Wander Magazine

WANDER EXPLORE THE SOUTH

TRAVEL GUIDE

INSPIRATION

INFLUENTAL ADVENTURES

JAN 15

1ST ISSUE

AMAZING AFRICA

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THE TRAVEL GUIDE 16 travel tips for a first time traveller / 4 How to survive 15+ hours in economy / 6

INSPIRATION 19 sunny places to travel in January / 8 How to become a smart traveller / 32

ADVENTURE Steven and Jess flying of the nest / 16 Descover the beauty of Africa / 38

We’ve met two wanderlusting travellers

Get the best travelling tips from Hitha from HithaOnTheGo.com /6

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SPRING IN OUR STEPS

SURE, EVERYONE LOVES SPRING, but it’s different for you and me. It simply means more to us than it does to most people. Because we’re wanderlusting.

Think about it. What other popular sport is so closely tied to the season? (Baseball? When was the last time you played a quick nine innings?) I’ll concede that anglers may be as passionate about April as we are, but of the many other activities that require the arrival of nicer weather, how many connect you so intimately to the glories for which spring is famous: the greening grass, the budding trees, the gusting breezes?

Along with improved prospects for play (especially up north), springtime has long meant the return of the Masters, once considered the unofficial start of the PGA Tour year. I will admit, however, that today it’s a stretch to call the Masters the “start” of anything. Professional golf doesn’t have a season anymore. It takes up the entire

year. There are legitimate reasons for that. Those guys are good. And the money is there: charity). nostalgia for the old days. Back when there was less round-the-clock golf on the tube, the winter months somehow held a more heightened sense of anticipation. Off-season trips were a little more thrilling. Reading a good golf book was slightly more satisfying. I guess what I’m saying is that anticipation is a defining aspect of the game, and should be savored—whether you’re waiting for the Masters, planning a trip or watching your partner tap in before you attempt a nasty birdie putt.

As I write this a foot of snow is falling. So what? Only seventy days until Augusta!

Rosa Johnsen Rosa Johnsen Editor in chief

Sunny destinations / 28

Dive into an African dream / 26

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TRAVEL TIPS FOR FIRST TIME TRAVELLERS

01 Learn the basics of the local language. Use them often. It is the best way to show respect, break down barriers and start conversations.

F U N FA C T S To use Google Maps offline, type “OK Maps,” in the destination search bar and the visible area will save if you need to access the map later during your trip.

Get the WiFi password for many hotels, restaurants,w cafés, and more by checking the comments section of FourSquare Chewing gum stimulates facial muscles and blood flow to the head, and helps you staying alert.

When you are fresh off the plane on your first travel adventure there is much you don’t know about the wider world. But a lot you do know about the place where you just left. This can be dangerous as it can lead you to commit many cultural faux pas. To make your journey of discovery and growth easier, here is a list of travel tips for first time travelers.

03 Have off the beaten path adventures and enjoy traveling to the touristy stuff too just add a different angle to it.

WORDS CAZ & CRAIG / Y T R AV E L B L O G . C O M

02 Guard your passport with your life and don’t ever give it to US immigration for visa extension because they somehow think you don’t need it to leave the country and won’t return it to you.

05 NEVER complain that the people of the country you are visiting do not speak English. Remember where you are.

07 Do not over bargain. 50 cents is nothing to you, but may mean a days worth of meals to the person you are haggling with.

04 Dont think you are so awesomely cool just because you’ve visited 58 countries on a budget of $25 a day and all you do is go off the beaten path like a real hard-core traveler does.

06 Carry palm cards with important phrases written on it in the local language. essential for vegetarians in China.

08 Don’t listen to the naysayers and dreamstealers telling you why you can’t live your dreams and how you should conform.

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09 If the chef of a village offers you rice wine shots at 10am after a morning hike so you can chase away any evil spirits you are carrying, do not be afraid to say YES.

12 If you get robbed or bad things happen, don’t get hung up on it.

As long as you are safe and well, let it go and continue to enjoy yourself.

14 Be prepared for reverse culture shock when you return home as it could really mess you up, and earn how to toilet squat. You’ll need it.

15 Be prepared for reverse culture shock when you return home as it could really mess you up. Have travel insurance – it ain’t sexy but neither is the thousands youcould end up paying if you don’t have it.

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“SMILE SMILE SMILE & LAUGH OFTEN - YOU’LL MEET SO MANY N E W F R I E N D S T H I S W A Y. ”

10 Share and mingle with other travellers. It will give you a feeling of always being among friends and celebrate local customs and festivals with the local culture in their traditional manners.

13 Share and mingle with other travellers. It will give you a feeling of always being among friends and celebrate local customs and festivals with the local culture in their traditional manners.

16 Share and mingle with other travellers. It will give you a feeling of always being among friends and celebrate local customs and festivals with the local culture in their traditional manners.

11 Party yes. Have fun yes, but do not go so far to extremes that it means you trash the local area and people die. And Smile smile smile and laugh often- you’ll meet so many new friends this way.

TRAVEL LIKE AN ATHLETE Eight simple tips to ensure you arrive at your destination brighteyed not bleary!

EAT TO BEAT JET LAG High protein breakfast and lunch and a high carbohydrate dinner.

SLEEP WELL & RELAX Wear loose comfortable clothing and take jumper with you.

BOOK WISELY Book your flight so you arrive to coincide with bed time.

ON THE PLANE Avoid alcohol which has a stimulating effect. Try Chamomile tea instead.

DARK ART Light exposure regulates your body clock so try wearing sunglasses during and after your flight.

STRATEGIC NAPPING Keep tiredness at bay by having strategic 45 min nap at the time you would normally be asleep at home.

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The best traveling tips is coming directly from a frequent traveller. The woman behind the popular travel blog Hithaonthego.com is sharing her monthly advice with you.

SURVIVING A 15+ HOURS FLIGHT IN ECONOMY WO R D S H I T H A P H O T O W E H E A RT I T / H I T H AO N T H E G O New York, USA

NO ONE HAS WRITTEN an honest post on how to sur vive t hose long f lights. In economy. With no in-seat entertainment or power outlets. It’s a bitch.

Especially when you’re on one of the longest flights in the world. Before I hop into my tried-and-true tips on this highly requested topic, I need to be honest with you. Your sleep will be restless. Your muscles will ache. Your skin will be dried out and you will feel disgusting as you deplane.

There is no magic pill for enjoying a longhaul flight in economy. But I will teach you how to survive it. Because, after all, you requested it. And I aim to please.

G E T C O M F O R TA B L E Change into a super comfortable outfit before you board. I opt for stretchy leggings (Lysse are my favorites), a cotton tank top and long-sleeved tee, a lightweight blazer or cardigan, and compression socks.

Layers, baby. I also carry a pair of cashmere socks if my feet get cold (common forwindow seat afecionados.

P R E P Y O U R E N T E R TA I N M E N T Charge up all yowwur devices. Download movies or seasons of your favorite shows (I highly recommend The White Queenand Continuum). Stock up on paper and books on your e-readers, as internationally departing flights don’t allow the use of small devices yet.

