Some of my best and worst travel-related experiences are recounted below:
Best (sometimes words can't truly describe how I feel)
1. I have to start with the amazing grace that I received the minute I stepped on Apparition Hill in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina. I smelled a sweet floral fragrance that appeared suddenly at the start of my climb. I knew that it was extraordinary as there were no flowers nearby on the rocky terrain under the midday sun. This gift of grace followed by an afternoon Mass (in Croatian) at St. James Church with devoted Bosnian Croats around me made my pilgrimage extremely special. Although I did not understand the homily, when the time came to greet those around us with "Peace be with you", I turned around me and wished everyone peace in English and I was greeted back in Croatian. This was pure solidarity and a feeling of belongingness despite our differences in culture, language, age, history and background.
2. I was grateful to see the Torres Del Paine peaks in their full glory in the dawn of Monday, December 22, 2008. Nothing in life is guaranteed and it works both ways. Despite receiving the bad news from the park HQ the night before that the weather in the park was going to be bad for the next few days, I was hopeful that when I began my ascent to the peak the following morning, the weather would co-operate for me to see the peaks. And it did. Not only did the rain stop, the sun was out and the sky was clear. I felt truly blessed.
3. Soon after I caught the first glimpse of Peru's Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate (after spending 3 nights on the Inca Trail), I paused and savored in a moment of personal pride and satisfaction. It was one of life's best moments to see the reward at close grasp. On the descend down to see the Lost City, we passed several freshly-scented hikers on their way up to the Sun Gate. Although we looked messy and tired, we were (and I believe I can speak for everyone in my group) proud of our achievement to walk the royal Inca highway to arrive at Machu Picchu on our own 2 feet (instead of taking the easy route by train as some of these fresh-faced hikers had done).
4. The views of snow-capped mountains and virgin terrains of Tierra Del Fuego near Ushuaia in Argentina from the airplane were absolutely breathtaking. It was paradise, almost dream-like. I was so in awe that I did not want to miss a moment of it by taking my camera out from my bag. The sight is now forever etched in my memory.
5. Excitement was brewing inside me as I (along with 8-9 others) sat inside the speed boat, waiting in anticipation on our way to an island off of Ushuaia in Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina, to meet the penguins first-hand. When the boat slowed on its approach to the island, we stood up and boy, I was stunned to see thousands of penguins on the island - just standing there. It was amazing. The experience was beyond my own imagination.
6. One of my favorite hikes by far would be the Mt. Fitz Roy trail in El Chalten, Argentina. Once again, I was blessed with a sunny and beautiful weather on the hike up to Lago de Los Tres (the glacier lake below Cerro Fitz Roy). The glacier water was the crème de la crème reward - it was so fresh, pristine and (metaphorically) sweet. Another reminder that the best things in life are free.
7. The animal market in Otavalo in Ecuador was a sight never before seen. All my five senses were aroused.
8. The wide expanse feeling I got from trekking and cycling in the dirt roads of remote Easter Island - I felt small and humbled. There was nothing but the deep blue Pacific Ocean around me and the immense sky above me. I was but a speck in the universe and time.
9. Oh if only I could capture the image of the millions of stars I saw in the dark night from Amantani island on Lake Titicaca, Peru! The Milky Way could have been right above me for all I knew! It was magical and serene. Similarly, sleeping under the stars in Bridgeport, California was another unforgettable experience. Each time I glanced up at the dark sky, I noticed that the stars' positions had changed. I also saw the "falling" crescent moon as it disappeared behind the lake and mountains. Again, the best things in life are free!
10. Chasing the sunset in Australia was another fun and memorable experience. I recalled the mad dash to the coast of the Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road drive in Australia. I was a woman on a mission against time. When I arrived, somewhat panting, I was caught off guard by the brilliant sight of the setting sun on the coast with the Twelve Apostles (well, not all 12 of them are there now) standing in lonesome unity. It was C-O-L-D but I waited until the sunset before I walked slowly back to my car. Satisfied. Two other beautiful sunsets worth mentioning are in Santorini, Greece (it was brr cold but my heart was warm as the sun slowly 'dropped' into the ocean in front of me) and in Dubrovnik, Croatia (a golden sunset that took my breath away).
