• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Tyranny of Pink

Jonelle Unfiltered

  • Home
  • About
    • Subscribe to Tyranny of Pink
    • My Ostomy Journey
    • In the Media / Features
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
  • Posts by Jonelle
    • Life
      • Authentic Living
      • Living with Intention
      • Motherhood
      • Emigrating
      • Mental Well-Being
      • That time I nearly died
      • Self-Confidence
      • Social Issues
    • Death & Grief
    • Travel
      • Destinations
      • Tips / Advice
    • Success & Career
      • Women’s Empowerment
      • Jobs & Career
      • Productivity
      • Interesting Careers
      • Blogging
    • Ostomy Journey
  • Contact Me
You are here: Home / Blog / My top 10 world destinations

My top 10 world destinations

28th January 2015 By Jonelle

I love travelling!

Morocco |Tyranny of Pink

I think I was born with my passport in my hand and my bags packed. By the time I was 11 years old I had been to Europe 8 times. I had been lucky enough to come into the world as a part of a family who believed in exploring.

Although we originally came from Swaziland, my fathers sisters had moved to various countries in Europe, so growing up, I got to visit them. While other children spent their Christmas holidays at home, I was exploring Rome and Milan.

I remember as a little girl being whisked away for weekends at the beach. One of the most surprising moments for me was at age 12, on a school trip to the seaside (Swaziland is landlocked) in South Africa, a classmate saw the ocean for the first time. I remember her face so clearly as she exclaimed with her first sight of the powerful and incredible ocean. I don’t think you can prepare yourself for how great the ocean is until you actually experience it first hand. I had grown up with the ocean, the first images of me around 3 years old frolicking in the waves in Durban.

Morocco |Tyranny of PinkSpain |Tyranny of Pink

Yes, I’ve been lucky. I’ve travelled to many countries during my lifetime. I’ve climbed mountains, sailed though the air with Condors, been up the Eiffel tower and swam in the warm ocean down under. This weeks list is a list of the best places I’ve visited. In some cases, I love the entire country but in others, just a tiny corner. I haven’t visited every part of every country I’ve been to but I have visited some pretty special parts.

Here is my list of top choices counting down from number ten. Please note that this list does not include anywhere in South Africa. There are just too many options for that so I’ve decided to make an entire list dedicated to places I love in my country.

My top 10 world destinations

10. Italy – Perugia.

Perugia |Tyranny of PinkPerugia |Tyranny of Pink

Perugia is the capital city of the Umbria region in Italy and bordered by Tuscany, sitting at the top of a mountainous area. It is breathtakingly beautiful. A friend I went to high school with moved there with her fiancé and I was lucky enough to be invited to the wedding. Even luckier still was that I was on my gap year and travelling all over the world at the time which made a wedding stop in Italy completely possible. It was back in 2008 so I don’t really have many photos of my visit but have a look here for images. The cobblestone streets and the feel of the place is magical. I absolutely loved visiting this incredible city.

9. Czech Republic – Prague and Sedlec Ossuary – Kutna Hora

Prague

Prague |Tyranny of Pink Prague |Tyranny of Pink

Prague in the Czech Republic is honestly one of the most enchanting cities I have ever visited. It is so romantic with its cobble stoned streets and rich history. You can’t help but fall in love with the city. I visited for 3 days which was enough to explore the surface of the city but I didn’t get a chance to experience it as I would have liked to. The food is incredibly rich and delicious and the beer matches it. There are also lovely little bakery stores all over where you can sit down and enjoy a sweet treat. I can’t wait to go back there.

Kutna Hora – Sedlec Ossuary

The Bone Chappel - Kutna Hora - Sedelec |Tyranny of PinkKutna Hora - Bone Chapel |Tyranny of Pink

The Sedlec Ossuary or Bone chapel is home to the skeletons of between 40 000 and 70 000 people whose bones have been artistically arranged to form decorations in the chapel. Frantisek Rint, a woodcarver, was commissioned in 1870 to decorate the chapel with the bones as a reminder of the impermanence of human life death.

[bctt tweet=”The chapel is both beautiful and macabre. “]

Being surrounded by the bones really does make you question your own life and it’s impossible to consider the inescapable nature of death.

8. Scotland – Edinburgh

Scotland |Tyranny of PinkScottish Cemetery |Tyranny of Pink

I visited Edinburgh a few years back when a friend was studying there. It’s a city, a beautiful city with beautiful old buildings and a rich history. My most exciting experiences however were the ghost tour through the cities old tunnels and streets at night and a visit to the graveyard which is rumoured to be haunted. Although there are far more “exciting” places to visit, I loved the feel of the old city and hype around the eerie and haunted that exists. It’s probably more of a tourist trap but I loved it all the same in spite of not believing in the supernatural.

