South America

Travel Resolutions: 2018 Edition

New year, new me, right? Well, I’m still working on that second part, but happily I am on my way. Within a few months, I hope to be back to full health and able to pick up on globetrotting around the world once again!

Last month I shared some of my tentative travel plans for the next year. In a similar spirit, I’d like to now offer my 2018 travel resolutions—things I want to do, or continue, or get better at, all somehow relating to my life as a traveler. Here goes:

Melissa’s 2018 Travel Resolutions

See more of South America. I have one of those scratch-off world maps hanging on my wall that shows how many parts of the globe you’ve visited. And I must admit, mine has a glaring empty corner so far: South America. I’ve only briefly been to Buenos Aires, which was fantastic but hardly representative of an entire vast, diverse continent. Luckily Argentina is big so my map doesn’t look quite as embarrassing as it might otherwise, but still. I’ve been longing to visit Chile and Brazil for ages, and this year I plan to make it happen and begin to fill in the gaps in my South American experience.
Finally make it to Russia! I was going to do this last year, but life intervened. Well, suck it, life, because this year I am going to Russia and nothing will stand in my way! (Fingers crossed, of course. Yes, I’m always paranoid when I make pronouncements like that…maybe “be more confident” and “worry less” need to go on my general resolution list. Anyway…) I sincerely hope that 2018 is finally the year I set eyes on St. Petersburg and absorb everything this magical-looking city has to offer.
Spend time in England with my family. My mom is from England, so I have a large extended family spread throughout the southern part of the country (and a few who’ve moved to Ireland, France, and Australia!) I love London and try to fit it into any trip to Europe; I was last there in 2016 just before visiting Slovenia and Croatia. But my London trips always last just a few days and I barely have time to reconnect with family and pop into the British Museum before it’s time to leave again. I’m hoping to carve out more time for England and visiting family this year, hopefully outside of London too. I’d love to spend a week in the country, with a few days in London and a few visiting family elsewhere (Bath is most likely, as my aunt, uncle, and cousin all reside there). Not exactly sure if I’ll do a stand-alone trip to the UK or add extra time to another trip, but “more time with family in England” is definitely high on my list this year.
Add on a destination to a work trip. I should be doing some more international work travel this year, so it may be feasible to tack on a quick trip to a nearby country/island. We shall see….but I have quite a few new countries I’d like to seize the opportunity to visit with a few extra vacation days!
Visit a new U.S. city. While my travels are largely international, for the past few years I’ve tried to visit at least one new U.S. city. Seattle in 2015, Portland in 2016, and I guess Philadelphia sort of counted in 2017 as I hadn’t been there in 12 years. This year, New Orleans is on my wish list, but a few other places are calling my name as well….
Look into carbon offsets. I meant to start doing this last year, but since I didn’t fly very much it didn’t end up happening (I guess one positive to my being mostly homebound is that it was a slight boon to our environment?) But this year I definitely plan to explore offsetting the environmental impacts of my long flights, as well as trying to combine trips together when possible to avoid lots of separate plane rides.
Take advantage of NYC work trips to eat all the food. I get to travel to NYC a few times a year for my job. While I like the work part of these trips, I’ve never been enamored of the Big Apple. However, not only do I enjoy seeing friends and family when I go, I must admit that I love the NYC food scene! I don’t believe I’ve ever had a bad meal there (credit goes to those same friends and family who bring me to awesome places to dine). Not only that, but NYC does desserts and sweets very well. I really want to check out City Bakery for its delicious-looking hot chocolate (I’m a connoisseur so my hot chocolate standards are high, but this place does seem amazing). And apparently there’s also a trendy new place that serves edible cookie dough?! Yep, I’m there.
Do a birthday yoga retreat. I’ve been toying with the idea of a yoga retreat in Costa Rica for a while, and I think my birthday next December will be a perfect time to do it. This will give me all year to save and plan, and provide a lovely way to end what will hopefully be a much better year for me than the last. See a new country AND do yoga, swim, and get massages all day long…sounds pretty much like heaven to me.
Figure out how to travel hack better. See number 6—I meant to do this last year but it ended up not mattering much since I traveled so little. Time to get on the ball now. Maybe a new credit card to earn miles and privileges is the way to go? In any case, I need to ensure I’m enrolled in all the appropriate airline miles programs (hangs head in shame…I am the worst-hacking traveler ever, and I know it). Here’s to doing better in 2018!
Keep planning and saving for new adventures in 2019. As much as I hope to travel this year, I want to do just as much, if not more, exploring in 2019! So I want to be sure to steadily save money and keep my eye on my 2019 travel goals, especially as my big 2018 trips should mostly wind down at the end of summer. New Zealand? Bali? Russia and Mongolia? It’s all on the table…stay tuned for more news this time next year. In the meantime, having new adventures on both the intermediate and more distant horizons is always a balm for my soul.

