30 Days of Indie Travel: Day 1, Goals

by jenjenk on November 2, 2011

I turned 40 this year. Some of my friends purchased high end items to honor their 40th birthday, some had a baby, while others just celebrated quietly with a few friends/family members. None of those options really called out to me [especially the birthing baby’s thing].  It was then that I decided that my celebration had to be new travel experiences.  The destinations were irrelevant.  The purposes were irrelevant.  The only thing that mattered was getting my feet moving.

Goal 1: Go to Greece to visit the ancient ruins, breathtaking sights on Santorini, and enjoy Greek food!

Le Cordon Bleu, Paris

Goal 2: Swing by Paris on my way home to take a class at Le Cordon Bleu and fall in love with Notre Dame all over again. Still not impressed with the Eiffel Tower.

Goal 3: Enjoyed oxtail & goat stew, brought home some bed bugs [NOT part of  my goal, by the way] from Curacao.

Goal 4: Stepped outside my comfort zone by attending T’Bex in Vancouver knowing only Meliha [via Travel Blog Exchange] of Desi Blonde but meeting lots of great people like Erin of A Sense of Place.

Goal 5: Discovered the joys of a Colorado Dude Ranch

Waikiki Beach Services, Private Surfing LessonsGoal 6: Finally managed to stand upright on a surf board in Hawaii

Goal 7: I Discovered my passion for Turkey, it’s food and it’s people

Although some of these goals weren’t set in stone at the beginning of the year, they have been on my bucket list of things I’ve wanted to do.  I feel very blessed to have been able to accomplish them.  I discovered that I loved my 40th Birthday goal of traveling & experiencing as many new things as I possibly could.  It’s not something that will stop at the end of this year.  It’s something that I need to continue doing until I can’t any longer.  Like my career that I love so much, traveling is my passion.

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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }

Grace November 3, 2011 at 11:10 pm

What? You can stay at a ranch?? How? I’ve always fantasized about doing this. I wasn’t born and raised in America so I am curious to know how the “pioneer/cowboy life” looks like. Your list looks stellar by the way.

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laurel November 4, 2011 at 1:42 pm

That’s an impressive list and I agree, a much better and more memorable way than the other ways you mentioned of celebrating. Happy Birthday!

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Andrea November 4, 2011 at 2:33 pm

That’s a fantastic list – congrats! =)

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Marj November 13, 2011 at 1:56 pm

Are you seriously 40? You look very young Jen 🙂 Wow!!! Belated Happy birthday 🙂 xo
Marj recently posted..Pantheon RomeMy Profile

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jenjenk November 13, 2011 at 6:14 pm

I think it’s because I’m really immature. 🙂 I just got carded at a bar last nite. I almost threw myself at the bouncer last night.

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Lily November 27, 2011 at 6:12 am

Great list – and I would have never guessed you were old than late 20’s by your profile photo. Happy belated birthday and wish you more years of adventure, travel and savoury foods around the world 🙂

– Lily
Lily recently posted..Dahab, Egypt – How 5 Days Turned Into 9My Profile

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jenjenk November 28, 2011 at 12:46 am

that is the best compliment all year – photoshop does wonders, doesn’t it??!! I almost threw myself in glee at a bouncer just because he carded me. 😉

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Lily December 27, 2011 at 1:16 pm

You are too modest 😉 I’m sure there was no Photoshop involved! I’m a bit jealous – I haven’t been carded in a while…!

– Lily
Lily recently posted..The 5 World Wonders I Saw in 2011My Profile

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