Tag: Guest post

Travel

10 of the Most Mysterious Islands on the Planet

Post author By Julia Jerg
Post date 2017-12-19
7 Comments on 10 of the Most Mysterious Islands on the Planet

UPDATED 4/2020

This article on the top 10 most mysterious islands is a guest post by Agness.

As the world is so BIG there are so many hidden secrets waiting to be discovered. One of the most interesting places where you can find an unearthed mystery is in the ocean. It’s absolutely massive and full of sunken secrets and treasure troves. Agness and Cez from etramping.com love a mystery and often stumble upon folklores and intriguing tales from their adventures. These islands listed below are just a handful in comparison to the number of unknown discoveries out there… Get inspired!

The Socotra Island

Located in the Arabian Sea, Socotra Island is rather special. This particular place is home to around 800 rare species of fauna and flowers. The plants on the island have evolved around the harsh climate and thrive in the sunshine. What makes this island so unique is that the plants are all randomly shaped and very odd. People often think of Socotra as a sci-fi movie set due to its alien-type trees and carved limestone caves. It’s sort of like a lost world, where secret creatures hide and myths are hidden away from the human eye.

old wooden boat on a deserted beach on one of the most mysterious islands out there. — One of the most mysterious islands: Socotra Island.

Daksa Island

Daksa Island has underlying darkness surrounding its name as it’s otherwise known as the ‘island of ghosts’. It’s a small island near to Dubrovnik and unfortunately was once the scene of a destructive massacre in 1944. Therefore, Daksa contains a lot of history. If you ever want to visit a place like this then there are many online guides out there ready to introduce you to Croatian islands. It’s always worth researching into places before you visit them so that you can grasp the culture and get a clearer understanding as to why things are the way they are.

sunset with extremely orange light all over the sky that shimmers over the ocean

Are you an island lover? Great! We’ve got your back! Check out this guide for island hopping in Thailand. Or perhaps you want to visit one of our favourite islands in Asia, Koh Phangan, then read here.

Palmyra Atoll

First sighted in 1798, this uninhabited island in the Pacific has been reported to have had a number of paranormal experiences take place on its shores. The most famous occurrence is when a group of sailors sailed their boat named ‘Angel’ across the sea and ended up on the edge of Palmyra’s lagoon. Soon after they found themselves stuck so they decided to walk onto the island and take a look around. It is unclear whether the sailors were shipwrecked or that they crashed onto Palmyra, yet their bodies were later found spread out across the island. They had been brutally murdered and to this day, no one knows who did it…

bones and a skull lay on the ground in a forest

Tashirojima

If you’re a cat lover, then behold the wonderful Tashirojima Island! What’s great about this mysterious find is that there are more cats than humans here. You can find this island in Miyagi (Japan) and you will receive good fortune and luck if you feed the animals. This is one of the world’s quirkiest islands and there’s even a cat shrine for you to pay your respects to the furry creatures!

an orange cat is laying on big rocks at the ocean

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picture with island atoll and a headline saying 11 of the most mysterious islands

Poveglia Island

Nicknamed as ‘Italy’s most haunted island’, this is another mysterious find that will have you feeling a little bit freaked out. It is home to hundreds of years of cruelty and murder and has a very twisted history behind it. Back when the plague hit the world’s population, this island was used as a cage to separate the dead from the living. Poveglia was where people lived out the last of their plague-riddled lives and were sometimes burned alive in mass graves. The mystery of the island is to do with the so-called ‘spirits’ which you can still hear screaming at night.

