#expeditionistmag

[stochastique-blog]

Tell me what you want ! What you really really want

Finally some gorgeous weather! Take a moment of relaxation today ☀️🌴👌🏼 . . . . . #expeditionistmag #roadtrippin #suitcasetravels #travelbug #travelgram #tripadvisor #mytinyatlas #5secondvacay #relaxing #potd #poolside #passionpassport #palmtrees #summerbreeze #welltraveled #wearetravelgirls #california #knowshowtoparty #instagram #instagood #intsatravel #artofvisuals #vscogood #travelphotography #natgeotravel (at Sheraton Ontario Airport Hotel)

[expeditionist-diaries]

Well folks, so it begins! After many tearful goodbyes, tons of parties and hugs and epic going away trips with my best friends in the world, my trip of a lifetime has finally started in England! First stop of course, was to see my dad. After a long catch-up, lots of hugs and tanning together in the sun, I woke up from an amazing 2-hour nap to dinner already on the table and a Rose-sized glass of wine waiting for me. Perfect 1st day! There have been many strange and wonderful coincidences that have been happening over the past month that I’m becoming more aware of and want to appreciate as they come. A few weeks ago, a close loved one said to me, “The world is opening up for you.” What he meant was that things keep falling into place before me; That the universe is cheering me on and I’m in the right place at the right time. An example: When planning our San Francisco trip, I happen to choose a hotel that was exactly across the street from our chosen entertainment for the evening without even realizing it. Or our Sonoma Valley tour guide telling us that 60% of the time the Golden Gate Bridge and the entire bay are covered in fog and you can barely see it, hence why they painted it the colour they did (fun fact of the day)! The day we were there? Not a cloud in the sky and perfectly sunny. Or today, arriving at Gatwick and getting through customs and to baggage claim just in time to watch my bag loop around to meet me. Or walking to my dads, luggage in tow and going up to his door with the key poised in lock just as my Auntie Tina opens the door to head out for the afternoon. These serendipitous moments are further reassuring me that the current path I’m on is the right one. It’s the road less travelled, but the best one for me. I can’t wait to see what else unravels over the next few days and beyond. XO, Rose -EXPEDITIONIST Diaries

[expeditionist-diaries]

The next morning was more painful than the one before—having to get up at 430am for a second time—but the lack of sleep paid off! Hot air balloons were already taking off all around us as we arrived. They ushered each us into four quadrants on the balloons, 6 to a side, and before we knew it we were up in the air. This by far, was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done in my life. Even being surrounded by over 20 other people all craning to get the best cinematic shots possible, I was able to detach myself from the background noise and enjoy the peaceful tranquility of floating soundlessly through the air over the hills of Cappadocia, allowing the sun to wash over my face at sunrise. Pure bliss! Being in the air for over an hour seemed to fly by in a flash, and before we knew it we were back on the ground and being greeted with a champagne breakfast and balloon flight certificates (not that we had ANY idea whatsoever how to fly the balloon ourselves, but the sentiment was nice). After the ride we were all too elated to sleep, so we all enjoyed some sights around the rest of Cappadocia and Goreme, stopped for lunch and then made our way to Konya to visit the site where whirling dervishes and Rumi came to be; which, in my opinion was quite unique site in an otherwise traditionally religious town. We rounded out the night with dinner and drinks in the beautiful beach town of Antalya. Wandering though the city, I came across a cat sanctuary and shelter where locals and travellers alike can help support and care for abandoned/orphaned cats in the area. I thought a lot about my old lady Velvet while I sat and played with the kittens, and wished she were with me. I left a donation in the lock box provided in honour of her and felt a slight release of the grief I hadn’t realized I’d been holding onto since January. This was one of the first stops where time seemed to speed up exponentially, and I wanted to slow it down as much as I could. I think it had to do with my thoughts of Velvet (aka. Bubba Kitty, Kitteeep, Snuggle Face, and the 17 other names those close to me know I used to call her), so I kept her in my thoughts as I went to sleep that night. I felt much better when I woke the next morning, but more on that in the next one. XO Rose -EXPEDITIONIST Diaries

[expeditionist-diaries]

