📍Ganvié - Village Lacustre, Africa 🇧🇯
On my travels, I've come across many places where people live in ways that are quite unusual by our standards. One such place was a village completely built on water, which I first encountered in Cambodia on Tonle Sap Lake almost six years ago, at the start of my around-the-world journey. I was fascinated by this way of life then, and I still am now. Let me try to paint you a better picture of it.
In Benin, there's a village called Ganvie located on Lake Nokoue with an official population of 20,000, and unofficially around 50,000 people. It takes about 15-20 minutes by boat to reach the village from the mainland. They have everything, from a pharmacy to a hotel (though I wouldn't want to stay there overnight because of the mosquitoes).
The water in the lake is either salty or fresh, depending on the season. Currently, it's salty, which means there are no bacteria in it, and I was able to cool off by dipping my feet in the water. The village also has water treatment plants that they use for drinking water. There's a school that children reach by boat, and every family has at least three boats - one for dad, one for mom, and one for the kids.
The men fish, and the women then transport the fish to the mainland to sell. They also bring various fruits and vegetables from the mainland to the village to earn a living.
Tourism is also one of their sources of income as visiting the village costs around 10 euros per person. You can opt for shorter or longer tours, with the possibility of staying overnight in a hotel. As I mentioned earlier, we chose the shortest tour due to the risk of malaria and didn't want to take any chances with mosquito bites.
Despite being a small country, Benin has a diverse landscape that I can't wait to show you, including more boat rides and fresh fish to savor! 🛶👒🐟
More pictures in comments.
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📍Fidjrosse Plage, Cotonou 🇧🇯
What's an airplane doing on the beach?
When an African airline went bankrupt, its planes were left stranded at various airports. One of them was in Cotonou; not the capital of Benin, but the largest and most developed city in the country, often mistaken for the capital (the capital is actually Porto Novo). For years, it sat idle on the airport runway until a businessman purchased it and relocated it just 400 meters away, right on the beach called Fidjrosse.
You can actually go inside the airplane, and admission is based on the principle of "pay what you can," as long as a receipt isn't required, which means everything goes to the person controlling the entrance. We paid just over a euro per person.
Inside, everything is practically untouched, with a few dropped oxygen masks. I found out that the plane is around 40 years old, which makes sense because ashtrays are still located on the bathroom doors, and smoking was still allowed during flights at that time.
I imagine how long the wait would be if the plane were located in some other, more popular destination. Here, we had it all to ourselves, during the most beautiful part of the day. There was nobody else on the beach, except for a few fishermen.
It's becoming clear why I love Benin so much 👌🏽✈️🌅
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📍Lome, Togo, Africa 🇹🇬
I promised you some beautiful landscapes, no more snakes and voodoo, and here they are - along with my new hairstyle 😁
Braids are a #mustdo when I travel in Africa - there's nothing more practical. Now my hair will stay neat for a few days, and it's not as hot. It took the hairdressers about an hour and a half to braid my hair, and it cost me around ten euros.
On our last day in Togo, before returning to Ghana, we had an amazing time. On the recommendation of our honorary consul in Togo, Ziade Ammar, who is actually Lebanese, we spent the whole day at @blueturtletogo(IG) resort. Here, everything is completely different: no noise, it's peaceful, everything is clean, and it meets Western standards. That's why the prices are higher, with a night's stay for two people costing around 200 euros.
This was the first place where we actually swam in the ocean because they have created a mini bay for fishing, take care of injured turtles (which is why the resort is named after them), and have an area for swimming and canoeing.
Although the honorary consul wasn't in Togo's capital city, Lomé, during our stay, we were hosted by his friends at the Lebanese restaurant Les Nuits d'Orient @lesnuitsdorient_tg(IG). I have to admit that I missed this kind of food. There are many Lebanese people in West African countries, and we also had lunch at a Lebanese restaurant with our honorary consul in Benin.
