El Camino de Santiago, Spain
Any time you decide to spend more than a week just walking with your belongings on your back, is going to be a life-changing experience. The Camino has many paths, but the most commonly-taken Camino Frances exposed me to hundreds of acquaintances with stories and lessons to share. Whether in the lives of others, in quiet moments by myself, in the unexpected hardships faced with the support of fellow pilgrims, in the inspiring generosity and humanity displayed on the Way... The Camino is unique for each person, but as long as you don't treat it as a race, you are sure to come away a different person.
Pacific Coast Highway, California, USA
The USA must have the best highways for driving - and adding incredible sunsets over the ocean while speeding past redwoods, it's unbeatable for roadtripping. I drove alone for three days on the stretch of State Route 1 from San Diego to San Francisco, detouring through Big Basin State Park for an early morning run with the giants. Every day brought unforgettable views, and scenic vista signs on the way will help the disorganised tourist. Whether alone or with friends, you'll love cruising by the coast and into the mountains (Big Sur) on the PCH.
Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Bucket list this. Demonstrates our impotence in the face of nature - it gives and it takes away, slowly but surely growing over a civilisation. Breathtakingly beautiful and awesome. Must see the sunrise at Angkor Wat, and nature's reclamation of Ta Prohm. Bike around for a day and see if you can get adopted by locals too!
Sagada, Philippines
Bucket list. Hands down most beautiful sight of my life - sunrise in the mountains, with clouds below and above us. Well worth walking/running for half an hour at 4.30am, after a night of beer and pie.
Also there is legitimate caving - no safety harnesses, squeezing between crevices, ankle deep in bat poo. Awesome underground sights. I only wish we'd had more than 3 days for all the other activities too.
Salkantay Trek, Peru
I missed out on a spot on the Inca Trail (by a few months, ha) - and I'm glad I did. As someone who prefers looking down over incredible sights after a hard upward climb, this 5-day trek was perfect; unimaginably perfect. In the same day, we struggled up to 4,600m, then ambled down to the "high jungle" at 2,900m. After all the beautiful and varied scenery on the way, climbing the last few hundred metres up the actual Machu Picchu mountain was almost underwhelming. Almost.
(This is where my phone was stolen, so unfortunately my idyllic photos are limited.)
Koh Phangan, Thailand
Full moon party, for the party animals. We were a day late, but even without any events it was still a crazy night - free shots, offensive signs and buckets of mixed drinks, sleeping beside the beach for recovery.
Terelj National Park, Mongolia
The land in Mongolia may not be hospitable but it's incredibly beautiful. We stayed in a ger camp for tourists, though it didn't feel super touristy. I loved exploring the hills (much steeper than they look), riding horses into a thunder storm, and pretending to live the nomad life... It's another world.
Morocco
Just Morocco. My favourite country by far, it is blessed with varying landscapes: waterfalls, beaches, desert, mountains, busy cities. But it is made by its people, the most hospitable of all the countries I visited. Just one example: in the Marrakech marketplace I was stopped by a shop assistant who acknowledged that I didn't want to buy anything and asked me to sit for a mint tea anyway. I left an hour later, filled with contemplation over our discussion of politics and Morocco's future - and not asked to buy a single thing. Take a roadtrip to fully explore this country, and get to know some of the genuinely kind and curious locals.
Choeung Ek Killing Fields, Cambodia
Not a positive experience, but an eye-opening one. The genocide of millions, by their own people, and the stories of the survivors... It will make you think about the horrors we are capable of, and appreciate the fortune we were born with.
The image of Choeung Ek that I wish I'd captured would be of butterflies flitting around what used to be a mass grave. The site is now green and tranquil; a display of what can transcend the darker side of human nature.
Jasenova, Bosnia
Another place where I learned and lived the aftermath of genocide, 20 years after over 8,000 people were killed from the nearby town of Srebrenica. Yet I remember this home, Jasenova, as a place of love, youth, growth, and beauty. Fields from which Serbian troops shelled the town are now a playground for four intelligent girls and forty animals. I owe much of my experience to Emin, the father of the family, and the strength and wisdom he shared even without a common language. I hope to introduce you to our family one day.
Coconut milk desserts, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
I love street food everywhere, but the coconut milk dessert stalls in Phnom Penh can't be beaten. L and I enjoyed dessert here every night despite being stuffed full from all our other street snacks, and you may find our favourite haunt on the corner of 110 and 15/17 Streets. Still, there's plenty of them, and it's totally worth walking up and down the streets to search for this culinary paradise. You should definitely try at least 2 of these mysterious options every night (and day) that you're in Phnom Penh. They will leave you craving Cambodia long after you've gone ...
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