A Case of the "One-Days:" My Bucket List Travel Destinations
When I was unable to travel, I reflected on where I’d love to travel when the doors opened once again. These are my bucket list travel destinations!
During the heart of the pandemic, it was indeed hard to think of a time when one’s travel bucket list felt further out of reach - and yet it’s also hard to think of a time when it was more important to dream about it.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have seen so much of this planet of ours, and yet, not terribly unlike a sumptuous buffet, each time I “fill my plate,” I see something else that I simply have to go back for.
Metaphors aside - every time I am blessed with the opportunity to hit the road, it occurs to me that there are so many nations and so many stories that I’ve yet to give my undivided attention to.
The memories I’ve amassed on my travels are part of what makes me who I am, and part of why travel is important to me. While travel is “on pause,’ I can’t help but revisit my list of bucket list adventures and bucket list experiences that I hope are on my horizon.
The Coronavirus had disrupted my existence to the core, and provided an unheralded wakeup call. And yet, I always knew that I’d once again board a plane and head off to a place that I’ve always wanted to see, and I will appreciate it in a way I never could have before this crisis.
The Nations at the Top of My Travel Bucket List
These are the places that are calling to me, despite the fact that, at the time of writing, I couldn’t exactly call back!
Taiwan
I already had a hankering to go to Taiwan, but my recent watching of Street Food on Netflix certainly solidified that desire. I can’t quite figure it out - I can’t say I’ve been to a Taiwanese restaurant in my life, and yet it seems their cuisine is just sensational.
I can already envision myself roaming the night markets with reckless abandon, and feasting an a smorgasbord of dumplings and noodle soups. I’d also love to get into the more traditional dishes from the episode I watched, and head to the city of Chiayi.
I’m a sucker for the enormous metropolis, and it was no mistake that I lived for periods in Seoul, Istanbul, and Oslo - all cities which were the hub of their respective nations. As such, there are few cities in the world I’ve wanted to visit more than Taipei. I can already envision myself staring at the imposing Taipei 101 skyscraper, and welcoming the opportunity to stand in its shadow.
That being said, , I know that Taiwan has a lot more to show me than a notable skyscraper and markets. I’d love to go and dive into the unique history of a nation that has been as resilient as they come.
Sri Lanka
There are parts of India I love and parts that are simply not for me, so I don’t know how I’d feel about Sri Lanka, or whether it’s even appropriate to think of Sri Lanka as remotely akin to India.
New Zealand is certainly different than Australia, and Canada is certainly different than America, so it’s possible I need some reframing, and there are few things I love more than arriving somewhere and having my occasionally misplaced or preconceived notions smashed to smithereens.
If there’s one thing I’ve heard over and over about Sri Lanka, it’s that the food may be spicy, but it’s the warmth of the people that’s actually more notable. I’ve heard almost unparalleled stories of welcome and kindness for visitors. If that’s the case, I’d love to see if I might be able to go and give a little kindness and gratitude back.
I’d like to spend time in Colombo and Kandy, but I’d also try to visit some spots like Sigiriya, the ruins of which, at least from the pictures, look ethereal and otherworldly.
And, I won’t lie, I’d love to see how I’d manage with their decidedly spicy cuisine!
Greenland
I don’t know - I think that I’ve always just felt like, as a purported lover of exploration, I ought to visit the world’s largest island.
I listened to a podcast recently done by the BBC called “Greenland: Why Music Matters.” It opened to my eyes to how culturally rich and distinctive this island nation is, and, since then, I’ve had an intense yearning to go and hear the stories (and listen to the music) myself.
Nowadays, my “bucket list adventures” tend to be less about jumping out of planes, and more about genuinely listening to the sounds of another world.
Greenland, ever the ironic name for such a frigid nation, sparks an unusual curiosity in me. I can see myself wandering down the streets of Nuuk, the capital city of under twenty thousand, and indulging in local customs that have been fortified and handed down over the years.
It’s a nation that I’m quite sure would humble me, and that’s something I prioritize nowadays in order to offer myself perspective in life.
Argentina
It’s not altogether surprising that I’d be drawn to Argentina when you think about what comes to mind when you think about this country. On the most basic level, it’s a nation known for its rampant energy.
Whether you’re talking about lively streets, late-night tango, or fanatical football fans, there’s almost nothing Argentina approaches without notable zest. I’m also drawn to the central contrast of the colourful, vibrant cities and the incredulous, serene landscapes.
Let’s also be real - I adore wine, steak, art, and waterfalls, and Argentina has all of that in excess.
Whether it’s founded or not, I’ve always felt that I would love Argentina’s famed capital city, Buenos Aires. I have a preference for cities in which I’m sure I couldn’t possibly get bored in, and Buenos Aires seems like a place that could keep me busy for a lifetime.
