29 Instagrams that show how vibrant the world really is

THE WORLD is a colourful place, and who better to look to than the MatadorU student body — thousands of travelers and new media producers from around the globe — to share some of their most vibrant travel moments. It’s the perfect moment to remember how vivacious our planet is, especially for those of us in the northern hemisphere trying to shake off the last remnants of a cold and dreary winter. If you’re in that camp: Happy Springtime!

1

Halong Bay, Vietnam

This floating fishing village "has about 600 residents and they live on boats and floating wooden houses." - Katie Bray

2

Escalante National Monument, Utah

"Golden hour views of the Najavo sandstone cliffs in Southern Utah's Escalante National Monument. The climax of this short and easy hike to Calf Creek Falls, located right off of Highway 12, is a 125 foot tall misty waterfall and a large icy pool below where hikers can take a polar bear plunge." - Kristen Bor

3

Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park, BC

"Maybe you've heard of Banff National Park in Canada, but have you heard of its equally gorgeous neighbour Yoho National Park?" - Rachel Kristensen

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4

Wai-O-Tapu, New Zealand

"There's something about this place...its a geothermal wonderland." - Sofia Machado

5

Bridge in Hoi An, Vietnam

"After enjoying a traditional Vietnamese meal in Hoi An, we were walking back to our hotel when I saw this Japanese bridge lit up, my friends continued ahead but I stayed back, set my camera on a rock and took this long exposure." - Mike Dewey

6

Cinque Terre, Italy

"It was pouring for most of the time that I was in Italy. Finally an hour or two of reprieve let me take this photo in Manarola, probably the prettiest of the five villages that make up the area known as Cinque Terre." - Tara Lowry

7

Night market in Luang Prabang

"Shot from the night market in Luang Prabang, which is bursting with color everywhere you look. I went almost every night I was there." - Ben Lambert

8

Floating market near Bangkok, Thailand

"We went to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market just about 30 minutes out from Bangkok. The image is of a tourist stopping a 'long tail market' to purchase some fresh fruit on such a hot summer day." - Katie Bray

9

betinar-marrakech

"This is a photo I took in the souks of Marrakech in 2013. The market was filled with vibrant colors of the herbs and spices that were artistically displayed." - Betina Ross

Intermission

Culture Guides

9 American habits I lost when I moved to Germany

Isabelle Martin

Trip Planning

Virginia Beach: 6 adventurous itineraries for your summer vacation

Alison Clary

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Galleries

11 reasons Monterey County, CA is the most gorgeous place in America

Jacqueline Kehoe

10

Agra, India

"Salamat's sole mission was to get us to the river in time for sunset. We chased him through the back alleys of Agra until we reached a dilapidated collection of planks that may have at one time been called a boat, where at the mention of snakes in the water, Salamat urged us into its center. We shoved off and were treated to fifteen minutes of golden magic in the middle of the Yamuna." - Brian Lewis

11

Udipur, India

"Rooftop view from my hole in the wall hotel. My view for morning ritual of yoga and meditation. Nothing like soaking up the colors to start a day full of even more colorful people and culture." - Sara Schneider

12

Bangkok, Thailand

"I love roaming around and getting lost in cities, because then you find beautiful things like this Hindu temple I stumbled upon while searching for the Burmese Embassy." - Ben Lambert

13

Matterhorn, Switzerland

"In the high alpine above Zermatt, a series of gondola and chair lifts allows you to get up close and personal to the famous Toblerone shaped Matterhorn peak." - Rachel Kristensen

14

Park Guell in Barcelona, Spain

"Although it is vastly overpopulated by tourist nowadays, the Park Guell in winter at 7am is completely deserted and silent, and standing there watching the sunlight bath Gaudi's unique and beautiful architecture can make you feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city." - Jeremy Ullman

15

Ibiza, Spain

"Stunning geisha mural on the Japanese restaurant Nagai Sushi in Ibiza. By Fin DAC." - Becky Hutner

16

Palolem Beach, Goa, India

"I spent the most relaxing 24 hours of my life on Palolem Beach in the Indian state of Goa and captured these colorful huts while taking a sunset stroll." - Brianne Miers

17

Columbia River Gorge, OR

"Wildflower season in Oregon is about the prettiest thing you could ever experience. It’s like walking through a painting." - Sara Schneider

18

Santa Monia Pier, California

"Santa Monica pier can be crazy at times from all the tourists, but if you wait for the right moment, you can sometimes find peace in all the chaos." - Mike Dewey

19

Landmannalaugar, Iceland

"I took on the 4 day Laugavegur Trek in Iceland last year. The area around Landmannalaugar is like an artist's palette: rainbow colors everywhere you look. From neon green moss to residual snow, this hike was full of beautiful contrasts." - Lindsay Buckley

20

Night market in Chennai, India

"On my last night in Chennai I visited the night market to buy some cheap souvenirs, and instead browsed racks of colorful saris in one the extravagant department stores." - Brianne Miers

21

Blue Lagoon, Iceland

"I visited in March when it was quite cold and a little rainy, which created this purple haze above the robin's egg blue water at the Blue Lagoon. I can still almost taste the salty sulfur lingering in the air every time I look at this picture." - Holly Robertson

22

Berlin, Germany

"Apartment block in Berlin's color and cafe-rich Prenzlauerberg neighborhood." - Becky Hutner

23

Street art in Chiang Mai, Thailand

"Chiang Mai has loads of vibrant street art, just like this piece, lurking around every corner. This one is from a motorbike rental shop just outside the old city, you can only see it after they close." - Ben Lambert

24

Lantern market in Hoi An, Vietnam

"The ancient town of Hoi An comes to life at night. After lighting a candle lantern and setting it afloat down the river, I crossed over a small footbridge to find a busy lantern market vibrant and energetic as ever." - Mike Dewey

25

Luang Prabang, Laos

"At one end of the daily night market in Luang Prabang there is this narrow little alleyway that is crammed with food vendors, piled one on top of the other. Most follow the ”all the food you can pile into one bowl for 15,000 Kip ($2 USD)” model and this was the largest and best." Ben Lambert

26

Whitsundays, Australia

"I camped solo on a beach on South Molle Island in the Whitsundays and was feeling pretty weird about being on my own during a very hot Christmas season. One day I went on a hike that took me up and over to the other side of the island and caught my first real glimpse of the Whitsunday islands." - Lindsay Buckley

27

Miskolc, Hungary

"A mosaic made entirely of plastic bottle caps brightens up the streets of downtown Miskolc, Hungary. The installation celebrates a year of monthly Shakespeare performances at the Miskolc National Theater." - Colm Fitzgerald

28

Fruits and vegetables in Chennai, India

"Each morning during my stay in Chennai I’d stop by this fruit and vegetable market and buy a banana while all the housewives bought ingredients for the days’ meals." - Brianne Miers

29

The Place market, Beijing, China

"I found these statues at The Place shopping mall, Beijing, in 2009, when China’s indie art scene started gaining steam. The statues represent the Olympic Rings as regular people; perhaps they mean to show that Olympic athletes are as human as anyone else." - Giampaolo Bianchi