What’s the secret ingredient for a truly unforgettable trip? For me, it’s those moments that make you stop, blink, and think, “Did that just happen?!” Whether it was a spontaneous invitation that led to an unbelievable local experience, a chance wildlife sighting that defied logic, or finding myself in a landscape so surreal it felt like a dream, my most cherished travel memories are the ones that took me completely by surprise. Prepare for a dose of wanderlust and a sprinkle of disbelief – these are my once-in-a-lifetime “wait, what?!” adventures.
- Hanging with Maasai Warriors
- Travel on a donkey, with a Bedouin, to dinner, at a cave,
- in Petra
- Diving in the Red Sea and finding one of two Dugongs
- Skinny dipping below Oia in Santorini
- My first time experiencing a Cenote
- Riding on the back of a motorbike for 5 days in Ha Giang
- Finding a hidden piano bar off the streets in Mykonos
- Island Hopping the Greek Islands
- My first safari in Nairobi National Park
- Dancing with Mantas
- Walking into Baalbek
- Exploring Johannesburg
- Swimming with Whale Sharks in Mexico
- Hiking to Torres del Paine
- Walking with giants at Elephant Nature Park
- Experiencing yacht life in Southern Turkey
- Taking public transportation in Malindi to Gede
- Motoring around Hvar in a small boat
- Sleeping in an isolated hut in the jungle of Sumatra
- Experiencing the Aurora Borealis in Iceland
- Watching the sunset Komodo National Park
Hanging with Maasai Warriors
Let me explain…my friend and i had hastily arranged a safari to the masai mara area outside of Kenya. That in and of itself was an amazing trip and we experienced flooding, almost getting stuck in mud and traffic on the grueling drive to the mara, a friendly fun driver and guide, a lovely lodge in the mara, the big five and the ugly five, it was a memorable and quick safari. After the safari our guide drove us to the neighboring Masaai Village and we were greeted with a dozen warriors draped in their traditional colorful wraps and adorned with jewelry. They for sure perform for the tourists coming through the village but on this day it was my girlfriend and I. We watched in amazment as they performed and jumped and listened to the interesting and coordinated humming and chanting.
Afterwards we went inside the walls of the village and we met many of the children and were able to look inside one of the mud huts that the chief lived. a very modest space for a bed and a small window. The warriors then took dry brush and wood and metal to make fire. Fascinating and a team effort with several men trading off the spinning until the main masaai got an ember and blew until the smoke turned into fire!
The women of the tribe quickly laid out their jewelry and crafts on hand made tables that were already in place. I did feel awkward that we were only two people! After we were done we then took a walk with the two main Masaai chiefs to the local school. we walked through a rough mud road and passed more children playing, a freshly born goat until we got to the little town. this town needs supplies urgently and i was moved. it was nice to walk with the chief and learn a small bit about their life. he liked the long sleeve grey layer i had on so i said i would trade and then i saw the gorgeous neclace he had on and yes! Let’s make a deal. He love the shirt and i loved the neclace. they do not have money for new clothes and many of the kids were wearing western tshirts. my friend also made a trade as i looked over the other masaai had on her white cap.
Walking into Baalbek
Let me explain…my friend and i had hastily arranged a safari to the masai mara area outside of Kenya. That in and of itself was an amazing trip and we experienced flooding, almost getting stuck in mud and traffic on the grueling drive to the mara, a friendly fun driver and guide, a lovely lodge in the mara, the big five and the ugly five, it was a memorable and quick safari. After the safari our guide drove us to the neighboring Masaai Village and we were greeted with a dozen warriors draped in their traditional colorful wraps and adorned with jewelry. They for sure perform for the tourists coming through the village but on this day it was my girlfriend and I. We watched in amazment as they performed and jumped and listened to the interesting and coordinated humming and chanting.
Afterwards we went inside the walls of the village and we met many of the children and were able to look inside one of the mud huts that the chief lived. a very modest space for a bed and a small window. The warriors then took dry brush and wood and metal to make fire. Fascinating and a team effort with several men trading off the spinning until the main masaai got an ember and blew until the smoke turned into fire!
The women of the tribe quickly laid out their jewelry and crafts on hand made tables that were already in place. I did feel awkward that we were only two people! After we were done we then took a walk with the two main Masaai chiefs to the local school. we walked through a rough mud road and passed more children playing, a freshly born goat until we got to the little town. this town needs supplies urgently and i was moved. it was nice to walk with the chief and learn a small bit about their life. he liked the long sleeve grey layer i had on so i said i would trade and then i saw the gorgeous neclace he had on and yes! Let’s make a deal. He love the shirt and i loved the neclace. they do not have money for new clothes and many of the kids were wearing western tshirts. my friend also made a trade as i looked over the other masaai had on her white cap.
Sunset views in Komodo National Park with my girl
Let me explain…my friend and i had hastily arranged a safari to the masai mara area outside of Kenya. That in and of itself was an amazing trip and we experienced flooding, almost getting stuck in mud and traffic on the grueling drive to the mara, a friendly fun driver and guide, a lovely lodge in the mara, the big five and the ugly five, it was a memorable and quick safari. After the safari our guide drove us to the neighboring Masaai Village and we were greeted with a dozen warriors draped in their traditional colorful wraps and adorned with jewelry. They for sure perform for the tourists coming through the village but on this day it was my girlfriend and I. We watched in amazment as they performed and jumped and listened to the interesting and coordinated humming and chanting.
Afterwards we went inside the walls of the village and we met many of the children and were able to look inside one of the mud huts that the chief lived. a very modest space for a bed and a small window. The warriors then took dry brush and wood and metal to make fire. Fascinating and a team effort with several men trading off the spinning until the main masaai got an ember and blew until the smoke turned into fire!
