Trips

man photographing baby elephant with his mobile phone camera in Chitwan national park, Nepal

Creativity, talent and passion for travel: on the internet it is always easier to come across job advertisements that require these three characteristics to candidates, offering them the chance to travel the world and tell the route from an unprecedented point of view. For those who leave there is the opportunity to practice for a while a dream job, for companies to advertise their brand in an original way, especially through social channels.

The experience generally lasts a few months, but it could be the right starting point to lay the foundations for an enviable and out of the ordinary career. For those who love to write, photograph or play – and of course travel – the Forbes website has collected these six job advertisements, still looking for the right candidate.

1. For travel vloggers

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On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of its creation, Pacsafe, a company that produces equipment and clothing for travelers, has established Be More Costest: the lucky winner of this competition will win two weeks of vacation in a destination of his choice in every part of the world, in the company of a professional photographer and a videomaker to tell the views, stories and experiences encountered along the way. The chosen one will receive a pacsafe value of $ 1,000. “We want you to plan your dream trip and inspire others to live a less ordinary life,” reads the announcement. Candidates are asked to send a video of a minute explaining why they are the right people and what will be the added value of their planned holiday. There is time until March 9th.
2. For digital nomads

A trip (salaried) in four countries of the world for four months to discover and tell the lives of remote employees abroad. Fiverr , an online company that offers services for freelance workers, is looking for a “Chief Digital Nomad”, which will accompany a community of professionals in different contexts and environments. In each city they will have access for a week to all the coworking spaces, free accommodation and can explore the host city. The aim is to collect advice from remote workers from all over the world, to allow those who follow the journey to sneak secret and improve their performance. The possibility of sending an application expires on 25 February.

3. For travel bloggers

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World Nomads , a company that provides travel insurance, is seeking three aspiring travel bloggers to explore the history, culture and landscapes of Argentina. The winners will attend a four-day seminar in Buenos Aires with a professional travel writer and contributor to the New York Times, who will provide them with the right advice to make the most of this opportunity. Each winner will stay for 10 days in a different region. The judges seek great descriptive skills, attention to detail and a talent to avoid clichés and to participate must send a story of 2500 words that respond to the following topics: “Create a local connection”, “The last thing I would have expected” or “A decision that pushed me to the limit”.
4. For those who love documentaries

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The Development Associates International offers the winner of a contest the opportunity to travel to Cameroon for the summer 2018, in order to document the impact that the company has had on the community. The trip will be taken over by a professional director. To be selected, you need to upload a three-minute video on Vimeo or YouTube (by April 1st) which explains how a famous person or professor has had a positive influence on his life or that of an acquaintance. The candidate will have to convince the jury to be the right choice.
5. For photographers

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Lovers of photography of all ages and experiences will do well not to miss the opportunity offered by the Sony World Photography Awards . The winners of the 10 categories will see their photo exhibited at the Somerset House in London, will participate in several international exhibitions and could win a job with Sony. Registration opens in June.

6. For musicians

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For nine non-professional musicians there is the possibility to perform on international stages, winning a competition. To offer this opportunity is the Six String Theory , an online platform that gives visibility to the singers, and now asks candidates to send a video, to win the opportunity to perform in many festivals and stages around the world, including the NAM of Las Vegas, Tokyo’s Blue Nore and the Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Candidates must be “non-professional musicians”, that is, they can perform in clubs and give music lessons, but their income does not have to depend entirely on these activities. From 31 May it will be possible to apply and travel will start in the summer.

Working in a dream place, surrounded by crystal clear waters, having only one task: to deal with flamingos. A Bahamian luxury resort, Baha Mar , is looking for a CFO, Chief Flamingo Officer , or a “director” to take care of these animals, make sure they are well, that they are adequately nourished and that they have the ideal conditions to reproduce.

Flamingos are not yet present in the area, but their arrival is scheduled for spring, when they will stay in the resort area to lay their eggs. The pink birds are a real attraction for tourists: the Bahamas are home to about 60 thousand, so that the flamingos have become the symbol of the archipelago .

Although it seems fascinating to have to deal with these majestic animals all day (and get paid for it), the job position puts limits: the ideal candidate must have a degree in zoology or similar and at least five years experience in field. Among the preferential skills, the resort includes “a generous spirit”, and the ability to create an emotional connection with the guests. The chosen one will, in fact, involve adults and children and guide them to the discovery of these wonderful animals, making sure that they are not disturbed or hurt.

The announcement, published on the tourist village’s Facebook page , has attracted considerable interest among users: “This is my dream job, when does it start?”, Reads a comment. “I had to take a degree in zoology instead of finance,” reads another. The working position is open until February 28: up to that date, then, you can dream of packing and moving to the heat of Nassau, between pristine beaches and turquoise waters.

