A Life of Travel: The Long Term Benefits of Travel, Unknown Islands, a Surreal Airport and more!

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It's Tuesday and it's time for a travel newsletter...

update

If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that my life has been defined by movement. For 24 years, I’ve rarely stayed in one place for too long, constantly hopping between countries and experiences.

But every so often, there are stretches - like recently - where my travels slow down. And while that might seem like a break from the usual rhythm of nonstop travel, in many ways, it’s just another part of the journey. Even when I’m not constantly on the move, travel is still at the core of how I think, what I observe and how I experience the world around me.

I can’t even provide an approximate number of times per day that I think of travel, both past and future, in some form. The number is simply too high.

In any given day, I may:

• pass a person in the street that reminds me of someone I met in some faraway land

• eat something that takes me straight back to a meal I enjoyed overseas

• stub my toe on my suitcase that I never put into a closet and instantly wonder where I’ll be headed to next

• see photos from any number of destinations I’ve visited

• read an article about a country and instantly recall my time there

• receive whatsapp messages from people I know all over the world

Right now I’m sitting at a desk and in one quick glance I see a boarding pass for a flight from Mauritania to Paris, my international driving permit, my passport and a travel iron. Each one of these items can fill my mind with endless stories, memories and reflections from my years of bouncing around the world.

Then there are the habits I’ve developed on the road, such as my bedtime routine that helps me fall asleep no matter where I am. (It involves the Insight Timer app and a mentally soothing and very specific set of turning from one side to the other several times.)

There are also the lessons learned during my travels that have impacted my life to such a degree that a day does not pass without them flashing through my mind. My travels affect how I treat other people, my work, how I dress, how I eat, what I like to do in my free time and so much more.

I’m certain that many of you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you travel at all, your life is most certainly shaped by every trip you’ve taken, all of the conversations you’ve had, all of those moments of awe and of course, all of the challenges faced while somewhere new.

The most exciting part of travel is of course the time spent in a destination. However, if we wander with a great openness to let our experiences shape our lives, our travels become so much more than photos and memories. They become an incredible library with a never-ending source of knowledge that allows us to learn and grow in ways we never imagined.

Wandering Earl Tours - 2026!!

I recently announced the 2026 Wandering Earl tours that we’ll be offering!

In less than two weeks, two trips to Japan and a trip to Vietnam have already sold out. Be sure to check out the full list of unique small group trips that we’ve put together!

must read: if you’re curious about everything

For 15 years, I’ve been good friends with Jodi Ettenberg. And in my opinion, she sends out one of the most interesting newsletters each month.

It’s called Curious About Everything and it’s FULL of fascinating articles that she discovers about a wide range of topics. I learn more from her newsletters than I do from any other single source.

Also, like my newsletter, Jodi’s newsletter is completely FREE. So that’s a bonus.

I highly recommend checking it out: Curious About Everything

around the globe

🥘 Bourdain’s Recommendations
I came across this National Geographic interview with Anthony Bourdain from 2018. His answers are short but any time I read his words, I get excited about food. He also mentions Uruguay as the most underrated destination. And the Uruguay page on the Parts Unknown website is full of useful articles and videos.

🎨 Global History of Tattoos
Tattoos have been around for over 5000 years it seems. And the role of tattoos in various cultures around the world - from ancient to modern - has been significant.

🏝️ Unknown Islands
Over the past two weeks I learned about the Kerguelen Islands and Vostok Island. One is in the South Pacific, is uninhabited and looks like a mysterious black hole from above. The other is located in the Southern Indian Ocean and was once called “Islands of Desolation” for good reason.

🛫 Surreal Airport
Bhutan’s new Gelephu International Airport - scheduled to open in 2029 in the south of the country - will undoubtedly be one of the most beautiful airports on the planet.

🫒 Disgusting Foods Museum
In Malmo, Sweden, you can now visit a unique museum that gives you a vomit bag when you enter. The museum is dedicated to disgusting foods from all over the globe and you are challenged to try many of them if you dare!

😃 Happy Countries
Once again, Finland takes the top spot as the ‘Happiest Country in the World’, with other Nordic countries close behind. This world map displays every country’s ranking.

🐦️ Nature Photography Awards
Check out the winners of the World Nature Photography Awards for some spectacularly mesmerizing images.

🚴 Cycling Routes
This European route planning website allows you to quickly discover actual bicycle routes between destinations. Simply click on two different points on the map and within seconds you have a route!

🇹🇯 🇰🇬 Tajikistan/Kyrgyzstan Deal
In good news for adventurous travelers, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan signed a deal to end their border dispute. The result is the opening of road, rail and air connections between the two countries, making it much easier to travel around the region.

where in the world?

A big congratulations to those who guessed the location of the photo in the previous newsletter! Here’s who guessed correctly:

Scott, Ann, Rafael, Andrew, Diane, John, Jon and Adrian

The specific location is Sisowath Quay along the Tonle Sap River in Phnom Penh, Cambodia!

This week’s photo:

It’s time to guess…where was the below photo taken?

If you have a guess (the more specific the better), click reply and let me know. Anyone who guesses correctly will be mentioned in next week's newsletter 😄 

If you wish to help support this free newsletter, kindly forward it to people you know, make a donation or join one of my unique small group trips to some spectacular destinations!

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Thank you so much for reading!

Derek
(my middle name is Earl)

WanderingEarl.com

Travel Insurance: My personal recommendation for affordable and reliable travel insurance is Safety Wing. It was created by travelers, for travelers, and it's rapid growth in popularity is well-deserved.

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