My travel goal was to visit the seven wonders of the world.  I did not have any plans to visit China, although I knew I would eventually have to go to see the Great Wall of China. As luck would have it, I happened upon a flight to China for approximately $500.00, that was about 5 months in advance of the travel time. I decided to book this flight because of the great deal offered.  After a while I literally forgot about the booking, until one day I got a reminder about the trip. I had so much to do if I wanted to make this trip. So, in a very short span, I had to get a Chinese visa, book my tours and hotel, and get ready for the trip.  Despite the rush, and some anxiety, I was not disappointed with this trip. My trip to Beijing offered more than I had bargained for.

The Chinese visa process presented a bit of challenge, that was nerve-wracking to me.  The application for the visa had specific instructions that had to be followed to the tee, or it would be rejected.

The tour that I found offered 3 full day tours of Beijing, including the Great Wall of China, which was my main goal for wanting to go on this trip.  My hotel stay was at the Swissotel, Beijing, Hongkong Macau Center.  The location was perfect as it was near to the Metro station and conveniently located in a prime commercial and diplomatic district.  The flight to China lasted approximately 13.5 hours, with a layover in Detroit.

My first day began with a visit to Tiananmen Square.  There were a lot of preparation going on for National Day, which was a day to celebrate the founding of the People’s Republic of China.  The square was filled with people who seemed to be excited in anticipation for the celebration that would take place.  Tiananmen Square is the location of the 1989 student-led demonstrations for basic human rights, for free press and against a Communist-led government.  Thousands of people were arrested and hundreds died in the protest when the Chinese troops stormed the square.  As I listened to the tour guide, I thought of the irony in this whole situation. A preparation was in place for the celebration of a Communist country, where there was a massacre for people who wanted freedom. I had mixed feelings while I looked around at the crowd, and wondered if the memory of the massacre was already erased from the minds of the celebrants. I could not help but contemplate how privileged we are to be able to have freedom of speech in our country.

Next stop was the Forbidden City – a palace complex, which served as a home for the Chinese emperors, their families, staff and local government.  The City lasted from the Ming dynasty to the Qing dynasty from 1368 to 1911.  The Forbidden City got its name because commoners were not allowed into the palace.  The city is painted in yellow for earth and yellow for happiness, and I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful the architecture was. As an artist inspired by Asian art and design, I was in awe of the amazing details and vibrant colors.

My third stop was the one most anticipated – the Great wall of China.  The Wall was built to protect the Chinese from the Mongolian warriors. We entered on the side of the Wall that had less damage, as there was a lot of restoration going on when we visited.  The Wall spans 13,170 miles, but our journey lasted one and one-half hours at which time I walked approximately 5 miles.  The Wall was built of stones, brick and wood, and I wondered how long it took the Chinese to complete such a magnificent structure.

 

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A post shared by Sancha Travels (@sanchatravels) on Oct 1, 2017 at 5:50am PDT

When the travel bug hits however, our focus oftentimes can become centered on doing only what it takes to make that trip happen. It’s rare that one can find people with the same desire as you for traveling, and someone compatible who will enjoy the same things you enjoy doing.  Sometimes, to convince that person, our plans have to include an “awesome trip, with cheap flights and great hotel deals, not to mention fascinating tours” to convince them to accompany you on your travel.  When you find a travelling partner  willing to take that adventure with you regardless of potential obstacles, my advice would be to hold on to that travel companion.

So, here are 8 tips I recommend that will help you know whether you’ve found a like-minded travel partner:

1.    You know them well enough to spend 5 days with them.

They say that you truly get to know someone when you travel with them. This is so true. You will have to spend a lot of time together while traveling so there are characteristics that may show themselves from time to time that you may not have seen before.  Being in another country or a new environment can be challenging, so there’s always the possibility that your travel partner’s ability to adapt can be tested. Traveling with someone who is adaptable to any circumstances is always a plus.

2.    They are adventurous, a great lover of novelty, and are willing to embrace the whole experience.

3.    Can adapt to the travel location.

This world has so much to offer and one of the beauties of traveling is that each country offers something unique. The goal while at that location is to venture into activities that are unique to that country.

