My Travel Bucket List
After gaining some inspiration after the post ‘My ultimate travel bucket list‘ popped up in my twitter feed, I decided to revisit a post I had started typing up a while back (and then for unknown reasons abandoned.)
Although I have been lucky enough to travel to thirty odd countries, my wanderlust has not diminished, in fact quite the opposite! I am always, always dreaming of the next places to visit.
With that in mind, I decided to complete the write up of my ultimate travel bucket list..
My travel bucket list..
1. Visit all seven wonders of the world (I’m almost there- I’ve just got the Great Wall of China to go).
2. Go hot air ballooning over Cappadocia, Turkey. I only heard about this last year and now I can’t stop seeing it pop up over instagram, facebook, twitter, my dreams.. everywhere basically.
3. Do a Cleopatra and relive history at the pyramids of Giza, Egypt, the only ancient wonder of the world still intact.
4. Shop until I drop in New York City (preferably near Christmas)
5. Go on an African safari e.g Serengeti, and travel the Garden Route in South Africa
6. I know, I know, very unoriginal but to travel to The Maldives and stay in one of those super fancy resorts which overlook the crystal clear waters- ahh bliss!
7. Go diving in the Red Sea.
8. Go to Marrakech and shop in the souks
9. See the beautiful Northern lights.
10. Take a long weekend in Berlin for the history and nightlife.
11. Travel Sri Lanka – a small country packed full of beaches, wildlife and culture – sounds my kind of place!
12. Go to Japan for the quirky shops and the unique culture. Oh and the bullet train ride of course.
13. Visit Jerusalem. Anybody who knows me knows my interest in and love of the Middle East. I want to travel as much of this region as I can.
That’s 13 things to get me started, hopefully I can achieve some this year. Who said 13 is an unlucky number anyway?!
Blog posts which have inspired my wanderlust…
If you didn’t care about visiting the Maldives check out this post by Liz of Youngadventuress and you soon will. Even better, she gives advice on how to do it on a budget!
I enjoyed this account of Lauren’s time in Cairo, Egypt.
Check out these awesome 10 things do in NYC here.
Some fab information about South Africa and safaris here
My reverse travel bucket list…
I’ve also decided to include my reverse travel bucket list – a list of some of my key travel accomplishments and achievements. Apparently creating one makes you happier according to this research!
When I heard of this, I thought it would be a good idea, to appreciate the things I’ve done, and also hopefully to inspire others to visit the places I enjoyed the most.
So, to go back down memory lane. Here’s some of my most memorable travel experiences…
My reverse travel bucket list..
1. When I gained my PADI open water in Thailand and dived the Great Barrier Reef in 2008 when it was still alive. I’ve since dived in the waters of the Cook Islands, Caribbean and Mexico.
2. Hiked the Inca trail to Machu Picchu, probably the biggest physical achievement of my life (I’m not great at walking up hill)
3. Travelled solo and loved it. In South America and Mexico, plus shorter trips to Jordan, Zanzibar and Beirut. I don’t planning on stopping my solo travels any time soon.
4. Travelled by camper van in Australia and New Zealand. (Next time will go in summer as it was bloody freezing!)
5. Been to the Amazon basin in Bolivia and the Taman Negara rainforest in Malayasia. Plus the Daintree in Australia. I’d like to go deeper in the Amazon rainforest at some point…
6. Been to Edinburgh festival and Hogmanay in Edinburgh. I love Edinburgh, such a stunning city and during these two events it really comes to life!
7. Seen six of the seven wonders of the world. All were incredible, but I think Taj Mahal and Petra are my favourites in different ways. Both literally took my breath away. The Taj Mahal is like something from a disney movie. Petra is like stepping back in time, so much has happened there and archaeologists are still uncovering it. Machu Picchu is cool but the actual Inca trail was more amazing for me. I need to go back to Rome it was a long time since I was there – over ten years! But Rome is a fabulous city. And Rio- well the views from Christ the Redeemer are fabulous but I actually preferred the views from Table Top Mountain. Love Rio! And in summer I visited Chichen Itza in Mexico which I really enjoyed.
8. Stayed with a local family in Morocco. This was actually through work when I was 22. I was thrown into local life, a key highlight is when I was shown how to make authentic Moroccan tea. Instructions: Green tea leaves, a handful of fresh mint leaves, a tonne of sugar, then pour from the teapot into the glass back and forth a number of times until the perfect tea is produced. Yum!
9. Lived abroad. I always had an urge to live somewhere else, and in 2015 I moved to Dubai. See my latest posts on Dubai here and here. It’s so nice waking up to the sun every day and being near the sea. Plus it’s a great location for travel. I do miss greenery though..
10. Went interrailing in my late teens. When I was 19 I went interrailing around Italy and Eastern Europe. It was my first taste of independent travel and I loved it!
11. Wandered the streets of Venice. Italy is my favourite country in Europe. Pizza, pasta, tiramisu, bellinis, vibrant people, history, incredible scenery, rich culture… it’s definitely a country I recommend visiting.
12. Went to Auschwitz.. a very harrowing experience. But one that really brought to life the realities of the Nazi regime.
13. Ate the most delicious Belgian chocolate... you haven’t tasted chocolate until you’ve been to Belgium! And go to Bruges- it’s one of the prettiest little towns I’ve ever been to.
14. Been to the amazing Ankor Wat temples in Cambodia.
15. Did a yoga retreat in Goa. See my review here
16. Visited the salt flats in Bolivia and stayed in a salt hotel
17. Went to Vietnam and learned about the horrendous Vietnam War in the War Remnants Museum. It was an experience similar to that of Auschwitz that really shocked and moved me.
18. Learned about the horrendous Khmer Rogue regime in Cambodia– why wasn’t I taught about this in school?!
19. Rode a horse on an empty beach in Mexico– had always been a dream of mine! Read about it here.
20. Swam with glowing plankton in Mexico at night under the stars.
21. Floated in the Dead Sea – actually a lake and the lowest point on Earth, its high mineral content is reputed to cure various ailments. Check out my blog on it here.
22. Island hopped in The Philippines.
23. Took the death road from La Paz to Rurrenabaque. Read about it here.
24. Been up the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France at night.
25. Travelled the incredible Rajasthan region of India. One of the craziest yet most amazing and inspiring destinations in the world.
Here are some other reverse travel bucket lists I enjoyed reading…
This one by Dannielle, blogger of ‘while I’m young’.
This post by travel loving, Leeds based Hannah.
This post by the lovely Audrey, a traveller from Singapore.
I have had many, many more incredible travel moments but those are some of my key highlights.
Do you have your own travel bucket list or reverse travel bucket list? Link it in the comments.
Please like and share this post.
Thanks for reading.
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