7. Morocco

Shoes in Morocco |Tyranny of PinkIDoors of Morocco |Tyranny of Pink

I visited Morocco with my mother in 2007. The country is so overwhelmingly rich and colourful. The people are beautiful and the cities are bustling. We visited Marrakesh, Essaouira and Casablanca and had the most fantastic experiences. We walked through markets and ate breakfast on roof tops. We walked through the city’s winding streets and were amazed by the beautiful doors that lined the buildings. Oh Morocco…. <3

6. Peru – Machu Picchu

Peru |Tyranny of PinkPeru |Tyranny of Pink

There are no words to explain the breathtaking views of Machu Picchu. When you stand and look over the size and spread of the city your mind can’t even begin to understand how this was done before machines existed. You need to go there yourself to experience it in all the glory. I wish I had photos but I lost my camera while travelling in South America so I just have memories to go on.

5. Thailand – Ko Samui

Ko Samui Thailand |Tyranny of PinkThai tradition |Tyranny of Pink

I visited Thailand in 2007 with a friend from University. We spent a few days in Bangkok which is very polluted but also very charming before moving on the islands. We visited Ko Samui for a week before moving on to spend the last few days of our holiday in Phuket. I remember Phuket being very touristy but with older tourists and it had a much more relaxed vibe than Ko Samui. I don’t think I would visit Ko Samui again now that I’m older and prefer more quiet environments but for young people looking to explore and experience the craziness that only Thailand has to offer it is a one of a kind experience.  The people, the food, the culture, the customs, the colours are all vibrant and wonderful. It doesn’t hurt that the shopping in Thailand is incredible. Go with empty suitcases if you ever decide to visit.

4. Germany – Berlin

Berlin Street Art|Tyranny of PInk East Side Gallery - Berlin | Tyranny of Pink

These photos from Berlin are a little bit biased. My favourite part of the city was the East Side Gallery. The parts of the wall that still stands has been covered with over 100 paintings and documents a time of change showing hope for a better future. Most of the original art work is covered in graffiti but that does not take away from the emotion that went into the individual pieces. What I loved about Berlin was its contemporary feel. It’s such a contradiction to the historical trail of oppression left behind and you can almost visibly see the effort that has gone into ensuring that the past is not longer welcome in the city. Berlin is my hands down favourite European city.

3. Bolivia – Salar de Uyuni

Bolivian Salt Flats |Tyranny of Pink Bolivia | Tyranny of Pink

Located in the southwest of Bolivia, the Salar de Uyuni is the world largest salt flat at 10, 582 square kilometres. When ever anyone asks me what my favourite country is, I have a tough time with the answer. Off Bolivia always stands out for the unique experiences and landscapes that I’ve not seen anywhere else. The salt flat is the most amazing but there are the red lakes, the people, the capital city, La Paz with its craziness.

[bctt tweet=”There’s just something about Bolivia that can’t be duplicated anywhere else in the world. “]

If you want to see flamingoes, deserted landscapes and salt that covers the ground for miles like snow… go to Bolivia.

2. Australia – East Coast

Australia | Tyranny of Pink Australia |Tyranny of Pink

The land down under. Now there’s an adventure for you. Nothing can compare to the three months I spent travelling around Australia. It’s a lot like South Africa in how different each part of the country is. You can move in a matter of hours between desert and rainforest. The landscapes are beautiful, the people are friendly and there is a pub on every corner. I made tonnes of friends while travelling out there on my own. Many of them I still keep in touch with today. I jumped out of planes, surfed in Coffs harbour, climbed through caves south of Melbourne and stayed out all night dancing on many occasions. I’ve never felt like I belong as I did in Australia.

[bctt tweet=”Even the spiders weren’t enough to put me off. #Australia”]

I wanted to move there and if I didn’t meet my husband when I did, I most probably would have done just that. The only downside, the cost of everything is really high.

Sky Diving Australia | Tyranny of Pink
Australia | Tyranny of Pink
Girls on the beach 🙂

 

and in first place…..

