Summary

Jill and Chris, full-time traveling nomads from Canada, share their life's surprises and adventures in various countries, emphasizing the unpredictability and excitement of their nomadic lifestyle.

Abstract

In a response to a writing prompt by Jason Edmunds, Jill recounts the unpredictable nature of their nomadic life, which has led to numerous surprises since they began their journey in 2017. From the breathtaking beauty of Akchour Waterfall in Morocco to the modernity of Istanbul, their experiences have consistently defied their expectations. They've encountered zebras in Zambia, adopted a cat named Frank in Morocco, and faced challenges like non-functioning ATMs in Sudan. Through their travels, they've found that every day brings the potential for new and unexpected experiences, both positive and negative. Jill reflects on these surprises with gratitude and invites readers to join their adventure through various social media platforms.

Opinions

Jill expresses a strong desire for a life filled with excitement and adventure, which she has found in her nomadic lifestyle.
She had preconceived notions about Istanbul, which were pleasantly shattered upon experiencing its modernity firsthand.
The couple values spontaneity and discovery, as evidenced by their choice not to research places before visiting.
They are adaptable and resilient, viewing both positive and negative surprises as part of the travel experience.
The presence of wildlife, such as zebras in Zambia and a cat in Morocco, has added a layer of enchantment to their travels.
Jill acknowledges the role of Jason Edmunds' writing prompt in reflecting on their travel experiences and the surprises they've encountered.
She expresses a positive outlook on travel, emphasizing the joy and constant adventure it brings.

WRITING PROMPT RESPONSE

Life is Full of Surprises

And every day has the potential for more.

As full-time traveling nomads, our life is certainly one big surprise after another.

It is something that I yearned for back when we were living our conventional life in Canada. I wanted to live a life that was full of excitement and adventure.

I wanted to be surprised!

This is a response to the weekend writing prompt “Surprise!” put out by Jason Edmunds in A Taste For Life Publication. To take part, check the link below!

Weekend Challenge: #5

Interested In A Weekend Challenge? — 8th to 10th April 2022.

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Here are some notable surprises from our journey so far!

Akchour Waterfall is located near Chefchaouen, Morocco. Photo Credit: Author

The whole hike up to Akchour was surprising but the ultimate surprise came at the end (click here for the video of the surprise)! We rounded a corner and it was like Fern Gully on steroids! We were mesmerized by the beauty, despite the slow trickle of water that was the result of the dry season.

The full moon rising over Istanbul from the back of our ferry on New Years' Eve 2021. Photo Credit: Author

Istanbul was a HUGE surprise! We don’t really research places before we go to them, and I had visions of a big dirty city with pollution and donkeys pulling carts. The moment our taxi started driving us through the city, I could see that I had been utterly wrong. Istanbul is one of the most modern cities in the world and we enjoyed ourselves immensely there!

2 Zebras grazing on the side of a trail in Zambia. Photo Credit: Author

We were REALLY surprised when we came across these two zebras grazing on the sides of the trail in Zambia! We had no idea that Zebras will roam amongst communities, we assumed that they were always far away from humans. But not these guys, they were just a part of the landscape.

A Moroccan Cat Named Frank. Photo Credit: Author

Frank arrived in a place we were staying in in Rissani, Morocco, shortly after we arrived there in 2020. The owner had never seen Frank before, but he came and never left again. He was a nice surprise!

This was about the fourth ATM that we tried that rejected our card. Sudan is not on the world banking system, so none of the ATM’s accept foreign cards. Photo Credit: Author.

Of course, not all surprises are nice ones! The worst surprise that we have had so far is realizing that none of the ATMs work for foreign debit cards when we reached Khartoum, Sudan. A very bad surprise indeed!

Thank you Jason Edmunds for reminding me of these surprises! Travel is a constant adventure and I’m sure I could add hundreds of more surprises to this list if time allowed:)

Thanks for reading and I hope that everyone is enjoying their weekend!

xo Jill

Hi there, we are 2 Canadians, Jill and Chris from Artistic Voyages. We have been nomadic since 2017 living in numerous different countries, and experiencing the life and diversity of our planet on the ground and firsthand. We have now been on the African continent for over 2 years! Join our adventure by hitting the links below! Subscribe to Medium to get full access to my writing plus thousands of others’!