If you are someone who has already dedicated a decent portion of your life to travelling around the world, chances are you’ve already visited the places you wanted to visit most. Everyone has a few places high up on their list of priorities growing up or in their teens, during a time when they already have their own interests but do not have enough of their own money to actually do anything with them. If you’ve already gone through your initial travelling bucket list, then you are probably already seeking a destination for your new adventure. It’s just never enough, is it? Now you could go and visit the usual suspects, the beaches of Spain, the Eiffel tower in Paris, Big Ben in London, you get the drift. Alternatively, you could be a bit more creative and actually feel like you’re on an adventure for once. If you cannot decide on a destination because all of them are somewhat appealing, go there for a “reason”. Of course, the whole idea of going there should be reason enough, but just for that extra bit of assurance in the back of your mind, you can think of some more tangible reasoning. Let’s look at a few places you could visit, with some easier self-justification.
China
Now, there are many, maybe even too many reasons, to go to China. Other than the more obvious Great Wall of China, which by is still amazing despite being overdone, China is simply filled with beautiful sights. Zhangjiajie is a landscape which looks like something out of a sci-fi movie with an overgrown jungle planet, yet tranquil and serene at same time. It is a prefecture-level city in the northwestern part of the Hunan province. Going there for some more unusual sightseeing might just prove to be the reason you’ve always needed to convince yourself to visit china.
If sightseeing isn’t really your thing then consider looking into some of the local cuisine. China’s cuisine is far from normal compared to western standards, and an easy point of interest for food lovers. If stuffing your face full of new flavours isn’t your thing, you can always try one of the other local specialities, namely tea. It is no secret that tea has been exported by the tonnes from China for centuries, and if you find yourself a bit of a tea enthusiast, you could always check out the World Tea Directory, and find out how to make the most of your tea-venture. There probably is no other place more suited towards some tea-oriented recon than China, and being indisputably the largest producer of tea in the world, it is a no-brainer to see why.
Japan
Once again, the far east, a place so alien to the average westerner, that there is a plethora of reasons to go from the get-go, no need for careful planning. Tokyo is a busy metropolis with towering buildings in the business district, intertwined with shrines and temples alike, creating a somewhat bizarre ensemble. A futuristic metropolis full of arcades, game centres, pachinko parlours, maid cafes, heavily contrasting with the traditionalism of Shinto shrines and small tranquil gardens. Kyoto on the other hand, is much more traditional in a general sense. Geishas busying around in side streets, matcha flavoured everything, the Minami-za kabuki theatre on the main road of Gion-Shijo, men and women walking around in traditional outfits like kimonos and yukatas alike.
For the most part, a trip to Japan can be such a culture shock, that you will be left in awe wherever you go. If you really feel like you need to go for one good single reason, then go to Japan at the start of April, to see the Sakura (cherry blossoms). The Sakura Festival, called Hanami, is a sight to behold, and a near-ancient tradition celebrated through the centuries. Every year when the Sakura bloom, people gather to celebrate the beauty of the flowers in a spectacular fashion. If you cannot quite picture it, just run a quick google search for some pictures from previous sakura festivals, it should be more than enough to convince you to go.
Czech Republic
When you think Czech Republic, the first thing that comes to mind is probably not “holiday destination”, but the truth is that many cities and towns in Czech are absolutely charming, full of amazing places to relax and unwind. Riddled with small cafes, comfy side streets, and a small-town aesthetic throughout, it is definitely worth seeing if you aren’t the biggest fan of the hustle and bustle of big cities. With many historical monuments and exhibits to explore and see, you will never run out of things to do.
Prague itself boasts an impressive amount of touristic attractions, the Infant Jesus of Prague which is right at the heart of the city, in Mala Strana. That statue of Jesus is a well-known part of the city, often called the Child of Prague. The old town centre is a fascinating area which still retains some of the feeling of how the town used to be hundreds of years ago. Despite its busy history of getting invaded, the old town remains relatively well preserved since the 10th century, which in itself is a wonder. The old town centre also has the famous astronomical clock; you can see it when you pay the old town hall a visit. Despite being damaged and then repaired during its lifespan, it is often regarded as one of, if not the best, preserved medieval mechanical clocks to still be around today. If you do pay it a visit, it is almost guaranteed you will see a crowd waiting for it to strike the hour. Once again, if you had to pick just one reason to go, then the “Stone Town” in Adršpach, near the Polish border, is a place you do not see every day, but have wanted to see all your life. Filled with gigantic stone faces, waterfalls, caves, gothic gates from the 1830s, ravines with walk paths, everything overgrown with moss and foliage, it is an experience like no other. Being right in the middle of “somewhat creepy”, “absolutely beautiful” and “majestic”, it is a place where your camera will never leave your hand, wanting to commemorate this occasion as well as it can.
