My down time in Auckland gave me a chance to peruse the bookshelf, where I found an interesting one: Lonely Planet’s 2006-07 Bluelist. While I use their guides to very rough form ideas about my travel plans, I am endlessly frustrated by the level of subjectivity with which some places are reviewed, the inaccuracy of their maps, and the fact that the books are outdated as soon as they are published. The current (2012) edition of the New Zealand guidebook has been particularly disappointing on all fronts. This bit of a rant aside, I am an avid traveller and can’t help but read their material – like a junkie knowing that the next hit is going to spell trouble, I can’t help but go back for more.
I was pleasantly surprised to see that many of their predictions of travel hot spots had been accurate (the Eastern Europe countries listed were ones that I visited in 2007 and I found that, in many cases, I actually agreed with some of their content). I thumbed through almost every page of the book, reading about countries I’ve visited and deciding whether I agreed with their general summary (often yes) and with their ‘essential experience’ (almost always no). It amazes me that a travel mega-company that prides itself in enouraging the adventurous among us to take the road less travelled can be SO stereotypical in their choice of what is ‘essential’ to experience when in a country. Is a ‘safari with a machine gun-(not rifle) wielding guide who tells about how member of the last group got eaten’ REALLY the single most essential South African experience?? Is it not, perhaps, a waste of time to attempt to sum up any single country and all of its culture into a single experience? Ah well. Looks like this ‘hit’ was bad for me…
All of this reading about travel did make me stop to consider what my own personal travel goals are. As a childless couple in our early 30s, Rich and I have done more travelling than many, something for which we are both fortunate and grateful. But no matter how many places we go, ‘the list’ doesn’t seem to get much shorter… Here are my current travel goals:
-Rwanda, Uganda and Sierra Leone: spending an hour with gorillas has been on my travel list for as long as I can remember having a list, whereas Sierre Leone made its entry a few years ago, after I heard about its beautiful scenery and growing tourism trade (meaning it would once again be safe to visit).
-Kenya, Namibia, Botswana: I would love to complete a circuit of southern Africa to see the Skeleton Coast, go canoeing in the Okavango Delta, and as for the Masai and the Serengeti… how could you not?
-Tanzania: I spent one month there in 2006 and was constantly caught off-guard by the friendly and welcoming people who were so eager to share anything about their life and their culture. The time I spent in the safari parks was spectacular and the climb up Kilimanjaro was one I’ll never forget, but it’s the people – and the villages we lived near when volunteering at the school – that I’m most keen to re-familiarise myself with.
-Skiathos and the Sporades: we had a spectacular time in Greece in 2010 when we toured some of the Cyclades islands. I’d love to go back to see another group, and Skiathos came with glowing praise.
-Rome: because I’ve still never been!
-Iceland: Rich and I have talked for years about visiting the island and came very close just after their economy collapsed, but we just never quite got there.
-Bolivia: the food, the terrain, the culture… It all appeals.
-Uruguay: learn to tango, see a thriving culture at its best… Yes, please.
-Mexico: My Mom once asked what my dream trip would be. Being a foodie who has previously travelled to Vietnam simply so I could eat my way through the country, my answer was Mexico. Rwanda is number one on my list, but there’s some kind of almost magical appeal in doing a ‘cook’s tour’ – in every sense of the word – that winds its way through kitchens and street stalls around the country, helping me to learn as much as I can about this history and preparation of a spectacular cuisine.
That’s it! For now, anyway. Ask me again in a year and I’m sure it would change. :)
What are your dream destinations? Leave me a comment! If nothing else, it will assure me that someone is reading this blog. :) Plus, I might get ideas…
