“Every man dies — Not every man really lives.” ~ William Ross
“The only people who fear death are those with regrets.” ~ Author Unknown
A few days ago, I was surfing online when I came across someone’s bucket list. It inspired me to create my own list and write an article about it at the same time.
What’s a Bucket List?
If you haven’t heard about the term “bucket list”, it is a list of all the goals you want to achieve, dreams you want to fulfill and life experiences you desire to experience before you die.
Why Create a Bucket List?
If you don’t live your days by personal goals and plans, chances are you spend most of your time caught up in a flurry of day-to-day activities. Ever felt that your days are passing you by without any tangible output to speak of? What did you accomplish in the past 3 months? What are your upcoming goals for the next 3 months? Look at the things you did and the things you’re planning to do next — Do they mean anything to you if you are to die today? Having a bucket list reminds you of what’s really important so you can act on them.
Even if you frequently live by goals or to-do lists, they are probably framed within a certain social context e.g. performance, career, health. A bucket list opens up the context. It’s a forum to set anything and everything you’ve ever wanted to do, whether it’s big, small or random.
It’s just like planning ahead all the highlights you want for YOUR whole life. Even though goal setting is already my staple activity, I still found many new things to do while I was writing on my own list. It was an incredibly insightful exercise. What’s more, coming up with my list gave me a whole new layer of enthusiasm knowing what’s in store ahead!
The objective of creating this list isn’t to instill some kind of a race against time or to create aversion toward death. I don’t see our existence to be limited to just our physical years on earth — I don’t see our existence to be limited to just our physical years on earth — our physical lifespan is but a short speck of our existence in the universe.
The whole point of creating your list is to maximize every moment of our existence and live our life to the fullest. It’s a reminder of all the things we want to achieve in our time here, so that instead of pandering our time in pointless activities, we are directing it fully toward what matters to us.
Create Your Bucket List
If you don’t have a bucket list, I highly recommend you to create one. How much will it cost? Zero. How long will it take? Probably 30 minutes to an hour, or more if you get really caught up in the writing. What do you stand to gain? Significant clarity and focus on what you want from your life. It’s an invaluable exchange.
If you already have your list, take this opportunity to review it. See if there are new items you want to add-on. If so, add them in. Check if all the items listed are still relevant. If not, remove them.
Now, take out your pen and paper or open up a text document. Start writing down what comes to mind as you read these questions:
Come up with as many items as you can. The items should be things you have not done yet. Don’t stop until you finish listing at least 101 things! If you find yourself stuck, chances are you are mentally limiting/constraining yourself. Release those shackles — Your bucket list is meant to be a list of everything you want to achieve, do, see, feel and experience in your life. Check out the next section for added inspiration.
I wanted to create a list of my favorite forty-five bucket list checks from around the world. The ultimate things to do before you die.
Hopefully, you will find bucket list ideas and inspiration from these…
Bathe Elephants at a Rescue in Thailand
In Northern Thailand, an hour from Chiang Mai‘s city center, I spent a memorable day volunteering at the Elephant Nature Park. This is a special place where there was an eclectic bunch of Asian Elephants; some old, some young, some blind, some injured from working in the logging industry, some abused and some rescued from the circus. Not only were we able to feed these majestic creatures, but we also bathed them in the river.
Swim in Jellyfish Lake in Palau
Jellyfish Lake in the Micronesian country of Palau is home to millions of jellyfish that are deemed relatively harmless since their sting is so light. It was still frightening for the first five minutes to be surrounded by jellyfish, some brushing up against my body. But, after the panic dissipated, this was one of my all-time favorite bucket listtravel adventures.
Visit an Orphanage in Tanzania
Kibowa Orphanage is on the outskirts of downtown Arusha, hidden down a bumpy dirt road and painted in a friendly pale blue. There are 48 children that call it home and, after four days on an African safari in Tanzania, I spent a fun-filled afternoon with them. I chose to bring colorful balloons, which could be turned into animals or creative hats. It was a joy to watch the children smile as they each made their favorite shapes.
Take a Christmas Market Cruise
For the holiday season, Viking River Cruises and my traveling friend Cacinda of Points and Travel invited me to cruise along the Rhine River to visit festive European cities and almost a dozen Christmas markets throughout Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Between the lighted cathedrals, festive markets and abundance of glühwein, I found my Christmas spirit again.
Create Your Own Summer Cocktail
In the heat of the Arizona Summer, I decided it was the perfect time to create my own refreshing cocktail. The funnest part? Testing all the different concoctions. In the end, my signature drink was a Lemon-Basil Fizz made with prosecco, coconut rum, raspberries, basil and lemon sorbet.
See the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in London typically happens every other day (daily during the warmer months) at 11:30 am…sharp. Get there early! The guards arrive by marching pass Victoria Monument, directly in front of Buckingham Palace, and then entering through the ornate front gates of the palace. A mesmerizing show follows, filled with band playing, synchronized marching and absolutely no smiles.
Release Baby Turtles into the Ocean
While on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, I spent a memorable afternoon helping Osa Turtle Conservation. A group of us were taken to their hatchery along the beach to assist them in releasing baby Olive Ridley turtles into the ocean. Not only is it incredible knowing you are helping with these endangered animals survival, but they are adorable too! Definitely top on the lists of things to do before your die!
Get a Fish Pedicure in Sitges, Spain
For €15,00 I had my feet nibbled on by Garra Rufa fish in the tiny Spanish beach town of Sitges, just forty minutes from Barcelona. This technique became popular as a relief for eczema and other skin disorders, but is now a trend around the world and one of the weirdest things to do before you die.
Eat Traditional Fondue in Switzerland
Swiss Chuchi is a well-known eatery in Zurich that specializes in traditional Swiss style food. Though there were plenty of other tempting dishes on the menu to choose from, a pot of fondue sat on almost every table, a not-so subliminal message. This is where I spent lunch indulging in my very own pot of melted goodness.
Give Blood
Thanks to my fear of needles, my heart beated uncontrollably when I decided to give blood. But my mother, who had given blood many times before, convinced me that the feeling of saving lives would far outweigh the fear of that needle piercing my poor, unscathed arm. And she was right. A little pinch in the arm is worth knowing you have helped another person’s life.
Go Wild Mushroom Hunting in California’s Napa Valley
Though truffle hunting is a popular foodie experience around the world, in Northern California wild mushroom hunting of all kinds in a crowd-pleaser. During Napa‘s famous truffle festival they offered a mushroom foraging excursion where three mycologists, fungi gurus, led the pack. We walked away with a once-in-a-lifetime experience under our belt and a basketful of bounty.
Eat Worm Cakes in Hanoi, Vietnam
While taking a street food tour in Hanoi, there were lots of weird food to be eat, but the oddest was the worm cakes. On one street, an elderly woman had set up a propane, one burner stove to sell her fresh ragworm cakes, the live ingredients squiggling right next to the frying pan. The patties, about the size of a McDonalds hamburger, are a combination of worms, mandarin peel, dill and the chefs choice of spices. For just a dollar, the owner fried them up fresh.
They were flavorful, tasting more like a minced meat pie than what you would expect a dirty worm to taste like.
Climb to the Peak of Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka
Sigiriya is an ancient palace, built in 480AD, located in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known for it’s beautifully landscaped gardens, well-preserved frescos and… a crap load of stairs, all at different anxiety producing levels. Climbing the 1200 steps will take some stamina, but the view at the top will be totally worth it.
Take a Flyboarding Jetpack Flight in Cancun
Flyboarding is an adventurous sport where your feet will be slipped into boots that are attached to a board, much like a snow board. A tube attached from your feet to the jet ski pushes water and propels you into the air. While in Cancun I got my shot to try this and it was beyond challenging. You definitely need to use every ounce of balance you have, but worth a spot on your list of things to do before you die.
See a Movie at an Open-Air Cinema in Santorini
Kamari village located on the popular island of Santorini boasted one of the best open-air cinemas in the world and I was lucky enough to catch a showing of Maleficent while traveling to the island. It was a beautiful evening in Greece to watch an outdoor movie, while sitting on directors chairs and sipping on a glass of red wine. Better than the drive-in.
Rappel Down a Waterfall in Costa Rica
From my lodging at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat, it took a short trip by jeep, a treacherous hour-each-way horesback ride and scary twenty minute hike to even get to the King Louis Waterfall. But, that added to this adventure. Once there, the group was given a very brief rappeling lesson and then left to tackle the impressive 100 foot waterfall.
Go to a Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica
Blue Osa Yoga Retreat + Spa in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica is known for practicing morning silence, exercising sustainable tourism, having a secluded beachfront property, healthy farm-to-table meals and as being a place to nourish the body, mind and spirit. Those are all reasons that it made this place the perfect one for my very first yoga retreat.
Hike to the Top of Bartolome Island in Galapagos
The peak of Bartolome Island was known to have the most perfect view of the famous Galapagos Pinnacle Rock. There was no way that the avid bucket lister in me would miss scaling the 374 steps of this volcanic cone to see a unique perspective of one of the most photographed natural structures in the Galapagos.
Swim with Whale Sharks in Cancun
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world, growing up to 60 feet, that’s over ten times the size of me. Their mouths can extend five feet when open. That’s absolutely large enough to accidentally suck me in. Luckily, that did not happen while swimming with these gentle giants in the warm waters of Cancun, Mexico.
Experience Istanbul’s Call to Prayer at the Blue Mosque
Five times a day throughout the streets of Istanbul you can hear the trilling call to prayer, also known as ezan. During this time the voice of the bellowing muezzin, the man who calls the Muslims to prayer from a minaret, can be heard over the loudspeakers at different mosques in the city. One of the best locations to witness this is while sitting on the benches between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Powerful!
Attend Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
Notre Dame in Paris may not be the largest Catholic cathedral in the world, but it just might be one of the most beautiful and famous with an estimated 14 million visitors a year. What will make your visit even more special is if you time it for when there is a mass. It’s so powerful that it won’t even matter that it is entirely in French. Plus, it’s totally free.
See the Mount Athos Byzantine Monasteries in Greece
Mount Athos is an UNESCO World Heritage site located on the Easternmost “finger” of the Halkidiki peninsula in Greece and there are 20 monasteries that call it home. It is 363 square miles and there are 2,300 monks who live in this place dedicated to prayer and the worship of God.Men have to have special permission to visit this holy land, while women must keep their distance. No exceptions. But, women can take a boat ride to witness it, as long as they stay 500 meters away.
Stay in a Tuscan Villa in Italy
After arriving in Florence, we drove just a few kilometers South of Siena to Villa Pippistrelli, a luxury Tuscan farmhouse located on the Monstegliano estate. This charming house is everything you’d expect from a Tuscan villa. It may be old in years, but the villa has been restored with present-day conveniences and elegant interiors while still keeping its rustic 17th century Tuscan feel.
Have a Private Wine Tasting in Napa Valley
There are several wine related perks to owning a restaurant in Northern California; sales reps are consistently leaving you full bottles of wine from the vineyards they are currently promoting, you receive dozens of comped passes to a variety of wine events, wine tastings and freebie promotional wine swag.
But, nothing has been as impressive as being invited to the exclusively private wine tasting at Napa Valley‘s Trinchero Family Estates that included an overnight stay at the Sutter Home Victorian Inn.
Take a Helicopter Ride into the Grand Canyon
After having traveled to Las Vegas a half a dozen times in the past couple years, on this current trip I was looking for something more than sparkling lights, feathered girls and dancing water fountains. I wanted a unique “Things to do Before You Die” experience. A helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon fit the bill. Sundance Helicopters took us 45 minutes from Las Vegas and landed us right into the Grand Canyon where we had time to explore and have a picnic.