4.    Willing to learn and be open-minded about what they may see and experience

You should travel with someone who is not looking for the food, wine, etc., from their country, but rather embrace the smells, sounds, taste and the entire vibe of the country to which they travel.

5.    Has few issues with sharing and willing to work thru sharing responsibilities

If I get the dinner tab tonight, then you get the dinner tab the next day I take your IG pics, you take mine | You scratch my back, I scratch yours.

Some of my best IG pics are from my travel BFF. She is willing to work with me to get the perfect shot with no complaints!

6.    Is not into “drama” and resolves issues quickly

Let us all agree to disagree, and “keep it moving”

7.     Appreciates the little things in life, and grows from the experience

8.    Someone who loves to travel and has the patience to deal with possibly long layovers and trip re-arrangements.

I have traveled with all types of persons. From my experience, these 8 tips have helped me to have a great travel experience, wherein I have embraced and learned to appreciate all the different cultures, and am able to see people through unfiltered lenses.

There are very few people I question whether I’d have a great time traveling with them or not. With the intention to fully enjoy each travel experience, having a great travel partner eliminates that added stress.

I’ve been told that I tend to come back from my travels loving the country I just visited more than the last. I disagree (wink)

I chose to visit Colombia, Cartagena to be exact, and YES I fell in love with it. It was about a year prior one of my coworkers recommended that I visit Colombia, I promised I would. In the same conversation his wife mentioned going to visit Cartagena which she thought I would love most. So here I was one year later booked for Cartagena.

In the customs line at the airport it immediately reminded me of visits to Jamaica. Business was a little less frantic and there was a more a relax atmosphere even while doing business. hotel transportation was arranged by the hotel, however had we booked the taxi ourselves from the airport, it would be cheaper. As we arrived to our hotel – Hilton Cartagena –  we (Naudia and I), both became pretty excited about the fact that it was literally across the street from the beach. What was ever more impressive were the views from the hotel lobby. The entire front face of Hotel was of glass. We had an incredible views of the coastline and the calmness of the open sea. It’s didn’t stop there … entering our room had the same amazing views and without hesitation we look at each other and screamed with excitement. We knew this was going to be a great trip and it became obvious because it started out so well!

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That evening we took a walk up to the walled city and got lost in the magic of it all. It was a very vibrant night and the place was buzzing with tourists and locals alike. Outdoor restaurants stayed busy and each street had its own story to tell. There were horse and carriage rides available and the souls of much was everywhere. I was most impressed with the architecture.

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Day one of our tours were did the hop on hop off bus.

City Sightseeing Cartagena Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Shore Excursion

We spent some time at the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas. The castle is located on the Hill of San Lázaro in a strategic location, dominating approaches to the city by land or sea. It was built by the Spanish during the colonial era. The fortification consists of a series of walls, wide at the base and narrow toward the parapet, forming a formidable pattern of bunkers. The castle is striking for its grand entrance and its complex maze of tunnels. It is the most formidable defensive complex of Spanish military architecture.

The following day was filled with mud, volcanic mud to be exact as we visited  the Totumo Mud Volcano

Half-Day Tour to Totumo Mud Volcano from Cartagena

The adventure started with a pretty high climb up the volcano along the way the molded clay from inside the volcano forms the stairs more and more as we go closer to the top. Once there you are being helped by locals into the volcano where they massage you with the mud and you are given chance to spend some time in the mud. When desired, you exit the volcano from a different side and head down a different set of stairs to the beach where you wash off the mud.

The smoothness of your skin is undeniable. The overall feeling is rejuvenation and relaxation and the warm sun shinning on you gives you a warm cozy feeling. The bus ride back had us all sleeping.

Not knowing what to expect from this tour I was most excited to see the speed boat we would take to go out at sea. As a woman who loves jet skis I knew the ride alone would make me happy.

It took about an hour to get to the islands and boy was it a bumpy ride. Sitting in the back we felt every wave and every turn, but for me – I was having fun!

After having a delicious fish lunch guests secured a spot on this small island to either relax or go swimming. The entire day was spend with everyone enjoying every little corner of the island. It was a day well spent.

