Top 10 Places I Have to Visit Before I Turn 30

Last year, I made a list of countries I want to explore before I reach the age of 30 (Check out the old post below). Last night, I realized I only have 3 years to do this. Given the time and financial constraints, more on the latter I must say, I decided tweaking my list a bit, i.e. shedding off some of my dream destinations and adding those I’ve been to.

Before anything else, I have to know where I’ve been so far.

visited 11 states (4.88%)
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This is the map of countries I’ve been to. Yes, it’s not much but I surely had great experiences in all those traveling.

Now, this is the map of my top 10 dream destinations for the next 3 years.

visited 10 states (4.44%)
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1. Istanbul, Turkey – is the destination for a travel scholarship I applied for. Though still far-fetched, since there will be probably a thousand better writers than me, who knows I might get the stroke of luck.
2.  Agra, India – just to marvel at the most beautiful edifice, I believe. (CHECK!)
3. Japan – is in my list because of their culture and, as trivial as it may be, Japanese sakura. It has been a dream since I can’t remember when. Thanks to a scholarship, I stayed there for 2 years. (CHECK!)
4. Damascus, Syria – recently allures me to see the historical remains of this once-great city.
5. Cambodia – came too fast when I started dreaming of seeing Angkor Wat in 2008 because of a beautiful painting in one of my university’s lounges. I went there in the same year. (CHECK!)
6. China – was in my previous list and I’m keeping it. I just got to see how great is the Great Wall ^_^
7. Nepal – is 7th in my previous list and remains so in this one.
8. Bhutan – comes in to complete my Himalayan dream.
9. Bohol, Philippines – in lieu of Batanes, Bohol has always been a choice vacation spot for me. I already have the tickets! (CHECK!)
10. Hawai’i – is definitely favored over sunny SanFo. (CHECK!)

This list looks more promising and attainable. I’ve been to 4 out of 10 (see map below). Then that leaves me to 2 destinations per year — not as far-fetched as before. I hope I could make this possible.

visited 4 states (1.77%)
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Why 30?  Because I can’t wait any longer. : )
Here are the top 10 destinations I HAVE to visit before that dreaded number.  One of these I will fulfill this year yay!

Don’t hesitate to share your list too.

1.  St. Petersburg, Russia - It’s on top of my list because of my favorite author, Fyodor Dostoevsky’s, writings.  His works portrayed a haunting and melancholic but inspirational and artistic St. Petersburg.  I want to delve into that feeling.

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2.  Istanbul, Turkey – I want to indulge into history and see for myself the grandiose of former Constantinople.  Istanbul could be a great showcase of how east meets west and I would love to be in this interesting crossroad.

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3.  Agra, India – because I’m a sucker for love and the world’s greatest man-made symbol of love would surely send me to the clouds. – DONE!!!

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4.  The Great Wall of China – Whenever I travel, I always want to have the realization that I am too minute and my problems are too impertinent compared to the magnitude of the earth.  I rely on the Great Wall to prove such humbling greatness.

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5.  Batanes, Philippines – is the perfect place to escape from the complex and bustling city life to a secluded island boasting of panoramic views comparable to the backdrops of the Lord of the Rings movie.  Known for its warm people, simple life and breathtaking views, I’ll definitely do a soul-searching trip in this island.

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6.  Tibet – I was 13 when I watched the movie, 7 years in Tibet, and since then I promised to myself that I will go to this land and try to forge an inter-cultural friendship (similar to how Harrer and the Dalai Lama cultivated a strong bond of friendship and loyalty) with its people and spectacular sceneries.  It is of great paradox that this beautiful land is being scarred by conflict and I dare myself to be involved.

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7.  Nepal and the Himalayas – Aside from the tourist-drawn Himalayas, there’s an unexplainable mysticism and enchantment in this country that entice me to explore it.  Despite its landlocked geography and propinquity to border conflicts (plus the fact that the Tenzing-Hillary airport at Lukla as one of the world’s top 10 most dangerous airports is named as the Runway of Death), it exudes a sense of indifference–a craft that I am a master of.

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8.  Machu Picchu, Peru - I see this ancient estate of the Incan civilization as an Atlantis above sea-level.  I’m seriously willing to be exiled and realize my frustration of being an archaeologist in this heavenly paradise.

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9. Greece – Art and architecture, history, mythology, wars, philosophy–all the intangible and material wonders of the ancient world are cramped in this coastal  country and I’m willing to be packed in this only European destination in my list.

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10. The Pyramids of Egypt – Until now, how the pyramids were built remain an uncracked mystery.  Whether slaves, mammoths, outerspace technology, or plain mathematical ingenuity, I need not search for its magnificence is enough to make me dumbfounded.