12. Two fun-loving Italian ladies approached me in Firenze (Florence), Italy and asked if I thought the pair of sunglasses that one of them was wearing looked nice on her. I looked at both of them and said, "But it's night time now...?" I know it's stupid but the three of us burst out laughing.
13. While out strolling at night in the local market area in Ensenada, Mexico, I came across an elderly man who was selling candies from a push cart. He was chatting with his friends when I peered into his cart out of curiosity to see what they were and how they looked like. He asked if I wanted to buy some. I shook my head and he asked gently, "Por que?" I replied, "No hablo Espanol". Then the sweet man tried his best to convey "God bless you" to me. He pointed his hand to the sky and said "Christo" and then pointed to me. I was touched by his unassuming generosity. He might not appear to have the riches but he has all the love in him to share. This simple gesture from him was the big highlight of my short trip to Ensenada, Mexico.
14. A friendly woman in Hoi An, Vietnam, approached me on a street and, pointing at both of us, said "Same same but different". I liked her forthcoming behavior. There was no hidden, self-serving agenda. She merely wanted to communicate that to me.
15. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. A new friend and I were walking in Hanoi, Vietnam when I saw a lady peddling cold drinks on the steps of a market. We stopped and bought a cup of drink from her...and (this is the funny part) without any forethought, both of us simultaneously squatted at the steps of the market to drink! We had seen too many people squatting to drink that we soon started to develop the same habit! It was too funny when we realized our own behavior.
17. An unbecoming behavior but I have to say that cycling in Maastricht, half-sober, and screaming at the top of my voice with a few crazy friends in the early hours of the morning was frivolous but plenty fun. I seemed to be able to cycle better semi-sober than I were to walk.
19. Walking down a main street in Santiago (Chile) with my heavy pack on my back, a random guy wished me "Bienvenidos a Chile" as we passed each other. I was pleasantly surprised. How many of us would even bother to wish a welcome to a tourist? Also in Santiago, I had a nice chat (in my halting Spanish), with a gentle old man who was sitting next to me on a bench and resting after a day's work in the office. We talked about my trips and how I would be spending the holidays. He also asked about my family. He was so patient in trying to understand me. Again, no hidden agenda, just a simple conversation between two people who were focused on the present moment, who paid attention to the things and people around them.
20. I am truly grateful to all the nameless kind souls who helped me find my way when I was lost - despite the language barrier, despite their schedule, despite having nothing to gain from helping me - THANK YOU!
21. Special mention goes out to Eduardo from Peru, who paid for my bus fare in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as I did not have any reals with me. He even told the driver (in Portuguese) where to drop me off. Eduardo had no idea that his benevolent gesture was my best birthday gift for that day. Gracias Eduardo!
22. The short hike from Jungfrau plateau (at elevation 3,571 m or 11,782 ft) to Monchsjochhutte (at elevation 3,650 m/11,976 ft) in Switzerland was nothing less than divine. As I stood at the top of the mounts, alone, amidst an incredible vastness of white powder, all the fears and problems that I faced suddenly seem so minute when I was up there, happy, at peace and contented. Next thing that followed was this big steamy bowl of coffee on Monchsjochhutte with two fellow hikers. This was simply life at its best.
23. Sleeping solo inside a tent at night with the howling wind and pounding rain outside in Parque Nacional Torres Del Paine was a frightening but also exhilarating experience. I was afraid my tent would rip and expose me to the brutal elements but thank goodness I was sheltered under the pine trees. It was an unforgettable experience.