Its easy to see why Cartegena was highly recommended for a vacation spot. The people are really friendly, the food is amazing and there’s so much to see and do that keeps you constantly entertained.

As a child we traveled mostly in the summer to visit family and friends who lived in different places.  As an adult I mostly travel to learn new cultures, see amazing places and meet unique people that I normally wouldn’t meet from day to day. Initially, when I started to travel far off places in the world I would go to places where I knew someone.

My first big trip was to China where my aunt lived as she was an International teacher there.  She had lived in China for 3 years prior to my visit, and she told me about the exciting things she saw, and things she learned about the culture. I think it was a bit daring to take such trip, and I was more concerned about sitting on a plane for those long hours. Korean Air however was one of the most comfortable flights I had been on and made the trip less stressful than expected. The first leg of the trip was 13 hours (to Korea) and then the final lap was around 4 hours and landed in Pudong International Airport. The time difference was interesting, to say the least, but I survived. The entire process was fascinating yet liberating  .  .  .  like “look momma, I made it”. . . to the other side of the world.

Once there, I had help from my aunt who got the taxi from airport for me etc. I did my research on places I wanted to visit and see and my aunt was great company to explore with. We planned on visiting Thailand on this trip, but because of unforeseen circumstances she wasn’t able to enter Thailand with me. So here I was – in another country – on my own. Oh boy! Here we go, “you can do this Sancha,” I thought.  How do I get to my hotel? Where will I go while there? how will people understand me?  – heeeeeeeelp!!!  After reading a few signs and asking around for details, I was on my way to an amazing hotel in a bright pink cab with a gentleman who asked a million questions. The views of Thailand were amazing, splattered all over with gold.  I spent five days in Bangkok, and had an incredible time; my hotel alone was amazing – Banyan Tree hotel of Bangkok. I made my own schedule of tours, ate at some remarkable restaurants but what was most comforting, is that people tend to make friends with you easily because you may never see them again, so why not. I felt free, I felt brave and most importantly I felt it gave me time to reflect on things and clear my head and heart. I spent quality time doing what I love and felt refreshed to go back to “the real world”

After that experience I felt unstoppable! I wanted to do more, see more, explore even more places in the world.  Thus, my lust for travel began. My mother’s voice sang over and over in my head . . . “The world is your oyster” she often told me, and I felt empowered to conquer it. On my return home I immediately started to research other countries to visit; near/far, it didn’t matter at this point. I did it before, I can do it again.

With my independent self I didn’t wait for that friend, but I loved the freedom it offered; it became my escape from the daily hustle and bustle. New people, a new environment, time to clear my pallet, mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. Travelling alone, I did not have as many distractions. I do not have to be concerned about how someone else is feeling, whether they liked or disliked the hotel, or the country or the people.  My concern would not even be on entertaining them. My focus will then be on what I want to accomplish and experience.  Most of all traveling alone gave me the freedom to focus on, and find more, of myself.

If nothing else solo travel allows you to find yourself.

There is always something new and fascinating to learn in a country that you visit for the first and sometimes even second and third time. To discover new cultures teaches you about why certain people do what they are. Their customs and intricacies are unique, I find that after a day of learning on special tours or just observation, things become clear to me about where things may have originated and the puzzles and questions start to fit together. Your tolerance becomes better, as you are placed in a whole new way of functioning and even thinking. You eventually start understanding certain things about yourself  . . . if you allow yourself to.

I’d say the key to getting the most out of your travel experiences is to open your mind. Open up to fresh ideas, to another way of thinking, another way of living, another way of adapting to situations, another way of becoming a more understanding human being.

NO – it’s not always about that Instagram photo, or showing off to friends that you took a dope vacation. Don’t get me wrong the photos can be amazing way of documenting the memories but what you learn and how you felt and what you end up walking away with are a million times more rewarding.

Travel far enough to meet yourself. Take a seat at the door of understanding. Join in a local ritual to gain tolerance. Explore the parts of yourself that open you up to a new perspectives and manifest that which have been waiting to be discovered.

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Happy Travels!

