So I’m walking down the street one day on my way to the supermarket to buy some washing detergent. I see the local convenience store, the aquarium, the lane where my aunt lives. I pass the spice shop on the right next to that clothes store where the assistants look at me all funny. And I realize something – I’ve seen this all before! I’ve known this life for as long as I can remember, and sure it’s had its ups and downs but it’s pretty much been on the same plane for the past few years – no twists or turns or summersaults.
It’s kind of made me think that I’d like a change. It may not be today or tomorrow or even next year, but I’ve decided that soon I’d like to step out of my comfort zone and out into the wider world. After all, there’s so much out there I haven’t already seen that it would be a shame not to try, so I made a list of all the places I want to see (or even live in) before I die. The list is longer than the distance between my fridge and Istanbul, so I’ve just included just a few here, but I hope all the same that I get my message across that the world is a wonderful place and you’ll never know what’s out there unless you get out there yourself.
Vienna, Austria
What first got me thinking about Vienna was Billy Joel’s song of the same name. It’s just nice to think that whatever happens in life, “Vienna waits for you.” There’s just something so peaceful about the place. Sure the taxes are through the roof, but as far as I know the healthcare’s good, people have jobs and the violins in the song sound mighty nice, and any place that’s associated with violins must be awesome.
Tuscany, Italy
To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t mind going anywhere in Italy. The place just sounds so gorgeously welcoming! The cobbled footpaths, the beaches, the Mediterranean weather, the soccer…the FOOD!! It sounds like a real dream location! Why I picked Tuscany is that my high school friend and I made an agreement to retire there together when the time came. Just imagine that – two elderly crones playing soccer at the beach…Under the Tuscan Sun.
Tavira, Portugal
Sure it’s not as famous as Lisbon or any of those big cities in neighbouring Spain, but that’s why I like it. Tavira in South Portugal is one of the few places that actually IS one of the country’s best-kept secrets (and doesn’t just CLAIM to be so). Tavira Portugal has got some beautiful architecture and natural surroundings that are interwoven into the perfect setting for anyone who wants to get away for while. Plus the culture has been influenced by both the Christians and the Moors, so the sites are guaranteed to look interesting.
Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
I’ve actually already been here before, but I liked it so much that I really wouldn’t mind going there again. Sigiriya is actually this giant rock in Central Sri Lanka that was once this giant fortress of an ancient Ceylonese Kingdom. You can still see the rock shelters at the base and the wall frescos higher up, and the view from the top is positively breathtaking. The ascent is made on a flight of stairs, carved into the rock at some points and fitted in at others. I didn’t quite enjoy having the circulation in my hand cut off by my dear friend’s death grip as she made her tremulous way up the steps, but even so, climbing this rock is a great way for all those acrophobics out there to conquer their fears.
Hawaii, America
America would never be the place I’d want to live in, unless it was to get a higher education and get the hell out of there, but two names have constantly come up as the best places to live in the entire country, and they are San Francisco California and Honolulu Hawaii. I’m more garlands, dolphins and volcanoes than night clubs, private cars and handy cams, so I pick Hawaii!