![]() ![]() I was on a three-night hiking trip through the middle of Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert with Rahhalah Explorers when I was struck by pain in my gut. Jessica (left) crosses the Burdah rock bridge in Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert with the help of a fellow traveller. I truly came home a better, more patient version of myself. I loved it all-snorkeling in the Atlantic Ocean, sunset boat cruises, fresh seafood, quirky history, sun-drenched days at the saltwater lagoon and how well the easygoing island vibe worked its magic on me, a person who doesn’t relax easily. Obviously, I ate as much key lime pie as possible (my heart!) and blissed out in the beauty for days, staying at Hawks Cay Resort. I finally made it to the Florida Keys this year, and I’m still dreaming of those sunsets. – Elizabeth Chorney-Boothĭreamy dinners at Hawks Cay Resort are one of the appeals of a trip to the Florida Keys, which lures visitors with quirky history, amazing watersports, fresh seafood and an easygoing island vibe. I am not a strong swimmer, so going in the very deep pool at Hacienda Mucuyché was terrifying, but it also felt deeply spiritual and profound to swim under the stalactites. The weather was hot, but cooling off in the underground cenotes - sinkholes that are used as swimming holes - made it worth it. The most meaningful was when I travelled to Yucatan in the heat of summer. This year I spent most of my time exploring Canada, but I did manage to get to Mexico three times. Swimming in a Mexican cenote can be a life-changing experience. ![]() But the local delicacy, yuba, the skin that forms on top of tofu, was not. ![]() Edo Wonderland (a Tokugawa-era historical village) was a surprise hit as were the many onsens (hot spring baths) we encountered. It’s super easy (and affordable) to get to from Tokyo on the Tobu Express and once we were there, all city stressors melted away. Nikko is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and like Kyoto, it has a lot of spectacular temples and shrines. Going to Nikko, Japan this autumn with my daughter was quite possibly one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. Nikko National Park is laced with loads of hiking trails and viewpoints. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. I loved the food, the culture and the history that is abundant in that country. In the end, I never felt more safe and more welcomed by the people I met while travelling from Istanbul to other parts of western Turkey. It only got worse when I was there and people back home started seeing news reports about the Turkish military crossing the Syrian border prompting a new round of fighting there. When I told friends and family that I would be going to Turkey with G Adventures, they wondered for my safety. ![]() Turkey is a fascinating destination that offers plenty of corners to explore, like the coastal city of Ayvalik. Factor in the chimpanzees emitting haunting cries in Kalinzu Forest and the baboons romping all over Queen Elizabeth National Park, and I’ll never rock out to Peter Gabriel’s “Shock The Monkey” quite the same way again. With due respect to the $35-million King Kong musical I recently saw in New York, that was easily the most exciting gorilla encounter I’ve ever had. It’s still hard to believe that a 300-pound silverback gorilla walked right past me in Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in February. ![]()
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