{"id":1870,"date":"2014-09-02T14:47:49","date_gmt":"2014-09-02T14:47:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelcake.site\/?p=1870"},"modified":"2025-04-24T18:59:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T18:59:49","slug":"12-favourite-destinations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/12-favourite-destinations\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Favourite Destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exactly ten years ago today, I embarked on my first independent trip. By \u00e2\u20ac\u0153independent,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I mean a journey not organised or sponsored by parents, school, or any other organisation. It was the first time I travelled on my own dime, in my own time.<\/p>\n

I was 19 when a friend and I booked a ticket to Zimbabwe\u00e2\u20ac\u201da country we knew almost nothing about. Feeling all kinds of cool, we launched into an adventure that would help shape who we were becoming. We spent a month in Zimbabwe, and it turned out to be the trip of a lifetime\u00e2\u20ac\u201dspontaneous and a little bit wild.<\/p>\n

After returning home, I had coffee with a friend who was curious about the journey. I told her all about it in vivid detail, ending with: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I want to travel all the time. I want to be a globetrotter!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153When can you start calling yourself a globetrotter?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d she asked. I had no idea, so I made something up on the spot: \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcMaybe once you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve visited one-third of the world? That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 64 countries.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the ten years that followed, I didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t really keep that goal in mind. My definition of a globetrotter has evolved dramatically since then\u00e2\u20ac\u201dtoday, I wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t measure it by the number of countries at all (but that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a discussion for another day). Still, somewhere along the way, I did end up reaching that old, slightly arbitrary benchmark.<\/p>\n

With so many destinations on my travel r\u00c3\u00a9sum\u00c3\u00a9, people often ask me which one is my favourite. And honestly? It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a tough question. Not because I love every place equally, but because so many of them have touched me in different, deeply personal ways.<\/p>\n

While stuck on an 8-hour bus ride last week, I decided to really think about it. Could I choose just one? No. But I did manage to narrow it down to a Top 12<\/em>. I was aiming for 10\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 but you know how it goes.<\/p>\n

So in no Particular order<\/p>\n

1. Oman<\/strong>
\nI loved everything<\/em> about Oman. A road trip through the country<\/a><\/strong> introduced me to genuinely warm and welcoming people, delicious food, fascinating wildlife, and stunning landscapes filled with my favourite hues. Risking a clich\u00c3\u00a9 here: Oman truly is a hidden gem.<\/p>\n

\"wadi<\/a>
wadi perfect for a dip<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Shops, drinks and midnight snacks in Shoreditch, London<\/strong><\/p>\n

London\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been a favourite for years, but discovering Shoreditch took it to another level. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the part of London that pushes you out of your comfort zone, sparks creativity, and somehow still feels homely.<\/p>\n

\"London\"<\/a>
some amazing food in the area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Motorbiking Ubud and surroundings, Bali<\/strong><\/p>\n

No surprise here\u00e2\u20ac\u201dI chose to live here for a year<\/a><\/strong>. The spiritual atmosphere, lush greenery, incense-scented air, and sweet Balinese people\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 this island is simply magic.<\/p>\n

\"rice<\/a>
rice fields around Ubud<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Backpacking through Zimbabwe<\/strong><\/p>\n

As mentioned earlier, this was my first big trip. It wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t the typical \u00e2\u20ac\u0153attractions\u00e2\u20ac\u009d that got me head over heals, but more about a deep sense of well-being. Drinking a beer under the African sun, the roar of Victoria Falls in the background, while forming lasting friendships with locals and expats\u00e2\u20ac\u201dunforgettable.<\/p>\n

\"ZIMBABWE\"<\/a>
sunset over the Zambezi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Cruising through Lake Connemara and surroundings, Ireland<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Irish countryside is heartbreakingly beautiful. I can see why it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s inspired countless songs, stories, and poems. You could say the land is<\/em> poetry.<\/p>\n

\"IRELAND\"<\/a>
somewhere along the way<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. Living the island life in Zanzibar<\/strong><\/p>\n

I waited 15 years to finally visit Zanzibar<\/a><\/strong>,\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand it still exceeded every expectation. The bluest waters, red soil, spice markets, and freshly caught fish grilling around every corner. You can feel the mysticism here, born from centuries of cultural cross-pollination.<\/p>\n

\"ZANZIBAR\"<\/a>
Zanzibari fishing village<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7. Morocco<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every time I visit to Morocco<\/a> <\/strong>, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m amazed at how much I love it. Why amazed? Because it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not always easy. Touts, scams, endless bargaining\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 and yet I adore it, flaws and all.<\/p>\n

