50 Reasons to #LoveTheWorld

Meteora, Greece, is a place of solitude (Credit: Laurel Robbins)

- 50 -

Because in Meteora, Greece, the drastic measures monks took to seek solitude made me realise the power in seeking quiet in our hectic world.

– Laurel Robbins, BBC Travel Localite, t: @Laurel_Robbins

Machu Picchu (Credit: Credit: Matthew Long)

An amazing moment at Machu Picchu (Credit: Matthew Long)

(Credit: Jon Mancuso)

- 48 -

Because sleeping high in the Himalayas, peering at Mount Everest the day before the catastrophic earthquake, reminded me that nothing is permanent and that nature deserves our highest respect.

– Melissa Arnot, mountaineer, t: @MelissaArnot

(Credit: Dave and Deb Corbeil)

- 46 -

Because we walked with giants and realised how vulnerable and precious all life is on Earth. The polar bear stands as a symbol of strength in a fragile environment.

– Dave and Deb Corbeil, BBC Travel contributors, t: @theplanetd

Colombia, Sierra Nevada Mountains (Credit: Credit: Daniel Noll)

A trek through the jungles of Colombia’s Sierra Nevada Mountains (Credit: Daniel Noll)

(Credit: Diane Selkirk)

- 44 -

Because watching Madagascar’s sailing dhows head out on the day’s first whispers of wind, while their crews laughed and cheered, reminded me that joy is best found in the simplest moments.

– Diane Selkirk, BBC Travel contributor, t: @dselkirk

(Credit: Kelly Phillips Badal)

(Credit: Lola Akinmade Åkerström)

- 42 -

Because paying homage to thousands of wheels of traditional Parmigiano-Reggiano makes you fully appreciate the delicious impact of Italian food across the world.

– Lola Akinmade Åkerström, BBC Travel contributor, t: @LolaAkinmade

(Credit: Naomi Arnold)

- 41 -

Because I’d never cared much for botany until a walk to the summit of Mt Arthur in Nelson, New Zealand, when an older man stopped to explain the peculiarities of every tiny plant dotting the meadows around us – like this whipcord hebe – giving me a sense of the enormous variety of life flourishing in some of the harshest environments.

– Naomi Arnold, BBC Travel contributor, t: @NaomiArnold

Ireland, iron suspension bridge (Credit: Credit: Allison Busacca)

Ireland's oldest iron suspension bridge (Credit: Allison Busacca)

(Credit: Brad Cohen)

- 39 -

Because I went to Burning Man and realised magic is, in fact, very real.

– Brad Cohen, BBC Travel

Thirsty Explorer, t: @BradCCohen

Adam Rodriguez, USO Tour with friends (Credit: Credit: Adam Rodriguez)

Adam Rodriguez on USO Tour with some friends (Credit: Adam Rodriguez)

(Credit: Andy Isaacson)

Bindi Irwin Instagram (Bindi Irwin)

(Credit: Celia Knox)

- 35 -

Because it's always possible to find beauty in the most unexpected of places, like this sakura-filled canal in the middle of a quiet, residential Tokyo neighbourhood.

– Celia Knox, BBC Travel Localite, t: @celiaintokyo

Sti Fadma, Marrakesh (Credit: Credit: Jean-Philippe Blondet)

Jean-Philippe Blondet in Sti Fadma, in the region of Marrakesh (Credit: Jean-Philippe Blondet)

- 33 -

Because in Canada’s Banff National Park, every drop I drink comes from glaciers found here.

– Carol Patterson, BBC Travel contributor, t: @Reinventure

(Credit: Ann Babe)

Jonathan Scott, Oktoberfest, Munich (Credit: Credit: Jonathan Scott)

Jonathan Scott at Oktoberfest in Munich (Credit: Jonathan Scott)

Drew Scott, camp fire (Credit: Credit: Drew Scott)

Drew Scott at camp fire (Credit: Drew Scott)

(Credit: Stephen Fabes)

- 29 -

Because I awoke to the sun rising over my campsite on the frozen surface of Lake Khovsgol in northern Mongolia to the creaks, pops and snaps of the ice: the most memorable alarm clock of my life.

– Stephen Fabes, BBC Travel contributor, t: @cyclingthe6

Sweden, fika, coffee and tea (Credit: Credit: Anne Banas)

In Sweden, people break daily for coffee and tea (Credit: Anne Banas)

- 28 –

Because in Sweden, there’s always a time for fika, a special break in the day devoted to connecting with friends, sipping hot drinks and eating sweets (like this sugar-crusted kanelbulle, or cinnamon bun).

– Anne Banas, BBC Travel editor, t: @annebanas

Ade Adepitan, Victoria Falls (Credit: Credit: Ade Adepitan)

Ade Adepitan is awestruck at Victoria Falls (Credit: Ade Adepitan)

(Credit: Lia Barrett)

- 26 -

Because facing my fear of crocodiles in Cuba ignited a newfound respect and love for these ancient creatures.

– Lia Barrett, BBC Travel contributor, t: @liabarrett

Jericho, woman, couscous co-operative (Credit: Credit: Andrew Zimmern)

This woman in Jericho works every day for almost no money in a couscous co-operative (Credit: Andrew Zimmern)

- 25 -

Because in one of the world’s most notorious and hopeless places, there are people who won’t give up or give in. [This woman in Jericho] works every day for almost no money in a couscous co-operative run by women, for women. Without her job, she told me, she wouldn’t have been able to feed her three kids and put them through school.