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride Over the Vineyards of Sonoma County
Even though this bucket list experience required waking up at the ungodly hour of 4:30am, it was worth every minute of missed sleep. A group of us met at the local airport, where our balloon company, Up & Away drove us to the take-off location. From there we spent one incredible morning floating over the vineyards of Sonoma County, California. They even dipped the basket low enough to touch the water of a pond.
See the Blue Footed Booby Mating Dance in Galapagos
There are 3 types of boobies on the Galápagos Islands: Blue-footed, Red-footed and Nazca. Though we did see them all, my real bucket list goal was to witness a Blue-footed Booby mating dance. This dance was their unique courting ritual, which included rocking side-to-side while lifting their eye-catching baby blue feet. On our last day of exploring the Galapagos Islands, on North Seymour, we saw one very popular female bird surrounded by a few male Boobies who were strutting their stuff trying to impress this desirable lady.
Drink in a Shinjuku Golden Gai Bar in Tokyo
Golden Gai is a neighborhood in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo that squeezes in over 200 miniature bars into a network of six narrow alleys, made only for pedestrians. Most bars in this section of town seat less than ten drinkers and cater to the locals. But, it is possible to find somewhere the travelers are welcome and will flock to. I ended up doing most of my Golden Gai drinking at Nessun Dorma, which means None Shall Sleep.
Get Spooked at the Catacombs in Paris
The Catacombs in Paris, France is a labyrinth of caves underneath the heart of the city and the resting place for the bones of six million Parisians. Starting in the late eighteenth century, remains were transferred to the ossuary as overcrowded graveyards were closing due to the risk to the public. Though the underground maze is extensive, the portion that is open to the public is a two kilometer Catacombs tour filled with skulls, bones & stones. Traveling through these caves was creepily cool.
Attend a Baseball Game in Japan
The game of baseball isn’t just one of America’s favorite pastime, the Japanese are passionate about it too. They just do things a bit differently at the games, like waving umbrellas for home runs, snacking on edamame and having cheerleaders.
Though the Yomiuri Giants at the Tokyo Dome draw larger crowds, you can also see the Tokyo Swallows play at the outdoor Jingu Stadium, which is what I did.
Visit a Maasai Tribe in Tanzania, Africa
On the way back to the city of Arusha, after a long day on safari at Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, our Shadows of Africa driver took us down a dusty, bumpy road to get to a Maasai village. We were greeted by the chief’s son and he welcomed us into the inner circle of their living quarters, which consisted of about eight small huts. There was one for each wife and their children, plus one for the husband who alternated which woman stays with him each evening. Not only was their polygamist lifestyle interesting, but so was their farming capabilities, minimalist living and culture.
Put a Love Lock on Pont des Arts Bridge in Paris
The Paris Pont des Arts bridge, near the Louvre, is a place where couples can put padlocks along the rails to secure their love. Then they throw away the keys so the love can not be unlocked. We bought a small gold lock, which had three keys attached, for five euros from a brilliant vendor who stood at one end of the bridge. The merchant even supplied a selection of colored markers to write our tender message with.
Work a Pottery Wheel with a Master in Italy
Gulio Lucarini is one of the skilled ceramists behind Terrabruga Ceramics and I was invited to their tiny laboratory which is located in the quaint town of Cortona in Northern Italy. Here Mr. Lucarini gave me a private pottery lesson entirely in Italian. Even though my vase turned out lopsided, it was a favorite experience on my Things to do before you die list.
Get a Natural Mud Bath in Palau’s Milky Way
While boating in and out of Palau’s 300+ islets in search of the best snorkeling spots, we had found some spectacular sites loaded with colorful fish, gigantic clams, whitetip sharks and intricate coral. But, we also found a spot to slather the white limestone mud all over our bodies to get a natural mud bath.
Explore the Depths of a Cava Cave in Spain
Even as gorgeous as the wine caves of my home in Northern California are, they didn’t quite compare to exploring the seemingly endless, channels of a Cava cave in Spain. Some Cava caves would make the perfect location to film a horror flick, while others could be used as a skilled mathematicians puzzle.
Watch Wrestling Practice at a Sumo Stable in Tokyo
You can’t fully understand the intensity of this sport unless you are up close and personal at a sumo wrestling practice to witness the panting, grunting and dripping sweat. The practices are not attractions created for tourists, they are serious and you need to show respect while you are there. Though there are several other stables to visit, at Hakkaku Sumo Stable in Tokyo you can spend the morning watching an intense Sumo wrestlers practice. This was one of my favorites on the things to do before you die list!
Eat at a Themed Restaurant in Tokyo
At the Alcatraz ER themed restaurant, you can eat a plate of beef shaped like a brain on the floor of a jail cell while sipping cocktails out of a dummy’s head, which is exactly what I did. If a gothic cathedral environment is more your thing, try Christon Cafe or opt for The Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku that takes dinner and a show to another level. There will be loud music, dancing and robots fighting, plus a little sushi to dine on if you should choose.
38. Go on an African Safari in Tanzania
There are plenty of places in Africa to go on safari, but mine was done in Tanzania with the Shadows of Africa tour team. For four days we explored the surreal Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks. Though we missed out on spotting the big five, because of the elusive rhino, it was still one of the most memorable travel bucket list adventures on my list of things to do before you die.
Eat Insects at Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market
While exploring the plentiful booths of Chiang Mai‘s Sunday Night Market, there was one stall that caught my attention. It had all sorts of varieties of edible bugs; crickets, cicada, mealworms and whirligig beetles. How do I choose? I opted for the insect sampler pack for 20 baht ($0.65 usd), a little of each. I like variety.
Take a Junk Boat Ride Through Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour
While in Hong Kong I checked off seeing the Symphony of Lights and riding on a traditional Chinese junk boat in Asia of my bucket list in one shot. A twofer. The Symphony of Lights laser show does a display that runs throughout the skyscrapers along Victoria Harbour, the same body of water that an ancient sailing vessel, a junk boat, tours.
Nibble on Chicken Feet at the Cheapest Michelin Starred Restaurant
Tim Ho Wan is a hole-in-the-wall dim sum restaurant in Hong Kong that gained recognition after receiving a coveted Michelin star and therefore being known as one of the cheapest Michelin starred restaurants in the world. And it is cheap. Really cheap. Though they are well known for their pork buns, all their food is quite tasty, especially their chicken feet.
Have a White Christmas in Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley is the centerpiece of Yosemite National Park in California with grand waterfalls, flowing creeks, picturesque hiking and monumental granite cliffs. During the holiday season it turns into a Winter wonderland with plenty of snowy activities for the entire family.
Swim with Sea Turtles in Olowalu
Olowalu is just five minutes South of Lahaina in West Maui, the location where the kayak/snorkeling tour we had signed up for took place. This snorkling spot had been the center of numerous turtles sightings and the day we were there was no different. We were able to swim alongside several of these amazing creatures.
Attend a Proper British Afternoon Tea in London
A proper Afternoon Tea in London is a British tradition that I had no intention of missing out on. I like tea. And tiny little sandwiches. The Royal Garden Hotel set up a traditional Afternoon Tea in London at their Park Terrace restaurant for us. Here we indulged in Pear Caramel and Chocolate Chip Truffle tea, along with sandwiches, sweets, scones and curd.
Read More > Attend a Proper British Afternoon Tea in London
Participate in a Japanese Tea Ceremony in Tokyo
Happo-en Japanese Garden sits in Shirokanedai district of Tokyo and is an exquisite example of natural beauty with its ancient bonsai, koi pond and blanket of cherry blossoms in the Springtime. Not only is it a beautiful representation of a Japanese garden, but you can schedule to participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony where you will be drinking Matcha in their wooden Muan tea house.
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GET LOST FOR WORDS AT THE GRAND CANYON
After pondering the Grand Canyon for the first time most visitors are stunned into silence. The problem isn’t lack of words. It’s just that the canyon is so vast and so deep, that the vista stretches so far across your line of vision. The facts are similarly mind-boggling: it is around 277 miles long and one mile deep. Think of it like a mountain range upside down. The abruptness of the drop is bizarre and, for some, unnerving. But the Grand Canyon is like that: it picks you up and takes you out of your comfort zone, dropping you back just that little bit changed.
If a guidebook tells you that something is “impossible to describe”, it usually means the writer can’t be bothered to describe it – with one exception.
Fotolia: Galyna Andrushko
WALK THE SIQ TO PETRA, JORDAN
The fabled site of Petra is simply awe-inspiring. This rock-carved Nabataean city has entranced travellers for centuries with its ornate facades and classical architecture. Perhaps the most magical views lies at the end of the Siq, a dramatic natural gorge that’s still the main entrance. Here, you emerge from the bizarrely eroded cliffs onto an extraordinary view: the famous facade of Petra’s Treasury looming before you.
THROW YOURSELF INTO LIVERPOOL'S NIGHTLIFE, ENGLAND
Forget any preconceptions you may have about bar crawling in Liverpool. The reality is as far from fake tans, big hair and silly scally stereotypes as you can get – this scene is creative, convivial and bursting with joie de vivre. Countless great drinking holes pepper the city, and you could happily spend a lifetime sampling them all. Make for Seel Street, in the Ropewalks quarter, and the über-arty Baltic Triangle, the apogee of this organic after-dark and the blossoming home of Liverpool’s creative and digital media scene. Intimate, bare-brick gin and whiskey joints, craft beer and killer cocktails await.
This is Britain’s Good Times Central. Come for a bottle and stay all night. In fact, move to Liverpool – it’s that good.
GET BLOWN AWAY BY THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
Snaking across the dusty hills of northeast China, the Great Wall is an unforgettable sight. It’s impossible not to be blown away by this 7m-high, 7m-thick fortification. Take at least a day to walk between its battlements, shunning hawkers and tourists for less-visited sections where you clamber up unrestored stairs and through crumbling towers. Yet even after you’ve seen, touched and walked the wall, it’s still hard to believe this was built by simple human endeavour.
SAIL THE WHITSUNDAYS, AUSTRALIA
There’s a distinct feeling of déjà vu cruising in a sailboat among the Whitsunday Islands. Presently it comes to you: you’ve been here many times, in your lottery fantasies. This tropical idyll of turquoise seas lapping ivory sands against a backdrop of dense green foliage is ingrained in our imagination. Life on board here becomes sybaritically simple. A shower is as easy as diving into the surrounding water, and your bed is the deck of the boat or the sand on the beach.
VISIT THE TAJ BY MOONLIGHT, INDIA
There’s no such thing as an unflattering angle of the Taj Mahal, the world’s most beautiful building, commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his beloved wife. But the love and sadness embodied by the Taj are never more palpable than during the full moon, when the complex is opened at night. At this time, visitors are hushed into silence by the building’s ethereal form, rising melancholically from the riverbank yet seemingly shimmering with life.
SEE THE FLORAL WAVE OF CHERRY BLOSSOMS, JAPAN
In Japan, spring sees the country gradually coated in a light pink shade, soft petals slowly clustering on their branches as if puffed through by some benevolent underground spirit. The sakura- zensen, or cherry blossom front, flushes like a floral wave that laps the country from south to north and is followed ardently by the Japanese. Among the best places to see it are Kiyomizu-tera in Kyoto, Tokyo’s Ueno Park or the castles in Osaka or Himeji, all of which are lent a dreamlike air by the arrival of the blossom each spring.
A lesson about fragile beauty that must be treasured and contemplated.
