pacific_sol's VirtualTourist Home Page

I'm not the most sophisticated or experienced traveler, but I thirst to travel the world and see things I've never seen and experience things I've never experienced. I like finding off the beaten path places, but I don't shy away from tourist traps either - even though someone else says it's a tourist trap, I would like to experience it for myself and make up my own mind. I'm not the richest person in the world (not even close!) and am generally a budget traveler, but that doesn't mean I skimp on comfort, cleanliness, or safety. I'm willing to splurge when I have to or need to. What I treasure most about traveling is the chance to step away from the daily cares of my life and have completely different experiences and learn about new people, places, and cultures. It's all a part of the lifetime process of learning and expanding your horizons...

It will probably be easier to list by continent, so here it goes...

Asia - Philippines (Manila of course, Baguio, province of Bataan)
Australia - Brisbane, Cairns, Yulara (Ayers Rock), and Sydney
Europe - Venice, Italy
North America - Canada (Toronto, Ontario)
United States:
California (Los Angeles; San Francisco; Napa Valley)
Hawaii (Oahu)
Massachusetts (Boston)
Nevada (Las Vegas)
New Mexico (Albuquerque)
New York (New York City)
Washington DC

I've also been to Oregon and Washington State, as well as Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, but that was when I was around 9 years old and I don't remember enough to provide any tips. I hope at some point to have a page for every place I've been to and to provide a few tips for each place.

This is not in any particular order and will be missing some that I can't think of right now, kind of just a stream of consciousness listing of all the places I'd like to see one day....

In Europe:
England (London, Stonehenge)
Scotland (Edinborough, Loch Ness!)
Wales
Ireland (Dublin)
France (Paris, Normandy, and the wine regions, Lourdes)
Spain (Madrid, Barcelona)
Italy (Rome, Florence, Milan, Lake Como, Sicily)
Vatican City
Greece (Athens, Mykonos)
The Netherlands (Amsterdam - which I've flown through but didn't get to see)
Portugal (Lisbon, Fatima)
Germany (Berlin, Munich - the BMW lover in me swoons!)
Luxembourg and Lichtenstein
Austria
Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg)
Czech Republic (Prague)
Denmark
Norway
Sweden

In Africa:
Morocco
Egypt (Cairo)
South Africa
Kenya
Madagascar
Seychelles

In Asia/the Middle East/the South Pacific:
Turkey (Istanbul)
Israel (Jerusalem, the Dead Sea)
Dubai
Japan (Kyoto, Tokyo)
China (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong)
South Korea (Seoul)
Singapore
Malaysia
more of the Philippines
Maldives (where I want to go on my honeymoon if I ever get married)
Tahiti
Fiji

In South America:
Peru (Macchu Picchu)
Brazil
Chile
Galapagos Islands
Panama

In North America:
Mexico (Mexico City, Cancun, Acapulco, the Yucatan Penninsula)
Canada (Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary)
United States - everywhere else that I haven't been here at home!
The Caribbean (I know it's not exactly part of any continent but I'm putting it here)

I would also like to try to see as many UNESCO World Heritage sites as I can, and I also use the book "1000 Places to See Before You Die" for hints/ideas of where to go/what to do on my travels.

The last week of October 2007 I am going on a 5 day cruise aboard the Carnival Elation to Mexico - I believe we are going to be visiting Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada. Considering I've lived in San Diego most of my life, I can't believe that this will be my first time venturing into Mexico!

I just came from Las Vegas a few weeks ago, but hope to return again before the end of the year - It is always a blast to go there!

I also hope to go back to the Philippines in January 2008 to visit my grandmother.

I am also dreaming of going to Rome, Italy to celebrate my 30th birthday - this trip is still in the dreaming/wishing stages as I save up the money to make the trip and will probably firm up my plans in 2008.