If you could go ANYWHERE in the world, where would you decide to go? I’ve decided in Stage 3 of my Ultimate Vacation to plan an “Around the World” trip! How long am I going to allow for such a trip: 80 days? I’m not sure if I could get everything accomplished in that amount of time. So what I’ve decided to do is simple: PLAN the trip I want to take! No time limits or expense limitations and not completely inspired by the most alluring locations. This entire excursion would be accomplished by using a private jet charter to fly from location to location, but the exact activities which would be done may require more time and consideration.
I would begin by flying from our home in Colorado to Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Then we would continue to Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada, to Labrador, New Foundland, to Boston, Massachusetts, then to Charleston, South Carolina.
From Charleston we would journey to Kingstown in St Vincent and the Grenadines. This modern capital was founded by French settlers shortly after 1722, although St Vincent had 196 years of British rule before her independence. Here the beautiful botanical garden which was conceived in 1765 is one of the oldest in the Western hemisphere. William Bligh, who was made famous from the Mutiny on the Bounty, brought seed of the breadfruit tree to this area for planting around 1793. Beyond the fabulous history, the unbelievable sites of nature will require at least a few days to soak in.
From this tropical paradise we would fly to Caracas, Venezuela, then to Santiago, Chile. We would continue to Stanley, Falkland Islands and on to Cape Town, South Africa. We would go north from here to Nairobi, Kenya.
The natural wonders of Kenya would be enjoyed by a fantastic 7-day tour of 2 national parks. We would begin at the world-famous Maasai Mara with its breathtaking numbers of large game, before heading to the stunning scenery of Lake Nakuru and Amboseli to enjoy the delights in these areas. All of these marvels would be enjoyed under the assistance of a local tour guide so the entire experience would be one that we would be talking about for many months to come.
Then our journey would continue to Casablanca, Morocco, then to Barcelona, Spain, on to the beautiful Dublin, Ireland and up to Bergen, Norway. Our sites would be next directed to Hamburg, Germany: The Gateway to the World! The green city on the water is not just one of the most beautiful cities in Germany but, the normally reticent citizens of the hanseatic city also have difficulty hiding their pride about “their” city.
From dusty porcelain jugs to a chirpy family of ducks, you can find just about anything in the shadow of the 100-year old fish auction hall. Since1703 pretty much everything that is not bolted down has been traded here at Hamburg’s most traditional market.
After spending some time in this marvelous historic city we must move on. First traveling to Vienna, Austria, then we would make a stop in historic Athens, Greece. We would fly on to Bucharest, Romania, Helsinki, Finland and then to Kiev, Ukraine.
Our next stop would be in Ankara, Turkey. When I was in the military I spent two years in Turkey in the southern portion of the country along the Mediterranean Sea. I would look forward to spending some time in another part of the country.
Rising dramatically on a steep incline from the banks of the Enguri Su, Ankara, Turkey’s capital and second most populous city, is a modern European metropolis speckled with reminders of its varied history. Old castles and ruins from Hittite, Phrygian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman civilizations dot the landscape. The modern city includes government and state houses, major universities, military bases, consulates, bustling nightlife and the oldest park in the city, Genclik Park.
But least we begin to grow “roots” in somewhat familiar surroundings, our journey must continue to Mumbai, India. Then we would journey on to Ulan Bator, Mongolia and Shanghai, China with our jet zipping into Yokohama, Japan.
There is at least enough to do here for one day if not several. A visit to Minato Marai 21, a popular, modern neighborhood with great shopping and tons of restaurant options is a must. Many traveling sites recommend a stop at Big Wharf (Osanbashi Pier) to enjoy its uniquely shaped pier with spectacular views.
The Sky Garden is Japan’s highest observation deck on the 69th floor of the Landmark Tower, the tallest building in Yokohama standing at almost 1,000 feet. Using the really fast elevator you can reach the observatory in about 40 seconds. The observatory provides a 360-degree panoramic view of Yokohama city, the Yokohama Bay Bridge, and the Tokyo Tower and Mount Fuji (on clear days.)
Our journey continues as we fly to Bangkok, Thailand, then to Singapore, Malaysia, and on to Quezon City in the Philippines. Our next consideration will be the sites of Brisbane, Australia.
Sun-soaked Brisbane still has traces of friendly country hospitality underneath the cultural vibe of urban life yet also offers a striking city center. Here we find countless restaurants, theatres and cafes spilling happily into the streets, barely contained by the looping flow of the Brisbane River.
And the rolling hills that surround the city give a number of viewpoints, while the region contains some of the country’s finest tropical rainforest, reaching out to a string of glorious beaches washed by the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.
The coastline is dotted with idyllic islands. Moreton Island, just a 70 minute ferry ride from Brisbane, is the third largest sand island in the world, yet fewer than 100 residents call the island home. Most of the island is national park, creating a blissful paradise of sandy beaches, bush and lagoons. But before we decide to purchase some “home” property in this beautiful land we must continue our journey.
We fly to Wellington, New Zealand, then to Suva, Fiji and on to American Samoa. Our next leg of the journey finds us spending time in French Polynesia. Tahiti and Bora Bora are the most well known French Polynesian islands, thanks to their picture-perfect beaches and romantic ambiance. These islands are ideal for handholding, with their lush landscapes and mood-setting features like lagoons and grottos. The heart-shaped island of Mo’orea makes a wonderful base for divers and snorkelers eager to explore its surrounding barrier reef system. Feeding the massive, sacred eels of Huahine is a once-in-a-lifetime way to experience an important local ritual.
But we must finish up our journey around the world by stopping in Hawaii. Then our trip would go on to San Jose, Costa Rica and turn north to Acapulco, Mexico. It may be hard to believe but from here we would fly back home into Colorado and end our journey.
Of course, I only mentioned some the things we would do in the various locations that we would visit. However, I might have to “revisit” my thoughts on the duration of this journey. Maybe an ENTIRE YEAR would be a better time frame!
QUOTE TO CONSIDER
THOUGHTFUL GEM
Test Yourself:
"Does your life control you,
or Do YOU control your life?"
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