January 2017 - My travel moment

10 moments you could live in MadeiraJanuary 30, 2017/15 Comments/in 10 moments you could live in /by My_travel_moment

Madeira, you’ve certainly heard the name before but what do you really know about the island? Probably not much unless you have been there. This paradise is somewhere lost in the Atlantic ocean 1000 km away from Lisbon which has daily flights. Madeira offers a lot for nature lovers with breathtaking and diverse landscapes and more. If you like hiking or surfing, this island is for you.

1. Visit Monte tropical garden aloft of Funchal

This is one of the unmissable things to visit when in Funchal. Considered as one of the 10 most beautiful gardens in the world, the Monte palace tropical garden allows to its visitors to wander in an extraordinary lush tropical forest with its huge green ferns as well the oriental garden. Among many other species, 700 different types of orchids can be found in the garden. The permanent African art exhibition is as well worth to check. Don’t hesitate and go explore.

2. Explore the dramatic landscapes of the North coast

Only one hour drive from Funchal you can discover the unspoiled North coast of Madeira where the mountains fall sheer into the sea. Every road corner will make your jaw drop from “Porto da Cruz” to “Ponta Delgada” on the way you could stop for some rhum tasting in one of the old rhumeries and eat some fresh fish while looking at the ocean. Strongly recommended.

3. Walk a Levada

The Levadas are the veins of Madeira that bring the water from the green Western part to the drier part in the South of the island. Built from the 16th century these mini-canals are originally made to supply the agriculture. There is more than 2000 km of levadas and they provide a remarkable network of walking paths. Sometimes it can be dangerous with very narrow sections along cliffs but most of them are safe to go on. This is a unique experience! You will encounter waterfalls and tunnels along the way. Some of the walks like the “Levada do Rei” are passing through the Laurasilva forest, which is known the largest surviving area of laurels in the world. Going to Madeira without walking a levada would be a shame. Here is a great site listing all of them with descriptions and difficulty levels

4. Try some Poncha then try it again

You’ve been spending the day hiking on the levadas…Time to treat yourself with the local weapon. It’s Poncha time! Poncha is a traditional alcoholic drink from the island made from sugar cane juice. Honey, sugar, lemon rind and with different fruit juices according to the version of Poncha. A great place to try it is the “Revolucion Bar” located in the old town of Funchal. Great to meet up with the locals in a nice atmosphere, plus they’re friendly and play good music.

5. Dare stepping on the glass platform 580m above the sea

The cliffs of Cabo Girao are some of the highest in Europe, with a near vertical drop. Amazing views over the sea and the vineyards at its bottom. Stepping on the glass platform will challenge you for sure but it is worth to try. A great stop over on your way to the magical South coast of the island.

6. Try the local products in the “Old Market” of Funchal

Start your day to walk around Funchal by going to the old market. A place that overflows colour, aroma, sound and tradition. The first floor is dedicated to the fruits and spices. You’ll discover exotic fruits you probably never imagined it exists like the Loquat. Walking further down, don’t miss the part where the fish are. You could even bring some of them back to where you stay and cook it in the local way.

7. Watch the sunset in Paul Do Mar

Away from the main attractions, almost at the edge of the South coast lay the villages of “Jardim” and “Paul Do Mar“. Here, the time has stopped. Ideal for sunset lovers, this area is known for its good weather conditions which differs from the rest of the island. It barely rains here all year round. Surfers love going to “Paul Do Mar” as it has great waves for it. If you like the laid back life style this place is for you. The Maktub guesthouse in Jardim is great to connect with other travellers in a very beautiful and chill environment. The friendly family that runs the business also owns the Maktub reggae bar in “Paul do Mar” and there is no better place to watch the sunset sipping one of their world acclaimed cocktail the “Mojito” listening to good reggae music on the terrace. Some great walks can be found as well nearby which reveal the volcanic past of the island. Well, in fact this is the perfect mix!

