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Hello,
It's Tuesday and it's time for a newsletter! I'll admit it. I was very nervous to start leading tours again after 1.5 years without running any trips. But then, in the blink of an eye, my group arrived in Bucharest, we sat down for our first dinner together and this Romania trip officially began. At that first dinner, as the chatting picked up and we all got to know each other, my nerves disappeared. They were quickly replaced by pure excitement as I remembered that sharing the countries I love with other travelers is simply what I love to do. Traveling through Romania with this wonderful group over the past week and a half has been perfect. Life is quite normal here these days, we've been enthusiastically welcomed everywhere we go and we've barely come across any other foreign travelers. As a result, it's really been one remarkable day after another. Just yesterday, we were in Harghita County in eastern Transylvania. We participated in a couple of fascinating workshops with local craftspeople before we drove up to a beautiful farm in the mountains, reachable only by a long dirt road. This is where we sat down for a delicious home-cooked dinner, prepared by our super friendly hosts. With surreal views over the green valley below and air that was as fresh as can be, we dined and drank, shared stories, laughed endlessly and soaked up yet another unforgettable moment together. It was travel at its finest and I sincerely hope that such travel resumes, for everyone, in the not-too-distant future! *If you just joined the newsletter, I also run small group trips to various countries through my tour company, Wandering Earl Tours. A big congrats to Yolanda and Francis for guessing the correct island where this photo was taken! And a huge congrats to Hemang for correctly guessing the specific region on that island! This photo is from... Bali, Indonesia
Specifically, it was taken in a small valley outside the village of Amed, located in the northeast corner of Bali.
When we were 'stuck' in Bali for half of the pandemic last year, Amed was our favorite area where we stayed. It's actually made up of several fishing villages along the coast and we stayed up there for over a month. It was peaceful and beautiful and offered endless opportunities for beach days, long wanders and riding off into the mountains to discover all kinds of magical places, such as the valley above. Amed is also well known for its scuba diving and snorkeling, local traditions and very friendly people, making it an ideal escape from more crowded parts of Bali. And now... This week's photo Where in the world is it? The Rules
1. Try to figure out where the above photo was taken. 2. Reply to this email with your guess.
3. The more specific the guess, the better!
4. The location will be revealed in next week's newsletter.
Good luck :) Travel-related (usually) stuff that appeared in my inboxes Talking to StrangersTalking to strangers can lead to some of the most memorable experiences while traveling. And this great article explains exactly why we can gain so much from starting a conversation with someone we don't know. A Big SmileStraight from the hills of Oregon, here is a big forest smile to brighten up any day! |
Dong Van Karst Plateau
This mountainous region of northern Vietnam is one that I have always wanted to visit but have yet to reach. It's the Dong Van Karst Plateau, with its unique UNESCO protected geological formations and fossils dating back 400+ million years.
Venice Entry Fees
Starting in 2022, the city of Venice, Italy will require day visitors to make a reservation in advance and pay an entrance fee in order to enter.
Drone Photos of the Pyramids
This cool series of drone photos from above the Pyramid of Giza zoom in closer and closer until you can clearly see what the tip of the pyramid looks like.
European Hidden Gems
Random travelers share their favorite, less-touristy 'hidden gem' locations throughout Europe.
Morocco's Grand Taxis
It's the end of an era as the Moroccan government plans to ban the country's old, famed Mercedes taxis from the streets. Here is the story of those iconic vehicles. The Remote Island of Abd al Kuri
Socotra Island, Yemen is one of the most incredible places I've ever seen. And this week, my local friend on Socotra told me he has started taking visitors to the harder-to-reach island of Abd al Kuri. It's part of the same archipelago, it's 65 miles away from Socotra and has a population of only 450. It also looks beyond incredible! Protecting Elephants in Sri Lanka
With a strict set of new rules, elephants are more protected than ever in Sri Lanka. The new rules range from daily bathing requirements, medical checkups, banning the use of baby elephants for work, limiting the number of people that can ride an elephant and even making it illegal for elephant owners/handlers to ride while drunk. Good stuff indeed. Thanks for reading!
Regards,
Derek (my middle name is Earl) *If you received this email from someone else and want to sign up to A Life of Travel, simply click the button below: |
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