Most Fun Experiences of 2024
We had some incredibly fun experiences in 2024. This past year blessed us with much joy and many adventures that filled our hearts with gratitude. We’re incredibly grateful for the world’s wonders and the opportunity to embrace them. Here’s a look back at our top fun-filled highlights of the past year.
Most Fun Experiences of 2024
Slow Travel on The Vietage by Anantara
Traveling on The Vietage by Anantara feels like stepping into a 1940s MGM film noir set in Central Vietnam, and you’d half expect Katherine Hepburn or Cary Grant to peek through the rattan blinders in their trench coats and high-waisted trousers – in other words, a classy ride. It’s phenomenal treatment from the friendly team with majestic views that are exclusive only to train travel. Free-flowing drinks are a delicious bonus, alongside pastries and a full-course meal.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Komodo National Park is one of only five islands in the world where you can see the infamous Komodo dragon—only two, Komodo and Rinca, are open to the public. With a weight exceeding 136 kilograms and a body stretching up to three metres long, Komodo dragons hold the title of the heaviest lizards on the planet. A Komodo dragon’s bite delivers a double whammy: venom with proteins that disrupt blood clotting and lower blood pressure, and bacteria from their mouths that accelerate the infection process. Together, this potent mix ensures a lethal outcome for their prey. Besides getting up close with these terrifying creatures the journey, sea, rocky outcrops, marine life, pink beaches and moonscape-like scenery are extraordinary.
A Night at the Cabaret – Barcode Siem Reap
Cabaret at Barcode is a fabulous night out in Siem Reap. There’s a friendly audience of tourists and locals, reasonably priced drinks and a cosy setting. The professional performers and stunning costumes supported by shoulder-shimmying tunes are highly engaging. It’s an all-around genuinely good time.
Feeding Rothschild Giraffes
Feeding the Rothschild giraffes at The Giraffe Centre in Nairobi was one of the most surreal moments of this past year. These beautiful leggy creatures sashayed their way to the visitors’ platform, where we held food pellets for them to eat. In the wild, giraffes spend most of their day eating (up to 20 hours!), so they are always ready to nibble. Their long, purple tongues are sticky but surprisingly gentle, like sandpaper but somehow soothing. It was such a cool experience.
The Ombak Festival 2024 held along the beautiful Desaru Coast of Malaysia, was a resounding success. The organisers delivered a flawlessly executed, luxurious experience, where guests could walk from their hotel rooms to the show. No portable loos for this festival goer! Need a nap, a snack or a bathroom break and my villa was just footsteps away. With world-class musical acts like The Cardigans, Grace Jones, Macy Gray, and Nile Rodgers & CHIC, alongside Michelin-starred chefs, engaging art installations, and a focus on sustainability, the Ombak Festival set a new standard for boutique music events.
Phare, The Cambodian Circus is not just a fun show but a cultural experience that tells Cambodian stories and supports young artists. Attending the circus is a way to both enjoy a night of entertainment and contribute to Cambodia’s cultural revival. Don’t miss this opportunity to be amazed and support a worthy cause!
Sundowners at Shinta Mani Wild
One evening, our butler took us via jeep to a secret location while staying at Shinta Mani Wild. Here there we found a dry river bed that had been turned into a phenomenal pad for sundowners – equipped with a cocktail bar, canapé service, a giant ice bucket in the natural rock filled with Champagne, a campfire and even spa therapists giving foot massages with the creek’s stream providing a natural footbath. Sundowners will never be the same again!
We are incredibly grateful for the chance to have these adventures highlighted in our list of the most fun experiences of 2024. What were your year’s stand-outs? What recommendations do you have for us for 2025?
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