Travelettes

Rainforest Adventures in Sarawak, Borneoâ€¨â€¨â€¨

06/27/2018

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The world is tranquil at the top of the Kalimantan lookout. Swirling mist envelops us in an eerie silence, occasionally breaking up to reveal swathes of lush jungle below.Â Electric blue dragonflies hover on fragrant orchids. Wild deer bark their calls in the dark rainforest around us.â€¨â€¨ We have struggled over an hour along a muddy, slippery, leech-infe[...]

Mermaid Aboard - Diving in Raja Ampat

05/24/2018

Annika

Indonesia, Off the beaten track

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Scuba diving has been my passion for the past three years. It started innocently enough with seeing little Nemo for real and at first, I had no idea that it would start a love affair that would influence all my future travels. These days chances are if there is no diving at a destination I am not that interested in going and more than ever do I think Ariel w[...]

The 7 most epic Train Journeys in the World

04/18/2018

Annika

Adventure Travel, Off the beaten track

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We love traveling by train. There is something so romantic and old-worldly about it, something that makes you want to put on a great dress and order a martini even if the bar car only offers luke-warm coffee (yes, looking at you, Deutsche Bahn!). For years I had to take a train to go to school as a teenager and still it hasn't deterred me from being absol[...]

Island Hopping around Scotland

04/11/2018

Kathi

Off the beaten track, Scotland

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Most people, when they think about island life, see images of tropical islands somewhere in the Pacific or Indian ocean; palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze; sipping on rum cocktails while people/wildlife watching on the beach; digging their toes into the warm sand. But when I think of island life, I envision something slightly different - the serene bea[...]

A beginner's guide to Macau: a spectacular fusion of cultures

03/27/2018

guest

China, Off the beaten track, Solo Travel

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Macau, as a destination, is typically visited either as an accompaniment trip to Hong Kong, or as a place for mere casino indulgence - so when I first told my friends that I was heading to Macau for a month, they didn't think I would find much to do there for that length of time. I agree one doesn't necessarily need to stay a month to explore the region, but[...]

Lake Neusiedl in 2 Days - A Getaway from Vienna to the Austrian-Hungarian border

03/13/2018

Kathi

Austria, Countryside, Off the beaten track

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Austria is know for mostly three things - Vienna, Salzburg and the Alps. But there is so much more to discover! I'd like to tell you about an easy weekend getaway from Vienna that brings you to the Austrian-Hungarian border. The region around Lake Neusiedl is as far away from the high peaks of the Alps as possible, and is one of Austria's flattest, driest an[...]

Romania: More than just the myths

02/28/2018

guest

Off the beaten track, Romania

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As much as I hate to admit it, we went to Romania with one thing in mind. Weâ€™ve all heard the stories about the ruthless Vlad the Impaler - the inspiration for Bram Stoker famous novel. We love a good horror story, so what better place to visit then the home of Dracula himself? We left the sunshine of the Bulgarian coast to arrive in the country's cap[...]

8 reasons why La Rochelle is the perfect weekend getaway

01/29/2018

guest

France, Off the beaten track

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Before I decided to buy my two-day ticket to La Rochelle, I only knew this city from images - not even from the recommendations or stories of friends. As those pictures had promised, I expected some nice French architecture and a beautiful port; the sea and a pretty city was all I had in mind. What I didn't expect was to be as pleasantly surprised as I was b[...]

7 Reasons I was Miserable Walking the Camino de Santiago (But Why I'd Definitely Do It Again)

12/20/2017

guest

Off the beaten track, Spain

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In September 2016, I walked 126 miles in eight days. For as long as I'd lived in Spain, I'd heard people talking about the spiritual experiences they'd had while walking the Camino de Santiago. It wasn't uncommon for someone to say it had changed their life. In fact, it was the norm. The Camino de Santiago, or Way of St. James, is a network of pathways[...]

10 Must Have Experiences in Sweden in Winter

12/11/2017

Kathi

Off the beaten track, Sweden

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Winter is dark and cold in Scandinavia, but there are plenty of activities and experiences to brighten up your days! While many people flock to Sweden during the summer to take advantage of those endless summer days, pristine nature and of course the delicious treats served on and around Midsummer festivities, it is actually also a brilliant winter destinati[...]