Tag: Travel
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Discovering Mindfulness in Madagascar’s Countryside
Discover inner peace in Madagascar’s quiet highlands, where rolling hills and red earth paths offer profound solitude away from city noise. A personal journey of self-discovery in rural Madagascar’s understated countryside.
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Why Investing in Experiences is Priceless
The Moment I Almost Didn’t Click “Book Now” My cursor hovered over the button for a solid five minutes. The total at the bottom of the screen kept staring back at me, unblinking: three months in Madagascar, comprehensive itinerary from Antsirabe to Toliara, internal flights, guides, accommodations – the number was eye-watering. I’d just wrapped…
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Discovering True Relaxation: Lessons from My Grandfather
A retiring UN official discovers the difference between managing stress and actually relaxing after 30 years in international diplomacy. Lessons from the Seychelles on finding peace.
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What I Love About the Place I Live
A Madagascar-based professional shares why island life beats city living, from lemur interruptions to cyclone innovations. At dawn, while I was preparing for meditation, my colleague Asina calls out. An unidentified creature, resembling a hybrid of a tiny lemur and a rat, materialized on the veranda of the bungalow. We had rented it for the…
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Discovering Adventure: My Tsingy de Bemaraha Experience
Last week at Tsingy de Bemaraha in Madagascar, I discovered something unexpected about myself. I actually enjoy being scared or was it the adventure that I enjoyed.
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The One Travel Habit That Brings Me Joy: How Mindful Discovery Transforms Every Journey
I don’t rush when I travel anymore. Used to sprint between tourist spots, checking boxes off itineraries like a completion fanatic. But something shifted after too many trips where I remembered the monuments but forgot the moments. Now I have one rule: find something worth noticing and actually notice it.
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What I’m Really Curious About After 30 Years of International Work
Don’t wait until you’re shaking in a conference room to realize that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s essential for doing the work that matters.
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What Are Your Future Travel Plans?
The Question That Won’t Go Away “So, what are your future travel plans?” Everyone asks. During last month’s UN Country Team meeting, three colleagues speculated about my future travel plans. They thought that I might finally embark on that cruise around the Mediterranean. My neighbour thinks I’m planning to “do Europe properly.” Dr Salil, my…
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Rethinking Development Strategies: Lessons from Mananjary
Sometimes the most important development lessons aren’t found in best practice guides or evaluation reports. Sometimes they’re found in a wooden canoe on a quiet canal. They involve learning to read the currents instead of fighting against them.
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Savoring Memories: The Art of Asian Plant-Based Cooking
Experience a UN professional’s culinary journey from Seychelles to global kitchens. Discover how authentic heritage and a pivot to plant-based Asian cooking create compelling food memories and digital stories. Explore multicultural recipes and cultural fusion.
L J Padayachy 