A little while back I was having a comment chat with the world famous @tamaralovelace on one of my posts revolving around travel. I'd asked her about the most scenic or picturesque place she'd travelled to and she responded with "the Rocky Mountains" in North America which is a place have unfortunately not been yet...so I was proper jealous that she had.
Thinking about it later on (because the jealousy hadn't yet subsided) a thought struck me about my question and how it may be received especially if the person hadn't had much, or any, travel experiences at all. Of course, when I ask the question it's not designed to put people on the spot; travel is something I'm interested in passionate about so I like talking about it and hearing about other people's travels as well, so I ask with that in mind.
Luck had nothing to do with my ability to travel around the world - hard work made it happen - and I've been to a lot of places, seen and done a lot of things and have enjoyed the amazing moments and memories that travel brings. I'm Lucky fortunate to have had the opportunity but many have not, something that's not lost on me and which makes me hope they get the chance some day.
I've asked people similar questions to what I asked the irrepressible tamaralovelace and had really great conversations about the answers - people are usually so animated and passionate when talking about their travels - but I've also felt quite...guilty rude fearful that my question has embarrassed the individual I've asked that have never left their home city, state or country - of course, I'm not to know until I ask right?
There's many reasons why a person won't, doesn't or can't travel and I'll not go into them all although finances and circumstance are two. (Another is because they just don't want to, but I don't understand that one at all.)
I didn't start travelling overseas for holidays until into my 30's; for me it was a money and time/circumstance thing which I regret to be honest. I'd thought I was being sensible in getting my finances, property and investment, and general future on track for an awesome life, (and that happened), but I wish I'd travelled more from an earlier age. That said, I've made up for it since and have what I feel is an impressive list of places I've been once or multiple times...and thinking about that makes me smile and feel very happy and grateful.
Anyway, I'm going to ask the same question once again and invite you folks (whomever might actually read this post) to comment. I'm doing two questions as below, one for those who have travelled and those of you who have not.
1. Where is the most scenic or picturesque place you've travelled to (outside your own city), when were you there and why did you find it so beautiful? (A photo would be good but is not essential)
2. Is there a scenic or picturesque location you've heard about that you would like to travel to and if so where and why? (Don't use stock or Ai images in your answer please.)
If you'd like to comment below with a response then please feel free. I'll reply back and will be dropping some larger upvotes to those that stand out.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own
The Maldives should be on everyone's wish list I reckon and your photo demonstrates why. Looks like a screen saver!
Yeah! Thanks for the curation! Appreciate it!
No worries.
An attractive looking place indeed!
Hehe thanks!
I am fortunate to have been to a few amazing places. It was hard to pick just one. In more recent times since covid, my favourite would have to be between skiing down East Mountain at Rusutsu in Japan above. Where we had this great view of Mount Yotei on the left and Mount Shiribetsu on the right.
and Ben Lomond in Queenstown, New Zealand below. Ben Lomond probably wins as it was a long hike to the top and felt more of an achievement.
I've not been to Japan yet but I've been to NZ and loved it. Two good locations here and good snaps.
Ah yes, New Zealand, a favourite place of mine.
I'll take the number two please lol. Of course, you know already that I've not travelled outside of my own country. Opportunities for travel have presented themselves on occasion, but timing was always an issue. I have lived on farms or at least in the country for most of my life and have always had animals and livestock that cannot be left alone. It is a life choice, I guess.
If I could travel, I would love to see Guatemala and Peru, the nordic countries, Europe, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand. There are probably more, but my two loves, history and fiber arts, are the reasons I would travel first to these places. The rich history of castles, wool and flax have long intrigued me.
The exquisite ring shawls of Margaret Stove in New Zealand, who taught me to spin the fine, fine Merino via books as this was before the internet, and the vast flocks of Merino in Australia would be mesmerizing lol. Pretty boring stuff to most folks, but magic to me. Irish and Scottish handwovens, the spinners of Ulster, the Shetland, Icelandic, and Churro sheep of the Navajo. There are dozens and dozens of sheep breeds and each has their own unique fleece qualities.
