Until now: Top 5

You can also read this blog on GotSaga.

From the relatively obscure to the well traveled, my adventures are far from over. Up until now, here is a list of places that I would return to in a heartbeat and that I recommend you visit at least once.

1. Antrim coast, Northern Ireland

Breathtaking Northern Ireland’s hidden jewel is a car trip that can easily be navigated within a day, as the road around the north of the country has four magnificent sights. It’s such a great experience that I did it twice.

First stop is the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, once used by fisherman and though not for the faint of heart, even if you don’t to cross the bridge its locale provides great views. Second is Torr Head, just off the Causeay Coastal Route which is another great lookout, though not as fantastic as the medieval Dunluce Castle, whose kitchen once crumbled into the sea. Finally the volcanic anomaly of the Giant’s Causeway, the most popular attraction in Northern Ireland, is the last, but not least stop on the road.

2. Drakensberg, South Africa

Trekking and hiking are among my favourite activities to do abroad, which is probably why climbing the Drakensberg mountains in Zululand ranks a very close second on my list.

A relatively easy climb for the inexperienced mountaineer, the mountain has breathtaking views from all altitudes. It may take a couple days, but one can camp or stay in beautiful mountainside lodges as they make their way up the mountain. Once at its peak, you’ll find yourself standing on top of Tugela Falls, the world’s second-largest waterfall.

Full of beautiful gorges and the rare opportunity to drink straight from the fall’s crystal streams, it’s a must-see for anyone traveling to South Africa.

3. Ezuluweni Valley, Swaziland

Swaziland is one of the most underestimated travel locations in southern Africa. With plenty of adventure attractions combined with luxury hostels and spas on the cheap, the Ezulwini Valley has everything any traveler could want in one street.

Surrounded by beautiful hills filled with typical African flora and fauna, Swaziland is rife with culture and beauty. Quad biking, game drives, white water rafting and caving all provide great experiences for the adventurous traveler. At the same time, spas and luxurious bed and breakfasts will please any traveler looking to relax on the cheap. I loved it so much the first time jumped at the opportunity to return two years later.

4. Santorini, Greece

Home to the best Greek salad I’ve ever tasted, this small Greek island is packed with activities for every breed of traveler. Whether you choose to hit the bars, stroll the streets or quad bike around the small island, you’re sure to be satisfied – and the beaches will not disappoint. If you arrive by boat, riding the donkeys up the steep slope from the harbour is a must – not only is it thrilling but you’ll be laughing about it for the rest of the day.

5. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

My first experience on mainland Europe has really stayed with me, however it’s probably because I did everything right during my brief stay in this beautiful city.

If you only have 24 hours like I did, I highly recommend visiting the Amsterdam Historical Museum, located in what was once the city’s orphanage. Having a friend who was attending the university, I was able to borrow a bicycle and see the city the way it should be seen, and I recommend renting a bike and doing the same. And of course, don’t miss a brief stop in one of the local coffee shops.

The best of 2010

This year was the most turbulent of any travel year I’ve had in terms of planning when my trip to backpack Europe came to an abrupt halt (let's not open that can of worms) and was replaced by another stint of volunteering in South Africa.

My methods may have been unorthodox, but it helped me realize that I don’t need concrete travel plans to have a good time and even if I change my plans last-minute, by the time I’m immersed in an adventure I won’t even realize I’m on the wrong continent.

Here is a list of my top 10 travel list of 2010:

10. Niagara

Guilty – I’d never seen Niagara Falls until this December. So you might be asking why it rounds off the list. Or maybe not. Niagara is too touristy for my liking, and as you’ll probably get to understand as you read through the list, I’m a bit of a sucker for the outdoor-sports-backpacking-the-countryside kinds of adventures.

Nevertheless, the falls did surprise me with their sheer magnitude, and spending the afternoon in Niagara-on-the-Lake was beautiful.

9. Farming in S.A.

The minute I step off the plane in Richard’s Bay, South Africa, I want to do manual labour. The African Impact project I worked on includes some great farming development components and there’s nothing like helping out in the garden of a Zulu family to help you really get to know the culture and people of the region. Plus, the views from the gardens were always spectacular.

8. Cycling Amsterdam

I hate feeling like a tourist when I’m traveling, so when I visited my friend Emily Slofstra in Amsterdam for a night, I was given an opportunity to feel more like a local than a backpacker. Emily had been living in the beautiful Dutch city while going to the university there, so she knew all the ins and outs of the town – and even had an extra bike. I felt completely at home while sitting writing my blog in a cafe by the university, and it was a great introduction to mainland Europe and to my 2010 travels.

7. Quadbiking in Swaziland

Every once in a while it’s fun to do something that nearly kills you. Quadbiking may not seem all that dangerous but in places like Swaziland, the rules are a little lax and you have to maneuver your bike over logsand up 80 degree hills without toppling over. After avoiding toppling to a fiery death, the group I was with got to see a beautiful sunset, so I guess you could say it was worth it.

