Wish I Was There. Travel Envy

Planning a holiday can be fun but it can also take a lot of time and coordination. While we try and travel as a family, sometimes that can be tough so we are left to our own devices to travel the world.

Right now, my husband is busy poring over his travel itinerary starting November 2016, adjusting his various work-related duties, and he has asked me about our son’s college break dates not less than fifteen times. And that’s certainly not the last time he will ask. Obviously he wants to ensure that he’s not away from home when our son visits.

I can’t help feeling a teeny bit envious, wishing I could go along everywhere. Obviously that is neither practical—because these are official trips—nor affordable—because, eh, money. I am far from the stage where I can just up and jet set off to the foreign land of my choice. Although, I keep telling the Universe secretly . . . and believe it will happen. All in good time!

When I made an impromptu trip to Shanghai earlier this year, it was at short notice. As in, 10 days’ notice. While I knew I was likely to leave on a particular date, my trip was actually confirmed  only an hour before I left. Can you imagine! Oh, It was just five days, and I had put together a few things in a small suitcase—so just grabbing it and leaving took less than an hour.

What really broke my heart was the fact that I passed through Bangkok airport and spent a couple of hours there. I’ve always wanted to visit Thailand, the land of Smiles.

On the way back, I travelled via Hong Kong, just rushing through the airport to catch my connecting flight. And during the long flight back home, I promised myself I would definitely visit all the places I want to see.

I am blessed with close friends I am in touch with, and talk to, on the phone, at least once a week, besides staying connected via WhatsApp and instant messaging and each one of them has extracted a promise from me, that I should visit them at least once.

I believe in vision boards and Universe listening, so I thought I’d make an intentional list of places I would really love to visit, sights I’d love to see.

Toronto

Naturally. My best friend lives there. I visited her in April 2013 and had a fabulous time. But you know how it is with a BFF. A lifetime isn’t enough. We have places to go and things to see. We want to see the Northern Lights this time. Then we want to drive across the border to New York, meeting our mutual friends along the way.

New York

Double naturally! My sister lives there and I am eager to see her and spend time with her and her family. Of course, also see a bit of the Big Apple. On my list is the Empire State Building, Central Park, Museums, the Art scene, the Statue of Liberty.

Machu Picchu

I love historical sites. I’ve been dying of envy over two of my friends making a trip to Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, above the Urubamba River valley. Built in the 15th century and later abandoned, it’s renowned for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar, intriguing buildings that play on astronomical alignments and panoramic views. Its exact former use remains a mystery.

Singapore

Don’t laugh, but I want to go see the zoo and night safari there. And the museums, botanical gardens, nature reserve and gardens.

Europe

Who wouldn’t want to visit Italy, Spain, France, Austria (ah, The Sound of Music), Germany, the Netherlands… and Switzerland? I actually learned Spanish, hoping to visit Spain, a few years ago. Didn’t happen then, but no reason for it not to happen now! I want to spend a month traveling by rail and road and on foot to see the sights—too many to list in this post! But yes, I’d love to see the interiors of Europe, not just the tourist sites!  I know there is an ancient history tour that I’d love to take!

Greece

Ancient Greece, Athens and the Greek islands, Santorini, Rhodes and onward to Turkey to enjoy gorgeous landscapes and then, Istanbul to see the whirling dervishes. This would be such a dream come true!

Thailand

I am so sad I had to breeze through Bangkok, and the airport staff kept telling me about all the sights I was missing there, as if I didn’t know! Of all the places in my immediate wishlist, Thailand tourism is among the top three. I am eager to see the Buddhas (is there a plural?!), nature parks, the floating markets, beaches, temples, palaces, zoos,  Ayutthaya and Sukhothai historical park, umbrella village, hill tribe villages, and so much more.

North East India

So I’ve been here before, but simply must go again! A week-long trip was far too short. I really would like to go there and make a tour of all the monasteries in the area. This time we’ll choose February when there’s snow. Although we planned the trip well and had our flight bookings in place well in time, we visited in June and that was a bad idea—rainy season is not the best time. We couldn’t see the Tsomgo Lake due to visibility issues and the Nathu La Pass was closed.

This list could go on and on, you know. For now, let me dream and fantasize.

Universe, are you listening?