27 Bucket List Items for my 27th Birthday

I once went to a fortune teller that told me that my 26^th year will be my best year yet. Not only was it my golden year it was indeed my best year with lots of things to do. I rang in that birthday with an entire week of celebrations; I even wanted to skip my actual birthday dinner because I was birthdayed out. Throughout the year I had highs and lows but it was worth every second.

Here is a snapshot of my 26th year: I visited 1 new continent 15 new countries and lived in 3 new countries, I quit my day job where I was miserable, went down a 30-foot water slide linked arms with 5 other people, I ate a scorpion, and got food poisoning 4 times (not from said scorpion). I’ve also checked off some incredible bucket list items that I’ve had forever. These include hugging, feeding and bathing an elephant, throwing shoes over a telephone wire, celebrating Chinese New Year in a Chinese country, walking into North Korea (I only went to the DMZ), going to Feria de Abril in Seville and watching the sunset on a pagoda in Myanmar.

Now that my birthday is in just a few days I thought it would be appropriate to create a list of 27 bucket list items for my 27^th birthday and have all my top things to do in one place.

1. Create a travel Youtube channel

I’ve wanted to do this for quite some time; it’s the next step forward for my travel blog. I think it’ll be a great way to document my travels for my followers and myself.

2. Visit 2 new continents

I visited one new continent in my 26th year, let's hit 2 new ones for my 27th year. South America and Australia are on my list for this year, this will leave me with only Antarctica by age 30.

3. Reach my country count to 70

I’m currently at 56 countries and want to reach up to 70 by the end of my 27^th I did 15 new counties in my 26^th year I can definitely do 14 in my 27^th.

4. Trek Machu Pichu

I’ve wanted to do this for a really long time. I’m planning on finally stepping foot into South America later this year so this one is definitely on my list while there.

5. Tour Patagonia

Again, I’ll be in South America so this is a must do high up on my bucket list.

6. Get scuba certified

I’ve been scuba diving a few times but never got certified and regret it. I even lived in Thailand for a few months where their PADI certifications are super cheap. So this is officially on my bucket list.

7. Go to Carnival in Rio

AHHHH!!! This has been on my bucket list for years. I almost went a few years back but my plans fell through. I want to experience the real craziness of Carnival in Brazil.

8. Become fluent-ish in Spanish

Well at least improve it A LOT. My current Spanish is so-so… I can get by, but I can’ t have an intelligent conversation in Spanish. I really want to improve it this year.

9. Publish an e-book

Something travel related. Not sure about what yet but it’s something I want to push myself to do. Especially since I always hated writing, this would be a great goal.

10. Do 3 whole 30 challenges

And actually, succeed in them. I want to do one every 4 months. This might be hard depending on where I’m living since fruits and veggies are sometimes hard to come by. But I want to get back into the habit of eating better.

11. Take part in La Tomatina

I did a small tomato fight back home at Soldier Field and this sounds like a way bigger and better version.

12. Be nominated and receive a blogger award

I’m still fairly new to blogging but I’ve been working my butt off and hard work is already paying off. I’m determined to win a blogger award this year.

13. Acquire a new skill

Not sure if it’s jewelry making, playing an instrument or how to repair something but I want to pick up a new skill.

14. Go to a nude beach

Yep, I’ve never been to one.

15. Volunteer more

I try to volunteer at least once a year, but they’re always short day-long volunteer programs, I want to do a longer program this year.

16. Take a girls trip

I miss my girlfriends! I haven’t been on a girls trip in almost 2 years and I need some girl time. #gltlove

17. Finish my sleeve

I’ve been sitting on my sleeve tattoo for a while. I finally have everything that I want drawn out I just need to find an artist. I want to finally finish it this year.

18. Slow down (at least a bit)

I thought that becoming nomadic would slow me down a bit but that was not the case. I’m still in constant movement and constantly working. I need to slow down a little and enjoy what is around me.

19. Go on a cruise

I went on a cruise a couple years ago and loved everything about it. I want to go on another one this year.

20. Photograph 27 sunsets

Sunsets are amazing to photograph. I want to make a point to photograph 27 different sunsets this year.

21. Do something that scares me

Not much scares me these days so I’m not sure what it would be but I want that thrill of doing something scary and conquering it.

22. Attend real Oktoberfest

Who wouldn’t want to experience real Oktoberfest?

23. Wine tasting at a French vineyard

I’ve been wanting to go to Bordeaux for a long time now and this will be the year I actually do it.

24. Read at least 3 New Yorks top sellers

I really need to make a point to read more books. It’s been a personal goal of mine for a long time but time always gets in the way.

25. Skinny dipping in the ocean

Because skinny dipping in a pool isn't rebellious enough for me LOL. Maybe I can do this while I’m at the nude beach haha.

26. Visit back home

It’s been almost a year since I become nomadic and I miss my family and friends. I want to visit Chicago at least once during my 27^th year.

27. Fall in love

Not necessarily with a person (though that would be nice too), but love in general. A place, a new taste, an animal, something, I miss that feeling of being in love.

That’s my 27th-year bucket list. Most of these are achievable, some more than others, but I will go back and slowly mark them off once completed. But till then, wish me luck.

Xoxo Ania Travels 💜