Life things to do

Bucket List: 101 Things To Do Before You Die

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“Every man dies — Not every man really lives.” — William Ross
“The only people who fear death are those with regrets.” — Author Unknown

A few days ago, I was surfing online when I came across someone’s bucket list. It inspired me to create my own bucket list and write a post about it at the same time.

What’s a Bucket List?

If you have never heard of the term “bucket list”, it is a list of all the goals you want to achieve, dreams you want to fulfill, and life experiences you wish to experience before you die.

Why Create a Bucket List?

If you don’t live your days by goals and plans, chances are that you spend most of your time caught in a flurry of day-to-day activities. Ever felt that your days are passing you by without any tangible output? What did you accomplish in the past month? What are your goals for the next three months? Look at the things that you have been doing and the things that you’re planning to do next — do they mean anything to you if you are to die today? Having a bucket list reminds you of what’s really important to you so that you can act on them.

Even if you live by goals or to-do lists, they are probably framed within a social context, e.g. performance, career, health. A bucket list opens up the context for your life. It’s a list to identify everything you’ve ever wanted to do, whether it’s big or small, purposeful or random.

It’s just like planning all the highlights for YOUR life. :D Even though I already set goals by default, I still found many new things to do while writing on my own list. It was an incredibly insightful exercise. What’s more, coming up with my list gave me new-found enthusiasm knowing what I have planned ahead for my life!

The objective of creating this list isn’t to create some fear-based mentality towards death. I don’t see our existence to be limited to our physical years on Earth — our physical lifespan is but a short speck of our existence in the universe. The whole point of creating a bucket list is to maximize every moment of our existence and live our life to the fullest. It’s a reminder of all the things we want to achieve in our time on Earth so that instead of spending our time on pointless things, we direct it towards things that matter to us.

Create Your Bucket List

If you don’t have a bucket list, I highly recommend you to create one. How much will it cost? Zero. How long will it take? Probably 30 minutes to an hour; more if you get really caught up in writing it. :) What do you stand to gain? Significant clarity in what you want from life. It’s an invaluable exchange. :)

If you already have a bucket list, take this opportunity to review it. See if there are new items you want to add on. If so, add them in. Check if all the items listed are still relevant. If not, remove them.

Now, take out your pen and paper or open up a text document. Start writing down what comes to mind as you read these questions:

What if you were to die tomorrow? What would you wish you could do before you die?
What would you do if you had unlimited time, money and resources?
What have you always wanted to do but have not done yet?
Any countries, places or locations you want to visit?
What are your biggest goals and dreams?
What do you want to see in person?
What achievements do you want to have?
What experiences do you want to have/feel?
Any special moments you want to witness?
What activities or skills do you want to learn or try out?
What are the most important things you can ever do?
What would you like to say/do together with other people? People you love? Family? Friends?
Any specific individuals (celebrities, famous people, world leaders) you want to meet in person?
What do you want to achieve in the different areas of your life: Social, Love, Family, Career, Finance, Health (your weight, fitness level), Spiritual?
What do you need to do to live a life of greatest meaning as defined by you?

Come up with as many items as you can. The items should be things you have not done yet. Don’t stop until you have at least 101 things! If you find yourself stuck, chances are you are mentally limiting yourself. Release those shackles — your bucket list is meant to be a list of everything you want to achieve, do, see, feel and experience in your life. Check out the next section for added inspiration.

101 Things To Do Before You Die

Here are 101 items to consider for your bucket list. :) Look through the list — is there anything that resonates with you? Note that the list below is a sample list of things you can put for your own list. Not all of them will work for you, and you shouldn’t do them for the sake of it. Take the items that resonate with you and use them for your own list! For your convenience, I’ve included useful resources (hand-picked by me) to aid you in your bucket list quest.

1. Travel all around the world

Traveling — it’s the single best activity that exposes you to new cultures, broaden your mind, move out of your comfort zone, allow you to meet new people, and experience the wonders of the world.

I’m a strong advocate of traveling and have in fact traveled widely around the world in the past years. In 2011, I went on a 7-month non-stop trip around Europe and U.S. where I met PE readers from around the world and held PE readers meetup in London, London again, New York, and Los Angeles. I’ve subsequently been to Kuala Lumpur, India, South Africa, Hong Kong, Scotland, and Hong Kong where I held PE reader meetups in all of them (except India).

All in all, I’ve spent about 50% of my time between 2011 to 2013 traveling! I look forward to visiting new places such as South America, Canada, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand moving forward.

How about you? What new countries would you like to visit? Here are some traveling resources:

Travel recommendations:
- List of Countries in the World (Alphabetical Order)
- Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel
- Wonders of the World
- 1000 Places to See Before You Die
- Insights on Holland — View from an Outsider’s Perspective (Series) — If you’re planning to visit Holland, here’s my 7-part series from when I visited the country in 2011
Accommodation:
- Hostel World — Low-budget accommodation
- Air BnB
- Couch Surfing — Free accommodation for travelers
Visa Requirements: Visa Requirements by Nationality
Packing: Ultimate Packing List

2.

Learn a new language

Learning a new language is never easy but it’s so satisfying when you are able to converse with someone in a foreign language! I admire people who are multi-lingual — I’m personally fluent in only English and Mandarin while having functional knowledge of Hokkien, Japanese, and Bahasa Indonesia. I hope to learn a few foreign languages — Spanish being one of them — in the future.

Some language resources:

List of Languages in the World
12 Rules for Learning Foreign Languages in Record Time
How to Learn Any Language — Website
Verbling | italki — Language exchange site

3. Try a profession in a different field

What profession are you in now and how long have you been doing this? Is it time for a change in profession? It’s nice to do something different from what you have been doing, and it doesn’t have to involve quitting your current job — you can always experiment with volunteer work in a field you enjoy or start up a part-time business on the side. It’s all about expanding your horizon and trying something new.

4. Achieve your ideal weight

I used to be a severe binge eater (a story which I’ve shared in My Journey with Emotional Eating series) and making the commitment to overcome my emotional eating, live healthily, and lose my excess weight has been one of the single best decisions I’ve made in my life.

Make the commitment to be healthy. What is your ideal weight? Are you at your ideal weight today? What can you do to start being healthy? Some weight loss resources:

10 Reasons You Are Not Losing Weight (and What To Do About Them)
How To Stop Emotional Eating (6-part series)
How To Lose 25kg in Just 8 Months [Video]
How to Develop a Positive Body Image (4-part series)

5. Run a marathon

A marathon is a long-distance race of 42.2 km (26.2 miles) long — definitely not an easy feat that requires training and hard work! Training and completing a marathon will not only develop you in your physical strength and endurance, but also your mental persistence, will, and attitude. Read:

26 Tips for Running Your Best 262
How to Run Your First Marathon

6. Take part in a triathlon

A triathlon is a “multiple-stage competition involving the completion of 3 continuous and sequential endurance disciplines.” Modern-day triathlons are swim/bike/run events that are done in that order. If you think that a marathon is tough, wait till you try a triathlon — the ironman triathlon consists of 3.86 km (2.4 mi) swim, a 180.25 km (112-mi) bicycle ride and a 42.2 km (26.2-mi) run (that’s a marathon-length race!), raced in that order and without a break!

But don’t run in the opposite direction just yet — there are many triathlons of varying distances that are completely manageable. For example, a sprint triathlon is 750 m / (0.47 mi) / 20 km (12.4 mi) / 5 km while an Olympic triathlon is 1.5 km (0.93 mi) / 40 km (24.8 mi) / 10 km (6.2 mi). One of my readers decided to train for a triathlon as a personal milestone — despite never having done a marathon in her life! She eventually completed the triathlon after a year of training, and was so proud of herself!

Ready to take up the triathlon challenge? :) Read:

How Do I Train For My First Triathlon?
The Ultimate Beginners Guide To Triathlons
Triathlon Training for Beginners — a training resource website
TriFind — Triathlon calendar for America

7.

