NEW YEAR, NEW LIST....looking back at my 2010 intentions.

Neighboring countries of Nepal can be a side trip. The architecture is amazing, I heard, plus I get the chance to stand before Mt. Everest. 

In the bucket list is Egypt and the great pyramids of Gizah, one of the seven wonders and the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. 

Turkey, the successor state to the Ottoman Empire. I want to see the markets, architecture and the dip into one of those Turkish baths.  But there is something more exciting about this place, Lonely Planet says that “this is the land where Alexander the Great slashed the Gordian Knot, where Achilles battled the Trojans in Homer’s Iliad, and where the Ottoman Empire fought battles that would shape the world." History buffs can immerse themselves in marvels and mementos stretching back to the dawn of civilization. Now, wouldn’t you want to be in this place?

Greece is another destination for me. There is more to being in this place, it is a journey through time with its long-standing history and awe-inspiring archaeological sites and monuments. An odyssey through the Acropolis of Athens, Mt. Olympus and of course, island hopping and a swim in the Mediterranean sea is not bad. The beaches of Mykonos perhaps?

The wonderful old city of the Czech Republic is next on the list. It invites everyone to experience a Symphony for the Senses. The capital city of Prague is said to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world with a unique atmosphere created by its long history. There are 12 UNESCO sites here and I heard that the Czech spas are famous. 

I have always wanted to own a matryoshka doll but the deal is I have to choose the design myself, buy it myself, in Russia, preferably in St. Petersburg, no more, no less. That and immerse myself in a place that's all about “high art, lavish architecture, wild nightlife, an extraordinary history and rich cultural traditions that inspired and nurtured some of the modern world's greatest literature, music, and visual art.” And oh, I certainly would like to see and hold a Faberge egg.

I see myself swimming on the crystal clear blue waters of Phi phi Island, Koh Samui and while I’m in these amazing Thai islands, I must as well have a wild full moon party in Koh Pangan. Thailand is always on the list.

And speaking of love affairs, my must-revisit trips list Paris and the Tuscan Valley, Ibiza and Amsterdam- I have to get inside the Anne Frank house this time.

I ♥ Paris. Forever!

Ibiza Town.  7 sleepless nights here again?