Hello Hiveians!
I'm on my 8th day of my 30-Day Blogging Challenge which was an amazing concept by @tegoshei. As I've said in my previous entries, I'm really surprised that I've reached this far. I guess it's really possible to produce content daily for one month if you put your heart into it regardless of schedule. But it's still too early to say since we are still on the first day of the 2nd week. Let's just push through with this challenge one day at a time.
Today's topic is about the top three (3) places you wanted to visit. While it's closer to the content I produce on a normal day, this challenge is extremely difficult because I have to narrow down the list to three when I really wanted to visit all the places in the world. That's how frustrated I am when it comes to travel. So far, I've been travelling locally and had booked for my first international travel when this pandemic happened so just imagine my frustration.
I decided that the places in this list will be the most difficult for me to travel given my current situation. This will be an inspiration for me to strive hard and live every single day with a hope that one day, I might be able to visit these places. I mean I could just say Europe or New Zealand to be included in this list, but that would be in the list of everyone who wants to join this challenge. I wanted to list the places that I might not even be able to visit in this lifetime.
With all the consideration in mind, here are the top three (3) places I wanted to visit:
1. Altai Mountains - Mongolia
Ever since I get a hold of an old National Geographic magazine, I have always been a fan of vast wilderness with little to no sign of human intervention. I've read about Mongolia in general when a Filipino journalist featured the country in an online newspaper sometime in 2017. I was mesmerized by the photos he shared. Considering my current situation, I know how difficult it is for me to visit the country, but I will not stop hoping and dreaming.
I chose Altai Mountains, but I'm okay to any part of the country. May it be in a vast grassland, semiarid plains, or in the Gobi Desert. All of those places are in my dreams that if I can't visit them in this life, I will keep on trying in the next life.
Mongolia is not your typical tourist destination and I know it requires meticulous and extensive planning or else, you'll be trapped in the middle of a desert without the contact in the outside world. I wanted to experience the nomadic culture or their way of life. Aside from nature and culture, Mongolia is also historically rich country. I want to step in the land where the Khans lived.
2. Salar de Uyuni - Bolivia
I always watch my favorite travel vloggers on YouTube and one of their featured place was Salar de Uyuni or Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia. Having to spend the night under the stars which is reflected by the shallow lake during rainy season is a fairytale for me. I just want to lie in the salt while I wander in my thoughts under the stars.
As someone who easily gets fascinated with the geology and formation of the world's most famous natural landmarks, Salar de Uyuni is already under my radar for a long time. The largest salt flat in the world which is also the located in high altitudes becomes the largest mirror in the world after the rain. The thin layer of water covers the salt flat and coupled with very clear skies, it's out of this world. It is also the world's largest reserve of lithium, which is a major component in rechargeable batteries.
If you're a fan of Star Wars, you'll know that Planet Crait in Return of the Jedi was filmed in Salar de Uyuni.
3. Vatnajökull National Park - Iceland
Two reasons for visiting Iceland: geology and aurora borealis. Iceland is one of the very few places in the world where volcanoes are still very active and its formation can be observed up close. Aurora borealis - who doesn't want to see those dancing nothern lights? What's more fascinating is the science of its formation. It's also an evidence that we are always protected by the earth's magnetic field from the harmful solar wind.
The ice caves of Vatnajökull National Park are ethereal. That's it. To be under its blue glow is an ultimate happiness.
Iceland is always on the top of my list in terms of travel destinations and would probably the first country that I'll visit among the three. I always said that if I can visit Iceland, I will be contented in life and I'll probably settle down after that.
I noticed that there's one thing in common in these three places - vast and pristine wilderness. I imagined that if I'll be in one of these places, I will drop dead in awe. I just imagined the beauty of nature, extending as far as the eye can see.
Addendum: Batanes, Philippines
Batanes is my ultimate travel destination locally. Darryll (@legendarryll) was able to visit back in 2015 and I have been planning to visit, whether going solo or with someone I don't care who.
I want to be in Batanes when I'm about to make a decision that's so crucial to me. I don't know what that crucial decision will be be, but I hope I already have the means to travel to Batanes when the time comes. Going to other countries in Southeast Asia is much cheaper than visiting Batanes.
I don't care if I'll get stranded for a week, but I really want to go to Itbayat, Batanes. Most tourists would settle in Basco and then that's it. Only a few hardcore tourists have gone to Itbayat due to unpredictability of the weather. I want to experience the thrill of going there.