8. Have an “Arroz de Marisco”

Grab a bunch of new friends you’ve made or go for a romantic dinner. This traditional recipe is a signature of Madeiran seafood and rice dish combining mussels, prawns and clams.

9. Hike along the cliffs of the Eastern Peninsula

On the extreme Eastern part of the island, there is a peninsula which has a very different type of landscape than on the rest of the island. Another testimony of the diversity that can be found on Madeira. You won’t find any tree there but breathtaking sceneries that even looks like some parts of Ireland. The road stops in Ponta de São Lourenço where the trail starts. This 7km walk (return) is worth the effort. On the way back have a look at the village of Canical which is a very pleasant and authentic fisherman place.

10. Enjoy a cable car ride over Funchal and slide down back to town

For those who are not interested to walk all the way up to admire the view from the top of Funchal, you can use the cable cars. A great way to discover the city and surroundings. In some portions, there are some significant drops, so it is not advised if you are sensitive to vertigo. Anyway the experience is really fun! The last stop is the Monte Tropical garden, so don’t hesitate to combine with the visit. To go down and for the most adventurous you can also use the “Monte sledge” made of basketwork. This toboggan ride is an unmissable experience.

Extra. Pico Ruivo the roof of Madeira

For fit people only

1861m above sea level the Pico Ruivo is the highest point on the island. This is a challenging walk to get there. Some sections are literally about living on the edge with vertical drops on both sides. In order to enjoy and complete the ascent you need to be fit. Though, you don’t need any professional climbing gear just good walking shoes will do but you’ll have to stay focus to avoid troubles. It is not rare to see snow here and there on the path during winter. For the adrenaline seekers only…great reward on the top on a clear day.

The first adventure of manyJanuary 28, 2017/1 Comment/in Europe, United Kingdom /by My_travel_moment

The first adventure of many

A moment lived in Scotland by Jen Rose, a traveller from Scotland

Traveling, an impossible idea…

The first adventure of many. At just eighteen, I was certain that I wanted to travel. With my older brother jetting off on new adventures every few months I was itching to see the world for myself instead of hearing it all second hand. The only problem was I had absolutely no clue where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do. And more importantly, my confidence was at rock bottom. Leaving home and traveling alone seemed to me like a completely ridiculous and impossible idea.

My plans went from doing a ski season in Canada to traveling around Europe and so much more in between. But when it really came down to it I could not do it by myself. Coincidence and luck solved this hurdle I could not jump alone, and that came in the form of a new partner in crime and now permanent travel buddy. When my boyfriend and I initially started talking online, he was traveling around Europe with a friend. This was one of the reasons I decided to spark a conversation with him – he was doing something I was desperate to do myself. After a constant back and forth messaging, it was very clear we had a lot more in common than just our travel bug. We were both in the same shoes. University was an upcoming option that neither of us particularly wanted to be involved in and on top of that we were both stuck in part-time jobs that had no real future career for us. Stuck in a repetitive cycle of work it was clear that neither of us was particularly happy.

…until I met him

The first time we met was an adventure in itself, and I suppose you could call it an unofficial first date. Together we drove to the beautiful Loch Lee a short distance from our homes and set out on a walk through the idyllic scenery. From the background noise of red deer stags rutting to the sunshine and blue skies (surprising weather for Scotland), it was the perfect locations for us to chat and learn more about one another on a more unconventional date. We sat together on the edge of a waterfall and enjoyed a picnic. I already felt like we had known each other for far longer than a few weeks.

Over the next few months, we ventured further, visiting castles and gardens Gardens, waterfalls, beaches, mountains, lakes and even skiing in the north of Scotland. Every ‘date’ was an exciting adventure with countless photographic opportunities and amazing memories. Enjoying the silence and beauty of the outdoors with someone like-minded is such an awesome feeling. When we officially became a couple, we were already planning our trip. Initially traveling together was brought up in a lighthearted conversation but we soon realised it was a definite possibility. And more importantly, it was an amazing opportunity. We may have only been dating for a short time, but it was clear that this was not going to be an issue.