Take up a new sport

Sports are a great way to keep fit! Whether you’re an indoor or outdoor person, there is a sport for everyone. Here are some sports to try out:

Technique sports: Archery, Golf, Bowling, Billiard, Skateboarding, Skating, Roller-blading, Ice skating
Racket sports: Squash, Badminton, Tennis, Table tennis
Water sports: Water rafting, Kayaking, Wakeboarding, Sailing, Swimming, Scuba diving, Snorkeling
Group sports: Soccer, Rugby, Baseball, Basketball, Ultimate frisbee

8. Go scuba diving / snorkeling and experience marine life up close

As humans, we spend all of our lives on land. Yet there is a whole world under the sea that we’re not privy to! Do you know that 71% of the Earth’s surface is actually the ocean? And do you know that because of the ocean’s depth, it contains about 300 times the habitable volume of the terrestrial habitats on Earth — and many ocean species are still to be discovered?

With scuba diving and snorkeling, you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with the marine life — and see, feel, and experience the vast ocean in person. Scuba diving is one of my bucket list items!

Read:

Marine biology [Wiki]
Snorkeling.info — Complete resource for snorkeling
25 Best Places To Go Scuba Diving
Scuba Diving — Complete resource for scuba diving
10 Top Spots to Snorkel

9. Go skiing

There’s something about being able to glide on snow while controlling your motor movements that just makes skiing such a fun sport. It’s by no means easy or safe — one should take lessons before attempting to ski alone — but it’s worth trying out, especially for people who don’t live in winter countries. I personally haven’t skied before and would love to give it a shot next time. Read:

Beginner Ski Lesson [Video]
Ski resorts by country
Ski resources — including recommended ski equipment, ski wear, and accessories

10. Trek the Inca Trail

The Inca Trail is the most famous trek in South America and is rated by many to be in the top 5 treks in the world. It starts from Chillca and follows a route to Machu Picchu, The Lost City of the Incas. Read:

Inca Trail — Comprehensive site dedicated to the Inca Trail
Inca Trail [Wiki] — When to go, what train to take, and what to prepare
Inca Trail Esssentials [Lonely Planet]

11. Go horseback riding

Horseback riding in Chennai, India, completing an item from my bucket list! ;)

Since as early as 4000-3500 BCE, horses have been domesticated and living alongside men. While horses used to be kept as meat animals, and subsequently as working animals to transport materials and people, today, horse riding has transformed into both a hobby and a competitive sport. Horseback riding in itself can be a good sport to relax and unwind from the busy life. Unlike typical sports where you are alone or with other people, in horseback riding, you work together with an animal — the horse — and often times build an emotional bond with it, sometimes one even stronger, more unspeakable, than what you have with fellow peers.

12. Do an extreme sport

I don’t consider myself an extreme sports person, but I like to experiment in life. When I was in Cape Town in April 2013, my host and reader Lizette invited me to go paragliding as she has friends who are licensed tandem paragliding pilots. I took up the offer, and went paragliding not once, but twice!!!

Me paragliding in Cape Town on April 18, 2013. Check out THAT view!!! We were literally floating in the air for a good minute or two. One of the MOST surreal moments in my life!!

The experience was immense and one that I’ll never forget. I do recommend everyone to try at least one extreme sport in our lifetimes! (Of course, make sure *all* safety precautions are in place and you are with professional and licensed instructors. ) While the experience may only last a couple of minutes, those few minutes will be some of the most memorable ones in your life.

More on my paragliding experience here: My Paragliding Experience in Cape Town

Get started:

20 unmissable extreme sports (and where to try them)
Bungee jumping: Top 10 bungee jumps in the world
Paragliding: Top paragliding sites in the world
Skydiving: World’s best places to skydive and bungee jump

13. Climb a mountain

Why risk your life to climb a mountain when the journey is fraught with rocky terrains and with ever-changing weather conditions? For some, mountain climbing is an external conquest; some find enjoyment in the sport; others see it as a step in their personal growth journey. Whatever it is, mountain climbing is a feat that takes physical endurance and mental tenacity to accomplish, and is definitely a bucket list worthy item. I haven’t climbed a mountain yet but I plan to do that sometime in the future!

“Why I Climb” — an article by a climber who has climbed over 300,000 vertical feet, 90,000 on Everest expeditions alone
Climbing destinations around the world
Top 10 climbs around the world

14.

Learn a strategy game

Strategy games like chess, checkers, chinese chess, Reversi (also known as Otello), Mindsweeper (part of Windows bundle) are great ways to train your mind. As a child, my brother and I played chinese chess together very often; I also enjoy playing mind sports like chess and Reversi a lot and would do so with my friends and against the computer). I don’t know if playing such games helped me to be smarter, but I know it certainly taught me to think quickly, to develop a plan of action in anticipation of future issues, and to think before I act!

Get started:

List of Abstract Strategy Games [Wiki]
Yahoo! Games — Free strategy games and board games where you can pit your skills against players around the world

15. Connect with past teachers

Some of us may think of teachers in a bad light. After all, teachers are often remembered for giving us endless assignments and tests and generally making our lives miserable while in school!

Yet, our teachers are also crucial educators who impart importanted knowledge — and life skills — to us during our early ages when we were the most impressionable. They ensured that we would be on the right path as we entered preadolescence, adolescence, and subsequently adulthood. While teachers don’t always get everything right, their intentions come from a good place and they want to see us win.

Think about your past teachers in junior school, high school, and tertiary education. Find ways to get back in touch with them. (Calling your alma mater is always a good start.) Let them know how they have touched your life.

16. Let someone know how much he/she means to you

In our life’s journey, we are constantly touched and supported by people around us, be it friends, family, or acquaintances. Can you identify someone who has made a difference in your life? Write a letter to the person today and let him/her know how much he/she means to you. You can do this as many times as you want, for as many people as you like. Read:

#GratitudeChallenge Day 3: Write a Gratitude Note to Someone
#KindnessChallenge Day 9: Write a Letter to Someone Who Has Made a Difference in Your Life

17.

Give a heartfelt surprise to someone

When’s the last time you gave someone a surprise? :) It’s always heartwarming to come home to a nicely cooked dinner, to have a bouquet of flowers sent to you at work, or to even receive a simple text message from a loved one. Who is someone you would like to touch today? What surprise can you give to him/her?

Read: #KindnessChallenge Day 14: Do Something Unexpectedly Nice For Someone

18. Perform a kind deed without expecting anything in return

Many of us are often waiting to receive rather than to give. Yet for any relationship to work, there has to be both giving and receiving. If you often find yourself wondering why no one is giving you what you want, how about practicing giving to others first? :) The rest will follow.

Can you think of someone in your life who is in need of help or can benefit from your help? How can you extend your support to him/her? Read:

Day 11: Acts of Kindness in Be a Better Me in 30 Days Program
#GratitudeChallenge Day 9: Share Something You are Grateful For with Someone
How to Have More Best Friends: My Heartfelt Guide

19.

Make a difference in someone’s life

Making a difference is more than doing a kind deed, though it can come as a result of a kind deed. When you make a difference in someone’s life, you change the person’s life for the better… permanently. What is the difference YOU want to make in others’ lives? How can you make that happen?

Read: #KindnessChallenge Day 7: Make a Donation

20. Be a mentor to someone

Teaching is one of the most rewarding things we can do. No matter how old you are, even if you are in your teens, you are always in the position to mentor someone else — perhaps someone who is more junior than you or someone who is older but can benefit from a particular expertise you have. Mentoring others is also a great way for you to develop yourself too.

Many communities are always looking for volunteer mentors, so check with your local community programs for such opportunities. At the same time, is there anyone you know who can benefit from being mentored by you? Extend your hand to help — who knows, it may well be what he/she needs at this moment!

21.

Pursue your passion

Honestly, life is too short to be spent doing something you don’t love. This was why I quit my day job in September 2008 (right start at the start of the financial crisis no less) to pursue my passion to help others grow. I have never looked back ever since — for the past 5 years, I’ve been writing at Personal Excellence and helping people to grow. It has been the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done and I plan to do this for the rest of my life.

What is your passion? Is it to be an artist? To sing and perform? To be a life coach? To travel? To help other people to grow (same as my passion)? To be the best that you can be? How can you start pursuing it?

If you don’t know what your passion is, this exercise will help you to discover it: Discover Your Life Purpose in the Next 30 Minutes

Some people pursue their passion part time while some make it their careers (or even turn their passion into a business). I personally think that if something is your passion, then you should turn it into your life’s work, because that’s the most synergistic and rewarding path you can pursue. Contrary to common belief that pursuing your passion is at odds with being rich, you can pursue your passion and be financially abundant. I’m an example of this.

