100 Travel Stories
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Inspirational Travel Quotes, Stories and Photos
Why do we travel? For adventure, discovery, new experiences, romance, or simply the pleasure of being somewhere different.
Travel has inspired writers, explorers, and photographers for centuries. Some of their words capture feelings that are difficult to describe, while photographs preserve moments that might otherwise fade from memory.
Here are 25 of my favourite travel quotes, paired with photographs and personal stories from places I’ve visited around the world.
Merkato: Africa’s Largest Open-Air Market
At first glance, Merkato in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a chaotic place. Widely described as Africa’s largest open-air market, it employs thousands of people and stretches across a maze of narrow streets and alleys.
Selam (Hello), Addis!
Dream of Africa: distant lands, the excitement of discovery, new experiences, and unexpected adventures. Africa may not be at the top of everyone’s travel list. It can seem too expensive or too dangerous, and we often find excuses not to go. But sometimes, chance—or romance—takes us to places we never imagined visiting.
For me, chance led to Libya and Tunisia in North Africa, while romance took me to The Gambia and Senegal in West Africa.
The “Sleepless Town” (眠らない街)
“Tokyo’s hidden erotic wonderland is open for business.” – National Geographic
When I first arrived at Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, I was lost. With 3.64 million passengers passing through the world’s busiest transport hub each day—more than the population of Toronto!—it can be overwhelming. Once you find your way out (from over 200 exits), you may head to Kabukichō, the famous red-light district of Tokyo, known as the “Sleepless Town.”
Kabukichō (歌舞伎町)
Your first clue that you are in the area is when you see well-dressed young Japanese men with very long hair. You will find them at the main entrances to the Kabukichō red-light district, both day and night.
Tibet was a tough trip. With only 60% to 70% of the oxygen available at sea level at these high altitudes, the nights were especially difficult. I could sleep for about four hours, then spend the rest of the night struggling to breathe. The Tibetan high-altitude pills didn’t help much. The highest point I reached was 5,248 m.
I arrived in Lhasa on a small Air China plane coming from Kathmandu. The view from the plane was impressive: the entire snow-covered Himalayan range could be seen from above. Mount Everest was on the left side of the airplane.
A Touch of the Cantonese Culinary Delights
Photos and captions by Xue Feng.
Fishballs, stinky tofu, ‘pineapple’ bun, sweet tofu soup, chicken feet, claypot rice, Yung Kee’s roast goose, roast pigeon, snake soup, typhoon-shelter crab, egg noodles, congee and lotus seed paste – are just few Cantonese dishes you need to try.
Xue recorded her trip to Hong Kong by taking snapshots of the city and its worldwide recognized cuisine. Discover some of the best Hong Kong restaurants: the 90 years old Dim Sum Lin Heung Tea House, the mob’s crime place of Luk Yu Tea House and more.
Close to Krabi airport in Thailand and just a short boat ride from Railay Beach, Ao Nang is a charming beach town with modern hotels, excellent seafood restaurants, and a vibrant night market.
We were lucky to witness some of the most beautiful sunsets here, while also escaping the worst of a tropical storm that brought heavy rain and rough seas to parts of Thailand.
This is the last post in a series of four about our vacation in Krabi Province, beginning with Koh Phi Phi Island, followed by Bamboo Island and Railay Beach, and ending in Ao Nang.