Open Your Mind and Really Experience the World!

Breakfast in nomad tent in Iran - shared by 11 men and women!

Recently I was talking with friends about travelling - what else!? - it seems to be the most popular topic amongst baby boomers!

One friend insisted that she would only stay in 4 or 5 star hotels when travelling.

I thought about that and wondered what sort of travelling experience she wanted, and why did she travel anyway if her view of the world was only going to be from a generic luxury hotel. And a lot of the world doesn't have luxury hotels! What experiences she would miss out on!
 
I remembered the places where I have slept over the years - on a mat on stony ground in a nomad tent in Iran, in a nomad ger on the Mongolian steppe, in a hut made from reeds in Botswana....

I remember a cheap 2 to 3 star hotel in St Petersburg - we preferred to climb up 3 flights of stairs to our room because the lift was dodgy, but it was a minute walk to The Hermitage - how good is that? Worth more than a fancy hotel room further away!

Our reed hut in Botswana - the bathroom is behind the screen!

Plus I have slept in any number of train cabins across Russia, America, Canada, and South Africa.

Although there might not have been much sleep due to discomfort, these are the experiences we remember and laugh about.

Don't get me wrong - I don't mind a bit of luxury. After leaving Iran we booked into the Hyatt in Dubai just to enjoy first class facilities, and a decent shower! And an alcoholic drink after not being allowed to drink in Iran! And we have stayed in some wonderful lodges whilst "on safari" - very welcome after a dusty day game viewing.

But to limit yourself to visiting places with only luxury hotels seems to be a very narrow view.  Plus there are a lot of laughs missed and funny stories to be told!

Light travelling!

Marie

Nomad ger in Mongolia - note satellite dish and solar panel!

Buying platform food on the Trans Siberian