ABOUT HITHA LET’S get to know this blogging frequent traveller who’s always OnTheGo. While she honed her packing prowess running business development at SciDose, she’s been traveling her entire life.

Got her first passport stamp at 6 months old, was potty-trained on a India to USA flight, and have been packing her own bag before she could ride a two-wheeled bike.

Settled in New York City with her husband and a baby on the way.

Hard at work on a startup and working with brands on their digital marketing strategy.

And, of course, updating her website She loves her food spicy, my tea hot, her television and movies nerdy (major Trekkie), books (anything in the written word), and her Philadelphia Eagles winning.

Invest in a quality pair of headphones. And don’t plan on getting any work done on your laptop – there’s no such thing as elbow room.

H O W T O A C T U A L LY G E T SOME SLEEP Speaking from personal experience here - alcohol will only make your sleep worse on a long haul flight. Do. Not. Drink. Booze. Chamomile tea actually proved quite helpful in lulling me to sleep, as did the world’s best eyemask and neck pillow. I use the airline provided pillow as a lower back support, my own neck pillow to cradle my head, and used my steeped chamomile teabags (wrapped in tissues) as compresses for my eyes before I slipped the eyemask on top. The skin under your eyes is the most delicate, and this tip significantly helps keep it hydated in flight.

QUENCH YOUR THIRST I purchase the largest bottle of water available before boarding the flight, and will usually have it refilled by the flight attendants during the flight. Hydration is everything.

I try to avoid heavy foods (read – bread, rice, meat) in flight as well – you’re not burning many calories by sitting on your bum for hours on end. Pre-ordering the strict vegetarian/vegan option is key – the food is usually decent (and vegetable-rich) and it’s served before everyone else gets their meals. I’ll bring along vegetables.

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TRAVEL ESSENTIALS What’s hot right now? I’ve picked out some essentials that I can’t travel without.

1. A Chic bikini. (H&M $9,50) 2. A Pair of sunglasses (Marc By Marc Jacobs $30) 3. Totebag (TOPSHOP $26) 4. An inspirational book (Alexa Chung $35)

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GET MORE AWESOME TRAVELING TIPS AT HITHAONTHEGO.COM

“TO PREVENT ITEMS FROM FA L L I N G OUT OF THE BAGGU, TIE THE HANDLES CLOSED. ALSO, LIE A MAGAZINE F L AT AT T H E BOTTOM OF THE BAG, TO ENSURE I T S TAY S U P R I G H T. ”

S TAY H E A LT H Y Planes are incubators for viruses, and I’m all about prevention. I wipe down my arm rests, seat belt fasteners, tray table, window pull, and wall next to my seat with these sanitizing towels.

I’ll add an EBOOST to my water bottle af ter I’ve woken up for a boost of vitamins. And I ALWAYS use a paper2 towel to open the bathroom door from the inside as I’m leaving.

P R E - PA C K T H I S An in-flight toiletry case with the basics (toothbrush and toothpaste, your eyeglasses, face care items (I pack this entire set), lip balm, hand cream, a spare set of contacts) is something you should have with you on any flight longer than 5 hours. Mine is an old United BusinessFirst toiletry kit, but you can use any waterproof-lined bag (or even a Ziploc baggie) to make one of your own.

I’ll also throw some makeup (concealer, powder, eyeliner, mascara, and eyebrow pencil) into it. This case, along with my tablets and headphones, stay in the seatback pocket in front of me.

PA C K I T B E S T. I F Y O U D O N ’ T READ ANYTHING ELSE, READ THIS I keep a Baggu pre-packed in my travel bag. Prior to boarding, I’ll put everything

I’ll need during the flight inside it – my iPad and Kindle, headphones, snacks, water, my in-flight toiletry kit, neck pillow, eyemask – and place the Baggu in the space in front of me. My other bags go in the overhead bin, thus yielding more leg room AND with everything easily accessible. To prevent items from falling out of the Baggu, tie the handles closed. Also, lie a magazine flat at the bottom of the bag, to ensure it stays upright. There are few things worse than rummaging through your bag, looking for something lodged at the very bottom, while jabbing your neighbor.

Being in the middle seat may be one of them.

And there you have it, folks. My triedand-true tips for surviving those awful and long flights. I’m thankful for the surplus of United miles it yielded me, so I can book my next trip to Australia in the upstairs business class cabin. Because there’s nothing like being on thesecond floor of an airplane AND sleeping horizontally.

19 sunny places to travel

January vacay January really begins prime time when it comes to people looking for a cheap getaway to a warm place. Fortunately the weather is pretty much perfect in almost all of the cheapest places on earth this month as well. Latin America and Southeast Asia are mostly warm and dry this time of year.

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P H O T O CAT E R I NA P I N T O / A N D R É A CA L É I A

THE TWO TRICKY parts are that flights

to those areas won’t be cheap in most cases, so it’s less than ideal if you only have 5 to 7 days for your trip. However, if you can get away for 10 days or more then the cost of the flight and the hassle to go to one of these regions will be more than made up by the super cheap prices once you arrive. If you are mostly interested in beaches, scuba diving, and other water sports you should start with our list of the cheapest Caribbean islands to see which ones are in your price range.

It’s worth nothing that even though they don’t celebrate Christmas in most of Asia, it’s still peak season there because they see the highest demand of the year

during that week. If you can go the second week of January or after then it’ll be cheaper and easier to find hotel deals.

By the way, we have a separate list of cheap beaches to spend Christmas and New Year’s around the world if that’s what you are mainly after. Obviously the first week of January is peak season for most Latin American and Caribbean destinations, so book early to lock in the best deals. After that January will remain high season through that same region, but plenty of bargains are out there if you look around.

Botanic Garden Marocco, Marrakesh Photo: Rosa Johnsen

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Cartagena, old city photo camĂ­lo lopez

A flower in old city of cartagena photo caterina pinto

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“MEXICO CITY CAN MAKE FOR A G R E A T T R I P A L L B Y I T S E L F, W I T H FA S C I N AT I N G S I G H T S , G R E AT SHOPPING, AND EXCELLENT NIGHTLIFE”

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HE AMERICAS IN JANUARY

Obviously the first week of January is peak season for most Latin American and Caribbean destinations, so book early to lock in the best deals. After that January will remain high season through that same region, but plenty of bargains are out there if you look around.

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HE CARIBBEAN IN JANUARY

The Caribbean in January is a bit of a paradox here because it’s the busiest month of the year, and prices are relatively high, but there are still many cheap options available if you know where to look. The cities below are better if you are in the mood for a but of culture, but for those mainly looking to relax in the sun, you can’t beat the Caribbean in January.

The new trend is towards all-inclusive hotels, but you may not realize that they are mainly concentrated in only a few places. Specifically, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica are where you’ll find most of them, although many even cheaper ones are on the Mexican coast in Cancun and just to its south. For most people, an all-inclusive resort will end up saving a lot of money, as long as you aren’t so interested in exploring the whole island.

