6 Destinations You Must See Despite Their Reputation

You’ve seen pictures of them online; you’ve heard about them from your friends; you’ve read about them in travel books. “Destinations you must see,” but which don’t have quite a stellar reputation behind them for whatever reason.

Fellow travelers Agness and Cez of eTramping.com will present you with six such locations. We just need to make an important note beforehand.

The truth is that every country has some skeletons in the closet if we’re to put it that way. Well, we’re here to prove that each and every one of these places is worth the trip.

#1 India

There are currently over 1 billion 200 million people in India. Delhi is the third most populated urban area in the world, with almost 25 million inhabitants.

As such, it’s no wonder that you will find many different types of individuals in the country. Some of which are bound to be bad apples. If you’re worried about scammers and crime – you just need to be careful as you would be in any other country.

On the other hand, you might want to avoid Kashmir because of the Pakistani-Indian conflicts in the area. Women might also want to travel accompanied by someone. Due to cultural differences, some Indian men might make unwanted advances.

Other than that, it’s as safe as anywhere else. When it comes to destinations you must see, India is definitely worth a few trips. That’s due to each of the 29 states having quite a different culture behind them. Obviously, that means 29 times more fun!

#2 Brazil

A lot of the news of violence from Brazil is due to stories from major cities such as Rio de Janeiro being more widely publicized.

Still, when you look at the actual numbers, places like Rio aren’t more unsafe than, say, Chicago in the U.S. It might also help if tourists made themselves appear less like tourists and more like locals. That means no flashing of your new camera or jewelry! Those just make you a bulls-eye for pickpockets and muggers, regardless of where in the world you are.

It’s also just a case of large cities having more widespread crime than the countryside. Speaking of which, you should add Brazil’s countryside to your list of destinations you must see.
The Pantanal is an exceptionally beautiful place, especially if you want to see a lot of wildlife. If you still need to get a feel of the urban landscapes in Brazil while being extra safe, try Florianopolis!

#3 North Korea

We know what you’re thinking, but it’s true. North Korea is not part of our list of destinations you must see for no good reason.

We’ve traveled there, and let us tell you – the country doesn’t deserve the bad name it has for itself. And it especially doesn’t deserve its spot in the new “Axis of Evil” with Iran, either. In any case, what you will find is a closed-off country with a natural allure. The beauty of the country has only recently been open to tourists. You’d better make the most of it while you still can!

Only authorized North Korea tours can take you on a trip of a lifetime into the DPRK. You won’t have as much freedom to explore like in other places, but don’t get discouraged. North Korea offers a lot of things that you won’t find anywhere else, like the opportunity to see the live that’s not yet affected by the capitalist world we all got so used to. It would be an opportunity for you to compare the image that media outlets have painted for you against the real life that thrives within the country (and yes, you will be allowed to take as many pictures as you like).

#4 Antarctica

One word: penguins! You’ll see a lot of them here, especially if you cruise around the mainland. Not to mention all the seals, millions of seabirds, whales, and whatever polar animals you can dream up.

Seal colonies also tend to sleep on the shore and almost never pay attention to human visitors that also arrive in big numbers on Antarctic cruises. It’s quite a different experience not seeing animals run away from you like you’re some kind of predator.

In any case, many people have a mental image of Antarctica being a frozen, frightening wasteland. We can assure you that it’s not the case. It’s really one of those destinations you must see for yourself before jumping to conclusions.

#5 The Philippines

If you’re going to the Philippines, just be careful of the false advertising of Pagudpud Beach, and the locals in some areas. We don’t know if it was just a coincidence, but many locals seemed pushy and treated us poorly. Though, to be honest, some were very respectful all the same.

Oh, and one more thing. Watch out for the food! Quite simply, most of it is greasy and fat. We ended up cooking most of our meals ourselves. Yum!

Truth be told, the Philippines are one of those destinations you must see just for the amazing scenery. The Rice Terraces in Banaue will blow you away, and we’re mildly sad nobody had the idea to paint the Alona beach in the morning.

#6 Colombia

Despite a lot of cartel activity, Colombia might be a lot safer than Europe and the U.S. at the moment. It’s definitely not as bad as it was back in the 90s and 2000s.

Once you get over the whole “Narcos” mental image of Colombia, you can find a country of immense beauty. Whether you’re headed to Medellin, the capital of Bogota, or the lush island of San Andres, there’s something in Colombia for everyone.

As always, you should make yourself look like a local as much as possible. This holds true for many South American countries. We’ve mentioned this for Brazil, and we’ll repeat it for Colombia – so that it sticks!

Destinations You Must See – Tips You Must Follow!

There are some unspoken rules of traveling to another country, no matter how safe it is (or isn’t):

• Look inconspicuous. The more “local” you seem, the fewer problems you’ll have! That means no flashy jewelry. Unless you’re not visiting some sort of palace and want to look the part, we recommend leaving all that at home.
• Keep your cash in multiple different pockets – even if one of them is compromised, you’ll still be one step ahead! If possible, keep your wallet in hotel safes and only take the necessities with you. Losing some cash is no big deal; losing your passport and visa might be a massive headache.
• Be polite and respecting of the local customs. That will usually keep you out of trouble, no matter where you are. You can usually research them online before heading on the trip.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid of visiting places others might deem “dangerous.” Any country has its danger zone(s), no matter how civilized we think it is. At the same time, they all have their own little paradise. That’s where people can enjoy their holidays without a care in the world. And so can you!

Tagged as: Antartica, Brazil, Colombia, India, North Korea, Phillipines