Rudyard Kipling's inspiration for The Jungle Book

Welcome back to the Travel Onist, the travel newsletter that always seats you in first class 😌. So sit back, put your feet up, and let us spin the globe for you.

Here’s what we’re serving up today:

Beautiful BnB in Oaxaca

Wine tasting in Georgia (the country, not the state)

The Indian state that inspired The Jungle Book

My go-to travel bag

Stay

Grana - Oaxaca, Mexico

This absolute stunner of a boutique BnB in Oaxaca, Mexico offers the perfect home base to explore one of the most magical cities in the country. I can’t even begin to tell you all of the amazing things people shared with me about Oaxaca when I was in Mexico City. In retrospect, it was a huge miss to not make it there during my last trip to Mexico 😤.

This hotel is set in an 18th-century mansion and renovated to reflect the city that surrounds it today. For breakfast, a traditional Oaxacan dish is prepared each day to highlight the local gastronomy. The BnB also features a gorgeous courtyard and a terrace that offers views of the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca mountain range.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

Wine tasting at 8000 Vintages - Tbilisi, Georgia

First, a quick message from T.O.’s history channel

Most people, especially from the States, think of Napa, France, or Italy when they think of wine. But, did you know that Georgia (the country) is actually known as the birthplace of wine? Evidence of winemaking found by archaeologists on Georgian territory suggests wine was being made here from as early as 6,000 BC 🤯.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming

When in Georgia, do as the Georgians do! While Tbilisi is home to many wonderful wine bars and tasting options, 8000 Vintages is widely considered to be the best. With over 1000 Georgian wine bottles to choose from, each selection is hand-picked by sommelier staff through a blind tasting process. And if you like meat and cheese, word on the street is the tasting boards are to die for!

Experience

Explore the Indian state that inspired The Jungle Book - Madhya Pradesh, India

As the source of inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, the Tiger State of India is a hidden gem that I have recently added to my bucket list. This region has the highest density of tigers in the world, making it one of the few places you are nearly guaranteed to see one of these beautiful big cats in their natural habitat.

With 12 national parks, magnificent monuments and temples, cave paintings, and tribal culture, this state has something for every traveler. Also known as the heart of India, Madhya Pradesh is equally close to many of the major tourist destinations, making it an easy add-on to your next trip to India 🇮🇳. However, this may be for our more experienced travelers given that the travel infrastructure within the state is not well developed.

Carry On

Cotopaxi Allpa 35L Travel Pack

This right here is my go-to travel bag. I decided to convert to this travel pack after a European vacation that featured me attempting to roll my suitcase through the cobblestone streets of Berlin. As you can imagine, the thought crossed my mind that there may be a better way to lug my belongings across a city.

Since then I’ve used this bag for nearly every trip. I love the functionality of it—tons of different pockets and compartments, multiple carrying straps, and a water bottle sleeve. My only complaint is that I do sometimes miss my roller bag whenever I find myself overpacked and walking on anything that might offer a roller bag a smooth ride. And yes, this bag is carry-on friendly. We don’t check bags here at T.O. unless we ABSOLUTELY have to. This is a great choice if you’re only going to bring one bag.

AI Travel Art Piece of the Week

Cheers til next week,

T.O.