Well, I think that's way more information than you bargained for LOL. I apologize for running off at the mouth, but, you know...passion!
There's so many commitments in life these days and that's always going to inhibit the things we do or want to do, like travel.
So...pretty much everywhere. I get it. Lol. We've spoken about history before and I know you like it so I'm with you on that one. What makes travel more inviting and engaging is when it's based around our passions rather than just being places we go. It would be amazing if you could get to some of those places you mention and to have those experiences but, like me, you may not; life happens I guess. I'm pleased I've travelled some (a lot), and will do some more too, America one day so look out, I might come knocking on your door.
I know what passion is as I work to apply it to everything I do, and there's no apology required.
No....not everywhere lol. Right now I have no interest in the Orient or Middle East, and Antarctica is not even on the list. I reckon one day you'll wander over this way. We'll do lunch lol
Oh yeah, lunch would work nicely indeed!
I must say that I have not traveled as much as I would have liked because my economy has not allowed me to do so. But, whenever I have had the opportunity I have done it. Most of the places I have visited are in my country and, among the places I have visited, the one I liked the most was Varadero, one of the most beautiful sun and beach destinations in the world.
Of the places I would like to visit one of them is Niagara Falls, because, as a professor of Geography and nature lover, this geographical accident would calm some of my natural concerns and I could enjoy one of the most beautiful beauties created by nature.
I think the Niagara Falls would be a great place to visit and it's cool that it can be seen from different angles and from two completely different countries; I'd want to see it from both.
Nice looking pool area and that's a legit platter too. I looked up Varadero and it seems to be quite a nice looking place indeed.
I think one of the attractions of Niagara Falls is that you can see it from the United States and Canada and this is a fantastic thing.
I remember that in a Geography class I asked my students to tell me what fascinated them most about the falls and one of the students told me about this detail and about the possibility of visiting the falls and the two North American giants.
I wish you an excellent weekend.
Greetings and best regards.
I hope you have a good weekend as well.
Pool looks nice, food looks better!
Yes, the pool was very warm and the snack table was very tasty.
Happy weekend.
Cheers and greetings.
I also don’t understand how there are people who don’t like to travel.
A trip, no matter how short or how tight the budget, will always make you a better version of yourself than you were when you started the journey. In my country, it’s difficult to travel abroad, and the economic situation makes it hard to move even within the country, but still, we are lucky to live in a beautiful country.
In my case, the first question would be Viñales, in Pinar del Río, because it’s a unique landscape of its kind in the world. The famous mogotes can only be seen in Asia and here, except that these are not submerged in water.
Sitting at that table eating a burger and sipping on a brew watching that sunset seems like something I'd like to do.
More or less, that was our plan: some piña coladas (they make some of the best in the country, with natural ingredients grown in the area) and a good plate of the original ropa vieja, of course with great company ;)
Nice view.
Interestingly, you mention mogotes and I have a here and there post coming up which show photographs of those found on Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. It was an awesome trip.
Anyway, Viñales looks like a perfectly good place to want to go...and I want to go.
I am looking forward to the post about Ha Long Bay 🤩; they are two unique places of their kind in the world.
Viñales is a place made just for you, with few tourists and a wide variety of outdoor activities, along with incredible views of the valley. If all that is mixed with a visit to Cayo Jutia beach, even better. You must visit it someday! ;)
Few tourists...sounds glorious.
I haven't travelled much in Argentina, but of the little I have seen, I loved the pine forest in the city where my best friend lives.
When I moved to Spain, I didn't travel much either, only for work and the place I liked the most is the town of Nerja, which I don't have photos of, because I used them, the few I had, in a publication some time ago. It is a village that mixes the old and the modern, a so called white village.
A place where I would like to be, Egypt, especially the pyramids and temples, the most ancient part.
My brother is a person who tells me that he doesn't like to travel, I don't understand it either, but... that's how it is.
I also would love to travel to see the pyramids, there's so much history there and I've been told it's an incredibly moving experience to be there in such an ancient place.
I feel that there is a special energy there, plus they have the primordial knowledge, I want that!