During that time, there were several occurrences in Egypt that caused trepidation to both my family and friends who were concerned for my safety.  I decided that regardless of these occurrences, I would feed the rebel in me, and I became even more determined to visit Egypt.  My visit in Dubai lasted approximately 5 days, 4 of which were spent with my friends trying to persuade me not to go. Something unexplainable drew me to the prospect of seeing Egypt, and nothing could, at the time, change my mind otherwise.  There were even Egyptians living in Dubai who thought it unwise for me to travel to Egypt at that time.  My thoughts were, “well, my ticket is booked, and I have no plans to back out now.” Besides, I asked myself,  “what’s the worst thing that could happen – there were no travel bans; so I took my chances and headed off to Egypt to the land of the pharaohs.

The flight from Dubai to Cairo International Airport was a short three and a half hours.  On descent, I witnessed the most breathtaking view of a city sprinkled with dessert sand.  Driving through the city of Cairo reminded me of driving through Jamaica’s capital, Kingston; or maybe, even worse. The streets of Cairo are full of cars, and I came to learn that this was the norm, and that there is an actual art to navigating traffic in Cairo.  Egypt boasts one of the world’s highest rates of road fatalities per mile, and I quickly came to realize that driving is indeed a challenge.  Even seasoned residents of Cairo must use extraordinary care and awareness to navigate the hectic streets of the capital. Enough about traffic, cars and road rules!

My first adventure was a River Nile dinner Cruise.  The word “Nile River” evoked childhood memories of Bible stories of Moses and the Pharaohs, and I wondered how very important this river must have been to ancient Egyptians.  One could imagine how societies must have developed and thrived on the Nile River.  I was so excited to know that I would now be sailing on these same waters that saw the rise and fall of great empires.

There were several boats on the river, all lit with bright lights and fun animations that made the water glisten flamboyantly.  The Nile is the world’s longest river at about 6650km and your Nile journey could be anything from an hour-long sunset cruise, to a 12-day tour through Egypt.  Our boat sailed carelessly down the Nile and although we did not venture far, the views were nothing short of amazing. We feasted on a lovely buffet of local Egyptian dishes and were entertained by vibrant music and belly dancing.  The dancing and gaiety became the highlight of the night as all the guests participated, and we vied for the best belly dancer. To say the least, we realized that we were not going to be recruited any time soon to be entertainers. However, we gave it our best shot!

The following day was our visit to the ancient pyramids, namely Memphis, Saqqara, and The Great Pyramids in the city of Giza.  Although it seemed like we covered a whole lot in one day, we were able to see visit all three sites. Our first stop was Memphis, a city and the capital of ancient Egypt. This was an important city during much of Egyptian history. Memphis is located south of the Nile River delta, on the west bank of the river, and about 15 miles (24 km) south of modern Cairo. In Memphis, we visited the museum which houses a huge statue of Ramesses II. This Pharaoh was regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful Pharaoh.  He was known as Ramesses the Great, the third pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty of Egypt. The sheer size of the statue was mind-boggling, and one wonders about the ranges of these structures. The technological skills and precision still mystifies scholars on how monuments or statues were built without machines and modern technology. It is simply magnificent.

Our next stop was Saqqara also spelled Sakkara or Saccara in English. It is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt and its greatest attraction is the Step Pyramid, built for the King Djoser by the famous architectural genius, Ihmotep. Prior to getting to the pyramid you are escorted through the papyrus shaped column hall. This Pyramid built by King Djoser, who had moved the royal court to Memphis, would remain the political and cultural capital of Egypt until the center of power shifted to Alexandria under the Ptolemies of the Thirty-Second Dynasty.  His decision to shirk burial at Abydos in favor of Saqqara, previously a cemetery for lesser nobles and high court officials, would also become the custom for Egyptian rulers. We were told by our guide that there have been found tombs of a prime minister, the son of a dynasty and a queen at Saqqara.