TRAVERSE THE SALAR DE UYUNI, BOLIVIA
The immaculate white expanse of the Salar de Uyuni is one of Bolivia’s most extraordinary attractions. This is the largest salt lake in the world, capped by a thick, hard crust of salt, easily capable of supporting the weight of a car. It’s perhaps best seen after a heavy rainfall, when the Salar transforms into an immense mirror, reflecting the sky and the surrounding snowcapped peaks so pristinely that at times the horizon disappears and the mountains seem like islands floating in the sky.
EXPLORE THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS, ECUADOR
The utter indifference that most of the animals of the Galápagos Islands show to humans suggests that they knew all along they’d be the ones to change humanity’s perception of itself for ever. It was, after all, this famous menagerie that started the cogs turning in Charles Darwin’s mind. With each island, new animal oddities reveal themselves – giant tortoises, canoodling waved albatrosses, lumbering land iguanas and Darwin’s finches, to name but a few – each a key player in the world’s most celebrated workshop of evolution.
You feel like a privileged gatecrasher, one who’s allowed an up-close look at a long-kept secret: the mechanics of life on Earth.
TOAST BAD WEATHER IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
You can’t visit Scotland without trying the national drink. Whisky has been made here for centuries, with the bare hills, green glens and silvery lochs of the Highlands providing the perfect conditions. Barley grows well thanks to rainy, misty days. Peat – dried and burnt to impart that smoky aroma – forms in the damp bogs. Cool temperatures reduce the “the angels’ share” as whiskies mature in barrel. There’s no better place to enjoy a wee dram of a single malt, sit back and take in the view.
BED DOWN IN AN IGLOO, CANADA
Tucked away between rolling hills and vast stretches of tundra in northern Québec lies a series of igloos. These domed shelters were built by Inuit elders, who carved snowblocks from windswept snowdrifts, using skills passed on from their ancestors. Today, they continue to safeguard hunters as well as welcome adventure seekers. Visitors can feast on caribou stew and frozen Arctic char before falling asleep to the sounds of kids throat-singing and the gentle flicker of the seal-blubber-fuelled qulliq (lamp).
CLIMB MONT ST-MICHEL, FRANCE
Wondrously unique yet as recognizable as the Eiffel Tower, Mont St-Michel, with its harmonious blend of natural and man-made beauty, has been drawing tourists and pilgrims alike to the Normandy coast for centuries. Soaring some 80m up from the bay that bears its name, this glowering granite islet has an entire commune clinging improbably to its steep boulders, its tiers of buildings topped by a magnificent Benedictine abbey. It’s an aesthetic delight yet also a place of serenity: less than a third of the 3.5 million tourists that flock here each year actually climb all the way up.
Looking out from Mont St-Michel, the tides rolling in around its base, is a panorama to be savoured.
RAGE WINE WAR IN LA RIOJA, SPAIN
Each year several villages in La Rioja spend an entire day soaking each other in red wine. One of the truly great events of the Spanish summer, the Wine War (La Batalla del Vino) is a wine-fight of epic – and historic – proportions. In theory, the townsfolk of Haro are battling it out with those of neighbouring Miranda de Ebro, but in the good-humoured but frantic battle that rages, there are no obvious sides, and no winners or losers. Instead, the object is perfectly straightforward: to squirt, hose, blast or throw some 25,000 litres over as many people as possible.
You won’t be spared as a spectator, so you may as well join in.
SPOT PUFFINS IN THE FAROES
On the unspoilt Faroe Islands, about 300km north of Scotland in the windswept, weather-tossed North Atlantic, heavy waves batter tall, chalky cliffs. But there’s more than just geological beauty here. Come spring, pairs of puffins, their feathers ruffled from the raging sea, wash up on the island, standing proud and rubbing their beaks together in displays of matrimony. The show has just begun. For the next four months, these curious seabirds will mate, nest and raise their offspring – all of which makes for great viewing.
SOLVE THE MYSTERIES OF POMPEII, ITALY
Pompeii was famously buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD, and the result is perhaps the best-preserved Roman town anywhere, with a street plan that is easy to discern – not to mention wander – and a number of palatial villas that are still largely intact. While crowded, not surprisingly, it’s a large site, and it’s quite possible to escape the hordes and experience the strangely still quality of Pompeii, sitting around ancient swimming pools, peering at frescoes and mosaics still standing behind the counters of ancient shops. The city’s story still speaks loud and clear.
GET IN HIGH SPIRITS ON THE BOURBON TRAIL, USA
Bourbon is the United States’ sole native spirit. And while bourbon can be produced elsewhere, the spirit of the spirit resides in Kentucky, which is not only home to the finest distilleries, but also, according to local legend, its birthplace. The best place to find out more is along the Bourbon Trail, a meandering route through the rolling hills of central Kentucky that links several distilleries and historic towns.
COME EYE-TO-EYE WITH AFRICA’S MOUNTAIN GORILLAS, RWANDA
A face-to-face encounter with a mountain gorilla in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is one of the most exciting wildlife experiences Africa has to offer. And locating the apes in their tangled and misty forest home is part of the thrill. A close-up encounter is practically guaranteed, but be warned – it can get tough. Any exhaustion dissipates immediately, however, when you look into the liquid brown eyes of one of the magnificent bamboo-munching beasts – these are the archetypal “gentle giants”.
FOLLOW THE OYSTER TRAIL IN GALWAY, IRELAND
The Galway International Oyster Festival is Ireland’s longest-running and greatest gourmet extravaganza, celebrating the new oyster season in the finest way possible: a three-day furore of drinking, dancing and crustacean guzzling. The traditional objective is to down a pint and a couple of oysters in every pub along the Oyster Trail over three days – that’s around thirty pints and up to a hundred oysters. If you can do this and still make it down for breakfast on the Sunday morning, you need never prove yourself again.
MEET SUN BEARS IN BORNEO, MALAYSIA
Though it easily rivals the panda in the cuteness stakes, little is known about the world’s smallest bear, named for the distinctive white mark on its chest that resembles the sun. Seriously endangered, sun bears live throughout Asia, but Borneo is their last stronghold. See them at the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sepilok, the first of its kind, which aims to educate people about these wonderful animals. There can be no doubt that the efforts directed towards their survival are more crucial than ever.
SEE THE BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS, ENGLAND
When autumn knocks, the temperature drops and other resorts have shut up shop, one seaside town switches on. From the end of August until early November, the BlackpoolIlluminations light up the seafront – and if you’ve a penchant for gaudy, nostalgic, none-too-highbrow fun, you should get your coat on and come. Comprising around a million lights, the glittering display stretches six miles – and amazingly, the whole experience is free. All you’ll need to buy is a tram ticket, a bag of chips and a novelty stick of rock. And never mind if it rains – the lights look even more gorgeous shimmering in the puddles.
DOWN A STEIN AT OKTOBERFEST, GERMANY
The world’s largest public festival, the Munich Oktoberfest, kicks off on the penultimate Saturday in September and keeps pumping for a full two weeks. An unadulterated celebration of beer and Bavarian life, it attracts almost six million visitors and sees as many million litres of beer disappear in sixteen days. At the heart of the festival are fourteen enormous beer tents where boisterous crowds sit at long benches draining one huge litre-capacity glass or stein after another. If you’re up for annihilation, head to the Hofbrau tent, go for the ten-stein challenge and join in with the thousands of young bloods braying for beer. Prost!
EXPLORE THE LAND OF THE FAIRY CHIMNEYS, TURKEY
An expanse of undulating, cave-pocked, tunnel-riddled rock at the centre of Turkey, Cappadocia is a landscape like no other. It’s one of those rare places that can draw quality snaps from even the most slapdash photographer, with a rocky palette that shifts from terracotta through pink and honey to dazzling white, the orange fires of sunrise and sunset adding their own hues to the mix. From Uçhisar’s castle to the cliff-hewn churches of Çavusin, there are heavenly views at every turn.
MARVEL AT THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA, EGYPT
The Pyramids at Giza were built at the very beginning of recorded human history, and for nearly five millennia they have stood on the edge of the desert plateau in magnificent communion with the sky. The overwhelming impression is due not only to the magnitude of their age and size but also to their elemental form, their simple but compelling triangular silhouettes. Seen at prime times – dawn, sunset and after dark – they form as much a part of the natural order as the sun, the moon and the stars.
HOT AIR BALLOON OVER THE SAVANNAH, KENYA
With the sun breaking over the horizon and warming chilly faces, the perfect serenity of this mode of transport is hard to beat. Below, hippos cavort in the muddy river and vervet monkeys watch the balloon’s passage from their treetop vantage points. Once it’s over the plain, the balloon is ignored by the grazing herds of zebra and gazelle – but they flee its shadow and the whoosh of the burner when it flies too low. For wildlife photography, a balloon safari can’t equal patient observation on the ground, but few experiences can match this one for sheer unforgettability.
CLIMB TABLE MOUNTAIN, SOUTH AFRICA
If the skies are clear on your first day in Cape Town, drop everything and head straight for Table Mountain. It’s an ecological marvel, and a powerful icon for the entire African continent. What’s more, the views from the top are unmissable – as long as the celebrated “tablecloth” of cloud stays away. The obvious, and most popular, route to the top is to take the aerial cableway, but if you’d rather work a little harder, you can tackle one of the hiking trails that snake their way up the cliffs.
Gaze out over the city to the ocean beyond and you’ll feel like you’re standing on top of the world.
EAT BARBECUE IN TEXAS HILL COUNTRY, USA
If you think barbecue is a sloppy pulled-pork sandwich or a platter of ribs drowned in a sticky, sweet sauce, a Texan will happily correct you. In the rolling hills around Austin – where pecan trees provide shade, pick-up trucks rule the road and the radio is devoted to Waylon, Willie and Merle – you’ll find barbecue as it should be: nothing but pure, succulent, unadulterated meat, smoked for hours over a low wood fire. Thankfully, this austerity applies only to the substance – not the quantity – of the meat. Gut-busting excess is what makes barbecue truly American, after all.
Don’t ever forget: it’s all about the meat.
PAD ROUND THE GOLDEN ROCK, MYANMAR
Every year, between November and March, barefoot pilgrims flock to Kyaiktiyo – the Golden Rock – high in the Eastern Yoma mountains of Myanmar. Crowned with a slender gold stupa, the Rock is a huge granite boulder perched rakishly on a natural stone plinth that Burmese Buddhists believe has been held in place by a few extra-strong strands of Buddha’s hair. Join the pilgrims’ dawn vigil amid clouds of incense and fervent prayers, or linger in the evening as the sunset throws the otherworldly scene into Technicolor and swifts swoop through the warm air.
HIKE THE PENNINE WAY, ENGLAND & SCOTLAND
The Pennine Way, Britain’s oldest and longest long-distance footpath, meanders 270 miles through some of England’s most beautiful and least crowded countryside. This is Brontë country, grim on a dank, misty day but bleakly inspiring when the cloud lifts. In between walking the wilds, you can stay in pretty villages along the way. Again and again you’ll find yourself transported back to a bygone rural idyll of village shops, church bells and, of course, pubs.
HAVE A BEER IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
If you just ask for a beer in Belgium, your request will be met with a blank stare. Because no one produces such a wide range of beers as they do here: there are lagers, wheat beers, dark amber ales and strong beers brewed by Trappist monks. Brussels is the best place to try them all, including its own beery speciality, Lambic, a flattish concoction not much changed from the stuff they drank in Bruegel’s time – a few glasses is enough to have you behaving like one of the peasants in his paintings.
