For the last few years I've been on a very comfortable loop of windsurfing back home in Geraldton over summer, then tramping, packrafting and bushwalking in NZ and Australia in the shoulder seasons each side of winter skiing in NZ. I've now added in skiing in Japan as well, so timing myself with a few months back on the waves in WA before heading north for the Japanese winter is the next dilemma.
Only the coronavirus pandemic saw me stuck in NZ for 2 years, which wasn't much of a hardship as I spent the summers doing lots more tramping and packrafting.
After an unscheduled extra summer in NZ after being broadsided by a snowboarder and needing to rehab back to my old self, I'm on schedule to go back to another winter in Japan, via 2 months back in WA getting in some much anticipated sun, waves and wind.
I'm suffering a little FOMO reading the posts of all my friends who've headed off for trips to Europe this northern summer, and I just may have revived plans to go cycle touring again after over 35 years. No actual plans yet though....
I decided a while back that I would just take things as they come and not go for a bucket list, but if I live long enough here's some other stuff I'd like to do:
Cradle Mountain Track in Tasmania. I'd actually like to do more than just the five day crossing - there's some wicked walking and scenery in that whole region.
Trekking in Western Sichuan Province, China. There's a rich Tibetan culture alive and well in this region with some great high altitude trekking, glaciers, wilderness... and no tourists.
There's lots of awesome trekking in Europe, the more I research the more I want to spend a few years just doing that. Which is why I got myself a Kiwi passport so I can circumvent those annoying Schengen rules....
See a bit more of Western Australia - I still haven't been to Karijini, Mt Augustus, Kennedy Ranges or Lake Ballard and Goldfields region. All in my backyard (OK a few thousand kms between them but this is Australia!!)
At least six months in India, including some Himalayan trekking. Ladakh seems pretty interesting.
Visit Myanmar.
Explore The Phillipines. It's a country that seems to not get its fair share of tourists for some reason. I am reliably informed that the beaches are superb (not that I'm really into beaches...)
Get the hell to South America! Did you know I studied Spanish way back when because I planned to go to South America, and I never did? I'll get there...
Check out Russia and the Stans. Just for the hell of it.
Italy for fucks sake! Yep, guess who studied Italian planning to go cycle touring there? Yep, that'll be me.
France to watch Le Tour. I mean why not? And go hit up all my frenchie friends for free accommodation and good ski times...
Oh that'll do for now, but feel free to offer me more ideas
I decided a while back that I would just take things as they come and not go for a bucket list, but if I live long enough here's some other stuff I'd like to do:
Cradle Mountain Track in Tasmania. I'd actually like to do more than just the five day crossing - there's some wicked walking and scenery in that whole region.
Trekking in Western Sichuan Province, China. There's a rich Tibetan culture alive and well in this region with some great high altitude trekking, glaciers, wilderness... and no tourists.
There's lots of awesome trekking in Europe, the more I research the more I want to spend a few years just doing that. Which is why I got myself a Kiwi passport so I can circumvent those annoying Schengen rules....
See a bit more of Western Australia - I still haven't been to Karijini, Mt Augustus, Kennedy Ranges or Lake Ballard and Goldfields region. All in my backyard (OK a few thousand kms between them but this is Australia!!)
At least six months in India, including some Himalayan trekking. Ladakh seems pretty interesting.
Visit Myanmar.
Explore The Phillipines. It's a country that seems to not get its fair share of tourists for some reason. I am reliably informed that the beaches are superb (not that I'm really into beaches...)
Get the hell to South America! Did you know I studied Spanish way back when because I planned to go to South America, and I never did? I'll get there...
Check out Russia and the Stans. Just for the hell of it.
Italy for fucks sake! Yep, guess who studied Italian planning to go cycle touring there? Yep, that'll be me.
France to watch Le Tour. I mean why not? And go hit up all my frenchie friends for free accommodation and good ski times...
Oh that'll do for now, but feel free to offer me more ideas
Sounds like you have some good ideas already - impressed by your spirit and attitude. I have been sorting through some of your posts about Indonesia, looking to return after 20 years away. I have much the same opinion that LP and others do a disservice to travel opportunities. West Java is a good case in point.
ReplyDeleteGreat inspiration, thank you.
Andrew
Thanks Andrew. Yes there's a lot to do in West Java, am glad I returned to give it more time, but still, I only scratched the surface. I've spent almost 3 months visiting Java and still there's more to see. Indonesia is pretty easy to travel in these days, but no doubt more expensive than 20 years ago. The friendliness and hospitality is just awesome.
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