travel

Showing 20 posts tagged travel

Mission Accomplished: Visit 7 Continents before the age of 25.

Travel is more than just a numbers game. Okay - way way way more than just a numbers game. I put the 7 continents mission in my mind not as a means to check the boxes but as a way to challenge myself to see more of the world.

I love to travel-I’m admittedly addicted. I love the thrill of meeting new people, trying new activities, eating really great and really bad food but above all- I love learning something every time I go. Whether it’s leaving the house or leaving the country, I find a way to feed my curiosity. I return reinvigorated and changed-that is something I will always count on.

My Last Continent On May 31st I’ll land in Sydney, Australia marking my last continent. I’ve always loved traveling, seeing new places and meeting new people- practically since birth. Being a military brat I was on 3 continents before my second birthday. I’m a travel junkie. There is always somewhere new I want to go.  It can be a costly addiction but I never regret money I spend seeing what the world has to offer.  It wasn’t until I was 19 when I started telling people that I wanted to visit all 7 continents before my 25th birthday. It sounded a little ridiculous even to me. I had North America, Europe and Africa covered but adding Asia, South America, Australia and Antarctica was a lot of ground to cover in 6 years. I wasn’t completely confident I could do it but I started planning- one at a time.  A school trip to Korea introduced me to the incredible East that I’d learned so much about. I knew I wanted more experience abroad beyond my semester in Italy so I loaded up on credits each semester, saved money from part time jobs and graduated college a semester early to see more of the world. I backpacked through South America and fell in love with Buenos Aires, climbed glaciers and met people I will never forget. Later that year I was able to add on two trips to Mexico and another tour of Europe. The more I saw–the more I wanted to see.  A full time job with generous vacation days allowed me to travel more than most people. When my parents made plans to attend a conference in India, I jumped at the chance to tag along. One of the fortunes of NYU is that there are a ton of international students who live abroad after graduation. I spent half of my trip with my parents and the other half getting a personal tour from a really good friend living in Mumbai. India is an incredible country. I’ve already sworn to visit again in the future.  After two New York consecutive winters spent in foreign lands I was hooked. Around Christmas time in 2008 I jokingly pitched my parents on seeing Antarctica. News of glaciers melting combined with the moving March of the Penguins movie were on my side. I planted the seed and it grew. Within a few months we were on a boat crossing the Drake’s passage to the bottom of the world. The whole experience was: WOW. Unlike anywhere else on the planet, absolutely breathtaking, calm and beautiful. It is a place I want to bring my children. If the opportunity every arises- GO. Work an extra year in your life- it’s worth it to see such an incredible place.  I turn 25 this July and I have one place left. I’ve been googling “win a trip to Australia” for months and entered every contest I could find. I was determined to go this year and I’ve finally made it happen. This gets a big CHECK MARK on my bucket list.  I’m so excited to see Australia but I’m also excited about what it proves about dreaming.- If you say a goal out loud you’re more likely to follow it. - If you take the first step in the right direction, the next step becomes easier. The goal becomes more tangible.- If you tell friends and family about your goal it makes it easier for them to help you achieve it. What do you want to accomplish?   (Picture via apod.nasa.gov) High-res

My Last Continent

On May 31st I’ll land in Sydney, Australia marking my last continent. I’ve always loved traveling, seeing new places and meeting new people- practically since birth. Being a military brat I was on 3 continents before my second birthday. I’m a travel junkie. There is always somewhere new I want to go.  It can be a costly addiction but I never regret money I spend seeing what the world has to offer. 

It wasn’t until I was 19 when I started telling people that I wanted to visit all 7 continents before my 25th birthday. It sounded a little ridiculous even to me. I had North America, Europe and Africa covered but adding Asia, South America, Australia and Antarctica was a lot of ground to cover in 6 years. I wasn’t completely confident I could do it but I started planning- one at a time. 

A school trip to Korea introduced me to the incredible East that I’d learned so much about. I knew I wanted more experience abroad beyond my semester in Italy so I loaded up on credits each semester, saved money from part time jobs and graduated college a semester early to see more of the world. I backpacked through South America and fell in love with Buenos Aires, climbed glaciers and met people I will never forget. Later that year I was able to add on two trips to Mexico and another tour of Europe. The more I saw–the more I wanted to see. 

A full time job with generous vacation days allowed me to travel more than most people. When my parents made plans to attend a conference in India, I jumped at the chance to tag along. One of the fortunes of NYU is that there are a ton of international students who live abroad after graduation. I spent half of my trip with my parents and the other half getting a personal tour from a really good friend living in Mumbai. India is an incredible country. I’ve already sworn to visit again in the future. 

After two New York consecutive winters spent in foreign lands I was hooked. Around Christmas time in 2008 I jokingly pitched my parents on seeing Antarctica. News of glaciers melting combined with the moving March of the Penguins movie were on my side. I planted the seed and it grew. Within a few months we were on a boat crossing the Drake’s passage to the bottom of the world. The whole experience was: WOW. Unlike anywhere else on the planet, absolutely breathtaking, calm and beautiful. It is a place I want to bring my children. If the opportunity every arises- GO. Work an extra year in your life- it’s worth it to see such an incredible place. 

I turn 25 this July and I have one place left. I’ve been googling “win a trip to Australia” for months and entered every contest I could find. I was determined to go this year and I’ve finally made it happen. This gets a big CHECK MARK on my bucket list. 

I’m so excited to see Australia but I’m also excited about what it proves about dreaming.
- If you say a goal out loud you’re more likely to follow it.
- If you take the first step in the right direction, the next step becomes easier. The goal becomes more tangible.
- If you tell friends and family about your goal it makes it easier for them to help you achieve it.

What do you want to accomplish?  

(Picture via apod.nasa.gov)