SAMPLE GELATO IN ROME
A quiet revolution in that time-honoured Italian favourite – ice cream – has taken place in Rome over the last few years. Gelaterias have upped their game, ordering the finest ingredients – lemons from Amalfi, pistachios from Sicily – and vying to create the city’s tastiest ices, in the most outlandish flavours. Order a suitably kooky combo – wasabi and chocolate, say, or basil, walnuts and honey– and hit the streets for the passeggiata. When in Rome…
FEEL THE HEAT IN A FINNISH SAUNA
There are two million saunas in Finland – that’s four for every ten Finns – and they have played an integral part in Finnish life for centuries. Finns believe the sauna to be an exorcism of all ills, and there’s certainly nothing quite like it for inducing a feeling of serenity. Traditionally, Finns end their sauna by mercilessly plunging straight into the nearest lake or, in winter, by rolling in the icy snow outside – the intense searing cold that follows the sweltering heat creating a compelling, addictive rush at the boundary of pleasure and pain.
BRAVE THE DEVIL’S THROAT AT IGUAZÚ, ARGENTINA & BRAZIL
Every year, tens of thousands of visitors from around the world try to evaluate the sheer dimension of this natural miracle – around 275 individual cascades, the highest with a drop of over 80m – and usually fail. However you spell it – Iguazú, Iguaçu or Iguassu – there’s little doubt that these are the most spectacular falls in the world. Get right into the heart of the action on a boat trip up to the ominously named Devil’s Throat, one of the most impressive cascades.
PAINT THE TOWN RED AT LA TOMATINA, SPAIN
If you want to indulge your childhood fantasies, there’s only one place to go. On the last Wednesday in August, tomato-throwing madness takes over the tiny town of Buñol. This enormous public tomato fight sees 130,000 kilos of over-ripe tomatoes hurled until the streets are ankle deep in squishy red fruit. All in all, it only lasts about an hour, but it’ll go down in memory as one of the messiest, most fun days you’ll ever have.
KAYAK MILFORD SOUND, NEW ZEALAND
Dwarfed beneath the forest-clad mountains that soar to either side, it’s hard to comprehend just how tiny you are in comparison to the sheer size of Milford Sound. That the fiord makes even the most cumbersome and colossal cruise ship look small is an indication of just how impressive the scale is here. But only getting out on the water will give you a true sense of its majestic beauty – to really get up close, and access spots that no cruise ship could ever reach, head out on a kayak.
There’s something undeniably exhilarating about exploring somewhere so immense from so close to the water.
CELEBRATE THE LOY KRATHONG FESTIVAL OF LIGHT, THAILAND
In the days leading up to Thailand’s annual Loy Krathong Festival of Light, pretty little baskets fashioned from banana leaves and filled with orchids, marigolds, candles and incense sticks begin to appear at market stalls across the country. On festival night, these are lit and set afloat with prayers of thanks to the water goddess, in whose honour this festival is held. The sight of hundreds of bobbing lights drifting away on the breeze, taking with them any bad luck accrued over the past year, is beautiful.
DOWN CAIPIRINHAS IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
What could be simpler than a caipirinha? Made with just cachaça (a rum-like spirit distilled from fermented sugar- cane juice), fresh lime, sugar and ice, the caipirinha (literally “little peasant girl”) is served at nearly every bar and restaurant in Brazil. Neither insipidly sweet nor jarringly alcoholic, it’s one of the easiest and most pleasant cocktails to drink. And on a hot, sticky night in Rio, the perfection of a caipirinha is undebatable.
CLIMB KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA
The statistics are impressive. Measuring some 40km across and rising 5895m above sea level, Kilimanjaro is easily Africa’s highest mountain. But such bald facts fail to capture the thrill of actually climbing it: the days spent tramping from muggy montane forest to snowy summit. It’s hard to match the exhilaration of watching the sunrise from the Roof of Africa, with an entire continent seemingly spread out beneath you. The sense of fulfilment will stay with you, long after you’ve finally said goodbye to Kili.
SPEND THE DAY AT TIVOLI, DENMARK
Not many cities have a roller coaster, a pirate ship and an 80m-high carousel slap bang in their centre, but Copenhagen is home to Tivoli – probably the best fairground in the world. The famous pleasure gardens have dished out fun and thrills to a bewitched public since 1843. But the rides are just the icing on the cake – there are forty or so restaurants, jazz bandstands and, in the weeks around Christmas, spectacular lighting displays and a Christmas Market. Even if fairs usually leave you cold, you can’t fail to be won over by the innocent pleasures of Tivoli.
On a fine summer’s night it’s nothing short of magical.
RANK UP THE VOLUME ON KING'S DAY, THE NETHERLANDS
At the end of April each year, Amsterdam, a city famed for its easy-going, fun-loving population, manages to crank the party volume a few notches higher in a street party that blasts away for a full 24 hours. On King’s Day, there are only two rules: you must dress as ridiculously as possible, preferably in orange, the Dutch national colour, which adorns virtually every building, boat and body on the day; and you must drink enough beer not to care.
You’ll find enough beer-chugging, pill-popping and red-hot partying to satisfy the most voracious of appetites.
MARVEL AT GAUDÍ’S SAGRADA FAMÍLIA, SPAIN
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet’s pièce de résistance is famously still under construction more than a century after he took the project on: “My client is not in a hurry” was his jocular riposte to the epic timescale. Conceived as a riposte to secular radicalism, the Temple Expiatiori de la Sagrada Família consumed the final decade and a half of a life that had become increasingly reclusive. Gaudí couldn’t have imagined that a new millennium would find his creation feted as a wonder of the postmodern world, symbolic of a Barcelona reborn and the single most popular tourist attraction in Spain.
FLOAT DOWN NORWAY'S GEIRANGERFJORD
Everything about the Geirangerfjord is dramatic, even the approach: zigzagging up through the mountains from Åndalsnes before throwing yourself round a series of hair-raising bends as you descend the aptly named Ørnevegen, or Eagle’s Highway, the fjord glittering like a precious gem below. A great slice of deep blue carved into the crystalline rock walls and snaking out in an “S” shape as it weaves west, it might be one of the region’s smallest fjords, but it’s undoubtedly one of its most beautiful.
HIKE HALF DOME IN YOSEMITE, USA
·Half Dome’s looming, truncated form (“like it had been sliced with a knife”) makes it one of the most iconic mountains in North America. It’s also an exhilarating hike. From the top, nearly 9000ft up, the dramatic views of Yosemite National Park will render you speechless. Those who dare can edge toward Half Dome’s lip and dangle their feet over the side, while the very brave (or very foolish) may inch out along a projecting finger of rock for a vertiginous look straight down the near-vertical face.
Sit back, take a deep breath and enjoy the view.
RELIVE THE WILD WEST AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE, CANADA
Every July the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” – the Calgary Stampede – causes a usually conservative city to go wild. Everything suddenly becomes, well, more western – which for Calgary means shifting gears into serious cowboy overdrive – expect white Stetsons, blue jeans,bolo ties and hand-made leather boots. For those who live on isolated farms or in small communities, this is their chance to bring the cowboy culture into the big city and really let rip. For the half-million visitors, it’s a chance to join in the ultimate Wild West carnival, often given the accolade of be North America’s roughest rodeo.
WATCH THE SUN RISE AT TIKAL, GUATEMALA
Tikal was arguably the greatest of all Guatemala’s Maya cities, controlling an empire of vassal states and trade routes between the southern highlands and the Caribbean. And the symbols of its dominance – six great temples – still stand. Impressive at any time of day, Tikal shows itself to full advantage in the hours around sunrise. As the ruins of this Maya city come to life around you, and the forest’s denizens gradually begin to emerge from their night-time resting places, dawn is a magical time.
FALL UNDER THE SPELL OF LUANG PRABANG, LAOS
The pace of life is deliciously slow in Luang Prabang. Though it has the air of a rather grand village, this is the ancient Lao capital, the most cultured town in Laos and one of the best preserved in Southeast Asia. You’ll find a captivating scene whichever way you turn: saffron-robed monks emerging from their temple-monasteries to collect alms, temple roofs peeping out from the groves and streets still lined with wood-shuttered shophouses and French-colonial mansions.
GET AWAY FROM IT ALL IN THE GILIS, INDONESIA
Collectively referred to as the Gilis, the trio of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air each has its own characteristic charm. The smallest and most tranquil of the three, Gili Meno, is perhaps the most picturesque, with pure white-sand beaches framed against the warm turquoise waters, while Trawangan, the largest, is well known for its party atmosphere. A bit of both can be found on Gili Air. All three offer powdery beaches, snorkelling and diving opportunities and unlimited time under the tropical sun. What are you waiting for?
TAKE THE POLAR PLUNGE, ANTARCTICA
An cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula throws up more giddying thrills than you could hope to count. What with the glaciers and the whales, the mountains and the million-strong penguin colonies, the scale and beauty of the place can be genuinely overwhelming. Literally the most breathtaking tradition of all, however, has to be the opportunity to dunk yourself into the Southern Ocean. If you’ve never taken a dip in sub-zero Antarctic waters, rest assured that it’s a bracing experience, not so much about rising to a challenge as giving yourself a short, sharp shock that enables you to appreciate the fullness of your surroundings.
You’ll have new respect for the hardy penguins that dart around beneath the chilly waves all day.
HIT THE STREETS FOR NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL, ENGLAND
In August, the familiar streets of Notting Hill are transformed into a wash of colour, sound, movement and pure, unadulterated joy. This huge street festival is the highlight of London’s party calendar. Fragrant smoke wafts from jerk chicken stalls, bass lines tremble through the air, streets lined by mansion blocks become canyons of sound, and all you can see is a moving sea of people, jumping and blowing whistles as wave after wave of music ripples through the air.
For two days, the only thing that matters is the delicious, anarchic freedom of dancing on the London streets.
DROP IN ON THE CHURCHES OF LALIBELA, ETHIOPIA
Lalibela, in Ethiopia’s highlands, is a quiet, rural place. Yet in the thirteenth century it was the capital of the great Zagwe dynasty, one of whose last rulers, King Lalibela, embarked on a quest to build a holy Land on ethiopian soil. Historians say he was inspired to build the town’s famous rock-hewn churches after a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, while the devout claim that he was instructed by angels during a poison-induced sleep. Whatever the real reason, the town of Lalibela, built as a “new Jerusalem”, leaves pilgrims and visitors alike humbled by the elegance of its churches.
CELEBRATE THE BIENNALE IN VENICE, ITALY
Several European cities hold major contemporary art fairs, but Venice Biennale has more glamour, prestige and news value than any other cultural jamboree. The main site is in the Giardini Pubblici, where there are permanent pavilions for about forty countries that participate at every festival. In addition, various sites host fringe exhibitions, installations and performances. With artists, critics and collectors swarming around the bars and restaurants, the art world buzz of the Biennale penetrates every corner of the city – it’s unforgettable.
Discover more of the world’s best travel experiences with the third edition of Make the Most of Your Time on Earth, out now. Every single one is a personal recommendation from a Rough Guides writer, chosen to inspire you to get away from established routes and to seek something that little bit more special and authentic. We hope that they truly inspire you to make the most of your time on Earth.
“The only people who fear death are those with regrets.” ~ Author Unknown
A few days ago, I was surfing online when I came across someone’s bucket list. It inspired me to create my own list and write an article about it at the same time.
What’s a Bucket List?
If you haven’t heard about the term “bucket list”, it is a list of all the goals you want to achieve, dreams you want to fulfill and life experiences you desire to experience before you die.
Why Create a Bucket List?
