Due Wednesday, 24. April 2013
You have all travelled to many places in your short time in this world, some of you more than others. For those of you who have travelled A LOT this will be harder than for the rest of you. Where do you most want to travel to now that you have NOT travelled to before? Remember, now you are adults, and will not have to take your parents with you (even if they pay for the trip, live in fantasyland now). Then after you tell us where, share a bit of the why (yes, Alina, it's okay to want to sample the food there as long as you know what some of the food you want to sample is called and/or made from.)
Me: Welcome back!!!! How was it???
ReplyDeleteMom: “Jenn it was amazing!!! They are so welcoming. The hotel I stayed at was top notch, 5-star, super classy, you would absolutely love it!”
Me: *angry* Yes mom.
I’m slowly, but surely growing tired of hearing my mom brag about how her trip to Thailand with her female friends was phenomenal. This being said, I definitely want to visit this Kingdom sometime during my lifetime. According to my mother, they’re one of the most welcoming hosts she has ever come across. Something that many should know about me is that I love being pampered.
According to my mother, Thailand is the ideal place for massages, manicures, and pedicures. Let’s not even talk about beaches. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE BEACH! Guess what? After seeing pictures, I hereby declare that Thailand has the best white sand beaches. Food? Just hearing about thai cuisine makes my mouth water. From the color, to the flavor mixtures, to the spices and to the setting. What gets better than that? My absolute favorite is Khao Khluk Kapi which is stir-fried rice mixed with an exquisite shrimp paste. It’s served with sweetened pork (or your choice of meat) and vegetables. The colors that come out of that dish are phenomenal. The sweet and sour tastes like heaven in your mouth. Just thinking about it while I’m writing this blog post makes me all the more want to travel to Thailand. One day, I’m hoping before heading off to college or at least while I’m doing my bachelors, I would like to go there to experience all the wonderful things my mother has been telling me about.
Before you go off to college? But you're going to do that in just three months! What about a school trip with college friends? I kayaked the southern tip of Thailand a few years ago, and the water was lovely. But our "hotel" didn't have warm water in the outdoor, public showers and the toilets were rudimentary at best. Maybe not your style of Thai travel, but it was cool.
ReplyDelete“The world is a book and those who do not travel only read a page.” In my case, I think I’ve read an infinite amount of pages. I’ve been to so many different countries around the world that this question made me stop and think for a bit, where haven’t I been?
ReplyDeleteGreece. Greece seems like such an exotic destination. No, not only because of the amazing variety of food I’ll consume but mainly because of its remarkable history and beauty in nature. I guess I’m lucky enough to know that I’ll be spending three months abroad in Greece with my University this coming fall. This will also give me an opportunity to discover the history behind the ancient land that has given us the Acropolis, Delphi and Olympia, visit world-famous archaeological sites, experience Greek theatre, music, and dance. I’ve always wanted to visit the Greek Islands and this will grant me the chance to do so.
What images do people conjure when they hear “Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Paros, Naxos, or Rhodes?” They all share a common theme, relaxation, sun, vacation, clear blue water-white sand beaches and of course food! Although I won’t be settling in Northeastern University’s main campus which is located in Boston for my first semester of college life, at least I’ll avoid and won’t have to deal with it’s repulsive/ sub-zero glacial winter. Instead of wearing layers of clothing and huge winter jackets, a bikini will do.
Thessaloniki, Greece is where I’m headed. Thessaloniki, situated in northern Greece, is the second largest city in Greece coming right below Athens. It is the heart to some of Greece most famous musicians’, artists, poets and thinkers. One of the most exciting parts is that it’s home to the Thessaloniki film festival and International Trade Fair. It also hosts many cultural events. Growing up internationally and with such diverse people surrounding me, I’d fit right into the mix.
There isn’t just one reason why Greece is the place to be, there are numerous amount of aspects that contribute to the superb quality of life it has to offer. Growing up in the heart of Africa, I live by the motto “life is a journey, not a destination.”
I hold extremely romantic views of Greece and am very jealous of your living there for 3 months. I have the same idea you do about the weather, but I do know that there are parts of it that get quite cold. Have a marvelous time there, learn some Greek, the alphabet, and enjoy the food. BTW: you will arrive in Boston in the absolute coldest part of their winter. January and February are the sub-sub temperatures, so you get to enjoy both worlds.
