Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 384

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Tobago, a part of me.

Tobago. It’s the sister island to my homeland Trinidad and just like sisters often are, they could not be more different. Tobago is like a dream that you don’t want to wake up from, it’s an entirely different world and that’s what makes it hard to believe that this magical island is accessible via a short fifteen minute plane ride from Trinidad. What makes Tobago so special? It’s everything from the way the sun kisses your skin with wild abandon to the crazy bright colours are the island itself. From the moment you step off that plane you may feel as though you have become part of an exotic oil painting, or that you have entered a different realm intended by God to serve as heaven’s lobby. I suppose it’s different for each person, but for me, I feel the most beautiful, sweet bliss that eludes me in everyday life, I feel true freedom.

There is a small bed and breakfast that is located on a high hill. Here you can see the most beautiful view of Tobago, and on a clear day you can see a bit of Trinidad’s north coast. This is where I always stay. Time simply does not exist, and sometimes I can spend hours looking at the picturesque views from my balcony. The view at night however is a different scenario completely, it is a juxtaposition within itself. On one hand it seems to be a more serene version of what you would see during the day, but on the other hand if you look away from the twinkling lights of the tiny city Scarborough and towards the ocean your ears will help complete the story that your eyes had begun. The gentle sound of the waves washing over the shore sounds almost sad, like a song that has been sung over and over but has been waiting exclusively for you to listen. It seems to know that it will never be heard again, because every night it is a different song that plays until the break of dawn.

These very waves break upon the shores during the day to give a very different experience. Lying on Pigeon Point, when it is deserted, is an experience you will never forget. This time the sounds that the crystal blue waters make as they pound upon the white sands are joyous, they are boasting that they are strong enough to speak but gentle enough that if you dive in and close your eyes, you will forget that the water even exists. Sometimes it pleases me not to even go in but to simply lie on the soft white powdery sand with my favourite book where I am content to stay until I fall asleep. By the time my eyes open, the sun is setting and the scenery somehow surpasses all that has already overwhelmed me. The sun is the deep pink blush of a young bride and the clouds are the veil that form a perfect white frame to its’ beauty. This time the only thing being conveyed by nature is a sense of tranquillity, the kind that can only be understood when experienced first hand. The best part about this experience is that the only thing you ever have to do is wake up the next morning and experience it all over again.

A few days on this island, living that life is al I need to liberate me of the shackles that tie me down in everyday life. There are no time deadlines, no rules, no restraints, you have nowhere to be and nowhere to go in particular which ironically opens you up to the possibility of going everywhere and experiencing everything if you want to. My point is that I achieve true independence here because it is the only time in my life where I truly get to do what I want to do and not under any circumstances but the ones that I have intentionally created. Nothing exists here besides the genuinely dreamlike surroundings, myself and my Creator. The island has intoxicated me and allowed me to become a part of its’ landscape, where my mental faculties will remain for a long time after my body has returned home.

About the Author: I was born and raised in the West of Trinidad with my grandparents. I had never even visited the sister isle to my country until the age of thirteen and have fallen in love with it ever since. I now try to visit the island at least once a year.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Seeking Freedom to Find Freedom

In 2012, I decided to move to Israel. Initially, I went to volunteer with the Ethiopian Israeli community and along the way, I had the opportunity to travel to Greece, Budapest, Petra, Germany, and throughout the entire state of Israel. My time in Israel was challenging. I did not know the language. I did not understand the culture. I was constantly frustrated at the aggressive nature of Israelis and my inability to understand what was going on. I was annoyed when someone I didn’t know gave me advice on a topic they had no knowledge about. I was so upset at the terrible customer service. I was confused by Israelis’ genuine desire to embrace you and also push ahead of you to get on a bus.

It took me a few months to recognize how to interact with Israelis and Israeli culture, which forces you to both be impersonal and exclusionary and yet welcoming and inviting. I was invited over for dinner by strangers more than once, but I had to fight to go grocery shopping or get on a bus.

I came to Israel with no support system in place, something I felt was going to make me feel free and unattached – an ability to make independent decisions for myself without my parents or my friends giving me input. I knew absolutely no one before I decided to make a leap of faith to come to Israel. It has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

I did not know what meaning I would derive from my time in Israel, but I learned that being free is not what’s it cut out to be. The only way I learned how to live in Israel was because of people I met along the way. My host family and program facilitator specifically helped me learn things about myself and stay confident that coming to Israel was a great decision. Because of them and because I learned how to better interact with Israeli culture, I came to a point in my life where I had the confidence and, if I may, freedom to make decisions for myself. It was these decisions that led me to meeting my fiance, and to continue studying Judaism in a way that I never thought I ever would. After all the struggles I experienced I was able to find my way to freedom in a way that I never did in the US.

