Bucket List

I keep a piece of loose-leaf paper on my bookshelf, dated “Wednesday, July 21, 2010”.  It’s a bucket list that I wrote with Roxanne in Thessaloniki on the balcony reaching out from her childhood bedroom.  I split it into three sections:  Places, Milestones, and Activities.

Below is my bucket list circa 2010, updated periodically.

Places

  • Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia  ✓  Summer, 2012
  • Spain
  • Italy
  • Buenos Aires, Argentina ✓ December, 2011
  • Ireland (besides Kerry, Claire, Tipp)  ✓ April, 2014
  • Brazil
  • Amsterdam
  • Prague ✓  May, 2013
  • Paris  ✓  August, 2013
  • London
  • Budapest
  • Grand Canyon
  • Turkey (Istanbul, Cappadocia) ✓ Istanbul, April, 2013
  • Croatia  ✓ August, 2015
  • Scotland
  • Peru (Macchu Picchu, Cuzco, Lima, Lake Titicaca) ✓ Fall, 2011
  • Alaska
  • South East Asia (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam)
  • Tanzania
  • Madagascar
  • Morocco
  • Egypt
  • Cuba
  • Haiti
  • Iran
  • Jordan
  • Indonesia
  • Philippines
  • India
  • Nepal

Milestones

  • Quit a job I hate  ✓ August, 2011
  • Find a mentor in the field of microfinance or development economics
  • Become a mentor
  • Go on a solo vacation/trip  ✓ Peru, 2011 (the first of many)
  • Learn Spanish  ✓  Colombia, 2012
  • Improve Russian  ✓ Georgia, 2013
  • Write a book
  • Show my art in a gallery
  • Open a photography/poetry/art cafe with Roxanne, in which we make everything from scones to wall art

Activities

  • Milk a cow ✓  Ireland
  • Learn to dance salsa  ✓  Colombia, 2012
  • Ride in a hot air balloon
  • Water ski (successfully)
  • Surf (successfully)
  • Take painting classes abroad
  • Go white-water rafting
  • Learn to cook in Italy, and generally eat everything in sight
  • Hike Milford Track in New Zealand
  • Go camping in Norway
  • See the Northern Lights
  • Volunteer again with Cross Cultural Solutions  ✓  Peru, 2011; Russia, 2012

71 comments

  1. ralietravels

    Love your list; we never had one but just seized what opportunities came our way — and fortunately many did and do. I would suggest there are many amazing places in the U.S. to see not on the coasts; just start with the list of National Parks. Crater Lake, Yosemite, Sequoia and all the parks in Utah are among our favorites.

    Reply

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  11. Alpinechick

    FAB blog, enjoyed reading your bucket list – i really should write mine down – all in my head! You can come whitewater rafting here in the Alps! Happy travels 🙂

    Reply
  12. sunandathesunshine

    When you visit India, make sure that you don’t miss Dera Beas (Amritsar) in North India. It’s an offbeat place which is not even listed under tourist destinations. I visited it this month and was so surprised that I don’t remember how many times I asked myself – “Am I really in India ? ” I can’t describe everything in short ; I am gonna blog about that place within few days. Will be happy to give you few ideas if you happen to visit Himachal Pradesh- one of the most beautiful states in India 🙂

    Reply
  18. ck

    HI Meghan,
    great blog. 🙂
    where is the picture on the left taken? (background) It reminds me of home (South Tyrol, Italy).
    I see on your bucket list that you want to get better at horse riding. Wanna come to see us in Greece, a paradise place with 12 horses, (www.yogaandhorseridingingreece.com), North Evia, simply stunning! I fell in love with the place when I first set foot on it.
    Best wishes,
    Carmen

    Reply
  21. rifanfauzan

    it’s a great bucket list! i see you put Indonesia up there, and i very very recommended Indonesia to you! you can do many things in Indonesia!

    Reply
  22. amandageissler

    So, this is really random and you do not know me at all but I just came across your blog and was inspired. I am currently making my own blog and have many of the same ideas you do as far as what to share. And strangely my bucket list is in three sections as well… interesting. It wasn’t until I saw you volunteered with CCS that I was really taken back… and in Peru!! So cool. I volunteered with CCS in Ghana and am actually venturing to Peru in January to volunteer and travel solo.

    Just want you to know you are inspiring others with your stories and insight on the world. Please continue to share and best of luck to you. I hope your lists continue grow and you enjoy putting that check mark next to each one that is completed.

    Reply
  23. Cadence Rose

    This list is awesome, I hope you don’t mind but I’m using it as a template for a Bucketlist of my own (just the Milestone, Activities, and Places). Good luck with your travels. You’re inspiring for sure 🙂

    Reply
  24. Kelly M Diggle

    I seriously recommend Morocoo – I’ve recently returned and have written a couple of blogs if you’re interested in reading 🙂 Thanks for this weeks song by the way, I always wondered who sang Papaotai!

    Reply
    • Meghan Johnson

      Thanks Kelly, I’ve always wanted to visit Morocco. If I left it off this list it was a major omission! I’ll be sure to read your posts about your experiences there.

      And isn’t that a great song? I’ve had a crush on Stromae since Alors On Danse. 🙂

      Reply
  25. connie.n.w.

    I never made an official “bucket list” but have made something similar. it’s hard not to write everything down haha 🙂 best of luck on these. – connie

    Reply
  35. Tere

    Visit the Philippines and get multiple things from your bucket list of activities done. Surfing, white water rafting, zipline and even milking a cow! Maybe add diving too.

    Reply
  36. seby17

    After volunteering in Uganda for six months I have to say that this country must be added to your list. It’s known as the Pearl of Africa and for good reason. There is nothing better than living in the bush, along The Nile with no electricity, and waking up each day to beautiful little chocolate faces. http://www.sixtyonethree.wordpress.com

    Reply
  38. bumble wonder

    Love your lay out and what you share on your blog. I love that Scandinavia/Norway are on your list. I had never had it on my immediate bucket list but have had the opportunity to live in Stavanger for the last year and a half. The country is so beautiful and glad to see you plan to enjoy it one day. Also – if you ever want to join an amazing volunteer program in India, check out Rising Star Outreach! Not exactly yoga based, but I’m sure you could combine it somehow to create an unforgettable experience (and some very successful micro-financing happening!)

    Reply
  42. genevieve

    You have inspired me so much, thank you! Wow.

    Also, if you want to go ziplining somewhere truly amazing, I recommend Cape Tribulation Jungle Surfing or ziplining in Cairns, Australia. Tropical North Queensland is also the only place in the world where two world heritage areas collide! Daintree Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef 🙂

    Cool travel bloggers I follow went to Cape Trib recently, to illustrate better what I’m trying to say! Very beautiful 🙂 http://www.ytravelblog.com/cape-tribulation-and-the-daintree-rainforest/ (<— this isn't my blog in any way, so I'm not trying to shamelessly self promo haha, just an enthusiast!)

    Love your blog, can't wait to look at it all!

    Genevieve

    Reply

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