Top 10 Travel Destinations

Being a person that travels a lot, one of the most common questions you’ll get it: “What is your favorite destinations”. It’s hard to choose from the many countries I’ve seen, and there’s honestly not a single country that I didn’t like. I like all of my visited countries, and this list might change in time, but these (after long considerations) made the Top 10 Travel Destinations:

10. India

Boy, oh boy. Not a list without India, which starts the list with a rumble. From my belly. I have to admit that India ranks high for me because of the food. Damn, if I lived in India I would get really fat. I would just eat all the time, haha! This is definitely one of the top Foodie destinations! Food aside (yeah right), it’s an amazing and beautiful country. You might hear many bad things about India, but I only have positive things to say.

The beaches are long and beautiful, the people are very friendly, and there’s cows roaming the streets, causing massive traffic jams. What more could you wish for? Well, the traffic jams might be annoying, but I love the idea that the cow is in charge for once – which other countries could learn from. Also the part about not eating them. It’s simply a hilarious experience, to be in a traffic jam because a cow decided to take a break in the middle of the intersection!

I’ve been longing to go back every since I visited India the first time! Goa’s beaches are shouting my name!

Holy cows chilling in Goa

9. Vietnam

Vietnam. Where to start. I’ve spent so much time in Vietnam, and I would happily go back. I’ve seen every bit of this country, travelled from top to bottom in a bus, and lived with locals in the Mekong Delta. Vietnam has a fantastic culture, fantastic nature and fantastic food. Well, maybe not always the food. I will recommend you to stay clear of the highway “restaurants”. Or if you have to stop at any of them, don’t – as in don’t – order anything with meat. They take the whole chicken, with intestines, bones, everything, and then dinner’s served. Yuck!

My favorite places in Vietnam includes Ho Chi Minh City, because there’s so much to do, and Nha Trang, because it’s the best backpacker hotspot. Ho Chi Minh offers crawling in the Cu Chi Tunnels, shooting with guns from the Vietnam War, and the real Asian city experience.

Nha Trang has a long, white sandy beach, and countless bars and nightclubs. It’s packed with backpackers, and there’s always a party going on! It’s also one of the main destinations for snorkeling and diving. I could list many good places in Vietnam, so this country had to make this list.

Sailing Club at Nha Trang Beach – be careful with their fire shots!

8. Mexico

I have to admit, that I haven’t seen much of Mexico. I’ve only seen the Eastern coast – more precisely Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Cozumel, which is actually just an island off the coast. But it was enough to make me fall in love with the country.

Driving a lime green old Volkswagen along the coast forces you to sit with a smile from ear to ear. Stopping at one of the many Chiringuitos (beach bars) along the way. Getting served a fresh Pina Colada in a coconut. Drinking it in a colorful hammock on the beach. Getting homemade fajitas in a wooden house on the edge of the beach. Visiting a Tequila Farm. Drinking real and good Tequila with local Mexicans. Does all of these things sound like absolute heaven or what?? Mexico can be a little piece of heaven – Cozumel is!

My beautiful mum enjoying a Piña Colada in a hammock

7. Thailand

Many, many people have been to Thailand, and it’s probably one of the most touristed destinations in Asia. But there’s a reason for that. The country is stunningly beautiful, and looks like a small piece of paradise. Over the last decade it has sadly become very overrun with tourists, so if you enjoy getting off the beaten path as I do, look for destinations less known. They might even be prettier.

Bangkok offers both cultural gems, shopping, and delicious thai food. I’m gonna share a little secret to find the best thai food in Bangkok. The official name of this restaurant is Suda Puchana, but the first many times I’ve been there I didn’t even know it had a name. For me, it’ll always be known as “Mama’s”. My grandfather used to live in Bangkok, and he’s the one who found this little gem. You won’t find better food in Bangkok! It doesn’t have a website, but you can find the location here.

Another amazing (and popular) destination in Thailand is Phi Phi Islands. I do enjoy the atmosphere of Phi Phi a lot. I visited in January 2017, and actually considered staying as a diving instructor for a bit. It’s still possible that this will happen in the future – I wouldn’t mind spending my free time on these beaches.

The view from our gorgeous hotel. The island in sight is the famous Maya Bay (and yes, this is where the picture in the header for the blog is taken)

6. Namibia

Namibia is one of those destinations, that will always have a special place in my heart. I moved there in January 2014 to do volunteer work at Harnas Wildlife Foundation. Best decision of my life. It was surreal from start to end, and I’ve been longing to go back every since. It gave me some truly amazing and different experiences. My work included walking baboons and cheetahs, sharing a sleeping bag with cheetahs, feeding all kinds of animals, and so so so much more. For an animal lover like me, it was nothing less than heaven!

The country is stunning and looks like something from another world. It shows off bush lands, desert and white sandy beaches. It really has a bit of everything. I recommend you to travel through the Namib desert, ride a quad bike and surf down the sand dunes! So much to do in Namibia!

Walking the sweet cheetahs like they’re dogs

The squad ready on quads! Jk, it’s my wonderful family on adventure in the desert

5. Hawaii

Landing at number 5 is Hawaii. Every time I have to describe Hawaii, I describe it as paradise. It has been one of my dream destinations since I was a kid. And this destination has everything you have ever imagined and so much more! It’s also really expensive, since it’s a part of the US. Unfortunately. Otherwise I would be there all the time.

It has insane nature, beaches and wildlife! I took my second skydive close to Waikiki, and I saw 3 whales swimming just off the coast! While I was falling through the air! Nothing will ever be able to beat that view!

