Top Travel Experiences Of All Time: #11-20

Beautiful Brazil

Well it’s been nearly two months since my last blog post, but here it finally is, the fourth installment of my five-part series highlighting our all-time favorite 50 travel experiences. While not technically the best, #11-20 of this list are pretty damn close.

Below are almost the crème de la crème, practically the best of the best, and nearly the top of the top [pretty sure I just made that last one up].

And yes, just like my three previous posts of this series, i arranged and rearranged the order of these entries about 2,674,588 times.

So in order to stop the reordering madness, here goes…

Extraordinary Bora Bora

#20: Karnak: Egypt’s Archaeological Wonder

I don’t know if I’m bold enough to say that Karnak impressed us more than the pyramids; that is one strong declaration that I’m not entirely ready to commit to. But I will say that Karnak is nothing short of remarkable, one of the most impressive sites we have visited. Ever.

Located near Luxor, the archeological wonder of Karnak is one of the most important and visited sites in all of Egypt. The vast complex houses a number of temples, pylons, chapels, and other magnificent structures. The grand avenue of sphinxes, massive pillars, towing columns and obelisks, and overall palatial feel of this impressive complex blew us away.

The sheer size and scale of Karnak is astonishing. The unparalleled ingenuity of the Egyptians is nothing short of mind-blowing. Expect to spend several hours here.

Light it up: Karnak at night

To find out more why Karnak is just so impressive, click here.

#19: Snorkeling In Bora Bora

We have snorkeled in various corners of the world, from Belize to Santorini to Hawaii to Honduras to Barbados, and let me tell you, snorkeling in Bora Bora is in a league all of its own.

We were fortunate to swim beside reef sharks, spotted eagle rays, barracuda, and [our favorite] manta rays. Exploring the magnificent blue lagoon and coral reef of Bora Bora surrounded by teeming schools of exotic fish and various sea creatures was an excursion for the memory books.

Of course it doesn’t hurt that the rest of this remote island is out-of-this-world stunning, brimming with raw natural beauty that one needs to see to truly appreciate all of its grandeur.

To read more about our time in beautiful Bora Bora, click here.

#18: Everyday’s A Spa Day in Bali

One of Ubud’s shining stars is its spa and wellness scene. We learned that the culture and traditions of Bali encourage the renewal of the mind, body and spirit and its Hindu philosophy aims for spiritual and physical well-being. The abundance of high-quality, yet extremely affordable, spas available in Ubud is absolutely sublime. The massages where two masseuses work on you simultaneously are other-worldly. To this day, no other massage, whether it be at the Four Seasons or the Mandarin, has even come close to rival this amazing experience.

I mean, how could I not include this epic photo?

Click here to read more about our spa-tacular time in Bali.

#17: Stepping Back in Time in Kyoto

Kyoto: a magical step back into time where magnificent temples, sublime gardens, preserved traditions, and delectable cuisine await. Japan’s imperial capital for over 1,000 years is the nation’s perfectly and beautifully preserved gem. Arguably no other place in Japan offers a greater concentration of history and tradition than this ancient city.

We are so happy that we spent the bulk of our time in Kyoto, as there are so many incredible places to visit. While it’s hard to narrow down, we definitely have clear favorites.

Fushimi Inari-Taisha, an enthralling shrine dedicated to the god of rice and sake. This is the head shrine of the god Inari and boasts thousands of vermillion gates. The breathtaking, seemingly endless path of gates is mesmerizing and somewhat hypnotizing. Probably my favorite site in all of Kyoto.

We traveled to Japan with one of our best friends Bryan

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto’s famous and highly sought-after grove brimming with towering bamboo stalks that will make you feel eerily small yet comfortably secluded.

Kinkaku-Ji [Temple of the Golden Pavilion], a Zen Buddhist temple that exemplifies beauty and symbolism. Its reflection shimmering across the gleaming glass-like surface of the pond surrounding it is truly breathtaking.