Every Saturday, my fiance and I would walk up to the Tayelet, a promenade that overlooks Jerusalem from the southern part of the city. It was there that we would feel the breeze coming in from the west and look out to the eastern and southern deserts. It was there that we would see the Old City, with the gold Dome of the Rock and be able to feel that we both belong and don’t belong in this city. And it was there that she proposed and we decided to spend our lives together.

None of that would have happened if I had given up or had not sought my independence or had not been open to learning about myself, another culture and country, and Judaism. It was only because I sought freedom that I found freedom. I’m proud of myself for being brave and making that decision back in 2012 to go alone to Israel.

Part of me will always remain in Israel. It’s where I gained friends, experiences, and a life partner, and where I came into myself in ways I never thought possible.

About the Author: Jessica is an Atlanta-born Jewish social justice and nonprofit professional. She is a traveler, writer, and life-long learner who is readjusting to life in the US after a year and a half in Israel.

Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Independence Travel Writing competition and tell your story.

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Find Freedom! Tell Your Story

Where do you find FREEDOM?

Share your story in the WSGT Independence Travel Writing Contest

Thank you to the winners and all the participants in the Inspiration Travel Writing Contest. Thank you for reading, commenting and being in our community! I hope you will be inspired to join in our Summer 2014 Independence Writing Contest! The entries so far are really fantastic! Click here to read them all!

We are looking for an article about your act of freedom-a place you chose or that allows you to feel free. Be inspired by Sara Barielles’ song, Brave, and share “What you want to say.” We want to “See you Be Brave…and start speaking up!” Where are you most able to be your true self? In Nellie Bennett’s Only in Spain, she watches a flamenco dancer and shares wanting ”to attack my life with that passion, to live with her joy and her devotion to her art… I’d wanted to feel and smell and taste life, and live like that dancer on the stage in Seville, risking that triple turn, never sure she wouldn’t spin right off the stage.” Your place of freedom might be far across the globe or in your own backyard.

Videos from my trip to Puerto Rico with Richard Bangs and Orbitz: Click here for playlist.

LATEST NEWS: We Said Go Travel on YouTube just went over 225,000 views! Follow or subscribe to the channel to know when each new video is posted. Thank you for every click, comment and story you have shared! I really appreciate it!

Thank you for your support. Connect on  Facebook,  Google+,Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest,  SlideShare,  Twitter, and YouTube.

Thanks again! Lisa (Click here to sign up for this newsletter. )

This was from the JUNE 2014 NEWS: CLICK here to read MORE!

Wondering what it is like to travel in India by public bus for Three Months: 58 videos share daily experiences!

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Mauritius: Your Honeymoon Destination Dream come True

Image courtesy of wikipedia

Forget the usual honeymoon destinations; Mexico, Hawaii, Italy, France or Spain. If you want true luxury, a place that none of your friends have been and a place you will never forget, think Mauritius. Over a century ago, writer Mark Twain said, “Mauritius was made first, and then heaven, and that heaven was copied after Mauritius”.

Ask anyone whom has experienced their honeymoon in Mauritius what their favorite memory about the island was. Some will say the snorkeling/scuba diving while others will say walks along the beaches or a hiking adventure. Some will say the deep water fishing was the best while others will say swimming with the dolphins or kayaking was the experience they will never forget. No matter what their favorite activity was, everyone will come to the same conclusion though: it is a truly enchanting and beautiful place and a destination that will never be forgotten! Any luxury honeymoon to Mauritius will be a life changing experience.

So, where exactly is Mauritius? Mauritius is a small island approximately 1,200 miles off the east coast of Madagascar. Geographically, the island nation is about twice the size of New York City. Unlike New York, however, its population is only about 1.3 million people; 85% of which live in the capital city of Port Louis. With all that land and so few people, Mauritius has so much pristine jungle and uninhabited area. With the lack of people and the abundance of open land, beaches and mountains, you are sure to be kept busy during your honeymoon to Mauritius!

Mauritius is a great place to visit year round as well. Located in the tropics, the temperature rarely fluctuates outside the range of 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit (21-27 degrees Celsius) and has a yearly average humidity at a constant 82%. Because the island is out in the middle of the ocean, there is a constant sea breeze which means it never gets too hot and never gets polluted as well. No matter what activity you choose to do, Mauritius is the perfect place to do it.

