod-racing that I’ll ever get 😂
Article: A Weekend in Dahab
18. Omis, Croatia
Whitewater rafting along Cetina River
While Dubrovnik lived up to all the hype, Omis was the unexpected gem of our Croatia road-trip.
17. Zanzibar, Tanzania
Sailing on the crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean
If you make it to Tanzania you cannot miss the island paradise of Zanzibar. This was the last stop on my month in East Africa and I had a couple of days to myself to explore. It is the ultimate “me time” destination.
Article: 5 reasons to Travel Solo in Africa
16. Grindelwald, Switzerland
Hiking up to First lookout and watching the paragliders
Switzerland is a destination I will never tire of. In particular, the Lauterbrunnen region which looks like it came straight off a desktop screensaver.
15. Paris, France
Visiting the city I once called home
In 2017 I spent 3 months living in Paris. After 1.5 years away, I visited for the weekend and fell in love all over again.
14. Ayia Napa, Cyprus
Road-tripping along the east coast of Cyprus
The ‘Love Bridge’ near Ayia Napa was just as stunning as I’d imagined. We arrived early in the day before anyone arrived and had the spot all to ourselves.
13. Barcelona, Spain
Sunset and drinks at Bunkers del Carmel
I consider Barcelona a yearly pilgrimage (good for the soul but not so much the liver 😂). Weirdly, however, it was my first time visiting Bunkers del Carmel. Crowds of locals meet here at sunset for drinks, dinner, and dancing, while overlooking the most impressive view of Barcelona.
12. Pena Palace, Portugal
A surprise birthday present from @jaydenwithnz
Pena Palace is my new favourite castle in Europe, and it is conveniently less than an hour away from Lisbon! This brightly coloured palace is a Disney princess dream.
Article: Day trip to Pena Palace from Lisbon
11. London, United Kingdom
Moving back to the city where it all started
I always wanted to live in a city that no matter where I was traveling, I’d always look forward to flying home. London is that place for me.
10. Trolltunga, Norway
One of the most grueling but rewarding treks of my life.
A trip to Norway is not complete without the iconic Trolltunga hike.
9. Dead Sea, Israel
A bucket list moment.
It’s difficult to describe the weightlessness of the Dead Sea. Because of the density of the water, no matter what you do, you cannot physically sink… it feels just as weird as you’d expect!
8. Kjeragbolton, Norway
Sorry mum!
A giant boulder precariously wedged between two mountains above a 1084 meter drop… of course, I’ll jump on it! What made this hike so memorable (other than the crazy boulder and the incredible views) was the time schedule I was on. It’s recommended you leave 6 hours to complete the hike. The problem was, I flew out of Stavanger at 3 PM. Stavanger airport was a 2-hour drive from the starting point, and I needed to be at the airport 1 hour beforehand. Determined not to miss Kjerajbolton I decided to give it my best shot. I ended up running the last leg of the hike for 40 minutes straight and managed to punch out the entire hike in 3 hours, including photo stops. As someone who does not hike often (and avoids exercise), I was pretty chuffed 🙂
7. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
My favourite safari destination
We were lucky enough to witness a pride of lionesses hunting with their cubs as well as the Great Migration. But what made Ngorongoro so special was the stunning backdrop of the crater, lakes, and mountains.
6. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda
An unbelievable animal encounter
Trekking with Mountain Gorillas in Uganda was a dream come true. They were the most inquisitive, hilarious and human-like animals I had ever seen. Read more here: Trekking with Mountain Gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
5. Petra, Jordan
Getting a Wonder of the World all to ourselves
One of the most serene moments of 2018 was sipping Bedouin tea as we waited for the sun to rise over Petra. Want to know how to visit Petra without the crowds? Here are 10 things you need to know before visiting Petra, Jordan.
4. Masai Mara, Kenya
Watching a cheetah hunt and kill its prey
The cheetah moved at an unbelievable speed. It was only when he briefly rested and looked up that we realised he was blind in one eye. The wild is a ruthless place, and seeing this encounter first-hand was a sharp reminder of that. Article: Highlights of Kenya
3. Graduating from university in Brisbane, Australia
And seeing my family again for the first time in two years!
After 6 years of full-time study (while traveling to 70+ countries and living across 4 continents!), I graduated with two degrees – a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Media and Communications (Distinction). Even better though, graduating was an excuse to come home and see my family again! I couldn’t believe how much my younger brothers had grown.
2.Drangarnir, Faroe Islands
Is this real life?
I love traveling to places that shock me. Whether it’s with food, culture, or in this case… show-stopping landscape. There is no place on earth like the Faroe Islands. Straight out of the Harry Potter universe or a Game of Thrones novel, Drangarnir peak was the epitome of all my fantasy dreams!
1. Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Skydiving over the Swiss Alps
There’s something about jumping out of a helicopter for the first time that’s just unbeatable. Click below to watch the scariest, most adrenaline filled minute of 2018 (if not, my life!).
Article: Skydiving over the Swiss Alps
I hope you have enjoyed my travel highlights for 2018 in photos. For more travel inspiration make sure to follow @suitcaseandi