On the way to Cappadocia, we stretched our legs and went for a walk in the pink salt flats of Lake Tuz. What a beautiful place (and a great exfoliator for the feet)! I thought it was so interesting that the majority of Turkey’s table salt came from this place, and I was tempted to break off a piece as a keepsake, but then thought about all the feet that had walked in this lake and thought better of it (not that I had planned to eat any of it but still...ewwww). From Lake Tuz we made our to Goreme National Park in Cappadocia. First stop: Pigeon Valley. Aside from the fact that there are tons of pigeons everywhere (Michelle, you would love it! You can feed them and everything!), the scenery in in this area is otherworldly. So fascinating that places like this one and the infamous Fairy Chimneys exist in the world. We did a small hike down to the base of the valley and took it all in, then made our into the centre of town to a Turkish bath house for a hammam. I have to admit, I definitely preferred the hammam I had in Morocco to the Turkish one. For starters, in Morocco I was able to have a solo hammam and an hour-long full body massage, not to mention all the mint tea I could drink and relaxing daybeds to lounge in. In Goreme, we had to go 6 to a room which made us all get real close, real quick, but it was not relaxing in any way like I was hoping for. (Pro tip: If you want a hammam, take the extra time and spend the extra dollars extra to go solo and get yourself a massage after. WAY worth it.) What saved the evening was our epic group dinner in a cave in the mountains. Sitting on multi-coloured cushions, sipping Turkish wine, and sharing the most amazing meal together, we shared stories from our travels before we joined the trip, and ended up having a lovely evening just enjoying each other’s company. The next morning, we all dragged ourselves out of bed at 430am, exhausted but eager to get a chance to ride in Cappadocia’s famous hot air balloons at sunrise. Unfortunately, after waiting for over an hour for the weather to clear up, they had to cancel the balloon ride, so we hoped and prayed we could get a second chance the next day. After heading back to the hotel and having a much needed nap, we got up and made our way to our next destination, one Cappadocia’s famous family-run pottery places. The Master potters in this area are some of the only potters in the world with the skill and ability to make the elaborate pieces characteristic of the region. I couldn’t help myself. Their pieces were so gorgeous I ended up splurging and bought myself a beautiful wine decanter as an early birthday present (free shipping and breakage insurance with purchase! Score!). Next stop was the Underground City. This site was a welcome relief from the heat, and was surprisingly a lot more advanced than I’d anticipated, considering the caves and winding tunnels of the city were designed mainly for safety and protection from being attacked. They had holes cut out for ventilation, communication between the different levels, and wine a spot caved into the walls for making large vats of wine! It felt a little like a maze and was so much fun so much fun to walk through. I was very impressed with how many different amazing sites could be crammed into two short days without ever feeling too rushed for time. Looking back on these itineraries and remembering all our stops once more is blowing me away. More to come in the next post! XO Rose -EXPEDITIONIST Diaries

[expeditionist-diaries]

