I'm making a list of places I'd like to see before I my time is up. Could have as much as 2 years left to do it in, all being well.
So any suggestions from you fellow bloggers out there would be appreciated. Petra is one of the places I'd like to visit, is it really as magical as I imagine it to be.... Thanks all Avril (aka Skim)
Reply to this Hello Avril 😊
What about Central Asia for a more off the beaten track experience. I was in Kyrgyzstan last September. Is is still so lightly touristed that I wondered if I was having the experiences and challanges that the hippies travelling in Thailand or India had in the 60s.
And Iran is a surprisingly pleasant place to travel too.
I have blogs about both of these countries with details of my time in them.
If I had only 2 years more, I think I would let down all my reservations about what there is to fear and hit more of the less visited countries. Now and again I overcome my fears and make the decision to go to one of those countries but there are lots more that I want to go to, but am still trying to talk myself into taking that step. But that is with the presumption that there will be plenty of time and I can do it when I am ready. If I had limited time, I think I would just do it now no matter how I feel.
Mel
Reply to this Thanks Mel, this is exactly what I'm looking for. Inspiration and advise, like you say what's the worst that can happen to me now.
Let's go off the beaten track and not fear a thing, what have I got to loose.
I have about 7 weeks treatment to go before they will let me travel and I think thats plenty of time to get some research and plans into place. Will be checking out your blogs later. Many thanks x
Reply to this Is it due to the 2012 prophecy? :p
I used to dream of Maldives, but not anymore. Fiji island might also be boring, it is beautiful, but just lack of real adventure.
Having watch Amazing Race Asia 3 few month ago, I might opt in for India and South Africa. Getting lost in London would also be nice, just to laid back a little while.
Reply to this I think, if I had limited time I would also go to the countries that are expensive, rather than saving some of my money for just in case situations like I do now. I would be a lot less careful about my money and trying to make it stretch. I would possibly sell my appartment to increase the amount of cash I have to spend on getting exactly the travel experiences I want, instead of spending time saving up like I am doing now.
Reply to this Scalare - Have done fiji, the islands are beautiful - Enjoyed snorkling there. Did enjoy my time in Asia. And have been lost in London many times. And never dreamed of the Maldives either. Africa could have it's merits, maybe a safari is in order. Thanks buddy x
Reply to this Hey Mell,
Luckily money is not a problem for us. What will be the problem is the amount of prescribed drugs I have to take with me. I have to have a licence issued to carry them and it will be a limited amount. So the trips will be taken over shorter periods than normal so that I can return to replemish my stock. Also got an insurance company that will insure me, for hopefully most destinations.
Reply to this Luckily money is not a problem for us.
In that case, it takes less than a day to fly half way accross the world to pick up more pills. 😊 Since you have to go back so much anyway, you could go in different directions each time you go. That is what I used to do while I was working for a company. I got a few weeks off every 2 or 3 months, and I would fly to someplace in S. America and then the next time someplace in Asia, then Africa, then N. Europe...... The variety made the travelling even more exciting.
Reply to this Wow, truly inspirational guys...
Having experienced a fraction of what you're going through (diagnosed 06.... thankfully healthy now ), I fully understand your desire to embrace what life and this world has to offer those who choose to seek it.
On our recent travels, I always found those places you 'should' go somewhat dissapointing and I seriously hate saying it as I feel I'm being ungrateful. I was lucky enough to have seen them, sadly some people dream of these things and never achieve them. There were exceptions of course, walking along the Great wall in China was amazing.
I always cherish those experiences I didn't expect. I've always wanted to Scuba dive, so just thinking about the first time I 'breathed underwater' when I descended on the Great Barrier Reef, and watched a giant Batfish glide past will always make me smile. Getting up at the break of dawn and watching Kangaroos play fighting on the beach in Queensland was mindblowing. Sitting peacefully in the Golden Temple in India, watching the colourful procession of women in beautiful sari's strolling past with no hassles, was a far superior experience than seeing the Taj Mahal, which although an incredible sight, lacked any atmosphere.
I think if I had to do something a bit 'crazy' and life affirming, I'd try something a bit different, like the Top Gear guys do (must be the best job in the world IMO). Buy a scooter and cruise around Vietnam. Get a ridiculous piece of rubbish and drive across Botswana. Granted, having a huge support team, makes it easy for them.
Someone once told me their dream was to go to Egypt, buy a Camel, paint 'go faster' stripes down its side and work their way across North Africa. This made me laugh so hard at the time, but can you imagine the experience?
Anyway... That's my two cents worth. Good luck with all the treatments, and good luck with the next trip. I look forward to seeing where you go.
Mike.
Reply to this Aww Thanks for that Mike.
You know exactly where I am coming from. It's the touristy side of the travel that sometimes gets to me too.
I too enjoyed the walk along the great wall of china at 6.30am when no one was around. What an incredible experience, that was until we found our selves back at the car park - Which was by then a mega market with the 2 for a dollar crowd..
I was also on the edge of my seat watching the top gear guys doing Vietnam, we did it last year. But what fun on a bike. Then to convert it to sail on Halong Bay, how amazing it's such a beautiful place.
A camel with go faster stripes, really appeals to me, the fun and I haven't ridden a camel before - Sounds like a plan. I'll be thinking of how to pull that one off, should make for some fun pics.
Thanks Mike for taking the time, much appreciated x
Reply to this wow, I just have to say that I hope when I am in my 50s, I get to travel as much as you have, and if I only had 2 years to live, I hope that I would be brave and strong enough to do what you are doing, because that is truly how I would want to spend my remaining time.