\"MAROKKO,<\/a>
Morocco’s most iconic town A\u00c3\u00aft Benhaddou<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8. Venturing out into Timor-Leste<\/strong><\/p>\n

A total wildcard. I could barely find any info about it beforehand and had zero expectations. That might be why I loved it so much. Stunning scenery and that adventurous edge<\/a> <\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u201da perfect challenge for the seasoned traveller<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"TIMOR,<\/a>
coastline in Dili<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

9. Hiking Dominica<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rugged, wild, and off the radar\u00e2\u20ac\u201dare you spotting a theme? Dominica gave me full-on explorer vibes and charmed me with its reggae\/Caribbean island vibe. No white sand beaches here (it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the only Caribbean island without them), which is why it’s often overlooked by package and cruise ship goers. This leaves the island with mostly pristine rainforests and hidden waterfalls.<\/p>\n

\"DOMINICA\"<\/a>
every now and again a sign reminds you that you’re not the first person to explore the island<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

10. The old city of Jerusalem, Israel<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

Israel is a fascinating travel destination<\/a>, but the old city of Jerusalem? That place vibrates<\/em>. You feel emotion in every corner. You can breathe in history, touch spirituality, smell culture, taste tradition. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a place like no other.<\/p>\n

\"quiet<\/a>
quiet streets of the old city<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

11. Dancing to dirty reggeaton beats in Venezuela<\/strong><\/p>\n

Less than an hour after landing in Caracas, I turned to my friend and said, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153This is it. I belong here.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em> We laughed, but I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t joking. Venezuela has it all\u00e2\u20ac\u201dbeaches, jungles, deserts, mountains, buzzing cities. It has attitude and soul. If only it had the government it deserves\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6<\/p>\n

\"VENEZUELA\"<\/a>
Los Roques, my first encounter with the caribbean<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

12. Bhaktapur, Nepal<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nearly the entire city is made of wood and temples. But what truly got me was the peaceful \u00e2\u20ac\u0153zen\u00e2\u20ac\u009d atmosphere. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d wake up to soft bells and prayers, followed by the scent of fresh tea. Enchanting. Also\u00e2\u20ac\u201dit’s where you’ll find the best curd in the world. Just saying.<\/p>\n

\"BAKTAPUR\"<\/a>
Bhaktapur in the morning light<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I may be a globetrotter in the eyes of my 19 year-old self but in the eyes of the woman I am today, I still have a long way to go.<\/p>\n

I just couldn’t resist to list some honourable mentions: Copenhagen<\/a><\/strong>, Cuba, the forests of Washington State, Singapore, Amsterdam, The Sinai (Egypt), Lake Bunyonyi (Uganda)<\/a><\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0and New York City.<\/em><\/p>\n

What are your 5 favourite destinations? \u00c2\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The post “12 Favourite Destinations<\/a>” first appeared on Travel Cake<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Exactly ten years ago today, I embarked on my first independent trip. By \u00e2\u20ac\u0153independent,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I mean a journey not organised or sponsored by parents, school, or any other organisation. It was the first time I travelled on my own dime, in my own time. I was 19 when a friend and I booked a ticket […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":529,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,23,76,117,88,120,75,103,28,125,127,116,115,114,128],"tags":[110,5,63,17,11,12,31,33,111,57,35,20,29,27,25,19,37,44,26],"country":[213,215,203,228,231,242,247,184,201,262,270,266],"class_list":["post-1870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa","category-asia-destinations","category-cuba","category-indonesia","category-ireland","category-israel","category-latin-america","category-lists","category-middle-east","category-morocco","category-nepal","category-oman","category-tanzania","category-timor-leste","category-uk","tag-africa","tag-asia","tag-bali","tag-copenhagen","tag-europe","tag-experiences","tag-indonesia","tag-islands","tag-middle-east","tag-morocco","tag-nepal","tag-off-the-beaten-track","tag-oman","tag-photo-essay","tag-tanzania","tag-timor-leste","tag-tips","tag-top-things","tag-zanzibar","post_format-post-format-image","country-cuba","country-denmark","country-indonesia","country-ireland","country-israel-2","country-morocco","country-nepal","country-oman","country-tanzania","country-timor-leste","country-uk","country-venezuela"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1870","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1870"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1870\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4589,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1870\/revisions\/4589"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1870"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1870"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1870"},{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.travelcake.net\/nl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=1870"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}