24. The experience of dealing with the hurricane-strong winds near the glacier lake of Cerro Torre in El Chalten, Argentina was a first. Many times there, I had to huddle myself in a low fetal position until the powerful and deafening winds subsided before I could stand up and walk. Figuratively, I saw it as a sign of giving due respect as I cowered in the face of mother nature's strong forces. In the same vein, the indigenous people's respect for and reverence of pachamama ("Mother Earth" in Quechua) in the Andes had an impact on me. I felt an unexplainable good and positive energy up in the highlands. I was rejuvenated and humbled by what I saw and felt.
25. My personal encounters with seasoned, inspiring travelers - those who traveled the world on their motor bikes or those who cycled from Los Angeles to Ushuaia for months (even years!) on end. I also heard the story of a couple in the Netherlands who sold everything they had owned and traveled the world in a caravan. I recalled too the sight of 2 elderly men cycling through the solitude desert stretch of Patagonia in Argentina (from my bus). These folks are truly courageous and my hats off to them.
"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."
— Chris McCandless
Worst (you take the good with the bad)
1. Groped in Bogota, Colombia. Utterly disgusted. Enough said.
2. I could not reconcile the plight of this little girl, about 5 or 6-years-old, playing in her makeshift slum of a home that was made up of a plastic canvas tarp for a roof and a plastic sheet on the floor in Mumbai, India. Her home was right next to the traffic intersection and yet, everybody was going about in their own business. It was a disturbing sight.
3. I would just sum up this point with a one-liner: Argentinian businesses (for the most part) need to work on their customer service skills. Some of these businesses in particular: Aerolineas Argentinas (the airline), Hostel del Glacier-Libertador in El Calafate, and Hostel Suites Florida in Buenos Aires. Don't get me wrong, no one or business is perfect, I get that. Mistakes happen. What I couldn't stand was their arrogance. Nobody and no business is invincible.
4. The 16-hr bus ride from Sao Paulo to Foz do Iguacu in Brazil was a nightmare and it was not even because of the duration (the longest bus ride for me would be the 31-hr journey from Bariloche to El Chalten in Argentina). The torturous ordeal here was a combination of (picture this): a packed old rackety bus, a smelly toilet in the back of the bus and nearby passengers with horrible body odor. The lady next to me also spilled her drink on me. Ah, one of those days.
5. Falling twice on the wet and hilly cobblestone streets of Ouro Preto in Brazil, while out searching for accommodation for the night with my heavy backpack on, at 7 o'clock in the morning was probably one of the lowest moments of my S. American grand tour. Not only was it humiliating to say the least, I received no help from the on-lookers. These elderly folks who were out at that hour looked at me with eyes that said "Should I help her? Nah, I think she'll be fine..." I know, it's no big deal to fall. I picked myself up and moved on. Still, my bottom hurt and I was wet and cold from the rain - I felt sorry for myself that morning.
Best (sometimes words can't truly describe how I feel)
1. I have to start with the amazing grace that I received the minute I stepped on Apparition Hill in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina. I smelled a sweet floral fragrance that appeared suddenly at the start of my climb. I knew that it was extraordinary as there were no flowers nearby on the rocky terrain under the midday sun. This gift of grace followed by an afternoon Mass (in Croatian) at St. James Church with devoted Bosnian Croats around me made my pilgrimage extremely special. Although I did not understand the homily, when the time came to greet those around us with "Peace be with you", I turned around me and wished everyone peace in English and I was greeted back in Croatian. This was pure solidarity and a feeling of belongingness despite our differences in culture, language, age, history and background.
2. I was grateful to see the Torres Del Paine peaks in their full glory in the dawn of Monday, December 22, 2008. Nothing in life is guaranteed and it works both ways. Despite receiving the bad news from the park HQ the night before that the weather in the park was going to be bad for the next few days, I was hopeful that when I began my ascent to the peak the following morning, the weather would co-operate for me to see the peaks. And it did. Not only did the rain stop, the sun was out and the sky was clear. I felt truly blessed.