Traveling was something we both desperately wanted to do, so why not just to it together? After all, if you live your whole life thinking of all the ‘what ifs’ you will never truly achieve what you want to.

Let’s get ready to discover the World

After some research and planning, we booked ourselves onto a gap year tour to Thailand and Australia at the end of 2016, as well as a weekend in Amsterdam to kick-start our trip. Keeping things simple we decided to book a package deal so all of our activities were organised for the first month. This meant the stress factor was at a minimum for our first trip together. It was finally a reality, and I wasn’t going alone. Perfect! For the next 7 months, we both worked our butts off to save for our impending trip. My part time job as a supervisor for a cute wee ice-cream parlour became full time. On top of this I was completing my final year at college, of which I happily graduated from the same week we left on our journey. It was a stressful and often depressing few months, but it was so worth the hard work for what we have done and achieved.

From local Scottish scenery to Thai rain forests, elephants and the bustling streets of Bangkok. In the space of a few months, we were living a completely different life together, and it was totally mind-blowing. Traveling together has been, and is turning out the be the best decision we have made as a couple. Over the last three months, we have met so many wonderful people, seen unbelievable things and most importantly grown as people and a couple.

Traveling with someone always has its challenges. The pressure of being in one another’s company 24/7 can often be too much, but James and I have found it fairly easy and exciting. It has taught us both so much about each other, and about life. Our values and living style has changed and so has our future plans. Our first adventure together is now a permanent adventure through life, and I am positive this is just one trip of many to come.

This traveller has a blog: Jenrose Adventures

Before they pass away, an artistic and human projectJanuary 24, 2017/12 Comments/in Travel News /by My_travel_moment

Before they pass away, an artistic and human project

During three years, the photojournalist Jimmy Nelson traveled around the World with the project of photographing different indigenous tribes. From the Huli in Papua New Guinea to the Chinchas in Peru, including the Chukchis in Russia and the Banna in Ethiopia, the photograph immortalized around 40 tribes in their traditional costumes.

The goal of this artistic project named Before they pass away is to capture, celebrate cultural diversity, but also to draw the attention of the World on these indigenous tribes whose are threatened, among other things, by the extension of our “modern” lifestyles.

The United Nations has issued a Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This declaration allows promoting and defend the collective rights of indigenous people, such as culture, identity, language, and access to employment, health, education, and natural resources. Estimates put the total population of indigenous peoples from 220 million to 350 million

Worried about presenting these tribes in an “aesthetic, romantic, subjective and iconographic” way, Jimmy Nelson took some amazing pictures, real testimonial of the traditions and habits encountered. These pictures, full of emotion, deliver a strong message of tolerance, open-mindedness, and universalism. Find below some of the indigenous tribes met by Jimmy Nelson.

Ni Yakal villagers, Vanuatu

Huli Wigmen, Papua New Guinea

Goroka man, Papua New Guinea

Yali men and boys, Indonesia

Miao childs, China

Kazakh hunter, Mongolia

Chukchi woman and her daughter, Russia

Ladakhi girls, India

Samburu young men, Kenya

Banna young men, Ethiopia

Himba woman, Namibia

Chincha family, Peru

You can find more pictures and information about the Before they pass away exhibitions, on the website Before they pass away.

You can also contribute to this amazing project by supporting the Jimmy Nelson foundation. The foundation is also looking for projects that would help to celebrate indigenous tribes and culture. If you have some ideas, sharing them could be for you the opportunity to join this amazing human adventure.

10 moments you could live in MoroccoJanuary 15, 2017/12 Comments/in 10 moments you could live in /by My_travel_moment

Morocco is a country with a mix of Berber and Arab culture. From the Rif valley on the North to the desert in the South-East or even the Atlas mountains in the center, there is so much to discover. The variety of landscapes and the natural hospitality of its people makes Morocco an intriguing and colourful destination for less and more adventurous travellers.