If you don’t live your days by personal goals and plans, chances are you spend most of your time caught up in a flurry of day-to-day activities. Ever felt that your days are passing you by without any tangible output to speak of? What did you accomplish in the past 3 months? What are your upcoming goals for the next 3 months? Look at the things you did and the things you’re planning to do next — Do they mean anything to you if you are to die today? Having a bucket list reminds you of what’s really important so you can act on them.
Even if you frequently live by goals or to-do lists, they are probably framed within a certain social context e.g. performance, career, health. A bucket list opens up the context. It’s a forum to set anything and everything you’ve ever wanted to do, whether it’s big, small or random.
It’s just like planning ahead all the highlights you want for YOUR whole life. Even though goal setting is already my staple activity, I still found many new things to do while I was writing on my own list. It was an incredibly insightful exercise. What’s more, coming up with my list gave me a whole new layer of enthusiasm knowing what’s in store ahead!
The objective of creating this list isn’t to instill some kind of a race against time or to create aversion toward death. I don’t see our existence to be limited to just our physical years on earth — I don’t see our existence to be limited to just our physical years on earth — our physical lifespan is but a short speck of our existence in the universe.
The whole point of creating your list is to maximize every moment of our existence and live our life to the fullest. It’s a reminder of all the things we want to achieve in our time here, so that instead of pandering our time in pointless activities, we are directing it fully toward what matters to us.
Create Your Bucket List
If you don’t have a bucket list, I highly recommend you to create one. How much will it cost? Zero. How long will it take? Probably 30 minutes to an hour, or more if you get really caught up in the writing. What do you stand to gain? Significant clarity and focus on what you want from your life. It’s an invaluable exchange.
If you already have your list, take this opportunity to review it. See if there are new items you want to add-on. If so, add them in. Check if all the items listed are still relevant. If not, remove them.
Now, take out your pen and paper or open up a text document. Start writing down what comes to mind as you read these questions:
- · What if you were to die tomorrow? What would you wish you could do before you die?
- · What would you do if you had unlimited time, money and resources?
- · What have you always wanted to do but have not done yet?
- · Any countries, places or locations you want to visit?
- · What are your biggest goals and dreams?
- · What do you want to see in person?
- · What achievements do you want to have?
- · What experiences do you want to have / feel?
- · Are there any special moments you want to witness?
- · What activities or skills do you want to learn or try out?
- · What are the most important things you can ever do?
- · What would you like to say/do together with other people? People you love? Family? Friends?
- · Are there any specific people you want to meet in person?
- · What do you want to achieve in the different areas: Social, Love, Family, Career, Finance, Health (Your weight, Fitness level), Spiritual?
- · What do you need to do to lead a life of the greatest meaning?
Come up with as many items as you can. The items should be things you have not done yet. Don’t stop until you finish listing at least 101 things! If you find yourself stuck, chances are you are mentally limiting/constraining yourself. Release those shackles — Your bucket list is meant to be a list of everything you want to achieve, do, see, feel and experience in your life. Check out the next section for added inspiration.
I wanted to create a list of my favorite forty-five bucket list checks from around the world. The ultimate things to do before you die.
Hopefully, you will find bucket list ideas and inspiration from these…
Bathe Elephants at a Rescue in Thailand
In Northern Thailand, an hour from Chiang Mai‘s city center, I spent a memorable day volunteering at the Elephant Nature Park. This is a special place where there was an eclectic bunch of Asian Elephants; some old, some young, some blind, some injured from working in the logging industry, some abused and some rescued from the circus. Not only were we able to feed these majestic creatures, but we also bathed them in the river.
Swim in Jellyfish Lake in Palau
Jellyfish Lake in the Micronesian country of Palau is home to millions of jellyfish that are deemed relatively harmless since their sting is so light. It was still frightening for the first five minutes to be surrounded by jellyfish, some brushing up against my body. But, after the panic dissipated, this was one of my all-time favorite bucket listtravel adventures.
Visit an Orphanage in Tanzania
Kibowa Orphanage is on the outskirts of downtown Arusha, hidden down a bumpy dirt road and painted in a friendly pale blue. There are 48 children that call it home and, after four days on an African safari in Tanzania, I spent a fun-filled afternoon with them. I chose to bring colorful balloons, which could be turned into animals or creative hats. It was a joy to watch the children smile as they each made their favorite shapes.
Take a Christmas Market Cruise
For the holiday season, Viking River Cruises and my traveling friend Cacinda of Points and Travel invited me to cruise along the Rhine River to visit festive European cities and almost a dozen Christmas markets throughout Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Between the lighted cathedrals, festive markets and abundance of glühwein, I found my Christmas spirit again.
Create Your Own Summer Cocktail
In the heat of the Arizona Summer, I decided it was the perfect time to create my own refreshing cocktail. The funnest part? Testing all the different concoctions. In the end, my signature drink was a Lemon-Basil Fizz made with prosecco, coconut rum, raspberries, basil and lemon sorbet.
See the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace in London typically happens every other day (daily during the warmer months) at 11:30 am…sharp. Get there early! The guards arrive by marching pass Victoria Monument, directly in front of Buckingham Palace, and then entering through the ornate front gates of the palace. A mesmerizing show follows, filled with band playing, synchronized marching and absolutely no smiles.
Release Baby Turtles into the Ocean
While on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, I spent a memorable afternoon helping Osa Turtle Conservation. A group of us were taken to their hatchery along the beach to assist them in releasing baby Olive Ridley turtles into the ocean. Not only is it incredible knowing you are helping with these endangered animals survival, but they are adorable too! Definitely top on the lists of things to do before your die!
Get a Fish Pedicure in Sitges, Spain
For €15,00 I had my feet nibbled on by Garra Rufa fish in the tiny Spanish beach town of Sitges, just forty minutes from Barcelona. This technique became popular as a relief for eczema and other skin disorders, but is now a trend around the world and one of the weirdest things to do before you die.
Eat Traditional Fondue in Switzerland
Swiss Chuchi is a well-known eatery in Zurich that specializes in traditional Swiss style food. Though there were plenty of other tempting dishes on the menu to choose from, a pot of fondue sat on almost every table, a not-so subliminal message. This is where I spent lunch indulging in my very own pot of melted goodness.
Give Blood
Thanks to my fear of needles, my heart beated uncontrollably when I decided to give blood. But my mother, who had given blood many times before, convinced me that the feeling of saving lives would far outweigh the fear of that needle piercing my poor, unscathed arm. And she was right. A little pinch in the arm is worth knowing you have helped another person’s life.
Go Wild Mushroom Hunting in California’s Napa Valley
Though truffle hunting is a popular foodie experience around the world, in Northern California wild mushroom hunting of all kinds in a crowd-pleaser. During Napa‘s famous truffle festival they offered a mushroom foraging excursion where three mycologists, fungi gurus, led the pack. We walked away with a once-in-a-lifetime experience under our belt and a basketful of bounty.
Eat Worm Cakes in Hanoi, Vietnam
While taking a street food tour in Hanoi, there were lots of weird food to be eat, but the oddest was the worm cakes. On one street, an elderly woman had set up a propane, one burner stove to sell her fresh ragworm cakes, the live ingredients squiggling right next to the frying pan. The patties, about the size of a McDonalds hamburger, are a combination of worms, mandarin peel, dill and the chefs choice of spices. For just a dollar, the owner fried them up fresh.
They were flavorful, tasting more like a minced meat pie than what you would expect a dirty worm to taste like.
Climb to the Peak of Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka
Sigiriya is an ancient palace, built in 480AD, located in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known for it’s beautifully landscaped gardens, well-preserved frescos and… a crap load of stairs, all at different anxiety producing levels. Climbing the 1200 steps will take some stamina, but the view at the top will be totally worth it.
Take a Flyboarding Jetpack Flight in Cancun
Flyboarding is an adventurous sport where your feet will be slipped into boots that are attached to a board, much like a snow board. A tube attached from your feet to the jet ski pushes water and propels you into the air. While in Cancun I got my shot to try this and it was beyond challenging. You definitely need to use every ounce of balance you have, but worth a spot on your list of things to do before you die.
See a Movie at an Open-Air Cinema in Santorini
Kamari village located on the popular island of Santorini boasted one of the best open-air cinemas in the world and I was lucky enough to catch a showing of Maleficent while traveling to the island. It was a beautiful evening in Greece to watch an outdoor movie, while sitting on directors chairs and sipping on a glass of red wine. Better than the drive-in.
Rappel Down a Waterfall in Costa Rica
From my lodging at Blue Osa Yoga Retreat, it took a short trip by jeep, a treacherous hour-each-way horesback ride and scary twenty minute hike to even get to the King Louis Waterfall. But, that added to this adventure. Once there, the group was given a very brief rappeling lesson and then left to tackle the impressive 100 foot waterfall.
Go to a Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica
Blue Osa Yoga Retreat + Spa in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica is known for practicing morning silence, exercising sustainable tourism, having a secluded beachfront property, healthy farm-to-table meals and as being a place to nourish the body, mind and spirit. Those are all reasons that it made this place the perfect one for my very first yoga retreat.
Hike to the Top of Bartolome Island in Galapagos
The peak of Bartolome Island was known to have the most perfect view of the famous Galapagos Pinnacle Rock. There was no way that the avid bucket lister in me would miss scaling the 374 steps of this volcanic cone to see a unique perspective of one of the most photographed natural structures in the Galapagos.
Swim with Whale Sharks in Cancun
Whale sharks are the largest fish in the world, growing up to 60 feet, that’s over ten times the size of me. Their mouths can extend five feet when open. That’s absolutely large enough to accidentally suck me in. Luckily, that did not happen while swimming with these gentle giants in the warm waters of Cancun, Mexico.
Experience Istanbul’s Call to Prayer at the Blue Mosque
Five times a day throughout the streets of Istanbul you can hear the trilling call to prayer, also known as ezan. During this time the voice of the bellowing muezzin, the man who calls the Muslims to prayer from a minaret, can be heard over the loudspeakers at different mosques in the city. One of the best locations to witness this is while sitting on the benches between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Powerful!
Attend Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
Notre Dame in Paris may not be the largest Catholic cathedral in the world, but it just might be one of the most beautiful and famous with an estimated 14 million visitors a year. What will make your visit even more special is if you time it for when there is a mass. It’s so powerful that it won’t even matter that it is entirely in French. Plus, it’s totally free.
See the Mount Athos Byzantine Monasteries in Greece
Mount Athos is an UNESCO World Heritage site located on the Easternmost “finger” of the Halkidiki peninsula in Greece and there are 20 monasteries that call it home. It is 363 square miles and there are 2,300 monks who live in this place dedicated to prayer and the worship of God.Men have to have special permission to visit this holy land, while women must keep their distance. No exceptions. But, women can take a boat ride to witness it, as long as they stay 500 meters away.
Stay in a Tuscan Villa in Italy
After arriving in Florence, we drove just a few kilometers South of Siena to Villa Pippistrelli, a luxury Tuscan farmhouse located on the Monstegliano estate. This charming house is everything you’d expect from a Tuscan villa. It may be old in years, but the villa has been restored with present-day conveniences and elegant interiors while still keeping its rustic 17th century Tuscan feel.
Have a Private Wine Tasting in Napa Valley
There are several wine related perks to owning a restaurant in Northern California; sales reps are consistently leaving you full bottles of wine from the vineyards they are currently promoting, you receive dozens of comped passes to a variety of wine events, wine tastings and freebie promotional wine swag.
But, nothing has been as impressive as being invited to the exclusively private wine tasting at Napa Valley‘s Trinchero Family Estates that included an overnight stay at the Sutter Home Victorian Inn.