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ANTIAGO CHILE

January is part of the peak season in Santiago as the ideal weather draws people from all over South America who have vacation time. It’s a huge city with much to offer, and prices even during the peak season are quite reasonable by international standards. Many people include Santiago on a trip combining many different South American countries, but those who don’t want to jet around quite that much will find that Chile itself is loaded with great sights.

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IMA PERU

January is definitely part of the high season in Lima, but it’s still quite affordable by international standards. The weather will be pretty much perfect with warm days, mild evenings and pretty much no chance of rain all month. Many middle and upper class people from around South America will be in Lima on their vacations, so it’s an interesting mix of people for an outsider.

The historic city center is quite interesting, but many will choose to stay in the trendy Miraflores district along the beach instead.

There’s more restaurants and tourist infrastructure there, yet it’s a short ride into the center for sightseeing. By the way, the rainy season in Cusco goes on in January.

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EXICO CITY MEXICO

While it’s true that Mexico City – mostly due to its elevation – isn’t warm enough in January for a proper tropical escape, it can make an excellent cultural city break this time of year. Evenings will be cool for sure, but the days will be pleasant with almost no threat of rain. Mexico City can make for a great trip all by itself, with fascinating sights, great shopping, and excellent nightlife, but it’s also close to ruins and many other interesting sights that can make for good day trips. Flights from almost anywhere will be fairly cheap this time of year, at least compared to Europe or most of the Caribbean.

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COLOMBIA

January marks the best weather month of the year in Cartagena and most of Colombia, as days will be uniformly sunny and warm, but rarely too hot, and nights are pleasant as well.

With almost no rainfall in the forecast you can confidently leave the umbrella at home and work on your tan as long as you like.

Of course the first week of January is still the peak season for hotels and flights, and the rest of the month is in high season, so hotel deals might be challenging to find. On the other hand, it’ll still be far cheaper than almost anywhere else in the Caribbean.

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HIANG MAI THAILAND

If you have more than a week or two off around this time of year you’d be hard pressed to find a better travel value than Chiang Mai. The weather is perfect, with warm sunny days and mild nights that aren’t annoyingly muggy like they are in Bangkok and Saigon.

It’s the high season for hotels for sure, but since hotels are so incredibly cheap here that still puts them well below the price of a dorm bed in almost any European city.

While Chiang Mai itself may not be as charming as you might expect, considering it’s a historic former capital filled with temples, the best part is that this is a fantastic part of Thailand for trekking and other outdoor activities. Come to Chiang Mai and then shop around for multi-day trips to nearby forests and temples, which are also very cheap,

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ANGKOK THAILAND

January can be very crowded in Bangkok so this is really the only time of year you should seriously think about booking a hotel well in advance. Things lighten up a bit as the month goes on, but around the New Years week it can be brutal. The weather is perfect with spectacular sunny days and mild evenings.

It will still be humid in the evenings, but not as bad as other times of the year. If you are shopping online for hotels in Bangkok you’ll find that most of them seem quite expensive, at least this time of year. It’s worth knowing that many hotels in this city don’t take online reservations and most of the cheaper ones do accept reservations by email. Meals will be very cheap, especially if you don’t mind eating the wonderful (and safe) street food available on almost every block.

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OA INDIA

Goa is incredibly popular around the Christmas holidays and through January so hotels will be more expensive this time of year than any other. That said, it’s still incredibly cheap compared to any other sunshine destination in the world as long as you know your way around. This is a large area and package hotels in some beach cities will actually show fairly expensive prices this time of year, but independent hotels not far away will still be very cheap.

Prices in Goa, as well as the rest of India, have been rising steadily in the past few years. It’s more important than ever to choose your resort and area wisely.

In Calungute and Baga it might feel like prices are only a bit cheaper than in, say, Spain, but if you go to Anjuna or Vagator and find a family-run hotel and eat in local restaurants.

4 1 Mui Ne Pandanus Resort Vietnam

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photo neil laygo

2 A indigenous woman in Thailand photo kate sheffields

3 Street carneval in Oaxaca, Mexico photo mary koeth

4 Scubadiving in the Red Sea photo kate sheffields

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“BOOK WELL I N A D VA N C E TO GET THE BEST DEALS SINCE IN BUSY SEASON LIKE THIS PRICES G E N E R A L LY JUST KEEP GOING UP AS T H E D AT E S APPROACH”

Street kid in Goa, India Photo Mary Koeth

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IEM REAP CAMBODIA

You visit Siem Reap to visit the amazing temple complex of Angkor Wat just to its north, and this is the best time of the year for that, even though it’s also the most crowded. Most other times of the year it’s so hot and humid during the day that you have to break your temple visit up with an afternoon break, but in January you can actually go straight through most of the time.

There are many really expensive hotels in Siem Reap since this attraction brings in almost as many 5-star travelers as it does backpackers, but there are still plenty of cheap guesthouses and even hostels.

The price average for a day in Siem Reap is actually quite a bit lower than what is shown here, and it’s only inflated this much because admission to Angkor Wat is quite high if you only go for the one-day option.

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IO DE JANEIRO BRAZIL

January is the middle of the wet season in Rio de Janeiro, but this is the typical tropical rain pattern that almost always amounts to a 30-minute downpour a few times a week, and sunny skies before and after that. This is a very busy time of the year for Rio, behind only Carnival the following month for crowds and hotel rates, but it’s still relatively cheap and it’s an amazing place to visit at any price.

Hotels along the famous beaches will be quite expensive in January so finding a bargain will be tough, but if you are willing to stay 2 or 3 blocks inland you can find nice places for a fraction of the price. Book well in advance to get the best deals since in busy season like this prices generally just keep going up as the dates approach.

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MBERGRIS CAYE BELIZE

Currently San Pedro (the main city on Ambergris Caye) is the only city in Belize that we cover, and it’s also the most expensive resort area in the country. In other words, if you are really looking for great value in wonderful weather you should consider other parts of Belize instead or in addition to San Pedro. Caye Caulker is a similar and smaller island even a bit closer to Belize City, and prices there are lower for hotels and for food. There’s also Dangriga and the Placencia Peninsula which are both great choices for sunny holidays.

Dangriga has interesting culture while Placencia has the better beaches. Even San Pedro is fairly cheap by most standards, and the round-the-clock warm weather is enchanting even when it rains a bit

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COSTA RICA

San Jose, Costa Rica is used on this site as a placeholder for the entire country, and the entire country has fantastic weather all January. Yes, this is high season without a doubt, especially the first week of the month, but there are many areas from which to choose so the crowds will be spread out.

The beaches along the Pacific are better for surfing while the ones along the Caribbean are less crowded and better for relaxing and sunbathing. The center of the country is loaded with national parks plus active sights like zip-lining and canopy tours, and the Arenal Volcano is a huge draw in spite of its frequent cloud cover.

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UANG PRA CHILE

Another city with perfect weather in January, Luang Prabang is the biggest tourist city in Laos, and it can get quite crowded this time of year, for good reason.

