Hi, my name’s Liz, and I’m a dreamer. I’m also a closet romantic.
I’m completely unrealistic about crucial things in life like money, employment and love. Forget about my massive student loan payments and leave me with my blog and Jane Austen, and I’ll be happy forever.
I’m sure you can imagine this drives my family and close friends insane.
I use this blog as a space to talk about travel and dreams. Never succinct and overly verbose, I spend far too much time rambling away on here about travel stories, advice and goals distinctly; but just the other day I realized I’ve hardly ever talked about destination travel goals. I get asked this a lot, if I could go anywhere in the world, where would I go?
Um, everywhere! Duh.
I don’t do bucket-lists (elaborative post forthcoming) but I have an extensive list of places, activities, and adventures running through my head 24/7. And since I am borderline OCD, I have that list, color-coded and divided into sublists and categories based on probability, distance, cost and time-frame required.
I also have an even bigger list in my heart, places that I dream about, no, yearn for and have such a longing to go to I have shoved them up on a pedestal and built them into unattainable goal. These are places so secret and special to me that I rarely even talk about them, let alone blog about them. This means that I haven’t tried to make them a possibility (yet) because I’m so afraid that reality won’t live up to my expectations, if that makes any sense at all. What the hell does that say about my warped personality? Someone please go all therapist on me, I’d love it.
Step 1: let’s talk about it!
I’m going to share 5 destinations that are at the top of my emotional, girly heart’s travel list. These are my travel dreams, the places I would go if I never had to work again, places I would go on my dream honeymoon with Turquoise Holidays, if I can ever find a guy who will put up with me, places I would go if I had a year of freedom without any time commitments.
Where would you go if you could go anywhere in the world? Where would your heart send you?
1. New Zealand
New Zealand has been number 1 in my heart since I was a fawning over the Lord of the Rings and Legolas in high school. Constantly ranked one of the most beautiful places in the world, I have my eyes firmly set on the South Island for the coming year, not announcing anything yet. It’s always been physically and mentally so far from me. From secluded beaches to snow-capped mountains, to comfortable cabins to extreme adventure sports, New Zealand has everything. I’ve yet to meet someone who hasn’t gushed about the beautiful landscape, so I can’t wait to see it myself one day.
Is New Zealand on your radar?
Queenstown, Source Flickr Creative Commons
2. Tanzania
Out of Africa, anyone? I’ve had dreams about Africa since I was a little girl. From staying in tents on the Serengeti to trekking around on a safari to lolling around on a beach in Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean, I want to take it all in. Africa has always seemed so remote and unattainable to me, probably because it’s so far, and most of my knowledge comes from National Geographic and the Lion King. This year, South Africa has become popular with bloggers, but I am hoping to dive even further into this diverse continent and check out Tanzania one day.
Do you want to go to Africa one day?
Serengeti, Source Flickr Creative Commons
3. The Seychelles
These islands, I pronounce like a true American, seashells, are so remote I don’t know anyone who has ever been there. Actually, let’s start with where are the Seychelles. According to Google Maps, they are in the Indian Ocean north of Madagascar. Sounds frightfully exotic. I don’t plan to many ocean or beach trips, which is strange because I love both the ocean and the beach. Growing up visiting the Outer Banks on the east coast USA, my life was sadly deprived on bright blue clear water until I moved to Spain. Since then, I’m hooked and I love traveling to places with impressive beaches, especially remote places. Visiting the Seychelles would be at the top of my island getaway list.
Have you ever imagined going to these remote islands?
Source, Flickr Creative Commons
4. Vietnam
‘Nam as I’ve come to refer to it in my head, holds a special place for me since my grandfather died there during the Vietnam War. Unpopular on Southeast Asia trips for a while, it’s getting it’s reputation back this year, owing a lot to it’s amazing cuisine. I am a big fan of cultural travel and getting to know the nitty gritty side of a country, and Vietnam is a place I would love to explore more and get to know better. From the beautiful coastline to the green countrysides to the bustling cities full of history, I know I would love Vietnam.
Would you visit Vietnam on a trip to Southeast Asia?
Halong Bay, Source Flickr Creative Commons
5. Tahiti
You know those bungalows hiked up on poles over crystal clear blue waters? I want to go there! The most exotic place I can think of, Tahiti, Bora Bora and French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean, has always been an inner girly dream of mine. Beyond romantic, I need a hot guy to go with me, or at least a gaggle of girlfriends to enjoy this paradise. The closes I’ve ever gotten are the Tahiti cocktails and my college bar’s happy hour on a Saturday night, but fear not, a girl can dream, right?
What’s your dream honeymoon? Would you go to Tahiti?
Bora Bora, Source Flickr Creative Commons
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