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

5 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Lahore (Pakistan)

Posted on October 24, 2019October 24, 2019 by dev

Still in Pakistan, and Lahore was my 2. destination on my Pakistan round-trip, and what a place it is! These are 5 fun facts about Pakistan’s 2nd largest city and also Pakistan’s cultural heart, Lahore.

Lahore is for me the most beautiful city of Pakistan

1. One City, Sixteen Dialects

Lahore is the biggest city of Punjab region, and its commercial hub makes Lahore’s culture ever more colorful since folks from across the province come to work here. At any given time there are more than sixteen different dialects of Punjabi being spoken here including Majhi, Pothohari, Dhani, Shapuri, Jhangochi, Jangli/Rachnavi, Chenavari, Thalochi, Hindko, Chhachi, Jandali, Multani/Saraiki, Derawali, Riasti, Ghebi, Dogri/Darhab. I can’t tell the difference, but I know this place is full of action and colors for sure!

2. More International Flights!

More international flights than domestic in Lahore

Do you know that Allama Iqbal Airport which is Lahore’s biggest airport handles more than 20,700 international flights each year which are actually more than the domestic flights from Lahore that it manages i.e. 16,700!

3. City Of Gardens

Lahore has so many lovely parks and gardens to walk around

Lahore is the city of gardens. Lahoris love their parks. The bombing at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in March 2016, which killed more than 70 people, struck at the heart of this love. Parks are the few egalitarian spaces left to the poor and the middle-class. I personally really like the atmosphere in the lovely parks, where I can mention the Mughal-era Shalimar Gardens and its disused fountains and the beautiful Bagh-e-Jinnah and its botanical garden. Lahore is clearly the ‘The City Of Gardens,’ in Pakistan.

4. Food Capital of Pakistan

Trying out the different local food in the cozy streets of Old Town, Lahore

Lahore has long anointed itself the food capital of Pakistan. Punjabi culture is all about food; it’s a fundamentally agrarian society, and the traditions of its Mughal kitchens, as well as the ethnic Punjabis with roots in Kashmir, have left their mark on the city’s food. It’s in Lahore where you can pick up the seemingly odd food pairings of boiled eggs with chickpeas, or naan with pakoras, fried vegetables in a gram flour batter. From dessert to offal, Lahore is the answer to all your food aspirations.

Lahore has a never-ending supply of naan! And don’t forget about the lassi!

5. Lahore, Not LaWhore

It’s all about the pronouncation. Lahore, not LaWhore

Nope, don’t call it LaWhore. You have to use the right pronunciation! Using this nickname means you’re either an overgrown schoolboy, or a bitter Karachi resident. On that note, if that’s you, Lahore actually has a red-light district (dubbed the Diamond Market). This district was originally formed as a neighborhood for the Mughal emperors’ harem, and generations of courtesans worked there until it was banned in the 1950s. As a result, the sex trade spread across the city, but this area is still operating. While the dancers and sex workers only begin work after hours, it’s actually during the day that the district is worth seeing: Shi’ite symbols, men bragging about their political connections, boys glancing at the few women on the streets, and the shuttered windows of the houses where sex workers work their shifts.

I shouldn’t have mentioned number 5 to some of my friends, now they all want to go to Lahore. Anyway, Lahore, (not LaWhore,) is such a beautiful city with magnificent sights! A prosperous cosmopolitan, where every nook, corner, building and street is steeped in history and has a story to tell; all you have to do is step outside. Thanks for this time, Lahore <3

Gustav

gus1thego.com

5 Things You’ll Love About Karachi Pakistan

Posted on October 18, 2019October 18, 2019 by dev

I just spend 2,5 days in Karachi for my round-trip around Pakistan. These are the 5 things you’ll love about the biggest and most hectic city in Pakistan, Karachi.

1. City On The Move

I have been to many big cities around the World, and if you go to most big cities there are usually higher risks of criminals trying to harm you, scams, etc., but in Karachi it felt different to me. It has the distinct feel of a city on the move, but people are still greeting you with a welcoming feeling. People seem to be on the go in Karachi, and it gives a wild energy, and it’s really fascinating to observe this city on the move.

2. Food And Cuisines

Karachi is known as the city by the sea, so it has some mouth-watering fish markets and restaurants.

You can find food from all over Pakistan here in Karachi, to match your tastes. Go to Hyderabad Colony for the most authentic Hyderabadi achars, or go to Burns Road for the best kababs, haleem and other desi foods. Or, if you like to have karak dhoodh patti chai, then head to the tea shops around Cantt Station. For gola ganda head to Dhoraji Colony, if you like spicy ‘disco aaloo’ go to the thelas in Kharadar, or if the legendary Bihari Kabab is more to your taste, you should head to Meerut Kebab house.

3. Cosmopolitan Feeling

Beautiful architecture and cosmopolitan feeling in Karachi

Karachi is relatively young, but it has some of the most interesting architecture. A good way to explore this is to drive around the Old City — Kharadar, Mithadar, Saddar, Elphinstone Street, M A Jinnah Road, Napier Road, and their surrounding areas. I was in Karachi mid October, and would strongly recommend to do your city tour early in the morning to avoid the crowds and the insane heat in the middle of the day.

I was told you will find far more women drivers in Karachi than in any other Pakistani city, and in general Karachi has a distinct cosmopolitan and urban feel to it, which is super cool. This city is alive!

4. The Prices

Karachi is among the world’s top 10 cheapest cities in the World again in 2019, and the megalopolis called home by over 16 million people, has remained in the top 10 cheapest cities in the World consistently over the past decade, even ranking as the cheapest city a few times. The surveys are measuring the comparative cost of more than 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment, and Karachi is just unbelievably cheap! Furthermore the Pakistani hospitality is unreal, so you’ll have so much free stuff, and when you sometimes try to pay for something or split the bill, it happens that a Pakistani person won’t let you. Hospitality is great in Karachi!

5. The Adventures

Karachi is a city for a traveler who loves a wild adventure. Jump on the colorful buses, take a rickshaw ride, throw yourself out in the wild, hectic and lively streets of Karachi, and just breath in the cool craziness of this huge city. Karachi is an experience well-worth it, and I’m honestly so excited to explore the rest of Pakistan after some adventurous days in Karachi.

Some would say don’t go to Karachi, and I would say go to Karachi! If you only visit Lahore, only visit Islamabad or only visit Karachi, you haven’t been to Pakistan. Then you’ve only been to a city in Pakistan! Try out the biggest city in Pakistan and promise me to explore the rest of Pakistan too. That’s what I’m planning to do, because it’s such a beautiful country. I’m feeling the good vibes and beauty already!

With Pakistani police man inside the Tomb of the Founder of Pakistan, Karachi

Pakistan Zindabad… Next stop: Lahore! Before heading to the mountains.. Can’t wait to see what this country has in store!

Gustav

gus1thego.com

Follow me on Instagram @gustavrosted