Seeing new sights is not the only benefit of traveling.
Going beyond the boundaries of your normal daily life helps you gain another perspective about the world and other people and cultures. And it also affords you the opportunities to experience wonderful encounters that, if you’re lucky enough, might just be one of those once-in-a-lifetime ones that you can tell your grand-kids about.
Jackson Grove, from Adelaide, Australia, just got his own Instagram-worthy experience while trekking through the Swiss Alps when he managed to make friends with a couple of sheep that he happened to encounter along the way.
Watch the interaction between the two below.
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Video credit: Rumble
The 27-year-old traveler was in Zermatt, Switzerland, when he encountered the sheep. Zermatt is normally known for its mountaineering and ski resorts and it’s a quaint mountain town with a picturesque view, attractive traits which explains why roughly 30% of its residents are foreign nationals.
However, it’s still located in the Swiss mountains so grazing is still common and explains how Jackson can encounter sheep there. The sheep, of the Valais Blacknose variety, were so friendly that they weren’t skittish even as Jackson got closer and even allowed him to stroke them and take selfies with them.
Jackson said: “It felt so shaggy and soft.
“I loved the way they interacted with me, they were really curious and not scared at all.
“It was a really fun moment in my travels.”
Valais Blacknose takes its name from the Valais area in Switzerland where it originated and the black fur around its face. It’s a mountain breed that is well suited to the rugged Swiss highlands and is raised with the dual-purpose of being a source of meat and wool.
However, the Valais Blacknose looks so adorable that it’s also gaining attractiveness as a pet. A few breeding pairs have been exported abroad for this purpose. In terms of temperament, all sheep tend to be friendly and low-maintenance, and with the cuteness factor of the Valais Blacknose, could be a viable alternative if you’re not a dog or cat person.
In the case of Jackson, it was truly an encounter that will be treasured for the rest of his life.
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