These articles document the early stages of my passion journey and will help you in yours:

Passion or Money?
How To Discover Your Ideal Career: Your Message and Your Medium
Overcome Fear Of Loss And Pursue Your Dreams
Pursuing Your Passion With No Money
Passion Paycheck

22. Start your business

Entrepreneurship is fraught with uncertainty but it certainly is fun and rewarding! I started my personal development business in 2008 without knowledge of professional blogging or coaching and started earning more than my last corporate pay within my third year. By being smart, diligent, and persistent in your endeavor, there’s no reason why anyone shouldn’t succeed. Read:

Can Everyone Be Successful in Starting Their Business?
Successful Businesses Interview Series
Million Dollar Tip Series

23.

Fly in a hot-air balloon

The view of the world as you float away in a hot-air balloon… spectacular. Once, I got to fly in a hot-air balloon while I was in Orange County in 2012… though that was just a stationary balloon ride that went up for a minute before coming back down. My next goal is to have a real hot-air balloon ride.

Read: World’s 10 Best Hot-Air Balloon Adventures

24. Sing to an audience

If you love singing, don’t keep your passion to yourself! The next time there is an event, offer to sing as one of the performance items. Singing shouldn’t be limited to when you are showering in the bathroom. :)

25. Do volunteer work

Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back to the world. As I mentioned in Day 4: Sign Up for Volunteer Work of the Kindness Challenge,

Volunteer work is one of the best ways to expose yourself to a new medium of helping other people. There are tons of volunteer work out there, from assisting the elderly at the old folks’ home, working with delinquent kids, being a mentor to kids at orphanages, helping out at animal shelters, beach cleanups, and so on.
Volunteer work doesn’t have to be some grandiose act. As long as you are offering a part of yourself pro bono to the world (be it in terms of skills, knowledge, time, effort, or money), you are in fact volunteering.

Read more: #KindnessChallenge Day 4: Sign Up for Volunteer Work

Some places to get started:

Volunteer Match (for U.S. only)
SG Cares (for Singapore)
Do-it — Volunteering made easy (for U.K.)

Proceed to page 2 for bucket list ideas #26 to #50…

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100 Unforgettable Things To Do Before You Die

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Float in the Dead Sea, see a broadway musical, stand in front of the Taj Mahal or trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu-what’s on your ultimate life list? It’s never too early to start a list of incredible things to do before you die, and here are 100 of my favorite.

1. ✦ Volunteer at a Elephant Rescue in Thailand

In Northern Thailand, an hour from Chiang Mai’s city center, I spent a memorable day volunteering at the Elephant Nature Park. This is a special place where there was an eclectic bunch of Asian Elephants; some old, some young, some blind, some injured from working in the logging industry, some abused and some rescued from the circus.

This isn’t the only places to volunteer in the area, you can see choose from 5 of the Best Rescues in or Near Chiang Mai.

Other articles about Thailand that you might enjoy:
Bathe Elephants at a Rescue in Thailand
Bucket List of 18 Things to Do in Chiang Mai, Thailand

2. ✧ Sunbathe Topless on the French Riviera

3. ✧ Dogsled Through the Alaskan Forest

Alaska is home to the strenuous Iditarod Sled Dog Race, a journey that spans 1,150 miles across the rugged wilderness from Anchorage to Nome. With this life list goal, you will be able to experience the thrill of this sport first hand by meeting Iditarod racers and their powerful pooches, plus sledding along some of the mountainous terrain that their dogs train on. Read Dog Sledding in Alaska for more information.

4. ✦ Swim in Jellyfish Lake in Palau

Jellyfish Lake in the Micronesian country of Palau is home to millions of jellyfish that are deemed relatively harmless since their sting is so light. It was still crazy frightening for the first five minutes to be surrounded by jellyfish, some brushing up against my body. But, after the panic dissipated, this was one of my all-time favorite bucket list travel adventures.

5. ✦ Explore the Acropolis in Greece

6. ✧ Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

Take your life list to another level and trek through the dense rain forest of Uganda to get a close encounter with the mountain gorillas of the jungle. The fact that these species are on the brink of extinction and you need to travel to faraway lands to see them adds to the experience. A great place to see them is at Bwindi Forest National Park.

7. ✦ Volunteer at an Orphanage

There are orphanages all over the world to volunteer at, but I accomplished this “thing to do before you die” in Tanzania. Kibowa Orphanage is on the outskirts of downtown Arusha, hidden down a bumpy dirt road and painted in a friendly pale blue. There are 48 children that call it home and, after four days on an African safari in Tanzania, I spent a fun-filled afternoon with them.

I chose to bring colorful balloons, which could be turned into animals or creative hats. It was a joy to watch the children smile as they each made their favorite shapes.

Read More: Visit an Orphanage in Tanzania

8. ✦ Cruise on a Junk Boat through Halong Bay

A three-and-a-half-hour drive from the bustle of the city of Hanoi lays a peaceful set of 1,600 islands and islets, Halong Bay. This UNESCO World Heritage site has been the backdrop to many movies, including the Oscar-winning Indochine. Spend a day or a week cruising through the green-topped limestone islands and emerald waters on an ancient-style junk boat.

Related: Halong Bay Day Trip: The Best Vietnam Junk Boat Cruise
Book: Halong Bay Islands and Caves: Full-Day Tour from Hanoi
Book: Halong Bay 2-Day Cruise with V’Spirit Cruises

9. ✦ Hike the Active Pacaya Volcano in Guatemala

Just like skiing and mountaineering is a part of the culture of the Swiss Alps, volcano hiking is huge chunk of the culture in Guatemala. The country has 37 officially named volcanoes, three of which that are still active. And you can hike up one-the Pacaya Volcano. What makes this experience even more bucket list worthy is that once you’re at the top, you can toast marshmallows with the heat from the volcano!

10. ✦ Take a Christmas Market Cruise Through Europe

There’s nothing that can get you into the holiday spirit quite like the Christmas markets in Europe. Between the lighted cathedrals, festive markets and a simple glass of glühwein, it would be hard not to feel festive!

Viking River Cruises invited me to cruise along the Rhine River to visit almost a dozen Christmas markets throughout Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands. This Christmas market river cruise was definitely one of my favorites on the 100 things to do before you die list!

11. ✦ Sleep in an Ice Hotel

Each year in different chilly locations around the world, hotels are built from natural ice and snow. The IceHotel in the village of Jukkasjärvi, in northern Sweden and The Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel that is nestled in the wilderness of Northern Norway are two of the best. They both are art exhibitions as much as hotels, where the canvases span from floor to ceiling.

Spend the night in one of their negative-five-degree rooms, where you will be surrounded by artistically chiseled ice. It’s a bonus that there is also a chance of seeing the Northern Lights from either location!

12. ✧ Get a Henna Tattoo in India

13. ✧ Spend the Night in a Treehouse

14. ✦ Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel that stands 2,430 meters above sea level in the mountain forest of Peru. Getting to this ancient city can be done by train, bus, or a four-day classic Inca trail to Machu Picchu Hike along the same paths that the Incans did years ago. People choose the challenging hike not only to see other ruins along the way, but for the sense of pride when reaching this UNESCO World Heritage Site by foot. It will not be a simple feat, but it will be worth it!

15. ✦ Stand in Front of the Taj Mahal in India

16. ✦ See the Changing of the Guard in London

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is a mesmerizing spectacle where the Old Guard hands over the security responsibility to the New Guard. The guards arrive by marching pass Victoria Monument, directly in front of Buckingham Palace, and then entering through the ornate front gates of the palace. This is combined with synchronized marching, precision drills, and the band playing. It’s a show like no other, but get there early!

17. ✧ Hot Air Balloon over Cappadocia

See the surreal landscape of Cappadocia from high above in a sky dotted with colorful balloons. Cappadocia is the land in central Turkey known for its fairy chimneys (rock formations), rolling vine- yards, and troglodyte dwellings that are best seen from three thousand feet in the air. This top rated balloon tour can take you up up and away.

