As the year 2024 comes to an end, it is time to reflect on an exciting year of travel, and this year I travelled to Puerto Rico, Sweden, Finland, Sri Lanka, Singapore, and, of course, Canada. Here is a midlifer’s 2024 travel adventures.
Table of Contents
Countries Traveled This Year
- USA (Puerto Rico)
- Sweden
- Finland
- Sri Lanka
- Singapore
- Turkey (just a brief stay at the airport)
A Four-Day Winter Escape to Puerto Rico
In January, I traded Canada’s mild winter for Puerto Rico’s warmth. Puerto Rico is an incorporated island territory of the United States where Spanish and English are the official languages. Spanish is the dominant language there.
I stayed in the capital, San Juan, close to the convention center and the T-Mobile entertainment area, and just loved it. I was there during a weekend, so it was packed with people enjoying food at various restaurants and live music in the T-Mobile area. But, as usual, I wasn’t there just for good food; I wanted to do some activities, so I chose three.
El Yunque Natural Waterslide & Rainforest Hike
Puerto Rico is a warm place, and El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical forest in the USA. There are almost full-day tours, but I chose a half-day tour.
We were picked up by the tour company from a mall. It appeared that this area is a common pickup spot for tour companies. After the drive, we reached the rainforest and stepped onto its trails. The paths were muddy in some areas, so sturdy, waterproof shoes are a must. I was relieved it didn’t rain that day, which kept things manageable. The hike was a mix of easy walks and steeper sections, with the soothing sound of streams and rapids accompanying us.
The highlight was, of course, the main waterfall, which cascaded into a natural pool surrounded by greenery. Some adventurers crossed to the other side, climbed up the rocks, and leaped into the water. I’ll admit—I wasn’t quite brave enough for that. Instead, I opted for a few refreshing dips in the cool, clear water.
The Bacardi Rum Tasting Tour
Puerto Rico is home to the world’s largest rum distillery, which runs tours, and I wasn’t about to miss the opportunity to visit it. Previously, I had visited the Mount Gay rum distillery in Barbados, considered the world’s oldest running commercial distillery.
The Bacardi distillery offers a few tours, including a legacy tour of the distillery, which moved from Cuba to Puerto Rico in the early sixties, but I chose the rum tasting tour.
After the welcome cocktail, our group was taken on the tour, which explained the rum-making process and showcased the facilities. I loved the trip in the trolley. The highlight of the tour, of course, was the rum tasting. We were given four types of rum, and tasting meant identifying the uniqueness of each rum in terms of its texture, aromas, etc., but I failed almost every time.
Oh well.
However, it didn’t stop me from buying a bottle of the 10-year-old Bacardi Gran Reserva Extra Rare Gold Rum.
The Old San Juan Walking Tour
We took a morning walking tour of San Juan’s Old City. It was a free tour, and our guide showed us some of the cobblestone streets, forts, and more.
The Condado Lagoon Glass-Bottom Kayak Tour
This tour took us on a small two-person glass-bottom kayaking tour along the Condado Lagoon. We saw manatees as we kayaked along some of the protected areas of San Juan Bay. I took the morning tour, but I’ve read about the nighttime tours with LED lights, which sound incredible.
The Guided Snorkeling Tour – Midlifer’s 2024 Travel Adventures
I booked the tour at Escambrón Beach, not far from my hotel on Convention Boulevard. This was the best tour of the five tours I took while in Puerto Rico tours and one of the best snorkeling tours I have ever had.
When we arrived and took care of the payment and other formalities, we were given a brief explanation of how to snorkel, and then we were taken to the waters. It was a bay, which is great for snorkeling. We were just three people with our guide, who took us on a long journey around the bay. As I mentioned in my post on snorkeling at Pigeon Island in Sri Lanka, I am not a professional swimmer, so I wore a life jacket.
At times, when I peered through the waters, I could see that it was quite deep, but I wasn’t afraid. Besides some underwater structures, I saw schooling reef fish and coral reefs. But the best part was the turtles. I was wearing my action cam that day, so I’m using the footage provided by our guide from the Try Scuba Diving team, who guided us for that tour.
This was the best tour not necessarily for what I saw – because I didn’t see a lot – but how it was conducted and the confidence it gave me.
Canada – Long Sault Parkway Drive
One day I saw and was captivated by this short video of the Long Sault Parkway, and it sounded very tempting. So, in June, I took an almost 400 km road trip to the Parkway.
The Parkway is a drive stretching across a chain of 11 islands along the St. Lawrence River, all connected by bridges. The islands are pretty small, so the entire drive didn’t take that long. This route was created after the flooding of many villages in the fifties.
Though the write-ups describe a breathtaking nature scene, there wasn’t much to see, particularly when you visit in June and are driving. It will certainly be a breathtaking view from the air. However, one can go camping, cycling, or kayaking in the area.
