Though adventuring through each surreal and wide-open landscape left a lasting impression on me, it was Thomas Mpande - my driver/friend/guide extraordinaire - who was the vessel that truly enriched the entire experience. Fluent in six languages (English, Portuguese, Afrikaans, Gangela, Rukwangali, and Oeambo), Thomas was incredibly sharp and had in-depth knowledge of all things Namibia. His great sense of humor also made him a fun travel companion,. especially as we navigated the best parts of Namibia together: its culture. When we first met, I expressed my genuine interest to expose myself to his version of Namibia, not just the one sold to visitors. Where does he shop? What does he eat? How/where does he spend his free time? I wanted to see it all. I was also very intrigued by both the Himba and Herero tribes and had high hopes to gain more insight into their history, culture, and lifestyle. Since I had a very limited amount of time (realistically, there's only so much one can do/see/experience in ten days), Thomas encouraged me to focus on delving deeper into the neighborhoods within Windhoek as opposed to other regions we explored; where I would end up getting much more than I could have hoped for.
Read MoreNAMIBIA PART ONE
While on a business trip a few years ago, my Mom had the opportunity to visit Namibia whose surreal landscapes left her awestruck. I listened intently, mesmerized as she shared about her experience driving through the Skeleton Coast, detailing what it felt like to witness the meeting point where the staggering sand dunes of the Namib Desert juxtaposed against the piercing blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It was a description that struck a major chord within me. After securing a killer deal on a flight late last year, my opportunity to visit finally came. Elated, I spent several hours combing through every blog, forum, and article online hoping to absorb as much information on the country as I could. Thanks to my research I found that, like all African countries, Namibia is extremely diverse – boasting a rich cultural history and a plethora of contrasting landscapes made up of deeply colored deserts and sand dunes, vast plains, massive salt pans, boulder-like hills and pristine beaches. Not to mention its friendly people, astounding night skies, and expansive wildlife.
Read MoreMADAGASCAR BY JEFF MCALLISTER
As part of our Frequent Flyer series, we post follow up stories from previously spotlighted travelers. Jeff is one of those rare and interesting people who is able to seamlessly balance being both creative and scientific. He has spent several years traveling the world (from Peru to Bangladesh), and is passionate about photojournalism as well as education. In his previous feature, he shared some of his experiences teaching abroad in Kenya and Thailand, while speaking to his love for taking portraits of the people he meets during his trips. Now he's back to speak to some of his recent experiences traveling throughout Madagascar and the importance of connecting with a country’s people to better experience its culture.
When we last spoke I was literally in the air, midway between Vancouver and Peru, where I was headed to shoot portraits as the recipient of Passion Passport’s fourth The Bucket List Initiative grant.
Read MoreEXPLORING AYITI WITH SIMON RUSSELL
As part of our Frequent Flyer series, we post follow up stories from previously spotlighted travelers. Simon is a professional photographer that has traveled extensively; visiting intriguing locations like Morocco, Ireland, Borneo, and New Zealand to name a few. In his previous feature, he shared his experiences traveling throughout Ireland, documenting its beautiful landscapes and long-standing traditions. Now he's back to shed light on the beauty that exists within Haiti and what he thinks other visitors can do to contribute to the country's economic redevelopment.
Haiti had been on my radar for several years. One of my friends is the founder of Cine Institute, located in Jacmel, and had been visiting the country for about 25 years. It was through his documentaries that I was first exposed to Haitian culture.
Read MoreTEACHING IN THAILAND BY MEG ROGERS
Hi! I’m Megan, a 27-year-old writer and photographer currently living in Bangkok, Thailand and teaching kindergarten at a trilingual school. I love traveling for the quirks and surprises that come with immersing yourself in a culture that is different from your own. Also, this world is pretty dang beautiful. My first true travel experience abroad was moving to Breda, The Netherlands. I went to university there for a year and saw a lot of Europe. It’s no surprise that wandering Europe really stirred that wanderlust in me. When I chose Southeast Asia as my next destination, I knew I needed some sort of income to be able to support myself, and teaching is a popular choice here. I love kids, and as difficult as it was to jump right into having my own class of 20+ three/four year olds, it’s been wonderful.
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