I created the “Travellers’ Tales” section to give other travellers an opportunity to talk about their travels. Today I would like to introduce you to Maria, a travel blogger based in Estonia. She blogs at Tigrest Travel Blog.
I would love to hear about your travels too. Go to “Travellers’ Tales” , fill in the quick questionnaire and email it to me with your blog links.
I’m Maria, I’m 33 years old, born and living in Tallinn, Estonia. During the working week I help to ship containers all over the world. In my free time I like to spend time outdoors, go hiking or work out in the gym. I also love traveling and write about my adventures in my travel blog called Tigrest Travel Blog.
My early trips were rather near to where I live. The one that I remember particularly well was a wedding of my distant relative in Saint Petersburg, Russia. That trip was back in 2001. We went there by bus and it was an adventure! At that time, Saint Petersburg had still the 90’s feel to it. It wasn’t yet westernized so much. I have travelled to this city many times afterwards, but that first memory is very special.
The last trip I went on was Hurghada in Egypt. It was a classic sun and beach type of holiday with lots of day trips. We went to Luxor, Cairo, two boat trips to see the coral reefs and on an ATV safari in the desert.
I enjoyed snorkelling in the Red Sea – so much life, corals and colourful fish there! In Hurghada, you can’t snorkel off the beach, you need to take a boat tour. I went on two boat tours in a row. On the second day we even saw dolphins! We were all set, sitting in a zodiac boat, circling around the bay and when our instructor told us, we had to jump into the water quickly, just in time to spot the dolphins. It was an unforgettable experience, I was lucky enough to film one dolphin with my GoPro.
It’s hard to pick just one. They were all great in their own way. One of the most memorable ones was a trekking trip to Annapurna base camp in Nepal – 2 weeks of pure nature, simple food and constantly overcoming yourself physically and mentally. It was all worth it in the end – the views we saw every day were beyond amazing. I loved the people and the simple way of life. Lack of comfort and civilization are also quite amazing to experience. You can realize how little we actually need to survive and be happy.
Greece! I’m in love with Greek food, hospitable people, culture and nature (all the cute little islands). I have only been to Crete so far and returning there this summer after a 10-year break.
If we are talking about Crete, some of the cool things to do are: exploring beautiful beaches, small villages, tasting local food at tavernas, visiting ancient ruins, exploring Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion towns. You can also visit Santorini on a day trip.
I have been traveling with the same friend for many years in a row and we fit each other perfectly. Picking the right companion is really important, as people may show a different side of their personality when under stress (which travel can cause sometimes). Sometimes it can be better to travel alone.
Camera, for sure. Although lately I’ve been taking photos with my iPhone a lot. Still, nothing beats a proper camera with a quality lens when good photos are needed.
Research before you go. Preparing for any trip can help you save a lot of money. Personally, I like to pre-book accommodation, tours and car rent. Also, research about the local life, customs, dress codes, bus timetables etc makes the trip smoother and safer.
I’d like to visit Antarctica one day, but not until I’ve been to all other places on my list. Going there seems like an experience one should have, but it’s not the cheapest one. Hopefully I’ll have time and money when I’m older.
I had some bad experiences during the Nepal trip. They have nothing to do with the country in general or the mountains. I get motion sickness easily in buses, and in Nepal there are virtually no roads. The road from Kathmandu to Pokhara, where the trek was supposed to start, is one of the worst roads I have ever experienced. It takes around 6-7 hours with constant bumps and turns. Moreover, mountain roads between Pokhara and the nearest lodge were quite bad as well.
During our last night in the mountains, we woke up at midnight, realizing that we are not alone in the room. We had seen mice in our room before, but this time it was much louder. We were terrified even to look under the bed. In the end, we took our sleeping bags, went to the terrace outside and spent the night under the stars, sitting on the plastic chairs. Kind of romantic. Thank God it was the last day of the trek.
Sure, my blog is Tigrest Travel Blog.
You can follow me on Facebook and Instagram.
Thank you, Maria, for sharing your fascinating adventures with us!
I would love to hear about your travels too. Go to “Travellers’ Tales”, fill in the quick questionnaire and email it to me with your blog links.
Who will I feature next? I’ve got an exciting line-up ahead. Make sure you subscribe to the free newsletter so you don’t miss out on some exciting travel tales.
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 49 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