Country #4 in less than 3 weeks! Belgium was honestly not as high on my bucket list of places to see, so I didn’t allot much time to explore the country but I’m happy I was able to squeeze in as much as I did in the (less than) 48 hours I had between trips. After saying goodbye to Annie and T, I marched my way back to the train station eager to get to my next destination. When I arrived, I was surprised by how much I loved the cozy little city of Antwerp with its narrow curving walkways, interesting architecture, and best of all, the delicious food. The whole city is quite small, and I was able to walk around and see all the major sites in a little over an hour, which suited me just fine, as I was worried I wouldn’t get to see everything I wanted to. Turns out no worry was necessary! Everywhere I’ve been so far is close together and so compact in comparison to home that I tend to forget it doesn’t take nearly as long to get anywhere. On my little afternoon stroll I was able to see the beautiful Central Station (since I trained in), the Grote Markt, the Cathedral of our Lady, the Grand Bazaar, and explored little side streets and alleyways along the way. I had already decided before I left home that I was going to treat myself to a nice meal to kickoff my solo travels, and chose InVINcible as the place I was going to go. Little did I know that I would be rooming with a lovely 17 year old girl named Delphine who was doing a culinary internship at that very same restaurant! I couldn’t believe my odds! For one thing, it reaffirmed that I had chosen InVINcible for a reason beyond my original inclination; I was in the right place at the right time so I could connect with Delphine and get to know her. For another, I was meant to stay a hostel I had previous doubts about, solely due to the name (Antwerp City Youth Hostel). I was worried I would be too old to really connect with anyone and boy was I wrong. Delphine was so sweet and friendly and I blown away by all she’d accomplished in such a short time. Not only was she in grade 11, staying far away from home for the entire length of her internship (in a Michelin star-reviewed restaurant no less), but she had also been lucky enough to have served dinner to the King of Belgium not once, but twice! I was so impressed with her experiences and her love of cooking that there was no other option; I needed to eat at this restaurant. I sat on the test kitchen side where you get to watch all of the chefs preparing each dish, and this was a gift in and of itself, but actually tasting the food and how each dish complimented each other made me stay at the restaurant for over two hours just to enjoy the experience a little while longer. Delphine was in charge of all the desserts for the guests and she made me a sabayon—quite a complicated desert to make—with such skill that she already seemed to be a pro. I can only describe it as a kind of egg, cream, and white wine frothy soup with vanilla ice cream floating in the middle (not the best description, but you get the picture). Amazing! Apparently, to make it correctly, you have to whisk your liquids in a constant figure-8 motion or the soup base won’t froth and the dish is effectively ruined. Mine was perfect, and even the owner came up to me and said “This one is made with love” and smiled as he handed it to me. Delphine was beaming with pride as I loved and devoured every bit of it, and to me, sharing that moment with her was the most special part of my day. I thanked her, the owner and everyone at the restaurant for squeezing me in last minute without a reservation, paid my bill, walked through the Grote Markt as the buildings were being washed in the warm glow of sunset and made my way back to the hostel. The next day I was headed to Brussels, so I hugged Delphine goodbye, made my way back to the train station, and settled in for the ride. I had made plans to do a half day trip to Bruges and Ghent once I checked in to my hostel, and then finish out my night in Brussels where I had already made a bucket list of different beers I wanted to try (When in Belgium, do as the Belgians do.. DRINK BEER!). Seeing four cities in less than 2 days was ambitious and definitely required a lot of energy to keep moving, regardless of how tired I was, but I don’t regret it in the slightest. I also met a lovely girl named Patty from El Salvador who ended up joining me on my mini trip to both cities. In Bruges, we tried authentic handmade chocolates, took a boat ride through the canals, and walked around the city. In Ghent, we visited the Koren Markt, had cherry beers on a patio (obviously), saw the Belfry Tower, and various cathedrals in the city centre before making our way back to Brussels for the evening. By the time we got back to Brussels, it was already 10pm, so there was not much to do except head to the Grand Place and try and find a bar to get our beer drink on (Flight of beers at Au Brasseur? Yes please!). One thing I found a little strange about Belgium was that nearly EVERYTHING closes at 5 or 6pm, even in touristy areas. The only thing left open at night are bars and restaurants, which to me, didn’t make much sense if you’re trying to attract tourist dollars, but apparently it had something to do with worker’s unions. Good thing I made it before everything shut (My timing so far has been pretty impeccable.)! We said goodbye to each other around midnight, promised to keep in touch and went our separate ways. Walking back to the Hostel, I was reflecting on how easy it was to weave in and out of each other’s lives, not just with Patty, but also with Delphine, Juliana, and all of the other travellers I met along the way. This type of fluidity and openness to spending time with literal strangers felt simple and right. I think it’s because we share a common love. We love to explore new cities, learn about other cultures, eat good food, and meet new people. I also think that when you’re experiencing something for the first time it’s exciting and sharing your great memories with others makes it that much more special. Because of this, I couldn’t wait to see who I would connect with in Turkey! XO Rose -EXPEDITIONIST Diaries

[expeditionist-diaries]

