I've had this list as a "mental note" for quite some time. Generally though, it's been incorporated into my "bucket list", and I thought that if I actually make it into it's own list, then maybe I can make sure I tackle some of it. I decided to make a list of 10, as it would be easier for me to accomplish.
This list is partially inspired by the new show "Life", as well as "Planet Earth" before it. It's amazing to see all that the world has to offer, and I want to be able to experience some of it myself.
Seeing the world has alway been a huge dream of mine. The world is a fantastic place, full of all kinds of treasures and wonders if one is willing to look for them. Ever since the first time I picked up a National Geographic, I knew there was nothing more I wanted to do. Seeing pictures of people kayaking and exploring remote caves, scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, exploring the beautiful hills and lakes in Japan, you get the idea. All these great places that are just waiting around for you to come and take in its beauty.
Nature has always had an incredibly calming effect on me. Anytime I feel like life has got me down, a trip out into the wilderness is usually all it takes to recharge my batteries. Being out amidst the flora and fauna of the world has a way of centering me, helping me remember what priorities in life are important, and which need to be moved aside.
So what happened? Why did I never end up doing any travel? Life, mostly. I had a daughter at a very young age (Whom I love to death and I wouldn't change a thing in how she came to be in my life), and life piled up before me without me even realizing it. I got lost in it all. Everything that I enjoyed doing in my free time got put on hold. I stopped drawing, playing guitar, taking pictures, I even put all my small life goals on hold. That was the biggest reason I started this blog. I'm using it as an outlet, a way for me to re-discover all the things I used to love. Granted, the blog itself has only been photography stuff so far, but I am glad to say that I've been picking up all aspects of who I used to be again. So updates of those varieties will be coming shortly.
So, back-tracking a bit, let's get started on that list, shall we?
#10. The Grand Canyon
I'm a little ashamed to admit that I've never been there. I spent roughly 16 years in AZ, and about 10 of them within 2 hours or so of the Grand Canyon , yet I never made the trip. It's one of the worlds most beautiful natural structures, and as you can see from above, the gorge itself is reason enough to visit. Looking down at the raw power of the river over thousands of years has got to be a humbling experience. But there's more!
Those who really want to experience the beauty of the canyon take the hike down (or ride a donkey, but I feel that defeats the purpose). At the base of the canyon, all manner of wonderful things can be found. Including the unbelievably stunning, Havasu Falls.
All of this was right in my backyard and I managed to ignore it for years. Well no longer, I will make this trip, and I hope to make it soon. People come from all over the world to see it, I think I can manage a few hundred miles.
#9. Australia
This item on the list is slightly more vague, but for good reason. There is so much to see in Australia, that it could easily take up a few more spots in this list. Everything from the treacherous Outback, to the Great Barrier Reef (which, despite what I just said, will be getting it's own spot on this list anyway), Australia is a land chock full of exploration potential.
When people think about Australia, they generally think of a huge desert filled with convicts (Ok, some people do), but there's so much more to it than that. Imagine taking a safari through the Outback and coming across something like this:
It's an entire little eco-system (mostly) untouched by man. It's like it's own little world.
Add to that the Sydney Opera house, Fraser Island, Ayers Rock, Tasmania, etc. and you have quite a full docket for your trip.
#8. The Great Barrier Reef
This is a big one for me. The ocean is a stunning place. An alien world within our own. I've accepted the fact that I can't be an astronaut, but that doesn't mean that I can't explore some alien creatures and terrain. I mean look at this, tell me that doesn't look like an alien:
How awesome is that? There is nothing more awe inspiring to me than the creatures of the deep.
The Great Barrier Reef is the most well known (and largest) reef system in the world, and it's home to thousands of species of plants and animals. Honestly, if you're a licensed scuba diver you have no excuses for not visiting the GBR. There is so much to see here that it cannot possibly be seen in one trip. This is a site I hope to visit many times before I die.
#7. Thailand
Ok. So this one is slightly influenced by the fact that I have a half Thai daughter, but this country is far too beautiful to ignore. Anyone who has seen "The Beach" has seen some of the more popular sites to see, but there's so much more. Fantastic beaches, waterfalls, jungles, buddhist temples, city nightlife, etc. there is so much to experience here that you just can't pass it up.
#6. The Caribbean
The overwhelming draw to the Caribbean is well founded. It's quite simply one of the best tropical places you can visit without getting too far away from civilization. My own interest lies in my fascination with pirates and the Age of Sail. I personally have never been on a sailboat, but I will. In fact, I'd love to own one at some point and sail to the Caribbean on my own. My love for the ocean and exploration lead to sailing as a natural transition. Every island here will provide you with it's own unique experience. Ideally, I'd like to live here at some point, but we'll see how it goes.
#5. Alaska
This is another close to home location, but there's no denying the variety of scenery that can be found there. Everything from:
Incredible mountainscapes(So it's not a real word, wanna fight about it?).
Fantastic sculpture-like glaciers.
To stunningly beautiful forests and rivers.
Everything about this place is a reason to visit. Take a kayaking trip down one of the rivers, camp in the forest, go fishing. Then you can go hiking and climbing in the mountains. Take a boat out and go whale spotting, explore the icebergs and glaciers up north. The possibilities are endless, and whatever you choose to do, you can bet it'll be breathtaking no matter where you go.
This is taking longer than I thought it would, so I'm going to break this up into 2 posts. I'll post the Top 4 tonight or tomorrow.
