So much to see, so little time. It’s a genuine bugbear of mine that I know I will never get to visit every single country and city I want to in my puny little lifetime. Even if time allowed, money certainly wouldn’t. So while I resign myself to that melancholy fact, I figured I’d torture myself by compiling a bucket list of the top ten utopian destinations I intend to jet off to after I win the lottery.
The first place my hot pink private jet will take me is the Land of the Rising Sun; Japan. Now you’ll probably gleam from this post that I’ve unfortunately never had the pleasure of visiting Asia. For this reason the Far East features heavily on my travel to do list. The more eagle-eyed of you will also notice my pinterest boards are littered with exquisite photography of this island nation. I plan to visit in the Spring, when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, framing the majestic beauty of Mount Fuji. I’ll visit the Buddhist temples in Kyoto on the island of Honchu and meet the real Geishas. While I'm there, I’ll make a stop at Fushimi Inari-Taisha, a popular vast shrine sitting at the base of a mountain and at Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, so I can bask in the glory of the extensive parkland that’s unsurprisingly one of the most photographed sites in the city. I would travel in style and take the high speed bullet train (or ‘Shinkansen’) from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo to the serene, tropical beaches and coral reefs of Okinawa.
Next up is a little change of scenery. I think this year I’ll keep it local and head on over to the good old ‘Boot’ of Europe; Italy. I've visited a few places in this heavenly country, but haven’t yet embarked on a wine-tasting holiday in leafy Tuscany. Yes, I’ll be a stones throw from the Renaissance architecture of formidable Florence and the Romanesque potency of Pisa, but what about the vino? I think I’ll rent a cheeky little convertible and sample some of the local delicacies: wine, meat, cheese, chocolate…Whoops! Saliva in the keyboard again. Provided I am still mobile after gorging on culinary perfection, I’ll pay a visit to the ancient hill town of Cortona for a much needed hike and feed my brain at the imposing Uffizi gallery.
Embracing the frequent flyer miles with another long-haul locale, my next little break will be in the Aloha state of Hawaii. I’m going to reserve this one for a more romantic voyage, perhaps a honeymoon or, more realistically, an ‘I’ve-been-single-for-so-long-the-creepy-Valentines-Day-card-from-my-pizza-delivery-guy-is–the-highlight-of-my-year trip’. More likely a reenactment of 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' but without the comedy and the happy ending, this holiday will be all about me. The only relationship milestone that will be conquered on this trip is a passionate demonstration of my eternal commitment to partying it up at a traditional luau. I also fully intend to declare my undying love for a nightly kalua pig roast and rum punch combo. A helicopter tour of Kauai, whale-watching in Maui and a surfing lesson in Oahu wouldn’t go amiss. Mahalo, America.
On to a little North African adventure. This time I find myself in a scene from 'The Man Who Knew Too Much'. Just perhaps without the murder and government conspiracy. Mesmerizing mosaics and magnificent mosques bring me to the bustling city of Marrakech, but it’s the medinas that make me stay. The mazelike medieval quarters such as Fez, with its enthralling entertainment, indigenous cuisine and bustling souks selling ceramics, jewellery and metal lanterns have always been a curiosity of mine. In this exceptional case, I believe I could suppress my overwhelming dislike of crowds in order to have an authentic experience. Pass me a cushion and I’ll even sit cross-legged on the floor of a shisha lounge with an aromatic mint tea in hand. When in Rome! You know what I mean…
I want to add a destination to this list that will serve the purpose of complete and utter relaxation, with a sprinkling of culture thrown in for good measure. I can think of no other option than the aptly named ‘Emerald of the Equator’; Indonesia. While those gold doubloons are simply burning a hole in my Dior couture pocket, I’ll just have to begrudgingly book an all-inclusive trip to beautiful Bali. Volcanoes, Komodo Dragons, rice paddies, monkey forests, elephant safari parks and gold-laden temples provide the backdrop to this island paradise. Honestly I’ll be more interested in the white sandy beaches of Kuta and Seminyak. Travelling is tiring, y’all.
