My Top 15 BEST TRAVEL EXPERIENCES – 2019

Posted on December 13, 2019December 13, 2019 by dev

I have traveled a lot over 7 years and visited 130 countries in that period of time, but in all fairness 2019 has been my most amazing travel year when it comes to unique travel experiences! This is my TOP 15!

15. Experiencing The Algerian Hospitality And Mountains

Breathing in the fresh Algerian mountain air at Bordj Zemoura, Algeria

Go to Morocco and you’ll meet a lot of tourists, go to Algeria and you’ll hardly meet any. I didn’t meet 1 tourist on my trip through Algeria, and to be fair the visa was one of the hardest I’ve ever tried to get. It was impossible for me to go on a tourist visa, so I had to go on a business visa. Thanks to my friend Djaber and my own creative skills we made it possible, and Algerians (the Amazigh people) has a sharing mentality and hospitality I’ve rarely seen anywhere else in the World. I was completely blown away by Algeria, the people, the mountains and the beauty. This is one of my favorite countries in Africa.

14. Driving All Around Namibia For 2 Weeks

Coming to Namibia with no plans, splashing out $500 on a rental car last minute, because it was IMPOSSIBLE to get around without a car in Namibia, forgetting my International Driver License which is necessary to have to rent a car, (thinking f*ck,) meeting two Namibian strangers by incident last minute, and David didn’t really have any plans for the next long time, so I asked if he wanted to join my trip for free. He did and so did Susan!⁣ Strangers who became friends and joined me on this EPIC trip around Namibia. You can watch the video from our crazy ride around Namibia below!

The World’s Most Empty Country! – YouTube Video – Gus1thego

13. Attending An Indian Wedding In London, England

When my parents got married 10 people attended, to this magnificent, fairy tale alike Indian wedding +400 attended and it gave me goosebumps being a part of. Furthermore the male spouse, my friend Hemal, whom I traveled Brazil with in 2016 gave me a shout-out in his wedding speech. Incredible day!

You can read all the details about this beautiful Indian wedding below in the link.

What Is It Like Attending An Indian Wedding?

12. Surfing In El Salvador And Costa Rica

I have surfed in a few countries before, but no place like Costa Rica or El Salvador. I like to learn things myself and even though I’m good at most sports, surfing has always been slightly difficult for me! I like to challenge myself (one of the reasons why I love to travel,) and I felt like both El Salvador and Costa Rica was a good chance to take some surf lessons and actually improve my technique a bit. I must say I had an amazing time exploring both countries and I still think back on a few perfect days hitting the waves on some super beautiful beaches there. “If you’re having a bad day, catch a wave.” Surfing is really something I want to do a bit more of and get better at, when I feel like having some more time! Amazing feeling!

11. Visiting The Great Wall Of China

I have technically visited China 4 times, two times Hong Kong and one time on a 48 hour transit, but this was my first visit to ‘The Great Wall of China’ and walking around here for hours was worth every second!
I went to one of the best preserved parts, called Mutianyu, and it was surprisingly quiet. I couldn’t imagine a better day at the wall with sunshine, a clear sight and almost zero people. One of the greatest sights in the World!

These are my visits to the New 7 Wonders of the World below. There’s only 1 of them I didn’t visit yet, check it out!

The 7 New Wonders Of The World

10. Visiting The Taj Mahal

I loved it so much that I went to see the sunrise in the morning and then spent all day to see the sunset. The most impressive thing about the Taj is the absolute perfect symmetry that around 20,000 people built in the 17th century. You can notice the perfection and small details, when the sun is low in the sky, and the shadows are perfectly cast on the marble stone. It surely is the one of the most perfect buildings in the World and it deserves its name as the “Monument of Love.”

The 7 New Wonders Of The World

9. Holding A Travel Speech In Iraq

Holding a travel speech for 40 people in Iraq

Iraq became my first place to hold a travel speech. I honestly couldn’t imagine a better destination to do it, breaking all stereotypes! I did it in front of 40 people in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, and Kurdistan completely blew my mind. Iraqi Kurdistan is NOT at all what you think, super friendly people and it felt really safe in this region everywhere I went. Holding a travel speech in Iraq was a perfect experience and the Iraqi people really enjoyed interacting with me, and asked me several questions about my travels. I can’t wait to come back to Kurdistan, and I’m also really excited to travel around mainland Iraq in the close future!