Black and white photograph of a stone statue showing only the hand holding a rose made out of stone

Isla Bermeja

The Red Island, known as Isla Bermeja was marked down on 16th-century maps. It was once a rocky cliff 100 kilometres north of the Mexican Gulf. However, it seems to have vanished and nobody knows where it’s gone. Some people speculate that it was blown up by the CIA and others think it disappeared due to erosion. Luckily, there are still majestic islands that exist in Mexico. If you fancied it, you could take a trip towards the mainland as there’s so much on offer in Mexico. Especially along Playa Mujeres, where you can find the Finest Playa Mujeres all-inclusive resort.

old map, a compass and gold coins on a wooden table

The Floating Islands of Lake Titicaca

In Peru, you’ll find marvellous floating islands at Lake Titicaca. They’re man-made and are home to the Uros tribe. This lake is a hotspot for hunting and fishing for fresh seafood. Lately, however, it’s been begging for a clean. Smothered in plastic bags and muddy items, it’s not exactly an idyllic spot to sail through. That’s why Peru and Bolivia have promised to team up together and do a massive clear up of the lake.

view onto a floating island with little houses made of straw and a canoe on the shore

Holy Island

In Northumberland, there’s a place called Lindisfarne and it is just off England’s northeast coast. Its castle is what makes it such an appealing destination and the way that it is cut off from regular society. You can actually explore the castle’s rooms and discover the ruins left behind. It’s such a peaceful place to be, hence why it is named the ‘holy island’.

Island of the Dead Dolls

In Mexico, there’s a very popular island but it’s not uninhabited by people. In fact, it is home to hundreds of old dead dolls. Of course, the dolls were never alive, yet they’ve been made to look dead with paint and gouged eyes. Tourists flock here every year to get a fright and a good sighting of this island; it’s very popular at Halloween believe it or not. The locals state that there are ghosts lurking around the waters, ready to jump into your body and possess you. However, you may find that the dolls themselves are scarier than any demons or spiritual beings…

Easter Island

You won’t find any Easter eggs lying around here but you will find very cool carved figures with oversized faces. There are almost 900 of them and they date back from centuries ago. The iconic statues are a huge tourist attraction and were created by Polynesian engineers and expert craftsmen. Like all mysteries, no one understands the true purpose behind these figures or how they were sprinkled all over Easter Island. Perhaps it will forever remain a mystery…

Man-shaped stone figures lined up in front of the horizon

San Blas Islands

Perhaps the least mysterious island or island group on this list, San Blas does have a mystery to be resolved! With exactly 365 islands in the Caribbean Ocean off Panama’s coast, you could technically visit one island per day throughout a whole year. Wouldn’t that be a fun to-do list for 2021?! So, this island group in Central America is perhaps one of the most deserted and yet most blissful spots on this planet.

You hardly bump into tourists there and the islanders are happy to get you around, which means you can truly experience your own private Robinson Crusoe moment. How on earth is this part of the world so little visited? That’s a real mystery to me!

girl laying on a fallen palm tree at a tropical beach

Where is the most mysterious place you’ve visited? Leave us a comment below, we are curious to know about other mysterious islands and spots around the world!

NOT DONE READING YET?

Are you looking for more travel inspiration? Check out our post on the Top 5 Beaches from 21 Travel Bloggers! Or if you have already made up your mind and want to see one of South America’s evergreen top destination, make sure to read our most recent guide for Rio de Janeiro!

If the whole travel thing is YOUR thing – and that’s probably the case as you are browsing this site – then why not go full-time travel and become a digital nomad yourself? One way of starting your location independent life, you’ll read here.

Tags Guest post

Travel

Tucked Away Locations You Want to Visit

Post author By Julia Jerg
Post date 2017-06-06
No Comments on Tucked Away Locations You Want to Visit

5 Tucked Away Locations You’ll Brag About Visiting

If you’re looking for unique travel locations that will give you real stories to tell, then you’ve come to the right place! This list, inspired by Agness and Cez of eTramping, has got you covered. All of these are places that you’ll want you snap a few selfies at to wow your friends and family. And unless they’re already world travellers, it’s unlikely they’ve been to any of these locations; which means you’ll get instant bragging rights. Let’s just dive right in:

Svalbard

Sitting at the literal edge of the world; Svalbard trip comes in at number one. You could try to go further north than Svalbard, but you won’t find anything but ice and sea. The settlements here are the last permanent settlements you’ll find in this direction on planet earth. In addition to the stunning landscapes of glaciers and seascapes of the ice-covered Arctic, Svalbard also boasts an amazing geologic diversity.