Overall, the island nation of Mauritius is a destination that will never be forgotten. No matter what you like to do, Mauritius has it. There are recreational activities for any type of tourist that comes here. The beach is never too far away; the same can be said for the mountains on the small island. Hiking the jungle interior is great for mountain lovers while swimming with dolphins, deep sea fishing and snorkeling are great things to do at or near the ocean. With a tropical climate, the island is a great destination to visit at any point in the year. Come for a two week honeymoon and leave with memories that will last a lifetime!

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Asian Tea House- Simply the Best: Pokhara, Nepal

There comes a point in every backpacker’s trip when scouting out exciting new options just isn’t that exciting anymore. Scouring menus, blindly trying to decide on something that warrants losing those precious pennies from your travelling budget, only to be confronted with a small portion or an overly western attempt gone wrong- well, it just gets tiresome. Even worse is when your friend does make the right decision, leaving you to look longingly at their local and hearty meal while you want to throw yours across the table. Step in Asian Teahouse of Pokhara, Nepal.

I was addicted to this place. So much so that the thought of going off on our trek into the Himalaya for ten days, leaving the family to wonder why our usual table remained empty, worried me a little more than it should have. Having discovered this tiny side-street café on our first day in Pokhara, I had come to depend on its unfailing ability to always get it right. Tea is 40 rupees cheaper than anywhere else on Lakeside and served in giant mugs. As if that wasn’t impressive enough when compared to the usually tiny tin cups so common in Nepal, the mugs are an eclectic collection of cartoon characters, flags, colours, polka dots and Disney faces. Before long, you are being served a morning cuppa in ‘your favourite mug’ when you’re hundreds of miles from home. Amazing.

The masala chai is amazing. So amazing, in fact, that I genuinely stopped missing my Mum’s brews (sorry Mum). The breakfast options get even better. As a cereal and muesli fan, just seeing those options on the menu was enough to impress me. Being able to choose muesli with yoghurt, milk, honey or fruit was even better. When I was then asked if I would like the milk to be hot or cold, I almost fell off my chair. And, much like the tea, the portions are huge. The fruits are fresh and the milk is steaming, no, piping hot. Shiva, the owner of this wonderful establishment, does ‘tea-runs’ around Lakeside, delivering cups of chai to the multitudes of shopkeepers, tour guides, builders and taxi drivers all working hard in the heat of the day. His celebrity status does nothing to ease his workload and, along with his wife and children, he serves locals and tourists alike from 5am to 10pm.

When one day all three tables were full and we thought we might have to come back later, the family fell over themselves to fetch us stools from their own kitchen and asked a romantic looking French couple to shimmy up so we could sit down (awkward!) The wonderful, hospitable gene so inherent in all Nepali people simply shines through in the faces of the staff here. My only advice would be to catch the waiter early on if you fancy ordering something different one day- it is more than likely that Shiva will have begun making your usual before you have even sat down.

Hannah Thompson-Yates

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Why I Fell For Bali

It definitely wasn’t the love from the first sight. The Island of the Gods phrase didn’t strike me through the first, nor the second, time I visited Bali. Shirtless beer-swilling Australians, bronzed Italian women in their tiny bikinis, Russian-speaking locals echoing the Kuta strip trying to sell anything and everything, the somewhat bizarre wooden penis shops, women on the beach who would insist on braiding your hair despite the numerous times you refuse. Bali just wasn’t the right place for me, I thought. There was no spark, no attraction, nothing in common. So I promised myself to move on and never look back.

But Bali didn’t give up on me so easily. When few attempts to get me back for friends’ birthdays or a  girls’ weekends away failed, it took a more serious approach. I was assigned a project in Bali to work on, this time in Ubud.  I had no choice but to go.

Today I don’t regret giving Bali not a second, but a 3rd chance, because it proved me wrong. I was the one who was ignorant and judged way too fast thinking all there is to Bali is Kuta. In a way, I judged Bali the way people judge potential partners by their looks.

But Ubud, located at the heart of Bali Island, was a whole different story. It opened up to me with its amazing qualities and interesting soul. Here is why I fell for it:

Extremely Friendly People

As soon as my car was maneuvering the narrow dirt roads surrounded by numerous Hindu temples and astonishing green rice fields trying to avoid the wandering duck flocks along the road, I felt that I could like this place. The bright orange sun was slowly setting down putting soft shadows on people going about their everyday lives, be it sweeping temple stairs from white and pink frangipani blossoms or ploughing the rice fields. Everyone with no exception was smiling and people who noticed me waved. I never felt more welcome from the minute I got picked up from the airport to the minute my plane took off to go back, every step was followed by a smile.