I connected with both representatives of our country after posting on Instagram, and I'm very happy about that - wherever I go, I know I'm not alone. Thank you for always sharing useful information and contacts ❤️
That's all about Togo for now. Despite the presence of a fetish market, I hope you still have the desire to visit it someday 😁🌴🙈
#blueturtletogo #togolomé #lometogo #lométogo #visittogo #visitlome #lomé #togotravel #togotrip #Africa #Togo #Travel #Traveler #Journey #TravelBlogger #Trip #Lens #Lenster #Orb #OrbApp #Buttrfly #Lensta #NFT #Crypto #web3 #web3Travel
📍Isfahan, Shah Mosque 🇮🇷
Iran is a country that holds the record for changing its capital city the most times in the world, over 30 times! Besides Tehran, Isfahan has always been widely mentioned as the capital, a vibrant hub of trade and culture. Even the translation of its main square, Naksh-e Jahan, as "Half the World," speaks volumes about Isfahan's significance to Iranians and their admiration for it.
This will be the final chapter of our Isfahan tales, a city that has truly captivated us and one I would definitely return to, for a longer stay next time. Three days were merely enough to scratch the surface of what it has to offer.
Although Shah Mosque (or Royal Mosque) is usually one of the first stops in Isfahan, we saved it for the last few hours. It stands as the city's symbol and immediately catches your eye as you step onto the main square. Dating back to the 17th century, unlike Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, which was private, the Shah Mosque was intended to serve the entire nation. Consequently, it is grander on the outside than on the inside, boasting two domes and four minarets.
To conclude our Isfahan stories, I'd like to share an interesting tidbit I learned from book about Iran. Isfahanis are considered quite conservative, which explains the only uncomfortable situation we encountered regarding clothing. After visiting this mosque, as I was walking towards a café, my headscarf accidentally fell off, and four women in black chadors approached me, literally pulling me towards it, insisting that I cover my head. Later, I noticed they were doing the same thing to other women with uncovered hair throughout the square, although no one seemed particularly bothered by it. Nevertheless, this incident didn't tarnish my impression of the city, as all other people we encountered were incredibly kind. I often heard "Welcome to Iran" and was frequently asked for photographs. Many people told me "I love you," and in return, I will say, "I love Isfahan" 💙✨💃🏽
📍Persepolis, Iran 🇮🇷
Tales from Persepolis, Part 1.
The ancient capital of Iran, once considered the center of the world, has withstood the test of time for over 2500 years and is a must-visit destination for every traveler in these lands.
After Jazd, we headed towards Shiraz, and an hour before entering the city, we made a stop at Persepolis. Upon arrival, we were greeted by a tour guide who offered his services for a two-hour tour at the price of 15 euros, and without much hesitation, we accepted.
Persepolis is the most valuable legacy from the era of the Achaemenid dynasty, with Darius the Great being credited as the main figure responsible for its construction. History has been written by various perspectives, and titles such as "The Great" were often bestowed upon rulers by their people. For Iranians, for example, Alexander is not referred to as "The Great" because he was one of the greatest enemies of ancient Persia, responsible for the burning of Persepolis and the disappearance of its treasures, whose whereabouts remain unknown to this day.
My impression of Iranians' openness and hospitality was reaffirmed upon arriving in Persepolis and seeing the depictions of numerous nations on the walls. It was fascinating to witness even the presence of Ethiopians from the pre-Christian era, alongside other peoples and tribes. Even the gateway to Persepolis is named the "Gate of All Nations", symbolizing that everyone was welcome.
In modern Iranian history, Persepolis played a significant role as the site of the most extravagant celebration ever held. In the early 1980s, a few years before the Islamic Revolution, the last Iranian Shah hosted a weeks-long feast here for over 200 state officials from around the world (including Tito and Jovanka). The event commemorated the 2500th anniversary of the Persian Empire, allowing other leaders to become acquainted with its history. They slept in specially equipped tents surrounding the main archaeological site. It is said that even the waiters were dressed in ancient attire, and as a memento of this event, metal stands were left behind, incongruous with the surroundings... #tobecontinued 🐴📜⏳
📍Osaka Castle, Japan 🇯🇵
The weather changes in this part of the world are incredible. One day it's cloudy, the next, as you can see in this post, we had a perfect day to explore Osaka Castle, which is a symbol of samurai rule and Japanese warriors. Look at how different it is compared to yesterday's post...
