Before anything else, I have to know where I’ve been so far.
visited 13 states (5.77%)
Create your own visited map of The World or Like this? try: Ant Arena
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, here is the map of my top 15 destinations.
Create your own visited map of The World
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Church of the Saviour on the Blood at Night, St. Petersburg, Russia Deutsch: Auferstehungskirche in St.Petersburg, Rußland (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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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Ortaköy Mosque, along the Bosphorus, in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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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Taj Mahal, Agra, India. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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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Kinkakuji (ito) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
4. KYOTO, JAPAN - heavily influenced by the dreamy books I’ve read about Japan, thanks to Clavell and Mishima, it was a dream destination since I can’t remember when. Thanks to a graduate scholarship, I stayed in this beautiful country of sakura, geishas, samurais and castles for almost 2 years. DONE!
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5. 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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English: The Chocolate Hills in Bohol Province, Philippines. Français : Les Chocolate Hills, dans la province de Bohol (Philippines). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
6. BOHOL, PHILIPPINES- I’ve seen the endless stretch of Chocolate Hills from my textbooks when I was young and wanted to see this amazing land formation since then. The warm people, beautiful beaches and historical churches are few of the reasons why Bohol is the best choice if one wants less crowded and commercialized destinations. DONE!
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Landscapes of Tibet (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
7. 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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Tashichho Dzong, Thimphu, Bhutan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
8. BHUTAN, NEPAL & THE HIMALAYAS - I dream of Bhutan where happiness is the soul of human existence. Aside from the tourist-drawn Himalayas, there’s an unexplainable mysticism and enchantment in Nepal that entices 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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Angkor Wat at sunrise (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
9. ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA - I started dreaming of seeing Angkor Wat in 2008 because of a beautiful painting in one of my university’s lounges. I went there on the same year. (CHECK!)
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Evening over Damascus / Syria (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
10. DAMASCUS, SYRIA - recently allures me to see the historical remains of this once-great city.
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Early morning in wonderful Machu Picchu (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
11. 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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Photo credit: http://www.itastours.com
12. 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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All Giza Pyramids in one shot. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
13. 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.
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Basco Lighthouse, Batanes, Philippines (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
14. 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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Bagan, Burma (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
15. BAGAN, MYANMAR - I dream of Bagan, where religious gems spread out as far as the eye can see.
10 is such a short number! ;-) before you turn 30 is even more restrictive! but that gives you a goal, all right! there’s sooooooo much to see, you have to make a choice. But do more, as soon as you can! I know I don’t have to tell you, I’m pretty sure it’s on your to-do list anyway! ha!
Enjoy the trip!
Jul’
Hey Jul’
You gave me an idea there. Perhaps, I could expand this list (I’m not getting any younger as well). 16 countries in 10 months is a great idea, but difficult to achieve for now. But I will follow your blog to get some tips. :) Thank you for dropping a comment.
16 countries in 10 months I did in 2010! it sometimes was waaaaayyyyy too fast, that’s why I went back to some countries in 2011, taking it easy. You can read it all in the page about it, following the link about the continent and then the country.
There’s soooo much to see anyway! My list has expanded not shorten! ;-)
Happy travels to you!
J.
Dont forget Ecuador. Awesome beaches, galapagos, still on the inexpensive side, volcanos… Check out our adventure in Ecuador at
atruetalltale.wordpress.com
Thank you Luna, will definitely check it out. Ecuador is a beautiful country!
Great ,india is in the list also include himalayas & Ladakh,manasarovar.Visit my blog to know it.
You’ve got wonderful photos over there. Thanks for sharing.
Great post, Dahlia! Thanks so much for posting the link to producing your own countries visited map. I am planning a post on our upcoming travel plans and really wanting to show it visually so this is really helpful. Thanks so much!
It’s a cool app. Try it and I will check your own map.
This is my second Top Ten list which will probably stay in my Bucket list forever. I might stay in content that I have been to these places many times in my day and night dreams already.
