Places to visit before you meet your maker

[loki]

When I were a little lad I remember my Gran telling me that you should always have a list of at least five new places you want to visit before you pass on into the great unknown. Probably a bit cliched nowadays with travel being more accesible and relatively cheap. I suppose back then, for a woman born in 1900 the romance of travel was a lot more than what it was today.

However I think the old girl had a point and I think it is great to experience new cultures first hand and get to see how other societys have developed. I also think her message was a little more than just about a plane ride but thats another thread for another day ;)

So in no particular order here are my journeys and places I would like to experience.

Buenos Aries & Iguazu falls

I am a massive football fan and have always considered myself more British than English so the whole Argie bashing was way over my head. So over the years I have done a lot of reading on the place and for me it looks such a beautiful city. There is a lot of inspiration from 1800's Italy in terms of the architecture due to the massive immigration at the turn of the century. It looks such a vibrant city. The food, The music, even just watching the Salsa in the streets. Oh and the little matter of Boca Juniors vs River Plate as well.

Then onto Iguasu falls. If memory serves correct this is in the North of Argentina and it falls right on the border with Brazil. Not a lot can be said other than it is stunning in beauty and power. Some of the pics on Wiki (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguazu_falls) don't do it justice.

Drive from Coast to Coast in America

America is such an intriguing place to me moreso the back waters and bywaters of some of the southern states. I have been to America six times now and just love the place. Get away from the commercialised America and you will find places of stunnng beauty and some really really friendly people who still hold the values of community and family dear to the hearts. So my journey would start in NY and end up in San Francisco but taking in all the places Dakota, Oklahoma, New Mexico etc.

After that is done then we want to stop and live there :)

Farrallone Islands

Now this is a little group of relatively unknown Islands about 30 miles off the coast of San Fransisco. All that there is there is a couple of houses which are severly weather beaten a little wharf and miles and miles of rough sea. Not only that but you need a permit to land there as it is under the control of some conservation societys. However this place is a haven for Great White research. Lots and lots of pioneering work has gone into the Shark Community to understand how they communicate and interact with each other. I would say the chances of me getting there are slim to say the least possibly less than 1 in a million. However there are a number of boat excursions that can take you out, Great White spotting and get you close to the Farrallones.

So theres three from me but there is so much more out there to taste, smell and experience even on this little green isle called Britain. Where are you planning or dreaming of visiting ??

[NokkonWud]

From the places I've been I could only recommend two:
Las Vegas and Istanbul.

Loved both places and both for completely different reasons. The first is the ultimate lads holiday with an almost infinite number of things to do, the latter is just beautiful, great culture and history and it's just a whole change of pace.

[Pebs]

So so many places, but first on my list are Cambodia, Vietnam and Peru for now. I want to see everywhere!

[Dee]

At the moment, New Zealand and Tokyo :)

[Haly]

I suppose back then, for a woman born in 1900 the romance of travel was a lot more than what it was today.

Depends, still pretty romantic to me as I've only ever been abroad once so far!

Currently, two places that stick out in my mind are Japan (primarily Tokyo) and Iraq and its surrounding areas. Japan just seems to be the mecca of all things I love, plus it sounds such a weird place, I want to see it :D
Iraq and its surrounding areas might seem an odd choice, but I want to see what ancient architecture is left there (there must be something, surely? :/). Blame it on the Ancient History I learnt at A Level :D Ever since, I've wanted to go.

Also I'd love to see the USA, but not touristy USA, I'd want to travel round for quite a while and see all over the place there. Just to try to get an idea of what life's like there properly.

Tbh though, I'd be happy to go anywhere as I have such a limited experience abroad, plus I would honestly love to see everywhere in the world just to see what it's like. Bit tricky though!

[Mark]

Also I'd love to see the USA, but not touristy USA, I'd want to travel round for quite a while and see all over the place there. Just to try to get an idea of what life's like there properly.
Did you see the recent Stephen Fry series? T'was good for showing lots of both touristy and non-touristy places, but also rather annoyingly spent a fair bit of time in a few states, and barely even mentioned lots of others.

As for me - I've done several of mine already - mostly obvious touristy places like the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, Uluru/Ayers Rock, Yosemite, Las Vegas, San Fran, New York.

I'd still love to do a few great train journeys (South to North up the Gold Coast or West to East, both in Oz, or coast to cost in Canada, which, no disrespect, I think would be better than the US road trip equivalent). The geek in me would love to see Tokyo but the language barrier scares me away from doing that :(. The space nut in me would love to see a shuttle launch (been to KSC twice, but not on launch day) and/or visit Mission Control in Houston.

