2020: My Year in Travel Photos

2020. A year like no other. A pandemic hit the world, and at the same time I set off to travel around the world.

Staying in India during the pandemic, there’s no doubt… 2020 was one of the most unexpectedly amazing years of my life.

Despite not being able to explore the 25+ countries I’d planned to see over the next few years and COVID19 effectively cancelling my travel dreams for now. I was lucky enough to get to India *two days before* international borders were to be shut indefinitely and live there for 9 months.

And funnily enough, I’ve always said: “I need a year in India” after visiting in 2015. But I’d never of expected that to come true in the middle of a global pandemic.

Living in India throughout the pandemic or the ‘Coronavirus diaries’ has been fascinating, and re-established for me that slow and off-the-beaten-path travel is what I want to focus on in 2021. While living in Goa, Dharamshala and Rishikesh were absolutely fabulous this year, it really was those day trips where I ventured into the unknown that will stay in my mind forever. The world is full of so many incredible places that are less talked about, and I want to see and share more of that.

Travel Photos 2020

I am hopeful that travel will pick up in 2021. Particularly slow and more sustainable travel as the virus will not disappear overnight. For now, let’s focus on 2020, and my favourite travel snaps from the year.

January: Amsterdam

I kickstarted this year with a farewell trip to Amsterdam with my bestie and soul sister- Joanna. Despite its commerciality, Amsterdam is one of my favourite cities in the world that offers beautiful architecture and its own unique charm. Accompanied by 165 canals, relaxed locals, exquisite food and 75 museums and 30 parks. Every corner offers a different vibe.

It’s a pretty expensive city, like most in Europe. But each trip gives me stories to tell and memories of too much laughter! My 4-day trip became a foodies exploration as we set out to discover the best restaurants. And, it really is as good as they say- Amsterdam is my perfect kind of city break!

This weekend in Amsterdam was our special send-off holiday before I prepared for my long-term trip coming up!

March: Rajasthan- My First Stop in India

I was off, landing in India, I spent a couple of days celebrating Holi in Delhi with locals. My first priority was then to see Rajasthan before heading up to the green states of Uttarakhand and Dharamshala. Here, I was blessed to visit a number of cultural and religious landmarks before COVID took over.

Most favourably, the stunning Patrika Gate in Jaipur, the Blue city of Jodhpur and the less touristy Rajasthani town of Bikaner- famous for its iconic rat temple and giant Shiva statue.

Rajasthan’s intriguing history is a delight for the senses and a vibrant cultural haven. Exhibited in the diversity in its food, architecture and famous landmarks. It’s loud and hectic, with a uniqueness to each city that leaves you feeling like you’ve barely scratched the surface.

March-August: Rishikesh and the Lockdown

Now my second home! Rishikesh, a green and spiritual city in Northern India had not been on my original plans. However, when the pandemic hit and India went into panic mode– Rishikesh became my saving grace.

Sitting in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains, Rishikesh is a meat and alcohol-free city providing natural beauty, great food and spiritual/yoga teachings.

The brutal and sudden 7-week national lockdown kickstarted my crazy time in Rishikesh and made me fall in love with this destination. Located on the Tapovan side of Laxman Jhula crossing the magnificent Ganga river, Indian Culture Hostel became my home for 7 weeks of lockdown with (60!) other people.

And I loved it so much, I decided to stay for a further 3 months when state restrictions eased, living amongst a large and vibrant community of free spirits.

The kindness, support and growth I saw throughout lockdown with this amazing group of backpackers became the most self-enriching part of my journey.

The lockdown was a tough shock that blew my travel plans out of the water. And without this group, I doubt I would have made it through. We managed to create some amazing lifelong memories, friendships and even a lockdown song which you can see here!

Read all about India: Backpackers in Lockdown: India | 8-Vegetarian Dishes you must try in India | The Perils and Silver Linings of Starting my RTW Trip During COVID19 | A Two-day Local Guide to Jaipur

Post Lockdown: Exploring Uttarakhand

A little north of Rishikesh, small groups started to venture out on scooters around the Uttarakhand state once the national lockdown lifted.