Our first full day in Amsterdam was packed with touristy things, and we were itching to get going. First stop was the Van Gogh Museum. It was a shame they didn’t allow photos because it honestly was so wonderful inside (A must-see if you’re coming to the city). The museum was setup chronologically, so you could see the evolution of his artistic skill and learn about his life and his eventual decline in mental health. It’s interesting, but as his mental health worsened, the paintings became more intricate and detailed. Some of my favourite pieces were done in the last two years leading up to his death. It was clear to see his work was the only thing that seemed to settle his mind. (Side note: If you love and appreciate his art as much I do, I recommend watching Loving Vincent. It was a lovely homage to his life’s work and I absolutely love the way it was filmed.) After the museum, we took our obligatory ‘Iamsterdam’ photos and headed back to the hostel to meet up with our friend Michelle, who Annie and T hadn’t seen in months. Needless to say they were really excited. When she got there and after we had all caught up with each other’s lives, we walked around the city and explored the streets together, this time with a fresh pair of eyes to guide us. We grabbed a quick bite, (Chicken Stir-fry from Wok-2-Wok. Why is the Asian food so good in Amsterdam? Seems quite an odd pairing, but I certainly wasn’t complaining) then headed back to the hostel for happy hour beers, and then to a night on the town. I needed a power nap, so I took a quick leave of absence to from the bar downstairs and shut my eyes for what felt like 5 seconds before they were waking me saying they were ready to go. I honestly could have slept for 12 more hours, but when you’re in Amsterdam on the Friday night you don’t sleep, you go out and have a great time, so that’s exactly what we did. We finished the night back at the hotel bar, and made plans for the next day. Michelle and Yokum were going to meet us with bikes at noon. I couldn’t wait! It’s basically standard practice that when you come to Amsterdam, you need to ride a bike along the canals. After finalizing our meeting place we said our goodbyes and headed to bed. The next day we set off in the morning to see the Rijks Museum. A very different experience than Van Gogh, but really interesting in its own right. The museum map was also set up chronologically, but the building itself was very confusing and made it harder to get around, so we missed a few entire wings of it, but we didn’t mind too much. After the RIjks, we biked over to meet up with Michelle and Yokum who took us around the city and introduce us to some traditional Dutch food. We tried different types of bitterballen (basically a battered, deep fried potato and meat ball, or a vegetarian version stuffed with goat cheese... YUM!) among other tasty things, then stopped at an amazing cheese shop and ordered a few pieces to share on our makeshift picnic in Vondell Park. The park was so lovely to bike through, our wine and cheese picnic was delicious, and it seemed like the whole afternoon flew by in a dream. It still amazes me that while traveling, the days seem to rush by in such a blur that a week can go by in an instant, but can also feel like each day is frozen in time and never ends. I’ve experienced this feeling several times on the trip so far, and each time it makes me smile. I wanted to hold onto each moment as fervently as possible, as I always do when my time in a certain place is coming to an end. I also feel, however, that its important to just be present with whatever is happening around me, so I made an extra effort to enjoy our last few precious hours together before I jetted off solo again, this time to Belgium for a whirlwind 48 hour tour, but more on that later. XO Rose -EXPEDITIONIST Diaries

[expeditionist-diaries]

Cannot wait to stumble upon little corners of each city we visit, like this one in Brugge. 🤗 Can’t believe this adventure of a lifetime starts in 31 days! Somebody pinch me!😆❤️⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #brugge #bruggebelgium #visitbrugge #bruggegram #bruges #inbruges #brugesbelgium #instabrugge #belgium #belgie #belgiumtrip #flanders #photographylovers #travel #traveller #travelblogger #travelphotography #travelgram #travelgirl #architecture #architecturephotography #buildings #instatravel #instapassport #whatsinaweekend #myproshot #bruggestreets #travelmagazine #expeditionistmag #travelinfluencer ⠀ 📷 @the_other_nicole (at Brugge, Belgium)

[expeditionist-diaries]

"Life shrinks and expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin⁠ .⁠ Would you have the courage to drop everything you have and leave to travel the world? What of kind fear strikes through the heart of you? What is holding you back from achieving your dreams?😨🙏🏻🙋🏼‍♀️⁠ .⁠ Find the courage to do something you love, no matter how scary it may seem. Your future self will thank you!⁠ .⁠ .⁠ .⁠ 📸: @_xpdtnst_ .⁠ .⁠ #expeditionistmag #expeditionistdiaries #responsibletourism #adventuretravel #tanzania #adventurepics #courage #culturetrip #culturetravel #culturegram #cultureshot #africansafari #travelaroundtheworld #later #latergram #explorationgram #travelogues #postcardplaces #travelbug #conscioustravel #africatravel #topdeckrtravel #wellnessandtravel #travelblogger #travelwriter #visitserengeti #ontheblogtoday #culturevulture (at Serengeti National Park, Tanzania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2f4WosDWD5/?igshid=o3osnw9xy366

[expeditionist-diaries]

These volcanic rock formations at the top of Incahuasi Island were truly a sight to behold.⁠ .⁠ The official term for cave exploring is known as spelunking, and while that's quite a funny word, there's nothing funny about venturing into multi-million year old volcanic caves.⁠ .⁠ Try awe-inspiring or breathtaking and you might be closer to the mark when trying to explain the sensations you feel the farther down you go.⁠ .⁠ LInk in bio for more South American adventures!���🏻👆🏻⁠ .⁠ .⁠ 📸: @_xpdtnst_ .⁠ .⁠ . ⁠ #expeditionistmag #expeditionistdiaries #responsibletourism #adventuretravel #southamerica #adventurel #culturetrip #culturetravel #culturegram #cultureshot #bolivian #travelaroundtheworld #smartertravel #welltraveled #later #latergram #explorationgram #travelogues #postcardplaces #travelbug #conscioustravel #southamericatravel #gadv #wellnessandtravel #travelblogger #travelwriter #visitbolivia #ontheblogtoday #culturevulture (at Incahuasi Island) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2fmOASIocU/?igshid=q4s8kz2v3x7s

