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2020 Bucket List

by janelhaswings | Jan 2, 2020 | #travel, Life Experiences, Uncategorized

A new year typically means a new beginning, and with that fresh start comes new dreams. I figure what better way to start 2020 than publishing my bucket list for 2020. I have chosen the Top 10 Destinations that I would like to visit in 2020. Does making this list mean that I will be able to check everything off? No, it doesn’t, but it takes zero dollars to dream and only you to believe in yourself. I think it will be fun to look back on this list at the end of 2020 and see what I was able to accomplish this year.

1. Bora Bora

This will always be on my bucket list until I visit. I have been dreaming of Bora Bora for as long as I can remember, and with it being one of the most exotic and expensive destinations, it has remained at number one for years. Bora Bora looks like paradise on Earth, and if it is anything like the Maldives, then it is paradise. I’ve had friends go and tell me about how amazing their experience was, and honestly, it just gives me more motivation to go.

2. Day of the Dead in México

I lived in México for three years, and I never went to Michoacán or Oaxaca for Day of the Dead, which is something I wish I would have done. Michoacán and Oaxaca are the epicenters for Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. Although I believe everything happens for a reason and I probably didn’t participate in any Day of the Dead activities back then because I was too young and immature to cherish the moment truly. One of my goals this year is to participate in Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festivities. Although the name Day of the Dead sounds morbid, the truth is that it is more of a celebration of life than it is death.

3. Burning Man 2020

Burning Man is an annual festival in the desert (Black Rock Cities) where artists and creatives alike come together to create art, passion, and experiences that ensure memories that will last a lifetime. Before Burning Man became a popular event for influencers, it was something that I always wanted to experience. I love art and music, and combining both of those into one event where people feel free to express themselves in whatever way they choose, is the best-case scenario. It’s the modern-day Woodstock with new-age hippies. My friends who have gone said that they did not return as the same person. They were enlightened, and their hearts were full, and I want to experience that same feeling.

4. Cappadocia, Turkey

I am addicted to travel content on Instagram, and one of the things that I see posted the most is Cappadocia, Turkey. I’ve been to Istanbul, and while I was there, I really wanted to make it to Cappadocia, but I was limited on time. What brings so many people to go to Cappadocia? Hot air balloons. Cappadocia has daily hot air balloon rides over rock formations that surround the city. The videos and pictures are almost fairytale-esque. I’ve always dreamed of going on one of the famous hot air balloon rides over Cappadocia, and I will not give up on this dream until it is accomplished.

5. Dublin, Ireland

I have tried to go to Dublin on two different occasions, and each time something happened with the flights, and they had to be canceled or changed to where Dublin was no longer part of the itinerary. Why do I want to go to Dublin so bad? The truth is that through meeting people while traveling and being told their experiences, Dublin sounds like a fun city with such a distinct culture that it must be experienced at least once in my lifetime. Not only do I want to visit Dublin, but I want to experience the Irish countryside for myself. The travel photos that I see are breathtaking, and since I love hiking and nature, what better place to experience both? Plus, the third try is a charm.

6. Machu Picchu, Perú

What is a bucket list without one of the wonders of the world? Unless you have already checked all seven off, then no bucket list is complete without at least one of the wonders. I previously had a trip to Peru planned out, which included seeing Machu Picchu, but destiny stepped in and decided that I would break my ankle a week before the trip. Needless to say, Machu Picchu didn’t happen. My dreams of Machu Picchu may have been put on hold, but that doesn’t mean that they have gone away. I want to be able to sit and look down on the valley in which it sits and take in the panoramic views while trying to breathe it all in. Also, where else can you get an alpaca selfie with epic views?

7. Monteverde, Costa Rica

I lived in Costa Rica’s southern neighbor, Panamá, and on multiple occasions, I said that I wanted to go to Costa Rica. For one reason or another, I never made it. Costa Rica is known for its beaches and jungles, which in all honesty, Panamá has plenty of as well. The real reason why I want to go to Costa Rica has nothing to do with jungle and beaches, although they will be enjoyed while I am there. I want to go to Costa Rica for their hummingbirds. You read that right. Hummingbirds. In Monteverde, Costa Rica, there is a hummingbird sanctuary where not only can you see different species of hummingbirds, but they will land on your hands. I love hummingbirds, and everyone in my family feels a close connection to them. The videos that I have seen of hummingbirds flying around people in Monteverde are what dreams are made of.

