8 Amazing Place to Go (Someday) That is Not Your House
Wouldn’t it be dreamy to travel anywhere that is not the four walls of your house? We thought so, too. In honor of our newest Giraffes print, which makes us desperately want to escape to Africa, we’ve compiled a list of 8 very amazing places to visit. Ya know, someday.
You know what we’ve been thinking about lately? Going somewhere. Like, anywhere. We started with places besides our houses (remember restaurants?), but then we went even bigger—faraway tropical places that require planes, trains, and automobiles, and being in the company of people, and various things we’re not entirely allowed to do right now. What spurred this craving for wanderlust? Mainly staring at our latest Giraffes print, and wishing we could go all the way to Africa to pet them. Oh, and quarantine in general is also making us want to do anything but quarantine.
So, we turned to the great internets to satisfy our craving, and compiled a list of 10 very cool places you should absolutely, immediately go to—when such things are possible again. Until then, you can stare at the pictures like us, pet giraffes on your body, and make travel lists for the future, which is going to be a very good time. Someday.
1. Myanmar’s Ancient Temples: Have you ever been in the company of 3,500 ancient Buddhist pagodas, temples, and religious structures within 16 miles? Built anywhere from 800 to 1,000 years ago? We’re guessing not, which is why you should go to Bagan, Mayanmar. Which, as a World Heritage site, is a very legit ancient city.
2. Greece’s Floating Monasteries: There’s a lot of things that live on the top of an impossible-to-reach cliff, like maybe a lost bird or a couple of rogue daisies. But way back in the 11th century, actual people perched themselves up there, in monasteries that, incredibly, still exist. They just sit up there, magically suspended in the air, like it’s a totally normal spot to build a building—which it was when monks were seeking refuge from the Turkish invasion. So go to Meteora and check them out—you’ll get a whole new appreciation for self-isolating.
3. Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni: Once upon a time, some prehistoric lakes casually evaporated, and left behind the world’s largest salt flat. Nbd, right? Nope—especially when a thin layer of water from surrounding lakes covers the flat and creates an incredible reflection of the sky. This is one of those other-worldly places where you’ll have to pinch yourself at least twice to believe it’s real. (Spoiler alert: it is.)
4. Japan’s Sagano Bamboo Forest: Sure, we’ve got trees. But Kyoto, Japan has a grove of gigantic bamboo stalks so incredible that the sound of them rustling, creaking, and swaying has become a governmentally-recognized sound. So ditch your noise machine, folks—it’s time to fill your eardrums with the sweet, sweet sound of dancing bamboo.
5. China’s Rainbow Mountains: Located in the Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park in Gansu Province, these mountains are, quite literally, a smorgasboard of colors. Sure, you could imagine what a bunch of incredible mountains would look like in a rainbow color palette, or you could go to the actual Rainbow Mountains and see for yourself. We suggest the latter.
6. Pamukkale, Turkey: Let’s start here: Pamukkale means “cotton castle.” Why? Well, first, because the mountain features a shimmering, snow-white limestone surface, over which calcium-rich springs drip and collect in terraces and milky pools (the “cotton”). And secondly, the ruins of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis sit up top (the “castle”). Aka man-made and natural wonders just, hanging altogether. Go see it.
7. Vietnam’s Mu Cang Chai Rice Fields: You probably thought nothing of rice the last time you ate it. Well, after you see these rice fields, you’re going to start to respect it. That’s a fact. But beware: these rice terraces are so mesmerizingly precise (and brilliant) that it might make you feel bad about your own gardening. That’s ok, they make everyone feel that way.
8. Holland’s Tulip Fields: Can you imagine anything better than an endless sea of beautiful, colorful, fragrant tulips? Of course you can’t, because you’re a delightful human. From March to May, these gorgeous babies bloom in all their glory, and let us tell you, they’re a literal sight to see (and smell). You’ll be happy you went, and that’s what’s important here.
And now that you’re dying for a trip, we suggest a preliminary, safe, regulation-approved visit: to our brand new Giraffes print, where the sights and sounds of Africa await. Sort of.