How “Best of 2019” Mario Iliev’s YouTube channel travel tips made us wonder
Did anyone ever give you travel tips that made you wonder? After watching Mario Iliev’s ‘Best Of Season 2’, my travel plans have started sounding a little boring, much like couch holidays. Lounge couch, lobby couch, beach… I was travelling from couch to couch. So, how did Mario Iliev’s ‘Best Of Season 2’ travel tips make us wonder?
First, let me tell you how we met a few years ago in Abu Dhabi. While soaking up the sun on the beach on a hot winter’s day, I noticed a tall, built, tattooed man. Nearby, a bus dropped off a large group of Asian tourists. One of the ladies from the group approached the man, and after a brief conversation, posed for a photo with him. Moments later, the rest of the group joined them for more photos. I observed the situation and began to wonder who this person was. Obviously someone famous, but was he an athlete, actor, or musician?
After the photo session had ended and the group of tourists had left, the man approached and put his things down nearby. I don’t like to have unanswered questions and the battle between my curiosity and my anxiety from speaking to strangers was won by my curiosity. We began chatting and it turns out that Mario is a very pleasant and funny person.
Finally, I pop the question, who is he? With a big smile, he said:” They were confused, but all looked so happy and I did not want to spoil the moment”.
Anyway, we had a good time and exchanged social media handles. I missed the launch of his YouTube channel but did come across his ‘Best Of Season 2’ video. Here are a few moments that grabbed my attention and made me want to wander.
Going to Iceland in winter and instead of enjoying a glass of red wine in front of the fireplace, going for a swim in the freezing ocean. Seriously?!?
Sitting on the snow around a fire and eating marshmallows, 300km within the Arctic circle under the Aurora Borealis. Although this detail was not in the video, I did learn this while engaging on social media.
Hiking in beautiful Botswana, not the most popular tourist destination, and sitting in the middle of nowhere, in a land full of all kinds of wild animals. Behind you….turn around.
For me, any place without the internet is the wild. I’ve only seen an ostrich in the zoo, and the place where animals roam freely is called the Discovery Channel. To fully enjoy what this beautiful planet has to offer, one needs an open mind and a bit of encouragement, just as I did.
Did I ever engage in any outdoor activities before? Of course. After I got married, my husband took me on what was supposed to be a lovely spring mountain getaway. Nice weather, great company, and a cable car ride to the peak. Spectacular views, a stone spout with cold, refreshing water, and the aroma of pine trees everywhere.
Heading down, my husband suggested we take the footpath through the forest. I agreed, seeing families with babies, children, and the elderly taking the same route. The first few kilometres were fun. Then we started to get hungry, and my husband suggested we take a shortcut. When I saw a wooden sign that said, ‘Restaurant – 4km,’ I imagined a shortcut would save us 2 to 2.5 km. Anyway, we took the shortcut. The footpath we were supposed to follow was under the trees, with a relatively small slope, and among other ‘mountaineers,’ it was lovely.
Our ‘shortcut’ was under the cable, in the open, and through impassable terrain. It was horrible. I was annoyed, exhausted, and starving, and I told my husband I wanted a taxi. He looked at me and asked how a taxi was supposed to get to us halfway up the mountain. I tried to be reasonable: ‘I want a helicopter.’ Needless to say, I did not get what I wanted and had to make the journey down on foot.
So, after watching ‘Best Of Season 2’, I realized that between leisure travel and extreme travel, there are endless possibilities to explore the globe and create unforgettable memories.
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