The Bucket List: Sights and Events Edition

A little more specific than my other list. This is some of the things I want to do when I visit the countries I mentioned before. And, just like the last list, this one is in no way, shape, or form definitive or anywhere near final. In fact, if you're that curious, I would suggest checking it every so often - I just might update it . . . both of them. Probably a good idea, that way I won't forget anything that really catches my fancy.

Note: even though there may be quite a few religious items on the list, don't think I'm considering changing mine. I firmly believe that holy sites are holy for a reason, and who's to say that the original (and quite possibly lost) reason is not somewhat closer to what I (and at least some of you) believe? And with that in mind, who knows what one could learn when visiting these places in the right frame of mind? And even if I'm completely wrong, they're still fascinating. Now without any further ado, my list (no particular order):

1. see the snows of Kilimanjaro (from what I've read in the last few years, it sound like I'd better check this one of pretty soon . . . or never . . . )

2. visit all seven continents and the North Pole

3. visit Lyme Park (the estate used as Pemberly in the BBC version of P&P . . . best version ever!!) and after googling the name of that estate, I just might have to add Chatsworth to that trip too!

4. see The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, and something off-Broadway the next night. And Phantom, if possible - although that one will probably be tough . . . and definitely not on Broadway . . .

5. go to Mass in St. Peter's

6. get a picture of me standing in front of the Statue of Liberty . . . and the miniature version in Paris (which will also check off Les Jardins du Luxembourg on my extensive Sites to See in Paris list . . . I'll have to post that one sometime . . . )

7. visit (not necessarily go in, but at least see) every temple in the world. This one's gonna be tough. And un-finish-able. But fun to try!! :-) Currently: 22 down, 124 to go.

8. volunteer with an archealogical dig

9. go on a safari

10. the pyramids, of course . . . and the Valley of the Kings

11. ride a camel

12. eat camel

13. see Victoria Falls

14. Angel Falls

15. Yosemite Falls

16. Havasu Falls

17. can you tell I have a thing for waterfalls? Just insert a few more here

18. haggle with shopkeepers in African and Asian marketplaces

19. see the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan

20. spend a day on Loch Ness watching for Nessie

21. spend Christmas in Bethlehem

22. spend Easter Week in Jerusalem

23. okay, this one's going to sound a little crazy/impossible. My junior (sophomore?) year of college I took a European Lit class, and when we read Kafka's "Metamorphosis", my professor passed around a photo he'd taken of a statue in - I think - Prague. It's of a man just barely hanging onto a ledge and hanging a good ten feet-ish in the air, and the look on his face is one of indifferent acceptance of his situation, which, as my professor pointed out, is very Gregor Samsa-esque (the main character who wakes up one morning to find he's turned into a giant cockroach . . . I highly recommend the story if you haven't read it.) I want to find that statue and take my own picture of it.

24. teach English in a foreign country. Or two. Or three.

25. tour the Forbidden City

26. see the terra cotta warriors

27. volunteer in a third world or war-torn country. I have a friend from high school who just got back from participating in the protests in Honduras . . . I don't think I could go that far, but I do want to do something worthwhile.

28. adopt a child from a foreign country. (this one's a maybe. and I'd totally put it on the list pre-Angelina. in case you were wondering.)

29. a picture of me and Luke at the Taj Mahal . . . so cliche, but this is one time I'm willing to be completely and utterly cliche

30. go to Mass at Notre Dame de Paris

31. visit the Hagia Sophia

32. participate in the Holi . . . in India, not Provo (although I'll take Provo next year . . . but just for now . . . )

33. meditate in a Bhuddist temple (just have to stay away from the monks . . . and believe it or not, I learned that by working for Disney!)

34. visit a Hindu temple . . . and do whatever it is they do there

35. find what the non-popular-tourist-destination equivilant for Bali is and go there

36. see Uluru, naturally

37. drive across Australia. I read One Year Off shortly before the wedding . . . I'd never thought of this one before then, but now it's a definite maybe.

38. swim in the Great Barrier Reef . . . another cliche, but I hear it's worth it

39. spend Christmas on Christmas Island . . . because you can't get any more Christmas-y than that! :-)

40. go submarine diving in the Bermuda Triangle looking for lost shipwrecks . . . I can be a little daredevil-y sometimes!

41. work for at least a day in a place like Williamsburg . . . or volunteer, or whatever it is you have to do to get to where the period clothes and walk around pretending you really lived then. A mission to Nauvoo in about 40 years would take care of this one . . . now how do I pull that off . . . ;-) (Aunt Tawya - I'm in the middle of Austenland right now - can you tell? lol)

42. Petra. If for no other reason than to see the set for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Yep, I am that much of a geek. (and the Raider's March is playing on my itunes right now)

43. visit every national park in the US

44. stop at all the little state parks and monuments on the way the Silver City that we were always going to stop at "next time" - Couthouse Rocks, Newspaper Rocks, etc. And on that note . . .

45. actually go inside Hole in the Wall, instead of just driving by.

46. do family history research when we visit countries where either of us have ancestors

47. see Big Ben (I still have the postcard you sent me Aunt Sharon . . . I'm blaming you for the wanderlust! ;-P )

48. spend a day at Versailles

49. visit a Shinto shrine

50. learn about one new thing/place/event to add to the list every place I go

Okay, I've been at this for over an hour . . . stopping for now, and I'll add things whenever I think of them. And I'm definitely open to suggestions!!

Additions:

51. hunt for witches in Salem

52. visit the Studio Ghibli Musuem

P. ost S. cript

Again, going with an international flavor . . .

Ever heard of the ABC show "I Survived a Japanese Gameshow"? Luke and I caught a few episodes last summer. Hil. Ar. Ious! There was also a short-lived Japanese-imported show on Fox last summer called "Hole in the Wall." Also pretty freaking awesome. And the real Japanese gameshows? Even better!! Luke and I have wasted away hours giggling at videos like this one - in fact you'll probably be seeing more than just this one as time goes on . . .