I don’t know about you but when I travel to a foreign place I want to live, eat and breathe the culture. I want to be among the locals and feel what it is really like to live and flourish in that wonderful place. So, it is a passion of mine to find that local haunt or experience, that isn’t necessarily on the map, and share it with my friends and fellow travellers on Google guides!
Below are some of the most truly beautiful and unique experiences I’ve had; some of which I’d never have found out about had it not been for a friendly nomad sharing a review or blog post of their adventures. To all fellow travellers out there, thank you for enriching my life, you are inspirational! What are your top local experiences? I’d love to hear more…
1. Sinagra, Sicily, Italy: Eating like a local
Eating like a local in Italy is truly an incredible experience in itself. I am lucky enough to have family in Sinagra, Sicily and this tops my list of top 10 experiences. I learned about my Italian heritage while enjoying homemade pasta, fresh vegetables from the garden, homemade wine and even meat from their livestock.
2. Nagano, Japan: Snow monkeys
I read about this and thought it would be a cool experience but nothing compared to real life! Imagine cute monkey families bathing in hot springs while snow falls all around them in a picturesque national park. Just wow!
3. Cappadocia: Hot air ballooning over Star Wars-like terrain
Not only was this my first time in a hot air balloon but the scenery was incredible; think caves and rocks; a backdrop befitting a Star Wars movie, then finished off nicely with a glass of champagne to celebrate your flight.
4. India: A Wedding Feast
I was fortunate enough to be invited to a wedding in Mumbai to experience India food at it’s finest. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten that much food in my life. The spices, smell and ceremony was truly unique and special. To add to the experience was having a Henna artist decorate most of my visible skin and arriving on the back of a bike.
5. New York: Manhattan Magic
With a quiet obsession with the 1920s, I was intrigued to find out about the emergence of prohibition-style bars in New York city. Thank you to the brave explorers that found and posted about these hard-to-find places or I might never have found them, especially the cute bar hidden behind a phone booth in the bottom of a hotdog place!
6. Louisiana: Animals everywhere
I never before thought that I would hold an alligator in my arms, feed a giraffe or pat a zebra, but that’s exactly what happened when I visited Baton Rouge Zoo in Louisiana.
7. Cape Town: Safari
My first adventure to the African continent took us to the Tshukudu Game Lodge (featured in Grimsby). I’ll never forget going to sleep to the sound of lions roaring and elephants stomping around.
8. Sante Fe: Nature & Native American Culture
I have a sound track that I listen to every night to relax. The native American artist’s name is Ronald Roybal and I first hear him perform live at the Hotel Sante Fe. His native American flute and Spanish classical guitar is enchanting. I also rode a horse up into the Sante Fe countryside, which was a mixture of pure terror and excitement.
9. Monkey Mia Western Australia: Dolphins
Dolphins are such beautiful creatures and having the chance to see them this close, was very special. The marine park 25km from Denham is the perfect place to encounter bottlenose dolphins in a safe environment.
10. Hong Kong: Michelin-starred madness
Hong Kong has so very many Michelin-starred restaurants with incredible, mouth-watering food. Never before have I waited in line for over 2 hours to get into a restaurant and then repeated it again the next day, but what can I say, the food was just that good!
By Christina Giuffré
