By:
Jarred Manasse
2020-04-07 16:56:35
I moved to Portugal last semester to start a Masters in Tourism, but Australia is my home.
Before the lockdown, I came back to Australia to see my fiancé and because travelling overseas became quite hard so suddenly, I decided to stay in Australia until everything calms down in Europe. I have different working hours now, and because of the time difference I tend to work in the evenings which is when my colleagues are working from home in the United Kingdom and South Africa.
My classes are now being held online, so I can still attend them.
I am trying to stay home as much as I can and am following the Australian government advice to stop the spread of COVID-19 as much as possible. I go grocery shopping once a week and go for a walk in the park not more than twice a week.

I can't wait to start travelling again once this crisis has passed! I'm looking forward to visiting Egypt, a country with so much history, amazing culture and nice people.
I want to spend some extra time at the Egyptian Museum to be able to see the Mummy Room, I want to visit the fascinating temple of Abu Simbel since I didn't have a chance to during my first time in the country and I'd also like to visit the Valley of the Kings in Luxor - this is my favourite destination in the country because there we get to see the underground mausoleums built thousands of years ago but yet so well-conserved.


Egyptian food is delicious! I've been dreaming of a big traditional Egyptian breakfast, with fresh fruit juice, Egyptian falafel (Ta'meya) and some typical flat bread. The best Egyptian dish in my option though is Koshari - a mix of macaroni, rice, lentils, chickpeas, fried onion and tomato sauce.

In Egypt, I would love to watch the sound and light show at the Pyramids in Giza (I am sure it will be amazing to see the Pyramids lit at night), go for a swim in the Nile and spend the afternoon watching the world go by from a felucca sailboat, fly on a hot air balloon at sunrise in Luxor and go snorkelling with hundreds of fish in the Red Sea.
Need some travel inspiration or looking for some handy travel tips? Our blog provides excellent insight into our travel destinations - from tour updates to country guides, packing lists to little known things to do, you'll find it all in our travel blog.
By:
Martin Hosie
2026-08-06
Planning a trip to Jordan? Learn from our mistakes with this essential travel guide. From navigating the vast ruins of Petra and booking the perfect Wadi Rum desert camp to floating in the Dead Sea, discover why an expertly guided adventure is the smartest way to explore.
By:
Martin Hosie
2026-08-03
Lebanon is ancient, resilient, and wildly beautiful. Discover the best things to visit in Lebanon with our honest, story-driven travel guide. From exploring Beirut’s vibrant streets and the sacred Qadisha Valley to marvelling at Baalbek's colossal Roman ruins, see why an Encounters Travel adventure will change everything you thought you knew.
By:
Martin Hosie
2026-07-29
Planning a trip to Lebanon? Discover the best things to do in Beirut with our honest travel guide. From marvelling at the Jeita Grotto and ancient Baalbek to wandering vibrant neighbourhoods like Gemmayze, find out why an Encounters Travel guided tour is the perfect way to explore.
By:
Martin Hosie
2026-07-27
Botswana’s luxury reputation can feel intimidating to the budget-conscious traveller, but the reality is beautifully different. Read our honest breakdown of the best places to visit in Botswana. From silent mokoro rides in the Okavango Delta to vast elephant herds in Chobe National Park, discover what genuinely lives up to the hype, and what to skip, on an Encounters Travel overland tour.
By:
Martin Hosie
2026-07-21
We booked a family overland trip half-expecting Namibia's Skeleton Coast to be all eerie silence and dramatic shipwrecks. What we actually found, from roaring lions padding along the coastline to cape fur seals barking in their thousands, completely changed how we think about safari travel. Here's the story of the most unexpectedly alive place we've ever visited.