8. Volcano Boarding In Nicaragua

Volcano boarding in Nicaragua with speed up to 80 km/t

When Cerro Negro—Nicaragua’s youngest volcano—last erupted in 1999, boulders tumbled down the western slope, creating a rocky, ascendable path. On the opposite side, the wind deposited dark, smooth ash that is perfect for sliding. In 2004, this unique pairing of terrains sparked an outlandish idea: volcano boarding. This is the only place in the world I’ve heard of where you can sit upright on plywood, feet-first, and coast down a cindery flank of a still-active volcano! This is the only place to do Volcano boarding. Rated #2 on CNN’s “Thrill seekers bucket list” Volcano boarding is a must do before you die! So much fun!

7. Seeing The Komodo Dragons With My Own Eyes

The Komodo Dragons can get up to 4 meter long, the closest we get to dinosaurs nowadays

The wildlife is on another level in Indonesia. Here sitting with a Komodo dragon, which can only be found on a few Indonesian islands in the World. There are only around 5,000 komodo dragons left worldwide. Psychical features of a dinosaur, a deadly lethal venom and they can grow up to nearly 4 meter long with a top speed of 20 km/h. One of the craziest animals I’ve ever been close to!

7 Reasons Why I Love Indonesia (Pro Traveler-Tips!)

6. Feeding Wild Hyenas With My Mouth In Ethiopia

Feeding Hyenas happens in Harar, the oldest Islamic city in all of Africa. I don’t harbor some kind of death wish, although such a desire might explain why I decided to feed a wild hyena from my mouth, placing my face within easy striking distance of one of the fiercest, most dangerous predators on Earth. With its incredibly powerful jaws, a hyena can even crush and digest elephant bones. Read the full story below!

Feeding Wild Hyenas With My Mouth In Ethiopia

5. Visiting Saudi Arabia

In 2019, a number of Western travel influencers worked with the Saudi government to market inbound tourism due to the new E-Visa, which has now been introduced in Saudi Arabia. This triggered substantial controversy as the authenticity of their posts was questioned. Just to avoid all confusion: My trip to Saudi Arabia was NOT sponsored. My travel here was with my own funds and no state invitation.

I was very satisfied with my stay in Saudi Arabia, a country I’ve heard too much bad stuff about before coming here, and my 100% honest Saudi Arabia video went viral with more than 120,000 views. Check it out by clicking the link below.

Is Saudi Arabia Safe? – Gus1thego

4. On The Inside of North Korea

North Korea was a VERY SPECIAL experience for me! I was extremely lucky to go during May Celebrations, so I was allowed to walk freely on several occasions, and I’m one of few travelers who had several encounters with the North Korean people. A bizarre and surreal country to be on the inside of! You can check my Youtube Video about my visit to North Korea by clicking the link below.

On The Inside Of North Korea – My Daily Life Here – Gus1thego

3. Traveling Syria for 1 Week

Aleppo, Syria. Traveling all the day from the south to the north of Syria

I traveled Syria when ISIS-Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was still alive, so there were some serious tensions, especially in the north of Syria. The capital Damascus in the south feels even safer than most European capitals. But Syria left a mark on me and is honestly an amazing country! I hope it will soon be completely safe again! You can watch my video about my Syria trip by clicking the link below.

Is SYRIA Safe? (Denmark Guy) – Gus1thego

2. Experiencing Pakistan

Whenever I talk about Pakistan, I’m close to break down in tears. This country got totally under my skin. AMAZING people, AMAZING hospitality, one of the friendliest countries on earth, with mountain scenery that is beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. To all of my Pakistani friends, a big Pakistan Zindabad from your Danish friend 🇵🇰

Check out my 2 videos below about my visit to Pakistan to better understand why I love this country!

Is Pakistan Safe? (Denmark Guy)

Is Everything Really FREE in Pakistan?

1. Traveling West Africa Solo With No Car (And 0 Flights)

Experiences I will never forget in West Africa

Most of the few travelers who went to West Africa, will usually talk a lot of sh*t about the region, because it’s challenging as few others, but it’s a beautiful challenge. If you’re an adventure traveler like me, you’ll love West Africa, the good and the bad days on the road, and it was my most rewarding travel experience traveling from Senegal to Togo over several months solo, just me and my backpack and without taking any flights. I lost 7kg and it was one of my toughest travel ever, but I enjoyed it so much! If you want to read in details about my West Africa trip and how it went, click the link below.