1. Go hiking in the high Atlas

The lovely village of Imlil enclaved in the mountains allows for many breathtaking hikes for all fitness levels in the nearby valleys including climbing the Mt Toubkal which is the highest peak in North Africa at 4,167 metres. Accommodations and professional guides are easy to find and for a very affordable price. It takes only one hour drive from Marrakesh. This is the ultimate Atlas experience.

2. Take the scenic road between Marrakesh and Ouarzazate

Coming from Marrakesh on the way to Ouarzazate this 4hrs drive is simply magnificent. The road will take you over the Atlas mountains and then to a rocky desert. You’ll find colourful landscapes and dramatic sceneries all along the way. A must!

3. Explore the Dades gorges

Make a stop in Boulmane Dadez on your way to the desert and hire a guide there for 2 days. The gorges are 60km long and offer many different type of rocks, wide and narrow corridors. You will learn about the kasbah (old traditional houses made out of mud) as there are many in the region. Don’t miss the part between the “Monkey Fingers”

4. Relax and chill in Essaouira

Essaouira is the best place to start or end a trip in Morocco. Also called the wind city, it is quiet and vibrant at the same time. A surfers and kite surfers paradise. The medina is a gem, you could spend the whole day walking around, going to a spa or watching the Atlantic ocean from a terrace on the top of a riad and of course go kite surfing. Don’t miss out the blue harbour where you can buy your fish and put it on the grill straight away.

5. Get lost in the authentic Palm grove of Tinghir

The Palm grove of Tinghir is perfect if you want to discover from closer how the local people live. Until you go inside, the thick layers of the palm leaves wouldn’t let you see what is going on in there. It’s amazing to watch the people harvesting on their piece of land, brings you back 100 years in time. Old abandoned kasbahs are part of the discovery as well, so don’t hesitate and step in!

6. Have dinner on the Jemaa el-Fna square

The unmissable Jemaa el-fna square in Marrakesh! Empty during the day, it becomes a huge open-air restaurant at night. The smell of the local spices is everywhere. Go and try some traditional Moroccan recipes the finger food way!

7. Watch the sunrise on the top of the Erg Chebbi desert

This is probably the highlight of a trip in Morocco. From the little town of Merzouga, it is easy to find a guide who will take you and the one you love for a magical trip into the dunes of the Erg Chebbi. Most likely from Merzouga you’ll be able to avoid being in a big group of people. Take a camel and go at sunset. You’ll gaze at the stars at night, sleep in a traditional Berber tent and before the sunrise, you’ll walk up the highest dune to witness the most beautiful sunrise in a lifetime. This is something you will never forget and you shouldn’t let anyone ruin that moment. (Guides sometimes want to go back before the sunrise, but you paid for that, so don’t make any compromises).

8. Jump in the natural pools of Paradise valley

The paradise valley is perfect to stay away from the beaten path and it offers a unique type of scenery. From the main road there are trails that go down the valley where the natural pools are located. The place is fantastic, several pools connected to each other with a small river stream. You can even slide between them or (for the most adventurous) jump from up to 10 meters. Being tired from the walk, don’t hesitate to stay in one of the little hotels that are next to the road, the view is gorgeous.

9. Listen to the Gnaoua music live

Gnaoua music is the essence of Morrocan traditional music culture. The Gnaoua music festival takes place every year in Essaouira in June. But you could easily find Gnaoua musicians all year round in some restaurants. Ask around if you are interested. Sure you’ll be able to find someone who knows where to go and be certain this is something that will please your ears.

10. Visit the Madrasa Ben Youssef

The Madrasa Ben Youssef is a jewel of the Arabo Andalucian architecture. Built in 1570 it used to be an Islamic college and was the biggest in Morocco which could welcome up to 900 students. Located in the heart of the medina in Marrakesh, the madrasa is definitely worth a visit where you’ll be able to admire the Saadian mozaic and detailed sculptured walls.