Geisha-stalking: it was hard not to be completely enamored, if not a little obsessed, when seeing a geisha. We only saw two geishas during our six nights, but I swear it’s like spotting your favorite celebrity on the street; you find yourself stopping in your tracks, staring with your mouth wide open, and completely mesmerized. The alabaster skin, traditional kimono, intricately styled hair, wooden platform sandals, and mystery and allure that surround geishas–they have represented the epitome of Japanese elegance, delicacy, and intrigue for some time.

Staying in a Ryokan, a traditional Japanese-style inn that dates all the way back to the eighth century which also house bath houses, typically separated by gender.

To read more about our whimsical time in ancient Kyoto, read here.

#16: Chasing Waterfalls in Iceland

By now you’ve surely heard about the other-worldly landscapes and terrains of breathtaking Iceland, one of the most naturally beautiful countries we have visited thus far. One of Iceland’s many jaw-dropping splendors is its plethora and diversity of cascading waterfalls.

Powerful Gullfoss

How many waterfalls did we fall for, you ask? All of them. Each and every one of them is wonderfall. But here are a few favorites: Gullfoss: Iceland’s most forceful falls.

Seljalandsfoss: a deceptively amazing waterfall that at first glance, looks like your run-of-the-mill waterfall, up until you venture to the foot path behind it at the bottom of the cliff where you can walk behind it and soak up [and I do mean soak] all of its staggering beauty.

Gljufrabui: a partially hidden waterfall behind a large cliff that can be seen in all its glory by wading the river into a narrow opening in the cliff.

Skogafoss: Iceland’s most recognizable falls. Climbing the 370 steps to view the falls from the top is absolutely worth it; it let’s you see just how powerful and thunderous these falls really are.

There’s no doubt that if TLC had traveled to Iceland back in 1994, they would have thought twice about releasing that song [aw, but that would have been sad and left a huge void in the world], and joined us in stalking these ridiculously gorgeous waterfalls.

To join us in chasing Iceland’s waterfalls, read here.

#15: Enamored By the Grandeur of Bangkok’s Temples & Palaces

Wat Phra Kaew Royal Grand Palace: the most opulent of them all

It’s somewhat of a tragedy that I have not written one single post about Bangkok, especially considering it’s one of the most fascinating and exotic cities I’ve ever been to. But I will. One of these days. If I’m totally honest, I think I’m subconsciously awaiting for my return trip with T this time, since I went nearly 20 years ago with my best friend Amy. So yeah, let’s wait on the Bangkok blog post so that it’s more current [and as a result, a bit more of an accurate depiction].

For now, I will relish in remembering Bangkok’s remarkable temples and palaces, so ornate, so lavish, so awe-inspiring that each one is more arresting than the previous one.

There are more than 400 temples [wats] dispersed throughout Bangkok, but of course, ain’t nobody got time for that. Standouts include Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), Wat Arun, and Wat Suthat.

Wat Pho: Reclining Buddha

Wat Suthat

No foreseeable Bangkok blog post coming anytime soon–but I’ll get to it eventually 🙂

#14: Boundless Symmetry at the Taj Mahal

A symbol of love and devotion, the Taj Mahal is anything but your same old love song. This stunning ivory-white mausoleum was built over a span of twenty-two years (1631-1653) by the order of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his most cherished wife, whom he called Mumtaz Mahal (Jewel of the Palace). Talk about a romantic gesture!

Erected on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, this opulent and iconic site is a combination of Indian, Persian and Islamic influences. The sheer vastness of this complex is astonishing. Covering approximately 42 acres of land, the compound is composed of a mosque, guesthouse, gardens, and a reflecting pool. It’s estimated that over 22,000 laborers and 1,000 elephants help built this impressive site. There’s an old tale that suggests that Jahan ordered his staff to cut off the hands of the workers and chief architect after the Taj’s completion to ensure that a structure of its kind would never be built again. A whole new meaning to the old adage love hurts, huh?

To read more about our visit to the incomparable Taj Mahal, click here.

#13: Immersing Ourselves into the Brazilian Culture

Full disclaimer here: I’m kind of cheating with this one. We absolutely loved Brazil and quite honestly, it’s really hard to choose just one or two favorites. Vibrant. Passionate. Intriguing. Convivial. Exciting. Stunning. Sexy. Every single one of these words describes this incredible country. So here’s what I managed to come up with: the most meaningful and lasting impressions of Brazil derive from when we immersed ourselves into its lively culture.