[expeditionist-diaries]

Happy Belated Birthday to this beautiful soul. It was an absolute pleasure getting to work with you and you deserve all good things coming your way! 😘❤️💕 For more of this lovely human, check out our interview with her in the link above☝🏼 . . . . . . #expeditionistmag #fashionphotography #editorialphotography #editorial #birthdaygirl #blm #feminist #strongwoman #beautifulsoul #welltravelled #artofvisuals #creativelife #styling #instagram #interview #summer17 #globelletravels #followmefaraway #passionpassport #smallbusinesssaturday #globaltravel #globalcitizen #publishing #onlinemagazine #mytinyatlas #instagrowthboss #travellife #nigerian #creativeoptic

[expeditionist-diaries]

Got a seat with a view 👌🏼Gorgeous Mount Saint Helens from the plane at 🌅 . . . . . #expeditionistmag #explore #travelphotography #mountsainthelens #instatravel #instagood #lifeisgood #cntraveler #mytinyatlas #passionpassport #pnwonderland #welltraveled #wearetravelgirls #suitcasetravels #5secondvacay #potd #afarmagazine #natgeotravel #natgeowild #artofvisuals #agameoftones #travelbug #tripadvisor #travelgram #vscogood #backpacker #wanderlust #yvrtraveler #yvrxsfo #greatnorthcollective (at Washington)

[expeditionist-diaries]

Food for thought. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you today, and always. • • • • • #expeditionistmag #expressions #murals #art #artwork #artrapture #qotd #quote #wearetravelgirls #stayfoolish #streetart #stayyoung #potd #mytinyatlas #backpacker #travelbug #travelawesome #suitcasetravels #welltraveled #wanderlust #love #lonelyplanettraveller #lonelyplanet #passionpassport #vscogood #agameoftones #creatives #yoloba #carpediem #culture

[expeditionist-diaries]

Ubud's Monkey Forest hosts over 670 cuties just like this little monkey family taking a nap. This by far is a must-visit when in Bali. Just make sure you leave your valuables in you bag cuz they are known to have sticky fingers 😉 • • • • • #expeditionistmag #explore #monkeyforest #ubud #bali #wearetravelgirls #welltraveled #suitcasetravels #afar #paradise #jungle #natgeotravel #neverstopexploring #mytinyatlas #passionpassport #pnwtraveler #yvrtraveler #yvrxdpr #instagram #indonesia #indtravel #travelbug #tripadvisor #travelawesome #bucketlistadventures #lonelyplanet #love #lonelyplanettraveller #followmefaraway #family (at Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary Ubud)

[expeditionist-diaries]

Beautiful Sanskrit-painted rocks to guide your way ❤💕 • • • • • #expeditionistmag #nepal #prayer #prayerflags #himalayas #mountaineering #mountains #welltraveled #instatravel #passionpassport #mytinyatlas #yvrtraveler #pnwtraveler #trekking #instagram #regram #helpinghand #prayer #safetravels Photo: Mike Deane 2017

[expeditionist-diaries]

When you're hungry and wanting something exotic and fresh! 😊😋@the_sunkissed_kitchen is a portion left for me? 🤗 • • • • • #expeditionistmag #instapic #fotd #breakfast #riseandshine #yum #fresh #vegetarian #vegan #fruits #regram #beautiful #foodart #guava #fig #apple #inthekitchen #instagram #5secondvacay #acrossthepond Photo: @the_sunkissed_kitchen 2017 ✨

[expeditionist-diaries]

If I ever make it to Beijing, I hope this Concert Hall has been completed. MAD Architects released plans to create a translucent Philharmonic Concert Hall, the inside of which is said to be like sitting in a blooming lotus flower, sound, aesthetics and all. Definitely on the #bucketlist! Check out the post now! ☝🏻link in bio ☝🏻 • • • • • #expeditionistmag #explore #beijing #music #lotus #flower #concerthall #translucent #orchestra #bucketlistadventures #madarchitects #designboom #instagram Photo by Design Boom 2016 (at Beijing, China)