Enough of that blissful beach nonsense, I’m melting over here and my nose is peeling like a crocodile handbag! I feel like another road trip. This time I’m going to hire a slightly beat up mini Suzuki jeep and cover a chunk of colonial North-East America. New England – coined ‘the birthplace of America’ is comprised of the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. A seasoned viewer of Gilmore Girls, Twin Peaks and Dawson’s Creek, New England conjures images of autumnal foliage littering the streets of bucolic little Lynchian towns that wouldn’t be out of place on a postcard. I may be a complete freak, but the idea of ‘living history’ museums complete with real pilgrims dressed in period costume churning butter fills me with utter awkward delight. The geek in me will head straight to Cambridge where I’ll visit the iconic Ivy League grandeur of Harvard University, whilst the old lady in me will be sure to capture some snaps in the picturesque seaside town of Manchester. I’ll also satiate my fascination with the supernatural, with a visit to witchy Salem. From freshly caught Lobster to freshly baked cherry pie, this, ladies and gents, is real America.
Moving swiftly on before I bust out a rendition of Augustana’s ‘Boston’ at the top of my lungs. It’s time to wax lyrical about The Great White North. I’ve got a lot of love to lay at Canada’s door. I recently had the privilege of an all-expense paid business trip to Alberta, where I was taken aback by the unfiltered landscapes of Banff and British Columbia -some of the most beautiful spaces I have ever seen- and the friendly and relaxed temperament of the locals, even when confronted with an actual, live grizzly bear! I found myself comforted by the familiarity of their sarcastic wit, minus the pessimism of their British counterparts. I couldn’t help feeling like the town belonged in the centre of a snow globe. I think i'll explore the rest of this great country. Vancouver is repeatedly awarded the accolade of best quality of life. A go-to filming location, this vibrant city is a veritable hive of art and culture in a diverse and awe-inspiring setting that I can't wait to explore.
A little closer to home now, across the Aegean Sea. You will no doubt have seen images of a whitewashed Cliffside village topped with contrasting blue domes. About 200km southeast of Greece’s mainland, you’ll find sunlit Santorini. I recently watched an episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians, in which they cited Santorini as the most beautiful place they’ve ever been. Now while I don’t exactly attach much gravitas to the opinion of grossly wealthy reality stars, you can’t deny that their dollars have taken them a fair few exotic places, giving a tad more substance to their claim. Now, if any of you have seen ‘Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants II’ you will also recognize this idyllic Grecian hideaway. I’ll be sure to select a over-sized sky high villa with an infinity pool, where I can enjoy my olive bread and feta as the sun sets on the coast.
If I ever get a hankering for the best seafood gumbo or jambalaya of my life, I’ll go ahead and buy a first class seat on the next plane heading to New Orleans, Louisiana. I’ll don my fluorescent carnival beads and aim for February when the city streets will be alive with the beating heart of Mardi Gras. They say ‘The Big Easy’ is home to round-the-clock nightlife, with the soulful sound of jazz and bluegrass echoing within the city walls. I’ll breathe in the history of the French Quarter, soaking up the talents of the next big name in art or music. I’ll head to Bourbon street for a tipple before sampling the Creole culinary delights. I’ll try to catch a game with NFL champions the Saints if in season.
Finally - and jolly well done for reaching the end of this post! – I fancy a little change of temperature. I think I’ll go skiing in snowy Switzerland. After just about managing to hold my own in a constant snow plough position on a school skiing trip in year nine, I’m not sure I’ll exactly be swish-swooshing in full parallel formation down the mountainside or anything, but I’ll give it a good go. Much more exciting is the thought of my luxury ski-in ski-out chalet. With it’s roaring fire and bear skin rugs, I’ll become accustomed to sipping hot chocolate with marshmallows wearing an incredibly cute onesie and treating myself and my guests to piping hot swiss cheese fondue. Gtg, hot tub.
Alas, until the day when my lucky numbers are drawn, the incredible and undiscovered beauty of this green earth will continue to elude me. But hell, a girl can dream.
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