Destinations

Destinations

Travel means the world to me – literally! From early childhood on, I have had an almost insatiable appetite for exploration and adventure. Since then, I have traveled every continent and crossed every ocean at least once, but I’m far from done. There is still so much more to see, smell, touch, taste and listen to. The world is truly a place of endless wonder and learning. It is the best classroom anyone can have.

A Lifelong Dream, a Special Quest
Some Destinations Have Names
Only Known to You

There are places that draw us magically to them. Countless travelers have reported uncanny feelings of belonging, even in locations they had never visited before. Some hear “the call of the wild” and have to follow it; for others it is a lifelong dream, a special quest, a pilgrimage or another item to be crossed off the now proverbial “Bucket List.” I have had experiences like these on many occasions myself. Something from deep inside urges me to follow my dreams and make them a reality – until I finally do.

In this section of the blog, I want to share my memories of some of the best trips I have taken over the years. They include different parts of The United States, like Alaska, Colorado and Hawaii, Canada, South America, including the Galapagos Islands, Peru with Machu Picchu, different regions of Africa and India, Beijing and Hong Kong in China, the Himalayas, including Bhutan and Nepal and, best of all, Antarctica.

Finding the right destination for you
You may not have decided yet where exactly you want to go and wish to look around more broadly. Allow yourself plenty of time to gather accurate, reliable, up-to-date information about the destinations you are considering. I usually begin the planning process of a new trip a full year ahead of departure.

The world is getting smaller and there are fewer countries that manage to preserve their cultural authenticity. Some say that the more you travel, the more all places begin to look alike. I happen to disagree with that. Wherever I go, I see that the rich diversity of the world is alive and well. I love to explore the characteristics that are unique to a region, such as traditions, customs, history, religion, literature, cuisine, etc. If you keep your eyes and your mind open, you will always discover something new and unexpected.

Unless you seek the tranquility of a remote island, visiting a city can be a great vacation. When people travel to Europe, they typically go from one major metropolis to another to see all the grand architecture and famous art collections. But cities can also be romantic places – and not just Paris. Some people say they had their best getaway experiences in a big city where they could easily blend into the razzle-dazzle or find total bliss in the privacy of an ultramodern hotel spa.

Searching for information by “category” may be your best bet, especially if you already know what your itinerary should include. I have a friend who traveled around the entire world in search of the best golf courses. Since that was his only criterion, the destinations were probably easy to pick. More likely, however, you will travel with company and the spectrum of interests may be much wider. But don’t worry, you’ll find the perfect spot for yourself and everyone else in your party, if you know where to look and how to plan.

This is one of my favorite parts of this blog, sharing my travel stories and helping you in the course to find your next destination, wherever that may be – and, perhaps, help you find yourself there. All the information that is given here is solely based on my own experiences and observations. It is by no means a complete account, nor are my impressions necessarily shared by everyone else. Therefore, you may want to read the following pages like a personal travel diary, if you will. I try to enrich each page with photographs and video clips to make the reading a more colorful and entertaining experience. Other than that, I hope to inspire and plant the “travel bug” in you…

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