From Saqqara we drove another 20 minutes where we arrived at the Great Pyramids. The oldest and largest of the three pyramids at Giza is the only surviving structure out of the famed seven wonders of the ancient world. It was built for Khufu (Cheops, in Greek), Sneferu’s successor and the second of the eight kings of the fourth dynasty. It is difficult to describe the overall feeling of seeing such a great wonder up close. It was real. I saw this wonder with my own eyes, and this for me, officially confirmed I was truly in Egypt. The size of the stones was incredible, and to know that several of these gigantic rocks formed this amazing structure, was truly magnificent. It became one of those moments that you hear that heavenly choir in your head singing “ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” as though you were entering through heaven’s gates.

It was unbelievable, and amazing and literally a dream come true. In that moment nothing anyone said regarding avoiding this country, would have made a difference to me. I knew that the full magnitude of this trip was registering and imprinting a life time memory for me. I had no regrets.

Carefully navigating the steep ramp taking me down into the bowels of the ancient tomb I could not help but again appreciate what early archeologists must have felt when they first entered these tombs. The interior chamber was quite narrow but once inside the tomb, the space was large and very cool. I can only imagine how the gleaming white limestone would have made the pyramids an even more dazzling spectacle than they are now. And there I stood, witnessing all this glory!

Day three was a tour of the Egyptian museum and local market. Throughout my time in Cairo I had the same guide, so by this time I was pretty comfortable in asking questions to learn as much as possible. Luckily for me he was a brilliant Egyptologist and the questions didn’t stop. There was so much history here, so much to see and understand. The Egyptian Museum paled in comparison to the sites we visited in the past 2 days. Although it has an extensive collection, I was a bit disappointed by the exhibits. The tomb of Tutankhamun is on display there as well and is quite impressive and embellished in gold. Tutankhamun was only the age of nine when he became king of Egypt during the 18th dynasty of the New Kingdom (c. 1332–1323 B.C.E.). Hmmm!!!! I wonder how he felt ruling this vast Kingdom? As the history goes, he married his half-sister Ankhesenamun, but they did not produce an heir. This left the line of succession unclear. Tutankhamun died at the young age of eighteen. His nearly intact tomb held a wealth of objects that gives us a unique insight into this period of ancient Egyptian history.

The exhibit case however was not very sturdy or secured, and I felt as though one could easily remove the case and damage the artifact. There were a few exhibits that had a similar concern.  I became distracted by the exhibit style versus learning about what was on display. Maybe it’s the designer in me.

Our final stop was a visit to one of the local markets. When you plan your trip to Cairo, (and I hope you will), be sure to visit a local market.  Huge crowds of locals come here looking for everything their hearts desire. There is so much to see and even more, it gives you a bit of time to interact with the locals. The vibrant sights and smells of spices filled the air. What I found most comforting about it was the resemblance to a Jamaican market because of its rhythm and flow. As with any market over the world, the vendors are busy trying to get customers to buy their goods, and there is a sense of family. If there was ever something you were looking for and one vendor didn’t have it, that vendor would take you over to the vendor who did. Not to say there isn’t a hustle to all this, as in most local markets you’ll need to make bargains and try to get the best price possible. In all my experience in the market, I bought a traditional Egyptian dress, a Egyptian statues and gifts for all my friends.  This totaled less than $50 USD.

Although this was a short trip and with all the things I was told prior to going, I experienced nothing harmful or misleading while I was there. No matter where I travel, I’ve learned to have a watchful eye in all instances, so I was pretty conscious of my surroundings while in Cairo. But I had only experienced warm hospitality, excellent service and incredible Egyptian history.

Needless to say  . . . I fell in love with this Egypt, so much that I cried because I had to leave so soon; with a heart filled with comfort and a sense of home. I made up my mind from that first visit that I would definitely be going back for a longer stay, to see other cities besides Cairo and to keep learning about the great Pharaohs and Queens that ruled this amazing country called Egypt.  I was overwhelmed at all there is to see and learn and I knew I had to return to gain a deeper understanding about its rich history.

“One’s destination is never a place, but always a new way of seeing things”.  ~ Henry Miller

I’m really glad I didn’t listen to the apprehensions or the fear that resides with so many people about traveling. My trip was ironically one of the best trips I’ve ever had. Egypt is still my number on place to visit. I’m in no way saying your shouldn’t travel with caution. I am simply saying  . . .  FOLLOW YOUR HEART!

