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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective
Slide Nr 1It can happen in a forest, on a beach, in a place of worship, at an ancient monument – that moment when you suddenly feel deeply connected to something beyond yourself. Perhaps you sense an echo of your ancestors, or feel the thrumming life force of the natural world. Maybe, for an instant, your heart swells with knowledge of the divine. Some may say that such an experience can’t be sought out, but we beg to differ: certain places lend themselves to brushes with the numinous. Here, we recommend 14 destinations with the potential to change your perspective – if you open your mind to it.
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 2Kyoto, Japan – A bustling modern city of nearly 3 million people is hardly a place you might expect to find your mystical awakening, but Kyoto is full of surprises. The ancient Japanese capital is also the country’s spiritual epicentre, home to some 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, each more beautiful and soothing than the next. Kyoto is also the beating heart of traditional Japanese culture, which seemingly ascribes to the motto that anything worth doing is worth doing with religious levels of contemplation and precision. Arranging flowers, drinking tea, wrapping gifts, even repairing damaged pottery – there’s an art form for that, often with a complementary philosophy on life and the human condition.
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 3Joshua Tree, California, US – What is it about deserts that beckons to soul-searchers? Perhaps it’s the vast, desolate expanses that evoke nature’s indifference to the human plight, or the defiant flora and fauna which remind us that life always finds a way. Then again, maybe it’s just the strange beauty of it all. Whatever the appeal, when it comes to wasteland walkabouts, stunning Joshua Tree doesn’t disappoint – and we’re not just talking about the stark landscapes and supposed energy vortices that are said to restore inner balance. This destination about two hours east of LA is also home to an eclectic community of creatives and spiritualists in tune with the desert vibes. If a wander among the sands doesn’t bring about catharsis, spending time with the locals just might.
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 4Wadi Rum, Jordan – To commune with desert dwellers of a more ancestral kind, venture to the Martian wonderland of Wadi Rum, home to the traditionally nomadic Bedouin people. Though their forebears roamed this land for centuries, in recent years many contemporary Bedouin have embraced the arrival of tourism, setting up camps and inviting travellers to experience a taste of traditional desert life. Sleep in a goat-hair tent, take a sunset camel ride, stargaze under the Arabian sky, sip tea from foraged herbs, and enjoy age-old recipes like Zarb, an aromatic dish stewed for long hours in an underground pit. With no WiFi for miles and miles, you’ll have no choice but to immerse yourself in the ancient ways of the famously hospitable Bedouin, and open your mind to the rhythms of the desert.
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 5Namib Desert, Namibia – On the other hand, if your idea of soul-searching involves not seeing another soul for days, the Namib may be more your style. One of the world’s most inhospitable regions, located in one the most sparsely populated countries, the Namib desert is an isolated, unforgiving place – that’s also full of mystery and wonder. Oryx, hyenas, ostriches and zebras roam the desert sands. Eerie salt and clay pans nestle amid rust-coloured dunes. Intriguing ‘fairy circles’ appear as if conjured by the gods. A dazzling but treacherous coastline is dotted with the wreckage of nearly 1,000 hapless ships. And that’s only the beginning. The real magic happens at night, when epically star-studded skies invite you to contemplate your place in the cosmos.
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 6Varanasi, India – No tour of transcendent places would be complete without a stop in the spiritual capital of one of the most spiritual countries on the globe. Said to have been founded by the god Shiva, the ancient city of Varanasi is a sacred mecca for Hindu devotees and a magnet for pilgrims. Its constant fever pitch of sights, sounds and smells can make simply being here feel like a religious experience in itself. People, cars and cows clog the streets, and there always seems to be a funeral or a festival underway. To witness either, head for the riverside ghats; the evening Ganga Aarti prayer ceremony is particularly moving.
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 7Rome, Italy – Someone, somewhere, may eventually invent a functioning time machine. Until then, a trip to the Eternal City is as close as you can get. Taking in grand monuments that have stood for millennia, and strolling the streets trodden by some of history’s most revered artists, leaders and thinkers – from Caesar to Caravaggio, Sergio Leone to Sophia Loren – it’s not uncommon to be struck by a strong sense of connection to the past, and to greatness. Add the enduring Italian dedication to the art of good living, and you’ll see there’s no need to visit the Vatican to have a religious experience. Simply take a seat on a trattoria terrace, order a plate of fresh pasta and local wine, and watch the world go by.
