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?
You might also like
Follow me on Instagram at 
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.