My flight over was on Emirates airline, which is one of Dubai’s finest fleets and it is still the very best airline I have ever flown. This airline is befitting of the lifestyle of a sheik as the food and the service were flawless. As I approached Dubai, I was in awe of the majestic dunes as they stretched out from the wonderful city nestled in the heart of the Sahara Desert. Dubai is a spectacular oasis filled with skyscrapers, fancy cars, the best hotels and the feeling of futuristic living. During the plane’s descent, my gaze was fixed on the expanse of the buildings as they stretched up to caress the golden sky. Most everything there is new and construction is happening everywhere on a daily basis. As I de-planed, I could hardly breathe due to the excessive heat and the hot sand that was blowing everywhere. When my friend came to get me from customs, I was told the morning temperatures would be around 75 degrees and noon temperatures would soar to as high as 95 degrees. Although outdoors was uncomfortably hot, indoors were very well air conditioned with palm trees, sofas and water fountains to enhance a mood of relaxation. No matter where we chose to have a meal, customer service was exceptional as they took great pride in providing the very best service to their patrons.

The call to prayer could be heard in the early morning hour, at approximately 5:45 am, and throughout the day you can hear the distinct sound of praying coming from the nearby Mosque.  During this time, there is an air of reverence and calm, as Muslims take this time out to pay homage to their god.  I began my tour on my first day at the Dubai Mall.  This mall is considered one of the world’s largest shopping mall, and a very popular tourist attraction.   Filled with the latest fashion, some of best technology, an enormous aquarium and a food court such as never been seen in the U.S., the Dubai mall truly takes the shopping experience to another level.  After touring the Dubai mall, which of course we could not complete in a day, we searched for tickets to the Burj Khalifa, which is a short walk from the mall.  The tour of the Burj, the World’s tallest building, took my breath away.  I was elevated to 24 floors in approximately 20 seconds. During my descent to the observatory, I could see the unique design concept of the Burj displayed in pathways. What I loved most about this was the exhibit of the design theory (which is the theory behind this amazing building). I believe there is a method to every madness and reading about the inception of this amazing architectural structure gave me a deeper appreciation for its existence. The view from the 124^th floor was a real-life scene from the Jetsons. The roadways are curvy, the footprints of the city was unique, and the buildings stretched the imagination as they were not typical, and they seemed to defy the law of gravity. This structure is definitely worth seeing!

My only scheduled tour prior to arrival in Dubai was the Dune Dash in the desert, but it turned out that my favorite activity was the Dune Desert Safari.  After being picked up from your hotel you’re driven in A SUV to the desert entrance where you meet with other tourists in similar vehicles, who were equipped the ride in the desert. Dune Bashing thru the sand was exciting, and although it was not the smoothest rides, it was loads of fun and exhilarating. In order to drive in the desert, the air in the tires have to be adjusted, by releasing some of the air to accommodate a better ride.  Half way to the camp area, we stopped to view the sunset. Although I thought the sunset from the Ricks Cafe in Jamaica was the most beautiful I have ever seen the sunset in Dubai took my breath away! Before arriving to the camp, we stopped for a falcon show, where we learned all about their speed, the history of falcons in that part of the world, and we saw an impressive falcon flight exhibition. The entrance to the camp was lovely with a fountain that welcomed you out of the heat. Dinner was served around low tables and carpets and pillows were our chairs. Buffet style food was served along with teas and juices.

Other activities one could enjoy close to the were camel rides, sand boarding, henna painting and Arabic dressing. There were sections of the camp where you could enjoy shisha, and there was also a dazzling belly dancing show to entertain all the guests as night fell. To top off this amazing night we were reminded to look up in the sky where I viewed a confetti of stars that seemed to light the night sky like fireworks.

Overall this trip was a really great experience, where I not only enjoyed the super city of the Middle East, but I was also able to spend quality time with my friends, catching up on life.  What better place to have such a memorable experience.

There are several reasons I wanted to visit Italy. First, my cousin moved there from Jamaica and talked about how awesome the place was.  Second, I was sold by the photos of Italy, and third, because it was so easy to go from one country in Europe to another.  I decided I would make it a three-country run within my 2-week vacation span.