Nevertheless, I'm not being negative tonight. I'm thinking of all the possibilities of life. My life. I'm starting to have faith in it getting better. And because I have faith, I've decided to re-write my To Do list this year (I have only 6 months left) and my Future Life List. This is going to be a 4 part series and the first of which will be this list. (See? I'm being a List Freak again.)
The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one's own country as a foreign land. ~G.K. Chesterton
Explore List
The TOP 25 Countries I want to Explore
Some I have already visited (a very small- uhm, tiny? okay, okay, insignificant - percentage of the list) but just like any travel buff, I will always have places to go, sights to see and though travel books help, it only whet my appetite to do actual travel. Hopefully, someday I can travel for real and not just keep traveling in my head and through my books.
25. Thailand - I'd like to see temples in modern day Bangkok, snorkel in the beaches of Phuket, read a book under a coconut tree at the shores of PhiPhi Island, pose in front of the large Buddha, see the limestone islands in Andaman Sea, and take a wild ride on the back of an elephant. I don't think a visit to Thailand would be complete without getting up close and personal with an elephant.
25. Indonesia – It’s cheating, I know. But a traveler’s list wouldn’t be complete without our neighbor country, Indonesia. Indonesia’s rich resources have lured even the great explorers of years past. But what interests me the most is that this is a country, much like ours, filled with a clash of different cultures – Balinese, Dutch, and Muslim influences. Aside from great diving sites, unexplored islands and beaches, the big tourist destination of Bali, beautiful furniture, and great architecture, I want to see the effects of having several historic influences and religions to a country so physically (literally) divided in thousands of islands.
24. Peru - There is only one place that gets Peru in my list and that is to visit the Machu Picchu, west of Cuzco, the Lost City of the Incas. As I imagined Peru’s mountainous landscape I know I wouldn’t be able to escape going out on a hike. But I think just to be able to visit, hear and see the Lost City, its history and what’s left of its previous glory will be worth it.
23. Russia – I know, I know. They have a cold reputation, of its country and of its people. I associate Russia with cold ruthless leaders like Stalin, Kruschev, and Lenin, and nuclear weapons and people who are always frowning, sad and seemingly suffering. But then I know there are ancient monasteries, great, great architecture, I’ve read about historic Russia and its passionate people, watch Anastasia, and see the people excel with fierce, icy determination. Russia remains to me an enigma. And every traveler knows that an enigmatic country deserves a visit.
22. Mexico – I love anything that hints of spice. Sugar and nice won’t do it for me. Mexico is every traveler’s spice of life. I imagined it would be full of life, vibrant and colorful. From the sights of sexy dresses, colorful Mexican hats, bright Mexican tiles, and tearjerker telenovelas, to the feel of the dance, the easygoing attitude, the taste of tequila against your tongue and the romantic escapes to Acapulco. There is so many places to visit and so many people to meet. I like that if there are people in South America Filipinos would be most comfortable to associate with, it will be with the Mexicans.
21. Nepal – Nepal sounds like something heard only in books. Those traveling books about climbing the highest peak of the world, Mt. Everest will certainly mention the country. This was described, like many Asian countries, as poor but rich in scenic splendors and cultural heritage. Me, I would just like to see Mt. Everest and boast of staying, even for a short time in a city called Kathmandu. Sounds grand, isn’t it?
20. Cambodia - Just the sound of their capital city, Phnom Penh, makes you think of ancient ruins. Add the major attraction of the many temples in Angkor and you'll be almost brought back to the past. But I can't just ignore Cambodia's violent past as I will probably feel the pressure to visit the Killing Fields just like any other tourist in Phnom Penh. Cambodia is a neighbor but its worlds away from my country and soon I’m praying can say hello to the great temple of Angkor Wat.
19. Greece - Maybe I can take a stroll in the busy streets of Athens, feeling the history, the glorious past that gave birth to the Greek philosophers, think of the legends and myths while visitng Crete, look up and witness the extraordinary monasteries in Meteora, and maybe wonder where in the seas of Santorini is Atlantis buried. Ah, what I can do is count in my head how many mythological names I am already familiar of and how many are still foreign to me.
18. Argentina - I know I have to be prepared for long hikes among valleys, rivers, and pausing to take pictures of snow-capped mountains. And although I'll be very nervous flying over the Andes Mountains, as the whole movie of Alive will probably be playing in my head, sighting the magnificent mountains, harsh, cruel and beautiful, is what makes Argentina a must-visit.
