This time it is a bit more personal from thefreebohemian. Last year I could mark of country number 40 on my map. I started to reflect on what has been my four favorite destinations so far out of the 40. I realized I have a couple of favorites where I have been at least twice. You know, some places just triggers something inside and gives you a feeling of home or that you could create a home there. Maybe you spent two weeks there and wish you had a month, or six or more. All of these places below have a special place in my heart. I really fell in love with the places and immediately started thinking of when I could go back. Some of the places I started envisioning how I could live there or actually planning to live there for a period of time. Who knows, maybe I will retire there in 40 years?
malta
First is Malta, which actually consists of three inhabited islands; Malta, Gozo and Comino. Everybody speaks English there as well as Maltese as Malta used to be a British colony. There is lots of great shopping in Malta and you will find most of the same clothing stores as you do in the UK. There is also great nightlife, beach life and sights. I apologize in advance for the poor picture quality (from 2004 haha) of the island Comino and the Blue Lagoon, but I needed to show you how beautiful it is.
Koh Tao, Thailand
My second favorite is Koh Tao in Thailand, which I visited for the first time in January 2010. The first couple of days I read in a tourist brochure that it was called "the island you never want to leave". We had planned to stay there for only a couple of days, but ended up staying for two weeks. I booked another trip the same year in December. I can't imagine how it has changed since 2010 since it already had changed from January to December that year, but I really want to go back again soon. The island has the best sunsets I have seen in my life. If you want to read more about the sunsets of Koh Tao you can find it here on the blog. There is great restaurants, live music and fire shows on the beach at night. Snorkling and diving is also great to try there. The food is amazing especially the thai pancakes from street food carts.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen just has the coolest chillest vibe. The shopping is great, the food is great, everybody bicycles everywhere, the nightlife continues forever, the people have this effortless cool style that makes you think they are just the chillest most relaxed people who never stress. I was supposed to go to school there, but found out too late about some enrollment criteria (that didn't make any sense by the way). I was so sad. However, I went back for visits.
San DIego, California, USA
Another favorite is San Diego in California in the U.S. Is it possible to get homesick to a place you have only lived for 5 months? If so, that happened to me last month when I heard the song "La la land" by Bryce Vine. It just took me straight back to cruisin' in my car down the road with palm trees on the side of the road and listening to my music. I guess I also realized I really miss driving a car and listening to your own jams (since I live in a big city where you don't need a car). You can read more about San Diego and why you should visit San Diego here on the blog (https://www.thefreebohemian.com/single-post/2017/08/23/The-Big-City-Guide-Why-life-is-better-in-sunny-San-Diego - p.s. will fix the link later when I can get on my computer!).
What are your favorite destinations abroad? What charateristics have those places?
- thefreebohemian