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ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to visit Queensland's GBR. Another attractive thing about it to many English-only speakers is the fact that it is English speaking. Oh yeah, it is publicized for it's cute guys, too.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of Australia, I picture warm and pleasant weather all year long. I picture the beaches with clean, white sand, all sorts of unique shells, and clear, blue ocean water. I picture classy restaurants by the yacht clubs, serving the best seafood in town. And of course, I picture hot Australian boys with their cute accents, which are to die for. You see, I’ve always wanted to travel to Australia. I’m not exactly sure why, but because of what I’ve heard and seen on TV, pictures, and magazines, I imagine myself having the time of my life there. Believe it or not, up till last week, I was considering applying to a university there. Unfortunately, that option got shot down when I read that you have to be at least 18 when you attend that University in the fall of 2013. Back to imagining myself having the time of my life there and hoping that someday, I’ll get to visit, I thought to myself.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I find the Australian accent sexy and attractive. But of course, only when it comes from a cute, hot boy. I mean, and old, wrinkly man with an Australian accent… meh, not really interested. Australians are stereotyped for the way they speak; it’s almost like they have their own language. Cheers mate, oi, aye, no worries, are the only words I think of when it comes to the way Australians speak, but that’s just because I’ve never actually been to the country. I’m sure there are several other “unique” words that Australians use in their everyday lives, but the only way to actually find out, would be to travel to Australia and see for myself. Who knows, if I stay there long enough, I might leave the country with the to die for accent, saying Cheers mate or oi to every person back home. But in the end, I’d finally be satisfied. I’d finally get to say, “Yes, I’ve been to Australia, yes, I had the time of my life in Australia, and yes, I met some of the most amazing and friendly people in Australia.”
My roommate in Singapore was a native Perthian and yes, his accent was pretty cute. It always sounded happy and friendly; something about the lilt and the pitch...
ReplyDeleteWhat place do I want to visit? Now if I tell my friends this I know I will get many judgmental comments but ever since I was a kid, I just have this desire of going to Antarctica. I always hear people saying, “Oh! I want to go to Brazil, China, India, Rome” and what not but only very few people would say, “I want to go to Antarctica.” I guess I am one of those few. Just the thought of going there intrigues me. Even though it is not very realistic but just sitting there in the vast wilderness of ice and sipping coffee with a bunch of penguins makes me happy. Penguins in general make me happy and seeing them in their natural habitat will make me happier.
ReplyDeleteAs many people might have read or known Antarctic is, actually the coldest place on this earth and going there means insulting yourself with hundreds of jackets, which in itself is very painful. Despite all that I just I have this strange urging to go there and I hope that once I do become a doctor I might have the opportunity to go there for research. If not maybe I will have to start saving up some money for the little box for ‘Trip to Antarctica’.
I understand the draw of sitting in isolated places and relaxing.
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ReplyDeleteI always hear my friends and other surfers talking about how awesome the Mentawais are. This time I do not want to be the one who they tell their story to, I want to be the one telling them my story. The Mentawai Islands are composed of seventy islands located in Indonesia a couple miles off the west of Sumatra, Indonesia’s largest island. Almost all islands are surrounded by coral reefs and there are the most beautiful waves in the world.
ReplyDeleteEvery year, some of my surfer friends go there and have the most amazing trip of their lives. Whenever they describe the Mentawais or when you see their pictures, it looks like paradise. It is sunny all day long, the ocean is turquoise-blue, the waves are perfect and apparently the food is pretty good too.
I have been to Indonesia before, when I went to Bali with my family two years ago. I have surfed there, but it was not the same as when you share waves with a couple of your friends. This time I want to travel to the Mentawais with friends and spend at least a month there. What do I plan on doing if I actually travel there, is what every surfer would do; surfing every day, getting sun burns, resting, drinking Bintang the local beer and eating good Indonesian food at the hotel, then surfing again. I might even meet some cute Australian or Indonesian girls there, who knows?! All I know is that traveling to the Mentawais and surfing there with friends would be enough to make me very happy.
Sounds cool. I've never heard of these islands. Question: if they are surrounded by coral reef, is the break out several hundred yards (and over the reef), ouch.
