Whew, right? Em, sure, was lucky enough to experience the Aurora during her first trip to Iceland! But before you even go to Iceland (or any other country for that matter), what are Em‘s travel tips in general? Let’s take a look at ’em (no pun intended! haha):

• Plan ahead – “You can save a lot of money and you will have better choices.”
• Use a credit card (if applicable) – “Based on my last trip, using a credit card is better than having your US dollars exchanged for a lower rate (with commission pa most of the time).”
• Stay at hostels – “Try urban and hip hostels that are cheaper compared to most hotels, but are also safe, modern, and located on strategic locations (near train stations, public transportation, or must-see sights).”
• Pack wisely – “No matter how tired you are or your checked in baggage is limited, always consider your OOTDs [ladies, listen! haha]. Your pictures will say it all, and they will last for a lifetime (hopefully).”
• Respect. ‘Nuff said. – “Always respect the culture and religion of the people. Respect animals and nature.”
• Stick to your budget – “Consider all the expenses, and stick to your budget. Some optional tours offered by travel agents/tour guides are very expensive. If you do it on your own, it may be a little inconvenient, but you get to experience the place, explore, and save.”
• Try the road less traveled – “Try to visit some sites that are actually not popular to tourists but offer a more intimate experience with the place. Like when we visited a Nubian village settled along the banks of the Nile in Egypt, we were able to stay in one of the families and shared dinner with them. We were also taken to a local school where we were taught basic Arabic language.”
• Always look after your safety – “Traveling is so enjoyable and sometimes we forget that as travelers, we also attract people who don’t always look after our best interests. Take the movie Taken as an example! LOL.”

After all that has been said and done, why will Em continue to travel? She answered, “Traveling opens your eyes, your mind, and your heart to the good and bad, beautiful and ugly, fact and fiction, and oddly, to answers and more questions.

“The places I’ve seen only in the movies and imagined through the books I read when I was young came alive when I saw them in my travels. They made me think that they weren’t just mere inventions of bored minds but actual and real places! And every place has a story! That’s the beauty of it. And as cliche as it may sound, yes, the world and our life are like a book and when we do not travel, we read only a few pages. Traveling is learning. And though we may not know all the answers, I guess it’s enough to know that there are answers. And maybe when I travel again, I might stumble into one.”

Well said, Em! And from one traveler to another, here’s to finding answers to some of life’s trivial questions, all thanks to wandering!! Carpe diem!!! ❤

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For more of my other featured travelers on this blog, click HERE.