3. Soon after I caught the first glimpse of Peru's Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate (after spending 3 nights on the Inca Trail), I paused and savored in a moment of personal pride and satisfaction. It was one of life's best moments to see the reward at close grasp. On the descend down to see the Lost City, we passed several freshly-scented hikers on their way up to the Sun Gate. Although we looked messy and tired, we were (and I believe I can speak for everyone in my group) proud of our achievement to walk the royal Inca highway to arrive at Machu Picchu on our own 2 feet (instead of taking the easy route by train as some of these fresh-faced hikers had done).
4. The views of snow-capped mountains and virgin terrains of Tierra Del Fuego near Ushuaia in Argentina from the airplane were absolutely breathtaking. It was paradise, almost dream-like. I was so in awe that I did not want to miss a moment of it by taking my camera out from my bag. The sight is now forever etched in my memory.
5. Excitement was brewing inside me as I (along with 8-9 others) sat inside the speed boat, waiting in anticipation on our way to an island off of Ushuaia in Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina, to meet the penguins first-hand. When the boat slowed on its approach to the island, we stood up and boy, I was stunned to see thousands of penguins on the island - just standing there. It was amazing. The experience was beyond my own imagination.
6. One of my favorite hikes by far would be the Mt. Fitz Roy trail in El Chalten, Argentina. Once again, I was blessed with a sunny and beautiful weather on the hike up to Lago de Los Tres (the glacier lake below Cerro Fitz Roy). The glacier water was the crème de la crème reward - it was so fresh, pristine and (metaphorically) sweet. Another reminder that the best things in life are free.
7. The animal market in Otavalo in Ecuador was a sight never before seen. All my five senses were aroused.
8. The wide expanse feeling I got from trekking and cycling in the dirt roads of remote Easter Island - I felt small and humbled. There was nothing but the deep blue Pacific Ocean around me and the immense sky above me. I was but a speck in the universe and time.
9. Oh if only I could capture the image of the millions of stars I saw in the dark night from Amantani island on Lake Titicaca, Peru! The Milky Way could have been right above me for all I knew! It was magical and serene. Similarly, sleeping under the stars in Bridgeport, California was another unforgettable experience. Each time I glanced up at the dark sky, I noticed that the stars' positions had changed. I also saw the "falling" crescent moon as it disappeared behind the lake and mountains. Again, the best things in life are free!
10. Chasing the sunset in Australia was another fun and memorable experience. I recalled the mad dash to the coast of the Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road drive in Australia. I was a woman on a mission against time. When I arrived, somewhat panting, I was caught off guard by the brilliant sight of the setting sun on the coast with the Twelve Apostles (well, not all 12 of them are there now) standing in lonesome unity. It was C-O-L-D but I waited until the sunset before I walked slowly back to my car. Satisfied. Two other beautiful sunsets worth mentioning are in Santorini, Greece (it was brr cold but my heart was warm as the sun slowly 'dropped' into the ocean in front of me) and in Dubrovnik, Croatia (a golden sunset that took my breath away).
11. A little boy, he was probably not older than 5, surprised me with 2 little flowers that he had just picked when I walked by him. It was SO sweet of him. I accepted them, smiled and said bedankt to him, and he smiled back. This happened in Maastricht in the Netherlands. How did he even know to do that? Nothing beats the raw innocence of the young.
12. Two fun-loving Italian ladies approached me in Firenze (Florence), Italy and asked if I thought the pair of sunglasses that one of them was wearing looked nice on her. I looked at both of them and said, "But it's night time now...?" I know it's stupid but the three of us burst out laughing.
13. While out strolling at night in the local market area in Ensenada, Mexico, I came across an elderly man who was selling candies from a push cart. He was chatting with his friends when I peered into his cart out of curiosity to see what they were and how they looked like. He asked if I wanted to buy some. I shook my head and he asked gently, "Por que?" I replied, "No hablo Espanol". Then the sweet man tried his best to convey "God bless you" to me. He pointed his hand to the sky and said "Christo" and then pointed to me. I was touched by his unassuming generosity. He might not appear to have the riches but he has all the love in him to share. This simple gesture from him was the big highlight of my short trip to Ensenada, Mexico.