I could probably keep going, but ten resolutions seems like plenty, wouldn’t you say? I like to be ambitious, but best to keep all of these resolves at least somewhat grounded in reality. If I achieve even a fraction of what I’ve put on this list, I think I’ll have a pretty fantastic travel year!

(Oh, and also, I’m going to read more—I finished 18 books last year, which is okay, but I’m hoping to hit 25 this year. Not strictly travel related, but I wanted to toss that in there to help hold myself accountable.)

Here’s to a year of adventures, exploration, and happiness ahead! With as many beaches and European cafes tossed into the mix as possible….

Do you make travel resolutions? What are you hoping to achieve in 2018?

Central America, London, Russia, South America, Travel Musings

Jan

2018

My 2018 Travel Goals

Melissa Kaplan0

It’s December, which means it’s time for all those ubiquitous “where I’ve been this year/where I’m going next year” posts to appear on myriad travel blogs. I don’t have much to contribute to the former category this year; It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a proper overseas adventure, due to circumstances beyond my control. And as a traveler, not to mention a travel blogger, this has been pretty tough: not the biggest problem I’ve faced this year by any means (good riddance 2017, and don’t let the door hit you on the way out), but still, it’s been hard watching so many of my friends and family effortlessly globetrotting while I’ve been forced to remain in one place for way too long.

So, I don’t have much to say about my 2017 travels since they were more or less non-existent (sorry, Philadelphia, you were fun!). And honestly, I’ve been hesitant to write in much detail about my travel plans for 2018 either, since this past year has taught me that the best-planned adventures can fall by the wayside when life blows up in your face unexpectedly. I’ve been afraid if I share too much about my travel hopes and dreams for next year before they actually happen, I’ll be jinxing them.

However, this is no way to live. I have every expectation of returning to a life of travel in 2018, and while I don’t want to get into too much detail yet as nothing is confirmed, it can’t hurt to share a few tidbits about some places I’m hoping to explore in the new year, so here goes!

Melissa’s 2018 Travel Goals (At Least the Highlights!)

Chile: I’ve been longing to explore Chile for years, and the more I read about this South American country the more overwhelmed I get because it just looks too amazing: I want to see everything and go everywhere! While this won’t be possible in a single trip, I always think it’s a good sign if a destination gives you mad wanderlust and makes you want to explore it top to bottom before you even arrive. I hope to spend at least a few days this year discovering the urban charms of Santiago, walking the hilly streets of Valparaiso, and visiting the beautiful wine country. Vineyards, mountains, oceans, and of course a city full of restaurants, museums and cafes: sounds like a perfect trip to me!
Finland: I feel like Finland was the “it” travel destination for many people in 2016/2017, so I’m a bit late to the party, but nothing will dampen my excitement over exploring Helsinki–which looks like the most magical, cafe- and museum-filled European city imaginable–and hopefully getting out into the countryside a bit to see more of the country. And saunas: there will definitely have to be saunas!
Russia: As readers who’ve been following my blog for a while know, Russia has long been the ultimate dream destination for me. My plans to finally visit this majestic country were thwarted this year, but I believe 2018 will be the year I finally make it happen. Looks like I need to fulfill my promise to my dad to finish slogging through Crime and Punishment before I set foot in St. Petersburg….

This is just a sampling of places I hope to visit in 2018, but it’s definitely a start! Here’s to a happy, healthy year filled with travel adventures, if we so choose, for all of us. Happy new year everyone!

How was your 2017 for travel? Where do you hope to visit in 2018?

Russia, Scandinavia, South America, Travel Musings

Dec

2017

The (Inevitable) Bucket List

Melissa Kaplan1

Sometimes, when I get bored, I play a little game: I ask myself if I could only visit ten more countries ever in my life, which ones would I choose?

Gah! That is a way more difficult decision for me than it probably is for most people. While I’ve been fortunate enough to see a lot of amazing places around the world, I’m by no means finished, and narrowing down my aspirations to just ten countries is downright wrenching. But it does provide some good entertainment and food for thought, as well as help me shine a light on where my travel dreams, and priorities, really lie. I suppose you could call my chosen ten countries an abbreviated version of my bucket list.

In the travel world, the whole concept of the bucket list can be quite controversial. Some people swear by them; others decry them as an artificial construct that reduces travel to nothing but checking items off a list rather than seeking out surprising new places, being spontaneous, and having authentic experiences. Those criticisms are fair enough; that said, I’m a bucket list girl, myself. I can’t help it. I have always been kind of an obsessive orderer of my universe, and I love to have a plan. For me, planning a voyage is half as much fun as going on one!

So yes, I have a bucket list of sorts (which may or may not be written down in my Iphone notes section just so I don’t ever forget the places I want to see). But believe me, it’s a lot longer than ten countries. So, playing along for a few minutes—if I did have to limit myself to this number, which places would make the cut?

