A dream destination

volga_volga

What is your dream destination?

For a long time, Buenos Aires was mine. Since I watched Madonna’s Evita for the first time. I knew the movie and the soundtrack by heart. I still do. I tortured friends with “I shall return and be millions” and “I’d be surprisingly good for you”. I tried hard to turn St Petersburg, where I lived at the time, into Buenos Aires, but in vain, in spite of the two cities’ common adoration for nostalgia and predisposition to violent revolutions.

For a nobody in Russia going to Buenos Aires was as impossible as it would have been for a villager in Kerala. And so it was the perfect dream destination: full of promise and controversy, and out-of-reach.

Few years forward. I am nobody in London, but this time with an understanding boss. And, on 22 November 2003, oh what a circus, I land in Buenos Aires Ezeiza airport. (I was at Evita’s tomb within hours of my arrival.) I went crazy during my first week: if you have ever lived your dream you know what I am taking about.

I got to spend two months in the city of my dreams, to witness its getting ready for Christmas, getting over the New Year’s Eve hangover, and getting abandoned by its residents for their annual seaside escape.

This is already too long for a story not related to India. I left Buenos Aires in January and with that I lost my dream destination.

I am in search of a new one. What is yours?


And India… India was someone else’s destination. I simply went along

williaam

India. . . . of course. India has been my ultimate dream destination. And at the risk of sounding incredilbly ridiculous, it is amazing to realize that in a few months, well a little more than that, I will have achieved one of my life goals. I think that perhaps the struggle to get there and all of the hard work will make it even more meaningful. THe best part of it all, I will be landing in Delhi at 1 am Christmas morning and I get to wake up to a true dream come true, wow, I sound corny.
Anyway, after that, Africa, Kenya if I am to be picky!

darthmilmo

My dream is more then just a destination... I'd love to land in Madrid, head to Morroco, then cross the Sahara across northern Africa... explore the middle east, and continue along the age old Silk Road all the way to Beijing, China... it's a bit hard given the current situation is several of the countries along that route, but i'll do it someday... i'd estimated 18 months, but perhaps it'll take more then that.

saludos,
Fernando

guerik

My dream destination was Russia. The plan was always to wait until I'd picked up a little Russian... then I got distracted by India, and am now learning Hindi. It will probably be a long time until I get to Russia, but India has become my de-facto dream destination anyway

beach

Well, for me it’s not a destination. I want to travel ‘palace on wheels’. But it is horribly expensive. The whole of Indian railway is heavily subsidized (passenger fare more than 50% subsidized at the cost of freight income). But then ‘palace on wheels’ they think is not meant for ‘common man’.

And I’ve not come across with any one to openly discuss about the firsthand experiences also. I asked it here at IM also. And no answers came. I think those who are into that kind of packaged tourism is not much bothered about learning all the ‘tricks & techniques’ from forums like IM!! They go and comeback like a parcel.

(I know my boss had done the ‘palace on wheels’ recently as part of her ‘annual honeymoon’ trip!. She knows that I know about it.(a photo accidentally got slipped into a book she gave to me ! ).I’m too embarrassed to ask about the experience as I pretend that I don’t know about it )

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volga_volga

darthmilmo, have you read any of W Darlymple?
In Xanadu he crosses overland from Jerusalem to Xanadu (China/Mongolia). Well written and gives you an idea how was it to travel over there in early 1990s (he went just when the KKH opened for foreigners).

I, too, was thinking of a trip rather than a place. Starting from Samarkand (Uzbekistan), moving south to Tajikistan, crossing to Afganistan, then Pakistan, to end up in Delhi. I'd probably have max three months... In a way, my trip to Pakistan this year will be a taster for the Stans.

I haven't decided yet whether I care or not for the security risk... But Afganistan was a taboo subject at home when I was growing up, so how can I not dream of it?

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My other favourite place is Pakistan Travel Forum

seventies'hippy

Anywhere were I can just lie back under a clear sky with no light pollution or moon and get lost in the stars,,,,,,,,,,

radz

My dream destination is changing every month ,only 3 places still on my list .
1. My dream destination was first Switzerland,(Thanks to Boolywood .).It was summer,i want to see Swiss in winder with all snow . .
2.Kashmir.
3.Anatartica for obvious reason ,to feel the blue ice.

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volga_volga

radz, have you seen snow? sorry for the silly question.

PS I new someone would mention Antarctica

radz

Ya,i seen snow,hey its not silly question India where u get chance to see Snow offten .
Its rare for us to see snow .

SHIMLA

Alaska! Seems fascinating !

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Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

beach

Hey, I remember watching a NG quiz program with this 'dream destination' theme. Each correct answer gives you points in terms of miles and the winner can go to the ultimate dream location.

ashish0608

The Moon..
and I want to sing a Jagjit Singh's song (mujko yakin hai...) on this..not sure how many of you will understand the depth of the song which means.

"I am sure my mom was speaking the truth always,
when I was young there were fairys on the Moon"

SHIMLA

Does she have a different husband each year too? If yes, then your dream of travelling on the Palace may soon come true!!

beach

Oh… NO

She is a romantic and committed wife. Every year they go for a 2 weeks or so holiday at some remote secret place in India. She call it Honeymoon Part II, Honeymoon Part III,..etc.

She do not make ay phone call (big relief for me) nor receive any. If you send an email to her id you’ll get an auto reply –“I’m on Honeymoon till May 20th. Please contact ‘beach’ if you have an urgency !! ”