Take a Helicopter Ride into the Grand Canyon
After having traveled to Las Vegas a half a dozen times in the past couple years, on this current trip I was looking for something more than sparkling lights, feathered girls and dancing water fountains. I wanted a unique “Things to do Before You Die” experience. A helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon fit the bill. Sundance Helicopters took us 45 minutes from Las Vegas and landed us right into the Grand Canyon where we had time to explore and have a picnic.
Take a Hot Air Balloon Ride Over the Vineyards of Sonoma County
Even though this bucket list experience required waking up at the ungodly hour of 4:30am, it was worth every minute of missed sleep. A group of us met at the local airport, where our balloon company, Up & Away drove us to the take-off location. From there we spent one incredible morning floating over the vineyards of Sonoma County, California. They even dipped the basket low enough to touch the water of a pond.
See the Blue Footed Booby Mating Dance in Galapagos
There are 3 types of boobies on the Galápagos Islands: Blue-footed, Red-footed and Nazca. Though we did see them all, my real bucket list goal was to witness a Blue-footed Booby mating dance. This dance was their unique courting ritual, which included rocking side-to-side while lifting their eye-catching baby blue feet. On our last day of exploring the Galapagos Islands, on North Seymour, we saw one very popular female bird surrounded by a few male Boobies who were strutting their stuff trying to impress this desirable lady.
Drink in a Shinjuku Golden Gai Bar in Tokyo
Golden Gai is a neighborhood in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo that squeezes in over 200 miniature bars into a network of six narrow alleys, made only for pedestrians. Most bars in this section of town seat less than ten drinkers and cater to the locals. But, it is possible to find somewhere the travelers are welcome and will flock to. I ended up doing most of my Golden Gai drinking at Nessun Dorma, which means None Shall Sleep.
Get Spooked at the Catacombs in Paris
The Catacombs in Paris, France is a labyrinth of caves underneath the heart of the city and the resting place for the bones of six million Parisians. Starting in the late eighteenth century, remains were transferred to the ossuary as overcrowded graveyards were closing due to the risk to the public. Though the underground maze is extensive, the portion that is open to the public is a two kilometer Catacombs tour filled with skulls, bones & stones. Traveling through these caves was creepily cool.
Attend a Baseball Game in Japan
The game of baseball isn’t just one of America’s favorite pastime, the Japanese are passionate about it too. They just do things a bit differently at the games, like waving umbrellas for home runs, snacking on edamame and having cheerleaders.
Though the Yomiuri Giants at the Tokyo Dome draw larger crowds, you can also see the Tokyo Swallows play at the outdoor Jingu Stadium, which is what I did.
Visit a Maasai Tribe in Tanzania, Africa
On the way back to the city of Arusha, after a long day on safari at Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, our Shadows of Africa driver took us down a dusty, bumpy road to get to a Maasai village. We were greeted by the chief’s son and he welcomed us into the inner circle of their living quarters, which consisted of about eight small huts. There was one for each wife and their children, plus one for the husband who alternated which woman stays with him each evening. Not only was their polygamist lifestyle interesting, but so was their farming capabilities, minimalist living and culture.
Put a Love Lock on Pont des Arts Bridge in Paris
The Paris Pont des Arts bridge, near the Louvre, is a place where couples can put padlocks along the rails to secure their love. Then they throw away the keys so the love can not be unlocked. We bought a small gold lock, which had three keys attached, for five euros from a brilliant vendor who stood at one end of the bridge. The merchant even supplied a selection of colored markers to write our tender message with.
Work a Pottery Wheel with a Master in Italy
Gulio Lucarini is one of the skilled ceramists behind Terrabruga Ceramics and I was invited to their tiny laboratory which is located in the quaint town of Cortona in Northern Italy. Here Mr. Lucarini gave me a private pottery lesson entirely in Italian. Even though my vase turned out lopsided, it was a favorite experience on my Things to do before you die list.
Get a Natural Mud Bath in Palau’s Milky Way
While boating in and out of Palau’s 300+ islets in search of the best snorkeling spots, we had found some spectacular sites loaded with colorful fish, gigantic clams, whitetip sharks and intricate coral. But, we also found a spot to slather the white limestone mud all over our bodies to get a natural mud bath.
Explore the Depths of a Cava Cave in Spain
Even as gorgeous as the wine caves of my home in Northern California are, they didn’t quite compare to exploring the seemingly endless, channels of a Cava cave in Spain. Some Cava caves would make the perfect location to film a horror flick, while others could be used as a skilled mathematicians puzzle.
Watch Wrestling Practice at a Sumo Stable in Tokyo
You can’t fully understand the intensity of this sport unless you are up close and personal at a sumo wrestling practice to witness the panting, grunting and dripping sweat. The practices are not attractions created for tourists, they are serious and you need to show respect while you are there. Though there are several other stables to visit, at Hakkaku Sumo Stable in Tokyo you can spend the morning watching an intense Sumo wrestlers practice. This was one of my favorites on the things to do before you die list!
Eat at a Themed Restaurant in Tokyo
At the Alcatraz ER themed restaurant, you can eat a plate of beef shaped like a brain on the floor of a jail cell while sipping cocktails out of a dummy’s head, which is exactly what I did. If a gothic cathedral environment is more your thing, try Christon Cafe or opt for The Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku that takes dinner and a show to another level. There will be loud music, dancing and robots fighting, plus a little sushi to dine on if you should choose.
38. Go on an African Safari in Tanzania
There are plenty of places in Africa to go on safari, but mine was done in Tanzania with the Shadows of Africa tour team. For four days we explored the surreal Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks. Though we missed out on spotting the big five, because of the elusive rhino, it was still one of the most memorable travel bucket list adventures on my list of things to do before you die.
Eat Insects at Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market
While exploring the plentiful booths of Chiang Mai‘s Sunday Night Market, there was one stall that caught my attention. It had all sorts of varieties of edible bugs; crickets, cicada, mealworms and whirligig beetles. How do I choose? I opted for the insect sampler pack for 20 baht ($0.65 usd), a little of each. I like variety.
Take a Junk Boat Ride Through Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour
While in Hong Kong I checked off seeing the Symphony of Lights and riding on a traditional Chinese junk boat in Asia of my bucket list in one shot. A twofer. The Symphony of Lights laser show does a display that runs throughout the skyscrapers along Victoria Harbour, the same body of water that an ancient sailing vessel, a junk boat, tours.
Nibble on Chicken Feet at the Cheapest Michelin Starred Restaurant
Tim Ho Wan is a hole-in-the-wall dim sum restaurant in Hong Kong that gained recognition after receiving a coveted Michelin star and therefore being known as one of the cheapest Michelin starred restaurants in the world. And it is cheap. Really cheap. Though they are well known for their pork buns, all their food is quite tasty, especially their chicken feet.
Have a White Christmas in Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley is the centerpiece of Yosemite National Park in California with grand waterfalls, flowing creeks, picturesque hiking and monumental granite cliffs. During the holiday season it turns into a Winter wonderland with plenty of snowy activities for the entire family.
Swim with Sea Turtles in Olowalu
Olowalu is just five minutes South of Lahaina in West Maui, the location where the kayak/snorkeling tour we had signed up for took place. This snorkling spot had been the center of numerous turtles sightings and the day we were there was no different. We were able to swim alongside several of these amazing creatures.
Attend a Proper British Afternoon Tea in London
A proper Afternoon Tea in London is a British tradition that I had no intention of missing out on. I like tea. And tiny little sandwiches. The Royal Garden Hotel set up a traditional Afternoon Tea in London at their Park Terrace restaurant for us. Here we indulged in Pear Caramel and Chocolate Chip Truffle tea, along with sandwiches, sweets, scones and curd.
Read More > Attend a Proper British Afternoon Tea in London
Participate in a Japanese Tea Ceremony in Tokyo
Happo-en Japanese Garden sits in Shirokanedai district of Tokyo and is an exquisite example of natural beauty with its ancient bonsai, koi pond and blanket of cherry blossoms in the Springtime. Not only is it a beautiful representation of a Japanese garden, but you can schedule to participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony where you will be drinking Matcha in their wooden Muan tea house.
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GET LOST FOR WORDS AT THE GRAND CANYON
After pondering the Grand Canyon for the first time most visitors are stunned into silence. The problem isn’t lack of words. It’s just that the canyon is so vast and so deep, that the vista stretches so far across your line of vision. The facts are similarly mind-boggling: it is around 277 miles long and one mile deep. Think of it like a mountain range upside down. The abruptness of the drop is bizarre and, for some, unnerving. But the Grand Canyon is like that: it picks you up and takes you out of your comfort zone, dropping you back just that little bit changed.
If a guidebook tells you that something is “impossible to describe”, it usually means the writer can’t be bothered to describe it – with one exception.
Fotolia: Galyna AndrushkoWALK THE SIQ TO PETRA, JORDAN
The fabled site of Petra is simply awe-inspiring. This rock-carved Nabataean city has entranced travellers for centuries with its ornate facades and classical architecture. Perhaps the most magical views lies at the end of the Siq, a dramatic natural gorge that’s still the main entrance. Here, you emerge from the bizarrely eroded cliffs onto an extraordinary view: the famous facade of Petra’s Treasury looming before you.
THROW YOURSELF INTO LIVERPOOL'S NIGHTLIFE, ENGLAND
Forget any preconceptions you may have about bar crawling in Liverpool. The reality is as far from fake tans, big hair and silly scally stereotypes as you can get – this scene is creative, convivial and bursting with joie de vivre. Countless great drinking holes pepper the city, and you could happily spend a lifetime sampling them all. Make for Seel Street, in the Ropewalks quarter, and the über-arty Baltic Triangle, the apogee of this organic after-dark and the blossoming home of Liverpool’s creative and digital media scene. Intimate, bare-brick gin and whiskey joints, craft beer and killer cocktails await.
This is Britain’s Good Times Central. Come for a bottle and stay all night. In fact, move to Liverpool – it’s that good.
GET BLOWN AWAY BY THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA
Snaking across the dusty hills of northeast China, the Great Wall is an unforgettable sight. It’s impossible not to be blown away by this 7m-high, 7m-thick fortification. Take at least a day to walk between its battlements, shunning hawkers and tourists for less-visited sections where you clamber up unrestored stairs and through crumbling towers. Yet even after you’ve seen, touched and walked the wall, it’s still hard to believe this was built by simple human endeavour.
SAIL THE WHITSUNDAYS, AUSTRALIA
There’s a distinct feeling of déjà vu cruising in a sailboat among the Whitsunday Islands. Presently it comes to you: you’ve been here many times, in your lottery fantasies. This tropical idyll of turquoise seas lapping ivory sands against a backdrop of dense green foliage is ingrained in our imagination. Life on board here becomes sybaritically simple. A shower is as easy as diving into the surrounding water, and your bed is the deck of the boat or the sand on the beach.
VISIT THE TAJ BY MOONLIGHT, INDIA
There’s no such thing as an unflattering angle of the Taj Mahal, the world’s most beautiful building, commissioned by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his beloved wife. But the love and sadness embodied by the Taj are never more palpable than during the full moon, when the complex is opened at night. At this time, visitors are hushed into silence by the building’s ethereal form, rising melancholically from the riverbank yet seemingly shimmering with life.
SEE THE FLORAL WAVE OF CHERRY BLOSSOMS, JAPAN
In Japan, spring sees the country gradually coated in a light pink shade, soft petals slowly clustering on their branches as if puffed through by some benevolent underground spirit. The sakura- zensen, or cherry blossom front, flushes like a floral wave that laps the country from south to north and is followed ardently by the Japanese. Among the best places to see it are Kiyomizu-tera in Kyoto, Tokyo’s Ueno Park or the castles in Osaka or Himeji, all of which are lent a dreamlike air by the arrival of the blossom each spring.
