Earth is a wonderful place filled with limitless awe-inspiring beauty. It’s nice that we can call a pink lake or glow-worm caves part of our big global backyard. Thanks to the advent of technology, once remote and hidden places are finding their way into our lives. Millions of people across the planet are seeking out illusive and bizarre locations to find escape and perspective in a busy world.
So why travel to exotic locations?
Travel destinations provide people with a physical and psychological break from both their domestic and working lives. Some destinations are so compellingly beautiful, that just stopping for a moment at one of these locations can be life-changing. The perspective gained while on holiday can spark a new sense of adventure, help a person reinvent himself or herself, set a person on a completely different path or even revamp a tired old relationship! The benefits of inspirational travel are far-reaching!
Whether you have a big desire to travel or you are just curious about what’s beyond your back door, consider adding one of these great locations to your bucket list!
Here are three top destinations to add to your bucket list
Milford Sound, New Zealand
What New Zealand lacks in size makes up for in incredible scenery. One of New Zealand’s most beautiful scenic spots is Milford Sound – a destination worth a thousand photographs. In Milford Sound it is easy for problems to melt away as quickly as the snow might fall. Whether you fancy a glacial climate biting at your skin, watching seals lazing on rocks or dolphins gliding through waves, this lost world will rejuvenate the most tired of souls.
Petra, Jordan
History books aside, nothing can prepare a person for Petra’s splendour. Built entirely of rose-red towering rocks, this ancient city in Jordan is not only rich in stories, but radiates innovative intricacies of its era. Situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, this inhabited land was once the capital city of the Nabataea’s, created during Hellenistic and Roman times. It was once the chief centre for Arabian incense, exotic spices of India and fine woven silks of China. It is also a crossroad between Egypt, Arabia and Syria-Phoenicia. Only half built, Petra is filled with beautiful mountains, passages and gorges.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is nestled 7,000 metres above sea level on a petite hilltop between the Andean Mountain Range and above the Urubamba Valley. This lost city boasts agricultural, urban and religious mysteries including the Incan structure, which is estimated to have housed 1,200 people. Researchers believe Machu Picchu could have been an isolated retreat for Incan rulers seeking solitude. This ancient city was never made known to its conquering Spaniard’s and was once almost lost until its recent rediscovery in 1911. Despite over 2,500 people arriving daily to marvel at this site, it still retains a level of awe-inspiring opulence.
Got the travel bug yet?
Great! There’s nothing like that excited feeling of a pending trip! Question is – how will you pay for it all and how will you secure your finances while travelling?
Enter the cash passport!
I remember in my day we would walk around with wads of cash in a bum bag. But thankfully this is no longer the case. Now there are a bunch of solutions for paying in the currency of the country you are visiting without actually carrying around cash. All you have to do is read the multitude of horror stories online related to travellers losing their money due to a bad experience in foreign destinations. An example of one solution to the carrying-cash dilemma is the Travel Money Oz Cash Passport. Cards like these have the security of travellers cheques and the compact convenience of plastic. They have revolutionised the way you carry and keep track of your money while travelling. Cash withdrawals are possible in local currency at over 2.1 million MasterCard® ATMs worldwide, and such cards are accepted for purchases and over 35 million MasterCard merchants worldwide and online.
What mysterious places do you want to visit?
Have you visited or are you planning to visit an exotic location? Have you ever used a Cash Passport to save your dream holiday from disaster? Share your bucket list destinations and travel experiences in the comments below.
Happy traveling!
My bucketlist includes:
New York (for the hustle/bustle/excitement/people watching)
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New Orleans (for the creole & cajun food and music),
Paris – or anywhere in France (for the romance, the pastries and because, well, it’s Paris!).
Toss in Spain for good measure (although they really need to stop holding bull fights!).
One place i’d never go to again, thanks to seeing too much animal cruelty (any is bad, but lots is soul destroying and sickening), is Vietnam. Pollution in ‘pristine world heritage areas’ spoiled things also.
Probably the best place we’ve visited to date is Osaka, Japan – which surprised us! Amazingly courteous, gentle, respectful and helpful people; safe night & day to walk the streets; everything’s CLEAN; great food (check out the foodhalls in the major dept stores – the choc and dessert areas are huge and with beautiful displays of so many varieties of sweet delights!). Download an app to your mobile that will give you audio and typed translations of what you want to say – play or show the locals – and you’ve got very easy communications. Transport system’s timely, easy to work out and all-round extremely good too. Train to the acquarium (biggest in the hemisphere?) for a knock-out look at seals, even little monkeys, fish, deepest water crabs and even a couple of whale sharks. Walk the streets to see some very ‘out there’ vending machines to spice things up!
Kuala Lumpur was great for shopping,eating (OMG – wonderful!) and very easy to get around to see things.
And Hong Kong is another great destination for just watching what goes on, food and shopping (if the sales are on).
Colleen! What a great list! I haven’t done New Orleans and was on the border of Spain twice – but didn’t quite make it. Did love the Mediterranean though. What an amazing adventure. I loved New York. Thought I was in some kind of movie. And after four years living in Japan I also rate the Japanese experience highly. I almost never left. Osaka airport was amazing. I stayed at a hotel there and it felt like the ocean was at my window! Yes and I loved Paris – just because it was Paris! Agree!