Travel destinations bucket list (in no particular order)
A couple of years ago I decided to put in writing (storing it in my blackberry) a list of places that I wanted to visit in the nearest future, a list of places that I must see and the cultures I wanted to immerse into and experience. Those places were etched in my psyche from either old memories of the conversations I had with people, books or magazines I've read….or stories I've heard from the childhood. There are various reasons that I wanted to visit a specific place, some are based on the history, culture….some on the legends and some just out of pure curiosity.
I did travel quite a bit in my younger years and those travels enriched me in one way or another. So I wanted to repeat the feeling of anticipation of exploring an unknown culture, write about those experiences, take unforgettable photos and just have fun.
I am summarizing the list below so it can serve me as a constant reminder that there are the adventures I want to take. Although I was able to fulfill my bucket list somewhat, there are still so many on my so called wish list…..
Peru – Machu Picchu (going July to August 2013!)
For the reasons unknown I am travelling to the land of Incas .....I want to walk those thousands of steps and see the beauty of the Machu Picchu in the rising Peruvian sun....I want to touch the history with my bare hands ....... I want to test my physical endurance and conquer the 4 day hike braving the elements, whilst backpacking, living in tents and having no showers (!!!) .....
Jordan – Lost city of Petra
It seems no work of Man's creative hand,
by labour wrought as wavering fancy planned;
But from the rock as if by magic grown,
eternal, silent, beautiful, alone!
Not virgin-white like that old Doric shrine,
where erst Athena held her rites divine;
Not saintly-grey, like many a minster fane,
that crowns the hill and consecrates the plain;
But rose-red as if the blush of dawn,
that first beheld them were not yet withdrawn;
The hues of youth upon a brow of woe,
which Man deemed old two thousand years ago,
match me such marvel save in Eastern clime,
a rose-red city half as old as time.
[by John William Burgon]
India - Taj Mahal
Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:
Should guilty seek asylum here,
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.
Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory.
I want to see what the one can erect in the name of love and out of sadness. As far as freeing oneself from the sins (LOL)....I need to sin more and then absolve those sins through some virtues.....(and no you guys cant's use "Mother Teresa" argument on me....)
Italy - Venice
Did you know that Venice looks like a handshake from space?
Annual carnival at San Marco Square…..costume, mask and all! :)
Tibet, Nepal & Bhutan
I may not be able to climb Mount Everest (Inca Trail and Mount Kilimanjaro may have to be it....), but I want to see this mountain up close and it its glory.
The side trip I would absolutely love to take is to Bhutan (courtesy of a friend who inspired me with her contagious enthusiasm), where if at all possible I would like to contribute to their Gross National Happiness project.....(it sounds so neat!).
GNH: Concept
Gross National Happiness is a term coined by His Majesty the Fourth King of
Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck in the 1970s. The concept implies that
sustainable development should take a holistic approach towards notions of
progress and give equal importance to non-economic aspects of wellbeing. The
concept of GNH has often been explained by its four pillars: good governance,
sustainable socio-economic development, cultural preservation, and environmental
conservation. Lately the four pillars have been further classified into nine
domains in order to create widespread understanding of GNH and to reflect the
holistic range of GNH values. The nine domains are: psychological wellbeing,
health, education, time use, cultural diversity and resilience, good governance,
community vitality, ecological diversity and resilience, and living standards.
The domains represents each of the components of wellbeing of the Bhutanese
people, and the term ‘wellbeing’ here refers to fulfilling conditions of a ‘good
life’ as per the values and principles laid down by the concept of Gross
National Happiness
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_national_happiness
Australia, New Zealand & Tasmania
The land down under…..adventure of a lifetime .....
perhaps I need a long long sabbatical for this one
and a couple of pages of explanations why I want to go there.....
Morocco
Equivalent to Jordan, something about this country touches the cords of my soul....
I want to walk those cobbled streets and experience the colorful hustle and
bustle of their bazaars (childhood memories of sorts....)
I want to lull on a camel (and I wouldn't have to pay to get on and off
as I have ridden them before in my homeland as a kid:))
in their endless caravan crossing the desert ....
France - Paris
The Louvre of course.....a couple of days....maybe a whole week
Alaska (or somewhere else in the northern hemisphere)
Just to see the aurora borealis......tepee is optional :)
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