Osaka Castle is unlike any other castle I've seen before. Surrounded by a lake and a Japanese garden, it truly feels like an Eastern fairy tale. Many consider it one of the most beautiful buildings in the world. You can enter the castle with an admission ticket of around 4 euros, but the interior doesn't quite match its impressive exterior—it feels like an average museum.
Osaka was Japan's first capital, and due to its strategic location, it has always played a significant role both strategically and economically. It faces Osaka Bay, which is part of the Pacific Ocean, and upon arriving at the airport, it felt like we were entering a harbor.
We navigate the city using the metro, buses, and taxis, and once again, we are pleasantly surprised by the prices. It's more expensive than Korea, but still cheaper than what I expected for Japan (for instance, a daily metro pass is 5 euros, and you can have a satisfying meal for around twenty euros—we usually order two portions because one is not enough). I forgot to mention in the previous post, the currency in Japan is the Japanese yen, and currently, 1 euro equals 140 JPY.
🏯 Now I can see the castle in real life, which is the same as the emoji that appears when I type "castle" 😍🎌
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📍Osaka, Japan 🇯🇵
Less than a kilometer away, yet such a difference!
On our first evening in Osaka, we were too exhausted from the early flight and the jet lag, which was seriously shaking us due to the 7-hour time difference. We took a stroll through the immediate neighborhood, unaware that just around the corner, a much more modern part of the city awaited us—Dotonbori.
Osaka is known as the culinary capital of Japan, and this title is best confirmed in Dotonbori. Street food of every kind, restaurants at every turn. Many recommend Osaka as the place to try the world's best steak, Kobe beef, but when we entered a restaurant serving it and saw the price of over 200 euros for 100 grams... We casually walked away, saving that experience for another time. In the meantime, a regular steak for around twenty euros did an excellent job, and I haven't enjoyed a meal this much in a long time.
In Dotonbori, you'll see a river of tourists and locals, especially in the evenings. Everyone loves to take a stroll here, even when it's raining (once again, this evening took us by surprise). In Japan, you really can't rely on the weather forecast—it constantly changes.
Different music fills the air from each establishment, seamlessly blending into one harmonious symphony. The scents, flavors, and people all mix together...
And I can already say that I'm seriously loving Osaka, despite the initial shock upon arrival. It seems like our energies align perfectly 🙌🏽🌃🔮
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📍Firuzabad, Fars, Iran 🇮🇷
Iranian adventure is coming to an end 🐑🫶🏽
📍Maldives 🇲🇻
Some of the main misconceptions about the Maldives are that it's boring and exclusively reserved for couples. The truth is that the Maldives can be a very relaxed destination where you can do absolutely nothing all day and it's extremely romantic, but... the range of excursions is so vast that during the 7-10 days typically allocated for a trip, you can experience a different adventure every day.
The active excursion I chose this time includes the following:
🐬 Dolphin watching
🤿 Snorkeling at 2 locations (suitable even for non-swimmers as you can use life vests, and guides are with you all the time)
🍴 Lunch on a "sandbank," a sandy shoal. Some sandbanks are so small that they can only be visited in the first half of the day before they become completely submerged.
This is a half-day excursion, lasting from 10 am to 2:30 pm, and it costs $50.
Underwater photos and videos are included in the excursion price, while I paid an additional $15 for the aerial drone shots.
More or less, during my three visits to the Maldives, I have done all the excursions they offer, and I highly recommend not to miss swimming with sharks and feeding stingrays – they were the most fascinating to me. 🦈🐠💦
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