Samuel
Hanzlik
Travel
Destinations
The question I am asked most about my travels is a simple one...Why? Traveling has exposed me to some truly once in a lifetime experiences. I have explored ancient ruins in Cambodia, hiked among glaciers in New Zealand, and went SCUBA diving at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. While these types of experiences may define my itinerary, they are not what I enjoy most about travel. There is something incredibly intoxicating of finding yourself in a foreign country surrounded by a culture and way of life that you had no previous idea existed. The most valuable experience of traveling to a foreign country is taking the effort to witness how different societies have addressed similar problems as your own. This leads to being able to develop a perspective on any situation that a previous way of thinking may have never allowed.
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Aotearoa or “Land of the Long White Cloud” was my first long-term travel abroad destination. Top to bottom, New Zealand is the most visually striking country I have had the privilege of visiting. Whether it is the tropical Bay of Islands on the North Island or the snowy peaks of the southern Alps on the South Island, there are landscapes to marvel even the most seasoned traveler. Even more so than witnessing the amazing landscape, the greatest take-away from my year living and working there was my exposure to so many cultures within the backpacking community. I made friends from Germany, France, England, Argentina, China, and countries I never gave much thought to before. We shared stories about everything from what food we grew up with to our perspectives on troubling world issues. This showed me that a beauty and uniqueness could be found in each and every country. Coming to this realization instilled in me a burning desire to experience as many different cultures in as many different places as I can.
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I spent the majority of my time in Australia living and working in Melbourne. What was suppose to be a couple months in Melbourne quickly turned into half a year as I fell in love with the city. I eventually would move on to camp my way through the notorious Australian Outback but there is no doubt I will be returning to Australia’s footy capital any chance I get. Australia is home to some of the most unique (and deadly) wilderness I have ever experienced. Whether you are in the mood to see a seemingly out-of-place rock formation in the middle of a vast desert or the diverse marine life along one of the largest reefs in the world, Australia will not disappoint.
 Built as a WW1 memorial, the Great Ocean Road is the largest war memorial in the world, not to mention the most scenic drive I have ever been on. |  While there are technically only 8 Apostles left, this famous attraction was a nice stop on the Great Ocean Road |  My first time seeing a Koala in the wild included her baby clinging on for the ride |
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 Located on Frasier Island, the largest sand island in the world, the blue waters of Lake McKenzie is truly a natural wonder. |
photo by Colin Cornett
Without-a-doubt, the time I have spent traveling through Asia encompasses my most memorable traveling experiences. I am lucky enough to have spent time in Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Each of these countries are very unique, but do share one major aspect in that the culture is vastly different from my own or the ones I witnessed in Europe, New Zealand, or Australia. My time in Asia led me to a defining revelation in my own idea of the importance of family and community. No matter which Asian country I found myself in, I encountered countless individuals that would sacrifice individual merit daily for the good of the community, something I now find much too scarce in western cultures. On a less serious note, I developed a love for all things Asian cuisine, but quickly learned it is better to just not ask what the ingredients consist of.
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 Copacabana Beach, Palawan |  Khaosan RoadKhaosan Road is well known in the backpacker community as the send-off point for travel in Southeast Asia. Here you can find everything from information on nearby attractions to crickets and scorpions grilled up and seasoned for a light snack. |  Grand PalaceNo trip to Thailand is complete without multiple visits to the vast number of temples found around this predominantly Buddhist country. |
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 Grand Palace |  It is easy to get lost in the views from all the amazing beaches found in southern Thailand. |  Ko TaoKo Tao “Turtle Island” is known for its great Scuba Diving and island life as a small southern island in Thailand. |
 Angkor WatAngkor was the capital city of the Khmer Empire around the 10th century and exploring the ancient ruins is certainly a top highlight from all my travels. |  Ta ProhmTa Prohm is a unique temple in the fact that that it is left mainly untouched as root systems have slowly overtaken some of the ruins. |  Cambodia Ruins |
 Tonle SapThe floating villages of Tonle Sap in Cambodia provide a humble look at everyday life in a different culture. |  El NidoEl Nido, located on Palawan in the Philippines is one of the most picturesque villages I have visited, nestled on the beach surrounded by the high limestone cliffs. |  El Nido |
 CoronAtop mount Tapyas the sunset of Coron. Along with stunning views Coron is also home to some of the best WWII wreck scuba diving. |  Banaue Rice TerracesLocated in Ifugao, Phillippines, the Banaue Rice Terraces are considered by many as the "8th Wonder of the World" |  BatadBuilt by hand thousands of years ago, these rice terraces in the Philippines are some of the oldest on the planet. |
 Batad |  Asian CuisineThere is nothing quite like food when it comes to traveling in Asia, this Malaysian frog dish was one of many interesting eats I found along the way |