A lesson about fragile beauty that must be treasured and contemplated.
TRAVERSE THE SALAR DE UYUNI, BOLIVIA
The immaculate white expanse of the Salar de Uyuni is one of Bolivia’s most extraordinary attractions. This is the largest salt lake in the world, capped by a thick, hard crust of salt, easily capable of supporting the weight of a car. It’s perhaps best seen after a heavy rainfall, when the Salar transforms into an immense mirror, reflecting the sky and the surrounding snowcapped peaks so pristinely that at times the horizon disappears and the mountains seem like islands floating in the sky.
EXPLORE THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS, ECUADOR
The utter indifference that most of the animals of the Galápagos Islands show to humans suggests that they knew all along they’d be the ones to change humanity’s perception of itself for ever. It was, after all, this famous menagerie that started the cogs turning in Charles Darwin’s mind. With each island, new animal oddities reveal themselves – giant tortoises, canoodling waved albatrosses, lumbering land iguanas and Darwin’s finches, to name but a few – each a key player in the world’s most celebrated workshop of evolution.
You feel like a privileged gatecrasher, one who’s allowed an up-close look at a long-kept secret: the mechanics of life on Earth.
TOAST BAD WEATHER IN THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS
You can’t visit Scotland without trying the national drink. Whisky has been made here for centuries, with the bare hills, green glens and silvery lochs of the Highlands providing the perfect conditions. Barley grows well thanks to rainy, misty days. Peat – dried and burnt to impart that smoky aroma – forms in the damp bogs. Cool temperatures reduce the “the angels’ share” as whiskies mature in barrel. There’s no better place to enjoy a wee dram of a single malt, sit back and take in the view.
BED DOWN IN AN IGLOO, CANADA
Tucked away between rolling hills and vast stretches of tundra in northern Québec lies a series of igloos. These domed shelters were built by Inuit elders, who carved snowblocks from windswept snowdrifts, using skills passed on from their ancestors. Today, they continue to safeguard hunters as well as welcome adventure seekers. Visitors can feast on caribou stew and frozen Arctic char before falling asleep to the sounds of kids throat-singing and the gentle flicker of the seal-blubber-fuelled qulliq (lamp).
CLIMB MONT ST-MICHEL, FRANCE
Wondrously unique yet as recognizable as the Eiffel Tower, Mont St-Michel, with its harmonious blend of natural and man-made beauty, has been drawing tourists and pilgrims alike to the Normandy coast for centuries. Soaring some 80m up from the bay that bears its name, this glowering granite islet has an entire commune clinging improbably to its steep boulders, its tiers of buildings topped by a magnificent Benedictine abbey. It’s an aesthetic delight yet also a place of serenity: less than a third of the 3.5 million tourists that flock here each year actually climb all the way up.
Looking out from Mont St-Michel, the tides rolling in around its base, is a panorama to be savoured.
RAGE WINE WAR IN LA RIOJA, SPAIN
Each year several villages in La Rioja spend an entire day soaking each other in red wine. One of the truly great events of the Spanish summer, the Wine War (La Batalla del Vino) is a wine-fight of epic – and historic – proportions. In theory, the townsfolk of Haro are battling it out with those of neighbouring Miranda de Ebro, but in the good-humoured but frantic battle that rages, there are no obvious sides, and no winners or losers. Instead, the object is perfectly straightforward: to squirt, hose, blast or throw some 25,000 litres over as many people as possible.
You won’t be spared as a spectator, so you may as well join in.
SPOT PUFFINS IN THE FAROES
On the unspoilt Faroe Islands, about 300km north of Scotland in the windswept, weather-tossed North Atlantic, heavy waves batter tall, chalky cliffs. But there’s more than just geological beauty here. Come spring, pairs of puffins, their feathers ruffled from the raging sea, wash up on the island, standing proud and rubbing their beaks together in displays of matrimony. The show has just begun. For the next four months, these curious seabirds will mate, nest and raise their offspring – all of which makes for great viewing.
SOLVE THE MYSTERIES OF POMPEII, ITALY
Pompeii was famously buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD, and the result is perhaps the best-preserved Roman town anywhere, with a street plan that is easy to discern – not to mention wander – and a number of palatial villas that are still largely intact. While crowded, not surprisingly, it’s a large site, and it’s quite possible to escape the hordes and experience the strangely still quality of Pompeii, sitting around ancient swimming pools, peering at frescoes and mosaics still standing behind the counters of ancient shops. The city’s story still speaks loud and clear.
GET IN HIGH SPIRITS ON THE BOURBON TRAIL, USA
Bourbon is the United States’ sole native spirit. And while bourbon can be produced elsewhere, the spirit of the spirit resides in Kentucky, which is not only home to the finest distilleries, but also, according to local legend, its birthplace. The best place to find out more is along the Bourbon Trail, a meandering route through the rolling hills of central Kentucky that links several distilleries and historic towns.
COME EYE-TO-EYE WITH AFRICA’S MOUNTAIN GORILLAS, RWANDA
A face-to-face encounter with a mountain gorilla in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park is one of the most exciting wildlife experiences Africa has to offer. And locating the apes in their tangled and misty forest home is part of the thrill. A close-up encounter is practically guaranteed, but be warned – it can get tough. Any exhaustion dissipates immediately, however, when you look into the liquid brown eyes of one of the magnificent bamboo-munching beasts – these are the archetypal “gentle giants”.
FOLLOW THE OYSTER TRAIL IN GALWAY, IRELAND
The Galway International Oyster Festival is Ireland’s longest-running and greatest gourmet extravaganza, celebrating the new oyster season in the finest way possible: a three-day furore of drinking, dancing and crustacean guzzling. The traditional objective is to down a pint and a couple of oysters in every pub along the Oyster Trail over three days – that’s around thirty pints and up to a hundred oysters. If you can do this and still make it down for breakfast on the Sunday morning, you need never prove yourself again.
MEET SUN BEARS IN BORNEO, MALAYSIA
Though it easily rivals the panda in the cuteness stakes, little is known about the world’s smallest bear, named for the distinctive white mark on its chest that resembles the sun. Seriously endangered, sun bears live throughout Asia, but Borneo is their last stronghold. See them at the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sepilok, the first of its kind, which aims to educate people about these wonderful animals. There can be no doubt that the efforts directed towards their survival are more crucial than ever.
SEE THE BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS, ENGLAND
When autumn knocks, the temperature drops and other resorts have shut up shop, one seaside town switches on. From the end of August until early November, the BlackpoolIlluminations light up the seafront – and if you’ve a penchant for gaudy, nostalgic, none-too-highbrow fun, you should get your coat on and come. Comprising around a million lights, the glittering display stretches six miles – and amazingly, the whole experience is free. All you’ll need to buy is a tram ticket, a bag of chips and a novelty stick of rock. And never mind if it rains – the lights look even more gorgeous shimmering in the puddles.
DOWN A STEIN AT OKTOBERFEST, GERMANY
The world’s largest public festival, the Munich Oktoberfest, kicks off on the penultimate Saturday in September and keeps pumping for a full two weeks. An unadulterated celebration of beer and Bavarian life, it attracts almost six million visitors and sees as many million litres of beer disappear in sixteen days. At the heart of the festival are fourteen enormous beer tents where boisterous crowds sit at long benches draining one huge litre-capacity glass or stein after another. If you’re up for annihilation, head to the Hofbrau tent, go for the ten-stein challenge and join in with the thousands of young bloods braying for beer. Prost!
EXPLORE THE LAND OF THE FAIRY CHIMNEYS, TURKEY
An expanse of undulating, cave-pocked, tunnel-riddled rock at the centre of Turkey, Cappadocia is a landscape like no other. It’s one of those rare places that can draw quality snaps from even the most slapdash photographer, with a rocky palette that shifts from terracotta through pink and honey to dazzling white, the orange fires of sunrise and sunset adding their own hues to the mix. From Uçhisar’s castle to the cliff-hewn churches of Çavusin, there are heavenly views at every turn.
MARVEL AT THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZA, EGYPT
The Pyramids at Giza were built at the very beginning of recorded human history, and for nearly five millennia they have stood on the edge of the desert plateau in magnificent communion with the sky. The overwhelming impression is due not only to the magnitude of their age and size but also to their elemental form, their simple but compelling triangular silhouettes. Seen at prime times – dawn, sunset and after dark – they form as much a part of the natural order as the sun, the moon and the stars.
HOT AIR BALLOON OVER THE SAVANNAH, KENYA
With the sun breaking over the horizon and warming chilly faces, the perfect serenity of this mode of transport is hard to beat. Below, hippos cavort in the muddy river and vervet monkeys watch the balloon’s passage from their treetop vantage points. Once it’s over the plain, the balloon is ignored by the grazing herds of zebra and gazelle – but they flee its shadow and the whoosh of the burner when it flies too low. For wildlife photography, a balloon safari can’t equal patient observation on the ground, but few experiences can match this one for sheer unforgettability.
CLIMB TABLE MOUNTAIN, SOUTH AFRICA
If the skies are clear on your first day in Cape Town, drop everything and head straight for Table Mountain. It’s an ecological marvel, and a powerful icon for the entire African continent. What’s more, the views from the top are unmissable – as long as the celebrated “tablecloth” of cloud stays away. The obvious, and most popular, route to the top is to take the aerial cableway, but if you’d rather work a little harder, you can tackle one of the hiking trails that snake their way up the cliffs.
Gaze out over the city to the ocean beyond and you’ll feel like you’re standing on top of the world.
EAT BARBECUE IN TEXAS HILL COUNTRY, USA
If you think barbecue is a sloppy pulled-pork sandwich or a platter of ribs drowned in a sticky, sweet sauce, a Texan will happily correct you. In the rolling hills around Austin – where pecan trees provide shade, pick-up trucks rule the road and the radio is devoted to Waylon, Willie and Merle – you’ll find barbecue as it should be: nothing but pure, succulent, unadulterated meat, smoked for hours over a low wood fire. Thankfully, this austerity applies only to the substance – not the quantity – of the meat. Gut-busting excess is what makes barbecue truly American, after all.
Don’t ever forget: it’s all about the meat.
PAD ROUND THE GOLDEN ROCK, MYANMAR
Every year, between November and March, barefoot pilgrims flock to Kyaiktiyo – the Golden Rock – high in the Eastern Yoma mountains of Myanmar. Crowned with a slender gold stupa, the Rock is a huge granite boulder perched rakishly on a natural stone plinth that Burmese Buddhists believe has been held in place by a few extra-strong strands of Buddha’s hair. Join the pilgrims’ dawn vigil amid clouds of incense and fervent prayers, or linger in the evening as the sunset throws the otherworldly scene into Technicolor and swifts swoop through the warm air.
HIKE THE PENNINE WAY, ENGLAND & SCOTLAND
The Pennine Way, Britain’s oldest and longest long-distance footpath, meanders 270 miles through some of England’s most beautiful and least crowded countryside. This is Brontë country, grim on a dank, misty day but bleakly inspiring when the cloud lifts. In between walking the wilds, you can stay in pretty villages along the way. Again and again you’ll find yourself transported back to a bygone rural idyll of village shops, church bells and, of course, pubs.