What Is It Really Like To Travel West Africa Solo With No Car (0 Flights)

What a travel year! Only person at the Kambadaga Falls in Guinea’s jungle

Now you have some inspiration for your future travels. I’m btw going to the most dangerous country of them all (they say) to celebrate Christmas, I’m not sure any travelers have done that before, so if you want to follow my journey, you can follow me on Instagram: @gustavrosted, Subscribe on Youtube: gus1thego or follow me on Facebook: Gustav Rosted.

Feel free to share the article and safe travels everyone!

Gustav

gus1thego.com

Feeding Wild Hyenas By Mouth In Harar Ethiopia

Posted on August 14, 2019August 14, 2019 by dev

My biggest regret from my first visit to Ethiopia was I didn’t go to Harar to see the wild hyenas. Or see wasn’t actually enough, I wanted to feed them by the mouth, as scary as it sounds!

Are Hyenas Dangerous?

Let’s get things straight, a hyena is not a dog or a cat or like your average pet.. Last time I saw hyenas were in the bush in Tanzania where they were tearing an animal totally apart on a safari. From my experiences one of the most dangerous sounds you might hear in the bush is the laughter – the laugh of a hyena, when it signals its excitement when it has found food. Then you usually know someone is going to die soon..

Mystical Connection Between Human And Hyenas?

It turns out the tradition of feeding wild hyenas in Harar dates back decades. They used to leave food offerings in the hills, so the hyenas wouldn’t eat the livestock in times of drought. Out of a sudden someone had the bright idea of luring the hyenas to the old city of Harar and then feeding them there.. So cool!

I found the mysterious place around 7 in the evening by incident, when I heard some crazy yelling. My local friend said it was the ‘Hyena Man’ and told me he was calling the hyenas to come and eat. I said: “Okay, let’s go and check it out..” We went close to the ‘Hyena Man,’ and the scream he made was so loud that we had to move away from him after 2-3 times of screaming. The yell sounded so crazy and funny, would’ve made a decent ringtone or alarm waking you up on a rainy, Monday morning.. That sound!

The Hyenas Started To Come

I was there as the only person with my local friend. The ‘Hyena Man” was now sitting with the hyenas circling around him. Brave guy who calls out to the hyenas every night and then feed them with scraps of meat. One local guy came to me and said that one time a hyena bit the ‘Hyena Man’ in the face and that they could be very unpredictable.. Just what I needed to hear.

It was completely dark and the first set of eyes shone in my direction, and then several more. The hyenas had arrived.

Hmmm, I thought, what the hell did you get yourself into this time Gustav?

Soon we were surrounded by several off them.

More People Started To Come

We were now around 5 tourists and lots of locals, and the ‘Hyena Man’ asked, who wants to feed the hyenas by the mouth? Nobody said anything and then I said: “I will.” A Japanese guy next to me said “good luck man,” and it was needed because hyenas have the second strongest bite of any land animal (the crocodile is number one), one can be somewhat apprehensive, especially as I was the first person there.. You never know!

I went right in the middle and had 3 of these hungry guys right behind me and then they started to get close to me. I felt like I was in the middle of a new ‘Lion King’-movie! Hyenas are not only strong, but huge as well.. I had eye contact with the biggest one and I could hear his deep, aggressive breath as he went straight to my face and took a bite of a piece of meat I had on my shoulder.

With the biggest hyena straight in my face. Hello there!

I was in the middle for some minutes and then it was the Japanese guy’s turn. He went in quickly, took a picture and then he was out again. The same with 3-4 American guys, they couldn’t get out quickly enough. I went in 7 times to the hyenas, really enjoyed their company and found it so fascinating being so close to these bush killers. I knew it was an experience I probably wouldn’t have again, so I wanted to spend as much time with them as possible. When I came out the 7th time, one Ethiopian guy said: “Bro, you’re absolutely crazy!” And asked me for my contact and called me the new Steve Irwin.. Very flattering indeed!

Goodbye Hyenas

After 45 minutes I left and wandered back in the dark with a big smile on my face. Right until I met 5 of these guys alone in the night in the streets of Harar! A bit nerve-wrecking, but fortunately nothing happened..

I love seeing wildlife, so being up close with one of Africa’s most dangerous predators was incredible. I will never forget it snapping that meat from right in front of my face.. My best kiss to this date, 100% sure!

Would you try feeding wild hyenas by the mouth?