This isn’t a ranked list of bucket list travel destinations, but if it was, I’m not sure I could avoid putting Argentina at the very top.
UPDATE: I was able to visit Argentina in March of 2023, and it was everything I dreamed of!
Ethiopia
In university, I read Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness (about the Belgian Congo), and I began to research the horrid colonization of Africa. I learned that Ethiopia effectively resisted colonization, and since then I’ve been taken with the idea of better understanding this proud nation’s story.
From all that I’ve read and watched, it appears to be a nation of striking beauty, and an incredible history if you consider that it has archaeological finds dating back a few million years.
I remember watching the Departures episode on Ethiopia and being blown away by the rock-cut churches which now date back almost a Millenia. A bit of a side-note, but if anyone is a fan of the show, I interviewed Scott Wilson a little while back.
Finally, I would absolutely jump at the chance to eat Ethiopian cuisine in Ethiopia. There are few meals I enjoy more than a smattering of delicious meats and vegetables atop injera, a spongy sour fermented flatbread.
Tunisia
When we lived in Turkey, two of our best friends in Istanbul were from Seattle. One of them had Tunisian heritage, and, during one of our school breaks, they went to visit family. Just being around them for the planning process, and listening to what they hoped to do there, planted a seed in me.
I read up on the historic medinas, and particularly the medina of Tunis, and quickly realized that Tunisia was also known for its beaches in places like Djerba and Hammamet.
Truthfully, this country is on my travel bucket list because I don’t know enough about it, and I want to know more. As with most of my travels, and my drive to travel in the first place - I want to be able to draw from firsthand experience when thinking about a nation.
Also, politically, it’s technically the only democracy in the Arab world, so I’d love to see how that manifests itself in actuality. There’s usually an immense discrepancy when it comes to facts on paper and the reality (which I learned with politics in Turkey), so I would love to understand if, according to its citizens, it lives up to those democratic ideals.
In short, Tunisia makes my list of top bucket list destinations because I yearn to know more about this nation from the inside.
Uruguay
It might be the second smallest country in South America, but I get the feeling that it would be very unwise to underestimate this nation in any regard.
I tend to follow the news and currents fairly closely, and over and over again I get confirmations that Uruguay is a beacon for democracy, tolerance, and peace, and that its people and government are keen to defend and exact the ideals of a free society.
Yet, it’s far too easy to focus on the headline stories. I can only imagine this is a nation that’s larger than its forgiving drug policy, and relatively unique position on same-sex marriage and abortion considering the views of the rest of the continent.
What I mean is that it seems like all I know about Uruguay is how socially advanced it is, but I readily admit that I need to know more about the nation’s cuisine, and purported beauty. Perhaps most importantly, I would love to go and meet the people that pushed for this country’s radical progress.
Also, like Iceland, I’m enamoured with their national football club. For their size, they have a borderline absurd amount of talent.
All that to say, when I’m able to, I would relish the chance to visit Uruguay, and understand why everyone I know who has visited concurs that there’s simply nowhere else like it.
Uganda
After spending some remarkable stints in both South Africa and Tanzania, I have a complete and utter appreciation for the majesty of wildlife in pockets of this continent. I’ll be frank, I’ve done an excellent job exploring large swaths of Europe and Asia, but when it comes to Africa, I have work to do yet.
The initial draw for me is likely what draws many others - the mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. I’m told there are few, if any, better places to get close to the our very distant relatives. I’d be painstakingly careful though in ensuring that I wasn’t doing anything to potentially harm these creatures, but if it could view these creatures ethically, I would certainly hop on board.
I hear remarkable things as well about Murchison Falls, and I’m told that Kampala, Uganda’s capital, is an energy and fun-filled city.
And, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want to stand at the start of the River Nile in Jinga. As far as I can gather, Jinja is a mecca of outdoor adventure, and I would be all over that.
Hey, like all these spots, all I can do is just continue to keep this nation top of mind, and hope the opportunity presents itself down the line.
Montenegro
The amount of times I’ve been geographically near to, or have almost visited Montenegro is, in truth, starting to eat at me. And each time I have a friend post a picture of the Bay of Kotor, I hear this inner voice that says, “you should have visited there already, Chris. Look how damn beautiful it is.”
In Montenegro, I’d put a lot of my exploratory efforts to acquainting myself with Montenegro’s famed mountains and monasteries.
I know that Kotor would be on the itinerary, and then my guess is that I’d try to round out an itinerary with a visit to perhaps Durmitor, or Ulcinj. I also hear good things though about Podgorica, though, so who knows. At the very least, it’s a good thing when I’m not even sure how I’d construct a one week itinerary.