Home away from home

Tucked away from all the hustle and bustle, Indigo Tree became my home. With the remains of old Hindu temple acting as a gate to secret garden, Indigo is accessible via winding stone path surrounded by fragrant frangipani trees mixed with tall palm trees and colorful flowers. The open air lounge of Indigo with its bright red plush sofas, bookshelves and traditional Balinese decorations created a very cozy environment. The smell of sandalwood incents was everywhere. Waking up to the first sun rays, opening the glass doors to a mesmerizing blue pool right in front of your doorstep whilst enjoying fresh tropical fruit juice is the best way one can start a day.

Balinese Door

Like-minded People

Unlike Kuta or Seminyak, Ubud is a spot where artists, musicians, photographers, writers, yogis, healers and other creative and talented people gather. Local boutique cafes are bustling with creative ideas and thought provoking conversations being shared over a cup of organic coffee or a healthy smoothie.  I found so much inspiration in Ubud in just three days that is lasting to date. I never photographed and filmed more, never wrote better, never felt so motivated and inspired.

Bustling Arts & Culture Scene

Punctuated by temples hidden behind ornately carved archways and petal-filled lanes, Ubud is Bali’s artistic hub. Bali is brimming with fire dances, mask dances, trance dances, monster dances and so much more all of which have been refined over the centuries to the point that eyeballs, fingertips and toes all move in elaborate choreographed precision. Beyond the dances, a string of new galleries that offer one-of-a-kind treasures are open all day long. Paintings, photographs and crafts are not only showcased in the galleries, but also are a big part of culture and are key details in many of the hotels, restaurants, spas and coffee shops.

Ubud Arts

Recharge your body

If serenity, tranquility and inspiration floating around wouldn’t be enough, Ubud is also a perfect place to recharge your body. Countless amount of outdoor yoga studios are scattered around Ubud, each with incredible views, nature surroundings and world renowned yoga masters while stone and thatched-roof compounds house boutique spas at affordable prices. Ubud is also a paradise for health conscious. You will probably not find a single place where so many vegetarian, vegan or organic cafes and restaurants are gathered.

Healthy Foods in Ubud

I came back from Ubud madly in love… with its people and culture. Some relationships in our lives don’t spark from the first sight: sometimes they need time, sometimes they ask for a second chance, but in most cases they are the ones that last.

Bali J’Taime!

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Croatia, Greece and Montenegro: Eastern Mediterranean Dreams

Eastward Bound — Cruising the Mediterranean

Over 20 million people now take cruise holidays each year. One popular destination is the Eastern Mediterranean and there are number of reasons why this vacation option has risen in popularity. Obviously, cruises are an excellent way of visiting more than one destination within a week or two and the longer the cruise the more places you can explore.

Dropping by

If you’re considering an Eastern Mediterranean cruise (lucky you!) the first decision will be to decide on your ports of call. Most holiday operators will sail to specific locations such as a week travelling to Croatia, Greece and Montenegro. This means you’ll be able to spend nights and days exploring cities such as Corfu Town, Dubrovnik, Athens and Kotor. Holidaymakers will usually begin their cruise at one port, travel to a set itinerary of locations during their week or two and then end the cruise at the original departure port.

Where to make your beeline

The Eastern Mediterranean includes destinations such as mainland Greece and the sun-drenched Greek Islands as well as other beach locations in Turkey and Egypt. Cyprus is another popular cruise option thanks to the beaches and nightlife options at ports of call such as Limassol. A cruise from Cyprus can then be taken to Israel to visit famous cities such as Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Alternative cruises from Cyprus can include Egypt, Syria, Rhodes, and the Greek Islands.

You’re in the Eastern Med. Now what?

One of the cool things about cruise holidays is that you can fit in a number of activities around your destinations. You can enjoy scuba diving in the Adriatic Sea from Dubrovnik or in the warm Aegean and Ionian Sea waters surrounding the Greek Islands. Spend a day cycling around the Bodrum Peninsula in Turkey or explore historic cities such as Alexandria in Egypt and the medieval old town of Rhodes. At the end of the day you can enjoy the local cuisine in the restaurants and taverns of whichever country you’re visiting.

Packing your sailing gear and heading out on a cruise is the way to obtain a flavor of a number of different countries and to see destinations you may never have previously considered. The Eastern Mediterranean offers a host of exotic locations. Arriving at a new port each day is all part of this vacation experience. You just need to be up for the ride. Who’s in?

Image by trishhartmann, used under Creative Commons license.

David Oscar is a travel journalist and has a special fondness for Croatia. He visits this country at least for times every year.

 

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