My wish list changes like the weather, so at the moment it's only:
Rapa Nui (which I might get to next year).
The Kokoda Trail, which I'm unlikely to do at this age but really want to; will have to substitute one of the PNG Highland festivals instead.
Mongolia, which is a possibility.
Canadian Arctic.
Yellowknife, NWT.
Queen Charlotte Islands, BC.
List will change in a week or so, no doubt.
At present my wish-list, if I had one, would probably include:
1) Seeing an Aardvark in the wild (that has been a long-standing desire which has yet to be fulfilled).
2) A multi-day pony trek in the mountains of Lesotho
3) A wild-life viewing tour of Madagascar.
4) Taking the Trans-Siberia express from Moscow to Vladivostok.
5) A boat trip to Antarctica.
In respect of the lists that you have posted on this thread, I would just add that I thoroughly enjoyed our day-trip to Niagara - including the very touristy Maid of the Mist, but I was very disappointed in QCI although the First Nations Museum is worth seeing. And just to reassure Skhansen that there is no need to hurry - elephants are plentiful and are not going to disappear for a long, long time.
I have what was called a 'life list' from years and years ago, and I've done quite a few of the things on my list, and had to eliminate some because I'm a lot older and not at all fit. So I'll add the fireworks over Sydney Harbor, northern lights in the north (I saw a rather pale version as a child when they dipped down into Pennsylvania). I'm wondering if I can handle that pony trek in Lesotho. I've been there, and it was beautiful, but the pony trek sounds wonderful. I'm afraid of horses though, which might be a problem.
My list is a mix of experiences and places to visit, which worked out well - I got 'hike a glacier' and 'helicopter ride' in one morning in New Zealand, for instance.
When I turned 50 I was amazed that I had survived as long!
I made up my mind to retire, live off of what I had (and from the sale of things I owned, like my house) and live like there was no tomorrow. That doesn't necessarily mean a life of debauchery, but I did give it a shot for a few months. Mother Nature reminded me I ain't 23 no more. But I digress.
I decided there would be no more 'somedays.' If there was something I really want to see or do, I put it on the agenda and see what I can do to make it happen.
It's been nearly six years now. I almost bought a plantation in Brazil (back when the US$ was strong) and settled down to raise a bunch of kids, but that fell through when the relationship with my hillybilly ex-girlfriend ended. It would have been my first shot at fatherhood, and I was disappointed at the time, but I think things happened for the best. I quite enjoy my freedom. I think my accomplishment in life has been securing my own freedom. I look around me and appreciate how fortunate I am, and will never lose sight of this.
I developed a passion for snorkeling, pursued that for a few years, and combined it with a trip to Fiji -- I always wanted to do the Pacific Islands thing. (For those interested in such some of the remote areas of Indonesia fit the bill -- arguably these islands are part of the same extended atoll.) I played that passion out, which may have been somewhat tempered by a near-fatal intimate encounter with a jellyfish in an area where there was no real medical care. I still enjoy a good snorkeling session, but it takes more to amuse me in this than many places that advertise themselves as snorkeling sites have to offer. Having grown up in a city, I still have moments of awe when encountering open spaces and wildlife, and at the beginning just experiencing water clear enough to see living things in was enough to get me excited. These days I'm a bit more jaded and a few square meters of dying coral and a few fish (which, unfortunately, is what too many of the advertised snorkeling areas have) can be a let down. But as the Buddha tells us, sadness is borne of expectation.
I now spend my time in SE Asia. I don't have the funds to stay in Japan, Europe, North America or ANZ, but that is not a hindrance. Sometimes I live in the city, sometimes more natural areas (seasonal weather is a big factor in these parts).
I think I've lived out all that I really want. I have a few places I'd like to see if I have the chance, but don't have a motivating desire to pursue, at least not now. I'm more inclined towards natural wonders, like waterfalls, than to things like temples and cathedrals, though I do like Chinese temples. I have yet to see Angkor Wat, even though I've been within a few hundred km of it several times. Someday I just might get the bug to go for it, and make it all happen with an excursion of a few days: from all accounts the tourist experience of the area sounds horrendous, and, having visited Cambodia once before, I don't particularly care for that country, for my own reasons.
Another is Antarctica. When younger I fantasized about the "great, frozen nothing" but really, you can't hang out there, can you? Maybe next time I'm in South America, if the mood and the season (and the finances) are right, well, maybe. And I don't like the cold.
The great rift in Africa is another on the "maybe" list, as is the Galapagos. I like the 'island in the middle of nowhere' motif, but have played it out for now. If I ever get the urge for it again I'd like to check out somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic that isn't militarized (like most of those islands are). Certain islands in the Azores qualify.
One tribulation I never had to contend with in this life is the burden of great wealth. I'd like to try that experience for a while! I would make a great estranged, low-maintenance husband for a wealthy woman. There's a piece of dialogue from 'Fiddler on the Roof':
Young Man: Money is God's curse on man!
Father: Then may He smite me with it, and may I never recover!
Gosh, I forgot to add one of my more pressing wishes to my list, Yemen, which is a possibility , as well as hiking through Ladakh and Zanskar, although I think the possibilities for that are very remote.
Really enjoyed your post, bendejo - you really should try to get to Angkor Wat - it's spectacular. But I like your approach.
I'm enjoying reading other's lists. My list changes regularly. I've reached my prime (50) Kids are grown so its all about me now. I'm hoping to go to Rapanui in the next year and possibly Alaska. I tried to go on the Aranui through French Polynesia, but procrastinated on booking it til too late this year. Reading these posts always gives me new ideas so the list keeps growing.
I ticked off a few places last year on a 4 month Round-the-World Trip and haven't stopped travelling!
Petra has to be seen to be believed. It is magnificent. Be wary of the local big money scammers though. I was off guard and got caught big time.
The Great Wall of China was a must on my list.
The Forbidden City in Beijing
The Terracotta Warriors in situ in Xi'an
Walking the Classic Inca Trail to Machupicchu - do that before you become too infirm!! I did the last two days with a broken rib!
Old Havana in Cuba is historic and the old cars in the streets are amazing. Do that before the whole city crumbles though as they cannot afford to maintain the buildings for much longer.
Even walking Hadrian's Wall from East to West coast of England would be good - 84 miles. I do that this year!
I now live in Jordan for 6 months of the year and hope to cover most of the excellent tourist sites in that beautiful ancient country.
Wadi Rum, Jordan to see the desert where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed - again be wary of being ripped off by the locals but the scenery is magnificent.