If my memory serves me correctly, I believe I was 22 when I decided that my travel goal would be to travel to all seven continents before 25 and conquer the “2007 New 7 Wonders of the World” before 30. At that time the seven new wonders consisted of: Great Wall of China (China), Christ the Redeemer Statue (Brazil), Machu Picchu (Peru), Chichen Itza (Mexico), The Roman Colosseum (Italy), Taj Majal (India), and Petra (Jordan). I have immersed myself in more than a few cultures, but I have not successfully accomplished all of these goals.
I stand here at the age of 27, having traveled to six continents and set my eyes on five wonders. In less than three months I will be traveling to India to capture the charming sight of the Taj Majal. Even though I’m still conquering the seven wonders, my travel bucket list has changed little and I can even say it matured since the age of 22. I want to knock off the seventh continent, Antarctica, off my list by 30. My new goal is to travel to 30 countries by the age of 30. At this present moment, I have traveled to twenty countries. I have my twenty-first country booked, New Delhi, India, with my eyes set on twenty-two (Santiago, Chile) and twenty-three (Buenos Aires, Argentina). These additional countries leave me with seven countries on my travel bucket list. Obviously, the list may change but at this current time I have my sights set out on:
Wellington, New Zealand
Dublin, Ireland
London, England
Rabat, Morocco
Bali, Indonesia
Lisbon, Portugal
Manila, Philippians
I think it is safe to say that traveling for me has become an obsession. If I am granted one day off of work or 10, I do not hesitate to start researching travel deals and flight rates for that time period. Traveling is one of the few hobbies that will bring me undeniable joy. The goal is not simply to step foot on these countries’ grounds but to grow an understanding of the language, of the land and the culture all while enjoying the cuisine. By traveling, I am creating memories that will last a lifetime. I often hear people say, “of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of your passport.” I simply could not agree more!
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