8. Cinque Terre, Italy

Although I have been to Italy on several occasions, I have never made it to Cinque Terre. Cinque Terre is Italian for “Five Lands,” and the reason for the name is that Cinque Terre consists of five coastal towns in Italy. If you google it, you will see that the houses in each of the towns are colorful and vibrant and sit upon cliffs with the sea below them, it creates a beautiful view beyond Instagram worthy. Cinque Terre is what pops into my mind when I think of Italy. Most people think of Rome, Milan, or Florence, but not I. Cinque Terre has been on my bucket list for a while, and each time I have been to Italy, I later regret not going to Cinque Terre. I plan to make visiting Cinque Terre, the number one thing that I do the next time I am in Italy.

9. Petra, Jordan

As I mentioned earlier, no bucket list is complete without one of the wonders of the world, and this bucket list just so happens to have two wonders of the world. Petra is a city created by tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone cliffs. It is an archeological site that brings thousands of tourists each year to the middle of the southern Jordanian desert. I don’t know if it is the pink sandstone or the fact that Petra seems to be in the “middle of nowhere” that attracts me the most and makes me want to go there. There is also the other obvious factor that it is a world wonder, but either way, it is a place that I have always wanted to experience for myself.

10. Marrakech, Morocco

Last, but definitely not least, is Marrakech. Since the very first time that I went to Spain, I wanted to take a ferry to Morocco. One of the reasons why I never did was because of time constraints on each of my trips, but it was always something that I wanted to do. Part of the appeal of Morocco is the fact that it is part of Africa, and prior to 2017, I had never been to any country on the African continent. Currently, I have only been to one, Egypt. Morocco has this North Africa meets Middle East vibe to it, seeing how most of the country speaks Arabic and is Muslim, and the preferred form of travel through the desert is still via camel. Not only does it have a distinct culture, but they also have one of the coolest accommodations that I have seen. Riads. Riads are Moroccan guesthouses that you can rent while in Marrakech, they are basically luxury Airbnbs. Marrakech seems exotic, luxurious, and cultured, which are three things that can’t always be found in one destination, and it is one of the reasons why I want to visit so badly.

This wraps up my 2020 Bucket List. Although it is a bucket list/dream list, I also consider it a list of goals. As you can see, some of these destinations and things to do have been on my bucket list for many years, and some are newer. 2020 may just be the year that I accomplish them all. Either way, the best way to turn your dreams into reality is to set them as goals and watch as you go ticking each off one by one.

I hope my 2020 Bucket List has inspired you to start writing down the destinations that you would love to visit during 2020, and don’t forget that no place is either too big or too impossible to visit. Below I have included photos of places that were once bucket list destinations/dreams that over the years I have been able to mark off of my list. Just remember that no dream is ever too big. When there is a will, there is a way.

Turkish Massage or the Beginning of Taken?

by janelhaswings | Sep 6, 2019 | #travel

Four years ago, on September 6th, 2015, I found myself in one of the scariest situations that I have been in a while traveling, and the worst part is that I signed up for it. One of my best friends/travel buddies and I had decided to take another Eurotrip, and this time we added a few new countries to our itinerary. One of those countries was Turkey. Istanbul had always been on my bucket list, and finally, I was able to check it off. My mom wasn’t too happy about us going to Turkey because there had been several terrorist attacks in the country and well no sensible mother wants their daughter running around a country that is under attack. I can’t blame her for not wanting me to go, but I am her wild, crazy daughter, so of course, I still went.

Everything was so new to me as far as the culture and just the aesthetics of the city that I fell in love instantly. It was my first time in a majority Muslim country, and since I have Muslim friends, I had an idea of what to expect, but the reality was so much better than my expectations. The beautiful mosques, the call to prayer, the delicious food, and the gorgeous Turkish people were an overdose to my senses. My friend and I spent our first few days doing the typical touristic things like visiting the Hagia Sophia, (a must-see!) going to the spice market, trying the local food and buying souvenirs from street vendors. One of the things that we kept hearing while we were there is to try a Turkish massage or Turkish hamam. Our hostel said that they could arrange for us to go to a bathhouse where they specialize in hamam and that they always recommend them to their guests. My friend and I both thought it was a great idea and signed up. That was our first mistake.