18. ✦ Hear the Pope Speak at the Vatican in Italy

If you’re visiting Rome and want to cross off the ultimate bucket list experience, you’ll absolutely want to be a part of the Papal Audience at the Vatican with the Pope.

The service will begin with a ride around in his Popemobile, kissing some babies who are lucky to be close enough. Then he gives a themed speech in several different languages, followed by a homily and prayers. After an hour or an hour and a half, the Pope will conclude the Mass and bless families, children, and religious items like rosaries and bibles.

19. ✦ Release Baby Turtles into the Ocean

There are many hotels around the world that work with conservation groups to allow visitors to be a part of the baby sea turtle experience (here are 10 places!) While on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, I spent a memorable afternoon at Osa Turtle Conservation to help with releasing baby turtles into the ocean.

Not only is it incredible knowing you are helping with these endangered animals survival, but they are adorable too! Definitely top on the list of 100 things to do before your die!

20. ✧ Walk the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China winds up and down a series of fortifications, stretching from Shanhaiguan to Lop Lake in the Gobi Desert. The wall is one of the most recognizable and extensive construction projects built to prevent attacks of the Chinese Empire. Take a walk along a portion of the 13,170-mile-long wall, stopping at scenic spots that overlook flowing rivers and to view precious historical relics. See the Travel China Guide for more info.

21. ✦ Make a Wish in the Trevi Fountain in Italy

22. ✦ Get a Fish Pedicure

Fish pedicures are popping up all around the world, but mine was done in Spain. For €15,00 I had my feet nibbled on by Garra Rufa fish in the tiny Spanish beach town of Sitges, just forty minutes from Barcelona. This crazy technique became popular as a relief for eczema and other skin disorders, but is now a trend around the world and one of the weirdest things to do before you die.

23. ✧ Drive Route 66 in the United States

Get your kicks on Route 66, the iconic 2,400-mile route from Chicago to Santa Monica. Also, known as the Main Street of America, it was one of the original US highways, a means for the nation to move about for work or pleasure. Today it keeps old traditions alive with neon-signed motels, mom-and-pop diners, and kitschy roadside attractions.

24. ✦ Explore the Ancient Ruins of Petra in Jordan

The ancient city of Petra was carved into the rose colored sandstone cliffs by the Nabataeans as early as 312BC. There are over 30 incredible sites spread over 60 square kilometers, from temples to tombs to elaborate buildings. No Trip to Jordan would be complete without a stop here.

Three days a week visitors can attend Petra at Night, where over 1,500 candles light the mile trek from the Siq to the Treasury, an elaborate two-story tomb. A group of roughly two hundred people will walk through the narrow rock fissures that are lit by candlelight. Walking through the Siq at night is a very mysterious experience. But, don’t miss Petra by day too.

During the day, you can wander way beyond the iconic Treasury building and explore trails that will pass by the Street of Facades, the Theater, countless tombs and through the Arch.

Book a Tour: Private Tour: Petra Day Trip including Little Petra from Amman

25. ✦

Hike Mt. Nokogiri in the Chiba Prefecture of Japan

It will be easy to spend quite a few hours of your day hiking and exploring the sites at Mt. Nokogiri (also called Sawtooth Mountain). The 1,079 foot Mt. Nokogiri has a natural beauty on it’s own, so take your time exploring it, but it also home three major attractions not to miss.

Hell Peek Point // This lookout is situated on a jagged rock that protrudes from the mountain. So, when you look down from above, all you can see is the deep plunge to the mountain floor below with nothing in between.
Hyaku-Shaku Kannon // Carved right into the cliffside in a deep gorge is the 30-meter tall Hyaku-Shaku Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. The carving was created in the 60s and is dedicated to those who have had unfortunate deaths.
Nihonji Daibutsu (Big Buddha) // One of the main attractions at Mt. Nokogiri, is Nihonji Daibutsu, Japan’s largest sitting buddha. It was founded during the Nara Period, is 31 meters high and was built over 1300 years ago in 1783.

Read More: 4 of the Best Day Trips from Tokyo

26. ✧ Dive the Great Barrier Reef

Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef stretches for more than 1,200 miles, running parallel to the Queensland coastline. It is the world’s largest coral reef system with over 2,900 reefs, 1,500 fish species, 400 types of coral, and 900 remote islands. Scuba divers flock here to glide with hundreds of manta rays, marvel at the colorful sea fans, and swim with schools of blackfin barracudas.

27. ✧ Explore the Waitomo Glowworm Cave in New Zealand

28. ✦ Give Blood

Thanks to my fear of needles, my heart beated uncontrollably when I decided to give blood. But my mother, who had given blood many times before, convinced me that the feeling of saving lives would far outweigh the fear of that needle piercing my poor, unscathed arm. And she was right. A little pinch in the arm is worth knowing your blood donation can possibly save three lives!

You can find a blood donation near you at the American Red Cross, but first read about my giving blood-what to expect & benefits of donating.

29. ✧ Climb Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro

Standing at over 19,000 feet, Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s highest peak. The once-in-a-lifetime trek to the summit will have you hiking through lush rainforests, over glaciers, and across the Tanzanian landscape, plus traveling through four different climatic zones. It takes roughly six days to reach what has been called “the roof of Africa,” where the stunning view will be worth the challenge. This is one of the most popular goals on the “100 Things to do Before You Die” list.

30. ✦ Visit Gardens by the Bay in Singapore

31. ✦ Castle Hop in Ireland

From Northern to the Republic of Ireland, the stunning landscapes, forest green shades and melodic nature have rightfully earned the country the nickname ‘the Emerald Isle’. The country has a rich heritage in the form of prehistoric monuments, ancient ruins, fortified palaces and, of course, spectacular Irish castles to make you feel like a princess.

While there is no official count (rumor has it that there’s over 30,000!), there are thousands of castles in Ireland entwined with strange myths and legends, the beauty of rumbling ruins and towering fortresses. Whether you wish to explore on your own, take a tour or stay the night in a castle hotel, there are plenty of castles to choose from!

Read More: 15 Captivating Castles in Ireland to Tour or Stay on Holiday

32. ✦ Eat at the French Laundry in Napa

The French Laundry is arguably the most well-known French restaurant in the world. A meal for two at this Michelin three-starred eatery will set you back close to a thousand bucks, but your taste buds will be dazzled. In order to indulge in the nine-course dining experience the chefs create, you’ll need to get a reservation at Napa’s French Laundry-and that’s the tricky part.

33. ✧ Run With the Bulls in Pamplona in Spain

34. ✧ Adopt an Animal from a Shelter

35. ✧ Travel the Trans-Siberian Railway

For those that believe getting there is half the fun, travel the legendary Trans-Siberian railway, an epic train journey that spans from Moscow to Vladivostok. Traverse one third of the globe, enjoying the scenery from the window of your train car, plus make stops to different cities along the way.

36. ✦ Climb to the Peak of Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka

Sigiriya is an ancient palace built in 480 AD, located in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its beautifully landscaped gardens, well-preserved frescos, and twelve hundred different anxiety-producing levels of stairs to reach the summit. These steps will bring you to the sky palace that sits atop the rock, a royal residence built sixteen hundred years ago.

Read More: Climb to the Peak of Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka

37.

✧ Drink Steins of Beer at Ocktoberfest in Germany

When I found out about a festival that was entirely based on drinking beer and eating good food, I knew I had to go – and you should too! Put on your traditional Bavarian outfit and drink a stein (or two) at the world’s largest beer festival, Ocktoberfest held in Munich. Each year this sixteen-day festival draws over six million people from around the world.

38. ✦ Take a Flyboarding Jetpack Flight

Flyboarding is an adventurous sport where your feet will be slipped into boots that are attached to a board, much like a snow board. A tube attached from your feet to the jet ski pushes water and propels you into the air. I took a flyboarding jetpack flight in Cancun and it was beyond challenging. For this fun adventure you will definitely need to use every ounce of balance you have, but worth a spot on your list of things to do before you die.

39. ✧ See an Opera at the Sydney Opera House in Australia

There is nothing quite like the Sydney Opera House overlooking the harbor, its exterior an iconic vision from all angles. Don’t just admire one of Australia’s most recognized buildings from afar, step inside to spend a magical evening at one of their acclaimed operas.