Gustav

gus1thego.com

People Ask Me Why I Love Africa So Much? – This Is My Answer!

Posted on August 14, 2019August 14, 2019 by dev

There is a lesson for everyone in Africa. I can sometimes be sad about my life and the problems I have, and then go to Africa and see people with 100x bigger problems than me, smiling and enjoying their life.

Why You Can Learn So Much When Traveling Africa?

Appreciation of life (perspective): In my country and in many Western countries people love to complain. Life is sooo challenging, we don’t get the small pay rise we obviously deserve from our boss, why do we absolutely need to pay so much in tax, if I don’t live in the middle of Copenhagen I can’t live anywhere, tonight we’re having fish “badhrrr, I hate fish..” The list go on..

We have endless problems! This is why you can learn so much when traveling around Africa..

Problems?

Travel Africa and you feel like a massive douche bag complaining about some of these luxury problems.. All people have tough periods indeed, but some of the problems we create in the Western World aren’t really problems. In most African countries if you don’t have a job, the Government won’t pay you anything and you have two options: Find a job quickly/be an artists/create an income or go begging on the streets or die.

On the exact border of Congo and Uganda, 2016

Differences Between Western World VS Africa

Appreciation is everything: The appreciation I’ve been privileged to witness in Africa over more than 15 months of travel on the continent is authentic, honest and incredibly powerful in the way it constructs most African people’s life. I have learned to be much more grateful for the small things and I guess the saying: “you don’t see the rich people dancing on the streets” is a very powerful statement. Those people you see dancing on the streets are the ones who have appreciation of life. The happy ones. There are those that live in extreme poverty yes, and in the face of a large stereotype- there are also those that don’t. Not one of them is deprived of an appreciation of life that we may never understand or care to look for.

In Uganda, Kampala with my friend John Kennedy in 2015

The Search Of Happiness

Happiness: Most people I know are constantly searching for happiness in day to day life. The perfect career, the perfect relationship, the perfect car, the dream house.. If we have a Ferrari, we want a helicopter next! We keep wanting more and more stuff! People are yearning for the next event on the weekend that will distract them from their studies or uninspiring 9-5 job. But we forget living life right now! To be in the moment.. I thrive getting away from this environment here and there, to explore the World and the different mindsets that exists. I like to surround myself with people who value happiness as a rich part of life. The smiles, laughs and joy in Africa can be about the simplest things and sometimes we really don’t need to complicate things too much! Happiness can never be huge amounts of material stuff which limit us!

Happiness is the real key. Climbing Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Generosity Is Unreal In Africa

Generosity: Not generosity like buying our friends a drink, or buying them a meal, but generosity of the heart. Generosity that is not of monetary value, but consists of love, support, encouragement and respect. I witnessed children in kindergarten for those from underprivileged families in Arusha, Tanzania, literally share their food with those who didn’t have any at lunch time. Children, 3 or 4 years old, breaking up their own food, and genuinely passing it to those kids whose family could not provide them food this day. This generosity does not stem from privilege, it stems from values. It stems from understanding what it means to not have anything at all, either from your own experience or from that of people you are close to, and understanding the warmth received from passing on your kindness. I get a little emotional thinking about this kind of stuff, but there are a lot of lessons to be learned about generosity from all over Africa.

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.. I love Africa for many reasons

Who’ll Help You The Most When You Need It?

A big challenge for me was getting a ride 1 hour in England from outside Portsmouth to London, because I was stuck there for hours with plenty of cars passing by. But when I arrived to Bissau, Guinea-Bissau with no idea where to go or stay, I was immediately welcomed as a complete stranger inside of a family’s house. They didn’t have anything, but offered me everything they had. I wanted to pay for it all, but they rejected me every time. Real generosity! Sometimes I had the most from the people who had the least.

Getting everything I need in the slums of Bissau, Guinea Bissau

Do You See Why I Love Africa So Much?

Yes, cultural shock may confront most people on arrival, and you’ll for sure meet good and bad people like anywhere else in the World, but once you understand the heart of Africa, you’ll never look back.

Gustav

gus1thego.com

The Perfect Travel Guide – Backpacking Djibouti

Posted on August 14, 2019August 14, 2019 by dev

What is Djibouti? A country located in the Horn of Africa, bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. Some would call this area a danger zone. But is it really?

Africa’s lowest point, Lake Assal, Djibouti

Why You Should Go To Djibouti?