14. A friendly woman in Hoi An, Vietnam, approached me on a street and, pointing at both of us, said "Same same but different". I liked her forthcoming behavior. There was no hidden, self-serving agenda. She merely wanted to communicate that to me.
15. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. A new friend and I were walking in Hanoi, Vietnam when I saw a lady peddling cold drinks on the steps of a market. We stopped and bought a cup of drink from her...and (this is the funny part) without any forethought, both of us simultaneously squatted at the steps of the market to drink! We had seen too many people squatting to drink that we soon started to develop the same habit! It was too funny when we realized our own behavior.
16. I felt blessed to be able to attend Mass with my parents at the Vatican with the Pope. The best part of this was that the encounter was by pure chance. We happened to be at the right place, at the right time. It was just meant to be. Overall, I have to say that my parents and I were extremely blessed by God throughout our big European road trip. In Prague, for example, I got really lost in the city trying to find the hostel that I had made reservations with. Despite numerous stops of asking for directions, I remained in complete darkness. I was stressed out in frustration and fatigue as I had been driving a straight 12-hours on the road from Warsaw. In desperation, I prayed to God for help. Almost immediately, I found an inner confidence that I was being directed by God. I made turns randomly even though I did not know where I was going but the good news was that I eventually found the hostel! It was only in hindsight that I realized how lost I was and it was a miracle that I was able to find the hostel. God's miraculous providence and protection was with us as well as we battled a flat tire the morning we were to leave Firenze (Florence) for Assisi.
18. I was engulfed in peace after I summit and witnessed the sun's first rays of the day up on Mt. Kinabalu in Sabah, East Malaysia. No words could succinctly describe how I felt when I saw those stupendous colors for the first time. It was beyond "WOW". In spite of my headache and nausea feeling (altitude-sickness), I felt God's grace all around me. I also re-learned that the journey was more important than the destination. It was by taking many little steps that I eventually arrived at the end goal. So, take the step, no matter how difficult it may be.
19. Walking down a main street in Santiago (Chile) with my heavy pack on my back, a random guy wished me "Bienvenidos a Chile" as we passed each other. I was pleasantly surprised. How many of us would even bother to wish a welcome to a tourist? Also in Santiago, I had a nice chat (in my halting Spanish), with a gentle old man who was sitting next to me on a bench and resting after a day's work in the office. We talked about my trips and how I would be spending the holidays. He also asked about my family. He was so patient in trying to understand me. Again, no hidden agenda, just a simple conversation between two people who were focused on the present moment, who paid attention to the things and people around them.
20. I am truly grateful to all the nameless kind souls who helped me find my way when I was lost - despite the language barrier, despite their schedule, despite having nothing to gain from helping me - THANK YOU!
21. Special mention goes out to Eduardo from Peru, who paid for my bus fare in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as I did not have any reals with me. He even told the driver (in Portuguese) where to drop me off. Eduardo had no idea that his benevolent gesture was my best birthday gift for that day. Gracias Eduardo!
22. The short hike from Jungfrau plateau (at elevation 3,571 m or 11,782 ft) to Monchsjochhutte (at elevation 3,650 m/11,976 ft) in Switzerland was nothing less than divine. As I stood at the top of the mounts, alone, amidst an incredible vastness of white powder, all the fears and problems that I faced suddenly seem so minute when I was up there, happy, at peace and contented. Next thing that followed was this big steamy bowl of coffee on Monchsjochhutte with two fellow hikers. This was simply life at its best.
23. Sleeping solo inside a tent at night with the howling wind and pounding rain outside in Parque Nacional Torres Del Paine was a frightening but also exhilarating experience. I was afraid my tent would rip and expose me to the brutal elements but thank goodness I was sheltered under the pine trees. It was an unforgettable experience.
