Travel dreams and a new contest!
This is the time of year for me that I get bit by the travel bug, and start dreaming about – and planning – my next trip. I just don’t feel right without plans for a trip abroad, even if it is far in the future. Some of my dreams include sky diving in New Zealand, hiking rain forests in Costa Rica, and touring the greenery that is Ireland. (I live in the desert, so anything green is heaven to me). Of course, I also dream about returning to some of my most wonderful travel destinations that seem to be calling me back, especially a certain B&B in the Tuscan countryside of Italy. More on that soon.
I’ve decided to take one dream off the shelf and dust it off. For as long as I can remember, I have dreamed of spending some time in an orphanage somewhere in South America. I want to hold those babies and play with young kids, pack my luggage with kid toys and medicine, whatever they need. And to be honest, because of the nature of my work, I’d love to go with a group of young people who have the same passion. I can’t imagine anything more rewarding than this trip I have in my mind: the challenge of pushing myself beyond what is comfortable in order to make a difference and have a new experience. When I check that off my list (not if, but when), I wonder if I will want to move on to Ireland and sky diving, or if my dreams will change. I can’t wait to find out.
And now for the contest: I want to hear what your travel dreams are. Where do you want to go? Why? What will you do? What is keeping you from your dream? Leave a comment (by May 15th, 2009) and let me know. One winner will be selected randomly to receive a $100 Amazon gift card. One comment per person please.
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On the subject of pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, my dream for the past few years has been to travel to sub-saharan Africa to help get food, medicine, and care to victims of starvation and AIDS. Ethiopia or Mozambique would be my top two countries of choice, but there is so much plight in so many countries that I would feel fortunate to travel to any. Aside from the satisfaction of taking action where it is needed most and being able to distribute my American novelties to locals, I would love to tour the beautiful, lush forests and vast open deserts of the land. There is so much beauty and nature to be seen, yet so much suffering to attend to and rectify. What is keeping me from this dream? My parents are too protective! But that can keep me contained for only so long, and soon enough I will have enough resources to pool together to get myself over there to begin taking action.
My dream would be a trip to Argentina to tour the vineyards of the country and then head south to the “tierra del fuego”!
Recently I have became obsessed with China. I am currently a student at Rowan University and I am a History Secondary Education major. I have always had a strong passion for history and I really let my emotions about certain subjects get carried away. Currently I am in a class called Modern China. China never really appealed to me before. I took the class because I knew that China was beginning to be a huge world player and that there is a good possibility that the country is going to be the next super power of the world. So I took the class, and then I fell in love. After learning about China’s shameful past of the last sixty years, I have been inspired to travel to the country and do my own research after I graduate. My first step is to go to China after I graduate to teach English. While teaching I want to explore all of China. From the great wall to the burial ground of the first Han emperor, I want to see it all. I also plan to pick up some of the language. When I return I want to teach in the U.S. for a while and then apply to teach for an American School in Beijing. If accepted I will move to China not only to work but to study, study the language and the history of the Cultural Revolution. I want to become and expert on the subject and it will be hard to get people to speak about their experiences because the Chinese like to forget the horrible things they did or went through during that time. Maybe after a few year I will return home, apply for grad school and go for a doctorate in Modern Chinese history. I call this plan my fifteen year plan because I want all of these dreams of mine to occur within fifteen years of graduating. People tell me that I won’t do it, but I know I will. If I am passionate enough about this trip (which I am), I will do it.
From Cammi: Melissa, I love the idea of a 15 year plan. Your last two sentences gave me goosebumps. A girl after my own heart. Do it!
I’m currently staying in FL,USA and as a jewish man, my dream is to be in Israel, where all our nation belong to.
Jerusalem has always been a dream for me, and hopefully I’ll have the opportunity to be there among all the other jewish people around the world .
I am currently a student in college and after years and years of history and culture classes I long to go to Europe to experience the history and culture that ours most closely stems from. My dream would be to backpack across several countries in Europe especially England, France, Germany, and Spain. I feel that by backpacking it would allow me to get a stronger feel for the area than staying in a bunch of fancy hotels and only going to the “tourist traps” (I’d like to see those too, but I really want to experience the more unique/local areas and activities these countries offer). Time and money is keeping me from this; school has been a huge pressure and doesn’t allow much time for travel especially with summer courses as well as regular fall and spring terms. Hopefully when I graduate I can take some time off to make my dreams come true.
My dream trip is to Jamaica. Ive been growing my hair long as well to get dreadlocks and where better to get them than in jamaica!!!!! sunny tropical islands man! Beet that! cleer waters, hammocks, cocktails. Love it.
