Kilimanjaro almost killed me. The first time was no joke. Lessons were taught by the mighty Kilimanjaro on how not to mess with her without proper preparation and a healthy mindset.

The summit, that is.  In just a matter of days I will once again come face to face with a mountain or a volcano rather that has instilled this lingering fear in me.  Her name is Kilimanjaro.

It’s fair to say that many travel enthusiasts will have South Africa as one of the must see countries in the world.  The country has a diverse array of activities available to enjoy nature, from hiking to scuba diving to whale watching or shark diving.

Here are some photos taken during a day hike inside the Yading Nature Reserve. Yading is the most colorful during Autumn.

As a training hike for the 18 mile Pilgrimage hike that I did with May in China, we hiked to Frog Lake in Yading. It was the peak season for autumn colors so we indulged in the colorful scenery.

After Mongolia, the next leg was a solo trip to China.  My very first entry to China was through the Hunan Province.  As it turns out it, if you’re new to China, Hunan will shock you because it is far from the notion of a foreigner mecca in terms of tourism.

Situated between Europe and Asia, Georgia is a truly hidden gem for nature lovers. Georgia is bordered by four countries: Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey. On a whirlwind of a trip, I ventured into the four areas of the Caucasus Mountains.

Stromboli was special. It always will be. On my journey through Europe, I was trying to decide where I wanted to spend the last year of my being in my 30s. Stromboli was my birthday peak.

The Albanian Alps consist of the mountain range of Prokletije. The range covers three countries – Kosovo, Montenegro and Albania.

When I had the opportunity to do the Classic Inca Trail in Peru with a group of 30 people, I decided to add a more off the beaten path trail to the experience. The Inca Trail is a classic.

Easter Island resembles the notion of intrigue.  Many have it on their list of places to see, and understandably so. My encounter with the island was brief but it was enough to get a sense of its intrigue and beauty.

As part of my trip to Bolivia, I decided to spend sometime in Isla del Sol, which is a two hour boat right from Copacabana in Bolivia. The island does not have any means of transportation.