Devprayag

Devprayag in Northern Uttarakhand meaning ‘Godly Confluence’ offered serene nature in the form of waterfalls, jungles and mountains.

Most poignantly though, is where two raging rivers meet to form the holy Ganga river.

We stayed in an Ashram surrounded by silent and serene settings and participated in a number of hindu celebrations and meditative practices.

Kanatal and Chamba

Venturing off the beaten track in Uttarakhand to some of the lesser-known destinations was one of the best things I did in India.

Kanatal, around 90 minutes from Rishikesh or 5hours from Delhi is a relatively small town with an off-beaten-path vibe. With pristine views of the snow-capped Himalayan mountains, this small town provides endless routes to be discovered. By foot or by scooter, at 2600m, every corner or path will lead you to a new and stunning view.

While we were there, no standard activities were open due to COVID19. But we got stuck into the stunning nature and discovered a number of tranquil sunset points above the clouds.

With travel strictly limited, a major highlight was discovering these glorious cities tucked away in the Himalayas.

We decided to trek one day to the nearby colourful city of Chamba (not be confused with Chamba in Himanchal Pradesh). Only a 30 minute drive away, we decided to trek 3 hours/15km to venture through forest and silent roads in nature. Not too much farther, you will also find the glorious Tehri Dam that we had to skip. At this point or legs were done for!

I absolutely loved Uttarakhand! Its everything I love about travel, silence in stunning nature, friendly locals and away from overcrowded hotspots.

Dharamshala

Soon, after 5 months in Rishikesh and Uttarakhand, I made my first state border crossing and headed further North to Dharamshala. As the centre of Tibetan culture in India, Dharamshala had been part of my original plan. And with the restriction legally lifted, I took a PCR test, filled an e-pass and rode 16-hours north.

We were blessed by a stunning, blue-sky day on our first day (in the 2nd wettest) part of India. Following a 5-day quarantine, I began to explore the green and silent mountainous surroundings of Mcleod Gang, Dharamkhot and Bhagsu. The pictures do the talking, and it was just soul revitalising to just be somewhere new again.

In September, the weather improved and I completed the absolutely stunning trek to Triund and the Snowline in Dharamshala. We ended up having this popular tourist spot all to ourselves!

Finally: Goa

Finally, I headed to Goa in September which would be the last stop on my 9 month trip in India. The coronavirus continues to kill India’s tourism industry. And, when we arrived, only two restaurants were open, and the streets were almost completely deserted.

Strangely, one of the major highlights of being in India during the pandemic has been the emptiness of normally overcrowded hotspots.

Having visited before, Goa was not part of my plan, but after 6 months in the mountains, the beach was calling my name. As per the picture, probably the most covid safe place in the world!

While North Goa provides party culture and a bustling beach/city vibe, South Goa for me offers a slower and more authentic experience.

On more popular beaches, like Palolem, Agonda, and Patnem, a supply of quality and cheap restaurants fill the palm tree-lined golden beaches. While quieter spots, such as Kola, Talpona and Kalkolem give a tropical island feel. Thick greenery surrounds tucked away beaches, with the odd restaurant or beach shack dotted around.

Ive been spoilt by sunsets and for the first time lived by the beach! A dream come true! This would be my last destination for now, but in the meantime, I am so blessed for the journey I had in 2020. Life somehow gave me the freedom to connect with nature, wander the mountains and tropical beaches of India during the pandemic.

December: Returning Home

So, 2020 was not exactly the year of constant travel that I’d dreamed of. And, returning home in December was truly one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made. How crazy it is to remember this time last year right? Remember when COVID19 was barely a seedling and we were all geared up for a new decade?

But the year that caused so much pain also had a number of valuable lessons to carry forward into 2021. Most crucially, we were given some of our time back, and the mind space to evaluate how we spend our time.

I am manifesting that travel will return to some sort of normal by mid-2021. When I hope to continue my RTW trip. For now, I will appreciate the present, be grateful for the journey, and top up those savings for more travel in 2021!

But ‘Who Knows!’ by Chronixx and Protege is the song that sums up this year for me! “I just go where the trade wind blows…”