The Travel Blog by TravelPod

This is part one of a ten part series that will feature some of our users’ inspring travel goals.

A while ago, whereshegoes started a forum discussion about 100 things to do before you die. Here’s part of the list that was cobbled together with help from the rest of the TravelPod community. It’s not complete, so what would you add to it?

1. Swim with dolphins

Lindsaym getting ready to go swimming with dolphins

It was so amazing! It was just like a normal dive with coral around the sides and lots of fish, but 2 of the dolphins were free in the area and would come and swim along with us, leave, come back, swim in between us. AWESOME!!! At the end we knelt in the sand and they both came down and were swimming in and out of us, all around, diving down over our heads, everything! It was such a cool experience to be kneeling on the sand at 60ft and petting dolphins as they swam by!! – Lindsaym

2. Climb a mountain one evening, stay there all night and watch the sun rise in the morning.

Brendonjohnson at the top of Hua Shan Mountain

Several hours ago, death loomed on this peak; now, brilliance is its gift. I sit; marvel at the sunrise. Bright, fiery red-orange; crayon yellow; brilliant tangerine; all enclosed in a small streak in the sky. Small, like a wound starting to heal. Slowly the colors merge with the cotton-ball clouds, a light, subtle pink ascending, the sun’s rays inflating the sky. The mountain’s reward. Relief. – Brendonjohnson

3. Fall in love

Mette falls in love with... a koala

So last week I met someone really special.. His name is David. (What is it about men called David??) As soon as I saw him my heart skipped a beat and I knew this was special. We were introduced and as soon as I held him in my arms and he dug his claws into my shoulders I knew my heart would always belong to him. – Mette

4. Visit a South American prison

Inoursuitcase visiting a former prison in Valparaiso, Chile

There is a cultural centre called Ex-Carcel  that is a public creative space in an old prison high up on the hill. This space has loads of potential. There was graffiti/artwork murals covering all the walls, an experimental circus school, a trapeze and some props around. A giant adult playground. When we visited there was a game of football (soccer) in motion and a trio of performance artists had laid out Turkish style rugs and were practicing their art within the prison walls. You could glance in at the old prison cells and imagine what it would have been like to be in a South American prison cell. – Inoursuitcase

5. Climb Machu Picchu

Nixb at the top of Machu Picchu

We had to climb a mountain for about an hour, I had forgotten what it was like walking in jungle humidity but made it up to the first stop only about 5 mins after most of the others had got there, both Siggie ( the Belgian girl) and I took it at our own pace. Fortunately at this point there was a really refreshing cool breeze blowing which made the whole climbing thing so much easier!  We had a break at a great view spot where Leo told us a bit about the history of the Incas and the Spanish Conquest.  After that we continued on stopping everynow and then at a little village to buy more water or eat some fruit from the trees.  It was a beautiful walk through banana plantations, villages, coca plantations, across lots of little streams and waterfalls and along the side of the mountain. – Nixb

6. Live in another country for at least a couple of years

Chimmie13 volunteered with the Peace Corps in Paraguay

So I’ve survived my first week in South America…outhouse…bucketbaths and all. I think I’m actually getting better at it if that is at all possible. The food is not bad… I just have to be careful how much well water and terere I drink because they don´t always sit well if you know what I mean! – Chimmie13

7. Meet the Dalai Lama

Djchurch saw the Dalai Lama in Tibet

The first thing I noticed about the Dalai Lama was his voice. He had a strong, gentle, and intelligent voice. It was an impressive voice, like that of a president, pope, freedom fighter and diplomat all at once (which I suppose he is depending on your opinion). – Djchurch

8. Have children

Patgower's daughter in Shanghai

We went to CIW after lunch and found Travis-finally! I got to hug my big, handsome son. He was going to the train station back in Guangzhou to pick up Melissa!! YAY! She came down from Shanghai on the train-neat experience, blahblahblah. 18 hours on a train is not an experience, it’s a lifetime. She was supposed to be in about 3:30. Really. We waited over an hour-many phone calls back and forth between Travis and Melissa. He couldn’t understand why his sister would want to ride a train and we were getting nervous because the dinner was at 6 p.m. Finally we see her and I am so glad to see my daughter after 8 months! We really attract attention now-three blonde foreigners all together! – Patgower

9. Live in Asia

Tranquillize left Canada for Thailand

Well, after years of contemplating where in the world I should move to, I have finally decided to move to Thailand . I spent 6 weeks touring around southeast Asia in April/May and I loved it! Part of my reasoning for that trip was to scout out possible places to live; I loved everywhere I went but Thailand was the place I ultimately chose. – Tranquillize

10. Overcome my fears.

Katrina overcame her fear of the Laos zipline

I lasted two seconds after I jumped off!! I couldn’t grip the handle properly and I back flopped (yes I did say back flopped) into the water with the crowd going oooooohhhhhhhhhhhh. After a coughing up a lung full of water I attempted to doggy paddle to the side but the wind had definitely been taken out of me. – Philandkatrina