Whenever I see a plane taking off or flying above me, I get this pang in my heart. This urge, this overwhelming desire to be on a plane heading somewhere. As if my heart would break if I didn’t step foot off the ground and hover over land for extended periods of time. That longing to constantly be moving has always been present within me since I have been on the go from the time I was four years old. I have been to Europe four times, have seen fourteen countries, not including my own or Canada. When I went to Europe in the fall, I spent three months in an exaggerated time warp–in the past I moved every two to three years. In those three months I was moving every three or so days. That kind of travel, that kind of movement, really set off the seeker in me. (Grace wrote a wonderful post today on this) To be honest, I’ve always been this way but since the fall I’ve definitely felt the gravitational pull of travel all the more strongly.
At any given hour, of any given day, you can find me perusing flight and travel deals online. I receive email alerts from Orbitz, Travelocity, Kayak, Delta, United, Continental…the list could go on. I itch to plan my next major vacation; to me it is almost as exciting as going on the trip itself. (Except for that whole spending lots of money on plane tickets bit.)
When I found out my brother was going to Fiji in May, the first thing I did was find the biggest airport there and search for flights to it from Denver. I was a little sticker shocked by the price of tickets ($3,000? For a 36 hour plane ride? Ummm…) but that didn’t sway me from wanting to go. From needing to go. There is no question in my mind about whether I will go or not, I’ve had to pass up opportunities to go where he has lived because of school or finances, but this time I am determined. I’m determined in the same way I was to quit my job and travel through Europe by myself for three months. Granted, it’ll cost me the same amount I spent in Europe just on plane fare alone, but it’s worth it.
It’s fucking Fiji.
Over the past few days my travel brain has been ticking, thinking of this vacation, thinking about travel and how I can make it more dominant in my life and dreaming about how I want to be a travel writer. You will definitely see travel more featured here on Ashalah, since it’s the one thing I do really love to write about. Mainly, my brain is focusing on the travel bit. It’s rolling over all the possibilities (which are really quite endless) and I’ve come upon a plan that excites me, terrifies me and makes me want to shout it from the rooftops. (And makes me want to go on that trip RIGHTNOW).
The problem is this plan cannot be implemented for another year and a half–possibly longer. It requires a couple months of free time, a surplus of cash and the freedom to do so. It requires time to get to that point and if you know me, you know I’m impatient. I want to go and I want to go now.
When you go on three month tours of countries, you kind of get spoiled. You no longer think of vacations in days, but many weeks and even months. While ten days seemed luxurious last year, this year it seems short and oppressive. When I did a search on google maps to see where exactly Fiji was located, I discovered it was so close to New Zealand that it would be ridiculously stupid of me not to visit both. And what about Australia? That’s pretty close too.
So this plan essentially involves New Zealand, Australia and finally, beautifully, Fiji. It involves a lot of money, which if I’m going to be spending the equivalent of two months rent in NYC on a plane ticket (or more!), means that I need to be spending some quality time in these places. What I learned most from Europe is that I don’t want to rush. I want to take my time and really get to know the places I’m visiting. Find that local coffee shop you can sit in for four hours at a time, read your book and rack up enough drinks to earn a free coffee. (Which I never ended up using…just means I have to return to Barcelona one day!) Embrace that community and make it my home, if only for a week or two.
I have never been to this part of the world and all three of these countries have been sitting on top of a very hefty list of places I must visit. My brother lived in New Zealand my second to last year in college and I wanted to go visit him so badly but the eight weeks I had off between semesters meant I had to spend them making money and the plane ticket alone would have drained my meager savings account. So I had to say no and missed that opportunity.
I’m not letting that opportunity pass me by again.I have two years to get my ass to Fiji, plenty of time to get myself there.
To start early, I started researching flights. My favorite site is Kayak, especially since they send me daily updates on flights to Vegas that I can look and sniffle at since I can’t go. Anyway, getting off topic here.
The combination I found to be the best was Denver to Auckland, New Zealand to Fiji to Denver over a two month period of time. Now those are definitely not the dates since those are only 6 months away, not a year and a half but at least I know what I can expect. If I do a multi-flight, multi-destination trip, I can easily afford it. Easily being relative, of course. but it’s about half the price of what it costs to fly directly to Fiji from Denver.
All I know is this trip is going to be EPIC.
And I’m BEYOND excited.
Of course that doesn’t mean I’m not searching for flights to Europe for this fall because heaven forbid I go more than a year without leaving the country. I’m dying to go back to Italy and I think that may be my destination, despite already having been there three years ago. (Side note: my ex, in regards to his trip to italy this year, said he had to do it all and do it up all first-class-like since he may never be going back. I looked at him–or his email more like–like he’d sprouted a third, fourth and fifth head. Never go back to places? Please. And first-class travel? How did I ever think we were good together? hah) I’ve been dreaming of the food, the culture and the art for a while now so a return trip is a must.