1. Elafonisi Beach, Crete
2. Riomaggiore, Italy
3. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
4. Multnomah Falls, Oregon
5. Lake Nakuru, Kenya
6. Paraguay
7. Israel
8. Venezuela (Mount Roraima)
9. Eco Oasis in Egypt (The no electricity paradise, please lets go here too twig!)
10. The Dunes in Peru (I so wanna go here!!!)
travelers – takes one to know one ;)
Hahahaha. I know right? please answer the top 10 as well. I want to know if we can meet halfway hahaha
1. Madagascar and the African Trail especially Eastern Cape (Shamwari Reserve Wildlife)
2. India then Pakistan route (I will never ran out of reasons to keep coming back)
3. Cuba
4. Bolivia
5. Morocco
6. Istanbul and Cappadocia (Turkey)
7. Japan (Because the true love that I know of is what I feel for Japanese Food. Forever and Always.)
8. Burma (When I get rich, I will keep visiting and distribute books and medicines. I will build a little house overlooking the bagans and will take my children there every summer)
9. Italy ( As I have promised my mother, that is where we want to be when we grow old. Lavazza coffee in the afternoon by the patio while listening to the music of Yo Yo Ma staring at the magnificent architecture of my Florence neighborhood)
10. Con Dao Island (Vietnam) Beach is a home run for me. You’ll eventually find me here.
To add more : Iceland, Czech Republic, Prague, Brazil, Peru, Tibet, East Timor, Bangladesh, Grand Cayman Islands and Argentina.
But most of all, I will go to Germany and visit you.
Great list Raine. I see that you are more attracted to roads less traveled. Very nice. Anyway, I actually edited my list (check this: http://theblacktwig.wordpress.com/travel-tales/) because I can only wish I am younger and richer hehehe!
Thank you for dropping by, liking and following my post. It’s wonderful to get to know your blog as well. Have a beautiful life’s journey ahead. Mabuhay! :-)
Thank Jojie. I enjoy your writing very much!
Feeling is mutual. :-)
Hey Twiggy,
Just discovered your list here and it’s actually quite close to my own, but thought it was interesting you have St. Pete No. 1–been there twice!!! Actually swung by there after spending two weeks on church mission trips to Siberia in seminary a couple of summers. St Pete is much more European than Moscow and the rest of Russia because of it’s proximity to Europe and it’s port. (Also interesting that Dostoevsky is your favorite writer as he’s one of mine; a seminary prof opened my eyes to his greatness; and what a life D had!!!.) And so much incredible history!!!!
Also spent two weeks in China a couple of years ago and believe it or not, never made it to the Great Wall. Planned to, but a friend I’d met on the net who took me aorund the city got lost herself trying to get us to the right train station, so we sort of wandered around Beijing trying not to get run over crossing streets a few hours. By the time we got to the station–it was my last day in China–it was late morning and it would have been a long wait and long ride to the wall and this old man was too pooped to participate anymore. Managed to get back to my little hotel somewhere on the other side of the world of Beijing and went into a coma for about 12 hours. I loved 7 Years in Tibet, which I think about 3 other people liked apparently, and the movie made me want to go. Only place I don’t care to see especially is Pyramids. Just those other places on your list, and more, that I’d like to see first. The others you list I’m right on with.
Hello Rev. Paul. Wow! I’m also amazed that we have a lot of common interests. It is my first time to meet someone whose favorite is also Dostoevsky. It is my dream to see for myself the city he used to describe in his books. I wonder when would that be. I hope it would be soon. :) Do you have St. Petersburg’s posts you want to share? Love to read about it.
Too bad about the China travel though. Maybe next time you’ll be able to go to the Great Wall.
