My daughter has recently posted her 2012 travel goals. For some reason I am also in the mood to visit new places. For the past few days, when I am at home, my first sentence always starts with “I want….”
I want to go there, I want to visit this…. I figured, I should go to more places that I haven’t been to or go back to the places that I have been wanting to but kept on postponing because of time, energy and budget constraints. I told Edmund, I want to go here and there, while my knees can still climb stairs and hills, while I can still see, while I am still strong enough to travel.
Not that we haven’t been traveling. I have travelled far and wide, around the world and back. We travel all the time but there are still so much to see and to do out there. We will do it more systematically this time. I will make a notebook and plot the countries or cities or places we want to visit, the restaurants we want to try, shopping, sight-seeing, basta everything that I want to do, go na kami.
When it comes to traveling, we are not adventurous. We tend to venture into the same place again and again. But this time, we will give priority to new places in addition to those we regularly visit.
We always go somewhere from December 26 – 30, this early we have to plan and get airplane tickets. No to Hongkong this time. My daughter wants Cambodia, Edmund likes Honolulu or Guam. Last time Edmund visited Guam was 30 years ago with the Glowing Goldies. UST brought their varsity team to play in an exhibition game. Mag-boyfriend pa kami noon. Last time he and my kids went to Hawaii was 20 years ago. My mother, father and Aileen flew in from San Francisco, we met-up in Hawaii. My father rode the choo-choo train to the Dole pineapple plantation with Oyen, then 7 years old. I still wear one of the dasters I bought during that trip, ang nipis na ng tela sa kalalaba pero favorite ko pa rin.
USA- We always go to the West Coast or East Coast. Nothing in between. Next time I want to go to New Orleans, Maine, Chicago, Georgia, Missouri, Buffalo, Colorado, etc. I want to go back to Seattle. I was there with President Ramos eh ang bilis lang naman namin, parang one day lang. We met with Bill Gates, lahat kami naka Americana tapos dumating si Bill Gates naka maong.
I want to go to Sta. Monica and shop at the flea market with the Shabby Chic founder. I received an invitation from American Express 4 years ago to join a flea market tour and have lunch with her but there were conflicts in my schedule. I want to bring my family to Mt. Rushmore and Niagara Falls.
I will plot all the American states, para akong Si Romney, susuyurin ko lahat ng states to get a Republican nomination.
ENGLAND- pURO NA LANG London, next time I wish to visit Scotland and Ireland. St. Andrews is a must for golfers like Edmund. We were supposed to go last year but his golf buddies backed-out kasi mga nagkuripot, mahal daw. Next year, with our without his golf friends, Edmund and I are going with God’s blessing. Habang malakas pa si Edmund pumalo ng golf balls.
Edinburgh Castle in Scotland
Dromoland Castle
Village of cobh, Ireland
SAPPORO- to bathe in the snow. Last year we cancelled our plans because we didn’t have time to prepare and renew our Japanese visas.
RUSSIA- I have been there with President Ramos’ business delegation. Next time I want to bring Edmund, Nyke and Oyen. There’s an APEC gathering of women end of this month, but I couldn’t go. Even if I manage to go, it would just be me, not with my family. But I want them to be with me next time I visit Russia.
St. Petersburg, where the Women’s APEC gathering would be held end of this month.
PRAGUE- this city is gorgeous. Again, I have been here and visited the Sto. Nino de Praga church. We only stayed for two days. I just sneeked out, took a cab to bring me to the church. Meron pa ngang Tagalog na misa doon. I want to go back, stay for 7 days with my family.
HIMALAYAS -just to gaze at the magnificent snowcapped mountains. Those that have been there told me that’s the closest you can get to heaven, on earth.
AVIGNON- this medieval town is in the southeastern part of France, 580 km away from Paris. We were supposed to go 9 years ago pero natamad ako bigla.
I want to join Antique tours in England, Italy and France. I’m good at spotting cheap but nice decors. I want to bring home century old porcelain dinner plates originally owned by Kings and Queens.
I want to attend Basel World, the annual watch exhibition in Switzerland para mag-usyoso lang.
I want to join or watch the Fallas Fiesta or Pallera’s procession at the Plaza dela Virgen in Valencia, Spain and see the 50 meters tall Madonna at the townsquare. Their fiesta is held yearly from March 15-19 and ends with an amazing fireworks display and massive burning of giant papier mache effigies called Fallas.
I want to go back to Marseille, south of France and join the culinary tour with a Michelin star French Chef.
I want to go back to Tuscany and stay for 3 months or until I get bored, but this I have to defer due to time constraints. Maybe I’ll do this when I am 65 years old and not so busy anymore.
It’s me singing one of my favorite songs. Ka duet ko si husband.
Everything in this world started with a dream, and its free
I want….. I want…… I want……
Aywan!