ReplyDeleteWhere do I want to travel? Hmmmm…. India? Oh, but I have been there before so… my other choice would be Brazil! One of the reasons why I want to go to Brazil is that Brazil is hosting the 2014 World Cup next year! As you might know, or might not know, Koreans are crazy about World Cups and I am not the exception. I literally cried when the Korean team lost in 2006 World Cup by Switzerland and I screamed when we made our 16 round in 2010 World Cup in South Africa. I cannot forget how thrilling and fantastic it was to visit the stadium and see the Korean Spirit! If I have a chance, I would like to visit Brazil next year (I do not know if I can go by myself since Brazil is not the safest country in the World.) Also, America is somewhere I have not been to…. I have been to Asia, Africa and Europe but not America! How wonderful would it be for me to visit Brazil and enjoy new culture and watch World Cup games live! I have a friend who is living in Brazil so it will not be very hard to travel Brazil too… Brazil… wait for me.. I will be there in a moment!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are meant to go. I have to admit, I did not only not know Koreans loved the world cup, I also thought the world cut was boating until you mentioned the stadium. Oooooh. Soccer. Rah.
DeleteReunion Island that is where I want to go. I dream of it every night and wake up to thoughts of it. The island is 2,512 sq km of PARADISE. The island not only being a paradise in itself is a mix of the French and Hawaiian culture. The clash between both cultures is really appealing to it and gives it an exotic side to it that I am very attracted by. The beaches are amazing; the ocean that reflects the clear blue of the sky, warm sand passing through your toes as you walk along the beach, warmth of sun on your skin, sight of beautiful men relaxing their time away on the beach. Everything about the place is captivating even the food, which just like the culture is a huge mix, a blend of French, Indian Chinese and African. The cultural diversity on that little island is insane; maybe that is why I’m so crazy about it. My aunt promised me a trip to, after my graduation and she better respect it because that I’m looking forward to it and, I fear I might end up chopping her into pieces and cooking her with un-fresh vegetables then serving it to grumpy old janitors, because I really, really want to go there.
ReplyDeleteI had to look up reunion island. Just FYI, the first hit I got was a story about the 3rd fatal shark attack there in two years. But the water next to the dead surfer was pretty. Be careful if you swim.
DeleteI have this desire to go to visit Israel and Iran. I do not know why but I am very eager to explore both of these cities even though there not the safest country to be in. The fact that both of them are Muslim counties makes me even keener to go visit them. Then you would say why I am excited to go to a Muslim country India is part Muslim too. Well if we see, India is a country composed of many other religions but both of these countries are solely Muslim countries and it would be a different experience to go visit them. Even though Israel is a Jewish country, I still want to go to visit it because I am fond of Muslim art and architecture and that is the first main reason I want to go to Israel and Iran. The second reason is that I am attracted towards the Sufi religion, which makes me want to learn more about Sufism and so Sufism is practiced in Iran.
ReplyDeleteMy religion is also home-based in Israel. Hopefully, we will both be able to see it some day.
DeleteAll my life I have traveled to places my family has chosen. In other words, I never get to choose where we (my family) should venture. With this, it is pretty clear that I have many places in mind. Although there are too many places to list, the place that I feel needs my presence is Miami. I am such a car fanatic that I can stare at cars for hours straight. When I hear the word, “Miami”, I picture, the perfect weather (the nice blazing sun), the best golf courses, the sandy beaches, the cars again, and finally the hottest girls. Writing this blog is making me want to live there, instead of only visiting.
ReplyDeleteThe way I just described Miami is not fully my own perspective, but it is what I hear from a lot of people. In Miami you have the best of all worlds. You have the oldest of the oldest people retiring there to enjoy the heat and the beaches. And you have the young people throwing parties every weekend. Not only that, but a lot of the famous singers, stars, etc. go there to perform in concerts.
A thing I have yet to find out is how good the food is there. No one really talks about the food in Miami. I guess all the other amenities that come with the place make people forget about the food. In my opinion Miami sounds like the best place to be, and if the food turns out to be good, then the name should be changed from Miami to Utopia.
I like Miami and it's environs. I lived there for two years (a loooong time ago) and loved it. The Cuban food is AMAZING. Check out South Beach. Very international.
DeleteI am not very picky with most things, so I will probably just move to where ever I can get the best job. However, if I could pick a certain place to live without the need to worry about a job or how much it would cost to travel back to family I probably choose New Zealand. If you think this choice is out of the blue let me explain quick and simple: I love The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and all of J.R.R. Tolkien’s other works very much, all of The Lord of the Rings movies (as well as The Hobbit) have been shot in New Zealand, therefore I love New Zealand.
