Anywhere but here

One of my greatest ambitions has always been to travel. Until now, my excursions outside of South Africa have been few and far between. I've been all over the world through the many books that I've read. In my mind's eye, I've seen myself picking up gold nuggets on the beach in Nome, Alaska. I've seen excitement in the bullrings of Mexico. I've sailed the length and breadth of the Caribbean, marveling at it's beauty while shedding a tear for it's brutal history... and that's just for starters. So I ask myself, where would I go to if I were afforded the opportunity... and why? Here's my list, picking one place for every month of the year.

January would probably find me in Bangkok, Thailand. With its jumble of crammed streets running in every direction, its collage of colors, sounds and scents, and its proliferation of temples and markets, Bangkok is considered one of the most exciting cities in Asia. Well, that's what the travel brochures say. For me, it holds a special significance... it was my late mom's favourite place on earth, having visited 3 times. If I were to go, I'd consider it deeply spiritual, a way of connecting to someone I loved very much and miss even more.

February would see me in Cozumel, Mexico. Yes, I know it's a tourist trap, but what few know is that it was once an ancient Mayan fertility site. I love the latin culture, the spanish language (it would give me a chance to practice), and it would be the perfect base from which I could go see the Pre-Columbian pyramids, the jungles through which Morgan and Drake trekked, and the diverse architecture of the region. Of course, I'd probably want to employ a tour guide to get the full experience... and let's not forget the food. Mexican cuisine rocks!

March would take me to Luxor, Egypt. Tombs, temples, camels and desert. There's something romantic about visiting a place that was around at the dawn of civilization. To visit the Valley of the Kings, see Tutankhamun's tomb, the ruins of Thebes which include the "City of the Dead"... man! I'm in my element. And what better way to cap it all off than with a Nile cruise to Cairo, taking in the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx along the way. A few rounds through the souks, picking up a souvenir or two. That would be a trip worth taking!

So where to in April? Only one place comes to mind. Paris, France. The place I've wanted to experience since I was a boy. Montmatre, the Champs Ellysee, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower... the list goes on, and on. To take in all of Paris would take a lifetime. I'd settle for sitting on a bridge across the Seine, eating a baguet, sipping a beaujolais, while pondering the fact that the stone I was on probably came from the Bastille. Paris in springtime... now there's a cliche I wouldn't mind putting to the test.

So we come to May. Here again, the choice is pretty clear... Florence, Italy. This is the capital of Tuscany, which of itself brings images of wine, food and song. Birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is, for me, about art and architecture. To quote the travel brochures, it is said that, of the 1,000 most important European artists of the second millennium, 350 lived or worked in Florence. The prospect of romance is, of course, a topic I've carefully skirted around up 'til now, but in a place like this... who knows, right?

June should find me in Vienna. This is another one of the places I've always wanted to see. A definite high point would be a trip to the Opera house... bearing in mind that this place was home to the likes of Mozart, Beethoven and Mahler. The art and architecture are also sure to be exquisite, considering that Gustav Klimt is my favourite artist ever. However, as always, it's the people who make any place what it is ultimately... so bring on a cup of wienner-mischung, a piece of torte and a newspaper, and leave me to watch the people from a cafe along the Ringstrasse.

July. My birth month. I'm thinking, let's have some fun! Bring on the American Eastern Seaboard. Yes I know it's not a city, as such. Hey, the US is the US, right? So let's visit Boston first, maybe take in a Sox game. I'm sure there are plenty of significant historical sites too, but I'd settle for a trip to Fenway Park, throwing in some July 4th fireworks... of all kinds. Then it's roadtrip time: next stop, the Big Apple! Just seeing the crazy pace would be entertaining but broadway beckons, methinks. A ferry to the Statue of Liberty, a trip around Times Square, all lit up, and a visit to "Ground zero", the place where our world changed forever. Along with a ride up the Empire State Building, I'd be happy. What about the Met, you ask? Okay, but then we're off again... to the last stop, Washington D.C. (and all the metal detectors). The Smithsonian, the Jefferson memorial, the Lincoln memorial, the Washington Memorial, the White House and the Capitol... I'm such a tourist!

So August comes along and I need a change of pace. China, baby! The toss up is always going to revolve around where. Will it be Beijing, with the Forbidden City, Tianenmen Square and the "Temple of Heaven"? Maybe Shanghai, the place where old meets new? X'ian is also an option, I'd love to see the Qin museum's terracotta warriors. Ultimately, I may have to just draw a lot... I mean, there's just so much. Hongkong, Taipei, a Yang Tze River cruise... the list is so long, and every place has as much to offer as the last. Just let me know exactly what I'm eating at all times --- I don't eat my pets.

September is the month where the seasons change. Autumn comes to the north, spring to the south. I think this the time to cross another event off my "bucket list". We're off to Tanzania and the Serengeti. I love Africa. I love it's people. Most of all, I love its beauty. I've always wanted to take a balloon safari over the Serengeti, watching millions of animals migrate. It would be a dream come true. As long as my needs can be catered for, why not? This is a trip that would take some planning... but if it's doable, wow!

October is synonymous with one event. Oktoberfest. So this is where I pack my bags for Munich, Germany. It might seem out of step for me. After all, it's getting colder. What would a Christian guy like me want in a bierhalle? Short answer... it sounds like a whole lot of fun, a chance to make friends, swig beer and scoff pretzels. Taking in a Bayern Munich game might be fun too. I'm a firm believer to try something at least once, and Munich looks magical. When my doctor said I should have two beers a day for my kidneys I thought he was nuts... here's my chance to test his theory.

November will see me winging my way to Rio, Brazil. Muito bem! It may be my gateway to the Amazon, but just visiting Sugarloaf mountain, the statue of Christ the Redeemer or taking a stroll along Copacabana beach would be amazing. The first prize would, of course, be a trip up the largest river, by volume, on earth. Again, this would take planning, but why not? The Amazon is awesome. Who knows, I may even convince Mariana to come along... if you don't know, she's a Brazilian girl I met in 2009. I believe in endless possibilities!

Last, but certainly not least, we reach December. Here I'm asking myself: "Where would I like to spend Christmas, if not with my family?" The simple answer is "...with more family, of course!" Take me to Nelson, New Zealand. This is an official hint, auntie (You know who you are!) Can it be done? This is one of my more petulant ideas but it would be great.

So there you have it. There are other destinations, of course... but these were off the top of my head. Here's to wishing. Here's to dreaming. Who knows what God'll do?