A small, white van came and picked us up from the hostel and took us to the bathhouse that our hostel had recommended. Once we walked inside, we were both pulled away from each other and pushed towards opposite sides. The older lady who grabbed me spoke very limited English, and all I understood was, “This way, this way!” Next thing I know, I’m being shoved into a tiny room sort of like a cabin, and she hands me a towel and says, “Clothes off, clothes off!” At this point, I’m starting to get nervous. I take everything off except for my bra and underwear and sit with the towel wrapped around me. The lady comes and opens the door and sees that I still have my bra on, and she grabs the strap and tells me, “Take off.” I do as she requests and I take my bra and underwear off. She then grabs my arm and pulls me out and takes me to another room where she opens the door to this tiny dwelling. After she shoves me inside, I look around and see that there are hot coals in the middle of the tiny room and realize it is a sauna. Saunas are supposed to be relaxing, and yet here I am freaking out thinking that I’m about to be sold into the sex slave trade or the black market.

My mind was racing, and the other thing that I kept thinking was that I was being kidnapped. I was naked and afraid, literally. After minutes of sitting alone in the sauna, the door opens, and two other girls are shoved inside. I thought, “Holy sh*t, we’re being taken.” I stayed quiet for a minute, and then I looked over at them and said, “Excuse me, do you speak English?” You cannot imagine my sigh of relief after they said yes. They were both from Turkey originally, but they were living in Norway for the past few years, and they said that this is not a typical Turkish hamam. They had never experienced something like this, and they were also freaking out. I was already terrified before them telling me that this wasn’t a typical hamam, and now I was next level terrified. As the three of us sat there, terrified, I couldn’t help but think of ways that we could escape.

Before I knew it, the door opens, and the older lady who had shoved me in was now grabbing my hand to get me out. I am then escorted to another room adjacent to the spa room. The room was huge, and there was a marble square in the middle. The lady tells me to lay down on the square. I lay with my towel covering me, and then she comes and yanks it off.
There I am, butt naked on a marble square wondering how the Hell I ended up there and what went wrong in my life to get me there. The older woman grabs a bucket and a huge sponge and begins to wash my entire body from head to toe. When I say entire body, I mean my ENTIRE BODY. These woman looks like she could be my grandmother, and here she is cleaning every crevasse and touching me in places that I wouldn’t even allow former lovers to touch me. My exact thoughts were, “This is it. She is cleaning me and prepping me to be sold to some mafia guy so I can be used in the sex trade. I’m so f***ed.”

After the intense body scrub, I feel her start to massage my arms, my legs, and eventually my back. I believe that this was supposed to be enjoyable, but I was too terrified to allow myself to enjoy the experience. Once she was finished massaging my body, she pulled me up and handed me the towel. She then leads me to the cabin-like room that had my clothes still in them. She pointed and said, “Clothes on.” I go inside the cabin and dress, and when I come back, she yells, “Bye!” and points to the exit. When I walk through the doorway, I see my best friend waiting for me in the middle of the room. When I see him, I run over to him and say, “Oh my God, I thought I was being taken.” He looked at me and said that he thought the same exact thing.

As we leave the bathhouse, we take a selfie in front of it to save the crazy memory. We quickly realize that the van that dropped us off was not going to pick us up, so we make our way back to our hostel and exchange our crazy massage stories. We were both terrified during the entire massage experience, but since we both survived, we were now laughing about it. If anyone ever asks me what the scariest thing that has ever happened to me while traveling is, this is typically my response.

Side note: Although I had a wild massage experience while in Istanbul, I would still 100% recommend that everyone visit Istanbul if they have the chance. It’s a beautiful city, I’ve seen some of the best sunsets there, and the people are extremely hospitable. I would go back tomorrow if I could.

The sheer look of terror after the hamam. This is also one of the ugliest pictures that I have of myself so please enjoy.

One of my best friends/travel partners and I in front of the Blue Mosque only a few hours before our “massage.”

Janel Has Wings

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2020 Bucket List

Turkish Massage or the Beginning of Taken?

Janel Has Wings

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