My Long Lost Sister From ArubaJanuary 13, 2017/7 Comments/in Aruba, South America /by My_travel_moment

My Long Lost Sister From Aruba

A moment lived in Aruba by Gem, a traveller from the US

Just like the rest of my travel “plans”, I impulsively booked a flight to Aruba.

I knew it was a trip that I needed to make the best out of because my stay was going to be short—only four days.
Other travelers reassured me that four days would be more than enough. Aruba is quite small: only nineteen miles long and five miles wide.
Whenever I visit a new place, I post a public trip on Couchsurfing in the hopes of offering to show me around. This technique rarely works because it’s a public post, and I am not directly reaching out to a specific couchsurfer in their inbox. Thankfully, this time around another couchsurfer named Emma reached out to me and offered to give me a tour of the Island.

When I travel, I love getting lost, exploring, and figuring things out on my own.
Being in a foreign land and not knowing where to go or what to do is both scary and exciting to me. It’s scary because it forces me to get out of my comfort zone., and exciting because I know I have nothing else to do but to explore.
It’s a great feeling when I stumble upon a beautiful place or view that I know I wouldn’t otherwise find if I wasn’t lost.
I was thrilled knowing I would have Emma to guide me. Since that first message, we’ve had a nonstop dialogue between the two of us.

I love the vibes I was getting every time I would talk to Emma. Though strangers, we were able to connect with a very amiable way. As time passes by, I feel closer to her. I watched our friendship grow into one of the best things that has happened to me in a while.

We finally met when I visited Aruba. Emma was exactly how I pictured her to be—kind, caring, respectful, full of life, happy, and generous. Emma has a busy schedule, but she never missed a beat whenever it was time for her to pick me up and drive me around.

I remember my last night on the island. I was with Emma and her daughter Amy. We went out to have dinner, only to find that the place we wanted to go only accepted cash. I went to draw money, the ATM stopped working and took my card. I later found out that happened because of an ATM alert protection from my bank back home. I was worried because that it was the only card I had. I had NO cash whatsoever.
On the bright side, it was my last night in Aruba. I could only imagine how interestingly different my stay would have been!

After dropping me off, Emma lent me $20—enough to pay for my taxi back to the airport and some change. Thirty minutes later, I got a text from Emma saying she was outside. To my grand surprise, she handed me a bag full of fruits and a bottle of water.

“You have a long day tomorrow,” she said and smiled at me. I got so moved and almost teared up. People who are genuinely nice and caring are far few and between. I truly admire Emma for being genuine.

We laughed our hearts out, made good memories, and talked about everything and nothing. It didn’t feel like she was someone I just met for the first time, but rather like a long lost sister. Despite being strangers mere months earlier, we were having some of the best of our lives as if it had always been that way. Just like love, friendship transcends culture, diversity, sexual orientation, gender and et cetera.

Finding and building meaningful friendships can be a daunting task, especially when people tend to be superficial. Traveling has helped me find a few human connections which were deeper. I now connect better with others and I also become more attentive to their needs.

Emma was just another reminder as to why I love traveling—not all strangers are dangerous—and that makes the world a beautiful place.

This traveller has a blog : Live Love Travel

The Trip That Started Our WanderlustJanuary 6, 2017/6 Comments/in Canada, North America /by My_travel_moment