– Andrew Zimmern, TV host and chef, t: @AndrewZimmern

(Credit: Simon Griffee)

- 24 -

Because I fulfilled my dream of photographing in the streets of New York City, the great outdoor theatre where humans live with all life's difficulties and moments of love.

– Simon Griffee, photographer, t: @simongriffee

Andy Grammer (Credit: Credit: Andy Grammer)

Because sometimes you just need nature to remind you how small you are (Credit: Andy Grammer)

(Credit: Anisha Shah)

- 22 -

Because in that instant, as the silverback mountain gorilla gazed directly at me with her piercing eyes, staring straight into my soul, I understood the majesty and supremacy of nature and wildlife.

– Anisha Shah, BBC Travel contributor, t: @anishahbbc

Vietnam, food (Credit: Credit: Jess Lee)

In Vietnam, there's always a reason to leave the diet until tomorrow (Credit: Jess Lee)

(Credit: Benjamin Zand)

- 20 -

Because I rode through the mountains of Kazakhstan on horseback! It made me realise that even the least understood places are beautiful and have amazing stories.

– Benjamin Zand, BBC Travel Show presenter, t: @BenjaminZandBBC

Jacques Torres, cacao beans, in Peru (Credit: Credit: Jacques Torres)

Jacques Torres with cacao beans in Peru (Credit: Jacques Torres)

- 18 -

Because as I rode in a rickshaw in Dhaka watching millions of people go about their business in what seems like an impossible day-to-day situation, I discovered there was a rhythm to the streets and beauty in chaos.

– Tanveer Badal, photographer, i: @tanveerbadal

(Credit: Sarah Feldberg)

- 17 -

Because in Guadalajara, Mexico, I learned that even the most wretched hangover is no match for a tongue-searing, fiercely delicious torta ahogada.

– Sarah Feldberg, BBC Travel contributor, t: @sarahfeldberg

Maui, red-sand beaches (Credit: Credit: Tawny Clark)

Maui's red-sand beaches and blue waters (Credit: Tawny Clark)

girl, Tsaatan tribe, northern Mongolia (Credit: Credit: Jarryd Salem)

A girl from the Tsaatan tribe in northern Mongolia (Credit: Jarryd Salem)

- 15 -

Because when a three-year-old girl from the Tsaatan tribe in northern Mongolia taught me how to ride a reindeer, I realised that I still have a lot to learn.

– Jarryd Salem, BBC Travel contributor, t: @NOMADasaurus

Phil Rosenthal, Tokyo (Credit: Credit: Phil Rosenthal)

Phil Rosenthal in Tokyo (Credit: Phil Rosenthal)

(Credit: Ben Lerwill)

neighbourhood, London (Credit: Credit: Julie Falconer)

A beautiful neighbourhood in London (Credit: Julie Falconer)

mainland Norway, Arctic archipelago, Svalbard (Credit: Credit: Daniel Hug)

Sailing from mainland Norway to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard (Credit: Daniel Hug)

- 11 -

Because while sailing with a crew of five from mainland Norway to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, I learned that friendships were crucial to surviving the 3,400-nautical-mile journey.

– Terry Ward, BBC Travel contributor, t: @TerryWardWriter

hill town, Calcata, Italy (Credit: Credit: David Farley)

The bewitching hill town of Calcata (Credit: David Farley)

(Credit: Ben McNamara)

- 9 -

Because in Nepal, I used the magic of photography to make a new friend.

– Ian Neubauer, BBC Travel contributor, t: @ian_neubauer

(Credit: Aline Escalon)

Volunteering, refugees, Berlin, Eid festivities (Credit: Credit: Candice Walsh)

Volunteering with refugees in Berlin during Eid festivities (Credit: Candice Walsh)

- 6 -

Because as I drove along Australia’s magnificent Great Ocean Road, I felt as though I was on the very edge of the Earth.

– Ellie Cobb, BBC Travel contributing editor, t: @elliecobb1

island, Madeira (Credit: Credit: Jodi Ettenberg)

Creative pursuits on the island of Madeira (Credit: Jodi Ettenberg)

California, Mount Whitney (Credit: Credit: Sarah Shearman)

Mount Whitney, in California's Alabama Hills, is a famous film set (Credit: Sarah Shearman)

Antarctica has humpback whales and krill (Credit: Eric Guth)

- 3 -

Because when I'm in Antarctica, looking down the throat of a feeding humpback whale and watching thousands of krill swim for their lives, I'm reminded that to achieve my goals, every little bit counts.

– Eric Guth, BBC Travel contributor, i: @eric_guth

Dave Seminara spots a rainbow (Credit: Dave Seminara)

Namibian desert (Credit: Credit: Vivien Cumming)

The milky way seen from the Namibian desert (Credit: Vivien Cumming)

- 1 -

Because lying under a tree in the Namibian desert mesmerised by the Milky Way above me, I couldn’t help but think about how lucky we are to be able to call a planet that gives us such an incredible variety of life our home.

– Vivien Cumming, BBC Travel contributor, t: @drvivcumming

Share

50 Reasons to #LoveTheWorld

More amazing galleries

A bewitching town drenched in yellow

A castle impossible to invade

The sea that disappeared

Life on the “Roof of the World”