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

7 UNDERRATED COUNTRIES (traveler with +130 countries visited)

Posted on November 28, 2019November 28, 2019 by dev

Some countries are very popular and are floating with tourists everywhere, but it’s not the case with these 7 countries. These are 7 UNDERRATED COUNTRIES I enjoyed a lot, and you should maybe consider these as your next travel destination!

These are 7 countries that I find really underrated, and you might consider to visit these in the near future!

7. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is a very underrated place with a lot of misconceptions. While some may hate it because of its relatively strict rules, there’s a lot of good in it too. These are 20 Things I Like About Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has some unique landscape you won’t see anywhere else. But is it safe to go to Saudi Arabia?

Check my YT-Video here about the safety in the country: Is Saudi Arabia Safe?

6. Bulgaria

A lot of people from my country goes to Sunny Beach or Golden Sands in Bulgaria to get super drunk and party, with some of the cheapest alcohol in Europe. But Bulgaria actually has a lot more to offer. The capital Sofia and the two very beautiful cities Plovdiv and Varna are cool places to visit + the fascinating mountains which exists in Bulgaria and the fact that Bulgaria is a diamond in the spa crown of Europe changed my mind about this country. Yes, you can have a great party in Bulgaria, but Bulgaria is so much else. Bulgaria is rich with natural resources – mineral water, healing springs, pure air (at most places). The mountains and the plains offer different opportunities for rest, relax and heal yourself.

I can recommend to visit the spa Sapareva Banya. Not many towns can say they have their own geyser. Sapareva Banya welcomes its guests by its steaming geyser in the center of the city. The town attracts us with its closeness to Sofia, its friendly locals and its huge amount of pools and thermal delights for resting and getting prettier. It should be named SPApareva Banya. Consider exploring Bulgaria properly!

5. Tajikistan

Tajikstan is very underrated. Its array of cultures, languages, valleys and mountains makes it interesting. The Pamir mountain range, aka the “Roof of the World”, located west, is Tajikistan’s main attraction, with its beautiful mountainous landscape and magnificent trails. Some really nice mountains in general and you have to make time for scenic stops and spontaneous detours by striking moonscapes, glistening lakes, wandering yaks, and the imposingly large, snow-capped Hindu Kush mountains. Tajikistan was a big surprise!

4. Belarus

Belarus is one of those destinations that has most people scratching their heads and reaching for Google maps. But it won’t be long before travellers from around the globe figure out that it’s one of Eastern Europe’s unsung heroes. I traveled around Belarus in 2017, and to be fair it’s maybe the cheapest country in Europe alongside Ukraine. You get a lot of value for your money here and there’s quiet a lot to see.

My only problem here was the language barrier, when I left the capital Minsk and explored the country. If you don’t speak Belarusian or Russian it’s a little hard to communicate, especially with the older generation. Anyway, I found Belarus, the sights and the prices very underrated! Cheapest in Europe!

3. Ghana

I traveled around Ghana in early 2019, and while the visa was a pain in the arse to get, it was such a great country on the inside. One of Africa’s most peaceful countries and a lot of cool cities like Tamale, Kumasi and Accra and a beautiful country side and nice beaches. The best thing about Ghana is the people, the music and the vibes, I loved the atmosphere in Ghana and enjoyed the characteristic way Ghanaian people speak English. Here pictured at a street celebration in Accra, and I must say the people in Ghana certainly knows how to throw a party and dance to a Sarkodie, Stonebwoy and Kweli Artur-Ghana-banger.. You name it! Great times in Ghana! Some would maybe think it’s a dangerous African country.. Not at all, one of the most underrated and awesome African countries!

2. Iran

It’s almost a cliché by now, but Iranians are perhaps some of the friendliest people in the world, and just about anyone that has been will testify enthusiastically to this. Furthermore Iran offers varied and dramatic landscapes, with beautiful mountains, forests and deserts and a lot of Natural Wonders.

Political situation is a little complicated in Iran, but let’s not forget this is truly a remarkable country; super friendly people, inimitably rich in history and natural beauty, and home to some of the oldest civilizations on Earth. All those places that you’ve heard about—Persepolis and Shiraz, the mosques of Esfahan, the Silk Road, the desert city of Yazd, the ski slopes of the Alborz and the otherworldiness of Qeshm island—they’re absolutely worth the hype.

1. Pakistan

The Pakistani people are some of the friendliest and most welcoming people I’ve encountered in my travels. For me Pakistan is the most misunderstood and most underrated country in the World. With mighty mountains, lush green plateaus, golden sand deserts, some of the oldest cities in the World and the emerald colored Arabian sea etc. The list go on! I still have the Hunza Valley in the North of Pakistan stuck in my head. BUT IS PAKISTAN SAFE? Check this video I made there: ‘Is Pakistan Safe?’

Furthermore I received so many gifts and free stuff in Pakistan, which lead me to the BIG question in this travel video: ‘Is Everything Really FREE In Pakistan?’

Pakistan is an experience you don’t want to miss out on and is for me the most underrated country!

These were in fact 7 Underrated Countries that just came to my mind.. Can you name any?

Gustav

gus1thego.com

20 Things I Like About Saudi Arabia (Pro-Traveler!)

Posted on November 1, 2019November 1, 2019 by dev

Currently traveling around Saudi Arabia, a country I’ve heard a lot of bad stuff about in the media. But is it all true? Hanging out with local friends, doing more research and observing things in the daily life here in Saudi Arabia has made me write these: “20 Things I Like About Saudi Arabia.”

These are the 20 things I like about Saudi Arabia (Edge of the World, Saudi Arabia)

1. They have high employment rate.

2. Free health care for all residents.

3. Free education for all (attending Universities for most Expats’ children is complicated).

4. Tax-free salary for all.

5. Mostly modern infrastructure.

Museum of Athayibat and Home Art, Jeddah

6. One can literally walk around anywhere at any given time feeling safe.

7. “Ladies first” is a reality there. In public, if men and women are walking towards each other the man would move aside while the women keeps on walking. They respect women in that matter.

8. For the most part, law and order situation is pretty decent. Murder rate is pretty low.

9. Food is very cheap (and good!) with countless restaurants everywhere.

10. Every Friday families would go to the beaches, parks, restaurants etc.

With Saudi friends in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

11. Very rarely you’ll hear about war/terrorism here, only small problems with Yemen.

12. 33+% of its population are foreigners. Very diverse.

13. There are plenty of luxury malls.

14. I was never afraid that someone would steal from me, no matter where I was here.

15. In a 10-year period things has changed positively in KSA.

The 302.3 m skyscraper, Kingdom Centre, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

16. As far as I can tell, Saudis don’t dislike their government and King Salman

17. Most Saudis have a good heart and are generous people. They don’t lose their
temper fast!

18. Overall people seem happy and live a simple life

19. A lot of the Saudi people are very welcoming and helpful from my experience

20. Some of the most fascinating desert landscapes I’ve ever seen (Edge of the World)

Al Masmak Fortress, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Is Saudi Arabia A Dangerous Country?

Both Saudi women and men can be very conservative, especially in Riyadh, where Jeddah is more liberal and open-minded. The questioner have a very exaggerated picture of Saudi Arabia. In my opinion, the scariest thing in Saudi Arabia is probably the road traffic, certain people tend to drive recklessly.

Of course there are things that can improve here, but these are the 20 things I like about Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has an interesting cultural influence from all over the Middle East, which is super cool

Saudi Arabia. An underrated country.

Gustav

gus1thego.com

Follow me on Instagram @gustavrosted