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Although I managed to do a few great trips in 2020, it also made me realise how lucky I was this year to live a life relatively unaffected by the pandemic. In general, it made me count the blessings of previous #travel ops as I should never take those experiences for granted. 1)
2) There is much to complain about this year & I had my shares of misfortune too. That said, I want to keep a positive outlook & highlight good experiences. Until Christmas, I will therefore highlight my favourite travel memories in a kind of #advent calendar. One picture a day.
3) My first picture brings me back all the way to 2009 when I made a great multi-day #horseriding trip through the Wadi Rum desert in #Jordan, full Lawrence of Arabia style. I couldnt sit for 3 days straight afterwards (saddle pain!), but totally worth the unique experience!
4) If I must choose, I'd probably opt for #mountains above the seaside. The Tian Shan mountains of #Kyrgyzstan were probably some of the most scenic mountain landscapes I've seen on my travels.
5) To stay in mountainous terrain in this #travel pictures #advent calendar: a travel memory from the island of #Svalbard. Going on a snow mobile ride under the pastel-coloured #Spitsbergen skies of early March was certainly a big travel highlight of the last few years.
6) Quality #food is a hugely important factor when it comes to #travel. I don't mean Michelin restaurants as that's way above my budget, but rather tasting authentic local fare & trying something new. It's best with a view, and not many places are better for this than #Greece!
7) One of my favourite #citybreak destinations has to be #Lviv in #Ukraine. A beautiful old town, some great restaurants and pubs, as well as an easy-going and vibrant atmosphere. Highly affordable too!
8) Another city which I love is Luang Prabang in #Laos. It has such a relaxed vibe, great food and interesting Lao-French cultural heritage. And sunsets like these on the #Mekong river are just amazing.
9) I'm not a fan of waking up early, but sometimes seeing the #sunrise can be worth the effort. Perhaps no place is better for that than the magical #Borobudur Buddhist temple on the island of Java in #Indonesia.
10) Still, I love seeing a good #sunset the most. Wherever I am (especially when at the seaside), I always try to find the perfect spot to watch the sunset. #Zadar in #Croatia is one of the overall best places for great sunsets. Not only my words, Alfred #Hitchcock said it too!
11) One of my favourite countries in the world when it comes to friendliness and hospitality of the locals is #Syria. Such warm people! Truly heart-breaking to see how that country had to suffer under civil war/ISIS barbary. Picture taken on the #Aleppo citadel walls.
12) Another great country off the beaten path with fabulously friendly people and equally amazing sights is #Iran. I just loved my trip visiting Shiraz, Esfahan & Tabriz and should go back to see more of the place. Pictured: the ancient site of #Persepolis.
13) Sometimes you don't need more on your #travel than a good quality cosy pub. Of course, #Ireland is one of the countries which fits the bill perfectly, both in cities and in villages. Pictured: a rainy evening in the Temple Bar district of #Dublin.
14) Although most people visit in summer, #Iceland is equally worthy of a visit in #winter. On top of fantastic #snowy landscapes you have the advantage of much lower accommodation and rental car prices in a country which normally isn't among the cheapest to visit.
15) As this #advent #travel calendar is about appreciation, I have to think about a trip I made to #Normandy. I'm fortunate to have the #freedom to travel & write what's on my mind - smth which wasn't always the case in the past. Grateful for sacrifices made by past generations!
16) Biggest culture shock ever during my #travels? Visiting #Pakistan in my early 20s. Loved the place though, especially the wonderful city of #Lahore with its fabulous Mughal architecture and bustling bazaars. Amazingly friendly and hospitable people too!
17) Since that trip to Pakistan I never had a big culture shock on my #travels through some 80 countries. With one big exception: my recent trip to #Japan. Wow. Such a modern country that is at times so similar to our Western European world, but also so different in culture.
