My Bucket List.

My compulsive habit of trawling travel blogs has resulted in my own travel aspirations becoming increasingly ambitious.  Below is my own Bucket List.  My main aim over the next few years is to achieve as much of it possible. Wish me luck…

 

My European Wish List;

A predictable first choice. Three Bs. Bruges, Barcelona and Berlin.

To visit Moscow, touring the Kremlin and watching the sunset over Red Square would be perfect.

I’d love to journey along the Croatian coast, island hopping whenever the mood takes me.

 

My African Wish List;

Marrakesh, Morocco. I’d love to see the Djemaa el-Fna, to spent some time wandering Marrakesh’s markets and to sample Morocco’s street food.  A trek in the Sahara would be a definite plus.

To Visit Egypt and see the Pyramids of Giza.

To see some wildlife and chill out on the beaches of Madagascar.

 

My South American Wish List;

To visit Venezuela. I’d love to hike to the summit of Roraima and see the Angel Falls.

To spend time in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I’d delight in absorbing the history of the city’s Plaza de Mayo and maybe even learn the Tango.

To visit the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru.

 

My Asian Wish List;

I’d love to experience a visit to Manila, capital city of the Philippines.  I’m intrigued to see if it lives up to its chaotic reputation

To spend time in Bangladesh would be amazing. I’d especially love to visit Dhaka and the Sunderbans National Park.

To spend time with the nomadic folk of Mongolia and venture into the Gobi Desert would be incredible.

 

Journeys I’d love to take;

I’d love to travel from my home in Scotland to India by train. Via England, France, Belgium, Poland, Belarus, Russia (travelling on the Trans-Mongolian Railway from Moscow to Beijing), Mongolia, China, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Bangladesh.  Not over-ambitious at all!

I need to find the time to see a bit more of my own country.  I’d love to drive Scotland’s coast, camping on beaches along the way.  I’d be delighted if the sun would shine a few times too but that’s probably pushing my luck!

Another ambitious train journey! I think it’d be amazing to circumnavigate India by train.  I love the social aspect of train travel in India, the opportunity to jump off the train & grab delicious street food at stations along the way and the captivating people watching opportunities sleeper class train carriages provide.  To see the changes in India’s landscape, people and cuisine along the way would be fascinating.

 

Mountains I Want to Climb/See. 

Everest Base Camp.   I have previously trekked the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.   It was not planned and resulted in a twisted knee, three lost toe nails and hundreds of blisters.  Despite the agony the experience was undoubtedly one of the best in my life.  I’ve been dreaming of another expedition into the Himalayas.  I’d love to trek to EBC (the long way, walking from Jiri).   If I’m brave enough  a flight back to Kathmandu from Luckla’s notoriously dangerous airstrip would be an amazing experience too.  Next time I venture into the Himalayas I’ll go without the cheap feet-shredding boots, the badly packed bag and the limited time frame.

Mt Kilimanjaro. I’d love to visit Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Nation Park and climb to the top of Africa.  After trekking in the Nepalese Himalayas I’d love the opportunity to summit one of the world’s highest mountains.  Triumph in Nepal came with looking up towards towering peaks. I think the sense of achievement I’d feel standing on the summit of MT Kilimanjaro would be incredible.  It’s situated directly on the equator too!

Ben Nevis. I’d be thrilled to summit Ben Nevis and to spend some more time exploring the Scottish Highlands.  I’ve holidayed in the Highlands previously and was blown away by how beautiful my own country is. Returning to climb to the top of Scotland would be amazing.

 

Rivers I’d Love to Sail On;

The Amazon River, South America. (Bonus points for spotting exotic Amazon animals!).

The River Nile, Africa. (I’d be especially overjoyed to see a crocodile here).

The Mekong River, Asia. (I’ve seen the Mekong when I visited Laos but I neglected to actually sail on it!).

 

Festivals I’d Love to Experience;

Glastonbury Festival, England – To hang out with the hippies and dance till my heart’s content.

Kumbh Mela, India – To be part of the biggest gathering of people on the planet.

Carnival, Brazil – To experience the biggest carnival in the world where over two million people spill onto the streets.

 

A Few More Random Wishes;

I’d love to see a whale, an elephant and zebras in the wild.

I will learn another language.

I’d jump at the chance to teach English somewhere, preferably to children.

To experience a monsoon in Asia (preferably in South India or on an Island in South East Asia).

 

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