I definitely have not traveled as much as you have, but my favorites are:
Big Island Hawaii - night diving with Manta Rays and watching new land form
Gimmelwald Switzerland - hiking and paragliding over the Interlaken valley
Venice - just wandering
And on the top of my list that I havent seen yet - trekking in Nepal, Scuba diving and swimming in jellyfish lake in Palau, and the Maldives.
I am a little shocked that two of you mentioned that the Maldives are not at the top of your lists. Yeah I guess gorgeous white sand beaches could get a little boring, but I like to think that it would inspire me to relax a little and just take in the view. (I have some trouble with the relaxing part)
Reply to this Hi,
The great things with plans, is that you can change them!
You will love Petra. I did the 7 wonders...new and old...and it is an amazing place...really amazing...just make sure you wake up early to have it to yourself before the groups arrived!
Maldives, it's all depend of what you want...and where you go...won't tell you I don't like it, as I've been the 5 times...but as a couple, you may want to add Bora Bora on the list...even if it's a little cliche...it's an amazing place!
For the experience, did a lot of 'slightly' fun things....but the most crazy one if you can afford it is a zero gravity flight....that was by far the most amazing moment of all my life...well...after the birth of my son!
You may want to do some homework ahead with courier companies. Some will ship medicine for you to some countries...not all couriers, not all countries...this is why you need to get your homework done.
I wish you the best and hope you'll be ready to enjoy all of it very soon.
Peter
Reply to this Some things that are great, and I would like to visit:
1. Angkor Wat in Cambodia
2. Tahiti (Bora Bora is an amazing place)
3. Tanzania and Kenya (Serengeti, Zanzibar beaches)
Wish you best, and hope you will enjoy your trip
Fiona
Reply to this Some places in South-America - which is empty on your map - I've been to these and would definitely recommend.
1. Rio de Janeiro - especially to see one of the carnival parades in the Sambadrome - next year? - I consider this one of the wonders of the modern world.
2. Iguacu/Iguazu Waterfalls on the Argentinian Brazilian border.
3. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia - huge salt flats covering so many many miles - all cracked up like egg shell.
4. The Galapagos Islands - such amazing unique wildlife.
On my own list of places still to see in South-America - is Macha Pichu - lost Incan city near Cusco, Peru, the Amazon and the southern part of Patagonia.
Reply to this HI.
I would suggest Macedonia. Friendly people, nice landscape, no tourism, good food, still not expencive...or Bahia in Brasil...to dance all day long😊)
Reply to this Hello!!
I would suggest Rwanda!! The spirit of the people there is so amazing! To be in a place where so much has happened ... and then to see their smiles and be welcomed into their homes ... unforgettable!! I found that it really "recharged" my batteries ... in the way that I saw what man can really overcome. It's the land of triumph and tragedy. And it is such a beautiful country ... truly breath taking scenery! Of all the places we've seen, Rwanda is the one country that touched my heart the most.
A few other unforgettable experiences we had ... Robben Island in South Africa and the beaches in Northern France. The latter one may be more of a North American thing (WW History), and to be honest I wasn't entirely interested in going at first (it was my boyfriends idea), but I was humbled that day and will never forget what it felt like to walk on that land.
And a few beautiful places (life lessons aside now) ... Angel Falls in Venezuela, safari in Kenya (close your eyes and imagine what a safari is like and it's JUST like that!), random desert driving in Egypt (I'd never seen mounds of sand like that before) and just about any beach in Thailand.
Happy Travels!!
Reply to this This may be a little less exotic as far as destinations go, but I just finished a 10,000km road trip across the USA. New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and California were full of spots that we wish we had more time to visit (and better weather).
And some spots in Canada that I've visted this past year have proved to etch my mind with the scenery.
Some favourites that were magical to me:
Sitting at Cape d'Or or Spencer's Island in Nova Scotia on the Bay of Fundy watching the tide go out.
Hiking to a viewpoint of Peyto Lake in Banff National Park in Alberta...I've never seen water that colour!!
Hiking up to Chinaman's Peak (I can't remember the correct name...Hao Ling?) in Canmore, Alberta.
Watching the manatees at Homasassa Springs State Park (Florida) come up for feeding time.
Driving 17 miles into Canyon de Chelly National Park (Arizona) to see the Spider Rock formation.
Soaking in the Gila Campground Hot Springs in the Gila Mountains (New Mexico), after spending the morning exploring cliff dwellings.
I could go on...I wish you the best of luck in filling your days with magical moments!
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Hey Avril, Have you considerd Cinque Terre on Italy's coast? The trail that links the towns on a sunny day in early June, is one of our favorite mememories. The people, the water, the food.
My husband has a pace maker which requires a few presciption drugs. We are americans living in Poland. He arranged with his doctors and the pharmacy to get a years worth at one time.
We look forward to reading about your new adventures.
Reply to this I just finished a 13 month round the world trip, and I have to say the
Kalalau Trail on the island of Kauai in Hawaii is still the most beautiful spot on earth. Its a 13 mile hike into the beach, it is inaccessible by car and boats aren't allowed to stop, and it is the least touristy island. Needless to say, it isn't exactly "over run" with people, besides the hippies that live there year round in wooden huts and stone houses. There are thousand foot brilliant red cliffs descending directly into the hundred yard wide, two kilometer long stretch of sand. There are seals that rest on the beach, and you can see whales just off the shoreline. The trees that go up into the valley are full of mango, avo, passion, guava and papaya fruit, so if you go at the right time, and like fruit, you hardly pack in any food. It is as close to paradise as I've ever come. And, for those that believe it is the trip, not the destination, the views along the hike are some of the best I've ever seen.
Off the beaten track places I've always wanted to go to are Mongolia, Bhutan, and Guyana.
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