Again you have the warm and dry days with evenings that are pleasant rather than steamy as they are down south. In the past few years Luang Prabang has gotten many more upscale hotels so it might look like the city isn’t friendly for budget travelers, but there are still many cheaper guesthouses left, although most aren’t bookable online.

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MEXICO

Unlike most of the Caribbean, it can get a bit rainy during January in Cancun. Of course this is the normal sort of tropical rain that comes in and is over within an hour or so, which means that it’s a minor inconvenience for most people. Cancun is actually the most expensive of the major Mexican resort cities but it’s the only one we currently list.

Resorts along the Pacific coast will have even nicer weather and less rain.

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HUKET THAILAND

As the most expensive part of Thailand, Phuket barely qualifies as cheap if you are detemined to stay in one of the many beach resorts in the posh towns. The prices we list on this site are for Phuket Town, which is inland and much cheaper than even the cheapest beach cities. January has excellent weather and is incredibly popular in Phuket for Europeans in particular. If you are flying all that way to sit on a beach then you are probably going to want to spend a bit more on a proper beach hotel rather than trying to save money by commuting to the beach from Phuket Town each morning. Book early for the best prices since they usually just keep rising as the dates approach.

VIETNAM

Saigon (as it’s locally known) is certainly not a beach city, but it’s a very popular part of the SE Asia backpacker circuit that really heats up this time of the year.

There are beach cities like Nha Trang along Vietnam’s east coast, and a few islands to the south and over in nearby Cambodia as well. cheap by almost any standards and it’s a great stop to mix in between beach destinations if you are in the region.

The weather in January is perhaps the best of the whole year, as the evenings are reasonably cool and it’s less humid that other times.

This is also an emerging party city, unlike others in Vietnam, so it works on many levels for the budget tourist or backpacker.

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UENOS AIRES ARGENTINA

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SOUTH AFRIKA

January is peak season in Cape Town so finding hotel deals will be challenging, but still it’s quite reasonably priced compared to Europe, North America, or Australia. The weather is pretty much perfect in January including with warm days, mild nights, and virtually no rain at all.

The tricky part of an affordable holiday in South Africa will always be the airfare. Being so but very far from almost everywhere it’s tough to find a good price.

The good news is that the indoor country is filled with great sights, including safaris, of course, and history, so a 2-week trip can still be affordable all things considered.

Being completely honest, January isn’t an ideal month to visit Buenos Aires, as it will be quite warm, day and night, and also quite crowded. There’s also the threat of rain on any given day, but we are including it here because it’s still a fantastic place to visit and the warm weather isn’t a problem for many.

Another thing to note about Buenos Aires compared to most other South American cities is that BA is more about culture, food, and other indoor pursuits. It’s a great place for just strolling in the shopping districts when it’s not too hot, but even when it’s raining or too muggy outside you’ll have an endless list of interesting things to see and do, all quite cheap for what you get.

DID YOU KNOW . . .

...That Cartagena’s old city is over thousand years old and is a huge tourist attraction? There’s a sceptic around visiting Colombia, but through the last ten years it’s become a much more safer place for tourists, so don’t hesitate.

...That Marrakesh isn’t that hot in January, but you can find great package prices? The upside with going in January is definantly the calm mood at the hotels, no overcrowded pool areas or huge tourist groups.

FOR MORE TRAVEL TIPS VISIT PRICEOFTRAVEL.COM

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Weather in january CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA January avg high: 85F/29C January avg low: 75F/24C January avg precip:0.2”/0.5cm

CANCUN, MEXICO January avg high: 82F/28C January avg low: 69F/21C January avg precip: 5.4″/13.5cm

AMBERGRIS CAYE, BELIZE January avg high: 75F/24C January avg low: 70F/21C January avg precip: 4.5″/11.3cm

LIMA, PERU January avg high: 79F/26C January avg low: 68F/20C January avg precip:0.0”/0.0cm

GOA, INDIA January avg high: 89F/32C January avg low: 67F/19C January avg precip: 0.1″/0.3cm

PHUKET, THAILAND January avg high: 89F/32C January avg low: 74F/23C January avg precip: 1.2″/3.0cm

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO January avg high: 70F/21C January avg low: 42F/6C January avg precip: 0.4″/1.0cm

HO CHI MINH, VIETNAM January avg high: 89F/32C January avg low: 70F/21C January avg precip: 0.6″/1.5cm

SANTIAGO, CHILE January avg high: 86F/30C January avg low: 55F/13C January avg precip: 0.0″/0.0cm

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND January avg high: 84F/29C January avg low: 57F/14C January avg precip: 0.3″/0.8cm

BUENOS AIRES,ARGENTINA January avg high: 87F/31C January avg low: 69F/21C January avg precip: 4.7″/11.8cm

LUANG PRABANG, LAOS January avg high: 82F/28C January avg low: 58F/14C January avg precip: 0.5″/1.3cm

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL January avg high: 90F/32C January avg low: 73F/23C January avg precip: 5.1″/12.8cm

BANGKOK, THAILAND January avg high: 90F/32C January avg low: 70F/21C January avg precip: 0.4″/1.0cm

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Steven and Jess

Of the flying nest ARE YOU INSPIRED by the locations used for TV and cinema?

Today I interview Travel Bloggers Stephen and Jess from Flying The Nest. The big appeal of American film making has been an influence on their travels to date.

W O R D S T R AV E L B L O G G E R I N T E R V I E W S

P H O T O AU R É L I A FAU D O T C A L É I A

WHAT ARE YOUR NAMES? - We are Stephen & Jess, an Australian couple who make up the travel blog Flying The Nest.

Which country do you come from? Stephen was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and Jess is from Sydney, Australia – however we both grew up in Perth Australia since we were 10 years old. Even though Stephen is an expat – he still calls Australia home.

Are you a backpacker/long term traveller/ business traveller/live and work abroad?

We both recently completed our University studies and spent the majority of 2014 working like crazy and saving all our money so we can spend 2015 travelling full time.

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“ H E C L E A R LY REMEMBERS WALKING THROUGH THE TOWNSHIPS, SEEING POVERTY AND WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY THEY LIVED A DIFFERENT LIFE TO HIM.”

In February we started our long term travelling by moving away from the sandy shores of Australia to the ice cold mount ains of Canada. a.

How do you fund your travel (savings work whilst travelling/other)? - Since our first trip together back in 2009 we have saved for all our travels, every time raising the bar and needing to save more and more.

We have both done our dues in retail and hospitality clocking in between 8-10 years – so funding our travels has primarily come from serving coffee and selling phones.

Planning to travel full time next year we have organised working visas in Canada

just incase we need to top up our bank accounts during our time abroad. We may just have to serve one more coffee in 2015.

What is the first trip you remember taking and how old were you? -Stephen’s first trip was back when he was 7 years old while he was still living in South Africa. He went to Mozambique, Mombassa and Tanzania by cruise ship with his family. He clearly remembers walking through the townships, seeing poverty and wanting to learn more about why they lived a different life to him.

