Ten Places I Want to Go but Haven't Been to - 2007 Fall Version
After 100+ Countries

中文版(Chinese Version)

posted on 10/2007

So far, 2007 is the best year in travel for me. I finally reached a lifelong goal of "100 countries by 40" (now I've been to 106). Aside from my overland, 10 country trip in Africa, I made another trip to the Balkans (also my 14th Euro-trip), and finally, took an Alaskan cruise with my parent.

So two of my "Top 10 Places I Wanted to Visit but Hadn't been to" at the beginning of 2007 were just visited. Another former Top 10, Venezuela, due to its crazy president (not because his anti-Bush stance, but because his recent hostility against Taiwan to kiss China's ass), was dropped in this new version of Top 10 list. Though I do believe Venezuela has some very friendly people, I don't think I will put that country back in Top 10 until Chavez leaves office.

So, here it is, three openings for my "Top 10 places I haven't been to but want to go." Which three new destinations makes it to my updated Top 10 at this moment? Voila, here they are...

10. Somaliland: Another country that declared independence and has done better than what it separated from but still remains unrecognized by international society for all the wrong reasons. Yes, United Nation would rather consider Somaliland still a part of anarchic Somalia than giving them any substantial help. Even so, Somaliland still does relatively well and enjoys peace since they declared independence in 1991. As a citizen from another country that gets snubbed by the world (because they all want to do business with the largest 'market' in the world), I can feel for Somalilanders. Though I'm not sure what is really interesting there (they supposedly have some nice Red Sea beaches), I decided to put them at my Top 10.

9. Easter Island, Chile: Moved up to No. 9 from No. 10. Even though I traveled to Chile last year, I visited only Chile's central valley and Lake District. Not only I did not get to the northern desert and southern fjord region, I also did not get to one of the most remote and isolated places in the world - Easter Island. It is so far and expensive to travel there, even from Santiago (Chilean capital). I always hold great fascination about an isolated, faraway, and mysterious place and Easter Island has all the qualities. And, don't you think those huge stone heads (Moai) are sort of cute? I would like to be in the same pictures with them (and to check who has a bigger head, I think it should be me!)...

8. Cuba: Enters my Top 10 for the first time. Though I traveled back to Caribbean again last March, I remain uninspired by most of those islands. Most of them are just too touristy and too Americanized (I didn't come to Aruba for Dunking Donut and Chi-Chi's). Maybe Cuba would be very different from that. "Buena Vista Social Club" also gave me some longing for Cuban music. The tricky part is, it is more difficult to travel from US to Cuba than from Taiwan to China. It is not even technically legal for Americans to go to Cuba...

7. Iceland: Now one of very, very few European countries I haven't been to (together with Belarus, Moldova, Malta, and Faroe Islands). It is actually closer to North America than any other European country but I just kept missing it. Of course, Iceland is an extremely expensive place to visit. And after the grand trip of 2007, I do need to save money for quite a while if Iceland is my next destination.

6. The Caucasus: Moved up to No. 6 from No.8. Definitely not the most stable region to visit. Though there are officially only three main countries in the region (Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan), there are several other "breakaway republics" and disputed territories (ever heard of "Nagorno-Karabakh"?). I have only seen this region from high above (a day-flight from Bangkok to Munich), but isn't the Caucasus mountains beautiful? Just wondering when Intrepid or G.A.P. will start offering tours to this region...

5. Central Asia: Also moved up two notches. Most of them are also former USSR republics like the Caucasus. Uzbekistan is the country I want to visit the most since I want to see some ancient silk road cities like Bukhara and Samarkand; I also want to see the magnificent Tian-Shan (Sky Mountain) in Kyrgystan and the home of Borat (LOL) - Khazakstan. Some other countries in this region may be interesting but not very stable at this moment, such as Tajikistan, and yes...Afghanistan...

4. The Rest of Ukraine and Moldova: Wait! Have I just visited Ukraine last year? Yes, but only to the western city of L'viv. The L'viv experience, though frustrating, actually increase my interest in seeing more of this former Soviet country. I would like to go to Kiev, Odessa, and the beautiful Crimean Peninsula next time. Maybe also go to see the ruin of Chernobyl Nuclear Planet (Assuming it is safe from radiation of course). If there is enough time, I would also add Moldova (another European country I haven't been to) together with my Ukraine tour plan

3. The Antarctica and Southern Patagonia: Now the Antarctica is the only continent I haven't been to and the easiest place to get there is from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego in Southern Patagonia. It would be an ultimate dreamtrip to combine a journey to both Antarctica and Patagonia. Okay, I was also traveled to Patagonia in 2006. But I was only in the Northern part of it (Lake District and Valdez Peninsula). There are still many places left unseen, especially the spectacular Torre del Paine National Park in Chile and Moreno Glacier in Argentina. I definitely cannot wait for another return visit to Argentina.

2. Rajasthan, India: No, I haven't been to India yet. After U.S. Canada, and Australia, after China and Russia, and even after Brazil and Argentina, I haven't had a chance to visit this second most populous and 7th biggest country in the world. Another ancient civilization with a lot great cultural heritage sites, it is now the country I want to visit most. Among all of India, the area I would like to see most is the northwestern region of Rajasthan, an area with a lot temples and palaces. Jaipur, Udaipur, Jopdpur, Bikaner, and Jaiselmer...each of the names holds its intrigue for me. While Agra, where Taj Mahal is located, is not in Rajasthan Province, it is also very near this region. It would be another ultimate dreamtrip of lifetime. Ironically, India had been No. 1 on my list for quite awhile but now falls to No. 2. So I have a new No. 1!

And guess which place is my new No 1? THE place I really, really want to visit but haven't been to?

1. Truly visiting Ethiopia: Yes, I was at the Addis Ababa airport on my way from Uganda to Dubai. However, even I don't think that counts (I wasn't even allow to get out of the plane). Maybe a surprise for some but not for others, what on earth, after traveling in Africa for 7 weeks, my No. 1 unvisited destination is still in Africa!? Actually, Ethiopia may have more great historic sites than any other Sub-Saharan countries. It also has famous Nile River (the source of Blue Nile at Lake Tana). One of the oldest civilizations (and one of oldest Christian countries) in the world, it remains off the tourism radar for most of the past few decades due to war and internal disturbances (If you're old enough to remember "We Are the World," you know what I'm talking about). Now peace hopefully has come to Ethiopia (well, most parts of it but not all) and hope things continue to improve there. Maybe 2008? By the way, have I mentioned I like Ethiopian food?