2022 was full of adventure and abundant travels. I accomplished many of my bucket list items and met amazing people along the way. Here are just a few of my favorite moments.
1. Staying with the Bedouins in Wadi Rum
This was a unique experience with beautiful people. I was taken to a campsite in the red desert of Wadi Rum. I arrived near nightfall and dinner was almost done. I sat near the campfire until we all gathered around to watch our dinner dug up from under the sand. It had been underground for several hours and the lamb was tender as could be. There was a huge spread along with the Zarb and I ate until I couldn’t hold anymore. Then the music began. After dancing with the Bedouins, I stared up at the stars and took in the tranquil landscape.
The next morning included a ride through the desert while I saw ancient petroglyphs and locations where movies had been filmed. I learned how to create makeup from rocks and even drove the truck myself.
2. Exploring Khan el- Khalili Market and Night Food Tour
My guide Mohammed took me to the bustling Khan el- Khalili Market and showed me the best foods to try. We saw the nearby Mosque lit up, people dancing, we dodged motorbikes in the narrow alleys, , smelled the sweet incense wafting through the air, and tried dishes such as the savory koshary and the sweet zalabia balls.
3. Trying Chicha and Jumping into an Amazonian Waterfall
I visited an Amazonian tribe called the Kichwas. There I tried their specialty drink called Chicha. They make it by mashing up the yuca root and then fermenting it with their spit for a few days. At the time, I did not realize that is how the drink became fermented. Afterwards, we took a boat back to the mainland. On the way back to our truck a rambunctious monkey jumped on my shoulder as I gave it a juicy rambutan my new friend had just purchased for a couple of cents. After playing with the monkey, we did an hour and a half uphill hike to the flowing waterfall. I jumped in, clothes and all, to cool off from the humidity. It felt so relieving to have the cool water flow overtop of me.
4. Learning to Dye and Weave with a Mayan Family
At Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, I decided to go to a family runned business called TinteMaya in the village of San Juan. They spoke limited English and I limited Spanish, but I was able to understand pretty much everything in the class. The mother of the family showed me the plants they used to create dyes and she let me decide a color to use on the fabric. Then we picked the plant and boiled it and would dip it in banana leaf. Afterwards, the grandma guided me as I weaved a scarf. The little boy even tried to teach me more Spanish.
5. Riding a Hot Air Balloon in Cappadocia
This had been on my bucketlist for so long. I got picked up early in the morning and dropped off at the location where over a hundred of hot air balloons were being blown up. I received some snacks and then we boarded the basket. We started going up in the air while the sun was coming up and we drifted over the unique landscape of the beautiful fairy chimneys. After floating through the air and landing safely the host cracked open a bottle of champagne and gave us a certificate.
6. Taking a Cooking Class in Italy
The tour included a look into a market to buy our ingredients fresh and then a bus ride to a beautiful home which included a lookout to the fields below. We cooked a 4-course lunch, which included making a homemade pasta called tagliatelle, bruschetta, roast pork with potatoes and rosemary, and for dessert a tiramisu. The tour also provided plenty of wine with our dishes.
7. Exploring the Pubs and Landscapes of Ireland
The landscapes here are some of the most jaw dropping ones I have ever seen. From the Wild Atlantic Way, seeing sites such as the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher, to the unique formations of the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland there is so much to see in between. I stopped at quaint towns like Galway and enjoyed going into the local pubs to enjoy a beer, comfort food, live music, and craic.
8. Having a Full Day in Semuc Champey
The day started off with me in the back of a pickup truck hanging on for dear life along with others as we made our ascent to this natural monument. Once there we walked to the entrance of a wet cave and was given a lit candlestick. Nothing else. No helmet, nor a headlamp. Instructions were to make sure our flame did not go out and my group slowly maneuvered our way into the water while we went further into the darkness. There were parts we had to swim with one arm with a small rope to guide us, one part our guide had to hold on to us one by one as we went under a cascading waterfall, and at another time we had to jump through a random hole downwards. I did not know how far down it even was. After we made it, we took tubes down a river while kids were trying to sell us cheap beer on the banks.
Afterwards, we walked to a waterfall and swung on a swing into the river. Then I made the hike up to the lookout point for the main event. The turquoise pools down below me were stunning and after a rough, steep 30-minute hike up I was ready to dive into those tempting pools.
Sliding into one of the pools was refreshing and little fish would come up and nibble at my feet. No, they did not hurt, and I truly felt like I had found paradise.
9. Seeing the Valley of the Kings
Set in a mountain there are 63 tombs here. You can only explore around 11 of them. I enjoyed seeing the hieroglyphics. The colors were vibrant, and many symbols were depicted. I could have spent all day here trying to understand the mysteries of the ancient Egyptians.
I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to experience all of these new cultures, see beautiful sites, and meet incredible locals. I hope 2023 is as great as this year has been. If you are interested in any of these countries, here are some links to more extensive guides.
Perfect 10 Day Itinerary in Guatemala – Venture with a Ginger
The Best 3 Day Ireland Itinerary – Venture with a Ginger
A Great Guide to Turkey: – Venture with a Ginger
How to Plan a Trip to Egypt – Venture with a Ginger
What to do in Jordan: A Guide for 1st Timers – Venture with a Ginger
What to do in Ecuador? 5 Day Itinerary – Venture with a Ginger