Here are some pictures I took in morocco
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fortjesus
Nice choice of destinations to visit..Istanbul is on my list hopefully this year.
have you considered visiting Marakesh,Morocco or Lamu In Kenya, boths towns have rich culture while subtly blendin the morden and old heritage
Hi,
thanks for the awesome blog, I love your articles and pix. How did you progress with your fave places? I like your first 8 picks :). I ve been thinking for years about my top 5 picks and it goes like this – Antarctica, Patagonia, Greenland, Tibet, Siam/ Vietnam…my top places ive visited – by far the most beautiful place for me is Iceland, Canary Islands and Corsica :)..keep up with the blog so there is always something great to see and read..
Mike *waves from Prague*
Hi Mike *me waving from Manila*
Thank you for your comment and nice meeting you here. Progress is slow last year since I am saving up for something. :) But I think this year will be more promising for me *crossing my fingers*. You have some interesting choices and I want to read about the places you visited as well. But it seems the link to your site is yet to be filled up hehehe. Keep in touch! (Maybe I should include Prague. It’s beautiful!)
Morning :),
yes I just started the new blog and going to put the pix and few memoirs on the paper. Ive got an old blog, but didnt update it for years and it is related to food and wine :). Prague shall be on your list definitely, for me Prague belongs to top 5 cities. Keep my fingers crossed for you. So whats it gonna be this year? :)
I want to familiarize with Prague and I hope you share your stories about it soon. You probably read from new post that I will be in Malaysia starting tomorrow! 1 week off from work! :) And I can’t wait to see the historical Malacca.
Morning Dahlia :), I am slowly getting there. I have too many pics I want to put on the blog and record my memoirs, will take me a while to put things together :) including Prague..Enjoy the trip and safe travels!!
Bhutan is a fantastic place – a true trip of a lifetime, the price tag is hefty but if you can spend longer than 8 days you can get away from the all the old folks/tourists on their circle route and get away to check out some really amazing and remote places.
You can check out my Bhutan pics on my flickr here –
http://www.flickr.com/photos/josephferris76/sets/72157625975034916/
I also wrote about the trip on an old blog – but for some reason the pictures are not showing up for me – but that might be a glitch with my ship’s internet.
http://hookahjoe.livejournal.com/197119.html
Peace
Hi Joseph. Gosh, I’m checking your photos. Beautiful! I shared with a friend if you don’t mind. And will read your story in a while. Just wondering, if the fee is per group, then you can share the hefty 200USD a day with your groupmates which will make the net fee cheaper. Am I right?
This is wonderful blog. I love it.
Here’s my TOP List:
1. Israel – Bible land
2. Prague – blame it to Chasing Liberty movie
3. Morocco – culture and architecture
4. Turkey –
5. Spain – architecture, museum
6. Greece
7. Italy – Venice, Tuscany, Florence.. hayyyy
8. Egypt
9. Tanzania – The Great Savannah Dessert
10. Brazil – Rio oh Rio! ^_^
Wish wish wish!
Expensive ang destinations! hahaha! But I also love to go to Morocco. I’m thinking of updating my list. I have to include Damascus, Syria :P
Okay, one – those images are absolutely break-taking!
And two, I would love love LOVE to visit all of those places as well.
I have a deep passion to travel; I just haven’t really gotten the opportunity to get out there. But good luck! I think it’s important to set goals, and I hope you meet each one!
Good luck to both of us! Please share your travel experiences as well :)
Very Nice website. I just finished mine and i was looking for some ideas and your website gave me some. May i ask you whether you developed the website by youself?
Thanks
The design/theme was developed by wordpress. Thanks to them. :)
The most difficult thing is to find a blog with unique and fresh content but your posts are not alike. Bravo.
Thank you Raylene. I’m happy :)
Thank you, very nice..
You’re welcome. I wish to go to Istanbul soon :)
you can definitely start with batanes :)
It’s not impossible to go those places. Eventually, you’ll be surprised – you
‘ve visited em all.
Flights to Batanes are expensive :(
Sana nga. *crossing my fingers