Jess’s first trip was when her family decided to move from Sydney to Perth. Her family packed up their home, filled a trailer and

drove from one side of Australia to the other across the Nullarbor Plain to a new life.

Have you been anywhere which turned out to be totally different to how you imagined?

- Miami has been highly glamorized on tv shows and movies, so when we decided to head down and experience it for ourselves, we were quite disappointed. We felt that we were sold a lie and so we didn’t enjoy our time as much as some others places we saw in the US. Which is the worst place you’ve been to and why? It would have to be Miami but to keep this interesting we will share another place – the “Low Cost Carrier Terminal” of

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Steven in the drivers seat Los Angeles to Miami

Malaysia. If you enjoy disgusting toilets, food poisoning and being screamed at through the intercom for 4 hours, be our guest and fly cheap through Malaysia. It’s so sad as it can almost put you off going into Malaysia.

Where is your favourite place in the world?

I know it sounds overplayed, but we thoroughly enjoyed our time in New York City. The city felt new to explore yet oddly familiar from all the times we have seen it in movies. There is nothing like New York and it can be quite hard to put into words to describe this unique city.

Do you have a bucket list? If so what is on it? Our bucket list is very extensive but one gaping black hole is our lacking of having

anything ticked off from Europe. Being big movie fans we always had a bigger fascination with America and living in Australia you really have to pick between the two when saving up to go on holiday.

No. We are so thankful that we live in an age where travel is so easily accessible and possible. I couldn’t imagine being my parents or grandparents where travel was not as prominent as it is today.

If you were not travelling what would you be doing instead? Saving to travel (ha-ha). I suppose the honest answer would be working at our full time jobs saving up for a house.

And what is the name of your travel blog and the url? Our travel blog is called Flying the Nest and you can find us as: flyingthenest.tv.

When did you begin your website? - Not that long ago to be honest, September 13th, 2014 – we are still very new to this whole blogging scene. We write so that one day we have an online journal of photographs, stories and videos of our time travelling the world to use to reminisce and share with our children.

What makes your site so unique and why should people read it?

It is so hard to be unique in an oversaturated market but we will try our best to sell you. We always have fond memories of the adventures we do when abroad, so the time we skydived over Dubai, zip lined in the Caribbean or trying Kava in Fiji. Alongside writing about our time and experience of our travels, we try to focus on what we do rather than where

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Jess’s friend Monica bisycling from the Beach in Santa Monica

we are. We are also a very visual blog which can be seen through our photography and (coming soon) videos.

What has been your most successful blog post to date and what was it about? As we are still very much in the discovery stage of our blog (being just over 4 months old), our most popular posts are either wanderlust or inspiration posts. Last year we wrote a post called ‘10 Unusual Beaches You Have Never Heard Of’ and it seemed to grab traction and bring our site to new eyes.

What has been your favourite article to write either for your blog or another publication?

Our favourite blog posts are always the personal ones as we get to really dig into an issue that has been sitting on our mind.

That’s what is so great about blogging and

having a platform to share these thoughts.

We wrote a post called “Happiness comes from experiences, not material things” and it discusses a quote that has really changed the way we look at life this last year and that is “collect moments, not things”.

What is your favourite mode of transport?

Living in Australia the act of physically travelling is always daunting and never looked forward to. Flights are a must if you want to get anywhere and still have vacation time left over. However, we do prefer travelling by car as you get to roadtrip, see the sites and control whether you want to stop to take pictures.

Do you have any advice or tips for aspiring travellers? Just get out there and do it – book a holiday whether it is next month or a year away. Having something to look forward to

“I love photographing Jess.

This picture is from a time we was at the Californian bay, just playing around this must be my favorite picture of her, actually”

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#ilovetravel

I wrote about Cathay Pacific Premium Economy last year – I really didn’t like it. My posts on one bag packing are perennially popular though, and always feature heavily in my top 10. From the feedback I get on the blog, people struggle with the idea of packing light, and are clambering for advice and assistance in this regard – women based on my visit there earlier this year – they’ve proven to be very consistent performers in the 6 months since I wrote them.

THE POWER OF I N S TA G R A M With 25,5 thousand followers all over the world Jess daily update her popular Instagram account with photographs taken over the world. We took a dive into jesse’s account and picked out our favorites (which all have endless likes and comments on).

Have you had any bad experiences whilst travelling? Obviously things always go wrong on the road – connections get missed, drivers don’t turn up etc, but I’ve been fortunate that I’ve had nothing that I would call a “bad experience”.

I started my blog because my friends and work colleagues kept asking me for travel advice, and a number of friends kept saying I should write a book.

Now I can’t imagine life without it, it’s taken on such a life of its own.

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I remember going to Hobart in Tasmania when I was 5 years old.

We went by plane – it was my first plane trip, and I remember having biscuits and lemonade on the plane – it was the late 1960s, so I remember the plane was pretty different to how they look now! It must have been spring because Iremember there was a big tree with blossom on it in my aunt’s backyard, and we could see Hobart’s famous Mt Wellington which had snow on it.

Ive just been to Istanbul. I don’t know quite what I was expecting, but it blew me away completely, and affected me in a way I didn’t expect. found it totally fascinating, easy to get around (which I wasn’t expecting at all), great food, fabulous history and culture and lovely people. Despite being a manic tourist for four days, and seeing all the big sites, I feel as though I’ve barely touched the surface, and can’t wait to get back there – I’m already planning my next trip!

Where is your favourite place in the world? France – it’s my spiritual home!

Although Barcelona and Istanbul definitely give Paris a run for its money in terms of cities. I speak French well, so that always helps, of course, and I just love the whole French way of life, food, wine and culture.

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“LOOK FOR THE FUN, NOT FOR THE WIFI”

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at the end of the year can make working at your job that much easier. Also travel does not have to be expensive, we have written several posts about money saving tips and even why travelling in your own backyard (home country) is also a very viable option.

Travel has taught me So much. Appreciating what you have. Appreciating where you are from. How cultures operate and the differences between ours. We could almost write a whole post about this one question.

Which is the worst place you’ve been to and why? - I really hate places that are just “too loved” and are over run and often ruined by tourists, so they bear no resemblance to what made them popular in the first place.

The two places that spring to mind are Kuta in Bali, and Montmartre in Paris. While I love both Bali and Paris, those two specific locations are definitely not on my “to do” list. Too many people, far too commercial.

You recently wrote an article about how you arranged a trip from Australia to Europe flying First and Business Class for just AUD$925, how did you do it?

- I have two frequent flyer/mileage accounts.

I used a combination of both accounts to cobble together my flights. Many readers would be aware that to fly from Australia to Europe you need to transit somewhere en route, so a return journey is actually four legs of travel. I managed to book 3 legs via one of my accounts, and used my other account to book the final leghome from Dubai to Sydney.

The money I had to pay was for a flight from France to Istanbul, because I couldn’t book anything via my mileageaccounts.

How do you fund your travel (savings/work whilst travelling/other)?

