Kongo’s Bucket List (Updated)

Updated October 2015

Everybody has a list of new places they would like to explore. Kongo is no different. The following is an updated top ten list of places that Kongo has placed on his bucket list.

Kongo’s bucket

Number 1 The Silk Road

Kongo would love to travel the entire length of the Silk Road from Beijing to Istanbul and travel through China, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Iran, India, Iraq, and Turkey. While a traditional camel might be a bit over the top, a well equipped Land Rover (and perhaps a well equipped security force) would do the trick.  The map below shows both the ocean and land routes.  Kongo has been everywhere on the sea routes.  It’s the land routes he’s after.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Number 2 Machu Pico

Kongo has always been fascinated with ancient cultures and the Inca in particular. How in the world did these people build this remote city on top of this mountain and why did they do it? Kongo wants to know.  UPDATE:  Kongo has booked his trip to Machu Pichu for April 2014.  He’s also going to do a swing through the Galapagos at the same time.

Woo hooo.  Kongo just visited Machu Picchu and has put his own (better in his opinion) photo of this iconic place in place of the Wikipedia image!  Now he needs another #2 spot.

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Number 3 Angor Wat

The temple complex at Angor Wat, Cambodia has to be one of the marvels of the ancient world that can still be visited today.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Number 4 Petra, Jordan

This mystical place just seems to suck you in. Kongo wants to be there!

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Number 5 Ephesus

Having been to Istanbul, Kongo’s appetite for more Turkey is insatiable. On his next trip he is going to spend some time at the Roman ruins in Ephesus.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Number 6 Italy

Although Kongo has been all over the World, one place he has never been is to Italy and Kongo wants to see the whole country. Will probably take a few weeks at least. Kongo’s cousin, Joe, has his own blog about all things Italy (he was Kongo’s inspiration for this blog). You can check it out here. In fact, Kongo probably ought to take Joe along as a guide.  Kongo will make it to Italy next year!

Kongo made it to Italy!  Awesome.

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 Number 7 India

India is NOT on Mrs. Kongo’s list so the monkey is looking for a traveling companion.  Any adventurous simians out there who are longing to spend a couple of weeks exploring the subcontinent?  Kongo has booked his India trip in 2016 with National Geographic Photo Expeditions.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Number 8 Luxor and the Valley of the Kings

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

Kongo loves archeology and wants to spend a few days roaming the ruins in Luxor.

Number 9 Barcelona

Who wouldn’t want to see the Sagrada Familia church and all the other art and architecture that makes Barcelona famous?  Barcelona will see the monkey in late summer 2015!

Kongo was fortunate to visit Barcelona in September, 2015.  Wow.

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Number 10 Rio de Janeiro 

Carnival, architecture, beaches, cathedrals, and fantastic views.  Everything a monkey could want.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

38 thoughts on “Kongo’s Bucket List (Updated)”

  2. Kongo, I have suggestions for No’s 9 & 10!

    9. The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia. “Queensland, beautiful one day – perfect the next!”
    10. Chiang Mai in northern Thailand.
    It has sooo much history and tradition, and the Thai people are probably the most humble, beautiful people I have ever met 🙂

    1. 16a19235fbVery nice post. I just stumbled upon your webolg and wished to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case Ie28099ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon! 187

  6. Kongo’s youngest sister-in-law suggests he and family come visit the Hoh Rainforest along the coast of Northwestern Washington for trip #9 or #10. He already lived near that other Washington jungle, now it’s time to come explore the peaceful forest.

  8. Great list Kongo! You won’t be disappointed with any of those places. I hope to go visit all of them. Just back from Prague over the Christmas holidays – it was so amazing – can’t wait to see your photos.

    1. Those for sure are strong possibilities! Cairo is a bit sketchy at the moment but soon it should be better. Have been in the Red Sea but would like to go up the Nile to Luxor as well and the Valley of the Kings.

      Thanks for visiting!

      1. You’re welcome 🙂 also, if you ever go to Egypt, try to give Alexandria and the North Coast a try 🙂

    1. Barbados is a great place to chill out. Kongo visited there once several years ago and remembers drinking a lot of Red Stripe in a small little shack on the windward side.

  13. You’re right about that but Kongo has been to Africa. He’s been to Kenya a couple of times, rode a train from Mombassa to Nairobi, seen the snow on Mt. Kilimanjaro and visited Praetoria and actually worked out of an office next to where Nelson Mandela used to run the country after apartheid.. He’s been on the ground in Mogodishu and studied the Red Sea coast of Ethiopia, and spent a month a few miles off Socotra.. There are other places he wants to see like Egypt and the Nile, Morocco, and Victoria Falls. It’s a wonderful continent. Jambo!

    1. Oh, yes indeed. That would be the only continent Kongo has yet to visit. Although he has visited Columbia, Venezuela, and Brazil, he’s yet to get down to the southern end of South America.

  16. Some very beautiful places on your list and most places are on my list as well but then again I also want to go everywhere in the world though I don’t think I will succeed as there isn’t enough time or money to do it. I have been to Italy & India and can certainly recommend them.

  19. I’d be glad to be your guide to Italy. I’ll be there for the month of September. Come to Bologna for a visit. You’ll like it.

    Joe

    P.S. One of the words I learned in a relatively casual conversation with an Italian is “cicerone”. It is a casual way of saying travel guide. The origin is what’s interesting. Cicero, yes, that Cicero, loved to show people around Rome. So you can see the connection. Language is interesting, no?

  20. Go with Italy – never regretted a single day there.

    And thanks for the like on my blog Kongo – nice to share with a fellow traveller

  22. Hi Kongo and thank you for liking my post. This bucket list is wonderful and I surely envy you for the Machu Pichu. I hope you checked the India and Jordan categories in my blog – I have got some pictures there you might be interested in.

    Lovely blog and a great idea – I am a follower now.

  23. Hi Kongo! Great list! We’ve been to all the destinations here, except for the silk road. All are amazing, though we have a soft spot for Italy, Rio and Efes. We have neither a land rover, or a well-equipped security force unfortunately. PS: You are awfully cute. 😉

  24. You haven’t mentioned about the unspoiled piece of the Silk Road; Bukhara (and Samarkand) in Uzbekistan. This is listed by UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites and worth of visiting. Marco Polo overnighted there when he took the Spaghetti from China to Europe. I did enjoy the drive starting in Xi’an, China.

    1. Fer Bap, you are tempting me unfairly. I have always wanted to go there. Next year I am planning an India adventure but when I do come to Samarkand I want to be able to spend awhile so it might be a few more years!