"50 things to do before you die!"
"100 ideas for your bucket list!"
These are common headlines around the internet and in magazines, and no doubt spur some people to rush out and write their own list. I have never felt the need to do this, possibly because I have been fortunate to have had some pretty amazing experiences, and visited some incredible places during my "normal" lifetime, and, though there are places I would still like to see, and things I would still like to do, I feel that if I made a list - apart from deciding what to leave off - then if I didn't manage to complete it I would feel as though I have failed. Unless you have unlimited funds, and unlimited time, it is more than likely that you will "fail" to do everything (and if you actually manage to complete your list, what next - another list?), and the last thing I want is to sit and regret never having visited the Taj Mahal, or reached Everest Base Camp, or Bungee jumped off a bridge, but rather to remember all the wonderful places I have seen, and the incredible experiences I have had.
So this is my "Things I have done list" - all were, to me, pretty amazing, and I wish I had photographic evidence of them! So as not to put them in any order of importance I will try and list them chronologically (though will probably fail miserably as I think of new ones to add!).
- Make a long sea voyage on a liner (3 actually!) - twice out to Africa and once back
- Visit Africa
- Swim in the Atlantic Ocean
- Go on safari
- Fly in a plane
- See the Zambezi river
- Visit Victoria Falls
- Visit the Zimbabwe ruins (I am not talking about the country as it is now, but the ancient stone ruins)
- Travel on a paddle steamer
- Swim in the Indian Ocean
- Learn to play golf
- Ride a motorbike
- Drive a car (actually a Landcruiser jeep!)
- Visit South Africa
- Visit Denmark where I have family
- Visit Kenya
- Snorkel on the coral reef
- See the Rift Valley
- Learn to bake bread - commercially!
- Do a motorbike road trip from UK to Denmark - through Belgium, Holland and Germany!
- Buy a 650cc motorbike
- Ride a bike at 120mph (scared myself and never did it again!)
- Buy a house
- Get married
- Become a father
- Visit Swaziland
- Visit Kruger National Park
- Learn Archery
- Learn Abseiling (artificial wall)
- Learn climbing (artificial wall)
- Become qualified activity instructor
- Get divorced
- Buy a VW Camper Van
- Visit Spain
- Visit Tunisia
- Visit Brazil
- Visit Morro do Sao Paulo
- Visit the Chapada Diamantina National Park
- Live in Brazil
- Do charity work
- Visit Iguacu
- Visit the Pantanal
- Spend Carnaval in Salvador
- Visit Peru
- Visit Islas Ballestas
- Visit Huanchaco
- Swim in the Pacific Ocean
- Live in Peru
- Visit Chachapoyas
- Visit Quelap
- Visit Gocta waterfall (16th tallest in the world)
- Visit Scotland
- Tour by motorbike in Peru
- Drive through the Maranon Canyon by motorbike (deeper than the Grand Canyon)
- Visit Huaraz
- Drive along Duck Canyon (considered to be one of the world's most dangerous roads)
- Visit the USA
- Drive (most of!) Route 66
- See the Grand Canyon
- See Hoover Dam
- Take a boat trip on Lake Mead
- Drive a convertible Ford Mustang (in California)
- Visit Utah
- Celebrate Thanksgiving
- Get a tattoo
That will do for now (I have no doubt missed some out and will revisit it - after all I have not kicked that bucket yet!) - and if I had to pick the highlight it would have to be #25 - I was there at the birth of my daughter and it was the most magical experience!