1. Tanzania – Zanzibar

Zanzibar |Tyranny of Pink

This island is where dreams comes true. The water is warm, the food is good, the people are friendly and it’s just so beautiful. It is literally the most incredible tropical paradise I have ever been to. I can’t wait to get back there some time. I may very well be biased on account of getting engaged when I was there but I really think I would have loved it either way. Go to Zanzibar, visit Jambiani on the South East Coast if you want to relax on a quiet beach. Visit the north if you prefer the hustle and bustle of high tourist traffic. I personally wouldn’t bother going back to the north where there are so many Italian tourists that the locals automatically address you in Italian. In Jambiani we stayed at a lovely little resort called White Sands and we watched the local kids playing soccer on the beach every evening. We ate food from the local village and we spent all day swimming in the ocean.

Zanzibar | Tyranny of Pink
Zanzibar | Tyranny of Pink

So those are my top ten places that I have visited in the world. I’d love to know what yours are or of you had a different experience to me in one of the places I’ve mentioned in this post. Send me a message or post a comment and share your favourite spots.

 

Jonelle

 

Filed Under: Blog, Destinations, Travel Tagged With: adventure of a lifetime, European adventures, I travelled the world alone for a year, nothing makes you feel alive like an adventure, travelling replenishes the soul, travels to South America, woman on her own

Previous Post: « On criticism
Next Post: Choosing me »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sheena says

    23rd June 2015 at 1:23 pm

    I read this post and fell in love with each place . It’s my dream come true all in one post. Pretty awesome

    • TyrannyofPink says

      23rd June 2015 at 6:22 pm

      Every time I visit a new place, I’m reminded that the world is filled with so many incredible countries and things to see. I’ll never tire of exploring!

      x

Trackbacks

  1. The List – Escaping the funk | Tyranny Of Pink says:
    12th February 2015 at 8:23 am

    […] away has ;P. Even better if it’s to some exotic island destination. I highly recommend Zanzibar. If you can’t travel to somewhere exotic, go camping near to where you live. Just as […]

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Jonelle

I write things, I make art, I like good food, wine, a whisky after a rough day and I’m always up for a new adventure. I believe we can all contribute to a better world and we should do it while living authentically. I answer to “mommy,” live in Wellington New Zealand with my family and work for Local Goverment. Welcome to my blog…

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

What's Popular?

  • Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many | Tyranny of Pink
    Authentic Living, Being You, Blog Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many
  • 6 Weeks Post Colostomy Reversal Op! I survived! Tyranny of Pink
    Being an Ostomate, That time I nearly died 6 Weeks Post Colostomy Reversal Op! I survived!
  • To the father of my child - Happy Father's Day!
    Being Mom, Blog To the father of my child – Happy Father’s Day!
  • Beat your anxiety and stay productive while working from home | Tyranny of Pink
    Being Successful, Blog, Living with Intention, Mental Well-Being, Productivity Beat your anxiety and stay productive while working from home
  • Coping with Grief and the sh*t people say | Tyranny of Pink
    Death & Grief Coping with Grief and the sh*t people say

Recent Posts

  • No one reads blogs any more and Cheers to a Slower 2022
  • The strong confident woman
  • Migration Tales – New Zealand in the times of Covid-19
  • The story of two bloggers who lived happily ever after
  • 3 great TED Talks to watch about race, inequality & being antiracist!

Recent Comments

  • Jonelle on No one reads blogs any more and Cheers to a Slower 2022
  • Bonnie on No one reads blogs any more and Cheers to a Slower 2022
  • Jonelle on 4 years after my life-changing colostomy reversal surgery
  • Priscah on 4 years after my life-changing colostomy reversal surgery
  • Jonelle on 4 years after my life-changing colostomy reversal surgery

Categories

Archives

The most beautiful girl in the world 💕 The most beautiful girl in the world 💕
Absolutely thrilled that I get to wear this beauti Absolutely thrilled that I get to wear this beautiful coat this winter again… only good thing about winter is dressing for the cold. #zaracoat #winterdressing
My little corner of happiness #monstera #plantlove My little corner of happiness #monstera #plantlover #greenliving
Something so peaceful about an old cemetery. Could Something so peaceful about an old cemetery. Couldn't visit my dad's grave on his birthday today so spent the afternoon wandering around here. I know people will find this strange but it's my favourite place in this city 🖤

#karoricemetery #happybirthdaydad
A few graduations over the years. A few graduations over the years.
Instagram post 17914233386370190 Instagram post 17914233386370190
When did you grow up so big? #BabyOden When did you grow up so big? 
#BabyOden
Throw back to a week ago when I drove a giant Poli Throw back to a week ago when I drove a giant Police boat around the Wellington Harbour. Like a boss.

Copyright 2020 Jonelle Unfiltered | Tyranny of Pink