40. ✧ Attend a Music Festival

41. ✧ Helicopter Over a Volcano in Hawaii

Feel the heat radiate when you fly over an active Hawaiian volcano in an open-door helicopter ride. Your ride will cross the Kilauea Volcano that has been continuously erupting for the last thirty years. With the doors off, there’s nothing but five hundred feet between you and this hot natural wonder of the world.

42. ✧ Soak in Pamukkale Hot Springs in Turkey

43. ✦ Marvel at Guyana’s Kaieteur Falls

While Niagara Falls, Iguazu Falls and Victoria Falls are all more popular on things to do before you die lists, Kaieteur Falls in Guyana is off-the beaten-track but just as amazing. It is the world’s widest single-drop waterfall and one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls with an immense volume of water from the Potaro river plummeting down a cliff at a height of more than 700 feet in the Kaieteur National Park.

Read More: Guyana’s Kaieteur Falls: One of South America’s Best Waterfalls

44. ✧ Sleep in an Overwater Bungalow in Bora Bora

You’ve seen the photos of a string of bungalows perched atop the azure waters below. A memorable trip to Tahiti’s Bora Bora must include a night in one of these overwater hideaways where you can wake by diving into the warm water and go to sleep to the sound of the swish of the water beneath you. One of the most luxurious ones you will find is at the Four Seasons.

45. ✦ Go to a Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica

Blue Osa Yoga Retreat + Spa in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica is known for practicing morning silence, exercising sustainable tourism, having a secluded beachfront property, healthy farm-to-table meals and as being a place to nourish the body, mind and spirit. Those are all reasons that it made this place the perfect one for my very first yoga retreat.

46.

✧ Take the Walk of Faith at Tianmen Mountain China

In the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park you will find a 196-foot- long see-through glass path that stands over 4,000 feet above sea level. This adrenaline-producing walkway clings to the side of the Tianmen Mountain. A stroll along this path is only for the most adventurous, who will marvel at the crystal-clear view below their trembling feet.

47. ✦ Hike to the Top of Bartolome Island in Galapagos

The peak of Bartolome Island was known to have the most perfect view of the famous Galapagos Pinnacle Rock. There was no way that the avid bucket lister in me would miss scaling the 374 steps of this volcanic cone to see a unique perspective of one of the most photographed natural structures in the Galapagos.

Read More: Hike to the Top of Bartolome Island in Galapagos

48. ✧ Throw Tomatoes at La Tomatina in Spain

La Tomatina is a weeklong festival in the town of Buñol thats highlight is on the last Wednesday in August, when thousands of people fight in an innocent battle using tons of over-ripe tomatoes. Trucks come to the city hauling more than one hundred metric tons of ammunition and the world’s biggest food fight begins with the throw of a single squished tomato.

49. ✦ Swim with Whale Sharks in Cancun

Don’t let the name “whale shark” scare you, these enormous fish are gentle giants. During the warm season, hundreds migrate to the waters of the Caribbean Sea. A boat ride from Cancun will take you to a place where you can swim with several of the largest fish in the world that grow up to sixty feet long and can weigh over forty thousand pounds. It is a thrill to be face to face with their gigantic mouths that can extend five feet when open.

Read More: Swim with Whale Sharks in Cancun

50. ✧ Walk the Spanish El Camino de Santiago de Compostela

El Camino de Santiago was originally a pilgrimage leading to Santiago de Compostela, to the tomb of the apostle St. James. Now, scores of people on a personal journey walk this five-hundred- mile network of routes across Spain and Europe. Whether the motivation is spiritual or adventurous, many choose to take this month long challenge.

51. ✦ Experience Istanbul’s Call to Prayer at the Blue Mosque

Five times a day throughout the streets of Istanbul you can hear the trilling call to prayer, also known as ezan. During this time the voice of the bellowing muezzin, the man who calls the Muslims to prayer from a minaret, can be heard over the loud- speakers at different mosques in the city.

One of the best locations to witness this is while sitting on the benches between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia as a quavering musical battle begins.

Read More: Experience Istanbul’s Call to Prayer at the Blue Mosque

52. ✧ Attend the Kentucky Derby

It isn’t just the world-class horses that set the Kentucky Derby apart from other horse races, it’s the spectacular hats. Let your inner Southern Belle emerge, and don your most dramatic bonnet while watching what has been called the “greatest two minutes in sports. ”

53. ✦ Attend Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

You don’t have to speak French or be religious to be blown away by a powerful mass at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The sound of the preacher’s voice will billow through the cavernous cathedral and into your body. It may not be the largest Catholic cathedral in the world, but it is one of the most beautiful and famous with an estimated 14 million visitors a year.

Read More: Attend Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris

54. ✦ Feed the Swimming Pigs of Exuma

Somewhere out there in the Outer Exuma Islands is Big Major Cay, a small island ruled by pigs-that’s right, actual pigs! It is in fact one of the biggest attractions on this island. The pigs will swim out to your boat as you approach the island and depending on how friendly they are on the day they will hang around, swim with you guys and have some of your lunch as well.

If you are pressed for time, there is a closer piggy island called White Bay. I booked the half-day tour there with Exuma Water Sports and it was GREAT! For the full day tour that includes a nurse shark swim check out this tour (FYI it starts from Nassau): Famous Swimming Pigs Tour Bahamas

55. ✦ Tour a Monastery at Meteora in Greece

Greece is not all about white buildings with blue rooftops and delicious Greek food. There is so much more to explore. Like, the Meteora monasteries. Meteora, meaning “suspended in the air” in Greek, is a magical complex of six active monasteries that are strategically built on natural sandstone pillars, some that rise up to thirteen hundred feet in the air.

Perched on the pinnacles of the Thessaly region, worshippers came to this world heritage site to discover peace and absolute isolation. Many years ago, access to these monasteries was strenuous, using handmade ladders and baskets with a pulley system to hoist the monks and their goods up – this was a system that had long been abandoned by the time I had arrived!

You can admire the Meteora Monasteries from afar, but also take the opportunity to tour the interiors and get a glimpse into a monk’s lifestyle one thousand years ago.

You can attempt to navigate to Meteora on your own or for an easier option book a tour: 2-Day Trip to Delphi and Meteora from Athens.

56. ✧ Relax in the Blue Lagoon Hot Springs in Iceland

The warm geothermal, milky-blue waters of the Blue Lagoon draws visitors worldwide. Many float in the mineral-rich waters for the reputed skin benefits, while others go there for the relaxation, ducking into a grotto with a beverage in hand from the float-up bar. Those who decide to visit Iceland may also want to take in the scenery.

57. ✦ Stay in a Tuscan Villa in Italy

This “things to do before you die” goal was definitely inspired by the movie Under the Tuscan Sun. There are plenty to choose from, but just a few kilometers South of Siena you will find Villa Pippistrelli, a luxury Tuscan farmhouse located on the Monstegliano estate.

This charming house is everything you’d expect from a Tuscan villa. It may be old in years, but the villa has been restored with present-day conveniences and elegant interiors while still keeping its rustic 17th century Tuscan feel.

Read More: Stay in a Tuscan Villa in Italy
Related: Florence Bucket List: 40 of the Best Things to Do

58. ✧ Go Volcano Boarding in Nicaragua

The adventure starts with a rocky forty-five-minute hike up the 2,388-foot Cerro Negro (Black Hill), an active volcano just outside of León, Nicaragua. Once at the top you will sit on plywood boards, and go racing down at speeds up to 30 mph.

59. ✧ Be a Part of a Flash Mob

60. ✧ Cross the Salarde Uyuni in Bolivia

Blanketing more than forty-five hundred square miles, the Salar de Uyuni is a flat salt dessert that seems to go on infinitely. It is the remains of a lake that once covered the southwestern corner of Bolivia, but is now a vastness of white that plays an optical illusion on you.

During the wet season, the shallow water that collects acts as a mirror of the sky, showing reflections of the sky and clouds, making the world seem endless. In the dry season, you can walk or drive across it, taking goofy photos that play with the lack of perspective created by the continuous sheets of hexagonal tiles.