The women of the tribe quickly laid out their jewelry and crafts on hand made tables that were already in place. I did feel awkward that we were only two people! After we were done we then took a walk with the two main Masaai chiefs to the local school. we walked through a rough mud road and passed more children playing, a freshly born goat until we got to the little town. this town needs supplies urgently and i was moved. it was nice to walk with the chief and learn a small bit about their life. he liked the long sleeve grey layer i had on so i said i would trade and then i saw the gorgeous neclace he had on and yes! Let’s make a deal. He love the shirt and i loved the neclace. they do not have money for new clothes and many of the kids were wearing western tshirts. my friend also made a trade as i looked over the other masaai had on her white cap.
Dancing with mantas
Let me explain…my friend and i had hastily arranged a safari to the masai mara area outside of Kenya. That in and of itself was an amazing trip and we experienced flooding, almost getting stuck in mud and traffic on the grueling drive to the mara, a friendly fun driver and guide, a lovely lodge in the mara, the big five and the ugly five, it was a memorable and quick safari. After the safari our guide drove us to the neighboring Masaai Village and we were greeted with a dozen warriors draped in their traditional colorful wraps and adorned with jewelry. They for sure perform for the tourists coming through the village but on this day it was my girlfriend and I. We watched in amazment as they performed and jumped and listened to the interesting and coordinated humming and chanting.
Afterwards we went inside the walls of the village and we met many of the children and were able to look inside one of the mud huts that the chief lived. a very modest space for a bed and a small window. The warriors then took dry brush and wood and metal to make fire. Fascinating and a team effort with several men trading off the spinning until the main masaai got an ember and blew until the smoke turned into fire!
The women of the tribe quickly laid out their jewelry and crafts on hand made tables that were already in place. I did feel awkward that we were only two people! After we were done we then took a walk with the two main Masaai chiefs to the local school. we walked through a rough mud road and passed more children playing, a freshly born goat until we got to the little town. this town needs supplies urgently and i was moved. it was nice to walk with the chief and learn a small bit about their life. he liked the long sleeve grey layer i had on so i said i would trade and then i saw the gorgeous neclace he had on and yes! Let’s make a deal. He love the shirt and i loved the neclace. they do not have money for new clothes and many of the kids were wearing western tshirts. my friend also made a trade as i looked over the other masaai had on her white cap.
donkeys, camels and bedouins an unlikely adventure
Let me explain…my friend and i had hastily arranged a safari to the masai mara area outside of Kenya. That in and of itself was an amazing trip and we experienced flooding, almost getting stuck in mud and traffic on the grueling drive to the mara, a friendly fun driver and guide, a lovely lodge in the mara, the big five and the ugly five, it was a memorable and quick safari. After the safari our guide drove us to the neighboring Masaai Village and we were greeted with a dozen warriors draped in their traditional colorful wraps and adorned with jewelry. They for sure perform for the tourists coming through the village but on this day it was my girlfriend and I. We watched in amazment as they performed and jumped and listened to the interesting and coordinated humming and chanting.
Afterwards we went inside the walls of the village and we met many of the children and were able to look inside one of the mud huts that the chief lived. a very modest space for a bed and a small window. The warriors then took dry brush and wood and metal to make fire. Fascinating and a team effort with several men trading off the spinning until the main masaai got an ember and blew until the smoke turned into fire!
The women of the tribe quickly laid out their jewelry and crafts on hand made tables that were already in place. I did feel awkward that we were only two people! After we were done we then took a walk with the two main Masaai chiefs to the local school. we walked through a rough mud road and passed more children playing, a freshly born goat until we got to the little town. this town needs supplies urgently and i was moved. it was nice to walk with the chief and learn a small bit about their life. he liked the long sleeve grey layer i had on so i said i would trade and then i saw the gorgeous neclace he had on and yes! Let’s make a deal. He love the shirt and i loved the neclace. they do not have money for new clothes and many of the kids were wearing western tshirts. my friend also made a trade as i looked over the other masaai had on her white cap.
They said "don't bother" and i did and it was soulful: joberg
Let me explain…my friend and i had hastily arranged a safari to the masai mara area outside of Kenya. That in and of itself was an amazing trip and we experienced flooding, almost getting stuck in mud and traffic on the grueling drive to the mara, a friendly fun driver and guide, a lovely lodge in the mara, the big five and the ugly five, it was a memorable and quick safari. After the safari our guide drove us to the neighboring Masaai Village and we were greeted with a dozen warriors draped in their traditional colorful wraps and adorned with jewelry. They for sure perform for the tourists coming through the village but on this day it was my girlfriend and I. We watched in amazment as they performed and jumped and listened to the interesting and coordinated humming and chanting.
Afterwards we went inside the walls of the village and we met many of the children and were able to look inside one of the mud huts that the chief lived. a very modest space for a bed and a small window. The warriors then took dry brush and wood and metal to make fire. Fascinating and a team effort with several men trading off the spinning until the main masaai got an ember and blew until the smoke turned into fire!
The women of the tribe quickly laid out their jewelry and crafts on hand made tables that were already in place. I did feel awkward that we were only two people! After we were done we then took a walk with the two main Masaai chiefs to the local school. we walked through a rough mud road and passed more children playing, a freshly born goat until we got to the little town. this town needs supplies urgently and i was moved. it was nice to walk with the chief and learn a small bit about their life. he liked the long sleeve grey layer i had on so i said i would trade and then i saw the gorgeous neclace he had on and yes! Let’s make a deal. He love the shirt and i loved the neclace. they do not have money for new clothes and many of the kids were wearing western tshirts. my friend also made a trade as i looked over the other masaai had on her white cap.