My Task to Visit 6 out of 7 continents
If you are new here and you’re thinking “What is ‘Pollys Pad’ all about then?” or, more likely “What is a ‘Kettle List’?” let me offer some context.
Maybe you want a whole background/life story version?
The best place for that is the home page.
There is also a post about all of the tasks on the list.
If you want the TL;DR, it’s like a Bucket List but less depressing; instead of doing all the things before I die, I want to get them done before March 2027, when I turn … well older.
I am writing up every task, whether completed or not, and I will update them as I go. It is slow going!
And here is task #13
Travel the world – kind of
Technically, I had done some of this task before I started. However, as a purist, I am only going to count the places I have visited since March 2017. ( i.e. When I started the Kettle List).
Initially, I was worried I had added a few pricey tasks onto my list, however, if you want something badly enough you will put the effort in. Thanks to a serious bout of ‘going without‘ and improved saving skills, I got to visit Japan (April 2017) and was able to take a trip to L.A in October 2019.
(After that whole “Corona unpleasantness” I am going to allow myself an extra 2 years for travel tasks if I need them).
Where do you want to visit? What comes next on your travel wish list?
Depending on who you ask there are 5, 7, or 8 continents. For the purpose of this kettle list challenge, we are going with 7 and we are going to all agree that £15K for a boat trip to Antarctica is just excessive and will probably not be happening, much as I would love to see penguins swimming about.
Therefore, this is a list of all the countries I have visited – with a * indicating the visit happened after March 2017, so that trips can be counted towards this challenge.
Europe:
Well, I live there, for now, geographically speaking, whatever the Brexit lot think. So this one is a bit of a cheat, but for argument’s sake let’s say I mean ‘Mainland Europe’ – in which case I have visited :
Belgium – 2010 – Bit of a drive-through visit, but we did get out of the coach and buy chocolate.
Croatia – Technically, it was part of Yugoslavia when I went in 1989, but it still counts.
The Czech Republic – Prague in 2016, while the trip is part of the 40×40, it doesn’t count for this list.
France – 3 times. We have been to Disneyland Paris twice, and have driven through – and been shopping – en route to Italy.
*Germany – Berlin for my birthday in March 2018 so this one counts as a capital for challenge #22.
Greece – We went to Corfu in 1988
Italy – As it was the Girl Guides Centenary, 50 or so of us went to the Aosta Valley to do a bit of rafting and ziplining. 2010
Luxembourg – 2010 – as part of the Girl Guide Tour.
Montenegro – Part of that 1989 Yugoslavia trip.
The Netherlands – We went on a cruise to Rotterdam, and then coached to Amsterdam for my 21st Birthday in 1998.
Norway – Our Oslo weekend in 2011 was to celebrate of Paul’s friend’s 40th birthday.
Spain – Many times! My first in 1984, my first trip abroad to Mojacar in the South of Spain. I then visited Majorca, Menorca, Salou, and Belamedena for my sister-in-laws’ Hen Do in 2007. I went back to Menorca for the kids first-ever holiday abroad in 2010, then a trip to Barcelona in 2015 with my University.
Switzerland – As part of our 2010Girl Guide trek. Bought too much chocolate.
United Kingdom (Free one there – and technically: England, Scotland & Wales)
While I have stopped off at Dublin airport, I don’t really consider this as having visited Ireland, so I haven’t included it.
Asia: My favourite continent
This is my favourite continent so far, despite only having visited two of the countries there.
It is an area I really hope to explore more of. Specifically, South Korea and Singapore, although I am tempted by so many of the exciting destinations advertised by the group tours that arrive in my email box.
India – as part of a Geography Field trip in 2015.
We visited: Chandigarh, Manali, Mandi, Shimla and a number of small villages in the Himalayas, throughout the Himachal Pradesh region
*Japan – April 2017. A visit that just confirmed that Japan is somewhere that I want to spend a lot more time.
On this first trip we stayed with my friend Yumi in Nara, and also visited Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo.
Not only was this #14 on the Kettle List, but returning to Japan is a major part of my life plan.
North America
Dominican Republic -My first long haul trip was for my Honeymoon in 1997. We stayed in Puerto Plata, in an all-inclusive hotel. Possibly the most indulgent holiday I have ever had!
United States of America: California, October 2019. I am very glad we went when we did, as had we left it any later the trip would have certainly been cancelled.
This trip was Hannah’s 18th birthday choice (Harri had picked Japan in 2017) – it also appeared on the Kettle list. I got to see the Hollywood sign AND stand on a star on Hollywood boulevard. Hannah got to eat a Voodoo Donut and go to the Museum of Death. So everyone was happy.
I also got to see a beautiful sunset over Santa Monica beach
South America
Ethan really wants to visit Costa Rica, but is that central America? What continent does that belong to? If not I am willing to go to Peru or Brazil to get this one ticked off.
Africa
I have a safari, Moroccan markets AND Egypt on my list.
Australia / New Zealand – Oceania? Australasia? What is this continent called!
Maybe if I get to live in Japan I will be that bit closer?
Having watched a few Netflix shows about houses and ‘instant hotels’ in both of these countries there are certainly plenty of options, although I think the coast is top of my wish list.
Over to you
I will update the list, as and when I can explore again. Are there any places you are itching to get to? Where will you go first when the world opens back up?
Let us know in the comments.