Many skeletons from the Jurassic period have been found in this region, and activity directors will show you where to collect your own marine fossils to take home. Aside from the breathtaking natural sites, you will find some great festivals to experience here as well. You can enjoy a traditional Oktoberfest every late September or come for the Dark Season Blues Festival to kick off the 4 months of darkness that the region lives under each winter.

Tuvalu

Tucked away in the Pacific between Hawaii and Australia you can find the tiny string of islands that make up Tuvalu. This Polynesian paradise is only 10 square miles in size and while it doesn’t offer many events or activities it has gorgeous white sand beaches and the shade of plenty of palm trees, which is enough to lure me there! Perhaps the main reason to travel to Tuvalu is that you won’t be able to for much longer.

That is if sea levels keep rising. In 1989 the UN listed it as one of the island chains most likely to disappear beneath the sea in the 21^st century. Go to Tuvalu and enjoy a picnic on a beach to yourself, a motorbike trip around the island (you can rent one for about $10 USD per day) or just play on the airstrip (aka community park) in the evenings with the locals. Visiting this island will give you a truly laid-back experience and a chance to simply relax and recharge.

Malta

Alright, Malta might be a lot more popular than the others here, but it’s still a must-visit location that not everyone has on their bucket list. Sitting in the Mediterranean sea, Malta lies 50 miles off the coast of Italy and has a history that dates back to the Neolithic era.

Malta is a history lover’s paradise, with some of the oldest standing structures known to mankind and stories of grandeur from St. Paul to Napoleon Bonaparte. If you’re not a history buff then come to see the Malta jazz, fireworks, or arts festivals, the spectacular scuba diving, or carnival week that occurs every February. You can also easily visit Malta’s sister islands of Gozo and Comino. Comino is known for its spectacular swimming spots and Gozo for its Opera Houses.

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Liechtenstein

As one out of only two doubly-landlocked countries on earth and the only country lying entirely in the Alps, Liechtenstein is another location you’ll want to brag about visiting. It’s also one of the richest countries in the world, and thanks to its free-enterprise economy it offers living standards akin to that of the larger European countries.

Liechtenstein can give you a wine and fine dining experience or a breathtaking hike through the Alps; whichever suits your fancy. The Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein is an architecturally stunning art museum that also offers a café with a more diverse menu than you might think (sushi anyone?). Among other attractions, there’s also an Alpine Marathon in June and a 3 day, open-air music festival, the Vaduz SOUNDZ, in July.

Nauru

Another beautiful island in the South Pacific; Nauru sits northeast of Australia and is the smallest independent republic in the world (and formerly one of the richest). Today, you won’t hear of many people visiting Nauru due to the island’s unfortunate economic decline. While you won’t be able to see it in its former splendour or have many options for accommodation, it’s still definitely worth your visit. Nauru has many remnants of Japanese occupation during WWII that you can find across the island, making it another great stop for history buffs. You can also visit the Nauru Government House and the Civic Center where you can find a bustling little Saturday market and try all the local foods.

Whether you want solitude and relaxation or a trip filled with festivals and fun, I’ll bet one of these locations will hit the spot. No doubt, they each offer their own unique experience that differs from the average trip to Paris or New York. Not only is it fun to explore a place where most people haven’t been, it allows you become a well-rounded individual. Immersing ourselves in other cultures and ways of life can really help to keep our own in perspective.

What is the most unique location that you’ve been to? Let us know, so we can take notes and plan our next adventure!

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About Agness and Cez from eTramping:

Since 2011, Cez and Agness have been travelling the world and today consider themselves experts in the field of world travel. The couple from Poland has ticked off their bucket list locations across Asia, Europe, and beyond! They even lived in many different parts of the world for various amounts of time. We are happy to share their guest post on Jey Jetter about their 5 special places and hope you’ll check out their blog for more awesome recommendations from the eTramping guys.

>>> Read More! <<<

Check out Why it’s more fun in the Philippines where you can read about
cool locations to stay and work as a digital nomad.

Or perhaps you’re still deciding if the digital nomad lifestyle is for you, read here
how Five years of full-time travelling have changed my life.