Melissa’s (Inevitable and Abbreviated) Bucket List—In Reverse Order, Because That’s More Exciting…

10) East Africa

This is probably a bit of an odd choice for me, because I’m one of those weird travelers who has absolutely no desire to go on a safari. I mean, if the opportunity arose I wouldn’t turn it down, but I’ve never particularly wanted to get into a jeep and stalk wild animals on a dusty road in the middle of nowhere. Not my scene.

However, since I visited South Africa last year, I’ve developed a much deeper interest in Africa and I really want to go back and explore more of the continent—different countries, a different region altogether. I’d be interested in Kenya or Ethiopia, but if I had to pick just one country as per the game, I’d go with Tanzania, since the photos I’ve seen of Zanzibar island look too magical to be real. Someday!

9) Brazil—But not at Carnevale, thanks. Loud partying crowds stress me out and I’m not 21 anymore. But I’m all for discovering the legendary beaches, waterfalls, and fruit juices. And no major time zone change! Hurray!

8) Costa Rica—This one has been on my list for a while. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about it, most of them revolving around nature, animals, jungle and ziplining, all of which sound interesting. But I must admit it’s the beaches that draw me most. And the relative proximity; it’s one of the few places on my list that aren’t halfway across the globe. So I’m saving it for when I want a relatively easy and painless but still amazing and exotic trip.

7) India—Mysterious, complex, loud, overwhelming, frustrating, fascinating, and exotic. So exotic. India doesn’t top my personal bucket list, but it’s solidly in the middle. I want to go when I have at least a few weeks to really explore and do it justice—Rajastan, Jaipur, Mumbai, Goa. A nice long, luxurious train ride through some epic scenery. And of course, the Taj Mahal, and lots and lots of (Indian) food and yoga.

6) New Zealand—I owe my newfound desire to explore New Zealand from top to bottom solely to one person: Young Adventuress. Seriously, until I stumbled on her blog a few months ago, I had zero interest in going to New Zealand (so far away, and how different could it be from Australia anyway?) Well, I am now ashamed of my former profound ignorance about New Zealand, and am rapidly devouring YA’s website posts about Kiwi life, most of which feature so-staggering-they-look-fake snowcapped mountain ranges and big blue pools in the middle of nowhere. I’m a convert. I’m going!

5) Australia—Great Barrier Reef. Enough said. (Except for the Whitsunday Islands. Got to check those out too).

4) Vietnam—Vietnam is another country that’s only recently popped onto my radar and seems determined to stay in the upper tier of my bucket list till I actually make my visit happen (which if all goes as planned, will hopefully be next year). I’ve heard about the charming cities, the affordable luxury, the kind-hearted people and the incredible food. But what really pulls me in and won’t let go is Ha Long Bay. Those giant rocks rising out of the sea, amid a screen of fog that casts everything in the light of mystery and undiscovered beauty. If I see nothing else in Vietnam (and don’t worry, I will), I will absolutely experience that magical spot.

3) Slovenia—Ah, Slovenia. How has this trip not happened yet? I’ve come so close so many times! I’ve traveled through Italy and Croatia, your next-door neighbors. I almost pulled the trigger and booked a weekend trip to Ljubljana while I was living in London, but decided on Krakow at the last minute (not that I regret this, as Krakow is wonderful). But somehow, I’ve still never made it to this beautiful jewel of a land in Central Europe where lakes and mountains and waterfalls and beaches and wine abound, where the photographs are so beautiful they almost hurt my eyes, where there are apparently so many shades of blue in the water that you could spend your entire time there sitting back and counting them all. I’ve decided, as with Vietnam, that next year is the year for Slovenia. No more excuses. This is happening. I’m coming, Slovenia!

2) Bali—A lush, beautiful, mysterious island loaded with gorgeous beaches, magical foliage, and spas. So many spas. I am a craven lover of luxury, so you better believe that if there’s a spa involved, I’m in. That being said, the natural beauty and culture of Bali have already tugged at my heart, and while I’d like to explore even more of Indonesia, Bali is at the top of the list. I don’t care if it’s a cliché by now…if I haven’t been there, it’s new to me. This is one trip that’s got a solid timeframe on it: my next milestone birthday, I’m there. (Not on my actual birthday because that’s too close to a major holiday. But right afterward!)

`1) Russia/China/Mongolia and the Trans-Siberian Express

I know, I know, that’s cheating because it’s technically three countries, but so what? Is there any adventure more legendary, epic, or enticing than hopping on the Trans-Siberian Express and crossing nearly half the world’s land surface on a six-day train ride? I can’t think of one. Russia has been calling to me for years—it’s my “I’m so embarrassed I haven’t been there yet” country—but as much as I want to see Moscow and St. Petersburg, why stop there? Why not just take a train journey across the whole country, stopping off in little villages from European Russia to Siberia and popping into Lake Baikal for a dip? I can’t even write about it any more without making myself hopelessly travel-lusty, so I’ll stop there. For me, the Trans-Siberian Express will always be the ultimate bucket list item—so much so that I’ll be almost sorry to complete it. But not quite.

