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Bedouin Camp, Wadi Rum - Jordan
It's easy to see why the area of Wadi Rum in southern Jordan has been the location for many films, most recently The Martian, Prometheus and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Two hours south of Petra, this is one of the worlds most beautiful deserts, filled with stunning rose sandstone mountains, dunes and canyons.
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On my way back from Petra to Eilat in Israel, I visited a traditional Bedouin Camp in Wadi Rum. This really feels like you are in the middle of no-where! When dusk started to fall and I saw the stars, the temperature started to drop and you really can't see much apart from the candles and roaring fire that the bedouin guides started for the group I was with. They prepared a local meal of meat and vegetables which was cooked in an underground oven covered in sand and freshly made tea which was grounded into a metal pot. The rest of the evening was a perfect blend of singing traditional songs and listening to music under the stars. The tents are comfortable, clean and the toilet facilities were perfectly adequate.
Unlike where I've stayed in a jungle before and you hear all the sounds and noises, here, you literally couldn't hear a thing, apart from the occasional noise from one of the camels. Bliss!
Alms giving, Krabi - Thailand
For someone who doesn't like their early morning starts, I was really keen to experience the Buddhist tradition of Alms Giving. This ceremony is common across Buddhist countries in Asia and is traditionally the offering of food (usually a bowl of rice or fruit) or other offerings such as flowers so the monks can make merit and also collect food for their one meal a day. This typically takes place around sunrise, hence the early start!
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As the sun rose over Krabi in southern Thailand, a procession of monks departed from the various temples. Although the main purpose is for locals to give alms to the monks, many small children were kneeling with baskets in the hope that the monks would share their alms with them. Several tourists were also taking part. As this was my first time and there are strict rules around what to do and how not to cause any local offence, I just took the opportunity to watch. It's such a peaceful and spiritual ceremony that it was just a great opportunity for me to take it all in before I carried on with my day.
Kandy Festival 'Esala Perahera' - Kandy, Sri Lanka
I've wanted to go to this festival for some time and got the opportunity to go in August 2016. The Esala Perahera or Kandy Festival as it is better known is one of the oldest and grandest of all Buddhist festivals, featuring dancers, musicians, fire and lavishly decorated elephants who are deemed as sacred. It's held in July or August each year which is the month that is believed to commemorate the first teaching given by Buddha after he attained enlightenment. The festival lasts for ten days and is celebrated to honour the Sacred Tooth Relic and the four 'guardian' gods. The tooth is alleged to be held in a casket in the main temple of Kandy and is carried on the back of last elephant in the procession.
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On the morning of the main day, there were hundreds of people already lining the streets making sure they got the best spot. This was at 8am and the procession didn't start until 7.30pm! Thankfully I had reserved seats which was lucky as by the time the evening arrived there were literally thousands of people in the town.
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The procession started with standard bearers and whip crackers, then fire dancers, some of who were about 5 years old! This was followed by dancers, music and elephants (lots of them!) decorated all in different elaborate designs that represented all the different temples. I really enjoyed the evening but sat in one tight spot for 3 hours was not comfortable, it could of done with being slightly shorter. Nevertheless, it was great to experience such a traditional religious festival in such a beautiful place as Sri Lanka.
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You can see more of the Kandy Festival towards the end of my Vlog here.
Khlong Lat Mayom Floating Market - Bangkok, Thailand
There are several floating markets in Bangkok and in Thailand in general. This one is by far my favourite as in my opinion it's more colourful, natural, less crowded and on the outskirts so off the beaten tourist track so it gives the feel of a more authentic experience.
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The focus is on fresh produce and cooked foods. I tried the sticky mango rice.....de-lish!! It's a good way to spend a few hours on the weekend mixing with the locals and experiencing all the sights and smells of market life. You really don't need to haggle as the prices are so cheap! You can even take a small long-tail boat around the canals that surround the market which is pretty cool.
Lavvu Tent - Tromso, Norway
I've always wanted to stay in an igloo or some traditional building in the Arctic. The Sami people have lived and worked in the northern arctic and sub-arctic for nearly 5000 years. I was in the northern Norwegian city of Tromso in December 2014 (it was freezing, like -30!!) and got the opportunity to stay in a traditional Sami tent called a Lavvu, after a snowmobiling adventure across a frozen lake that was in the middle of no-where.
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Like a an oasis appears in the desert, this was my oasis in the middle of the arctic circle! I was so cold by this point that as soon as I saw the Lavvu tent, I couldn't wait to get inside! As the picture shows below, it was surrounded by snow but so cosy inside with a roaring fire and flue in the middle with reindeer skins to sit on. We were served a hot mug of local brew and Reindeer soup, which is a traditional food of the Sami people.
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If you can handle the cold, this is definitely something you should do. Add an activity to your list before you arrive so you can make the most of it. As mentioned above, I did the snowmobiling but there are lots of other activities that the local operators do such as husky sledging and chasing the Northern Lights. I was fortunate enough to see the Northern Lights while snowmobiling which was incredible!
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