61. ✦ Take a Helicopter Ride into the Grand Canyon

After having traveled to Las Vegas a half a dozen times in the past couple years, on this current trip I was looking for something more than sparkling lights, feathered girls and dancing water fountains. I wanted a unique “Things to do Before You Die” experience. A helicopter ride into the Grand Canyon fit the bill.

Sundance Helicopters took us 45 minutes from Las Vegas and landed us right into the Grand Canyon where we had time to explore and have a picnic. If helicopters are not your thing than consider getting a thrilling perspective of the Grand Canyon by white water rafting it from the Colorado River. In your raft, you will navigate the greatest whitewater in North America while marveling at the multicolored layers of the eroded rocks.

Read More: Take a Helicopter Ride into the Grand Canyon
Related: US National Parks Bucket List: 61 Beauties to Visit in America

62. ✧ Kayak Through Icebergs in Greenland

Lose contact with civilization while paddling your kayak through a labyrinth of icebergs along the pristine Greenland waters. You may encounter a curious seal or giant whale, but the real treat is the peacefulness of listening to the crumbling of the icebergs in the distance.

63. ✧ Visit All 7 Continents

64. ✧ Hike Between the Towns of Cinque Terre in Italy

Cinque Terre is a collection of five charming villages that are linked by a network of picturesque hiking trails. The trails go through each town, giving you a chance to peruse through the quaint shops, drink a glass of Chianti at a café, or both.

65. ✦ See the Blue Footed Booby Mating Dance in Galapagos

There are 3 types of boobies on the Galápagos Islands: Blue-footed, Red-footed and Nazca. Though we did see them all, my real bucket list goal was to witness a Blue-footed Booby mating dance. This dance was their unique courting ritual, which included rocking side-to-side while lifting their eye-catching baby blue feet.

On our last day of exploring the Galapagos Islands, on North Seymour, we saw one very popular female bird surrounded by a few male Boobies who were strutting their stuff trying to impress this desirable lady.

Read More: See the Blue Footed Booby Mating Dance in Galapagos

66. ✧ Tour the Hanging Temple of Mount Hengshan in China

The Hanging Temple is an architectural wonder, built into a cliff of Hengshan Mountain. It is said to have been built by a monk during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534 AD). Inside is a labyrinth of passageways connecting forty pavilions and halls, plus more than eighty bronze, iron, and clay statues.

67. ✦ Drink in a Shinjuku Golden Gai Bar in Tokyo

Golden Gai is a neighborhood in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo that squeezes in over 200 miniature bars into a network of six narrow alleys, made only for pedestrians. Most bars in this section of town seat less than ten drinkers and cater to the locals. But, it is possible to find somewhere the travelers are welcome and will flock to. I ended up doing most of my Golden Gai drinking at Nessun Dorma, which means None Shall Sleep.

Read More: Shinjuku Nightlife: A Guide to Tokyo’s Best Golden Gai Bars
Book a Tour: Kabukicho and Shinjuku Golden Gai Night Tour
Related: Tokyo Bucket List: 44 Top Things To Do in Japan’s Coolest City

68. ✧ Let Go of a Floating Lantern in Taiwan

Watch the sky ablaze as over a hundred thousand luminous lanterns are simultaneously released at the Pingxi Lantern Festival. The launching began as a means to signal refugees of the town’s safety; today participants decorate them with their wishes and release them into the moonlit sky.

69. ✦ Get Spooked at the Catacombs in Paris

The Catacombs in Paris is a labyrinth of caves underneath the heart of the city and the resting place for the bones of six million Parisians. Starting in the late eighteenth century, remains were transferred to the ossuary as overcrowded graveyards were closing due to the risk to the public. Though the underground maze is extensive, the portion that is open to the public is an eerie two-kilometer-long walk filled with skulls, bones, and stones.

Read More: Get Spooked at the Catacombs in Paris
Get Tickets: Paris Catacombs Skip-the-Line Ticket

70. ✦ See the Northern Lights

The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are mysterious twists of multicolored lights that can only be seen in a handful of locations in the world, mostly in the Arctic Circle. To witness them is a once-in-a-lifetime experience whether you do it while relaxing in a thermal spa in Iceland, cruising on a yacht through Alaska, or night dogsled-ding in Norway. Check out the Aurora Zone for help.

71. ✧ Ride in a Gondola in Venice

72. ✧ Watch the Grand Prix in Monaco

Each year the ritzy streets of Monaco are turned into a challenging Formula 1 circuit for one of the most prestigious races in the world, the Monaco Grand Prix. It’s one of the slowest tracks, but probably the most glamorous, bordering the yacht-filled harbor and studded with movie stars.

73. ✦ Visit a Maasai Tribe in Tanzania

On the massive continent of Africa, there are several different tribes of people, many of which are still living in a way that’s loyal to its own traditional customs. One of these is the Maasai tribe and when you go on an African safari in Tanzania it’s possible to pay a visit to their land to have a firsthand peek at their lifestyle.

Along the safari routes on my trips to Tanzania with Shadows of Africa, I saw the Maasai people dozens of times. Their blue and red frocks gave them away every time. Not only are they scattered throughout the main roads, mostly herding their cattle. Their villages are also sporadically spread on the long stretches of land. But, what is Maasai culture all about?

Read More: Africa’s Maasai Tribe: The Culture & Traditions of The People

74. ✧ Attend Burning Man in Nevada

For one week each year over sixty thousand dreamers, artists, and partygoers converge at Black Rock City in Nevada for the ultimate desert art festival-Burning Man. This bash is not for idle spectators, it is expected that you participate by creating art, performing, volunteering, and dressing up. The hedonistic homemade community centers around “The Man,” the sixty-foot-tall mascot who is burned to the ground on the final days.

75. ✦ Skydive

76. ✦ Zip Line through the Rain Forest of Costa Rica

Imagine the thrill of gliding along the treetops in the Costa Rican rain forest attached to cables. The zip lines bring you to different height platforms, crossing an extraordinary landscape on the way. You will find adrenaline-pumping zip lines all across the country that will fly you next to a waterfall and through the forest with the monkeys, giving you a different perspective from the air.

77. ✦ Visit All 50 States

78. ✧ Trek to Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal

At over twenty-nine thousand feet, Mount Everest soars above Khumbu in northeastern Nepal. Though a rare few attempt to reach the summit, the trek to Everest Base Camp at 17,590 feet is still a challenging adventure and an achievable goal for the rest of us. Along the way the stunning Himalaya views, hospitality of the village people, and spectacular glimpse of its peak will take you aback.

79. ✦ Kayak with Beluga Whales in Manitoba

Between mid-June to September one of Canada’s most incredible wildlife display happens – the beluga whales come to town. More than 50,000 of these sociable creatures patrol the Arctic in Northern Manitoba, and the Hudson Bay coastline sees the world’s largest population.

Nicknamed ‘melon heads’ these majestic, fluorescent white creatures will mesmerize as much as baffle you as they swim right up to your kayak. I glided along while whales swam underneath and next to me, a couple babies even came right up to the boat to inspect my GoPro.

Read More: Kayaking with Beluga Whales in Manitoba

80. ✧ Attend the Palio Horse Race in Siena

Twice a year, the central piazza (Il Campo) of Siena is turned into a track for the most important event in the city-Palio. The Italian town is stuffed to the brim as ten of the neighborhoods (contrades) each compete in a bareback battle of the best racehorse. The event is just as much about the thrill of the seventy-five-second race as it is about the pageantry and pride.

81. ✦ Explore the Depths of a Cava Cave in Spain

The cava caves of Spain feature dark narrow tunnels, steep spiral staircases, a labyrinth that would challenge anyone’s sense of direction, and are filled to the stone ceiling with a winemaker’s dream. Some cava caves would make the perfect location to film a horror flick, while others could be used as a skilled mathematicians puzzle. Exploring the seemingly endless channels can only be topped by tasting the bubbly at the end.

Read More: Explore the Depths of a Cava Cave in Spain

82. ✦ Drive Maui’s Road to Hana

With flowing waterfalls, picturesque hiking, and a black sand beach, the fifty-three-mile Road to Hana drive is one of the most popular in the world. Most travelers will take the road to the town Hana, then turn around and head back the same route they came. For the more adventurous traveler, do the continuous loop, which takes you over the unpaved, bumpy part of the road with the zigzagging turns that tour books warn you about.