What’s on your bucket list, if you have one? Share all the where’s and why’s, please!

Asia, Eastern/Central Europe, Slovenia, South America, Travel Musings

Oct

2015

The Challenges of Short-Term Travel

Melissa Kaplan2

Today I stumbled upon a blog post about a small country in Southeast Asia. The blogger began by noting that, sadly, she “only” had a month to spend in this particular place, and wished she could have stayed longer (it did sound quite lovely). But I couldn’t help shaking my head a bit at this statement: four weeks in one country?! I could probably see (at least the highlights of) Southeast Asia in four weeks!

I’ve long been a traveler who takes lots of super-quick trips. This is not particularly because I like them, but because that’s just the way my travel life has worked out. I never spent a summer backpacking through Europe as a teenager, or saved up for a six-month leisurely Southeast Asia trek in my twenties. I had no idea, for years, that either of these were viable options.

Growing up, I traveled a fair amount with my family—Bermuda every summer; Europe a few times to see family; trips in the U.S. to Boston, California, Atlanta, Cape Cod. I wasn’t travel-deprived, but neither did I consider long-term travel as something I might be able to do as an adult. I was twenty-four when I first heard the expression “backpacking through Europe” on a TV show I was watching. I was in my thirties before it even occurred to me that South America or Southeast Asia might be worth a look.

The travel bug hit me relatively late in life. And by the time it did, I had a career I couldn’t just pick up and leave easily. I did finally quit my job in my late twenties to move overseas, living in Prague and London for two years, both of which were amazing experiences and allowed me to squeeze in lots of side trips to other interesting European hot spots; but again, these were short weekend trips. The longest continuous trip I’ve ever taken lasted two weeks (Italy and Croatia). Usually, my overseas travels are squeezed into a week (if I’m lucky) or even a long weekend, if I have to be especially mindful of using up vacation days.

Despite all this, I’ve managed to visit nearly thirty countries. I’ve found a way to make short-term travel feasible for myself and have packed a lot of destinations into the past decade. I certainly can’t complain.

Yet reading this particular blog post made me feel a bit wistful. How wonderful would it be to have months on end to explore a new continent or country—to really get to dig in, uncover hidden secrets, not feel rushed, and truly get to slow down and enjoy the journey?

Making a Change

Not long ago, I decided I wanted to check out a new country in South America (which shall remain nameless until my plans firm up—there have to be some surprises, after all!) At first I thought I could fit it into an extra-long weekend and only take three days off work—saving up those precious vacation days, woohoo!

But the more I considered my potential itinerary, the more exhausted it made me feel, which is possibly a sign that I’m getting old, but whatever. Did I really want to fly twelve hours each way to be in a new city and country for only three days? The more I thought about it, the less fun it sounded to me.

On my most recent trip to Iceland, I only spent three days in the country. For Iceland, this actually worked out okay, because it’s compact enough that you can see a lot in that period and the flight time and jet lag aren’t prohibitive. Still, as much as I enjoyed my trip, it was rather exhausting to head to the airport straight from a full day of work (still answering work emails on the way to catch my flight), fly overnight, then three days later be back on the plane so I could repeat the journey and be at work again the next morning. In fact, several colleagues who are facebook friends and had been following my trip online were shocked to see me back already when I’d been posting photos of my visit to the Blue Lagoon literally the day before!

All this has made me realize something: I need to slow down. I love travel, I love seeing as many new places as I can possibly find the means to explore. But I need to do it at a more sane pace. I need more time to relax and unwind and truly enjoy the places I’m seeing. This may mean fewer trips, but longer, slower-paced, and ultimately, more rewarding ones.

I’m still planning to go to South America in the spring, but not for a quickie trip. Instead, I want to take off a whole week (hey, it’s not a month but it’s the best I can do), have several days to explore the capitol and surrounding countryside, and actually have a full recovery day on the other end when I get home. Planning a trip that way feels like a wonderful luxury, and I’m excited (rather than exhausted) just thinking about how great it will be.

I may never be able to while away half a year in Europe or Asia, but I think those who can are both very fortunate and onto something important. Slower, deeper, and more relaxing travel has all kinds of benefits, not the least of which is that it makes travel feel like a pleasure rather than a chore. And that’s the way it should be.

Are you a slow traveler, or do you prefer shorter trips? How do you fit travel into the rest of your life? Any tips or suggestions?

Iceland, South America, Travel Musings

Oct

2015