While in Salvador de Bahia, we took a capoeira class, the Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics and music.

Post-workout: With our capoeira instructor

In Rio de Janeiro, we took an awesome private cooking class where we learned how to make Brazilian staples like moqueca, toasted cassava banana forafa, and caipirinhas.

We watched the World Cup with quite possibly the most loyal and passionate fans in the entire universe. I have never seen a city of millions literally stop everything to gather and cheer on their team. It was the most amazing sporting event viewership and experience we have experienced. That is until we go to the WORLD SERIES next weekend! That’s right! It’s happening!

But I digress.

Brazil’s biggest fan. And the biggest poser.

And if you have been to Brazil, or know anything about the country, then you know how much beach life is embedded into the everyday culture. From families, to millennials, to businessmen clad in suits, you’ll see pretty much every walk of life at the beach, regardless of time or day. Brazil’s beach culture is in a league of its own and it’s absolutely fabulous.

Ipanema

To read more about our obsession with Brazil, read here [and check out my very first blog post, nearly four years ago!].

#12: Letting Go of Inhibitions: The Turkish Bath

The first time visiting a hammam can be downright daunting. In short, my Turkish bath in Istanbul was a bit intimidating, rough, and almost painful at times, yet ultimately transformative. The gist of my Turkish bath went something like this: get completely naked and be escorted to the hararet [the ‘hot room’] where all of the action is about to take place. Upon entering the hot room, I was instructed to lay down upon a marble massage table. After being left alone to sweat profusely for about 10-15 minutes, two husky masseuses entered the hararet and promptly began pouring bowl after bowl of warm water all over me. Then the scrub-down occurs: oils and soaps are lathered on followed by vigorous scrubbing–I should add that no inch of the body is left unscrubbed– and there is not one towel, sheet, or indication of relief in sight. Then what looks like pillow cases brimming with soap suds are violently thrashed upon your body –think pillow fight thrashing, except I didn’t have a pillow to thrash back. The aggressive scrub-down/pillow case beatdown is followed by an intense rinse-down, bringing back the previous ritual of bowl-after- bowl, but now add on a pitcher and what looks like a vat of warm water poured repeatedly all over me. After all is said and done, you stand up feeling more vulnerable than you’ve probably ever felt in your entire life, all to be roughly dried off and aggressively patted down by your two husky masseuses.

And you humbly leave with your new baby soft skin and euphoric glow and realize that you’ve quite possibly just had one of the most incredible moments of your entire life.

That, my friends, is a Turkish bath, AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

So many Turkey blog posts need to be written…it is T’s all-time favorite country for crying out loud. For now, click here to read about the deceptively stunning Pamukkale.

#11: Eating Our Way Through in Japan

Two Japanese entries on one list? Damn right.

The best culinary trip of our lives. So much of mine and T’s daily lives revolve around food–and our travels are no different. When planning our trips, I often research and arrange restaurants, market visits, and cooking classes way before booking accommodations and excursions. Food and drink are a way of life for us Hills, which is just one of the many reasons we fell in love with Japan. Japanese cuisine mirrors many other aspects of the culture: nearly every activity is executed with intention, obedience, precision, and respect.

Sampling all of the things at the amazing food markets

Whether at a market stall, a four-seat hole-in-the-wall restaurant, or Michelin-Starred high-end establishment, Japanese dishes are meticulously prepared and no detail is spared. The cuisine is as varied as it is delicious.

Our first and maybe best sushi meal of the trip [we had been up for probably 25 hours at this point, but who’s counting?]

As long as we continue to travel, I’m not sure any destination can rival Japan’s culinary scene.

It’s that good.

To read more about our Japanese dining adventures, click here.

And there you have it, some of the best travel experiences, and quite possibly some of the best moments of our lives. Because, you know. Traveling is everything.

Fingers crossed that two more months don’t pass by before I release my next and final installment of the series: the REAL TOP OF THE TOP!

Happy Traveling, All!