Read More: The 17 Best Road to Hana Stops on the Hawaiian Island of Maui

83. ✦ Watch Wrestling Practice at a Sumo Stable in Tokyo

You can’t fully understand the intensity of this sport unless you are up close and personal at a sumo wrestling practice to witness the panting, grunting and dripping sweat. The practices are not attractions created for tourists, they are serious and you need to show respect while you are there.

Though there are several other stables to visit, at Hakkaku Sumo Stable in Tokyo you can spend the morning watching an intense Sumo wrestlers practice. This was one of my favorites on the things to do before you die list!

Read More: Watch Wrestling Practice at a Sumo Stable in Tokyo
Read More: Tokyo Bucket List: 44 Top Things To Do in Japan’s Coolest City
Book a Tour: Watch a Morning Sumo Training
See: More Sumo Related Experiences

84. ✧ Wear a Mask at Carnival in Venice

Each year the Venice canals come alive as roughly three million visitors flock to this colossal masquerade party. The Carnival in Venice is one of the biggest celebrations in Italy that starts two weeks before Ash Wednesday and ends on Shrove Tuesday. Partygoers parade through the city donning elaborate bejeweled masks and costumes while enjoying an array of festival events.

85. ✦ Eat at a Themed Restaurant in Tokyo

At the Alcatraz ER themed restaurant, you can eat a plate of beef shaped like a brain on the floor of a jail cell while sipping cocktails out of a dummy’s head, which is exactly what I did. If a gothic cathedral environment is more your thing, try Christon Cafe or opt for The Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku that takes dinner and a show to another level. There will be loud music, dancing and robots fighting, plus a little sushi to dine on if you should choose.

Read More: Tokyo Food: 13 Themed (& Slightly Weird) Cafe & Restaurant Experiences
Read More: Tokyo Bucket List: 44 Top Things To Do in Japan’s Coolest City
Get Tickets: 15% Off the Robot Restaurant

86. ✧ Go Truffle Hunting in Tuscany

Traveling to Italy is absolutely about the pasta and the wine, but it’s also about the truffles. Walk through the Tuscan forests with a Lagotto Romagnalo breed of dog sniffing out a culinary treasure-the white truffle. Though there are over sixty varieties of truffles worldwide, this is the most coveted, at times bringing in over $800 per 100 grams. Giulio the Truffle Hunter will help you find your prize.

87. ✦ Go on an African Safari

We are all familiar with the term “once-in-a-lifetime’. Right? It is reserved for those epic bucket list experiences that you feel so fortunate to have even once during your life, that you can’t even imagine being blessed enough to be able to do it a second time. An African safari in Tanzania is one of those experiences-and I was blessed twice.

There are plenty of places in Africa to go on safari, but both of mine were done in Tanzania with the Shadows of Africa tour team. For four days we explored the surreal Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks. And a bonus “things to do before you die” was spotting the big five!

Related: African Safari in Tanzania: The Ultimate Itinerary and Tour

88. ✧ Get Scrubbed at a Hamam in Turkey

The hamam has been popular in Turkey for thousands of years, not only as a relaxing bathing ritual but also as a social center. Today the healthy hot steam bath, followed by a body scrub and massage, is still a major part of the Turkish culture.

89. ✦ Eat Insects at Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market

While exploring the plentiful booths of Chiang Mai‘s Sunday Night Market, there was one stall that caught my attention. It had all sorts of varieties of edible bugs; crickets, cicada, mealworms and whirligig beetles. How do I choose? I opted for the insect sampler pack for 20 baht ($0.65 usd), a little of each. I like variety.

Read More: Eat Insects at Chiang Mai’s Sunday Night Market
Read More: Edible Bugs Bucket List: 25 Insects People Eat Around the World
Read More: Bucket List of 18 Things to Do in Chiang Mai

90. ✦ Float in the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is a salt lake over thirteen hundred feet below sea level, making it the lowest elevation on Earth. Nestled between the country of Jordan to the east and Israel to the west, the unusually high salt concentration (8. 6 times saltier than the ocean) causes a natural buoyancy that makes people float. Many people use this oasis as a chance to aimlessly drift while reading a newspaper.

Read More: Float in the Dead Sea

91. ✦ Hike to the Top of Piaynemo in Raja Ampat

Indonesia is filled with beautiful scenery, but for me none was more picturesque than the view from the top of Piaynemo Island in Raja Ampat. Pulling up to the small dock on the island, there was a set of stairs heading straight up into the forest.

These 318 steps (I counted!) were strenuous in the humid heat, but the view from the top was worth every single one. From the peak you can see an iconic karst island seascape, small islands surrounded by a dozen shades of brilliant turquoise. This million dollar view wasn’t my only reward, so was the fresh coconut juice waiting for me at the bottom.

Read More: Raja Ampat Bucket List: 7 Things to Do

92.

✦ Visit Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania, Romania

High above the valley of Romania, in the principality of Transylvania, there lies an unusual castle that is said to have once been occupied by Count Dracula himself. You will find the gothic Bran Castle near the town of Brasov, which has long been linked to this ancient vampire, though Dracula probably won’t be there when you arrive.

There is a mystical atmosphere surrounding Bran Castle; it looks like the perfect setting for a vampire novel, perched on top of a hill and filled with dozens of tunneled stairs, dark wood paneling, and stark white walls.

Read More: Visit Dracula at Bran Castle in Transylvania, Romania

93. ✦ Eat at the Cheapest Michelin Starred Restaurant

Tim Ho Wan is a hole-in-the-wall dim sum restaurant in Hong Kong that gained recognition after receiving a coveted Michelin star and therefore being known as one of the cheapest Michelin starred restaurants in the world. And it is cheap. Really cheap. Though they are well known for their pork buns, all their food is quite tasty, especially their chicken feet.

Read More: Nibble on Chicken Feet at the Cheapest Michelin Starred Restaurant
Related: Bucket List of 17 Things to Do in Hong Kong

94. ✧ See a Broadway Musical in New York City

Along and nearby Broadway, in the heart of New York City, between Forty- second and Fifty-third, people have been dazzled by gleaming lights, powerful voices, and some of the world’s best theatrics. There’s nothing quite like a Broadway show. The theater district has also been called “The Great White Way,” because of its flashy marquees that light up the sky. Many Tony awards have been earned on these streets.

95. ✦ Go Tidal Bore Rafting in Nova Scotia

The Nova Scotia tides cause 160 billion tons of water flow through the Bay of Fundy twice a day, which feeds into the Shubenacadie River. This surge of seawater creates a once-in-a-lifetime adventure like no other, tidal bore rafting. It’s a wild ride where you will zip through up to 10 foot waves, they will crash over your motorized raft drenching you from head to toe or submerging you completely. If you have only one adventurous thing you do in Nova Scotia, this is it!!

There are many companies that have Tidal Bore Rafting. River Runners, Shubenacadie River Adventures and Fundy Tidal Bore Adventures are amongst the most popular, plus have great reviews.

Read more: A Nova Scotia Adventure: Tidal Bore Rafting the Bay of Fundy Tides

96. ✧ Interact with the Penguins of Antarctica

A highlight to any trip to the chilly continent of Antarctica is interacting with the many penguin colonies; Adélies, emperors, chinstraps, and gentoos. Watch as they clumsily waddle to the sea, slide on their bellies and curiously approach you, sometimes coming so close they shuffle right over your feet.

97. ✦ Explore the Silent City of Mdina in Malta

Mdina is the old capital of Malta and referred to as the “Silent City”. It’s not to hard to understand why. There are limited cars that can enter to immaculate town, mostly owned by the approximately 300 residents. This contributes to the peaceful atmosphere as you stroll through the narrow cobbled streets admiring the shuttered windows and a handful of quaint shops.

For a special evening, dine at The Mdina Restaurant, which specializes in Mediterranean and local cuisine, like the Stuffat Tal-Qarnit, a traditional stew consisting of octopus cooked in red wine, raisins, apples and roasted walnuts.

It’s easy to get around on your own or book one of these two tours: Mdina: Full-Day Tour with Lunch or Mosta, Crafts Village, Mdina & Valletta Full-day Tour.