[Burble]

I'd like to see as much of Asia as possible. I've spent a grand total of 3 days in Tokyo (on business) and since then have been wanting to go back.

Specifically I want to go to North Korea, Pyongyang especially. The place fascinates me as I can fire up the interweb and find out just about everything about most other countries but not this one. I will go there.

[Haly]

Did you see the recent Stephen Fry series? T'was good for showing lots of both touristy and non-touristy places, but also rather annoyingly spent a fair bit of time in a few states, and barely even mentioned lots of others.

Yeah I did :) And thought much the same as you. I guess there just wasn't enough time to show everything :( Certainly enthused me though!

[A Place of Light]

1) You need to see the Grand Canyon and Ayres rock for starters.....just to humble you enough for the rest of the journey.
2) Then, I recomment visiting aunt stellas snow-cone emporium just off the freeway between Dallas and Fort Worth.
3) Tokyo is about as much of a culture shock as a westerner can get.
4) You need to drive up (and down) the Julierpass to witness what god did with his day off.
5) Have dinner with your significant other in San Antonio (the TX version) along the river walk, which is one of the most romantic places I've seen.
6) The Colisseum in Roma.
7) Ride the Staten Island ferry.
8) See Niagra falls.
9) Hong Kong needs to be on the list.....if only because it's Hong Kong.
10) Take a diving holiday and visit Truk Lagoon. If you like history, or are empathic towards those who gave their lives, this will be an emotional one.

Should be enough to keep you going for now.

[Tak]

Everywhere! But if I had to pick 3 to start with - Egypt, Canada and Japan

[A Place of Light]

This time last week I was doing just that :'(

PLEASE tell me you took the tour, and didn't make do with those frankly pathetic audio tour phone thingumajigs?

[semi-pro waster]

Depends, still pretty romantic to me as I've only ever been abroad once so far!

Definitely make the most of that feeling, I find that the more I travel the less I actually enjoy the journey, I still love the exploring of a new place but sitting on a plane/train/bus for X hours has rather lost appeal. I do grin like a kid at the acceleration of the jet on take off even now but that's no longer such a big deal either which is a bit of a shame really.

In no particular order I'd like to go to Cuba, Australia/New Zealand and Canada for the winter season. I do have slight issues with the heat in that I just don't like it but I'm willing to ignore that to see these places.

[Haly]

Definitely make the most of that feeling, I find that the more I travel the less I actually enjoy the journey, I still love the exploring of a new place but sitting on a plane/train/bus for X hours has rather lost appeal. I do grin like a kid at the acceleration of the jet on take off even now but that's no longer such a big deal either which is a bit of a shame really.

I can see how the getting there part is pretty crap once done a few times, I've had a fair amount of 6hr train journeys (and a lovely 11hr train journey from near Buxton to Swansea one New Year's Eve :/). But the exploring new places part is the exciting bit ;) Doubt very much I'll be going abroad any time soon so no doubt the romance will get to stick around for quite a long time yet!

[phykell]

New York at Xmas :thumbsup:

[Garp]

Hmm.. suggestions for people:

Haweswater - Lake District
Absolutely beautiful place, well worth the walk and climb to see the view from the top too.
I'd say in general if you haven't been to the Lake District you absolutely should. Failure to do so is to miss some of the most beautiful countryside the UK has to offer.

York

Lovely city, lots of history and the Minster is breathtaking.

Oahu - Hawaii

It's an unbelievably beautiful island, and part of some of the most geographically isolated set of islands in the world (about 2000 miles to the nearest mainland)

Beautiful place with what is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Lanikai beach (http://images.google.com/images?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&=&q=lanikai%20beach&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi), I like it and I'm not a big fan of beaches and sunbathing!
Great surfing to be had if you're a surfer too. The mountain and volcano (extinct) is a glorious sight, dominating the view for the most part throughout the island.
Well worth a visit.

Grand Canyon

Possibly the most jaw droppingly wonderful thing I've ever seen.

Prague - Czech Republic

Beautiful city, lots of history, the Cathedral is almost unparalleled in its magnificence.
I'm not sure how things sit with the way the economy is at the moment but historically the flights out to Prague are cheap, as is accommodation, food and drink.


On my list of places to go:

Japan

Always wanted to visit this place, see what it's like. I like Japanese culture (at least as it's portrayed anyway) and would like to see and experience it in real life. Also on my list of things to do is learn japanese, or at least try to!