- Up until this point in time I used to save hard for travel. Instead of going out at weekends and getting drunk, I’d save the money and put it towards the next trip. For the past year however, I’ve been very fortunate to have started up my own freelance business

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“THE GUIDE ALSO M E N T I O N E D T H AT IF WE HAD TO L E A V E T H E T E N T, THEN YOU PEAK OUT WITH A TORCH AND FLASH IT AROUND 360 DEGREES, AND IF YOU SEE ANY RED EYES THEN DON’T COME OUT!”

online, which has opened a lot of exciting doors for me and has allowed me to take the jump into the location independent realm of a laptop lifestyle-www What is the first trip you remember taking and how old were you?

For some weird reason I can remember being on a plane when I was just 4 years old with my father and mother – going to my dad’s home place in Casalattico, Italy. It’s a vivid memory even to this day.

was when we were camping during a safari in the Serengeti on the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater. Like previous nights, we were told that only to leave the tent in case of emergencies as there were plenty of Hyenas around, as well as lions. The guide also mentioned that if we had to leave the tent, then you peak out with a torch and flash it around 360 degrees, and if you see any red eyes then don’t come out!

Have you been anywhere which turned out to be totally different to how you imagined?

If so, how?

Yes – The pyramids of Giza! The pyramids themselves were just amazing, and everything I had hoped they would be, but the location was literally on the outskirts of Cairo. For some reason I had envisaged them to be in the middle of nowhere, miles away from any form of civilisation! From the history books in school, it gives the impression that they are nowhere near cities. Or maybe that’s just my interpretation! Do you have any funny travel stories? - A few of them for sure! A funny one looking back (wasn’t funny at the time),

Needless to say I had a bad bout of diarrhoea that night, I was beside myself with discomfort. There was no alternative option but to walk to the make shift toilet of a shed, which was about a minutes’ walk away.

My girlfriend and I peeped out of the tent and flashed the torch around, and we saw literally hundreds of white eyes looking back at us from various places. Even though we didn’t see any red eyes to indicate a lion, I was beyond scared at the thought of walking to the toilet. I would have gone right outside the tent, only for I’d have some explaining to do in the morning when the others woke up in their tents beside us.

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5 QUICK QUESTIONS Your favourite... .... Airline?

Qantas ... Country?

Australia ... City?

New York City .... Beach?

Our local beach called Mullaloo beach in Perth, Western Australia ... Drink?

Coffee! (Addicted) ... Language?

French – sounds so beautiful to listen to ... Experience?

Skydiving in Dubai Travelling with Family or Travelling alone?

With family Must have app when travelling?

Instagram – we are a little bit addicted

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ANYWAYS, the two of us sneaked along to the toilet like two kids flashing the torches around. I kept thinking that we were going to be devoured by a hyena. If there was a video clip of us walking it would have been comical, as we really were petrified! As I said, it wasn’t funny at the time, but the next day we laughed about it.

You spent 3 months volunteering in East Africa. Please tell us about that? What were you doing and what inspired you to go?

- That trip was something that both myself and my girlfriend Florence wanted to do for a very long time. We wanted to go to Africa and help out those less fortunate in life in any small way we could. We did tons of research online and decided that we didn’t want others to have to pay for us to go volunteering by means of sponsorship – and give all that money to a “middle man”. What we did was we saved extremely hard for a few months and then booked our flights to Kenya and

funded the trip ourselves. We strongly believe that you shouldn’t have to fork out thousands of dollars to companies just to be able to give a helping hand in third world countries.

Most of that money never gets to the actually charity anyways – but that’s another story again!

Our idea was to land in Nairobi, Kenya and then travel overland to Arusha in Tanzania for 3 months and find volunteer work in an orphanage there. We did do exactly that, but then we ran into visa problems (long story), which meant we had to leave and re-entry the country. So we decided to just move alone to other countries and find other independent volunteer projects that we could help out with. In the end we worked in schools and orphanages in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda for just over 13 weeks.

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Who doesn’t love a beautiful sunset?

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“ T R AV E L I N G I S A B R U TA L I T Y. IT FORCES YOU TO TRUST STRANGERS AND TO LOSE S I G H T O F A L L T H AT FA M I L I A R C O M F O RT OF HOME AND FRIENDS. YOU ARE C O N S TA N T LY OFF BALANCE. NOTHING IS YOURS EXCEPT THE ESSENTIAL THINGS – A I R , S L E E P, DREAMS, THE SEA, THE SKY – ALL THINGS TENDING TOWARDS THE ETERNAL OR W H AT W E I M A G I N E O F I T. ” - Cesare pavese

a smart traveller How to become

IN 2015 you’re able to get plane tickets lower than the price of a sweater. It’s not weird things’s getting out of hand when it comes to travellings. Everyday is different at the airport. For better or worse.

WORDS ROSA PHOTO ROSA/WEHEARTIT

YOU LITERALLY SEE every type of people at the airport. Most of the people are of course polite and somewhat normal behavior but you always remember the bad situations, right? Don’t misunderstand me - I love my job. But there’s times when I think: Did you leave your brain at home?

Many get super stressed and freaked out just by stepping in to an airport.

But people are different. Many families is traveling occasionally on vacation two or more annually. Some travels 364 days a year and some travels maybe one time any other year. It’s clearly that people react different and some have less knowledge about traveling and how to act at an airport. Therefore I’m giving my best of tips to you - experienced and non-experienced traveler. .

BE PATIENT If you where unlucky to oversleep and miss your flight - no worries, there will be another one. If you missed your bus to the airport - relax, there will be another one. If you’re stuck in traffic on the way to the airport Don’t stress or get frustrated, that will not make you get there faster. Life is way too short to be angry and annoyed especially in situations you don’t have any control.

As a check-in agent I have a hard time to understand why it’s natural for many travellers to blame it on us when you’re the one arriving late to the airport. You’re the one not planning enough time! Period. This happens all the time. Running people with the sweat streaming down and in fully panic.

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“BE CALM, HONEST A N D AT L E A S T BE HUMBLE”

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“ALL AIRLINES H AV E D I F F E R E N T RULES REGARDING THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED WEIGHT AND BE A SMART T R AV E L E R - D O SOME RESEARCH ONLINE!”

I know - I’ve been in a stressed situation mys e l f a n d I c a n s o r t o f w r a p my head around the need of getting that frustration out on someone and there we unfortunately are - ready to take in all the yelling. Another thing to keep in mind; when you’re told that it’s too late we really mean that it’s too late. We’re not lying and being purely cruel - and NO there’s no possibility for us to actually ask the pilot to wait because Roger desperately need to get home to that important family dinner.

Take my advice; breathe! I’ll be okay. I will also take my time here to try not to blame it on us! We’re doing the best we can and - as I think a lot of people think - We do NOT practice magic. We can’t magically fix unfixable technical problems, we can

NOT make the bad weather go away.

Be patient because things take time at an airport. There’s often technical problems in the baggage system, big lines in the security etc. Therefore it’s quite logic that you have to be early at the airport. It sound incredible simple, right? Well, thousands of thousands miss their planes - of different reasons of course - but I can imagine that a lot of the occasion it’s fully self blamed.

