2014 Travel Summary

I spent the last two days of 2014 in a haze, trying to beat jetlag and fatigue from the long transatlantic flight to South America. While the rest of the world was exchanging hugs and watching fireworks to ring in the new year, I was soundly asleep, cocooned in my warm bed. Despite the endless wishes and photos swirling around on social media, I barely registered that a new year had begun. I blame the altitude.

To be fair, I hadn’t expected 2014 to be such a travel-heavy year. Somehow, without even being on a round-the-world trip, I ended up visiting 16 countries. I’m still not entirely sure how it happened. Let’s take a look…

JANUARY…

SULAWESI- INDONESIA

The year kicked off deep in the heart of Toraja, Sulawesi, Indonesia.  I welcomed 2014 with good friends and 24-hour fireworks exploding from every street corner—often lit by kids aged four and up. It was magical, chaotic, and totally unexpected.

We followed the festivities with an off-the-grid adventure exploring colourful coral reefs, deserted beaches, and dense jungles. I attended a tradtional funeral and saw one of my ultimate travel dreams come true: spotting a tarsier in the wild. I had to physically restrain myself from trying to kidnap one of those adorable monkey-gremlin hybrids.

MALAYSIA

As if the Torajan death rituals weren’t enough of a culture shock, my next stop delivered another jolt: Thaipusam in Kuala Lumpur. I watched in awe as men, women, and even children demonstrated their devotion by piercing their skin with large metal hooks during a pilgrimage to Batu Caves. It was raw, surreal, and unforgettable.

FEBRUARY…

BALI

Since this was our final month living in Bali, we focused on doing all the “touristy” things we’d never gotten around to. We finally visited those temples, took that silversmithing workshop, and soaked up quality time with friends. I picked up yoga, went surfing, and learned to cook healthy organic meals.

I always seem to have the best time when I know a chapter is about to close.

MARCH…

HONG KONG

A long-time bucket list destination finally within reach: Hong Kong. The city struck me as a perfect blend of East and West. Even though my travel companion got a back injury, we managed to see quite a bit of the city —mostly via sit-down activities… Or let’s just be honest, activities involving food. No complaints here. In fact, Hong Kong is still the only place where I actually enjoy dim sum. (How’s that for a travel snob quote?)

MACAU

We squeezed in a short trip to Macau, where I felt strangely at at home in the European-looking streets of Macau. I also confirmed that gambling isn’t really my thing.

APRIL…

BELGIUM

Home, sweet home. We decided to surprise our friends and family by showing up unannounced after a year of living abroad. No one had a clue we were coming, and the joy was infectious.

I slipped right back into my old job and spent my free time devouring bread, chocolate, Belgian beer, and all my favourite comfort foods. The cultural re-entry was tougher than expected—I felt somewhat alien in a society I used to call home. Still, I spent my birthday surrounded by family, something I hadn’t done in years.

MAY…

ITALY

By May, I was knee-deep in missing my Asian life. But instead of sulking, I leaned into one of Europe’s greatest gifts: proximity to a wide array of food and cultures. I took time off to explore the culinary magic of Italy. Bologna practically amazed me with its unbelievably fresh and honest food. I was already planning my return before I even left the city.

JULY-AUGUST…

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC)

Three years after my last visit, I returned to the motherland: North Kivu, in the DRC. Some called me crazy—for going, for bringing along 20 muzungu (white folks) only to “endanger” their lives. But it wasn’t crazy to me. My family lives there. Why wouldn’t I go?

And I was right not to second-guess it. The trip went smoothly, the muzungu had the time of their lives, and—oh yeah—I got married! The journey was exhausting, more mentally than physically, which might explain why I haven’t found the energy to write about it yet. But the stories are ready, and I’ll be sharing them soon.

UGANDA

On my way to the DRC, I revisited my favourite places in Uganda. Lake Bunyonyi still holds a special place in my heart. This time, my whole family joined me, which made it even more meaningful. Once again, I skipped gorilla tracking—still not one of my brightest moves, but I’m banking on “next time.”

RWANDA

I spent part of my childhood in Rwanda, and I was determined to reconnect with that part of my life. I hunted down our old house and schools—found them, eventually, after several hours of of Sherlock Holmes-ing.

The country had changed so much since the genocide, yet many of  my favourite spots in Gisenyi were still around, just with a fresh coat of paint. The nostalgia hit me in waves.

SEPTEMBER…

FRIESLAND- THE NETHERLANDS

To round off the European summer, Douglas and I treated ourselves to a weekend in Friesland to visit friends we’d met in Bali. Strangely enough, Friesland had always sounded exotic to me, despite being right next door. We arrived just in time for a cultural heritage festival—it felt like time travel in the best way.
We went supping (stand-up paddleboarding) through Frisian waterways, which turned out to be a fantastic way to explore the region.

OCTOBER…

MONTENEGRO, ALBANIA, KOSOVO

Montenegro and Albania both swept me off my feet. Montenegro’s natural beauty and charm were perfect for my solo travel in Kotor and around, while Albania stole my heart the minute I set off for the mountains—an easy travel highlight of the year.

Both countries were unexpectedly welcoming, even for a dark-skinned traveler like me. As for Kosovo, I only had time for an overnight stop in Prizren. Sipping strong coffee at the riverside cafés and wandering the cobbled streets made for a pleasant afternoon. I loved the fact that it was an unexpected visit, but I’ll definitely need to return for a deeper dive.

GREECE

I traveled to Athens to attend TBEX, the biggest travel blogger’s conference, and it turned out to be a wonderful experience—professionally and personally. I met inspiring people, explored Athens, and reflected on my own journey as a storyteller.

After the conference, I toured Corinth, went on a wine-tasting adventure, and learned to cook traditional Greek dishes in one of Athens’ oldest taverns. I’ve yet to explore the rest of the country, but I consider this trip a perfect introduction.

NOVEMBER…

IRAN

“Why Iran?” people asked. And honestly—I didn’t have a short answer. It had been calling me for years, for so many reasons. So when I found a dirt-cheap ticket, I didn’t hesitate.

I ignored the safety warnings (mostly from people who’d never been there). Iran made me laugh, cry, think, marvel, love, feast, and fantasize. The architecture stunned me. The landscapes were diverse and unspoiled. The history was captivating. The food? Unlike anything else. But most of all—the people. They were the soul of Iran.

Lots of blog posts coming soon.

DECEMBER…

ECUADOR

The final destination of 2014: Ecuador. Not just for travel—possibly to stay for a while. We knew very little about the country when we landed, yet we had loosely planned to make it home.

I have no idea what comes next, and I like it that way. I think 2015 will involve less international travel. But then again—I said the same thing last year.

How was your travel year? Were you able to full fill some of your travel dreams?

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