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Beyond the Bucketlist

Beyond the Bucketlist

Beyond the Bucketlist

Destinations
- Africa
  - Egypt
- Asia
  - South East Asia
    - Cambodia
    - Indonesia
    - Laos
    - Malaysia
    - Myanmar
    - Philippines
    - Singapore
    - Thailand
    - Vietnam
  - India
  - Japan
  - Maldives
  - Mongolia
  - Pakistan
  - South Korea
  - Sri Lanka
- Europe
  - Iceland
- Middle East
  - Iran
  - Iraq
  - Jordan
  - Turkey
- North America
  - Canada
  - Costa Rica
  - Cuba
  - Mexico
  - Panama
  - United States
    - National Parks
- South America
  - Colombia
  - Peru
Travel Stories
Budget Travel
Van Life
Work With Us
- About Us
- Writing Portfolio

Destinations

Where Are You Going?

Cambodia

Canada

Colombia

Costa Rica

Cuba

Egypt

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Japan

Jordan

Laos

Malaysia

Maldives

Mexico

Mongolia

Myanmar

Pakistan

Panama

Peru

Philippines

Singapore

South Korea

Sri Lanka

Thailand

United States

Vietnam

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beyond_the_bucketlist

beyond_the_bucketlist

SAVE THIS POST FOR SULAWESI, INDONESIA 🇮🇩

SAVE THIS POST FOR SULAWESI, INDONESIA 🇮🇩

Highlights: Swim with stingless jellyfish, witness the unique funeral ceremonies of the Tanah Toraja, Dive in the “poor man’s Raja Ampat”, and see the Crested Black Macaque of Tangkoko.

Best Destinations to Visit:
📍Makassar
📍Tanah Toraja
📍Togian Islands — Una Una + Jellyfish Lake
📍Manado
📍Tangkoko National Park

Best places to stay:

🏠: Victory Guesthouse, Tentana
🏠: Ge Jacmart Homestay, Makassar
🏠 : Mama Tia Family Homestay,Tanah Toraja

🚍: Prepare for the longest most miserable bus routes of your life. It takes 12+ hours to travel between most destinations within the island.

But I promise it will be worth it.

#discoverindonesia #sulawesi #discoversulawesi

Would you prefer to be left to rest in peace or ha

Would you prefer to be left to rest in peace or have some post-death family picnics? 🛖

#sulawesiindonesia #sulawesi #discoverindonesia #exploreindonesia #travelindonesia

SAVE THIS POST BEFORE YOU VISIT THE TANAH TORAJA 🛖

1. You need to hire a guide.

It’s already an odd thing to do to visit a funeral where you don’t know the deceased — but the size of the funeral in Tanah Toraja signifies the persons importance so it’s a whole village affair!!

A guide is the #1 thing you can do to make sure you understand what you should be doing to be a respectful guest.

Mama Tia’s Homestay had an incredible guide who took us to several homestays and explained a lot of the ceremonies to us. I highly recommend them!!

2. Also, bring an offering of snacks + cigarettes to the family. Don’t show up empty handed.

3. DON’T get all in people’s faces and take invasive photos. Read the room. Photos are often welcomed but don’t touch the deceased (seems like common sense but I saw someone do it 🙃) and stay out of the families way.

4. Don’t overstay your welcome.

Come, witness the ceremony, meet the family and pay respects, and then move on.

5. Dress Appropriately.

Despite it being hot outside, you should not wear shorts and a tank top. Dig out some pants.

6. Consider skipping if death or animal sacrifice makes you uncomfortable.

I understand this is a sensitive subject. I’m not an advocate for the mass slaughter of animals either. But during the sacrifice day of the funeral many pigs and cows are slaughtered. But they are all consumed by the community.

#discoverindonesia #sulawesi #travelindonesia

“How was your trip” An excerpt from my journ

“How was your trip”

An excerpt from my journal back in September on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

✍️it’s such an innocent and well-meaning question. But my mind always spins. there is no succinct answer. I’ve never been able to convey the kinds of emotions and experiences you have on the road. In just the last two weeks I swam with hundreds of stingless rose-colored jellyfish through a turbid turquoise lake, I stowed away on a ferry and slept on the deck beneath a carpet of stars, I attended a cock-fight (unwittingly) and sat front row to witness the bloodshed, i attended a funeral of a wealthy Toraja family where dozens of fat Buffalo and pigs were paraded through and then brutally sacrificed as the crowd looked on, I watched as the mummified corpses of their long since dead ancestors were unearthed (as they are every three years) and dusted clean before being resealed in their earthly tomb, I dove and snorkeled and slept in a beachfront shack with 10 dogs as our only bunkmates picking sand fleas and gecko droppings from our bed, I saw dogs caged and eaten, I saw puppies born, I watched as thoughtless tourists participated in unethical swims with hand-fed whale sharks just 20 feet off-shore. I took multiple (3 to be exact)12+ hour bus rides crammed between chickens, baggage, and motorbikes to traverse the harrowing jungle roads between my destinations. Travel has blasted my world wide open. I’m forever thankful for the highs— and for that I’ll tolerate all the lows.