24. The experience of dealing with the hurricane-strong winds near the glacier lake of Cerro Torre in El Chalten, Argentina was a first. Many times there, I had to huddle myself in a low fetal position until the powerful and deafening winds subsided before I could stand up and walk. Figuratively, I saw it as a sign of giving due respect as I cowered in the face of mother nature's strong forces. In the same vein, the indigenous people's respect for and reverence of pachamama ("Mother Earth" in Quechua) in the Andes had an impact on me. I felt an unexplainable good and positive energy up in the highlands. I was rejuvenated and humbled by what I saw and felt.
25. My personal encounters with seasoned, inspiring travelers - those who traveled the world on their motor bikes or those who cycled from Los Angeles to Ushuaia for months (even years!) on end. I also heard the story of a couple in the Netherlands who sold everything they had owned and traveled the world in a caravan. I recalled too the sight of 2 elderly men cycling through the solitude desert stretch of Patagonia in Argentina (from my bus). These folks are truly courageous and my hats off to them.
"So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, and conservatism, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more dangerous to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun."
— Chris McCandless
Worst (you take the good with the bad)
1. Groped in Bogota, Colombia. Utterly disgusted. Enough said.
2. I could not reconcile the plight of this little girl, about 5 or 6-years-old, playing in her makeshift slum of a home that was made up of a plastic canvas tarp for a roof and a plastic sheet on the floor in Mumbai, India. Her home was right next to the traffic intersection and yet, everybody was going about in their own business. It was a disturbing sight.
3. I would just sum up this point with a one-liner: Argentinian businesses (for the most part) need to work on their customer service skills. Some of these businesses in particular: Aerolineas Argentinas (the airline), Hostel del Glacier-Libertador in El Calafate, and Hostel Suites Florida in Buenos Aires. Don't get me wrong, no one or business is perfect, I get that. Mistakes happen. What I couldn't stand was their arrogance. Nobody and no business is invincible.
4. The 16-hr bus ride from Sao Paulo to Foz do Iguacu in Brazil was a nightmare and it was not even because of the duration (the longest bus ride for me would be the 31-hr journey from Bariloche to El Chalten in Argentina). The torturous ordeal here was a combination of (picture this): a packed old rackety bus, a smelly toilet in the back of the bus and nearby passengers with horrible body odor. The lady next to me also spilled her drink on me. Ah, one of those days.
5. Falling twice on the wet and hilly cobblestone streets of Ouro Preto in Brazil, while out searching for accommodation for the night with my heavy backpack on, at 7 o'clock in the morning was probably one of the lowest moments of my S. American grand tour. Not only was it humiliating to say the least, I received no help from the on-lookers. These elderly folks who were out at that hour looked at me with eyes that said "Should I help her? Nah, I think she'll be fine..." I know, it's no big deal to fall. I picked myself up and moved on. Still, my bottom hurt and I was wet and cold from the rain - I felt sorry for myself that morning.
6. My flat tire ordeal - one of the tires on my Volvo C30 rental was punctured on the side by an ill-intention person in Florence, Italy. With no spare tire in the trunk (I know, what was I thinking?!), we were flushed with feelings of despair and wondering what to do next. Thank God for His protection, we received help from kind angels in Florence and managed to continue on our road journey. Hence, on hindsight, this should actually be saved under the 'best' category. :)
7. I had never before encountered such unpleasantness from someone until I came across this arrogant French man who ran the Azia gas station up at Eze Village near Nice in Cote d'Azur, France. He would not offer help to my parents and me who were stranded with a flat tire even though he had new tires for sale at his gas station! Call it what you will but I have learned to take the good with the bad. In the end, he did serve us, albeit begrudgingly.
Overall, there were more "best" experiences than "worst", and that's the whole point of this exercise. It is by recounting the blessings in our lives that we are reminded of how truly fortunate we are.
Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, look on the bright side of things. Have the heart to forgive and forget, and reconcile with the people who matter to you. Life is too short to bear a grudge.