Egypt, and the pyramids specifically seems like a nice idea although I've heard it's very touristy and quite dirty with rubbish left all over the place. I'm not sure though as I've not been there myself.
I've had an inexplicable fascination with being inside the pyramids since I was 11 years old... I have no idea why.
You might be Isis in disguise.
As long as it is the Isis of Osiris and not something else called isis.
I am a fan of Nefertiti.
There is something Spiritual about waking up after a long day/night of trucking to look at the white caps of those Rocky Mountains You speak of my friend. I have probably been to various parts of them upwards of 100 times in 33 yrs of trucking. So many places I have been. Here are some photos of them...
First Year on the Road. My Father & I
Lake Superior
My Sister (RIP) Truckin' with Me
Dinosaur Poop AZ.(Rocks)
Wyoming Rocky Mountains
Pacific Rainbow (no pot of gold)
Santa Anna California
Northern California Coastline
The Gorge West Virginia
But it is not quite the same when your working and not able to stop or detour to see the sites. A few of my fave places visited are Hoover Dam. That was a huge event for me. I drove across the actual dam with an 18 wheeler 20 years ago. There is a truck route bypass now over a very impressive bridge overlooking that Dam. The Vegas Lights. A Vale Colorado mountain pass that was a blizzard at 14000 feet. The Florida Keys in an 18 wheeler. The Ontario Canada skyline from across the water and then driving right thru that very city also seeing the Northern Lights at night. Niagra Falls was kewl, been there 3 times.
Like Johnny Cash says bro. In the 48 states. I been everywhere man...
Some nice snaps considering you were out there working at the time.
On an older phone and dashcam also. 😉
Many qualify for the #shitphotography community. But are 4k HD in my head.
That's you in the cab in that first image? You look like a cross between Fonzie and Wolverine. Don't worry, you pull off the look really well.
I just have to get me to the Rockies man, been thinking about it for a long time now and have just never made it to America or Canada. The problem is all the other places I want to go and when I finally get Stateside I want to be able to spend a reasonable amount of time there. I'd like to stay for three months, or so.
I am a handsome devil... "Ruggedly Handsome"
If I am still Trucking then. We are going for a ride. 👍
You are and yeah, that's a good plan!
Hi @galenkp, two Christmases ago I went back to the village where I was born (Switzerland). It was a very special trip, I hadn't visited it for three decades and it was also to close a personal matter. I leave you the image of the monastery, the most important monument of “my” village. I didn't find snow, only rain and fog, but it was a great trip (with few pictures).
Thirty years since you'd been back? A long time indeed.
I've been to Switzerland but only a brief trip from Lago di Como when I was there last time. I liked it though and want to go back and explore for longer.
Thanks for getting involved.
Since I was a teenager, I have not visited my birthplace again. In these thirty years this is the second visit to Switzerland, the truth is that it is a beautiful country. And I am delighted to be here.
Rain and fog can be beautiful too.
Perhaps at another time and place.😁
Happy weekend.
I did most of my travelling when I was in my 20s so don't remember much but Cuba was probably the most interesting place I've been. It would have been around 1980 and I wasn't much into scenery. I have around 100 photos but most are buildings, people and cars so here are some crocodiles and cars for your delectation
A sneaky looking crocodile there.
They have to be sneaky. It's a crocodile farm and and burger cafe!:)
I think Cuba would be an interesting destination and have heard people can be friendly and welcoming which can make all the difference.
We have crocs here and I've eaten crocodile, quite tasty. We have cars too, but I've never eaten one. 🙄
Okinawa is the nicest place I have ever been. The culture there is so welcoming and the scenery is picturesque. I was there the first time from 1992-93 then with my family from 2008-2011. The pictures attached is from Cape Hedo on the Northern part of the island. The day this picture was taken was a lovely day, great surf and met some wonderful people.
It's so great to be able to look back over photos and remember the actual moments.
Yes it is.
Indeed, we know our stuff huh? 😊
For now until I forget it all when my grey matter turns to mush.
Haha, too many crayons?
That and too much tequila.