The Trip That Started Our Wanderlust

A moment lived in Canada by Wanderlust Vegans, travelers from Canada

We got word of a trip kayaking from Telegraph Cove to Hanson Island. A family we met does this kayaking trip every year as a family holiday. Lucky for us they invite others to come along. We did a little researching and thought it sounded like something we would like to join in on. (Funny side note though, when we researched ‘Hanson Island’ the first article that came up on Google was ‘Murderer lose on Hanson Island’ … Turns out there was a guy in Eastern Canada who murdered his multiple wives, fled to Western Canada and hid on Hanson Island. He was caught a couple years before we went on our trip.) Phew!
And with that, we set off…
It was a 6.5-hour drive from our hour to Telegraph Cove, so we split up the drive and stayed the night somewhere halfway.
The drive felt pretty epic as it was getting dark out and the highway kept going and going. It felt like it was never ending. Pretty soon we were the only car on the road aside from the massive logging trucks that kept speeding by. There was only one radio station up there which was CBC radio. We got to listen to some talk radio on CBC including an interview with Kevin Spacey about his show on Netflix, House of Cards.
We ended up getting to the camp site super late so instead of setting up our tent we slept in the car. We weren’t able to find any of our friends we were meeting, which worried us a bit. There were no other campers awake when we arrived and we had no idea what vehicles they were driving. It was pitch black outside and our phone signal was nonexistent.
We woke up pretty early and found our group right away. Turns out most of them got into the campsite even later than we did, so all was good.
We headed to the water where our kayak rental was waiting and got our kayak loaded up. We had to pack everything we needed for 3 days of camping on Hanson Island.
We got all suited up and then made the crossing to Hanson Island. We paddled all the way from Telegraph Cove to Hanson Island. Our guide led the whole group and we arrived at our campsite in an hour or so. We had to avoid different currents and wind so sometimes the paddling was easy and other times it felt like we were paddling against the current.
We arrived on Hanson Island and brought our kayaks to shore to unload all our gear.
The island was picturesque and no one lives on the island. It is used by the Kwakiutl people as a fishing and carving site. We searched for a place to put our tents. A few of us ended up taking the easy option and camping on the wooden platform that was already set up.
We had a great time hanging out on the island. We went kayaking to find grey whales, humpback whales, and Orcas. We also hiked around the island and ate the great food we packed while getting to know our fellow campers. We did see some Orcas and other whales which was amazing.
We had made a ton of vegan stew with lots of veggies, potatoes, and “beefless tips” which we froze in portions to heat up on our butane stove. Then we packed lots of snacks, and stuff for breakfast and lunch like fruit, nuts and vegetables.
It was a lot of fun hanging out on the island with everyone. We couldn’t have asked for better weather while we were there. Everything was just amazing. We hung out around the campfire and all got to know each other a little better.
The last night there was a bit of a storm and the tide came up pretty high to the point that we almost lost some of our kayaks and some of our equipment was hit with the water such as the GPS. It was pretty foggy as well so in order to get back to Telegraph Cove we had to cross while blowing our whistles to let boats know where we were and use our compass and map. We could hear the big ships crossing and everyone’s fog horns. Eventually, we made it through the fog. It was a bit scary making the crossing and not being sure when we were going to see land again. We couldn’t see much farther than immediately in front of us.
We decided to have a little celebratory drink after we finished the crossing. We also said farewell to our new friends. We began our long drive back home, completely high on life. This was the trip that made the decision in our lives that we need to be more adventurous. We need to jump at more opportunities, and that we need to say yes more. We got home and started pondering an adventure to the United Kingdom.

These travelers have a blog: Wanderlust Vegans

credit photo : Kv Huegel

First ever aerial footage from uncontacted Amazon TribeJanuary 1, 2017/5 Comments/in Travel News /by My_travel_moment

First ever aerial footage from uncontacted Amazon Tribe

There are, around the World, more than 100 uncontacted tribes. Most of them live in South America or in Papua New Guinea.
Some of them see today their existing threatening by the deforestation and the development of industrial activities.

The anthropologist José Carlos Morales fought for the recognition of the right to exist to some of these tribes living in South America. Located in the heart of the Amazon forest, – an area rich in resources – it is easier for some Governments to deny the existence of these tribes and then harvest their lands for their profits, even if this endangers the life of the local tribes.

Protecting these tribes, fully-fledged member of the humankind, without destabilizing their lifestyle is a real challenge.
The aerial footage could provide significant evidence of the existence of these tribes, without interfering with their life.

The video below is the first ever aerial footage of an Amazonian Indian tribe.

The organization Survival International is a global movement fighting for the recognition of tribal peoples’ right. Don’t hesitate to have a look at their website.

Interested in articles related to South America? Find here some travel moments experienced on this continent!