#o21o

[azizdogdu]

I’ll visit Sri Lanka soon 🇱🇰 🇱🇰🇱🇰 Repost from @our21stcenturyodyssey @TopRankRepost . . Day 201: Confession time - before our trip to Sri Lanka, I thought it was going to be like a smaller, less touristy India. . I was wrong! The two countries are geographically close but culturally very disctinct. . For starters, Sri Lanka is predominantly Buddhist, while India is predominantly Hindu. . Caves in the ancient city of Dambulla in central Sri Lanka have held Buddha images for 2000 years. Over the centuries, kings have updated and added to the cave art. . Today there are five cave temples you can visit. Walking freely through these ancient temples, you're completely immersed by over 150 Buddha statues and paintings. This collection comprises some of Sri Lanka's most important religious art. . Have you ever been somewhere that was different from what you expected? . . #srilanka #srilankatravel #srilankatourism #wonderlustsrilanka #o21o #travelblogger #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #travel #womenwhoexplore #beautifuldestinations #gltlove #lifeontheroad #aroundtheworld #travelpics #femaletravelbloggers #thetravelnova #worldnomads #relationshipgoals #travelcouple #coupleswhoexplore #timeoutsociety #traveleroftheweek #travelcommunity #discoverunder2k #backpackersintheworld

[our21stcenturyodyssey]

Day 157: Did you know that every year about 8 million metric tons of plastic end up in our oceans? . In 2025, the annual input is estimated to be about twice that. . Tim and I just spent 4 days scuba diving around Mabul Island, off the coast of Borneo. . It was simultaneously some of the most beautiful diving we've done, with colorful coral, countless sea turtles and schools of fish thousands of members strong. . Sadly, the surrounding waters were also the most polluted I've ever seen. The city of Semporna (from where many diving trips leave) is so littered you have to watch where you step. When it rains, sewage and trash float up to street level and the smell is almost unbearable. . We tried to pick up as much trash as we could while we were diving, but with the plastic input outpacing the clean up, it is hard not to feel hopeless about it all. . I tell myself that at least I can make sure that no turtle, shark, whale or anything dies from this individual piece of plastic, and at least there's one less hazard for them in our big blue oceans. . #malaysiatrulyasia #Malaysia #sabahtourism #borneo #mabul #scubajunkies #beach #island #o21o #travelblogger #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #backpacker #backpacking #travel #womenwhoexplore #beautifuldestinations #gltlove #adventure #lifeontheroad #aroundtheworld #travelpics #femaletravelbloggers #thetravelnova #worldnomads #scuba #padi #savetheocean #gopro (at Sipadan)

[our21stcenturyodyssey]

You definitely want to swipe to see what we're looking at! . Did you know humans are more closely related to orangutans than Asian elephants are to African elephants? . Spotting orangutans in the wild is difficult. They are solitary animals who tend to stay high up in the tree canopy. We hadn't seen any during our stay at the Kinabatangan River, or even roaming about the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary (aside from the juveniles who are always there under the watch of caretakers). . On our last day in the rain forest, while walking to the entrance of Gomantong Cave, we heard a snapping sound. Our guide, John, looked around for the source, but Tim found it first. In the treetops above us sat a furry blob of orange. We had found a wild orangutan enjoying breakfast. . We stood there and watched him for at least 30 minutes, mesmerized as his hands, so human-like, snapped branches for food. Several times he turned his face to us, staring with the same curiosity with which we were watching him. It was a divinely special moment. . What's a time you encountered an animal in the wild and how did it impact you? Tell me in the comments! . . . #o21o #travelblogger #travelgram #instatravel #wanderlust #backpacker #backpacking #travel #womenwhoexplore #beautifuldestinations #gltlove #adventure #lifeontheroad #aroundtheworld #travelpics #femaletravelbloggers #thetravelnova #worldnomads #relationshipgoals #travelcouple #coupleswhoexplore #hike #explore #nature #destinationearth #activetravel #exploremore #malaysiatrulyasia #Malaysia #sabahtourism (at Gomantong Caves, Sabah, Malaysia)