The World's Top Destinations To Feed Your Soul

The Vote Is In

Recently there was an online poll that asked people to name the travel destinations around the world that gave them their most ‘soulful experience.’ There were a few surprises and a few very predictable answers. Number one was New Zealand because of its incredible natural beauty…most Americans felt that the countryside is so stunning that the entire country looks like one big national park.

Number two was India…in particular the sacred town of Varanasi on the Ganges River.

A perfect example is the Holi festival marking the beginning of spring …a Hindu ritual where colored powder is thrown as a symbol of good over evil…a breath of fresh air that creates a complete release of inhibitions…coupled by a complete celebration of joy.

The next two spots were Mt. Shasta, California, and Sedona, Arizona…

the land of red rocks whose sensory powers are said to lead to renewal and healing.

Finally there was Thailand and Bali…an island devoted to the gratitude of living in complete harmony with nature.

The women on the island create daily offerings to take to the temples…and small shrines are everywhere. Gratitude for the bounty of nature…and for the privilege of living in it… makes up the core existence of the Balinese people.

When you share other lives and cultures, there is something to be gained from everywhere you travel! In the words of Danny Kaye: “To travel is to take a journey into yourself.”

It was during my time in Bali that I realized that when you become part of a different world, it expands YOUR world. One thing is for certain…soul searching travel changes you.

The renowned Balinese fire dance defines the circle of life and is said to drive out evil spirits while bringing complete harmony and balance to everyday life. A quest that is extremely challenging today, in this world of constant news-feed and technology.

From the dramatic to the serene, sometimes it takes a complete change of scene to remind us that it is still possible to focus on the beauty and serenity that can be so elusive in our everyday lives.

We nourish and feed our bodies on a daily basis. It’s so easy to forget that our souls and our spirits need the same amount of attention and nourishment. How often do we ever go out of our way for soulful stimulation? Often times we are stressed out not only because we are doing too much, but because we are not doing enough of the things that make us feel fully alive.

We need adventure and experiences. We need to explore and find destinations that speak to us again and again. We need to preserve and carry memories to draw on long after we’ve returned home. We need to have our souls refreshed!

I found such a place in a remote spot called Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. The access is by sea plane or boat and most of the island has no cell service or wi fi; it is serene and peaceful, almost other wordly.

It’s been called mystical, pristine, and compelling with its sub alpine tundra, fiords, and rugged mountain terrain.

It’s exhilarating to hike the moss covered rain forests of ancient spruce and cedar trees, while spotting the mysterious ‘mossy mounds.’

Amidst vegetation found nowhere else in the world, nature lovers of all ages can immerse themselves in the elusive world of the Haida. The name itself means islands of great beauty.

Mysterious caves and grottoes are covered by cascading waterfalls…most of the roads are unpaved…it’s nature in the rawest and most pristine state!

The entire journey was a soulful adventure. My dear friend, Carol, who I partnered with for years in a specialized travel business, found an adventurous man with a 4 wheel drive who could take me everywhere. Before flying on our small plane and landing on the beach, I knew it would be a remote adventure when our last mainland stop was for him to buy ten days worth of toilet paper. He was also a good friend of the Haida chief and that gave me access to some remarkable sights.

We had dinner at the chief’s house one night before he took us by boat to a sacred Haida burial ground where the caskets had been placed in the treetops. Over the years the bones and remains of the caskets had fallen to the ground and it was an awesome sight…a sacred place that I will never forget. ( No cameras or picture taking allowed.)

Even though many people would compare Haida Gwaii to being on the edge of the earth…it was the perfect place for me to feel one with it. It reminded me not to ever lose my sense of wonder.

Sometimes a soul searching journey is a desire to return to the center of you…a quest of understanding yourself on a different level. Sometimes it is to find life’s purpose and passion.

We all need different experiences at different times in our lives…time to step away from the everyday and reflect on new ideas and perspectives. Voyages where we can discover other cultures and find new ways of looking at life. From embracing stillness to indulging in new kinds of adventure…

getting in touch with the parts of yourself that you have yet to discover, leads to becoming your higher self.

When you feel as though something is missing…joy is out there waiting to be found. Henry Miller tell us that “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

I have learned over the years to reach out even further than I thought I could, to find new horizons…to let other traditions inspire and show me the way.

But it’s the awe inspiring moments spent in nature…especially the untouched and pure moments in raw nature…that replenish and fill the soul. “Your sacred spot is where you find yourself over and over.” Joseph Campbell

Here’s wishing you a lifetime of soulful journeys of discoveries…journeys to reach out to new horizons to fill your soul away from the everyday obligations…moments to step back and reflect on your life and the incredible world around you.

As we soak up the golden sunset on the beach in Bali, it’s good to remember the words of Mark Twain: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did.”

If you enjoyed this post, please share it or consider a complimentary subscription.

Photographed on location from Bali to British Columbia and Beyond.

Next Week’s Post: The Greatest Eagle Migration In The World Takes Place In British Columbia…NOT TO BE MISSED! When The Salmon Run In The Fall, 35,000 To 50,000 Eagles Arrive…Tune In Next Week And You Will View An Incredible Journey.