Does this look like paradise or what?

4. Cambodia

Now my belly starts to rumble again. The national dish of Cambodia is called “Amok” – and it’s to die for! I can’t even describe it and do it justice. It’s similar to many other Asian curry dishes, but so much better! And I don’t know why. I haven’t been able to find it since I travelled Cambodia, but I haven’t stopped thinking (or drooling) about it. Eating Amok in the sand, while watching the sunset over the ocean, is one of my favourite memories from Asia.

Well, enough about the food (I’ll try). Cambodia is a wonder in many ways. It’s home to the famous Angkor Wat, which is the largest temple and monument in the world. I almost shed a tear when I visited it, because it was so surreal to experience.

Cambodia was also the settings for the feared Khmer Rouge, and you get the chance to visit one of their many prisons and museums in their capital, Phnom Penh. It’s an absolute must-see. It has still affected me to this day. Cambodia is very close to being my favourite Asian country! Only beaten by The Philippines, which has crawled to 2nd place on this list!

Majestic Angkor Wat – giving me chills just looking at it

3. Australia

Starting the top 3 of my top travel destinations, is Australia. This destination is topping many travellers lists, and with good reason. This amazing country almost has it all. Long white beaches, stunning nature and insane wildlife. I myself have become quite addicted to Sydney. Simply because I find it to be one of the best cities in the world.

I always stay in Chinatown around George Street and Haymarket. It’s the perfect location for me. It’s a short walk to King Street Wharf, which locates the world’s biggest IMAX, Sydney Aquarium, Madame Tussauds, and so much more. This is one of my favourite places to hang in Sydney. It’s also very easily connected to The Rocks, where the famous opera house is located. You can also easily jump on a train or a bus, that’ll take you to wonderful Bondi Beach. I’m getting chills just writing about Sydney, I miss it so much…

A must when visiting Australia is to dive on the Great Barrier Reef. So my first time in Australia, I of course had to do it, and booked a flight to Cairns. Cairns is much more tropical than Sydney, so it’ll give you a whole other Aussie experience!

The first thing we were told when landing in Cairns was: “Don’t get too drunk, cuz the crocodiles wander up into the streets at night”! Oh yeah, and: “Don’t swim in the beach lagoons at night, the crocodiles are there, and they will eat you”. I shit you not! And as if that wasn’t enough, they also have snakes, spiders, giant bats and everything else that wants to kill you! It seems like, the more north you go in Australia, the more likely you are to get killed by one of their many dangerous animals. It’s not for nothing that the phrase “Everything wants to kill you in Australia” exists! But it’s so worth “the risk”, since Australia is an unbelievably fantastic country!

The most known (and most photographed) place in Sydney

2. The Philippines

Landing solid at number 2, is my favourite Asian country and my second of all destinations. The Philippines are for me the place I’ve visited, that comes closest to paradise. Their many small islands are not overly touristed (yet), and you can find some real gems.

My favourite place (and the best place I’ve ever stayed) is without a doubt Coral Bay Diving Resort! It’s a small, private island, owned by a Danish man named Ulf. He’s the sweetest and nicest host, and makes you feel so welcome. The resort is fairly small, so you dine with all the guests and Ulf every night. It’s super cozy, and the food is mouthwatering delicious. It’s all fresh and locally grown on the island – yum. The cottages are located right down to the water. So you can basically jump right out the door and into the ocean.

The diving in The Philippines are also without a doubt the prettiest I’ve seen. Like, I even got disappointed of Great Barrier Reef? Who does that?? This girl, right here, that’s who. One that took her diving certificate on the 3rd best reef in the world in The Philippines. I’m sorry, Great Barrier Reef. You’re still pretty. But not as pretty as The Philippines.

Beautiful Coral Bay Resort in the Philippines

One of my first dives in the Philippines (please don’t mind the weird hair colour)

1. New Zealand

Topping the list, my heart and my wanderlust is New Zealand. The majority of travellers will agree with me, that this is one of the most amazing destinations they’ve visited. It’s really hard to explain, it just is. It’s one of those places you have to experience in order to understand. New Zealand completely blew me away and stole my heart already the first time I visited it, and I take every chance I get to go back. Queenstown is the exact destination for my longing. That town is paradise for adrenaline junkies! You can do everything active that you could possibly think of in Queenstown! It’s also the home to the world’s best burger The Ferg, which is an obligatory thing to eat – every day!

New Zealand has the most breathtaking and amazing nature, that I’ve ever seen. Wide, stormy fjords, rocky, snow tipped mountains, and deep, blue lakes. Their wildlife is pretty damn special as well! I’ve been lucky enough to see wild penguins and kiwis (the bird, not the fruit, haha) here! During winter, it’s an amazing destination for skiing, and during summer it’s amazing for everything else. I’m actually planning to move here in the future. It’s something I simply have to, it’s too amazing to not (sorry mum).

I could write a whole book about my New Zealand and my love for this amazing Hobbit country. I will probably write a post about New Zealand (I will, no doubt), at one point. Because the country that holds my heart really deserves it.

The best place on earth – Queenstown

It’s impossible to look good while skydiving – I can’t stop smiling when falling through the air

Some travellers find it extremely hard to choose their favourite destinations. It was hard for me too – but not that hard. There’s no places I didn’t like, but I still know which ones I liked the most and I would love to visit them all again. Wanna join me?

Love,

Camilla