6. Sailing the Mediterranean

I’m not a huge fan of cruise ships but I’ll admit that they are a great way to see a lot of places in a short time and decide where you would like to go back to for a longer period. Although it’s a little lavish compared to the way I usually travel, it was a nice, relaxing break and pulling out of the harbours of each country made for breathtaking views.

5. Venice, Italy

Although I enjoyed Amsterdam’s canals more than those cutting through Venice, running along the pier and staying on a yacht in the heart of the city was a great experience. Seeing an orchestra playing in the evening and walking through the city eating gelato was exactly how I pictured a night in Venice – and the city did not disappoint.

4. Teaching HIV Education

The main reason I travel to South Africa is to teach HIV education to both adults and kids. Teaching in primary schools is particularly rewarding and a great way to learn a new language and culture. Just make sure you agree with the way the organization you work for runs their development assistance programs and it can be on the of the best ways to see the world.

3. Horseback riding in South Africa

There’s something special about seeing landscapes from the back of a horse. Despite having been to South Africa three times, the bush ride I took with some friends last May was a breathtaking experience. However, I would only recommend a bush ride if you know what you’re doing on a horse – the guides know when you’re experienced and they’re usually game for a gallop. And since the majority of us had been riding for upwards of 10 years - let's just say the ride likely ended up being even more dangerous than the quadbiking.

2. Santorini, Greece

Santorini was the highlight of my first trip to the Mediterranean. We rented a jeep and drove around the entire town, which exemplified everything I had ever imagined the Greek islands would be – topped off with the best Greek salad I’ve ever eaten. Although I only spent the day there, I’ve been told that it’s also a great destination for backpackers, too.

1. Climbing Drakensberg

By far the most amazing experience I had this year was climbing the Drakensberg mountains, the highest mountain range in Southern Africa. Sitting atop the world's second-highest waterfall, the Tugela Falls, was breathtaking and climbing up the mountain’s chain ladders was a thrill. It was a great first climbing experience that has kicked off my desire to do more climbing.

Top 5 of T.O.

This blog was also published by GotSaga.

Sometimes it’s refreshing to feel like a tourist in your own city, so when my boyfriend came to visit I was faced with the daunting task of ensuring he saw the sights that would make him fall in love with my hometown.

Toronto is a great metropolis, filled with multiculturalism and rich history. The challenge is to find places (and deals) that will give a visitor a feel for the city. Toronto is home to some great hostels and a hidden backpacker culture filled with travelers that never left. Lonely Planet claims that 1 in 2 Torontonians was born elsewhere, and the multiculturalism of the city’s different areas – from the Danforth to Chinatown – drives that statistic home.

Although I’ve chosen some pretty cliché locales, I find these destinations create a foreground for exploring the hidden treasures Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area have to offer.

In the city

1. The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

Although I may be a huge nerd, the ROM has been one of my favourite Toronto destinations since before I can remember. Although it’s considered an eyesore by many Torontonians, the newly redesigned “Crystal” entrance, by architect Daniel Libeskind, has given the museum a facelift in recent years. For its architecture both inside and out and the largest museum in Canada for world culture and natural history. If you’re on a budget, be sure to check out the museum’s website – admission is free on Wednesday afternoons.

2. The Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) and the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)

For art and architecture lovers, OCAD and the AGO could provide a days’ worth of entertainment. With a few galleries, including one that exhibits student art, the young OCAD has become a trendy downtown destination. Located just behind the school is the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), the 10^th largest in North America and houses more than 68,000 works. Although visiting both could be expensive for the budget traveler, some exhibitions can be free but operating hours are sparing, so be sure to check out the deals.

3. The CN Tower

It may be cheesy and a bit pricy at $34.99, but the revolving CN Tower is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World and is a must-see for travelers to Toronto. The view of the harbour, Lake Ontario and the city are spectacular and if you wish to splurge, the tower houses the award-winning 360 Restaurant.

4. Harbourfront

Uniquely operated by community-based volunteers, Toronto’s Harbourfront is bustling with festivals and events throughout the year. Although it’s a much better attraction in the summer months, visitors can walk along the boardwalk, participate in an art workshop or attend the International Festival of Authors in October.

5. Distillery District

In the east end of Toronto (if you want to take the walk down Front Street from Union Station, the St. Lawrence Market is well worth a stop), the historic Distillery District offers everything from theatre to quaint cafes. The old cobblestone streets combined with the refurbished buildings that house businesses including Balzac’s Coffee make for a great atmosphere. Although isolated from the rest of the city, it provides a great escape for an afternoon lunch or evening of theatre-going.