Four-Day Europe Trip
In August, I combined family time in Finland with two days in Stockholm, Sweden. It was obviously a short trip, but I made the most of it.
Stockholm’s Subway Art Tour
I took a mini trip to see the famous artworks that adorn Stockholm’s extensive subway/underground train system.
Old Town (Gamla Stan)
I also visited the Old Town, which hosts the Nobel Prize Museum, where one could see some of the personal items used by some of the laureates for research or just to inspire themselves.
The Old Town is a charming place with historic buildings such as the Royal Palace and Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, which is the narrowest alley/street in the city. At its narrowest point, it is just 90 cm wide.
Stockholm Archipelago Tour
This guided 2.5-hour boat tour took us through some of the archipelago’s 30,000 islands, ranging from boulders jutting out of the water to fairly large islands with restaurants and other amenities. Many of these islands are dotted with traditional red and yellow homes.
Per Albin Houses
Before departing, I explored the iconic Per Albin Houses, which were built in the thirties, showcasing Swedish functionalist architecture to provide good-quality housing for the working class. Now, though, it appears to be an affluent neighborhood.
Culinary Delights
From pickled herring to Swedish meatballs, I savored local specialties. I also paid a visit to the historic Östermalm Saluhall. Fika—Swedish coffee time—was a daily highlight.
As I went to Stockholm in August, the city was brimming with summer vibes, with many concerts around the city. I loved the dancing.
With the trip being so short, the time-saving way to reach Helsinki from Stockholm would have been to fly, but instead, I decided to take the ferry. It was more than a 17-hour journey, but I wanted to experience it.
CHECK MY POSTS AND VIDEOS ON MY SWEDISH TRIP AND MY STAY AT DOWNTOWN CAMPER BY SCANDIC IN STOCKHOLM.
Our Silja Line ferry left Stockholm at 4:30 in the afternoon and reached Helsinki just past 10 am the following day. It was a great experience with a fantastic buffet, including free beer and wine, and various entertainment shows, including dancing.
2.5-Week Trip to Sri Lanka and Singapore
Late in September, I undertook a two-and-a-half-week trip to Sri Lanka and Singapore. Like the European trip, this was also both a personal and a touristic trip—seeing family and friends as well as sightseeing.
Road Trip to Eastern Sri Lanka
While in Sri Lanka, I went on a five-day road trip from Colombo to the eastern cities of Trincomalee and Batticaloa.
Snorkeling at Pigeon Island
The first stop was the beach town of Nilaveli in northeastern Trincomalee. The main adventure here was the three-hour snorkeling trip at Pigeon Island, which is about a 20-minute boat ride from Trincomalee.
Tirukoneswaram Temple
I also visited the famous and centuries-old Thirukoneswaram Hindu temple and Fort Frederick. The fort was first built by the Portuguese colonial government using stones from the temple, which they destroyed. The fort was then taken over and renamed by the Dutch when they beat the Portuguese.
Batticaloa – Pasikudah
From Trincomalee, we drove to Batticaloa, where we stayed at the Amaya Beach Resort in Pasikudah. Pasikudah is also known for its beaches and tourist resorts.
It was mostly idling or swimming at the beach or in the pool in Pasikudah. But I did drive to Batticaloa city center and enjoyed the bustling city’s sights and sounds.
Two-Day Trip to Jaffna
After a few days back in Colombo, I took another three-day trip to the northern town of Jaffna. I hired a tuk-tuk (an autorickshaw taxi) and drove along the northern coastal road.
I also took a trip along the Pannai Causeway to the nearby Mandaithivu island. I just walked around before returning.
Food, Food & More Food
Of course, I didn’t forego any of the delicious dishes in Sri Lanka—from simple rice and curry dishes to buffalo curd with treacle as dessert.
One Day in Singapore
On my return to Canada, I stayed one day in Singapore. Singapore is a place I have been to many times, but this time I decided to explore more of the city’s natural habitat.
The Rail Corridor Hike
We chose the Rail Corridor, or the Green Corridor, to explore the city-state’s nature. This is a 24-km continuous passage that provides pathways for wildlife while serving as an outdoor recreational facility for the public.
We started off from the Central Rail Corridor and enjoyed the old Bukit Timah rail track and the carriages before continuing our hike. We probably did around 7-8 km, but the trails led to unbelievable nature with lush trees and chirping birds. Singapore gives the feeling of a concrete city, but here it was so different.
We ended the hike with great local food at the Newton Food Centre. And then it was all over. I returned to Canada via London.
Final Comments on A Midlifer’s 2024 Travel Adventures
2024 was a year of diverse experiences, from exploring underwater worlds to enjoying cultural festivals and savoring unique cuisines. Each destination left a unique imprint, and I’m already looking forward to the adventures that 2025 will bring!