My dream trip would be to go to Europe. Mostly Germany and Austria, because thats were my mom’s side of the family is from and I have family over there that I have never met. I here that downtown vienna is to die for, and has the most georgeous night scene. I have two friends living in Germany and Prague, so I would really love to go visit them and see what there culture and living is like over there. Traveling interests me very much and there’s tons of places I could think up right know to go to, but Germany and Austria would be my overall top choice.
In my dream, I would like to go to France because of Eiffel Tower. I think it may be beautiful place in my opinion. Otherwise, I have studied French for beginning so I want to use in the real life. I will keep money day to day for my dream because I cannot go there without money. I think everything will be expensive. In fact, it will be difficult to go to France but I hope it will be true in my life for one time and I will know the real life in France… Thank you…
“The world is too big for one to truly see, but that shouldn’t stop you from trying anyway.”
This is basically the mantra I have been following for the past ten years of my life. Traveling cities, countries and even continents, in search of culture, history, adventure, and myself. Through out all of my travels I have met multitudes of unique people, and gotten myself into quite interesting and precarious situations. But, this is a given, when taking that leap into the unknown as a solo female traveler.
Most countries are accessible by plane, train or boat, so for one to truly “dream” of visiting a particular place, all that is basically needed is a passport, some cash in the bank, and the motivation to hit the open road, undeterred by the fear as to where it may lead.
For this reason, my “dream destination” is Antarctica. Strange choice, I know. In attempt to succeed in my conquest of visiting all 7 continents, Antarctica cannot be overlooked. Plus, its a difficult journey to make happen, which makes it all the more worth while and dream worthy.
So in closing, my dream destination is Antarctica, and I know someday, somehow I will get there.
I want to go everywhere, must I limit my adventures? I want to see the stately manors from Jane Austin’s books, see plays in Greece, Find out what it means to be vegetarian around the world, learn languages to really experience different cultures, visit my friends from Egypt to Glasgow to Ghana. I want to meet and work with the indigenous communities I have been writing papers on for the last four years. I want to go at least a whole year firmly outside my comfort zone…well no, it would be more accurate to say I want the world to be my comfort zone. I don’t want to be jealous of my globetrotting friends, I want to join them. What is keeping me from my dream? At the moment graduate studies, and the many jobs that finance those studies. But the day is coming.
My dream is to travel to Australia and surf in their waters. I just want to travel along the coast of Australia and find places where i can surf and just relax for a couple weeks or for the summer. What is keeping me from my dream right now is money, i need to save for a couple years before this trip can become possible for me.
Since Elementary I have dreamed of visiting Australia to explore a place and culture on the other side of the world that is entirely unique from any other. When I go I want to explore the big cities of Sydney and Melbourne as well as the outback, and especially the history and the mysteries of Ayers Rock. I would love to see Kangaroos, Koala bears and other exotic creatures up close in their natural habitat. Along with that I wish to submerge myself in the culture and get to know some of the people. Whether I visit as a tourist or perhaps take on a temporary job I would be happy.
Over the years I have been saving money for a trip to Australia, but I don’t want to go there alone. My friends and family and I want to go as a group, but their savings are going toward their education costs. I am building up my savings more and helping them defeat their debt with advice and fund raising so that one day we can all got to Australia together.
i hope to travel to Tibet someday and see the sacred land where thedalai lama is from.
I am from Paris. Living in Orlando. And going to Madrid next year.
My Dream is to travel all around the world, visit all my international friends, and making new ones along the way. Seeing the beauty of the world, and its harsh reality. Grasping the moment.
And let all of our dreams shape the world!
My dream location is Thailand. I am fascinated with the culture and have never had the opportunity to travel to any Asian country. I think that Thailand would be ideal since it is not completely bogged down by tourists as many other places are, but it still has a happening city lifestyle and serene outskits (so I’ve heard). Going to an Asian country would be a bit outside my comfort zone because I don’t know any Asian languages, but I am not afraid to experience the culture anyways. The thing keeping me from going is primarily finances. I hope that I can overcome that obstacle sometime soon.
When I read ‘Around the world in 80 days’,
A dream was born; of zigzagging pathways,
And castles, & chalets; of mountain railways,
And steaming hot coffee in quaint li’l cafes,
Of Switzerland, a student’s dream golden,
One day, I too will climb the ‘Stairway to Heaven’!
I’m Thai….Wow I’m so glad that someone would like to visit Thailand…^^
My travel dream would be Europe because I would love to see different places, especially all the great buildings. Also the cultures and life styles.
Moreover I’m interested in German…really want to visit there.
My travel dream isn’t necessarily based on geography. I would love to have the opportunity to travel with my two triplet sisters. We are always ready to have an adventure, but time/distance/money have been limiting factors. This year we are all three graduating from college, and I have already started hatching plans for our first adventure exploring Europe. Research and budget-savvy travel is going to be important, but any opportunity to finally travel with them is going to be truly memorable!
Antarctica or Mars… because how many people actually get to go there?