Many years ago, back when I first started this blog, I started an (incomplete) list of top 10 countries I wished to visit. Since I feel that I've developed as a traveller and as a writer since then, I wanted to update this list and explain the appeal of each destination. For reference, below is the original list:
1.New Zealand
2.Canada (visited April 2017)
3.Russia
4.UAE - specifically Dubai
5.Croatia
6.Brazil
7.Australia
8.Turkey
9.Thailand
10.Japan
You'll most likely notice that this list is fairly cliché when it comes to typical (and most of the time, overrated) travel destinations. Some places such as UAE, Australia and Thailand have now very much been struck from my 'priority' list however I have not by any means dismissed them completely as future trip inspiration! I think the reason I did remove these three was mainly due to their 'over-exposure' on the virtual travel-sphere. I found this particularly daunting, putting me off scheduling any of those types of trips in the near(ish) future.
Instead, my newly developed list is as followed:
1.New Zealand
2.Russia
3.Peru
4.Croatia
5.Japan
6.Brazil
7.Iceland
8.Turkey
9.Turkmenistan
10.Philippines
You may notice that a few countries have drastically increased their priory rating whereas others are very new, and maybe surprising, additions.
Reasons behind...
New Zealand
- I love driving and NZ is famous for its road trip potential.
- I'm a huge Tolkien fan and being able to visit Hobbiton and maybe even take an organised set tour, or follow my own, would be a dream come true!
- It's supposed to be extremely similar in atmosphere and scenery (as in, green rolling hills and hidden lakes) to Wales which my mum's family is from and where I'm currently living as a student.
- I've never been to Oceania/Australasia and it's on my Bucket List to visit every continent.
- I would like to experience immersion into the history of a nomadic culture.
Russia
- DISCLAIMER: I was supposed to go to Russia last summer as the main port for my 18th Birthday cruise however unforeseen storm conditions meant that our ship was unable to dock in St. Petersburg. This has only increased my desire to visit this beautiful country and, at the moment, we plan to repeat the same cruise (with perhaps a slightly altered itinerary) when I graduate in summer 2022.
- Architecture - the fact that even Russia's underground system is world famous for its beauty sets the standard.
- Ballet - I, along with many other young girls (and boys), attended ballet class for several years and, although I didn't always enjoy myself, my love and respect for dance and choreography means that I wouldn't feel right visiting such a ballet orientated country without seeing the art in action.
Peru
- My 'back-up' plan! I don't know for sure if every generation did this as they completed their GCSEs/A Levels but my friends and I were obsessed with creating back up plans. Of course there were the classics: stripper, drug dealer, etc. but my classic reply turned into "alpaca farmer in Peru". If anyone has read my study blog - www.yoirevised.blogspot.com- then you'll have some understanding of this already as its title is "The Antidote to Alpaca Farming".
- Peru is one of the easiest and safest Latin American countries to visit and to do so would also help me to complete part of my Bucket List because, due to the small country count within it, South America is a continent that I wish to 'complete' in my lifetime.
- Mythology, history and culture - Since the Easter I was 12 when I went on a trip to Egypt with my parents, I have been committed to studying Ancient History. After slogging through A Levels I managed to secure myself a spot studying it with joint honours in Italian at Cardiff University where I am now finishing my first year. I am OBSESSED with EVERYTHING 'ancient' and death and burial culture has become a particular interest of late. This furthers my eagerness to escape to Peru because I know that Incan, Mayan and Aztec burial cultures are some of the most fascinating.
Croatia
- Nature - Do yourself a favour (or maybe not so much if you have raging travel fever) and google Krka national park. One look at those waterfalls and you should understand the appeal.
- Once again, Ancient History comes into this. I'm sure Croatia, particularly Dubrovnik, might appeal to many people due to the filming locations of Game of Thrones. Personally I'm not a fan of the series and have only seen two episodes BUT part of my appeal does stem from a fandom - Percy Jackson, or, more specifically, Heroes of Olympus by the myth master himself, Rick Riordan. Diocletian's Palace in Split features in this spin off series and also happens to have been built by one of my favourite Roman Emperors to study.
- Skiing!
- Last summer I got a chance to visit Tallinn in Estonia and it was one of the strangest experiences of my life. I now like to think of it as the city of many faces because on an hour drive out of the city I went from a medieval town to the "Plattenbau" styled buildings associated with 20th century Russian influence and East Germany, followed by a fairytale like forest and, eventually, a strip of fishing beach with beautiful woven huts and stone beaches. From what I've heard (and seen online) of Japan, the countries are similar in this respect.
- Food - over the past few years I've developed an intense appreciation for ramen and other items of Japanese cuisine which of course contributes to my appeal. This being said, I still don't eat seafood so unfortunately I won't be able to appreciate the authenticity of Japanese street market.
Brazil
- Brazil is also in South America so of course gets me one step closer to my 'completion' of the continent.
- This beautiful country has so much diversity, from the festivals of Rio, to the cascading sheets of Iguazu falls. I just can't wait to experience the biggest country in SA.
- The contrast between the towering glaciers and volcanic, black sand beaches is absolutely stunning in photos and must be a magical scene to witness in person.
- There are so many adventure activities available so you can see this fantastic island from every perspective.
- Obviously, Turkey is currently the only official country to have its capital city recognised by two continents (Asia and Europe). Although borders are essentially political, the concept of stepping into what we think of as a different culture where it is actually the same city is such a paradoxical thought.
- AGAIN, I have to mention Ancient History. Turkey, particularly the Ionian coast, has experienced invasion and annexing from practically all of the Empires and expansional regions in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Area. The layers of Greek, Roman, Macedonian, Arabic, Persian, and so many more cultures just makes for a mismatch of historical influence that I can't wait to explore.
- First off, the 'five stans' are so underrated in terms of 'worthy visitation' and most people, even experience travellers, tend to avoid them due to needs for invitation letters and occasionally pre-organised tours. I believe that the 'five stans' truly represent a side to Asia as a continent that destroys the stigma of 'backpacker worthy' South East Asia and portrays a truly raw image of architecture, trade and landscape.
- In the middle of the dessert, scientists found a pit of gas seemingly doing nothing. They set it alight in 1971 thinking that it would burn itself out but 48 years later its been labelled as the Gate to Hell or the Darvaza gas crater and has become a popular tourist attraction.
- From what I've heard, watched and read, the Philippines are some of the least touched areas of South East Asia by tourists. Although it is by no means an 'underrated destination', its magical potential for budgeters and expensive hotel types is immeasurable.
- I've always been a fan of water sports, particularly kayaking, so the vlogs showing trips by boat or raft weaving through the rocky mini islands are so attractive to me as an adventure traveller. I just believe that the Philippines could provide me with some of those 'once in a lifetime' wonders.
Some honourable mentions that were near misses of my top list are:
- Mexico
- Faroe Islands
- Thailand
- Romania
- Taiwan
- Norway
If anyone would like to know any details about these then please feel free to comment and I'll respond as soon as I can. :-)
That's enough procrastinating for me now!
This is Jemma, signing off x