17. Japan - A visit to Japan will probably call for me to witness the wild array of colors and sound in Tokyo, see the temples and gardens of Kyoto, the countless volcanoes, and to brace myself to the cold climate of Hokkaido. But I'd like to meditate in Zen temples, visit Zen gardens, take pictures of the understated beauty of Japanese architecture, and soak in hot springs.
16. Australia – When I was in High School, I read a book set in Australia and I thought it was one of the most fascinating country with so much natural beauty. I read many books since then and Australia is still fascinating to me. The different seasons, the great Bush, Great Barrier Reef, and so many great dive sites, made this country so foreign and exotic. Not to mention the wildlife that is so different from the rest of the world. Someday, I’d like to see a koala bear and a kookaburra.
15. South Africa – I’ve always watched Discovery Channel and National Geographic and what better way to see everything up close and personal than to go visit and explore South Africa. I want to see the Table Mountains, ride a jeep through the savannah and get face to face with the big five (Lion, Elephant, Leopards, Buffaloes and Rhinos) in Kruger National Park and don my bathing suit for a dive in its great coastal waters. Ah, I definitely should learn wildlife photography before this trip.
14. Mongolia – Why Mongolia? Genghis Khan, the great unknown, chilly weather, and wild horses galloping in the countryside, is enough answer for me. Even the name of their capital city invokes the curiosity of learning something foreign – Ulaan Baatar. So I’d like to look out from my room, hugging my jacket closer, and see the four Holy Peaks. Then, learn, see or visit the monasteries, the Khövsgöl Nuur (Microsoft Word can’t even spell it.)
13. Brazil – I already mentioned National Geographic and Discovery Channel. So I guess you shouldn’t be surprised to see Brazil near the top ten of my list. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen the Amazon River portrayed as a great provider of life to many wildlife creatures. I don’t know if I can have the courage to be that close to so many wild animals in the Amazon Jungle but I do know that just to be able to say that I’m in the same country as those wild animals will be good enough for me. But it isn’t only the Amazon jungle, nor the wild animals, nor the flora and fauna, it’s also probably the vibrant life and contagious joy of the people of Brazil.
12. New Zealand – Before the onslaught of Lord of the Rings, I saw the 100% Pure New Zealand tourism ad and I was already hooked. Just seeing those seemingly unexplored snow-capped glacial mountains, diving and seeing the whales, and the quiet, serene beauty of the clear lakes and deserted beaches. Ah, I don’t need a movie to tell me that I should put this country in my must-see, must-visit-if-I-have-enough-money list. I can almost imagine the photographs New Zealand will give me an opportunity to produce.
11. Switzerland – Ah, Swiss watches, Swiss knives, Swiss chocolate and the Swiss Alps. The country boasts of reliable banks, alpine landscapes, first class ski resorts, and irresistible chocolate. For a chocolate lover like me, just that tiny bit will attract me to Switzerland. But there is one important bit of trivia that is etched in my mind about this country – they are a brainy lot, because they have produced more Nobel Prize winners than any country in the world. Not bad for chocolate eaters, eh?
10. Norway – As we enter into the top ten, I will put in a country filled my imagination of anything Viking stories, Norse mythology and the big, beautiful, misty landscapes as backdrop of the Midnight Sun in Norway. It’s supposedly filled with mountains, fjords and glaciers. It’s also the number one country to live in (that I know of), so maybe I’d like to see how one go about the past of the big, bad Viking side by side to the modern day Norwegian.
9. China – I love how Lonely Planet describes China - It’s not another country, it is another world. China is somewhat close to home what with probably millions of Chinese settling here in my country and me loving their chicken feet, noodles and special brand of fried chicken. Aside from that, as you can probably guess, a country steeped in history is one major attraction for me, and you couldn’t get more historic in Asia than China. From the shaolin, the Forbidden City, the different customs, the social divide, to the TerraCotta Warriors and the Great Wall. I probably would have to eat lots of dimsum and noodles because a short visit just won’t cut it in China.
8. Morocco – If the place is called Marrakech and it doesn’t sound exotic to you, then I don’t know what is. Maybe you can visit any souk in Morocco and it will tell you how exotic this country is. Rugs, jewelry, woodwork and leather fill the tiny shops in marketplaces. It’s architecture and lifestyle shows a merging of European and Islamic influences. Morocco epitomizes Bohemian to me. Maybe it’s just me, but I love how Morocco lets my imagination runs free with thoughts of snake charmers, colorful jugglers, magicians, storytellers and fortune hunters. I don’t know where gypsies originated, but I believe they will fit right in any festival or souk in Marrakech.
