My bucket list

If I were to make a bucket list for the places I hope to see before I die, I wonder what places would be on the list. While sitting at my desk it is hard to separate new places from been there done that places. Just because I have been there before, does this mean I can't put them on my list? I guess when it is some where as large as the Tasman Sea, where I have only caught a glimpse as I sat on the porch to our holiday house or  saw the sea as I was peeking out from inside me tent the whole while trying to escape the pesky sandflies.

Gillespies Beach, New Zealand

I have chosen these places and written them down in no particular order. Some of these places are quite near to where I live while others are going to take extra planning as to how I will make my way there and of course the all important how will I fund my way there and yes I do mean fund not find my way there.
Grand Canyon
Halong Bay
Australia
Hong Kong
Japan
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands
Greece
Galapagos Islands
Thailand
Yellowstone/Grand Tetons
New England
Yukon
Scotland/Ireland
Cornwall
In later posts I will dive into specifics of what I want to see for each place listed as well as I am sure more places to add to my list.

Born to travel

Within the first year of my life I was tossed onto a cargo jet and flown half way around the world. I had racked up more frequent flier miles in my first year of life than most people complete in a lifetime. To this very day the travel bug continues to bite and snap at me. Aside from being a globetrotting 1 year old I come from a family that has set its roots far and wide so its no wonder that I am covered in travel bites.
2 cousins born in South Africa 1 currently living in the Yukon and the other in  Vancouver
1 sister born in Vietnam
1 cousin born in India
Aunt and Uncle who lived in Botswana and South Africa for years
1 sister living in New Zealand
Visiting family around the world has taken me from Fort Smith, Canada where we explored the salt flats and sink holes while keeping a watchful eye out for brown bears to spelunking through the Waipu Caves searching for glow worms in New Zealand where my tour guide was my 2 1/2 year old niece.

Travel was not limited to just my immediate family. In my teens and 20's I grew up hearing stories and adventures of my grandparents. My paternal grandmother would return from Africa full of adventures and stories of flying over the game reserves in light planes flown by my Uncle and my maternal grandparents would spend hours reminiscing of the different foods they tried and which was their favorite restaurant in Amsterdam. My grandmother was famous for remembering  each of her favorite meals she had abroad. I was lucky if I could remember what I had for breakfast.

In grade school my family always headed out to Hawaii every Christmas. Back in the early 80's Hawaii was not the popular destination it has become today. Most school friends had no idea where Hawaii was. In my teen years one summer was spent with the family navigating our way around England and Wales. All three of us kids were crammed in the backseat of the car as we were speeding down the motorway as my mother would point out the little Welsh town her grandmother hailed from. We kids were just glad when we had arrived at our destination, yet another castle ruin just so we could get out and away from each other.

Now that I am older, nearing my 40's I look back at those early travel days. Those were the days that have defined who I am today and as I continue on I look forward to the travels to come.