New Zealand

Another long time entry on my list. I would love to get out there and see it, everything we see of it suggests it is a magnificent place. My sister went there for honeymoon and assures me that it is just as magnificent as suggested.

[Mark]

Definitely make the most of that feeling, I find that the more I travel the less I actually enjoy the journey, I still love the exploring of a new place but sitting on a plane/train/bus for X hours has rather lost appeal. I do grin like a kid at the acceleration of the jet on take off even now but that's no longer such a big deal either which is a bit of a shame really.
I have to agree with this. The getting there/back is decidedly chore-like these days. Of course, the being there still makes it worth it.

As for the acceleration thing, I do still enjoy it, but I'd trade countless take-offs in a regular passenger jet for another go in Concorde (something I know will never happen of course). Take your regular take-off and add some steroids, and you'll be about right. :D

[Pumpkinstew]

EDIT: oops sorry. This is all about where we want to go.

Iceland, Japan, Canada, Madagascar, Tanzania and Kili, South Africa, Fiji-Samoa-Tonga in that order.

After the lottery win of couse. ;)

[Greenlizard0]

Why was my reply deleted?

[Desmo]

Nothing in here has been deleted, you sure it posted OK?

[Pheebs]

Oh my lordy. Everywhere. Seriously I do... I don't care if it's the middle of no where and has nothing of "interest" there. I just love other places and people and cultures. I LOVE it all.

There's just not enough time in the world.

[Justsomebloke]

Tesco store @ Hinckley.


The almost extinct sight of a malc30 working can be seen at this location.
Please book prior to visiting though so as not to miss this one off oppurtunity.


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[Blighter]

:D

[Greenlizard0]

Nothing in here has been deleted, you sure it posted OK?

Lol, probably not, I am quite flu'd up atm so might have accidently done something stupid. Ah well :

As said many times now - Grand Canyon

Niagra falls - really cool, waterfalls are something which make me just stop, cock my head slightly and go "ooh...". Switzerland, and N India have lots of amazing waterfalls.

Temples on the Ganges - Amazing view, not only is it a pretty site, but it's a good site that represents India. You can guage quite a lot from seeing it in a city. It does smell, and don't swim in it though.

Taj Mahel - one of the few man made things which actually amaze in real life as well. For some reason I meh'd at Rome's Roman stuff, the Eiffal Tower and NY's skyline but loved the Taj Mahel

Las Vegas - nothing else like it on the planet, lights, noise and bustle everywhere. Lovely.

Things I really wanna see :

Antarctica, C Africa, Australasia and S America - big I know - but that's pretty much three continents I have yet to step into :(

Egypt - the ancient stuff, (see Taj Mahel). So many people rave about this and I haven't bean.

Dubai - google what's going on every month or so and the building work that's coming up is pretty immense. I ended up there years ago way before the boom of today and it really was like desert and huts etc. I'd love to see it now.

[Belmit]

People always used to say to me 'You must see the Grand Canyon, it's amazing', and I just thought. 'I've seen pictures. It's a hole in the ground. Big whoop.' But when I finally saw it though it really was breathtaking. From the 'car park' we stopped in it was just a couple of minutes walk to the edge, but you can't see it right until you reach it, and then it just fills your vision. The compunction I felt to just run screaming into the abyss that day is something that's always worried me! What a way to go though.

[Davey_Pitch]

Oahu - Hawaii

Does driving around it in Test Drive: Unlimited count? :D ;D

[Burble]

I'm very luck to have been to quite a few of the places that have been suggested. Personally though I'd be extremely happy if I never set foot in Las Vegas again, but each to their own.

South Africa

I've been a few times and really love the place. It is very humbling to come into land at Cape Town Airport and seeing a huge shanty town on the coast going on as far as they eye can see.

The standard of living varies so much out there with some people living in the most abstract poverty to those who live in a life of extreme luxury.

I would not want to live there though, certainly not in Cape Town or Johannesburg as the place is not safe. I know numerous people out there who say that all money is good for in SA is to buy taller, stronger fences and thicker bars for your windows. You are very aware walking about even during the day that the place is not safe.

It's a real shame because the country is gorgeous. I went to Kruger back in June and absolutely loved it.

[Pumpkinstew]

The compunction I felt to just run screaming into the abyss that day is something that's always worried me! What a way to go though.

I get that all the time. The moment I'm stood on any kind of ledge I get the urge to just jump off of it. The soles of my feet start tingling and I have to take a few steps back until the urge fades.