Day 1: What's With the Username?
Day 2: Ten Interesting Facts About Me
Day 3: My Day in Detail: Working Under the New Normal Environment
Day 4: It Was an Avalanche
Day 5: What I Am Really Afraid Of
Day 6: My Top Five Pet Peeves
Day 7: My Five Special Songs
Kim Ybañez
Welcome to Kim's small corner in Hive. He is a chemical engineer by profession, but a blogger by passion. He is a wanderlust and an adventure seeker. Join his quests as he visits secluded destinations, climbs mountains, tries new and exotic dishes, and explores his country (The Philippines) and the rest of the world even if he's still a poor corporate slave with tons of bills to pay and two siblings to support in college.
If you like his content, don't forget to upvote and leave a comment to show some love. You can also reblog if you want to. Also, don't forget to follow him to be updated with his latest posts.
Ahhh Kim! These are all gold! Iceland is the ultimate destination for me for when I travel solo someday, before settling in for good.
P.S. I am tryin to go back to blogging, and ofc I must visit your page first. Will try this challenge as well. I just have to condition my mind, hahaha. <3
Welcome back, Lai! I'm so happy to see you again here! You know me, I have been monitoring my account that no activity can go undetected and I saw your upvote 3 days ago. I was wondering if you followed a curation trail, but I had a feeling you're already lurking somewhere. This confirmed it! Hive has been very supportive to artists like you. You should get in touch with @hiddenblade about NFTs and art. They have a project for artists.
Thank you, Kim! I am actually very overwhelmed with Hive, it's like learning a new language all over again. HAHA Will continue lurking until I'm confident enough to navigate here.
Thank you to @hiddenblade for following me as well, hehe. Will defo check her posts :)
It's technically the same with Steem for now. Except it's slightly resistant to attack after what happened last Feb. A lot has happened, but you can just go back to posting.
What? What happened last Feb? Also do you recommend posting directly or in communities? :)
Very long and amazing battle for decentralization. That's why we moved and Hive was born. I can't fill in the details in this comment. 😂
Post in communities for exposure. For art, post in Onchain Art. And then reblog it. When you post on peakd, you can choose to directly add it to your blog.
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I really like your selection. #1 and #3 are places I wish I can visit one day too.
I was lucky to be able to visit #2 already and I would definitely recommend it.
I'm also curious to visit Batanes.
I wish you to be able to visit them all in the future.
Thank you, Yohann! I really hope I can visit all of these places in the future.
I know Salar de Uyuni's not cheap to visit. You're really blessed to visit one in my list. Will you share your experience here? 😁
I won't but Laarni most likely will share some parts of our trip in Peru and Bolivia. That was a long time ago though.
I'm sure Arni will document your experience well. I'm excited! 😂
Hi Kim, sorry for crashing the conversation. 😀 Great selection of places. We also once dreamed of crossing the Gobi desert. I would be happy to share Uyuni. 🙂 One of my siblings visited Batanes alone while nursing a broken heart. She said she enjoyed her trip as it was a reflective one.
I think I should visit Batanes alone then. 😂
My selection were not that easy to visit though. It will just fuel my frustration.
Iceland looks really amazing. I wonder if I'll be able to go there somewhere. Great picks and amazing you're able to post consistently. I already missed a day because I had to go somewhere yesterday. 😄
Just continue posting no matter how many you've missed. I wanted it to be continuous so I hope I can finish this without missing a day.
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I recently watched "Through Night and Day" sa Netflix ba and they featured really great places sa Iceland! <3
Trending lagi na sha sa Twitter. Muwatch diay ko. Haha
Oo.. ky naapil man siya sa Top 10 movies sa Netflix.. haha... nice pud bya siya. :)
Omg, booking your FIRST international flight and this covid thing happened. That's so frustrating!!!!!! :(
Hahaha girl I swear! Batanes is expensive but that also means less tourists. OMG I love Batanes T_T
I hope this covid will be gone soonest so you'll be able to go to those wilderness! I'd be so happy when you're there finally :D
Wala pa jud ko kaget-over sa cancelled flights ai. Daghan kaayo ko plano na naguba. Dapat nagplano nasad unta ko for Batanes at this time. Wala eh. Nganga muna. 😂
And then get stuck there without help. Lol. Joke