Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Top 5 Places I'd Love To Visit

So my one major regret so far in life is that I haven’t traveled nearly as much as I’d like. There are so many places I’d like to see that I just haven’t been able to go to yet. It’s been kind of frustrating because so many people that I know who are around my age have had the chance to really traverse the world. I don’t want to see all the world, I mean lets be honest, most of it sucks, but there are a few places I really want to sink my teeth into. One of the reasons I’m working on becoming a teacher is so I can plan trips every summer.

So today I’m going to make a list of the places I’ve always dreamed of going to or things that just interest me so much that I must experience it first hand. My top 5 list of places I’d love to visit.

5. Japan

I’ve had many family members and friends that have taken trips over there over the years and they all come back telling me the same thing. Amazing. Apparently it’s impossible to not have a good time over there. Beautiful landscapes, nice people, a million things to do, and it’s very educational. How many more reasons do you really need to go somewhere?

I’ve been into Japan since middle school. I’ll admit it, I’m a huge Dragonball Z fan. I used to be really into all kinds of anime as well (don’t worry, I learned my lesson), I used to poor over books about the Tokugawa era and play video games based on the feudal wars, I’ve read an awful lot of manga, ninja’s rock, samurai are bad ass, I want to put Pokemon in captivity and have them fight, and lets be honest, I’d be a pretty good sumo wrestler. It’s just been a place that’s been on my mind for sometime.

So my goal is to go over there with a friend or two for a few weeks and see what comes my way. I promise to avoid the scarier, more perverted parts of the country and promise to go to all the cool things possible. With any luck I can become a Power Ranger or get my very own pet giant robot.

4. The Winchester Mystery Mansion

I’ve heard of a lot of crazy shit in the world, but this place really takes the cake. Sarah Winchester (as in the rifle) went bat shit crazy after her husband and child died. Her psychic friend told her that she was cursed and that the thousands of the people that the guns have killed were haunting her. So being completely retarded she decided to use all her money for the next 38 years to have people constantly add on to the home 24 hours a day to make room for the spirits. The result being the most screwed up place on the planet. We’re talking Willy Wonka screwy.

The most interesting part of all this is that she designed it all. Every single thing was from her. Every stair case has 13 steps. Every chandelier has 13 candles/lights. Stairways that lead to the ceiling. Doors that open to walls or above rooms (as in they drop down). There’re multiple ballrooms and kitchens. All in all the place is over 160 rooms and 3 stories. It used to be bigger too. It was 7 stories until an earthquake fixed that problem.

So of all the places on my list this is the one that’s easiest for me to get to because it’s in San Jose. I’ve really wanted to do a trip down there and take a look at all the crazy stuff, but every summer I’ve been broke. My goal is to do a San Diego Comicon/Winchester Mystery Mansion trip in August, so if anyone wants to go let me know. The more people the cheaper it’ll be.

3. Uluru and Kata Tjuta

Who would have thought a prison colony could become such a flourishing country and continent. After Europe did it’s darndest to move themselves in, Australia became a pretty cool place to live, complete with rabbit problems and baby eating dingoes. The thing that I find interesting about Australia is really the landscape and how intact the indigenous people still are after their culture was disrupted. I also think Ayer’s Rock (Uluru) is a spaceship and I want to try to find the entrance.

In all seriousness though it sounds like the people there are pretty cool. They have a very liberal society, great healthcare, and some of the happiest people on the earth, all without having to step on another country or pissing the world off. But I think the coolest thing there is Uluru and Kata Tjura. They’re places of spiritual significance to the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara people and there are many places there that they believe should not be photographed. They also don’t want people to walk or climb on them but the Australian Board of Tourism did away with that silly rule a long time ago (that’s sarcasm).

Some people are awestruck by the Grand Canyon or Niagra Falls, but give me a big brownish rock in the middle of nowhere any day over that other crap. Just look at it, it’s just beautiful. So many people have told me about the calm power you get from places like this. I’m not a very spiritual person and maybe that’s why I want to go. Maybe to try to feel what so many people are talking about.

2. The San Diego Comicon

So my nerdiness has taken me over like I was possessed. As I mentioned with the Winchester Mystery Mansion entry this is something I’ve been trying to do for a few summers now and I’ve either had no one to go with me or I was broke…or both. I really really really want to go this year and looks like I can’t again. I feel like this is my pilgrimage to Mecca. It’s basically the greatest gathering of just about everything I’m into.

That’s right, there’re multiple reasons for me to go. You see, it’s not only comic books anymore. While that’s still the main attraction, many other things have moved there way in. Movies and video games have now made a nice little home there with the success of so many comic movies and games. So it’s basically three conventions in one where you have the opportunity to meet so many creators. I’ve been to a few local comic conventions and they tend to be sad and boring. I want one with some freaking balls.

So again I plead. Anyone wanting to take a trip to Comicon and the Winchester Mystery Mansion hit me up and let’s set a freaking date. If I can get 3 other people we should be able to make it pretty cheap if we all pitch in on gas and rooms. Help make a dream come true people. I promise I won’t wear a costume.

1. United Kingdom



For some reason when I look at pictures of the UK it just feels like home. It’s like I’m supposed to go there. And it’s not just England, but Scotland, Wales, and Ireland too. Everything just screams to me that I need to go there. I grew up just thinking I had some Dutch in me but I recently found out that I’m also Welsh and Scottish, so maybe that has something to do with it.

I’ve always loved every story from there. Robin Hood, King Arthur, William Wallace, Robert The Bruce, etc. Sure, some of those are fiction but the mythology there is so rich. I want to see Stonehenge, Big Ben, every freaking castle, Loch Ness, Tolkien’s house, the Robin Hood tour, everything. I honestly think I want to spend a month there and just spend a day at everything. Really take it in.

If I ever get one of those wife things this is definitely where I would want to go for our honeymoon. I just can’t think of anything more romantic then the lush country side or as exciting as touring a whole bunch of castles. It’s a land of great history…and mystery (spooky). So Mrs. Right, if you’re out there let me know.

So that’s my top 5 places I’d love to visit. Let me hear yours. Join me next week for my top 5 favorite video games.

And don’t forget you can read this in a more official capacity at mikeystop5.blogspot.com.

Mikey

2 comments:

  1. I would LOVE to go to Japan. I'm trying to search out a class that I can attend so I can learn to speak it right now, but I haven't found anywhere with the beginning one. I'm fascinated by their culture. And their cartoons :D

    I also want to go to Australia and Ireland. And I'd love to visit New York city.

    Anyways, sorry my comments aren't longer, I gotta head out to work. See you next week? :D

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  2. The great thing about the San Diego Comicon is that you get .6 of Japan with every weird (correct spelling) and stink induced step. If you're drunk enough you might swear you were teleported by Hiro to his hood. Whatsup.

    Surprised by numero uno. UK. Whatsup chaps. What what? I always suspected you of being a red coat. I want to see the giant on the side of the hill with the huge member. I also love pubs and dark bars infested with vermin and riff raff. Not that we don't have those here but in the UK they just sound nicer.

    Nothing tropical? No moon landings? Respect. You could go to the sun at night or be the first to find an alien life form and well you know the rest.

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