2018 was an especially epic year of travel. Between a semester at the University of Cape Town and adding 4 new countries to the list - I feel incredibly lucky to continue to see and experience this amazing world. Here is a list of some of my most sacred memories around the globe over the past year.

New Year’s Eve 2018 in Varanasi, India

My family began this year in a very atypical way. There was no bubbly to toast with or any crazy party. Just a dinner and a row boat ride down the Ganges river in Varanasi.

A Weekend in Brunei

I spent a few days exploring Bandar Seri Begawan with my dad and it was unlike any other place we had been. For more details about Brunei and the weekend we spent there check out the post I wrote about it a few weeks back.

Writing time in Singapore

Before heading off to my semester in South Africa, my dad and I got some time to write and enjoy one of our favorite cities in the world - Singapore. We fueled our bodies with hawker food and spent afternoons writing on the hotel terrace. Once the sun set and the heat dropped a few degrees we visited some favorite spots like Gardens by the Bay and Clarke Quay.

Wine Tasting in Stellenbosch with Mom

I had never been wine tasting before my semester in Cape Town but experiencing it in Stellenbosch has pretty much ruined me. Mom came to visit and we spent an entire Friday afternoon sipping South African wines paired with fine cheeses and chocolates while we were surrounded by mountains and beautiful wine estates.

Bungee Jumping on the Garden Route

I won’t share too many details because I have another post coming about this experience later on. But it was just as terrifying and exhilarating as you might think.

Sandboarding in Namibia

The sand dunes just outside of Swakopmund, Namibia are both intimidating and breathtaking. With just a couple nights in this quaint beachy, German, desert town, my friends and I knew we had to do one of the more touristy things in Namibia - sandboarding. Incredibly fun but so much more difficult than we expected.

Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe

After experiencing a severe lack of water both in Cape Town and the deserts of Namibia, Victoria Falls was a magical sight. As soon as we walked into the national park our skin was misted with droplets from the falls. By the time we were leaving the park, that mist had turned into a downpour. I have never loved the feeling of rain as much as I did that day.

Falling in Love in Cape Town

Cape Town is a beautiful place filled with beautiful people. If you don’t fall in love with Cape Town, you might fall in love with someone in it. I happened to do both which is why I find myself back here for the second time in 2018.

Christmas Day Exploring Cape Point

Just in case you didn’t catch it one of the other ten times I said it, the Western Cape is one of the most beautiful places I have ever experienced. The natural beauty built into this place never gets old. On Christmas Day my family decided to explore the Cape Point peninsula instead of the usual traditions. I posted a gallery here in the off chance I haven’t convinced you to visit yet.

2018 was an incredible year and I feel so lucky to have experienced such a diversity of people, places, and activities. International travel is a privilege that I will never take for granted.

2019 begins in Africa but beyond that there are a lot of unknowns in my life. I’m excited to see where the journey leads and share a lot of it with you along the way.

*Next Monday I will be in Ethiopia and will do my best to post but limited internet access could interfere with that plan.