...5 places I'm going to before I die!!

I was at the bookstore earlier to buy a notebook and a pen when, as I was waiting for my turn at the cashier, I caught the title of the book an expat was paying for --- 1,001 Gardens You Should See Before You Die. My first thought was: " Hmmm.. lucky him. It seems like he's about to write his next travel itinerary. My next thought was: How about me? Where would I wanna go?

So I thought I'd write about the places I really really wanna visit before I leave this world. Of course, it is ridiculous to write something along the line of 1,001 places to..... haha. To be realistic, I don't have the time nor the resources. I don't think i can travel that extensively in this lifetime, not even in the next lifetime, or the one after that. So here's my list... 5 places I WILL visit before my time's up. Notice the word WILL in upper cases. That's me making a promise to myself, no matter what happens, no matter where life will turn from here, I will make good on this promise. I really hope so since it's just 5, although one destination is touted as "really expensive." I'm kinda tickled with the downgrade hehe, from 1,001 to 5, i think it's funny. But hey, this is not me dreaming or wishing, but actually putting on paper something that I have to do. So here's the black and white:


1.  KYOTO, JAPAN

-- this is my number 1. I've always wanted to go to Japan. I think it'll be such a feast for the senses: strolling around the city and staring at all the electronic billboards around me. Or gawking at the people garbed in outrageously cool but sometimes out-of-this-world fashion, but cool nonetheless. All the Japanese gardens.  A chance of seeing an authentic Geisha. Japan is known to be a very expensive destination, and I wasn't even sure I'd even entertain the thought of eventually going there. That is until last month. I went home last July for a 5-day vacation when I saw an article about Kyoto in the airline's magazine ( which I stole hehe ). The author actually proved that you could do Kyoto on a budget, and even wrote actual lodging houses, the expenses, and people to contact, such as the volunteer guides, which could really come in handy. So yes, I'll be doing Kyoto.

2. VIETNAM

Hanoi, Vietnam--

-- Vietnam used to be my number 1, before I considered going to Kyoto. But it's still a close second. I like the idea of buying say fruits and vegetables from a boat in a floating market, riding in a cyclo pedicab, or getting lost amidst the hustle and bustle of motorcyles in the busy streets of say, Ho Chi Minh. I'd generally want to stay longer in the more scenic and peaceful cities like Hue though. When I think of Vietnam I think of temples, Saigon, boat tours, their rich history and the people which I think is not too different from us in temperament being an Asian country too. I can't really explain why but when I think of going abroad, I think of Vietnam.

3. SOUTH KOREA

Yonggungsa Temple, Busan

-- I think this is self-explanatory, lol.  I soooo love K-Pop so it's only natural that I'd want to visit this country. The truth is I already have an itinerary that starts from Incheon to Busan to Gyeongju and back to Seoul . Primary reason of dropping by Seoul?  To visit YG Entertainment's building!! I have heard and watched so much about it since I follow some of its artists, and hopefully I get to meet some of the YG fam. Waaahhh! Just writing about this makes me so giddy with excitement already. But of course that's not the sole and primary reason, there's also the castles, more temples, more cherry tree, the food! The reason I have an IT is that I almost, almost booked a ticket to Incheon last month when CebuPacific had one of their promo fares. Good thing I found out before I do that I'll be needing a Visa to enter SK. Oh yes, stupid me for forgetting that. I guess because 2 of the places on the list here I cound enter without a Visa. Oh well, I guess I better work on getting myself a Visa first before getting so hyped up over nothing. The good news is that the Visa is free for a less than 60-days stay. The downside is, some say getting a Visa to the US is easier compared to securing a Visa to South Korea. And oh! You'll have to have "some" money in your pocket. Or at least prove to their Consul that  you do. This reminds me of the difficulty I have to get through in securing a Visa to Japan as well. Oh God! Whatever happened to us? Why all these borders? Didn't you gave us, your children, Earth to live in? Why aren't we free to go anywhere?!! lol am getting crazy here. knocks myself on the head*.. :p

4. CHINA

Suzhou, China

-- I'm not really sure yet where to go exactly in China. It's such  a big place but I do have ideas. Of course the Great Wall is a given. But I'd also like to visit Suzhou, China which is considered as the "Venice of the East"? or something like that because of the scenic houses along canals, as you can see in the photo above. Also, I know there are Floating Markets here too and I think it'd be nice to get on one of those boat tours in Guilin. I've seen some great pictures but up to now  don't really know yet the workings of Blogspot so i don't know how to post a lot of pictures in one blog. :( The great thing about China is it can be entered from a lot of places. I have yet to do a full on research about this so I can't be real sure. But what I like about it is if I'm coming from Hongkong, I can head on to China. Same thing if I finally embark on that Vietnam trip. Which also, is coincidentally near Cambodia where the great Angkor Wat awaits. Oh The Great Asian Tour awaits! When I'm I  gonna win the lottery?! lolx.

5. BATANES

Batanes, Philippines

-- Of all the places here in the Philippines, this is where I want to go the most. I haven't been there yet since the last time I checked, the air fare is steeper than when you're internationally bound. Also, I'm not sure if this still holds true but when i checked only one airline flies to Batanes (SeaAir). I first saw Batanes on TV when it was featured on Sports Unlimited, i think, and it was love at first sight. When I saw the vast rolling hills, I immediately thought that the terrain is similar to that of Scotland. Of course I've never been to Scotland, but a part of it was described in great detail from one of the novels I've read in high school, The Master of Blacktower by  Barbara Michaels, with the description of the moors and howling wind. When I hear the word Batanes, it conjures images of aged but charming lighthouses, narrow roads with the mountain on one side, and the steep cliff on the other side that plunges into the ocean, me biking on that road ala Meg Ryan in City of Angels (only with my eyes open *chuckles*), cows grazing lazily in the rolling hills, houses made of stones, the Honesty Store, Taiwan, and the friendly, friendly people.

So there, the 5 places I have to visit before I say my sayonara. :)

EDIT: 20130924

I just had to add Taiwan. Just found the cherry tree blossoms at around the same time they hold their annual Lantern Festival. Too good to pass up.

Note: credit for the pics. I don't own anything:

kyoto- www.zastavki.com/eng/World/Japan...7891.htm

traveling-tourism.blogspot.com/2...vel.html

www.travel-earth.com/south-korea/

www.china.org.cn/olympics/torch/...5968.htm

jovitawitch.blogspot.com/2007/03...nes.html