Travel Bucket List 2016

Is it just me , or did 2016 sneak up on us? With January already gone, the time seems to be racing away fast and if you know me at all , I like to plan things in advance. With a full time job , it is not always possible for me to just pack my bags and head away . Between my vacation days and floating days I get 18 holidays in total , while they are not a lot , they are not less to be complained about either. 2015 had been a very eventful year for us. I turned 30 and celebrated that in absolute wilderness of Canadian Rockies aka Banff National Park. Got the taste of Scandinavia by visiting Norway , Denmark , Sweden and Iceland. And no year is complete without visiting India. Team all this with my weekend getaways to places around Boston , all I can say about 2015 “There was never a dull moment”.

There are definitely few places more favorite than the others that I would like to visit this year. And if you have been following me on facebook , you already know that I have termed my bucket list as “MBEST” (do leave a comment below if you were able to guess all the places from my acronym) . The old cliché “ so much to see , so little time” has never rung so true. So without further adieu here is my “Travel Bucket list 2016 “ , not sure how many of them will I be able to visit but I guess making a list is a good starting point.

M for Morocco :

Located in the continent of Africa, Morocco is a country that has an interesting history and a lot of cultural diversity . From imperial cities of Marrakech , Fes and Meknes famous for their wonderful bazaars and palaces to beach side towns of Essaouira, Tangier and Asilah , Morocco has a natural beauty that can leave you captivated for years. And you know what , if I am going there, I am not coming back without trekking through Sahara Desert. Sounds like a good plan to me.

B for Bolivia :

There are two thing that have always captivated me to go to Bolivia : – Salar De Uyuni (salt flats) and opportunity to see hot pink lagoons filled with flamingos. I have been researching a lot about Bolivia and while it appears to be all- year kind of destination , it does require quite a lot of planning to enjoy it in a budget. With a husband who is so passionate about photography , I am sure Bolivia is going to be “Manhar in wonderland”. While Bolivia definitely presents numerous photogenic landscapes , I am really excited to explore Amazon basin side of it too.

E for Ecuador :

Who doesn’t want to go to Ecuador, Right??. Set within a backdrop of natural wonders, packed with lush tropical forests and many active volcanoes, I just can’t wait to explore this wonderland. And who can forget the world famous Galapagoes. It is one of the Ecuador’s greatest draw, whose extraordinary wildlife inspired the likes of Charles Darwin. With its astounding biodiversity, impressive historical legacy, stunning colonial architecture, bustling highland markets and diverse mix of people , Ecuador is definitely among the top destinations of my bucket list.

S for Spain :

How many times does it happen that you see a place in a movie and it turns into an obsession to visit it. If you know me , I am a movie buff and ever since I have seen “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” , a bollywood movie , Spain has always been in the back of my mind. From history to architecture , Spain has it all. The beaches of Spain are well known to beach lovers and are some of the best in Europe. Spain is one of those countries which has a huge artistic heritage and I can’t wait to explore its palaces and churches. And how can I forget Spanish food and wine. Nom! Nom! Nom!

T for Tanzania :

Should I just go ahead and term 2016 as the “Year to see wildlife in wild” . I have never been to a wildlife safari before and they say Tanzania is African Mecca for that. Besides that, I will definitely try that when I return , I am able to say “ I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro” . While people think Africa is all about wildlife , it is so much more than that. For once I wish , I could quit my job or at least could get a month long vacation to see this continent in its entirety : beaches, people, culture, history , landscape and of course wildlife.

Besides the places in my bucket list there are so many other places that I would love to revisit. Actually I want to re-live my 2015 travel experiences. Iceland and Norway have been the most spectacular places I have ever visited and given a chance I would go back there in a heart-beat . They say spontaneity is the key to fulfilling your dreams. I hope in 2016 I am spontaneous enough and would be able to tick of these items from my list. What’s on your list? Have you already started planning youe next big adventure . Do share your bucket list in comments below. And thank you for stopping by.