Outside the downtown core

1. Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake

2. Casa Loma

3. Science Centre

4. Toronto Zoo

5. High Park

6. Blue Mountain Ski Resort

7. Haunted Walk of Kingston, Ontario

8. Stratford Festival

9. Canada’s Wonderland

10. Explore the Toronto Islands

Iguazu or Vic Falls?

Two posts back, I linked to AirTreks Travel Blog when I wrote about their article "Doing Difficult Trips - It's All a Matter of Perspective."

The wonderful thing about the age of new media means that the photographer of the photograph that goes along with the article, of Iguazu, commented on my blog saying he preferred the falls, which located on the border of Brazil and Argentina, over Victoria Falls.

So I thought I'd put it to the test! Here are both of SF Brit's photos of both of the magnificent waterfalls, so you can decide for yourself!

Which one do you like more?

Victoria Falls

or

Iguazu

My new favourite guy

With my latest adventure (the possibility of seeing Egypt) being squashed by me hosting an international visitor myself in the next two weeks, I've been living vicariously through my new favourite person.

Backpack with Brock has taken over my Google Reader and become my new favourite person to follow. Traveling through Europe (for the moment), Brock is a Canadian backpacker who gives traveling tips through vlogging. He's personable, funny, and he gives great advice.

It's incredible how some people have been able to fund their entire trips by setting up personal websites. Although not always as visibly appealing as some independently-run blogs, mostly because of the added distraction of advertisements, they're a great resource for learning about traveling and backpacking from a reliable source in the field.

Finding those reliable sources can be hard. I've mostly taken to Twitter, following companies like Lonely Planet as they link out to other independent travelers. I stumbled upon this gem of the Top 25 Most Inspiring Travel Bloggers in 2010, which has given me plenty of reading material. The website As We Travel isn't half bad either.

Happy reading!

-A

It's been a while

There has always been this odd lull after I return from a trip. It's this interesting block of time where I become nostalgic and wear all my grubby clothes until my roommate tells me to "snap out of it" and forces me out for Starbucks and some much-needed shopping.

Then there's my mother, who orders me to sit in a chair while I get a pedicure and haircut.

So the new me is back again. Or the old me? The Canadian me? The birks haven't been retired and I swear to wear them until October, but they've been replaced by $150 boots. My wide-leg jeans have been replaced by a skinnier counterpart and my untamed mop of hair has been straightened and now sports bangs - meaning I have to use a straightening iron every morning.

I'm now living vicariously through Kenji, websites like Lonely Planet and blogs, which explains (but doesn't excuse) my lack of blogging.

Funny enough, I stumbled upon an AirTreks Travel Blog that advocated exactly what I always expect from my adventures - change.

"One of life’s easiest ways to initiate change is to travel," said one of the opening lines. Nothing I didn't already know, as every time I step out my door with my pack on I never return unchanged.

The blog also has a link to an amazing flickr gallery. The main photo is of Iguazu, which Kenji claims is more beautiful than Victoria Falls. Lies.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

-A

Mental photography

I want to be able to write you something. I want it to be something profound, too. I don’t know what happened to me. Somewhere along the line of the last three years my blogs have become overly poetic and almost brooding.

Experiencing writers block is not something I’m used to. I feel like Carrie Bradshaw, sitting in front of a blinking cursor.

My room on the cruise is not necessarily the most stimulating place. It’s full of mirrors so I can watch my lack of progress from about eight different angles. But I’d be lying if I said I had been at all motivated even a month ago to inform you of what I have been doing.

In fact, you really have no idea what I’ve been doing. Two years ago my blogs consisted of a very structured pattern whereby I would debrief about the week on the project and update my blog on Monday with what I had done on the weekend.

There are certain aspects of this last trip that I cannot share with you, or will not share with you, because this trip was more of an experience for myself than events that I can exploit for your readership.

Take for example the fact that I took about 20 pictures over the last fifty days. The majority of the pictures on my Facebook page have been taken by other volunteers. I lived my last two trips through my camera lens and my laptop and I vowed that this trip would be different. Sometimes I would even sneak off just to be by myself to take in my surroundings, particularly in Drakensberg.

I wanted to remember everything through a mental photograph instead of a file on my computer. I wanted to remember the feelings and the emotions around a particular sight of situation rather than pull out my camera in an attempt to capture it visually.

So I perfected my mental photography on this trip, and as a result I can remember scenes and how I felt at a certain time. It is a perfect medley of feelings and sights that I can experience all over again when I shut my eyes.

Some of the scenes are beautiful and serene, others are full of guilt or sadness and fear. A picture is worth a thousand words even if it’s inside my head.

Traveling is not just seeing the new, it is also leaving behind. Not just opening doors, also closing them behind you, never to return. But the place you have left forever is always there for you to see whenever you shut your eyes. - Jan Myrdal