And I’ll tell you what - I wouldn’t mind trading my office views for a view of the Bay of Kotor right about now.
Mongolia
Just in case the list wasn’t eclectic enough, let’s add Mongolia to the mix.
In the case of Mongolia, I want to appreciate what it means to have a nation with large, open expanses and a culture that still prioritizes and props up the nomadic way of life to this very day. I’d try to see if I could respectfully ingratiate myself into a community or two and crash in a yurt for a little bit if I had the time. If I could pull that off, I’d love to try “kumis,” a fermented dairy product typically made from mare’s milk or donkey milk.
Of course, I’d also explore the history of Genghis Khan and how that’s celebrated in the modern day.
My time in Tibet was what initially sparked my interest in Buddhism, and I understand that there are some noteworthy Buddhist monasteries across Mongolia, so I’d also want to see if I may be able to spend a night or two at some of the lesser monasteries and get involved in some meditation.
That was something that Bri and I loved to do in Korea, and had the chance to do at places like Geumsansa Temple.
As you’ll know if you’ve been a reader for a while, I love to put my ego in check. I feel like the expansive landscapes would leave me speechless, which, quite honestly, is good for me sometimes.
Jordan
Once you see your first image of Petra, I feel like your fate is sealed as a traveller, and you understand that you have to make it there at some point - not terribly unlike Machu Picchu.
I’ve heard mixed reviews about Amman, but it’s a capital city that I’d like to visit nonetheless, especially to check out the ancient ruins.
Then, of course, you’ve got the Dead Sea, and some famed desert landscapes. I’d be sure to check out Wadi Rum and, as far as I understand, it’s reasonable to try to visit a few of the “wadis” of Jordan - and there are five that people mainly visit. A wadi, for those who don’t know, is simply a valley, but a valley that is dry, except during heavy rains.
My mind also wanders to the fresh fruit juices, the bedouin tea, the falafel, the shawarma, the bursts of flavour. I can’t be sure, but I also remember hearing that Jordanian desserts are something else for travellers with an unapologetic sweet tooth.
But it all comes back to Petra for me. If you don’t know what Petra looks like - type “the treasury petra” into Google.
And, to answer your question - yes, it was the place that Indiana Jones found the Holy Grail.
Brazil
Maybe I’m wrong, but what traveller doesn’t honestly want to visit Brazil if they haven’t?
It’s the fifth-largest country, and the sixth most populous, and impossible to avoid when we think about the globe in almost any respect.
My mind, like many others, is initially drawn to Rio, largely because of my mild obsession with sizeable cities that have a never ending list of things going on. Christ the Redeemer, Copacabana, Ipanema - I mean, they’ve got to be seen, right?
I don’t even know where I’d go from there. The Amazon, sure, but I also have a hankering to visit a handful of other cities like São Paulo, Salvador, Recife and so on.
In preparation, I would probably sit down with a friend or two from Brazil and ask them what I could reasonably hope to do with about a month. Brazil doesn’t strike me as the sort of nation where I could actually see a whole lot with only a handful of days. As far as I can tell, it’s a nation that should be approached in months and not weeks, if you can pull it off.
Now that it’s officially one of my bucket list travel destinations, I suppose I’ve got to now officially figure out where it is that I can find those months! But, of course, we’ve all got to wait for travel to return, first!
So, Those Are My “Bucket List Countries”
I’ve visited 80 countries and I’m not going to lie, most countries that I haven’t visited are bucket list travel destinations for me, but these are the ten or so countries that stand out to be especially.
I definitely subscribe to the St. Augustine quote which notes that “the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” I know that I’ve got a lot of pages left to read, but also that I’m fortunate to have read so many pages thus far.
If you’ve got a moment, I’d love to hear what nations make the cut as your top bucket list destinations. You can comment on the post below, or feel free to reach out to me on Twitter or Instagram and let me know! I will probably actually post this article in the “travel talk with travelingmitch” Facebook group as well, so feel free to join the discussion there.
I’m not going to lie. It was a touch painful to think about exploring these countries and knowing that such a reality is so far away, but it’s the situation that we all find ourselves in and I suppose, like most other things, “this to shall pass.” In another sense, putting this together was cathartic, so you take the good with the bad.
Traffic on this site hasn’t been skyrocketing since the pandemic struck, but I’m glad to say that it’s been consistent, and I know that’s because I’m blessed enough to have a base of readers. So thanks for the continued support, and one day at a time, we’ll wrap our minds around travelling once again.
I’ve made the conscious decision during this quarantine that I can still damn well dare to dream, with the hope and understanding that these currently planted feet will only be planted for so long.