Trips That Have Pushed Us Out of Our Comfort Zone

On April 19, 2021April 19, 2021 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Egypt, India, Laos, South America, Vietnam8 Comments

We enjoy travel of all kinds, but some of our favorite trips have been ones that have pushed us out of our comfort zone. There can be many different factors that make a certain trip create a little more tension than other trips. It isn’t that we get nervous about the trip, it is more that we are more anxious prior to our arrival and typically we settle in as soon as we arrive and start our adventure. It could be due to the language barriers, differences in culture, or even safety concerns. Oddly enough, we probably seek out these trips more now than visiting some other traditional travel destinations that people go to, especially from the United States. In no particular order, these are some of the places that we have visited that caused us to be a little apprehensive.

Kapaleeshwarar Temple entrance in Chennai, India

Chennai in Southeast India – We have talked about this trip many times as it was the trip that changed the way that we wanted to explore the world. The experience was truly amazing and we saw so many different temples and learned as much as we could about the local culture. Whether buying silk in Kanchipuram or heading to the coast to visit the ancient temples of Mahabalipuram, the trip was very different than anything that we had done previously.

Iconic View from Isla del Sol with Isla de la Luna in the Background and a Ruin in the Foreground

Getting Into Carrasco National Park in Bolivia

Cochabamba and La Paz in Bolivia – There were several things that made this one of the best trips we’ve ever taken to a destination that many people don’t consider. It was our first opportunity to stay at an ecolodge and explore part of the Amazon Rainforest, which we did from Cochabamba. After a week of memories in the heart of Bolivia, we then went to La Paz where we able to take a tour that took us to Tiwanaku and then off to Copacabana to see Sun and Moon Islands. The different things that we were able to see combined with the people that we met really made this trip stand out.

Two Reclining Buddhas in Laos (They are Farther Apart then It Looks)

Boats Going One After Another Through the Caves of Ninh Binh Province

Vietnam and Laos – Although many people travel to Vietnam, going to Laos was certainly a unique experience. Just traveling half way around the world can make a trip a little nerve-racking even if we’d read a lot about the culture before arriving. Seeing Halong Bay and taking a couple of tours into the countryside of the Ninh Binh Province were definitely highlights. Going to Vientiane in Laos, though, was a completely different experience. Even though the two countries border each other, there is no denying that they are worlds apart in many ways.

Egypt – Although it is definitely a destination that has attracted many tourists throughout the past hundred years, but we went shortly after the political unrest that caused Western tourists to be a risk. Other than having to have a police escort to visit Cairo’s Old Town area, we certainly never experienced anything that would have caused us concerns. Whether touring Cairo or taking a cruise down the Nile River to visit Luxor and Aswan, it was certainly an incredible trip. As amazing as the pyramids are to see, we were certainly glad that we took the time to explore even more of the country.

Turkey and Rooster on Death Road in Bolivia

Regardless whether you travel to a place that feels completely natural or to one that makes you see the world in a new light, all travel is rewarding. There have been other trips that have pushed us either culturally or in other ways, but these are some of our favorite travel memories.

FINALLY – We Have Planned and Booked Our Next Adventure

On April 15, 2021April 15, 2021 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Africa20 Comments

It has been 19 months since our last extended trip out of the country and we have been waiting for the opportunity to go almost anyplace. There are still many places that aren’t open to travel, but slowly many of them are starting to resume tourist activities. We have planned a trip to Kenya and Tanzania for the first two weeks of July. We have made sure to check all cancellation policies, travel warnings, and talked to local tour operators. Before COVID, this would have been an easy decision, either we go or don’t go. Now there is a lot more to consider before making such a commitment as it is never cheap to travel, especially for a trip such as this.

The Mountains of Ninh Binh Province in Vietnam – Our Last Adventure

We are doing a 10 day safari that will take us through the Amboseli National Park, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti, and Masai Mara. We are obviously very excited, but it wasn’t an easy decision. We have always been able to plan trips relatively quickly, but after a year and a half without traveling, it felt as if we were planning the very first overseas adventure ever. We are optimistic that nothing will change and our trip will happen as planned, but in the current world, there are no guarantees. It seems that people fall into two camps when it comes to traveling post-pandemic. Many people only want to travel somewhat locally and not take the risk of going internationally where they might get quarantined, sick, or have restrictions. Then there are others who have the “itch” like us who simply can’t wait to get back out into the world. Perhaps we’re a little crazy, but we are so glad to have an adventure to look forward to. Which camp do you fall into?

Looking Forward to Seeing the World from Our Airplane Window Again

Flying to into the Amazon Rainforest

On April 12, 2021April 12, 2021 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn South AmericaLeave a comment

When we were in Ecuador, we had to take a flight from Quito to Coca, which is a small town in the jungle. The tour company booked our flight for us, so we really knew nothing about it until we reached the airport. We knew that our flight was on a local airline and that it would take a little over 30 minutes to reach Coca, but that was all that we knew. In general, flying does not make us nervous, but this was not necessarily a typical flight.

Once the announcement occurred that it was time for us to board our flight, we walked out onto the tarmac to head towards our plane. It wasn’t a tiny plane, but it was small enough that we consider it to be a “puddle jumper”. Being in a small plane wasn’t a concern as we have flown in them many times in the past, but we immediately knew that the flight would likely be more bumpy as that is often the case in smaller planes.

The flight itself was over some interesting terrain as we had to fly over the Andes Mountains and then eventually over the Amazon Rainforest. Again, we’ve flown over mountains and forests in the past, but being in a smaller plane also meant that we would be flying at a lower altitude. While that would give us great views of the mountains and jungle, it also meant that we would be closer to the mountain peaks than we would have preferred.

In general, the flight was fine, but we definitely experienced quite a bit of turbulence. As we neared Coca, it became evident that it was a much smaller town than what we were expecting. It also made it clear why we needed to be in a smaller plane as the airport and runway were very small. It was really more of a clearing in the jungle with a small building than a traditional airport.