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 8Haida Gwaii, Canada – This archipelago of 150 islands off the coast of British Columbia is a rare gem, mercifully protected from mass tourism by its location in treacherous, stormy waters, as well as its strict visitor requirements; travellers must obtain a permit, which involves training in leave-no trace practices and cultural sensitivity. Those who do make it here are in for a treat: untouched temperate rainforests, unique wildlife (the islands are often called the ‘Galapagos of Canada’), and well-preserved vestiges of centuries-old First Nations villages, including totem poles and longhouse remains. The best part by far, however, is the chance to meet and learn from the indigenous Haida people who have thrived in these harsh but beautiful islands for 14,000 years. [Image: Murray Foubister/Flickr]
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 9Scottish Highlands – There’s something undeniably mystical about the hills and moors of northern Scotland, whether or not you believe in maidens who can time-travel through stones. From the ghosts of medieval castles to the monsters of the lochs, from the wind-swept peaks of Glen Coe to the fairy pools of the Isle of Skye, this is a land where history and legend are inextricably entwined. Take a solitary walk in the Cairngorms, hike up Ben Nevis, or wander the rugged coast of the Hebrides. If you listen carefully, you just may hear the faeries whispering and laughing – though let’s be honest, it could just be that last dram of whisky talking.
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 10Adam’s Peak, Sri Lanka – Healing from a violent 25-year civil war fought along ethnic and religious lines is no easy task, but Sri Lanka is proof that it can be done. To see this inspiring cooperation in action, hike Adam’s Peak. The 2,243-metre-tall mountain in the central highlands is considered holy by Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians alike, each maintaining that a figure from their sacred scripture left his footprint here – whether that’s Buddha, Shiva or Adam. It’s customary for pilgrims of all faiths to summit the mountain before dawn to watch the sunrise from the peak. Some may chant or pray, others bring offerings for their deities, nearly all are humble and reverent. Whether you yourself are devout is beside the point; seeing so many people of different backgrounds and faiths share a spiritual moment together is its own sort of religious experience.
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 11Istanbul, Turkey – The Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Chora Church: many of Istanbul’s biggest attractions were built for prayer, and are certainly worth a visit, but they’re not the only places in this East-meets-West mecca that invite contemplation. Having played a central role in multiple empires across the centuries, this continent-straddling melting pot boasts a long, illustrious past, as well as vibrant cultural diversity unlike any city on the globe. Reflect on its role in world history – and, why not?, yours too – as you explore mystical and mysterious sites like the Basilica Cistern or the obelisk of Theodosius, and soak in the authentic atmosphere of dynamic neighbourhoods like Beyoğlu, Balat and Kadiköy. Life here revolves around the local coffeehouses, tea gardens, taverns and kebab shops – so your stay should, too.
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 12Cape Reinga, New Zealand – The northernmost point of New Zealand is breathtaking, for sure, but beauty alone does not a transformative destination make. For travellers in search of the numinous, what recommends this particular point is its great significance in indigenous Māori culture. It is here, where the North Island ends and the Pacific meets the Tasman Sea, that the spirits of the recently departed are said to begin their journey to the afterlife. They sweep along the shores of Spirits Bay, leap from the promontory and slide down the roots of an ancient pohutukawa tree into the sea, carried off to Manawatawhi Island for one last look back at the world, before descending to the land of the ancestors. Explore these dramatic windswept wilds on a walk along the many scenic trails, sparing a thought for any spirits making their final journey.
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 13The Pinnacles, Australia – No shade on Uluru, but fans of intriguing, sacred rock formations should really consider the Pinnacles. Not only because this desert populated by thousands of limestone towers is jaw-dropping and easily accessible (about a two-hour drive up the coast from Perth), but also because of the spiritual myth surrounding the area: whereas sacred spaces are often reserved for men, the Pinnacles were considered by the aboriginal Noongar people to belong to women; they would come here to give birth and hold religious ceremonies. According to legend, the Pinnacles themselves are the fossilised ghosts of men who ventured unwelcome into this hallowed female space.
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14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 14Amazon Rainforest – Longing to feel a deep connection to Mother Earth? Pay a visit to her green lung. The Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, sheltering and nurturing nearly 10% of the world’s known plant and animal species. And while the Amazon has become a popular destination in certain circles for psychedelic ayahuasca rituals, the most mind-bending, eye-opening experiences in this vast rainforest are arguably the simpler ones: kayaking at sunrise; swimming with river dolphins; hiking the dense jungle to glimpse its incredible residents, from howler monkeys to capybaras, toucans, sloths and, if you’re lucky, a jaguar or two. Enrich the experience further with a visit to an indigenous Amazonian community – organised by an ethical and respectful local guide, of course.
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Travel
14 Incredible Destinations To Transform Your Perspective.
Slide Nr 15The High Seas – There’s nothing like taking to the open seas to make one feel insignificant and powerless in the face of nature, yet also fully in tune with its rhythms and at peace with its whims. But forget about cruising on a mega ship; to confront the raw forces of the ocean and appreciate its wild treasures, you’ll need to get up close and personal. Learn to dive or snorkel. Swim with whale sharks, dolphins and sea turtles. Spend a week or two learning the ropes on a sailboat. Better yet, volunteer to clean up ocean plastic or join marine life conservation efforts. Going mano a mano with the big blue can change a person. You might gain a new understanding of your strengths and limitations, of your needs and wants, of the natural world and your role – somehow both big and small – in its preservation.
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