HAVE A BEER IN BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
If you just ask for a beer in Belgium, your request will be met with a blank stare. Because no one produces such a wide range of beers as they do here: there are lagers, wheat beers, dark amber ales and strong beers brewed by Trappist monks. Brussels is the best place to try them all, including its own beery speciality, Lambic, a flattish concoction not much changed from the stuff they drank in Bruegel’s time – a few glasses is enough to have you behaving like one of the peasants in his paintings.
SAMPLE GELATO IN ROME
A quiet revolution in that time-honoured Italian favourite – ice cream – has taken place in Rome over the last few years. Gelaterias have upped their game, ordering the finest ingredients – lemons from Amalfi, pistachios from Sicily – and vying to create the city’s tastiest ices, in the most outlandish flavours. Order a suitably kooky combo – wasabi and chocolate, say, or basil, walnuts and honey– and hit the streets for the passeggiata. When in Rome…
FEEL THE HEAT IN A FINNISH SAUNA
There are two million saunas in Finland – that’s four for every ten Finns – and they have played an integral part in Finnish life for centuries. Finns believe the sauna to be an exorcism of all ills, and there’s certainly nothing quite like it for inducing a feeling of serenity. Traditionally, Finns end their sauna by mercilessly plunging straight into the nearest lake or, in winter, by rolling in the icy snow outside – the intense searing cold that follows the sweltering heat creating a compelling, addictive rush at the boundary of pleasure and pain.
BRAVE THE DEVIL’S THROAT AT IGUAZÚ, ARGENTINA & BRAZIL
Every year, tens of thousands of visitors from around the world try to evaluate the sheer dimension of this natural miracle – around 275 individual cascades, the highest with a drop of over 80m – and usually fail. However you spell it – Iguazú, Iguaçu or Iguassu – there’s little doubt that these are the most spectacular falls in the world. Get right into the heart of the action on a boat trip up to the ominously named Devil’s Throat, one of the most impressive cascades.
PAINT THE TOWN RED AT LA TOMATINA, SPAIN
If you want to indulge your childhood fantasies, there’s only one place to go. On the last Wednesday in August, tomato-throwing madness takes over the tiny town of Buñol. This enormous public tomato fight sees 130,000 kilos of over-ripe tomatoes hurled until the streets are ankle deep in squishy red fruit. All in all, it only lasts about an hour, but it’ll go down in memory as one of the messiest, most fun days you’ll ever have.
KAYAK MILFORD SOUND, NEW ZEALAND
Dwarfed beneath the forest-clad mountains that soar to either side, it’s hard to comprehend just how tiny you are in comparison to the sheer size of Milford Sound. That the fiord makes even the most cumbersome and colossal cruise ship look small is an indication of just how impressive the scale is here. But only getting out on the water will give you a true sense of its majestic beauty – to really get up close, and access spots that no cruise ship could ever reach, head out on a kayak.
There’s something undeniably exhilarating about exploring somewhere so immense from so close to the water.
CELEBRATE THE LOY KRATHONG FESTIVAL OF LIGHT, THAILAND
In the days leading up to Thailand’s annual Loy Krathong Festival of Light, pretty little baskets fashioned from banana leaves and filled with orchids, marigolds, candles and incense sticks begin to appear at market stalls across the country. On festival night, these are lit and set afloat with prayers of thanks to the water goddess, in whose honour this festival is held. The sight of hundreds of bobbing lights drifting away on the breeze, taking with them any bad luck accrued over the past year, is beautiful.
DOWN CAIPIRINHAS IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
What could be simpler than a caipirinha? Made with just cachaça (a rum-like spirit distilled from fermented sugar- cane juice), fresh lime, sugar and ice, the caipirinha (literally “little peasant girl”) is served at nearly every bar and restaurant in Brazil. Neither insipidly sweet nor jarringly alcoholic, it’s one of the easiest and most pleasant cocktails to drink. And on a hot, sticky night in Rio, the perfection of a caipirinha is undebatable.
CLIMB KILIMANJARO, TANZANIA
The statistics are impressive. Measuring some 40km across and rising 5895m above sea level, Kilimanjaro is easily Africa’s highest mountain. But such bald facts fail to capture the thrill of actually climbing it: the days spent tramping from muggy montane forest to snowy summit. It’s hard to match the exhilaration of watching the sunrise from the Roof of Africa, with an entire continent seemingly spread out beneath you. The sense of fulfilment will stay with you, long after you’ve finally said goodbye to Kili.
SPEND THE DAY AT TIVOLI, DENMARK
Not many cities have a roller coaster, a pirate ship and an 80m-high carousel slap bang in their centre, but Copenhagen is home to Tivoli – probably the best fairground in the world. The famous pleasure gardens have dished out fun and thrills to a bewitched public since 1843. But the rides are just the icing on the cake – there are forty or so restaurants, jazz bandstands and, in the weeks around Christmas, spectacular lighting displays and a Christmas Market. Even if fairs usually leave you cold, you can’t fail to be won over by the innocent pleasures of Tivoli.
On a fine summer’s night it’s nothing short of magical.
RANK UP THE VOLUME ON KING'S DAY, THE NETHERLANDS
At the end of April each year, Amsterdam, a city famed for its easy-going, fun-loving population, manages to crank the party volume a few notches higher in a street party that blasts away for a full 24 hours. On King’s Day, there are only two rules: you must dress as ridiculously as possible, preferably in orange, the Dutch national colour, which adorns virtually every building, boat and body on the day; and you must drink enough beer not to care.
You’ll find enough beer-chugging, pill-popping and red-hot partying to satisfy the most voracious of appetites.
MARVEL AT GAUDÍ’S SAGRADA FAMÍLIA, SPAIN
Antoni Gaudí i Cornet’s pièce de résistance is famously still under construction more than a century after he took the project on: “My client is not in a hurry” was his jocular riposte to the epic timescale. Conceived as a riposte to secular radicalism, the Temple Expiatiori de la Sagrada Família consumed the final decade and a half of a life that had become increasingly reclusive. Gaudí couldn’t have imagined that a new millennium would find his creation feted as a wonder of the postmodern world, symbolic of a Barcelona reborn and the single most popular tourist attraction in Spain.
FLOAT DOWN NORWAY'S GEIRANGERFJORD
Everything about the Geirangerfjord is dramatic, even the approach: zigzagging up through the mountains from Åndalsnes before throwing yourself round a series of hair-raising bends as you descend the aptly named Ørnevegen, or Eagle’s Highway, the fjord glittering like a precious gem below. A great slice of deep blue carved into the crystalline rock walls and snaking out in an “S” shape as it weaves west, it might be one of the region’s smallest fjords, but it’s undoubtedly one of its most beautiful.
HIKE HALF DOME IN YOSEMITE, USA
·Half Dome’s looming, truncated form (“like it had been sliced with a knife”) makes it one of the most iconic mountains in North America. It’s also an exhilarating hike. From the top, nearly 9000ft up, the dramatic views of Yosemite National Park will render you speechless. Those who dare can edge toward Half Dome’s lip and dangle their feet over the side, while the very brave (or very foolish) may inch out along a projecting finger of rock for a vertiginous look straight down the near-vertical face.
Sit back, take a deep breath and enjoy the view.
RELIVE THE WILD WEST AT THE CALGARY STAMPEDE, CANADA
Every July the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth” – the Calgary Stampede – causes a usually conservative city to go wild. Everything suddenly becomes, well, more western – which for Calgary means shifting gears into serious cowboy overdrive – expect white Stetsons, blue jeans,bolo ties and hand-made leather boots. For those who live on isolated farms or in small communities, this is their chance to bring the cowboy culture into the big city and really let rip. For the half-million visitors, it’s a chance to join in the ultimate Wild West carnival, often given the accolade of be North America’s roughest rodeo.
WATCH THE SUN RISE AT TIKAL, GUATEMALA
Tikal was arguably the greatest of all Guatemala’s Maya cities, controlling an empire of vassal states and trade routes between the southern highlands and the Caribbean. And the symbols of its dominance – six great temples – still stand. Impressive at any time of day, Tikal shows itself to full advantage in the hours around sunrise. As the ruins of this Maya city come to life around you, and the forest’s denizens gradually begin to emerge from their night-time resting places, dawn is a magical time.
FALL UNDER THE SPELL OF LUANG PRABANG, LAOS
The pace of life is deliciously slow in Luang Prabang. Though it has the air of a rather grand village, this is the ancient Lao capital, the most cultured town in Laos and one of the best preserved in Southeast Asia. You’ll find a captivating scene whichever way you turn: saffron-robed monks emerging from their temple-monasteries to collect alms, temple roofs peeping out from the groves and streets still lined with wood-shuttered shophouses and French-colonial mansions.
GET AWAY FROM IT ALL IN THE GILIS, INDONESIA
Collectively referred to as the Gilis, the trio of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air each has its own characteristic charm. The smallest and most tranquil of the three, Gili Meno, is perhaps the most picturesque, with pure white-sand beaches framed against the warm turquoise waters, while Trawangan, the largest, is well known for its party atmosphere. A bit of both can be found on Gili Air. All three offer powdery beaches, snorkelling and diving opportunities and unlimited time under the tropical sun. What are you waiting for?
TAKE THE POLAR PLUNGE, ANTARCTICA
An cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula throws up more giddying thrills than you could hope to count. What with the glaciers and the whales, the mountains and the million-strong penguin colonies, the scale and beauty of the place can be genuinely overwhelming. Literally the most breathtaking tradition of all, however, has to be the opportunity to dunk yourself into the Southern Ocean. If you’ve never taken a dip in sub-zero Antarctic waters, rest assured that it’s a bracing experience, not so much about rising to a challenge as giving yourself a short, sharp shock that enables you to appreciate the fullness of your surroundings.
You’ll have new respect for the hardy penguins that dart around beneath the chilly waves all day.
HIT THE STREETS FOR NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL, ENGLAND
In August, the familiar streets of Notting Hill are transformed into a wash of colour, sound, movement and pure, unadulterated joy. This huge street festival is the highlight of London’s party calendar. Fragrant smoke wafts from jerk chicken stalls, bass lines tremble through the air, streets lined by mansion blocks become canyons of sound, and all you can see is a moving sea of people, jumping and blowing whistles as wave after wave of music ripples through the air.
For two days, the only thing that matters is the delicious, anarchic freedom of dancing on the London streets.
DROP IN ON THE CHURCHES OF LALIBELA, ETHIOPIA
Lalibela, in Ethiopia’s highlands, is a quiet, rural place. Yet in the thirteenth century it was the capital of the great Zagwe dynasty, one of whose last rulers, King Lalibela, embarked on a quest to build a holy Land on ethiopian soil. Historians say he was inspired to build the town’s famous rock-hewn churches after a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, while the devout claim that he was instructed by angels during a poison-induced sleep. Whatever the real reason, the town of Lalibela, built as a “new Jerusalem”, leaves pilgrims and visitors alike humbled by the elegance of its churches.
CELEBRATE THE BIENNALE IN VENICE, ITALY
Several European cities hold major contemporary art fairs, but Venice Biennale has more glamour, prestige and news value than any other cultural jamboree. The main site is in the Giardini Pubblici, where there are permanent pavilions for about forty countries that participate at every festival. In addition, various sites host fringe exhibitions, installations and performances. With artists, critics and collectors swarming around the bars and restaurants, the art world buzz of the Biennale penetrates every corner of the city – it’s unforgettable.
Discover more of the world’s best travel experiences with the third edition of Make the Most of Your Time on Earth, out now. Every single one is a personal recommendation from a Rough Guides writer, chosen to inspire you to get away from established routes and to seek something that little bit more special and authentic. We hope that they truly inspire you to make the most of your time on Earth.
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