CHECK YOUR BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE Hundreds of times though a day in the check-in world a common problem accure rapidly; Baggage overweight. All airlines have different rules regarding the maximum allowed weight and be a smart traveler - do some research online! That will prevent

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you for getting that uncomfortable news at the airport. Check the weight on both your hand luggage and suitcase on the bathroom weight or by one of those baggage weights.

A very important thing to remember in this situation is; it alway helps to be humble.

This may seem logical but nothing at an airport is logical and self-explainable as I’ve mentioned. People have very different ways to react to this situation but a lot of them are trying to escape the payment.

I’m advising you to be humble because I know that I wouldn’t feel like being helpful and understandable towards a person standing and screaming and being angry at me because he/she didn’t check the baggage weight before traveling. It’s like every situation; you’ll get the best results

if you’re being calm, honest and humble.

WATCH YOUR ALCOHOL INTAKE Studies have shown that 8/10 have some degree of fear of flying. Many people sadly make alcohol as the solution to the problem.

It’s absolutely not okay to be drunk at an airplane. As airline agents we’re actually obligated to deny you from traveling if your drunk. Why? Think of yourself in a situation where you’re traveling and a wasted person are placed next to you. Would you enjoy that?

No. Please use common sense! A drink would probably calm your nerves but it’ll most likely give you more problems than solving the situation. You’re going on a trip with your friends and it’s okay to enjoy a beer (or maybe two). But just as you know, only one is enough to make you stink alcohol in

a far distance. Just so you know. It’s quite unpleasant when you’re hanging over me and trying to look normal. It’s actually not that difficult to become a smart traveler.

Get up in time and be early at the airport.

There will be cancellations, long lines, lost luggage, technical problems and other unforeseen things. But as Bob Marley sings “Every little thing is gonna be alright”. If your unlucky and ends up in a tricky situation while traveling - just take a deep breath and remind yourself that it could be worse.

Yes, I know that it’s a lot of things you have to remember when traveling. Even frequent flyers do mistakes even when they’ve traveled uncountable times.

A weird thing is that it’s often the ones traveling way too much (mostly business

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My own picture from a trip to New York in 2014

trips) are the least polite ones. I’m not arresting everyone - I’m just saying that it’s common that frequent business travelers have a way of just giving us check-in agents for granted. Some don’t even notice that it’s a actual person behind that desk. No respond to “Hello” or “thank you” - doesn’t even look at you! I’m bringing this in this article because I’m just simply asking for one thing. Be nice.

Smile. It doesn’t cost much.

I’ve given a lot of good advices but the most important I’ll say would be that you have to remember to breathe! If you’re late; You will get on that plane and that long metallic tube will get you to your destination. Lost luggage? It’s not vanished from the Earth, it’ll show up! If it’s completely gone you’ll get a new one and of course compensation

money! Are you traveling with irreplaceable stuff; simple just leave it at home.But again with the weight though, I’m serious about that part! Always remember to check your baggage weight and never travel with more than necessary. Be humble. Give us an extra big smile because maybe I will like that smile of yours so much that I would bump you up too Business Class? Be a smart traveler and have a pleasant trip.

Special feautre Cecilia Goodman

Discover the beauty of Africa Orange deserts and majestic animals are among the resasons why Namibia, Africa is nominated as one of the worlds most beautiful places of all times.

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FOR A PLACE that at first glance may seem lifeless, the reality is astonishing: 650 bird species and 80 large mammal species, of which, 14 birds and 15 mammals are almost entirely endemic to the country. Reptile species total 240! Etosha National Park is the wildlife gem of Namibia and where high densities of game exist. As one moves further south, densities of large mammals are lessened, but do not disappear. Plains game such as springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest, Burchell’s zebra, Hartmann’s mountain

zebra, waterbuck, red hartebeest, giraffe, eland and endemic black-faced impala are seen. Lion, elephant and black and white rhino have also adapted superbly to the harsh dry environment.disrupted the feeding and drinking patterns of elephants and the black rhinoceros - it is feared that further increases in boat traffic will affect their reproductive success. Artificial feeding of wildlife by tourists can have severe consequences for social behavior patterns. Artificial feeding by tourists caused a breakdown of the

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“AFRICA IS N O M I N AT E D A S ONE OF THE WORLDS MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES OF ALL TIMES“

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THE DESERT The Namib Desert is one of the 500 distinct physiographic provinces of the South African Platform physiographic division.

The aridity is caused by the descent of dry air of the Haley Cell, cooled by the cold Benguela current along the coast.

the years, there have been a number of cultural influences that have all added to the unique atmosphere of Namibia.

At various times Germany, Great Britain and South Africa have all governed the territory, but it was with the eventual independence of Namibia in 1990 that the country was able to develop its multi-cultural character and reinvent itself. Climbing the world’s tallest sand dunes at SossusvleiViewing wildlife that has adapted to the harsh desertTracking black rhino on foot in true wildernessAppreciating one of the oldest

Bushman rock art sites in the Interacting with the fascinating Himba people.

Why Namibia? For a place that at first glance may seem lifeless, the reality is astonishing: there are approximately 4000 species of plants, 650 bird species and 80 large mammal species. This is a country famed for its expansive, sundrenched landscapes, fascinating geology and unique cultures.

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WHY NAMIBIA? For a place that at first glance may seem lifeless, the reality is astonishing: there are approximately 4000 species of plants, 650 bird species and 80 large mammal species. This is a country famed for its expansive, sun-drenched landscapes, fascinating geology and unique cultures. Territories were abandoned in favor of sites where food could be begged from tourists, and this has had a negative eect on the breeding success of iguanas.

Artificial feeding can also result in a complete loss of normal feeding behaviors. Namibia, an arid country of surprising contrasts, is home to two great deserts. Along its length, the vast shifting sand sea of the Namib sprawls inland along the Atlantic coastline.

In the interior, the plateau slopes away to the north and east to meet the Kalahari Desert.

Over the years, there have been a number of cultural influences that have all added to the unique atmosphere of Namibia.

At various times Germany, Great Britain and South Africa have all governed the territory, but it was with the eventual independence of Namibia in 1990 that the country was able to develop its multi-cultural character and reinvent itself. Climbing the world’s tallest sand dunes at SossusvleiViewing wildlife that has adapted to the harsh desert tracking black rhino on foot in true wilderness appreciating one of the oldest Bushman rock art sites in the Interacting with the fascinating Himba people.

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KULALA DESERT LODGE is located within the arid Namib Desert on the 37 000-hectare private Kulala Wilderness Reserve. Comprising 23 thatched and canvas “kulalas” with en-suite bathrooms and verandas, each unit is built on a wooden platform to catch the cooling breezes and has a deck on the flat rooftop for sleep-outs under the stars. There are also three tents which can accommodate a family of four each.

The convivial main area includes a lounge, bar, dining area, plunge pool, and wrap-around veranda overlooking the riverbed – a perfect location to view and photograph the desert vista and to contemplate the day’s exciting activities.

