In honor of Nicole’s post and elephants everywhere, I’ve decided to make my own bucket list. I’m sure you care where I want to explore. Most of mine are due to pop culture references. C’mon people, it’s for the elephants!
1. Santorini, Greece: My inner pre-teen still wants to be Lena from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Have you seen that perfect Greek boy in the perfect blue water?
2. Venice, Italy: William Goldman, the author of The Princess Bride, also wrote a wonderful book called The Silent Gondoliers. “Once upon a time, the gondoliers of Venice possessed the finest voices in all the world. But, alas, few remember those days–and fewer still were ever blessed to hear such glorious singing. No one since has discovered the secret behind the sudden silence of the golden-voiced gondoliers.” Plus, I’m afraid the city will sink before I can see it!
3. Bora Bora: Again with that blue, blue water. An episode I caught of the Kardashians vacationing there actually made me wish for a moment that I was a Kardashian. I hope that feeling never returns.
4. Las Vegas, Nevada: Inspired by every raunchy movie bachelor party, ever. Willing women deserve debauchery, too.
5. The Northern Lights/ Aurora Borealis: This is the physicist’s daughter in me. Do you know how when you are driving in the snow, and the snow flakes are zooming right toward the windshield like the stars do in Star Wars, and it looks amazing? That phenomenon is called optic flow. I will never forget that stupid random fact. Thanks, Dad.
6. Ireland: Admit it, P.S. I Love You 1) made you cry, 2) made you want Gerard Butler/ Jeffrey Morgan, and 3) made you want to literally roll around on those rolling green hills. As a bonus, Artemis Fowl lives there.
7. London, England: Unavoidable, thanks to J.K. Rowling, Roald Dahl, and a thousand other literary friends. I half resent my need to visit here. It is as if I never had a choice otherwise, and those famous, brilliant authors have conspired against me.
8. Toledo, Spain: Just look at the image above. You are mind-drooling at the thought of going there and having a beautiful yet interesting time.
9. India: There is amazing food, history, art, beaches, and everything else you could desire. Entire rock cave temples and preserved abandoned cities await.
10. Angkor Wat, Cambodia: This local hosts the world’s most sacred temples, perfect for quiet contemplation. It is a destination not on the basic tourist list, and would leave anyone with a more unique experience. It would also let me feel like a hardcore archaeological explorer, like Indiana Jones or Lara Croft. Here’s hoping!
Sure, there weren’t many plausibly wild elephants in this list. Your travel doesn’t need to destroy, and your support of the cause can make a difference. Like Nicole said, if you don’t know about the plight of the elephants- educate yourself.
My top 10 bucket list post is a part of Save Elephant Foundation’s blog carnival to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Elephant Nature Park.