If you could choose anywhere to go right now, where would it be? Where do you think I should go (and do you want to come with me?!)
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Hi there,
Long time lurker, but seeing that you are thinking of visiting my fair country (go New Zealand!), I had to comment. If you would like any advice on New Zealand – things to see, places to stay, even the cheapest way to get around – don’t hesitate to get in touch with me! You’ll have a fab time and you are totally right that it makes more sense to visit other countries “down under” when you are coming this far. My boyfriend and I feel the same way about the states (although that’s more than a couple of years away LOL)
Australia! We’re planning to take a couple of weeks at the end of this year and go, just get away from everything and go somewhere new to both of us.
Fiji sounds great. I completely agree with not bothering with first class travel. I can spend that money so many other interesting ways!
If I could go anywhere for several months, though, it would be Russia. My husband has lived there and I’m learning the language, so it’s starting to fascinate me. I’d love to take the Trans-Siberian all the way across. I’ve never gone on a long train ride, and a completely new place plus new experiences = perfection. Or at least good stories.
I’m looking forward to more travel writing – my wanderlust has been kicking in a lot lately, so reading about your travels might help.
okay so you’re really cool. and this is my first time commenting. sorry.
i grew up in colorado and lived in new zealand for a year! spent two weeks in australia, a week in fiji, and a few other islands. and it was FANTASTIC. not enough positive words in my vocabulary to do new zealand justice. simply spectacular. and i’m so incredibly jealous you’re going. i cannot wait to go back.
if i packed my bags tomorrow it would be for africa. tanzania mostly, but i really just want to explore. open my eyes and take it all in.
I’d love to be pretty much anywhere that was warm right now. But I am off to Zante in May so not long until that wish comes true.
Speaking of the Greek islands, did you visit those when you were in Europe last year? If not, you definitely should. But i love your plan – it sounds amazing!
That sounds like an amazing trip. Australia and New Zealand are definitely near the top of my travel list as well. I would also love to go back to the States, to some places I have been before and some new places.
Italy, please.
And then France.
And Greece.
And then the US Virgin Islans for awhile.
I would go back to Australia in a heartbeat. And I would swing over to New Zealand this time too. But right now, I want to go back to Europe
“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” – Susan Sontag
It all sounds amazing…
I’m trying to convince my fiance that we need to do Bali & Thailand for our honeymoon next July (are they even remotely close to each other? I don’t even know!?!?)
Where else…umm…Spain…France…Morocco…Greece…Turkey…Prague…Egypt…South Africa…Argentina…Chile…seriously, everywhere.
Huhu, und mal wieder ein toller Post. Ich habe aber folgendes Problem: Ich wuerde diesen Feed gern im Microsoft Outlook abonieren. Das klappt jedoch nicht. Es werden bei dir nur Reader angezeigt. Hast du eine Ahnung, wie das eingestellt wird ? Ich möchte ja keine weiteren Post´s versaeumen. Vielen Dank schonmal und ausserdem eine schoene Woche. Gruesse Lilly-bb
I’ve traveled around the South Island in NZ and lived outside of Sydney for 6 months in 2004. They are two of my favorite places ever, and I am soooo jealous that you’ll be going! I know a great town in New South Wales, AU if you want a suggestion!!
1) Ecuador – this has been my ultimate dream for as long as I remember.
2) Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam – I’d like to ride an elephant, volunteer at an orphanage AND explore the Chi Chi tunnels.
3) New York – might be heading there in a few months time depending on whether or not I get funding for an advanced GIS & remote sensing course. Cross your fingers.
I plan to go to Italy this fall, so if you are ready to go by then you can come with me!
Unfortunately, unlike you, I’ve had very little opportunity to travel outside of the United States, so first on my list would no doubt be Paris. I fell in love with the language and the culture of France many years ago and I’m dying to go there. I’m just too poor to even think about it, ha.
I would be in Europe (especially France and Italy) in a heartbeat! I also really want to visit Australia and New Zealand, and Alaska, and maybe take a week in some South American countries.
So exciting. I have an acquaintance who quit her job and started traveling the world. She started up a blog to document her journeys and crazy adventures for her family and friends back home. Some travel company found it and now she gets paid to travel and blog about it — what an amazing opportunity.
do it!!
my best friend honeymooned in fiji and she absolutely loved it!!
i’d really like to visit new zealand sometime, too.
i sort of get envious of well traveled people. lol. i feel like i’m not wordly enough cos i’ve only been to 4 countries. yet, i feel like i have that HUGE travel bug/wanderlust that even people who’ve traveled to over 15 countries have..