“But it’s good. My trip was good.”

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE ACROSS MONGOLIA 🇲🇳

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE ACROSS MONGOLIA 🇲🇳

This last August we drove from Ulaanbaatar to the remote reindeer herding tribes of Siberia to the Gobi Desert.

No guide. No driver. Just us, @spencerfosbrooke, @tiffanyabayley & the non-existent Mongolian roads.

It was an adventure to say the least.

We got stuck in rivers, camped in the wilderness, ate too much boiled sheep, and EXPLORED. Truly, freely, traveling in a way that challenged us all.

We rented this beast from @drive.mongolia. The only outfitter equipped to set this kind of adventure up. He gave us tents, sleeping bags, cooking gear, chairs, extra tires (we popped two), and all the tools necessary to make repairs on the road.

He also has a “rescue me radio” that he can equipt you with just in case you get into trouble in the Taiga (unfortunately, we failed to pack it 😂)

All my travel guides are coming this month to help other intrepid travelers plan an off-road adventure though Mongolia.

| Mongolia Travel, Self Drive Mongolia, Off Road Mongolia, Independent Travel Mongolia |

My Fave Turkish breakfast meals ranked 🧆

Also— this reel is just Türkiye ASMR ☕️

1. Traditional Turkish Breakfast

Cheese, honey, olives, fresh honey, toasted bread, eggs, jam, etc.

2. Simit & Borek

A bagel-like bread coated in sesame & a thin flaky pastry stuffed with meat (usually).

My go-to on the go meal in #Turkiye

3. Menemen

A loose concoction of tomato, eggs, peppers, and spices. Best eaten with massive amounts of bread
.
4. Fresh-Pressed orange pom juice

👎🏼 Turkish Coffee ☕️

Unpopular opinion but I just can’t get behind Turkish coffee. Fortunately, Istanbul had a huge coffee scene with all kinds of western style cafes.

#discoverturkiye #Turkishfood #turkishbreakfast #turkiyefoodie #foodietravel

⬇️ MY FAVE #ISTANBUL EATS 📍Ciya Sofrasi

⬇️ MY FAVE #ISTANBUL EATS

📍Ciya Sofrasi

This is my favorite (and it seems like everyone else’s) restaurant in Istanbul. The chef-owner cooks a menu of regional Turkish dishes pulled from rural kitchens. 10/10⭐️

📍Sehzade Cag Kebap

A unique kebab that is rotisseried horizontally rather than vertical. 8/10 ⭐️

📍Tarihi Kalkanoglu Pilavcisi

A simple dish of meat, rice, and beans. But oh so delicious. 10/10⭐️

📍Damla Pide

Pide is essentially a boat shaped Turkish pizza and I’m here for it. 9/10⭐️

📍Küff

Huge Turkish breakfast spreads fit for two people or more. 9/10 ⭐️

📍Mudavim Lokantasi

Home-cooked local join that’s vegan/vegetarian friendly. Go early bc once they run out it’s done! 7/10⭐️

📍Borsam Taşfirin Bahariye

For the best (and most famous) Lahmacun in town. Like a thin pizza eaten w/ citrus and parsley 🌿 9/10⭐️

Bonus Points for trying Turkish delights, Baklava, Turkish ice cream, and wet burgers anywhere in town!

#turkishfood #discoverturkiye #exploreturkiye #backpackersintheworld #travelturkiye #foodietravel

PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN 🇵🇰 The main reason to v

PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN 🇵🇰

The main reason to visit this country.

Yes, the mountains are stunning, the food is drool-worthy, and the cities are photogenic — but the hospitality in Pakistan is what sets the country apart.

I met so many incredible people in Pakistan, some of which are now lifelong friends. I shared dinners in peoples homes, smoked hash on cold nights, and had candid conversations about the countries complicated past and present.

The people are truly what make this country worth visiting.

My heart goes out to Pakistan going through another tumultuous election as they fight powers both foreign and domestic to hang on to democracy.

📸: All portraits were photographed with permission, despite the popular mean-mugging stares in some photos 😂

🏜️ZION IN WINTER has a lot of benefits when

🏜️ZION IN WINTER

has a lot of benefits when compared to visiting Zion in the summer.

✔️ Less crowds
✔️Stunning snowy landscapes
✔️Canyon View Trail
🎟️ Still need the America the Beautiful Pass to enter + need to acquire permits the night before to hike Angels Landing
🥾 If you do plan on doing Angels Landing be sure to bring micro spikes

#zionnationalpark #zionnps #winterinutah #discoverutah #bestofutah #utahbig5parks

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