I've Bean Travelling

Now that we’ve started a new year and decade, it’s time to consider my travel goals and start building up that wish list. My world travels only started in earnest within the last 3 to 4 years, so as someone building up my ‘country count’ I am still at the stage of visiting new places and have not really made a point to return to many spots. However, I’ve been reflecting on my past travels and have identified a few destinations I’d like to explore again for a more in depth experience.

Here are a few places where I’d like to return, perhaps not this year but hopefully sometime in the next decade!

1. Japan

My trip to Japan was a longtime dream come true, having been on my travel bucket list for as long as I can remember. Mr. Chuckles and I spent about 2 weeks there, basing ourselves in Kyoto and Tokyo. We saw a lot and ate a ton, but the last half of my trip was ruined when I received news of an aggravating work situation that apparently ended up following me across continents. My last week in Tokyo was spent coordinating correspondence with people in a different time zone and was filled with stress and irritation, which really put a damper on my vacation. I would love to return to Japan one day for a do-over, an opportunity to fully enjoy this incredible country without unpleasant distractions! Plus, there is a lot more to Japan that I would like to see, especially some of the coastal regions and the countryside.

2. Spain

The first country I ever visited in Europe was Spain, during my trip to Barcelona and the surrounding northeast region of this beautiful country. I really enjoyed Barcelona with its amazing art, architecture, and of course its food, so I would be perfectly fine with replicating this exact trip. However, I would like to see more of the country as well. Maybe southern Spain or a venture further afield to the Canary Islands?

3. Tanzania

I have visited Tanzania twice as part of a volunteer medical mission and had the opportunity to visit Zanzibar and hike around Mount Kilimanjaro, but missed out on the classic African travel experience of going on safari. I did eventually go on a mini safari and an eventful gorilla trek in neighbouring Uganda, but if I return to Africa one day, my bucket list will include a visit to Serengeti National Park, the top destination for a full safari experience in Tanzania.

4. Thailand

We had a great time on our trip to Thailand in 2019, and the only complaint we had about this part of our our Intrepid tour was that it wasn’t long enough. Since we now have experience with the well developed tourism infrastructure there, I would like to return on a self-guided trip and spend more time in both Bangkok and Chiang Mai, as well as explore other cities/towns in northern Thailand, including Ayutthaya and Pai. Then there’s also the gorgeous beach destinations in the south. 🌞

5. England

Unlike the other places on this list, my return to England is actually likely to happen in 2020. We are looking at travelling to the United Kingdom in May, and we are planning to bring Mr. Chuckles to his motherland with a short stop in London toward the end. I was in London back in 2017 for one week with my sister and left with several items still on my to do/see list, so I am looking forward to getting back there and checking off a few more.

Happy travels,