The Christmas of 2015 was to be for Marta Lazzarin and Christian Cappello the last to be spent in two. After 15 years together, during which they founded a travel blog , she was pregnant with their first child. Marta and Christian were not used to exchange traditional gifts under the tree, but donations, in the name of one and the other. In that year, without agreeing, they chose the same non-profit organization, which raised funds for research into cystic fibrosis. They then thought of touring Italy, telling their journey to make known rare diseases.

A few days later, however, Marta died in a hospital bed and her son also left. On 2 April 2016 Leonardo should have been born. Since their death, until that day, Christian has spent time crying, isolating himself and even thinking about suicide, but on that same date he decided to mark his rebirth: he embarked on a journey on foot around Italy , to visit the twenty-seven centers of cystic fibrosis research in person, raise awareness of the disease and raise funds for the cause. He decided to do it “both to realize the will of Marta, both to save my life, to give it meaning, helping others”.

He told it in person in the book “Go ahead” , published Mondadori. An atypical travel diary, in which the story mixes with the outburst, the need to remember and, in fact, move on. The report of a journey to give meaning to one’s life, through solidarity, given and above all perhaps received.

“I will leave on foot, with Martha virtually by the hand and my little Leonardo on my shoulders,” he had written in a blog before leaving. Certainly he did not imagine that at his side, in the more than 4 thousand kilometers on foot, would have walked thousands of people hitherto unknown, sick, familiar, doctors or curious, ready to host him during the stages and to extend his hand, to help him continue in the hardest moments.

Pope Francis, who wanted to call him in person to encourage him in his turn, came to know about his story. And from this story was born a non-profit organization, Marta4Kids , which raises funds for research.

Young woman working on the beach

1 Do not purchase travel insurance

The tendency to go beyond those boring pages that, during online bookings, remind you of possible delays, cancellations, accidents or accidents, is a very strong temptation. Nothing could be more wrong, the expert warns. Do not take out travel insurance to save a few tens of euros could ruin an otherwise perfect holiday, turn a period of relaxation in the most stressful days of your life, or worse, blow up the projects of months. Even if you do not use it (hopefully), your travel insurance should also include health insurance to feel safe even in a foreign country and get rid of a lot of worries.

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North Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA (MR)
2 Enjoy the moment..no technology

It is not necessary to take pictures every two seconds. It’s true: the view is breathtaking, the beautiful spectacle of the sunlight reflected on the crystal waves, or the skyliner that stands out against the sky, recalling a modern tower of Babel, but no … once again resist: photographing and immediately sharing is not the priority. Take all the time necessary to enjoy the scenery, to breathe deeply the exotic scents, the sea breeze, or the silence of a forest and also, why not ?, the frenzy of a metropolis teeming with life. In short, do what you can not do in your everyday life because you are oppressed by the deadlines: stop. Try to impress the sense of a different world in your memory, not just in your cell phone memory,

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Taxi boat in Krabi, Thailand
3 Walk, walk, walk ..

You have set some stops to visit absolutely, consulting hundreds of travel sites, collecting tips of places to see and browsing various tourist guides but, guess what, according to the expert, the best guide is simply walking. Rather than taking the vehicles or taxis, to discover and get closer to the local life, one must also explore taking the pleasure of getting lost. You will discover those little pearls outside the tourist circuit, but that will allow you to immerse yourself in the life of the place and to surprise you.

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Narrow street in Fez, Morocco.
4 Prohibition to work (or almost)

Is it a holiday? Well, by definition, imposes complete freedom from everything that could be listed under the work label. So forget emails, deadlines and, unless you are a parent (yes, this is a full-time job without part time or vacation), for a weekend your colleagues or clients will be able to do without you, the office it will not fall apart, the collapsed bags will be resolved and your place will be there waiting for you the following week.

But since we are human beings, and moreover, in a modern world, we do not pretend we can do without technology. We are rather looking for a middle ground by establishing an hour a day of connection. The expert explains that when she takes a little vacation she defines an hour of “connected time” from the beginning to be able to relax without too much guilt.

A belvedere that takes your breath away. The scent of the must that enters the soul. The lake, the mountains, the foxes that run between cultivated land. We are in Verona, where the past is re-built and kept in the Ossuary of Custoza. With its attractive pyramidal structure, this place tells how post-Risorgimento Italy gave life to a monument, unique in its kind, dedicated to memory.

OSSUARY OF CUSTOZA
1800 skulls of soldiers between 18 and 20, of 13 different nationalities and 5 different religions who fought during the First and Third War of Independence. This is the historical and emotional content that can be seen in the Custoza Ossuary. But what really characterizes him from other ossuaries in Italy is the fact that every relic is kept outside the showcases, within reach of a “direct contact” with the visitor.

