From Rosetown to the world: Teen’s first trip sparks lifelong love of travel
By Joan Janzen
“When you’ve lived in Saskatchewan your entire life and rarely been out of Canada, there isn’t a lot that isn’t new,” 19-year-old Amaris Manning from Rosetown said. She recently returned from a 34-day-long journey to various locations in Indonesia, Singapore and Okinawa in Japan.
“I wasn’t the one handling the logistics of flights and ferries, but I now have an understanding of what it’s like to actually be a traveller in non-Western countries,” she said. Amaris accompanied experienced world travellers Kyla and Jonah Janzen from Kindersley on their latest adventure.
Gliding giants. While diving at Nysa Panida in Indonesia, Amaris spotted six huge manta rays that circled and glided around them for nearly an hour.
Cliffside calm. At Uluwatu in Indonesia, Amaris and Kyla unwind in an open-concept hut, taking in a sweeping ocean view from above the treetops.
Tea with a view. Amaris (front), Jonah and Kyla pause for tea while overlooking a dramatic landscape, with a volcano rising in the distance.
Underwater moment. Amaris and a dive partner capture a close-up selfie beneath the surface, surrounded by bubbles and the deep blue sea.
She said the most unique and fun experience she had was learning how to dive. “I’ve always loved the water, but being able to experience the ocean in that way is a feeling I’m going to be chasing forever. There’s nowhere around here where you can swim with turtles, cuttlefish and look for microscopic shrimp among the corals,” she said. While diving at Nysa Penida in Indonesia, they spotted six huge manta rays that glided around them for a full hour.
This young traveller saw some breathtaking scenery, which was expected. “But I wasn’t expecting the overall demeanour of people in different areas,” she admitted. “Sometimes you would be bartering for a decent price on something you could find at the next market stall, or your ride was willing to wait hours while you shopped and ate.”
In Bali, she found the locals to be extremely accommodating, while the locals in Singapore were busy living their own lives. “Japanese locals were extremely friendly and did their best to understand our English,” she added. “Staying in Hong Kong for a layover was the biggest people shock.” The glimpse of their culture made her curious about what life was like outside the airport.
While experiencing different cultures, Amaris loved observing local children. “It was refreshing to see childhood imagination and how the children entertained themselves without a screen or constant activities,” she observed.
An important part of every holiday includes sampling local cuisine. “There was so much new food I was able to try,” she said. “There was Indian fine dining in Singapore, bartering for Turkish food, homemade pasta in Japan, and noodles in Bali that somehow tasted like the ones my sister makes. It’s also impossible to go to Japan without having ramen and sushi, which made me beyond happy!”
Amaris returned home not only excited about her trip, but ready to experience more adventures in the future. “It is absolutely a dream of mine to travel again, and I learned a lot on this trip that can be transferred,” the young traveller said.