Update Feb 2020: I am happy to announce that Pakistan and Afghanistan can now be “checked off” my list!
In honor of the start of a new decade, I have started to daydream about what lies ahead in the (hopefully) Roaring 20s. People often ask me about my travel plans and how/why I visited certain countries. Sometimes, I had a long checklist of things to do there, other times I followed other travelers’ feedback. FYI – there are some pretty offbeat destinations on this list but I only ever visit countries that I know are currently “safe” – although this is a very relative term.
While most of these places are a bit off-beat, I firmly believe that every country has something to offer as long as you are willing to open your mind to it. So here it goes…….
- (Trip Completed February 2020) Pakistan – After spending two years in India, I am dying to see her northern neighbor. It is very challenging to get a Pakistani visa while on an Indian work visa so I haven’t been able to complete my dream of visiting the 3 states created from British India. Fingers crossed!
- Qatar – While I have spent countless hours in the Doha Airport staring glumly at the creepy Teddy Bear statue while waiting for my next flight, I have never had the chance to leave the airport. I know that the city itself doesn’t have a huge amount for tourists, I still am dying to see stadium.
- Turkmenistan – I like a challenge and Turkmenistan is notoriously difficult to get into. After failing to get a transit visa at the Almaty Embassy on my “Extrava-Stanza” trip, I am eager to try again. Even if the only major attractions that the country has to offer are a dazzlingly white capital city and the Gates of Hell, I am eager to finally get this off my to-do list. I can’t “stan” having unfinished business!
- Yemen – I have heard amazing things about this Middle Eastern country from people who worked there and Yemenis themselves. While it is currently unstable, I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will change in my lifetime.
- (Trip Completed February 2020) Afghanistan – I have been wanting to visit this mysterious and painfully beautiful country for as long as I can remember. Once part of the “Hippy Trail”, the country is unfortunately more well-known for terrorism and endless war. Thanks Russia and America…….
- Brunei – This interesting little kingdom has intrigued me since I read a book about an American woman that became part of the Royal Harem there. I have tried during previous trips to Southeast Asia to include Brunei into my itinerary but it has always been too expensive.
- Papua New Guinea – While this is certainly not on most people’s wishlist, the country’s incredible diversity and the famous Kokoda Trail tantalize me.
- Namibia – This is the “one that got away”. While climbing Table Mountain in Cape Town, I met an Australian man that had bought a car and was driving there the next day. He asked me to go with him and I said I couldn’t. Since then, images of the desert reaching the ocean have plagued me and this country has firmly made it onto my bucket list.
- Ghana – Where do you even begin to talk about the reasons for visiting this little West African gem? Beautiful scenery, friendly people and being sandwiched between other interesting countries puts this country firmly on my bucket-list.
- Senegal – Like Ghana, I have heard wonderful things about this West African country and her people.
- Mozambique – In 2014, I backpacked through southern Africa with a plan to go to Mozambique. I did a ton of research and two days before I was to board my flight to Johannesburg, I found out that visa restrictions had changed and you could no longer get a visa on arrival. I revamped my itinerary and exchanged Mozambique with Zimbabwe but like Turkmenistan, I feel like I have some unfinished business with this region.
- Algeria – While living in Prague, the only friendly shopkeeper within the near vicinity was an Algerian man that opened an “Asian shop” that sold Middle Eastern groceries. While the concept itself was a little curious, I loved that store and the delicious baklava that he sold. After asking him about safety in Algeria and being promised by him that it was safe, I did a ton of research on the coastal colonial cities there which are apparently well-connected by train. When I proudly went back to tell him my travel plans, his Czech wife intervend and told me that it isn’t safe. Not knowing who to believe, I shelved the idea for a bit. But it is always there…….
- Madagascar – Another country well known for a rich variety of plants and animals, Madagascar is a country that is expensive and logistically difficult to travel through solo. So now, I am waiting for someone with the time and money to come with me. Anyone? Anyone?
- Mauritius – This island country earned the unfortunate nickname of “Vicious Mauritius” in my Model UN days and I haven’t forgotten it. This gorgeous Indian Ocean island chain has been beckoning to me since I arrived in India but it has always been prohibitively expensive to go.
- Seychelles – See above.
- Paraguay – Paraguay and I have a love-hate relationship. I tried (and failed) to get a visa while backpacking through South America and the country still taunts me to this day.
- Nicaragua – Another well-reputed country that has eluded me. This is a gaping hole in my Central America map and much like Paraguay, it taunts me whenever I look at a map.
- Cook Islands – After my boss in New Zealand told me about growing up in Rarotonga, I began having images of being Robinson Crusoe and living in a treehouse near a beach.
- Samoa – I have been to Tahiti, New Caledonia, and Tonga so why not??
- Dominican Republic – My reasons for wanting to go to this Caribbean country are mostly due to nostalgia. This is one of the last trips that my dad took and he talked about it a lot. Although I am not a huge beach resort person, I am definitely my father’s daughter…..