Thus, in an emotional journey, between the forty meters of height of this fascinating structure, which shows its strength from the distance and its moving meaning, we visit the chapel that introduces us perfectly into the heart of the shrine with a phrase, so significant, as unforgettable “Enemies in life / death adapted them / pity collected them”.

You can read it up there on top of the white marble.

We then descend into the crypt, where the disturbing order of the remains shakes us deep down. You go up finally, returning “to life” towards the gallery, which gives us a 360 ° look at Custoza and its surroundings, reminding us how delightful its landscape is to see, explore and taste.

OSSUARY OF CUSTOZA
At the beginning of the 20th century the first pilgrims to visit the Ossuary were the Italian and Austrian families of fallen soldiers. Then the cycle-tourism began because Custoza, immersed in the last moraine hills for those coming from Lake Garda and among the first for those who come from Mantua, has a wonderful landscape. Monte Baldo with its 2000 meters and the expanses of vines that make it an ideal half for those in search of peace and authenticity that this village has maintained over time. It is surprising to observe the painting by Julius von Blaas, a military landscape painter, who portrays the parade of the winner of the battle between Albert of Hapsburg and his soldiers proceeding in the direction of the Belvedere hill, you will be thrilled to see that very little has changed from that distant 1906, when the painting was made.

Each of us has experienced hotel disappointment . You arrive in what you thought would be a wonderful place to stay, and then end up in a corner room on the first floor, overlooking the parking lot and infested with the smell of cigarette.

Advice from the expert: this is the reason why you should ALWAYS ask to change rooms after seeing the first one offered to you .

Often, the second room assigned (or the third or fourth, if you are a stubborn type) is much, much better than the first. All you need is a small investigation in order to get the best, even if it is not what was initially obtained.

The recommendation is simple:

If you are not satisfied with the room that has been allocated to you, then it is worth asking for the change.

After checking the assignment object, go to the front desk and ask if there is anything they can do to meet your needs. Hotels often give customers the most basic room in the price range, says Zach Honig , editor-in-chief of The Points Guy.

It is conceivable that hotels behave in this way to keep the best rooms in store for those guests who claim or have special needs (that is, guests like you).

Honig says he would never ask for a room change without first seeing the first assignment, and that’s exactly what we would recommend to everyone.

After seeing the room in person, you can highlight problems such as lack of light, the presence of a strange smell or noisy neighbors, so as to support the request for a new arrangement.

“Providing an explanation for why a change would be preferable can make a difference,” Honig told HuffPost. “For example, if you want to spend a lot of time working from the hotel room, you can explain that extra space would be useful to make the accommodation a more comfortable work environment, so you could get a bigger room or suite. “.

THE PEYOTE

What is the peyote

What we see

The peyote is a small thornless cactus found in the Potosi desert in Mexico and the United States in the states of New Mexico and Texas.

The peyote has a very slow growth. In the wild it takes more than thirty years to reach adulthood.

It is bulb-shaped green-gray in color and is shaped like an orange. In general it does not exceed seven or eight centimeters in diameter and only protrudes a few centimeters from the ground. It is usually found at the foot of the governadoras alone or in small groups of three or four. The governadoras are thornless bushes ubiquitous in this desert.

A plant with many powers

What makes the peyote so special are these properties. It contains many active substances on the body and on the brain including mescaline.

It is consumed first and foremost for these psychotropic effects, but it also has healing properties recognized scientifically.

This plant is considered sacred in many indigenous cultures and in the first place the Huichols in Mexico who consume it during religious ceremonies.

Wikipedia makes an exhaustive list of the felt effects of peyotes. However, if I compare my personal experience with that of other people I met and testimonies I read, it seems that the effect is very different depending on the person.

Peyotes in bloom

The stories we tell

What I had been told about the effects of peyote

“I went to eat peyote a month ago since I am super happy” 
Giu Giu

“After taking Peyotes, I drank more alcohol for a month, I had more desire” 
Daniel

“The Peyote is not hallucinogenic it’s very personal, it makes think. When you have a big effect think of your problems, your sick grandmother, your goals in life etc. It’ll help you sort things out ” 
Daniel, Giu Giu, François, and others …

What I had been told about how to take peyote

“I met a shaman, we made a ceremony around a fire one evening in a group with other tourists. » 
Clara

“We each went to look for Peyotes in a different direction and we ate the peyote all together, but everyone ate only those he had found. Because the Peyote is magic it appears to you if you are ready. » 
Clara

I had heard many interesting stories about peyote

Jefe Luis, the leader of the desert

An international reputation

As far as Nicaragua or Yucatan I have been recommended several times to meet “Jefe Luis” if I ever went to the San Luis de Potosi desert.
He would welcome me and help me take my first steps in the desert. His desert!