7. New York and Other Selected Cities of USA - Arguably the most powerful country and also the most popular, in the world, United States, I think, is overstated in some areas and understated in others. Nothing more than pop culture demanded that travel buffs come see this country. Although Filipinos would probably kill in order to visit or stay in USA, I just want to see New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Florida and Chicago. I just want to see personally what I have seen countless of times in TV shows, movies and MTVs. And well, I couldn’t very well complete this list without saying I want to visit New York, could I?
6. Spain – If I want to understand my country, I should visit Spain. And just like my country, Spain attracted me because of how immense and diverse it is. I want to see old buildings, grand Gothic architecture, Roman influences, Islamic palaces, and medieval castles. The passion of this country is immeasurable, but can be seen by producing some great artists like Picasso and Goya, can be felt by the music evident in their dance of flamenco, and can be experienced by exploring its best cities. I love the paella, the flamenco, the architecture, and I even love the language. It sounds the most romantic to me, aside from my own tongue.
5. France – Not because of the language, not only because of Eiffel Tower and the art cafes that littered Paris, but because of how the mere mention of the city appeals to our romantic notions. But the Tower is a big bonus. And so are the cafes. The sumptuous desserts, the romantic Frenchman, the artists that frequently draw numerous lovers they see in the park. I especially like that I can also go on a pilgrimage to see the Lourdes, visit many castles, palaces and chateaus, and spend many hours scouring the wide and numerous corridors of the Louvre, looking at priceless art masterpieces. Now, I can add reliving Da Vinci Code into the list.
4. Egypt – For all my life, from childhood to early adulthood, that is, I have always been fascinated and interested in anything about Egypt. I have watched many, many documentaries telling stories of Egypt’s great Pharaohs, the mysteries that surround the pyramids, the Sphinx, the ancient history of its great cities of Alexandria and Cairo. Just the sheer amount of history will leave me in awe when I get to visit this country. But also, no other country in the world captivated my imagination and interest more than Egypt, from the Valley of the Kings, the pyramids of Giza, to the Sphinx, Luxor, Alexandria and Cairo. If in my life, I can ONLY visit 3 countries outside of my own, Egypt will be one of them.
3. Italy – There isn’t anything about Italy that I don’t like. I can see myself grabbing a bike, arranging my backpack, and on I will go. I’ll visit Roman ruins, gawk at Renaissance Art in Firenze, explore the canals of Venice, see the latest fashion in Milan, visit the Colosseum in Rome, the beaches in Sardinia, the castles and museums in Naples, plus I should probably mention that there are churches, basilicas, piazzi, parks, museums, fountains scattered all along the country that are worth seeing. All these and the Vatican, too. It makes for the perfect travel of a Catholic art and history enthusiast like me. If I’ll be able to only visit and explore Italy and no other country, I will already be content. I promise.
2. England – Forget about the boring, sober, impolite, staid reputation of this country. It’s number two on my list because the names of Shakespeare, Jane Austen, Geoffrey Chaucer, and Charles Dickens invoke a feeling of reverence for a bookworm like me. Any place that can give birth and produce such powerful literary geniuses will be top of my list. Okay, so I am also thinking that I love, absolutely adore, British accent, British humor, and British actors. Not to mention that England has a history, many stories woven to create that history, that I have only read about in many, many books. Stonehenge, Big Ben and the Buckingham Palace are just bonuses for me.
1. Philippines – I am determined to explore my own country, by hook or by crook, by comfortable ways or by budget means. I’d like to visit and look out at the angry, swelling sea from atop a hill in Batanes, to marvel at the high cathedral-like ceiling of the chapel in Callao Caves, explore the past in Vigan, walk 9 kms to a better view of the Rice Terraces, count the Hundred Islands, question why Chocolate Hills are green, hike to the top of the highest mountain in Luzon, snorkel in Honda Bay, be awed by the limestone cliffs in Coron, take a trip down the Underground River, get wild in Boracay, see the dolphins in Dumaguete, the turtles in Mindoro, the surfers in Siargao and the pearl divers in Davao. Join the Flower Festival, the Ati-atihan, Maskara, Higantes, and the Pahiyas. Ah, and I won't ever, ever forget, nor say goodbye permanently, to the bustling, busy streets of Manila, this place I call Home.
And in all my travels,
Past, future and present
I shall remember to:
Be open and mindful of other cultures.
Take lots of pictures.
Explore off beaten tracks.
Hear the history.
Feel the vibrant cities...
and always,
always
Keep all the Memories.
- elaney (the travel personal creed)
No comments:
Post a Comment