I started writing this post on the 10th and was going to finish it off when I got home that night, but instead I fell asleep before 9pm, with my makeup, work clothes, and contacts still on. Whoops. But, I’m counting this towards my Nov. 10th entry.
When I started the year out, I had set a goal to visit at least one country a month this year. Then I got my special assignment that grounded me, so I set the goal of having year round tan lines–which has kind of happened, but I’m due for some sun, stat! With that said, I started the year strong with visits to Antigua, Senegal, Grenada and the Philippines by the end of March and continued with visits to Colombia, Croatia and Montenegro in the 6 months that followed.
Now that I know that I’ll be going back to flying in January (though unsure if I’ll fly for a bit and then go back to a special assignment later in the year), I have a chance for a redo in 2018. But do I really want the redo? On one hand, yes. I love to travel, how could I say no to that?! Well, when I think about my bank account and my desire to master my finances, traveling every month doesn’t sound like a great financial decision. So, that’s my dilemma. But what if I could do both? What if I could travel to a new country every month if my trip is budgeted for and done cheaply?
Hmm.
So I got brainstorming and here’s what’s made my short list (in no particular order):
- Costa Rica (I have a friend who moved there and friends from my previous company live there as well.)
- Aruba (I want to go feed the flamingos ever since I saw a friend’s photos of her doing the same.)
- Bolivia (Uyuni Salt flats, enough said?)
- Belize (The Great Blue Hole might be a reason why I got my SCUBA certification.)
- Thailand (I know, I know. Everyone and their mom besides me has been there. Especially divers.)
- South Africa (I had booked a trip to go a few years ago after finding an incredible deal on airfare but cancelled because my best friend was getting married in the middle of my planned trip dates. Totally worth it. But diving with Great Whites is still on my bucket list.)
- Kenya (Have you heard of The Giraffe Manor? Yes, please!!)
- Cuba (Though not sure how much longer I’ll be able to go there as an American…as a Canadian though…)
- Tokyo (Cherry Blossoms in Japan would be incredible to experience in real life)
- Egypt (Pyramids.)
- Maldives (I saw 4 star hotel rooms for $20/night so…)
- Australia (A good friend is moving to Melbourne and the Great Barrier Reef has been on my list forever!)
- Bonus: Switzerland/France/Italy (which I know are 3 countries, but I’m thinking about doing a trip focussed on hiking Tour de Mont Blanc which takes you through all three–and I’ve been to all three before)
Who knows if I’ll make it to these places in 2018, but it’s always good to have goals, right? Right. Good talk.