I've heard that it's nice there and my sister in law (is full Japanese) has been there so I guess she'd know, as do you. You were working there on base I presume...did you get much time to explore?
The first time I was there in 1992-93 I did not get to explore much. I was training too much. But the second time I was there, the family and I was able to get out and enjoy the island alot. The wife and I often talk about if we were younger, we would love to move back there and live. The only regret I have is not taking advantage of its proximity to other wonderful locations in the Pacific. If we were to go back again, I would defintely travel off island to take in more of the other countries more. Maybe even come down under and visit.
Yeah, I thought it would be mostly work although I'm glad to hear you had the time on your second visit. As for making the most of the proximity and visiting other places close by, that would have been good. It's taking advantage of location when I go overseas that causes me to have to extend my trips I guess. Australia is a long way from anywhere so making the most of a flight is important.
Down under huh? If you came down here you might never have wanted to leave. Lol.
Well before it’s all over who knows, we might end up there as refugees. LOL
Haha, that's a good point. They get treated pretty well here too, sometimes much better than those of us like me who were born here and paid taxes our whole lives. (Don't get me started, I'm in a ranty mood.)
Oh it’s the same here. Ridiculous for sure. I’d pull my weight though. Maybe wrestle crocodiles or something for a few bucks if necessary😀
I would like to travel to Machu Picchu, the Inca city in Peru. I have read about it and feel an affinity with the place because of that and some television shows I have watched. I'd like to walk the terraces, streets and houses and soak up what I feel would be a lot of atmosphere and get a feeling of what it might have been like to live there. I think it would be a fascinating and moving experience. I don't know if I will ever travel there but I have not given up hope.
For sure, I agree with everything here, I've thought about going there alot myself over the years.
I would answer both questions 🙂
The most picturesque place I visited and photographed (and enjoyed the view much more than I photographed), was Manarola, one of the places in the Cinque Terre region of Italy.
I visited Manarola in our tour of Italy, which we called "Get lost on the roads of Tuscany" - as in the commercial. So we drove for days and visited many spectacular places, and Manarola seemed the most impressive of all.
And speaking of places I'd like to visit, is Sintra in Portugal.
The pictures of others I saw from the place blew me away, so much so that I added the place in Potrugal to my wish list.
A couple good ones here. I've been to Cinque Terra so understand the attraction but not your second choice.
Sintra is a region near Lasabon that has a lot of interesting things, and what makes Sintra on my list is Quinta da Regaleira.
We just went to the Rocky Mountains this past summer and I would concur, it is pretty amazing.
Some nice shorts right there!
Thank you!
Yeah, I can't wait to get there, but have to.
1, I haven’t been too far outside my city, but there's this one beach we visited during a family trip a couple of years ago.It felt like a dream, even if it wasn’t some famous destination.
For question 2, I'd love to visit the cherry blossom parks in Japan one day. The whole pink-blossom scenery looks magical and calming.
Thanks for reminding me that it’s okay to dream about these places, even if I’m not there yet.
I think that would be an excellent time to visit Japan, I've heard it's a spectacular sight and one I'd like to see as well. That's a good one!
When I was small I dreamed about visiting pyramids in Egypt. I believed them to be one of the greatest creations of human kind. Now I think that it would be too hot for me there. I imagine that it would be cool to see Venice. But in the end of the day I am probably not going to travel anywhere. I am happy here and traveling would likely be too expensive for me. Unless Hive will go to the moon. But even when I would probably use the money to add solar energy or maybe change the roof...
I've not seen the pyramids in person but have been to Venice and it's quite something indeed. I hope you manage to get ther someday.
If you keep saying you will not then you will not. If you take some steps towards helping you travel then you've got a better chance of it happenong.
Heyyy sir well I think you have listen about the India too much and I hope so you might also know about the India and Pakistan war, so there is one of the place which is extremely too good and have lot of wars. If we also talk about the nature and mountains it's too clean the cold place and the fresh air and clouds. I am talking about jammu and kashmir. I have also some photos to share with u I would definitely recommend to visit this place because it has lot of history
They're not places I've ever had any desire to visit, but who knows, maybe one day.