Tags Guest post, Travel Tips

Travel

Guest Post: A Trip To Nelson, British Columbia

Post author By Julia Jerg
Post date 2016-04-07
4 Comments on Guest Post: A Trip To Nelson, British Columbia

Sharing is caring and I am happy to publish fellow travel blogger Samantha’s blog post from Travel VV Remixes about her trip to Nelson. When we lived for 7 months in Canada, we stayed mainly in British Columbia, but back then our blog wasn’t quite ready. So, it’s great to get a post about a region that we visited! Get inspired by Samantha’s visit to one of British Columbia’s countless tourist spots and share the love for her article if you enjoy it as much as I do!

‘A Trip To Nelson, British Columbia’ Originally published by Samantha Collier on Travel VV Remixes:

Ian and I took a road trip across BC during the Summer of 2015. Although we went to many places, our favourite by far was Nelson, a quaint town of about 10,000 people in the mountains of BC. In the summer it is an easy going town filled with happy, smiling people! In the winter, as it does get cold (-15 celsius is a thing there) and it does snow, I’ve heard the town caters more to snowboarders and the “snow bunny” clientele.

The people are friendly, the coffee is plenty, the food is heavenly and the shops are lovely. Oh, and the views are a PLENTY!

This town can be expensive, but can be visited on any budget.

The transit system around this area is fantastic. We went in the summer, and there were plenty of backpackers and drifters. Though we travelled by car, I would imagine if you have a lot of time, seeing this area of BC via transit is most definitely a worthwhile trip, and is something I would like to do!

There is a yearly music festival that takes places very close to Nelson called “Shambala” – though I have never gone, it definitely caters to the more “hippie” type person. If this isn’t your scene, I would avoid visiting the first weekend of August. That being said, the people that attend Shambala are extremely friendly and are not the drunken type.

Where we stayed

We stayed at The Adventure Hotel for all three nights. We didn’t plan ahead and made our reservations for that night as we drove during the day (a big mistake!) That being said, we were lucky enough to get in to this gem! One night we stayed in a room with it’s own shower (which was nice), the second night we stayed in a room with no shower (though there was one just down the hall that seemed to be a once at a time situation). It honestly was not that bad at all (having to share a shower), and no one was disrespectful. There was also a large communal common area including a kitchen. We had leftovers the evening we arrived, and it was nice to save a few dollars eating in. There is also a large deck that faces the street, which also had a infrared sauna (but was only available to the more fancy rooms).

What We Did

The first night we arrived we went for a late night coffee and snack. We wandered the streets for about an hour, and then went back to our hotel to get some rest.

Our first full day was spent shopping and wandering. It was surreal – everyone was in a good mood. Everyone was happy to be alive. The vibe was something I had never experienced. It was refreshing! We also walked down to the beach from our hotel around 3:30 pm, which is a little late, but we still had a great time.

The next morning, we took a plane ride over the Valhalla Mountains and the Kokanee Glacier. The views were some that I will never forget! If you’re interested – we flew with Kootenay Lake Aviation (and we highly recommend the experience!)

Views of Nelson:

We spent the remainder of our time going back to a few more shops, and eating – but then we had to head out for out Kokanee Moutain Zipline Tour! Though it wasn’t the cheapest activity, it was certainly worthwhile! The hosts were full of energy, extremely friendly and easy going, and really made the experience that much more enjoyable.

Where we ate:

The Yellow Deli (I had the Nelson Yoga Burger and the Mango Maté) and Itza Ristorante + Pizzeria – I succumb to my love of cheese and enjoyed their pizza A LOT.

Jagannatha Express – Easily and honestly the best food I’ve ever eaten. The food is served buffet style by one person to you. The people who run it are Hare Krisna – I bought a couple of their cookbooks too!

Empire Coffee – They have iced coffee ON TAP. ‘Nuff Said.

I highly recommend visiting Nelson – it is so far one of my favourite places I’ve visited!

Thanks again for sharing your experience in Nelson. It sounds like a lovely place to visit. If you liked Samantha’s article, give her some love and visit her page! Happy travels all 😀

Tags British Columbia, Canada, explore, Guest post, Nelson, travel blogging