Djibouti – the only country name I’m aware of that contains a synonym for ass, that alone should be enough to justify a visit but if that doesn’t quite do it for you, there are a few other gems in this hidden in this little ‘Dubai of Africa’… Maybe you’re fascinated about climbing Africa’s highest point Mount Kilimanjaro, which I’ve had done, (and I’m arranging a trip this year for friends! – check it out,) but why not also visit Africa’s lowest point in Lake Assal, Djibouti.. Such a stunning place this saline lake!

Lake Assal, Djibouti, lies 155 m (509 ft) below sea level

One of Africa’s Most Expensive Countries?

I was expecting Djibouti to decimate my bank account but alas, that’s not necessarily so. True it’s not Ethiopian prices but then where is?! Djibouti is expensive compared to Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia, but there are ways in which you can make it cheaper.

I guess there are 3 main places which your trip to Djibouti will look to include. Djibouti city itself, Lac Assal and Lac Abbé. All of these are worth a visit for sure, although this is where Djibouti can begin to eat your cash :S

First of all I have a really good advice for you about how to get to Djibouti the best way.. Avoid the e-visa and expensive hotel booking like I paid for (cheapest hotel available was $50 that I HAD TO HAVE for the e-visa – no fake booking).. Here’s how you can do it better than me!

Improvised day in the surburbs of Djibouti City

Good Travel Advice To Go To Djibouti

When I went to Djibouti the visa was a little harder to get than now, so I had to get the E-Visa to be sure. It was $60, and at that time there was a bug in the E-Visa-page, so you could only choose arriving my plane. I thought I could still take public transport from Addis Ababa without any problems (usually it’s not so important in most African countries!), so I hoped I could just get on a high-speed train from Addis Ababa to Djibouti.. Turned out I couldn’t! First of all they wouldn’t allow me, because my e-visa said arriving by air, secondly when I arrived to the train station two hours outside of Addis Ababa, they said there were no more tickets and that I needed to be book in advance and that the train didn’t go every day..

Damn it! How could I then visit ‘this booty’?! Off to Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa and a $160 ticket to Djibouti City same day with Ethiopian Airlines.. Ouch!

(What you can do now is get a easy Djibouti Visa in Addis Ababa for $30 and then go by fast train if you plan a little ahead, shouldn’t be too complicated!)

Deep out in the Omo Valley, Ethiopia, before heading to Djibouti, my country number 95!

How To Get Around Djibouti?

Public transport? Small mini busses in Djibouti city, yep, but forget about it for the rest of the country! Public transport doesn’t exist in Djibouti.. You have three options:

1) Rent a car – costs around $75-$125 but you do need a 4 wheel drive, so that will be around the $100 mark

2) Go on a tour. If you have 6 people + you can go around various tour agents (there are loads in the city) and pay around $35 per person to go. Or if you’re feeling lucky, you can go on your own and hope to coincide with another group.

3) Hitchhike. I wouldn’t recommend hitchhiking at all here, because there are not many people/cars around in places like Lake Assal, Lake Abbe. You can easily be stuck out in nowhere for a long time in Djibouti, which is of course adventurous, but if you have a flight to make, it’s maybe not the coolest thing!

The Perfect Travel Guide (Djibouti)

My price guide for Djibouti would be like this: If you stay for 3 days or so and don’t visit the lakes, you’ll need around $130-140 to visit Djibouti. Extend that by a couple of days and visit the lakes, that figure will jump to $400 or so for 4-5 days (but it’s well worth it if you can afford it).

Djibouti:

Budget: Food and taxis are pretty expensive, but in general Djibouti is not as pricey as some would say. You can budget it to $25-$40 per day (excluding car rental)

Food: Street food and supermarkets allow you to eat for $2 – $4 per meal. Cheap restaurants are $6-$12 per meal. The French hangover in Djibouti means delicious pastries, croissants, pain au chocolate are in abundance here.

Restaurant: If you like a good restaurant, I recommend La Chaumière restaurant. Had some nice food there with my local friend Barryck, it’s a safe and beautiful place, but there was unfortunately a terrorist attack on May 24 2014, where two suicide bombers attacked the La Chaumière restaurant in this popular area in downtown Djibouti City. Nothing has happened since and they make some really good burgers!

Accommodation: The biggest cost. Start at $20-30 per night + (BUT that includes air conditioning which is almost a necessity in Djibouti!) I recommend the Horseed, with ice cold AC – just remember to barter hard and negotiate the price always!

