Metus Vidi Archives - Wandering Gal

A Vivamus Penatibus Enim Sit Et Quam Vel Consequat

Joanna Wellick
Posted on July 16, 2018August 27, 2018
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Leo A Vel Pretium Imperdiet Aenean

Joanna Wellick
Posted on July 14, 2018
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Tempus Vitae Quis Rutrum Vel Ut Eget Eu Pulvinar Blandit

Joanna Wellick
Posted on July 13, 2018September 1, 2018
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Nestled below the South Tyrolean Dolomites in Northern Italy, the calm waters of the Pragser Wildsee lake reflect the density of the forest in waves of ivory and evergreen ripples. The lake, also known as Lago di Braies, sits at an elevation of 1,496 meters above sea level and offers visitors a magnificent panoramic view of the mountain scenery. The surrounding Prags Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage site, so the area deserves increased awareness and respect from its growing visitor population each year — but regardless of whether a destination is a protected nature reserve or famed Heritage site, we all need to do our part when it comes to being respectful guests of this earth. As Chief Seattle — a Suquamish and Duwamish chief in Washington state — once said, "Take only memories, leave only footprints." (📷: @marisahampe 📍: Pragser Wildsee - South Tyrol, Italy)

Pink beaches, dragons, and tropical waters — it sounds like the setting of a fairytale, but in the country of Indonesia, this enchanting scene is very real. On the island of Komodo, real-life dragons — Komodo dragons — do roam, and the sand at Pantai Merah beach emanates hues of playful pink. For visitors, the color of the sand may seem dreamlike, but in reality, it's an optical illusion created by remnant shells of a minuscule sea creature, Foraminifera, that leave behind red, calcified deposits that mix with the sand and produce the beach’s pink color. Science? Magic? We think both. What's your favorite fairytale-style locale? (📷: @jordhammond 📍: Komodo National Park - Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia)

On a recent trip to Aqaba, Jordan, travelers @howfarfromhome visited the “Pearl of Aqaba,” the Al-Sheikh Zayed Mosque. The open-air mosque is adorned with the rich, geometric patterns of Islamic art and is truly a breathtaking architectural masterpiece to behold. The couple shared their reflections on how abiding by and respecting the customs of the country made them feel, particularly in the midst of the global landscape today. “We both had to remove our shoes before going in, and they supplied Chanel with this outfit, leaving only her face, hands, and feet exposed. As we explored the interior and gorgeous courtyard, we couldn’t help but think about the importance of travel in growing a more united world. If you’re heading out on your own soon, make sure to go somewhere really foreign to you — where the culture and experiences open your eyes to our vastly diverse planet. It’s really something special.” Where have you been that opened your eyes to something you’d never seen or understood before? (📷: @howfarfromhome 📍: Aqaba - Jordan)

In a quiet clearing, against the backdrop of the lush green landscape of Chiang Mai, Thailand, the story of a caretaker and his ox, Boonshop, slowly unfolds. These two have an unspoken bond — one that can only transpire when a pair truly sees and understands one another. It is a connection that can ensue between friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and even strangers — local, foreign, human, animal, or otherworldly. Whether through music, movement, food, art, or even dance, there are many languages that don't require written or spoken words to communicate and grow trust. In this corner of the world, for Boonshop and his keeper, the string of song from a lone flute binds them. (📷: @lilyrose 📍: Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai)

Some of the most memorable moments of our lives or during our travels are fleeting — a locked gaze with a stranger, the lightening of a brooding storm burned into our vision, the smell of a food cart wafting down an alleyway — just the experience of one second can stay with us for years to come. @chloe_bh recounts one such passing moment when she locked eyes with a young Sri Lankan boy while wandering along the train tracks on the outskirts of a city. "Like clockwork, the morning tropical downpour came — we took shelter at one of the train stations and waited for the skies to clear. Off in the distance, you could hear a train approaching the station. We waited with anticipation until the train went past us, locals stared at us with curiosity, and I could not help but look back. The train and the boy disappeared within seconds." Moments can flash by in an instant; which ones have stayed vividly in your memory? (📷: @chloebarryhang 📍: Sri Lanka)

Hot air balloons rise from the rocky earth of Cappadocia in Turkey each morning — speckling the baby-blue sky with a rainbow sea of vibrant hues and patterns. While the site is famed for its uniquely jagged terrain and colorful array of airborne vessels, it also contains numerous churches embedded in the honeycomb-like rocks. Travel tip: After exploring the breathtaking, aerial views, stop by the Goreme Open-Air Museum — it's just a 15-minute walk away from the Goreme Village center and is filled with beautiful frescos and churches dating back to the 10th, 11th, and 12th centuries. Beauty and history in one spot! (📷: @matiasderada 📍: Cappadocia/Turkey)