As you all know I am finally visiting my 40th country – Argentina – next month and I am very excited about it. However since I have been bitten by the travel bug and I can never have enough, having visited 40 countries means that there still are about 150 more countries out there to visit! Without even considering the ones I want to go back to, again and again (such as Iceland and Canada, to name a few).
Every time I look at a map I get lost in my mental itineraries and I could just stare at a map for hours. Sometimes though I need to narrow down the ideas because it’s impossible to visit EVERYTHING at the same time: so I have now mentally selected a few countries and areas that I can realistically visit (I would love to visit Antarctica for example but I can’t afford it at this time so she’s out of the list for now) and plan to do so hopefully within next year. Of course I am open to surprises so if Antarctica happens, I’m going to jump right on the ship!
Argentina
This is going to happen next month: I am leaving on November 10th and coming back on December 10th 2016. I round month. On my own. Can’t wait!
South Africa and/or Botswana
This is hopefully going to happen next year. A safari in Africa has always been high on my bucket list (not only on my travel wishlist but really on my LIFE bucket list!) but for some reason I have never visited sub-Saharan Africa. It’s expensive and far away, so I never seriously looked into this until now, but I have always dreamt about it and I also know that Africa can be really addictive, which is fascinating and scary at the same time! I get attached to countries and regions of the world very easily so this may open a new chapter in my life or maybe not – we’ll see!
As I work 9 months a year I am planning this trip in autumn 2017, and since the hotel company I currently work for offers free nights in its properties for employees after a few years of service, I will do my best to make this happen. I could choose among many, many destinations but a safari is long overdue! And this company has 2 options for safaris: South Africa and Botswana. Will see what happens.

A cheetah at sunset – © Arturo de Frias Marques, Wikimedia Commons
What brings me to a safari? Well, many things. First of all the encounter with African wildlife is something that I know will have a huge impact on me. I love animals and I refuse to visit zoos so I will wait until I can see them in the wild. Another reason is of course the photographic opportunities that African landscapes and wildlife can give to a travel photographer – priceless! Last but not least, I want to experience that “return to our origins” that I heard about so many times. Being surrounded by the wild, day and night. Feeling small and vulnerable. I actually enjoy that. I don’t mean that I don’t get scared – I do, believe me, I am a chicken – but it makes me feel so alive. Do you agree?
New Zealand
Most of the times I mention New Zealand as a future destination I get “why not Australia first”? as a reply. Well I don’t have an answer for that. Australia and New Zealand are two different things. Of course I would LOVE to visit Australia as well, but I can’t do both at the same time, at least for now. So I guess the idea of going to the “furthest possible destination” is what makes me go for New Zealand first.
I am not sure if I can do Africa AND New Zealand both in 2017 but I am working on it.

Lake Murchison, New Zealand – © Paul Nelhams, Wikimedia Commons
What brings me to New Zealand? Well, as I said I like the idea of visiting very remote places. Argentina will be the first country in the Southern Hemisphere for me, but as you can see I got carried away with this! New Zealand has always been the country of the Lord of the Rings for me, which makes it extra special. Not that I am a huge fan of the trilogy but have you seen the landscapes? As you know I love nature, big spaces, peaceful landscapes away from everything. My soul asks for it, so New Zealand is another place that I can’t miss. Working on it, working on it…
Norway
Trying to make this happen in January 2017. After visiting Iceland, Sweden and Finland I think it’s time to visit Norway. Namely I am thinking about visiting Tromsø, to catch the northern lights once again. But of course also a nice cruise in the fjords (during the summer) has always fascinated me, since I was a child.

Northern Lights in Sweden. It’s time for Norway!
Southeast Asia
Whaaat? I am a travel blogger and I have never been to Thailand or Cambodia? What a shame! Well, I have been to Asia before but only to Singapore and Japan.
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Burma, Philippines! Oh wow, just looking at the map I start dreaming and can’t stop. It’s hard to choose where to start from, but I know that most of these countries are affordable and relatively easy to navigate + safe. Also, of course, all of these countries have so much beauty!
Phi Phi Lay Island, Thailand – © Diego Delso, Wikimedia Commons, License CC-BY-SA 3.0
Fortunately most of my fellow travel bloggers have been EVERYWHERE in Southeast Asia so I know I will get so many tips and information when I decide to travel. My friend Mina for example has lived and written about Indonesia a lot, so I know I want to visit asap.
What brings me to Indonesia for instance? Mount Bromo!

Mount Bromo, Indonesia – © Thomas Hirsch, Wikimedia Commons
Hiking to catch the sunrise over Mount Bromo is something I definitely want to do. Another thing I have in mind is backpacking around Indonesia and other countries in Southeast Asia.
Other places I want to visit
Other than the above mentioned destinations, which are the “realistic” ones that I could travel to in 1 year time, of course I have other huge travel dreams in mind, places that make my heart skip a beat just by the thought of visiting. These places are the following, in casual order:
- Churchill, Manitoba (Canada): polar bears and northern lights… do I need to say more?
- Antarctica: a cruise to Antarctica is one of my biggest travel dreams ever. I already know that when I get to Ushuaia in December I will be super jealous of at all the people I’ll see embarking to Antarctica. Take-me-to-Antarctica please!
- Greenland: after I went to Iceland the first time I got to know more about Greenland, finding out that there is a lot to see there… This country is dream material for me and for my camera.
- Mongolia: the Gobi desert and sleeping in yurtas -which I actually did once, in the Golan– sound like heaven to me (I know I am weird). I actually want to visit Mongolia and spend some time there as a detour from my imaginary Trans-Siberian railway trip.
- EVERYWHERE ELSE: seriously, there is no place I wouldn’t visit. Afghanistan? Bring it.
What is on your travel wishlist? I am all ears… Let’s share our dreams and work to make them come true!
Also, would you like to join me on any of the above mentioned trips?
7 Comments
I have an internal battle about Norway, summer for the fjords cruise vs winter for the northern lights. I also really, really want to do a safari in Africa, though there are a few places that sound really amazing for it. As for EVERYWHERE…well, I probably have a handful of countries I’m not interested in, but not many. For the most part, I want to go somewhere simply because it’s THERE.
Also, I love your hair!
Hi Ali! Exactly, Norway is another country where I know I need to go back again and again… Also Iceland for example is the same: I have been there twice but always during the winter which is fantastic, but I know it’s very different during the summer (and more places are accessible then) so I know I will have to go back at some point.
About the countries I am not interested in, well I was not even interested in Canada years ago but then I fell in love with it so really, I know I should never say never :-)
Thanksss I am glad you like my hair hehe, unfortunately I will have to cut them soon, before going to Argentina I guess. Going back to red!
Such a great list! I’m hoping to check off New Zealand next year, so excited!
Alanna
[…] I said in my last post I am planning to visit Southeast Asia, backpacking through as many countries as possible but […]
All the joy and splendid moments will come on to your journey…Till now how many countries have you traveled?
I am visiting my 40th country – Argentina – in just a few days! Excited :)
I have also started Asia travel with Japan and was hesitant about Thailand. However Thailand was also super nice – I went to smaller islands and they were super beautiful and chill, not crazy busy and touristy like some places.