Transport: Getting around the city you can use minibuses for next to nothing. Around the country, it’s pretty much nonexistent and you need car rental to visit the stunning lakes unfortunately.

People: Really cool people, although bring a French phrase book, English isn’t widespread

Weather: HOT AS HELL!!!!, bring sunscreen and drink plenty of water. Did you know Djibouti is the hottest country on Earth on average? 😉

Religion: Predominately Muslim, although in comparison to Somaliland it’s quite understated generally.

Currency: $1 USD – 180 Djibouti Francs. ATM’S do work with foreign cards although they’re not entirely reliable so bring cash (USD or Ethiopian Birr just in case.)

Visa: $30, not available on arrival by land. No problems getting it now in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Collect the same day if you ask politely.

Good memories from 2018, Djibouti. Are you excited to go!?

I hope to come back to Djibouti again one day and to see a bit more of this ‘pearl of the African Horn.’

Gustav

gus1thego.com

5 Most Fun Things To Do In Addis Ababa

Posted on August 8, 2019August 8, 2019 by dev

Back again for the second time in Ethiopia and for the second time in Addis Ababa, I can assure you these are the 5 most fun things to do in the Ethiopian capital, before you travel around the rest of the country.

With Abushe in Jinka, Ethiopia. Read about my days with him **here**

1: Africa’s Biggest Open Air Market

Mercato is the biggest outdoor market not only in Addis Ababa or Ethiopia, but in the whole of Africa. The must see parts of Mercato include the Spice Market, the hand made baskets market and the second hand items market. It’s closed on Sundays, but totally alive on most of the others days. You can meet different people who come from the more than 90 tribes of Ethiopia and communicate in Amharic language. You can buy some really cheap local stuff here, bargaining for a good price is how buying/selling goes here.

2: Tomoca Coffee

I’m not the biggest fan of coffee, but this place is a must-visit in Addis Ababa. Being the oldest Coffee Shop in the capital, Tomocca Coffee serves deliciously brewed different flavors of Ethiopian coffee. As Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, you have to taste your delicious (even for me) cup of coffee in Addis Ababa here. You may also ask for “Macciato,” which is a great mix of coffee with milk. This place’s coffee is ‘black gold.’

3: Entoto Hills

Great view of Addis Ababa from the Entoto Hills

Mount Entoto is the best spot to enjoy the great scenery of Addis Ababa. Mount Entoto is also where two of the oldest Ethiopian Orthodox Christians Churches are found at – St. Raguel (Elias) and St. Mary of Entoto. Hiking in the eucalyptus tree forest is a great experience and just in general a really nice place to go, to get away from the hassle in the big, busy city of Addis Ababa. Stunning views over the city!

St Mary’s Church, Entoto Hills, Addis Ababa

St. Mary Church of Mount Entoto has a Holy Water which is widely believed in Ethiopia to have a miraculous healing power, including curing HIV.

4: Unique Dancing

Ethiopians are superb dancers. Regardless of age, all Ethiopians appear to relish the chance to dance, or on a night out in Addis Ababa hit the dance floor (or turn any location into a dance floor basically.)

Night out with my Ethiopian friends seconds before we hit the dancefloor, Addis Ababa

Ethiopians love it when a foreigner joins in to dance, or at least tries to. At night – especially at the weekend – the city’s old central Piazza neighborhood becomes super alive with neon lit bars emitting booming music styles from across the country. Ask for Jambo House or Arada if you want to see locals letting their hair down in style! You can’t beat to witness the wild, eye-popping traditional iskista dance of the Amhara people.

5: Try The Local Food

Injera is Ethiopia’s national dish, a grey, spongy bread with vegetables and sauce toppings

Addis has a number of well-known traditional restaurant options, which typically also put on traditional dancing displays while you eat. My favorite Ethiopian foods is first of all the Ethiopian tibs. Tibs is a sauteed beef or goat, sometimes cooked with onion, garlic, and peppers. You can also get Tibs grilled in a clay pot with hot coals. And I really like the raw meat too..

Ethiopians eat lots of raw meat and has a kind of love affair with eating raw meat combined with super spicy spices. It’s considered one of the most delicious delicacies by most people in Ethiopia. I really like the raw meat too and I ate it every day on my first and second stay in Ethiopia, without any problems at all.. Even though food experts claim you are risking salmonella and listeria infection by eating this, I just feel like getting a lot of energy from it and I enjoy it so much! But yes, there’s a small risk of course..