Here we are finally. We are in front of his house. It is a small hut a little twisted, flat roof, made of large stones color earth. The facade is pierced by two very small windows. An old battered caravan extends the house as an extra room. We are in a half-camp Roma style, half village of Tatouine of the Star Wars.

In the distance a man apparently not quite young, in military uniform from the feet to the head and to the slightly lame but assured step approaches. “It’s the Jefe Luis, that’s for sure! ”
That’s what he confirms handing us a big hand full of big fingers.

Jefe and me!

El pueblo fantasma

The desert of San Luis Potosi is a magical world covered with cacti and thorn bushes on a yellow and arid land. I went there as much to discover this fantastic landscape as to eat the peyote, this mysterious cactus with mystical powers found only there.

THE DESERT WAY

First mysterious step

The big island of Timor in Indonesia is absolutely not touristy, fortunately Berto a local guy makes me the visit of the capital of the island Kupang and I see real Indonesia without blinkers. Then I go solo to Roti island off Timor. A real gem!

In Kupang I am lost by myself, I do not know what to do. I drag a little in the city but there is not much to see. Along the beach at night, a whole street is covered with small street vendors. You can eat all the panoply of Indonesian dishes.

Surprisingly one of the homosexuals on the boat calls me to spend the evening. Ok I have nothing to do after all. He makes me visit a kind of funny fairground. It’s very poor, the maneges are from another time. Some turn with the force of a man, who jumps on the manege to give him elan. It’s like the turnstiles of the schoolyards more elaborate and bigger.

We find friends at his home. He lives in a tiny room with no window that smells of chicken. A huge insect mounts me on it. There are no windows, the walls are not thicker than paper, yet wood. This is the first time I have faced so much poverty. It’s much worse in the cities. Neighbors arrive, I discuss Indonesians as best as I can. Everyone is incredibly friendly and warm, even the owner arrives. We drink a few beers, I spend a good evening, the owner makes me promise to come back here when I return to Kupang.

The next day I go to Rote Island with an ultra fast boat. The island is amazing, it is a kind of African desert with buffaloes and wild horses. There are miles of beaches completely deserted. Families of wild pigs roam these abandoned beaches snouting in the sand. Real traditional villages are built on the sand, the houses are all bamboo with straw roofs.
The layers of sun on the sea are very beautiful. At nightfall the inhabitants light fires on the beach and discuss under the sky covered with millions of stars.

The island of Timor is divided in two. On the one side Indonesia, on the other, the most recent country in the world, Timor leste. Here on the Indonesian side there are already no tourists, no one speaks English, it’s complicated to travel here. I have to go to Timor Leste or go 4 tourists a day according to the statistics …

It’s been a week since I was in the Indonesian part of Timor. I feel really deep in Indonesia, I had no contact with other tourists (except Roti island). I am without information in a big city that I do not know, or hardly anyone speaks English and in a different culture. Fortunately I made an Indonesian friend, Berto.

At the moment it’s intense but not easy. So I hesitate to go to Timor-Leste, the country next door. It is the youngest country in the world, it exists only since 2004. It is said that only 4 tourists a day return there and that the country recently independent is not yet stable politically and can be still violent. It is also said that it is the poorest country in Asia but paradoxically life is very expensive. United Nations forces control the security of the country and people still speak a different language (tetum).

I am afraid to find myself in a truly total immersion, alone and able to communicate. But now that I have come so far I make the decision to go there despite everything.

Fun situation at the time of getting in my little bus on which is written the name of the place where I have to go the locals shout me not to go up. “Ok, ok, ok!” I finally understand that here the name on the front of the bus does not indicate the final destination but simply the general direction. The locals help me get on the right bus that takes me to the border that consists of a series of tole cabins in the middle of nature.

Here I am in Timor-Leste. Now the currency is not the rupee but the US dollar. But I arrived too late, there is no bus anymore. I’m stuck at the border is it’s night.

I use my best Indonesian to haggle with a guy. I would like him to take me to the capital Dili with his scooter. We agree for $ 20. At the time it seemed to me expensive but considering what awaits me I understand better later what the price implies.

The 3 hours of roads behind the scooter with my bag on the shoulders are rather difficult for my back and my little buttocks, but the arid landscape is a treat. The road meanders along the coast sometimes on the beach sometimes in the hills and soon with a view of a beautiful sunset over the sea.
In one of the villages we pass the first UN soldiers who greet us from the top. their tank.

Tired, I arrive at night in Dili directly at the Backpacker hotel and thank my driver.