ReplyDeleteThe fantasy world in which The Lord of the Rings takes place is called Middle Earth, and I agree with Peter Jackson (the director of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies) when he says that New Zealand is the perfect place to shoot the movie. New Zealand is just as beautiful as the wondrous fantasy world that J.R.R. Tolkien thought up in his imagination. So living there would be like living in a fantasy world for me. New Zealand is home to so much natural beauty; it is amazing how well they are able to represent both Middle Earth and New Zealand in the same movies. So when I try to think where the most amazing place on earth is, I can’t think of a more magical place than New Zealand.
I had a student from NZ when I was in Taiwan. She, too, extolled the natural beauty of the land. Although she did say pretty much the entire county is chilly in summer and cold in winter. But you are from Minnesota. Besides, how could you not love somewhere with more sheep than people?
ReplyDeleteBefore starting to say anything this is just to let you know that year for the summer with my family we will be visiting Durban and Mafokeng known as Maftown which is located in the northeastern side of South Africa.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have lived in South Africa Johannesburg for several years without ever being anywhere else again in South Africa then in Johannesburg. Durban and Mafokeng are known to be two main touristic center in South Africa and they also make the best "boerwors" which is a sausage. Another think that have always attracted me to go to these two places is because they both have amazing, crowded, and fun beaches in Africa.
Finally because I will be heading back to South Africa where my home is, but one last thing that I forgot to mention is that I have never been to a beach in my entire life because I have thalassophobia which is a fear of the sea and I think that this trip can make me overcome one of my main fears.
Good luck.
ReplyDeleteJamaica is my dream destination. It runs in my veins. For those who do not know here is a brief summary, it is an island south of Cuba. Jamaica is part of the common wealth still under the British monarchy. It’s capital is Kingston. Its flag is colored green, black, and yellow. They have a prime minister as head of government. Their cuisine is a huge mix of Asian, British, and Island cuisine.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest motive to go to Jamaica is to experience the real Rasta culture from the reggae jams to the braiding and curling of locks. The Rasta culture is more than just Bob Marley (that every one refers to when you say Rasta) or smoking weed. It is a whole style of life. There are strict set of rules to follow and the fact that there are rules to follow and that you still manage to be so relaxed and calm about things when you practice it, is the most enticing thing to me. Some will say it is useless to go there when you can meet a Jamaican who can tell you all about. I really want to experience it from close living like a Jamaican Rasta in Jamaica and not somewhere else where people are clueless and would not understand. Of course the Rastafarian culture is not only it: who would not want to stroll on the tropical beaches of the island, or see the caramel and brown skin with pretty locks walking the beach or just to groove to some real dancehall tracks or relax listening to calm reggae songs, why not some Bob Marley by the way. I could keep on going with all the things I could and would do if I ever went there, but I think I’ve made my point so “Yuut all fruits ripe” (friends, all is good).
Interesting concept. I visited a Jamaican friend a couple of years ago and was disenchanted.Everyone is SO POOR. Only the tourist side of the island, where people never leave the resorts, is remotely not crime infested. Everyone lives and works behind locked iron grating, no one walks anywhere because it's not safe. Hope you have a more positive time. I'm sure it's there.
DeleteWhere would I like to go? First time I have an answer to these blog post prompts. With my family we have travelled a lot, all the time visiting new place or maybe just going to visit family out of Congo. But most of our trips have concentrated in the African and Asian continents. Even if they were new countries or places, they do not feel like a new experience because both continents feel like home to me, so where do I want to go, I want to go to a somewhere very different, very different from all I have known. Nothing that has to do with the tropical, warm humid climate of Africa or the most tropical weathers of Asia would be the best destination for me
ReplyDeleteThat is why Rome is where I would like to go because of a couple more reasons. The first reason is like a said above, it will be a whole new discovery, the European weather, a higher altitude, just breathing in Rome will feel different or not having to fear about my hair going all “bouff”. My second reason, are the Italian boys. The nice smooth hair falling on a tan or rather pale skin and beautiful eyes that look like they are peering into you, no way to resist. Third is the culture. Going from the open welcoming attitudes of the elderly society to the delicious food (forefathers of pizza, I love them), everything about it is PERFECT. Every aspect of Rome seduces me and I know some day I will go there.
Sounds like you have a plan. I had a student last year (Taiwanese) who was raised in Rome and he always talked about the wonderful food there.
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