Sharing some raw meat with my Ethiopian friends, Addis Ababa

You might ask yourself why Ethiopian eat meat raw? An Ethiopian myth is that warriors didn’t cook meat because the smell and the smoke of cooking meat, and the light and smoke of their fires, could be seen and smelled by their opponents from far away. The Ethiopians have just continued eating it raw ever since…

That’s It For Now, Addis Ababa

After you have tried these 5 most fun things to do in Addis Ababa, you’re ready to explore the rest of Ethiopia. One of my favorite countries in the World, so whenever you have the chance to go here, GO!

Getting accepted by the Banna tribe and attending a bull jump ceremony, deep in the the Omo Valley, Ethiopia

Enjoy Ethiopia!

Gustav

gus1thego.com

Travel Pictures Of Gustav

Posted on April 1, 2019August 26, 2019 by dev

Here are some random pictures from all over the world. One from each country/territory. I will add more here and there from new travels and adventures, so check back every now and then. Enjoy!

Albania

Algeria

Andorra

Argentina

Armenia

Australia

Austria

Azerbaidjan

Bahrain

Belarus

Belgium

Belize

Brazil

Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Burma / Myanmar

Chilling with the buddies in Yangon, Burma. 2018

China

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Egypt

Eswatini

Ethiopia

Faroe Islands

Finland

Gambia

Georgia

Ghana

Gibraltar

Greece

Guernsey

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Honduras

Hong Kong

India

Iran

Iraq

Ivory Coast

Japan

Jordan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macedonia

Maldives

Monaco

Mozambique

Myanmar

Nepal

Netherlands

New Zealand

North Korea

Oman

Paraguay

Quebec

Russia

Sri Lanka

South Korea

Spain

Sweden

Tajikistan

Tanzania

Thailand

Uganda

United Arab Emirates

Dubai UAE Gus1thego — At the public beach next to Burj Al Arab with +50°C in August, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 2018

Uzbekistan

Wales

Zimbabwe

5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Ethiopia?

Posted on December 11, 2018December 11, 2018 by dev

1: The landscapes are incredibly scenic

Arid plains, spectacular mountains, lush green areas, and vast lakes define Ethiopia’s scenic landscapes. The country boasts 70% of the mountains on the African continent. Whether you are in the Semien Mountains or the Danakil Depression, every corner of the country offers a view pleasant to the eyes.

2: Tasty food with extensive choices

From the raw meat delicacy to an extensive vegetable dish, Ethiopia’s cuisine is as diverse as it is flavorful and one you should experience. Meals are usually served on a common platter to encourage dining together. Injera, the country’s staple food, makes a frequent appearance on the dining table. People eat using their right hand and use injera to scoop up food served alongside it.

3: You can go back in time

It’s still 2011 in Ethiopia! The Ethiopian calendar follows the ancient Coptic calendar, which makes it fall seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar. The difference in the two calendars comes in the calculations to determine the Annunciation date of the birth of Jesus Christ.

4: Home to over 80 ethnic groups

Ethiopia is a melting pot of different cultures, with over 80 ethnic groups and languages spoken. After a look at the different traditions, you will hardly feel like you have visited just one country. The Hamer Tribe, the Banna tribe, the Mursi people, and tribes of the Omo valley are a few of the many ethnic groups with spectacular, traditional ways of living. Staying with the Banna tribe was an experience of a life-time!

5. The Wildlife

Ethiopia, as well as having beautiful scenery, also has beautiful wildlife. Ethiopia has many national parks, such as Awash National Park, Abijatta Shalla Lakes National Park, Mago National Park, and more. These parks, along with the lakes of the Great Rift Valley, are home to rare species of birds and animals, such as the Mountain Nyala, the African antelope, the Walia Ibex, the mountain horned goats, and the Ethiopian wolf.

Gustav in the surburbs of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Compared with many African countries, Ethiopia is remarkably safe – most of the time. Serious or violent crime is rare; against travellers it’s extremely rare. Outside the capital, the risk of petty crime drops still further. So, as much as it is safe to travel around Ethiopia, you need to realise that sometimes not-so-nice situations may happen – as they can and do happen in any city in the world. Just be ready for them, so you’re not disappointed.

I really enjoyed my 10 days in Ethiopia. Hopefully not my last time here.

– Gustav

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