Luxurious desert retreat and gateway to Sossusvlei’s dunes. Little Kulala is a luxurious desert retreat situated in the

private 37 000-hectare Kulala Wilderness Reserve – the gateway to Namibia’s Sand Sea with its towering dunes and clear starry skies. Desert-adapted wildlife in the area is fascinating and is another dimension of this truly spectacular place.

Mountains and open plains dotted with the odd quiver tree. Sossusvlei translates into ‘the gathering place of water’ in the local Nama stars. There are also three tents which can accommodate a family of four each. The convivial main area includes a lounge, bar, dining area, plunge pool, and wraparound veranda overlooking the riverbed – a perfect location to view and photograph the desert vista and to contemplate the day’s exciting activities.

37 000-hect are Kulala Wilder ness Reserve –Red dunes of Sossusvlei Family-

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“NAMIBIA I S A S A FA R I D E S T I N AT I O N WITH A DIFFERENCE, FA M E D F O R I T S REMOTE AND I N T I M AT E L O D G E S , I N S TA R K LY BEAUTIFUL PLACES FILLED WITH FA S C I N AT I N G D E S E R T- A D A P T E D WILDLIFE”

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Beautiful sunset over a lake in Namibia, Africa

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1 Young boy full of energy and loving the camera at the beach

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2 Landscape of Namib Desert 3 Indigenous girl waiving

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friendly Kulala Wilderness Reserve.

Comprising 23 thatched and canvas “kulalas” with en-suite bathrooms and verandas, each unit is built on a wooden platform to catch the cooling breezes and has a deck on the flat rooftop for sleep-outs under the stars.

There are also three tents mountains and open plains dotted with the odd quiver tree.

Sossusvlei translates into ‘the gathering place of water’ in the local Nama stars.

THERE ARE ALSO three tents which can accommodate a family of four each.The convivial main area includes a lounge, bar, dining area, plunge pool, and wraparound veranda overlooking the riverbed – a perfect

location to view and photograph the desert vista and to contemplate the day’s exciting activities. Luxurious desert retreat and gateway to Sossusvlei’s dunes. Little Kulala is a luxurious desert retreat situated in the private 37 000-hectare Kulala Wilderness Reserve – Red dunes of Sossusvlei Familyfriendly Kulala Desert Lodge is located within the arid Namib Desert on the 37 000-hectare private Kulala Wilderness Reserve. Comprising 23 thatched and canvas “kulalas” with en-suite bathrooms and verandas, each unit is built on a wooden platform to catch the cooling breezes and has a deck on the flat rooftop for sleep-outs under the stars. There are also three tents

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T H AT C H E D A N D C A N VA S “ K U L A L A S ” WITH EN-SUITE B AT H R O O M S A N D VERANDAS, EACH U N I T I S B U I LT O N A W O O D E N P L AT F O R M T O C AT C H T H E COOLING BREEZES

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“The lion king”

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which can accommodate a family of four The convivial main area includes a lounge, bar, dining area, plunge pool, and wrap-around veranda overlooking the riverbed – a perfect location to view and photograph the desert. .

Comprising 23 thatched and canvas “kulalas” with en-suite bathrooms and verandas, each unit is built on a wooden platform to catch the cooling breezes and has a deck on the flat rooftop for sleep-outs under the stars. There are also three tents which can accommodate a family of four each. The convivial main area includes a lounge, bar, dining area, plunge pool, and wrap-around veranda overlooking the riverbed – a perfect location to view and photograph the desert vista and to contemplate the day’s exciting activities. wLuxurious desert retreat and gateway to Sossusvlei’s dunes. Little Kulala is a luxurious desert retreat situated in the private

Sossusvlei, borders the expansive Namib Naukluft Park. The dramatic Sossusvlei dunes are surrounded by rugged, ancient volcanic mountains and open plains dotted with the odd quiver tree.Sossusvlei translates into ‘the gathering place of water’ in the local Nama stars. Dimension of this truly spectacular place. Accommodation consists of 11 climate-controlled, thatched “kulalas” (the word means ‘to sleep’) which merge impeccably into the desert landscape, each with private plunge pool, both indoor and outdoor showers and a rooftop star bed for romantic star gazing.

Kulala Desert Lodge is located within the arid Namib Desert on the 37 000-hectare private Kulala Wilderness Reserve.

Comprising 23 thatched and canvas “kulalas” with en-suite bathrooms and verandas, each unit is

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Spotted: Giraffe family in the desert woods

37 000-hectare Kulala Wilderness. Reserve – the gateway to Namibia’s Sand Sea with its towering dunes and clear starry skies. Desertadapted wildlife in the area is fascinating and is another dimension of this truly spectacular place. A ccommodation consists of 11 climatecontrolled, thatched “kulalas” (the word means ‘to sleep’) which merge impeccably into the desert landscape, each with private plunge pool, both indoor and outdoor showers and a rooftop star bed for romantic star gazing.

An elegant entertainment area includes a library, wine cellar, craft boutique, lounge and dining areas. Little Kulala’s interiors make use of neutral colours, gorgeous textures and natural light and takes its inspiration from its surroundings, notably

from the magnificent Dead Vlei. Desertadapted wildlife such as ostrich, springbok and gemsbok eke out an existence and are sparsely distributed around Little Kulala.

Carnivores is namely spotted and brown hyaena and even cheetah are occasionally present, while smaller creatures such as bateared fox and aardwolf can be seen at night in the cool desert air. The dune lark has its entire global distribution limited to the area, so dependent is it on the area’s characteristic sands. A wide range of insects, reptiles and rodents make their home in this arid land; the call of the barking gecko at twilight is the quintessential sound of the desert. arid Namib Desert near the spectacular sights of

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Indigenous man relaxing in the shadows by outside his house

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Two months old lions playing around in the reservat

INFO

C O N TA C T

Graphic Designer Rosa Johnsen

E-mail johnsen.rosa@gmail.com

School Norwegian School of Creativites

Telephone 00 47 99 37 23 16

Name of assignment “Magasinoppgave�

Adress Kirkegaardsgata 13 B 0558 Oslo

Class GRD 2.4 B

Behance.net behance.net/rosajohnsen

CREDIT / SOURCES

The cover Photo by Mary Koeth “The travel guide” - Hithaonthego.com (travel tip surviving 15 hour flights economy) Photos: Weheartit.com Hithaonthego.com “Travel like an athlete” - Visualoop.com (Heathrow and the olympics in infographics) “Fun facts” - Athenstyle.wordpress.com (Tips for booking a trip packing and vacationing) - Stylecaster.com (Travel tips book flights packing)

- Bloglovin.com (Fashionvibe) - Ytravelblog.com (Tips for first time travellers)“Amazing Africa” - Wikipedia.org - wilderness-safaris.com Photo by Silje Louise Hegg “January Vaycay” - Priceoftravel.com Cheap destinations with great weather in january Photo by Catarina Pinto and Rosa Johnsen “How to become a smart traveller” Photo/words Rosa Johnsen and Flickr.com

WANDER JAN 15 / 1ST ISSUE