98. ✦ Walk through a Rice Terrace in Indonesia

If you’ve seen pictures from Bali, you’ve probably seen a few of these stunning green rice paddies. They are some of the island’s most popular destinations for travelers, and they don’t disappoint! The traditional Tegalalang Rice Terraces are just about half an hour north of Ubud, in the Tegalalang Village. The whole community pitches in to maintain the paddies’ complex irrigation system, which is centuries old. They also let tourists in to wander much of the terraces for free.

Read More: Bali Points of Interest: 1-Day Itinerary in Indonesia’s Popular Cruise Port

99. ✦ Have a Home Stay in Norway with a Sami Reindeer Herder

In the Arctic tundra of Norway there’s a unique home stay waiting. A Sami reindeer herder in Finnmark welcomes you into his winter cabin, and his culture. The Sámi are indigenous people to the very north of Europe, in the arctic area of Sápmi, which spans the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula of Russia.

There are approximately 80,000 Sámi living in these four countries with a majority in Norway, and specifically in the Finnmark region where my homestay visit was. For many years, reindeer herding has been a popular way to earn a living amongst the Sámi through the selling of meat, milk and fur.

Read More: A Unique Home Stay in Norway with a Sámi Reindeer Herder

100. ✦ Participate in a Japanese Tea Ceremony

The refined Japanese Tea Ceremony is the ritual of preparing and serving the powdered green tea, matcha. This warm, thick beverage is served with sweets to balance the bitter taste of the tea. The host may spend years mastering this art, learning every detail from utensil placement to the perfect angle for the tea bowl.

In Tokyo, go to the Happo-en Japanese Garden that sits in Shirokanedai district. It is an exquisite example of natural beauty with its ancient bonsai, koi pond and blanket of cherry blossoms in the Springtime. Not only is it a beautiful representation of a Japanese garden, but you can schedule to participate in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony where you will be drinking Matcha in their wooden Muan tea house.

Read More: Participate in a Japanese Tea Ceremony in Tokyo
Related: Tokyo Bucket List: 44 Top Things To Do in Japan’s Coolest City
Book Tour: Experience a tea ceremony or wearing kimono at Bonsai Museum

What’s on your 100 things to do before you die list?

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What to do in life? 10 proven ways to find out

Boredom and uncertainty are not the best feelings. To get rid of them, you should understand what to do in life. Choose the right type of activity, profession or hobby. Someone finds himself in service victories and career advancement. Others are happy in the service of people or complete renunciation of worldly life. For someone, for joy, it is important to find a family and home comfort. It happens that the meaning of human life lies in endless wanderings and searches for the real one. This article lists the main ways to understand what to do in life.

1. Expand your worldview.

Knowledge is power. Reading books, watching popular science and documentaries, visiting information sites can sometimes open your eyes to many things. First of all, what to do in life. After all, it is difficult to find a job or hobby of interest without knowing about their existence.

It is continuous self-education that helps a person to better understand the world and himself, to find his place under the sun. Sometimes people get stuck because of lack of information. Fortunately, there are various ways to get it. And best of all, most of them are free.

2. Take tests online.

This information resource is rich in all kinds of tests and assignments. Thanks to their solution, you can get closer to understanding a suitable profession, social circle, possible hobbies, etc. Also, answering thematic questions, sometimes it becomes easier to determine what to do in life. Of course, it is not worth treating their recommendations as the last resort, but it is also unreasonable to neglect them. It is worth taking several tests on various sites, and then choosing answers that come up regularly.

Take the test: introvert or extrovert?

3. Communicate with older people.

Wisdom takes the place of experience even for a fool. If a person is aged and does not seem very smart, he still has a fairly rich life baggage. He talked to a lot of people, saw different things. In the case of a well-developed intellect, an older comrade can become an invaluable source of necessary information. Therefore, do not neglect communication with such people. Simply, you should “filter” what you hear and let it through your prism of understanding of the world. Perhaps, during one of these conversations, the seeker will understand what to do in life.

4. Travel more.

It can be round-the-world trips or an excursion to a neighboring city. In any case, a new world is opening before us, and with it, new opportunities and prospects. Every person on Earth can find something to do in life. It’s just that for some, the answer is practically “under their noses”, while for others it is necessary to travel half the earth.

Perhaps it is precisely such people who become travelers, naturalists and cosmopolitans. Who knows, perhaps their meaning of life lies in endless wandering and searching for themselves. Either way, it's better than just lying on the couch doing nothing.

5. Expand your comfort zone more often.

All of us, growing up, leave our parental home. Sometimes we move to another city or even a country. Each such act expands our comfort zone. Someone moves to a new job, while the other is looking for an additional hobby. There are people who radically change their lives. You should not be afraid of this, because it is during such periods of life that a person is able to know himself better. And, along with this, and determine what to do in life.

Such decisions are prompted by nature itself. After all, in order to survive, billions of living beings are constantly evolving. Go beyond their original capabilities. This is the only way of progress, both for nature and for man, who is an integral part of it.

Take a self-confidence test

6. Do self-reflection.

To do this, you should organize your space so that nothing distracts you from your thoughts. In peace and quiet, perhaps even meditating, a person opens his inner world. It is he who is the best adviser in deciding what to do in life. The main thing is to learn to listen and hear him.

The bustle of the city sometimes overwhelms the quiet sound of our inner voice. Therefore, it is best to conduct this dialogue in a secluded place. On a forest glade, on the river bank, or at least on a bench in the park. Alcohol is not the best assistant in this search. But pleasant music in the headphones is very appropriate.

7. Remember your childhood.

Since a person is most sincere in the early years of life, the memories of this period can make it easier to think about a suitable occupation. If a clear picture does not emerge in your head, you can turn to your parents for help. Ask them to remember what hobbies a person had in childhood. What did he play, what was he interested in.

The fact is that the personality of each of us is formed precisely in childhood. And those who loved to spend time with animals, it is possible that they will become veterinarians or livestock breeders. A girl helping her mother in the kitchen may be a cook. And the boy who swims in the river all summer will become a first-class athlete.

8. Refuse the stereotypes in your head.

We are all products of our environment. Sometimes, it prevents us from developing, imposing the usual worldview and rules. Of course, it is necessary to listen to people, but you always need to think with your own head. After all, a person who was born in a dysfunctional family is not at all obliged to become a bully or an alcoholic. And the rich offspring of an influential dad is sometimes ready to run away to the ends of the world from all this gloss and pathos. You should develop your own opinion. Life is one, and everyone has the right to live it the way he wants, and not someone else.

Take a self-assessment test

9. Make new friends.

Logical exit from the previous situation. If someone is not satisfied with his environment, just find a new one. People meet on our way not by chance. Each of them is in some way our teacher. Perhaps an understanding of what to do in life will come with one of these acquaintances.

There is a whole teaching called networking. It helps to establish long-term business relationships, find the right people and realize the potential of dating to the maximum. This can be a very fun and interesting activity. And, who knows, maybe networking will become for someone the main hobby or even a real profession.

10. Dream more often.

Dreams and daydreams can sometimes tell a person more than dozens of books and smart interlocutors. The world of fantasy is our personal space in which we can truly relax and take off all the masks. At such moments, a person is extremely sincere with himself. So it’s worth thinking about the question of what kind of life we most often dream of. And having received the answers, it’s easy to understand what is realistic to implement and begin to implement it.

Sometimes, puzzling over the question of what to do in life, a person spends most of it on this search. For some, knowing oneself becomes this meaning. Others find a suitable craft. But, the bulk of people, being dependent on someone else's opinion, do not even try to figure it out. So, what is really worth doing in life is to become honest with ourselves and understand what we really want.

Take a test on the hemispheres of the brain

How to understand what I do in life - Offtop on vc.ru

I give a practical and effective way that works for my clients

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This question is relevant today not only for high school students and university graduates. Do you know what a) you want, b) you can do successfully in your life? Are you doing it?

I am ready to teach you my author's scheme, which helps you find your strengths and understand how to put them into practice.

My name is Roman Dosov, and I am a coach of the highest international qualification MCC ICF (master coach according to the standards of the International Coaching Federation). Since 2012, I have been coaching and mentoring, and in 2015 I founded the Sistema coaching center, within which my team and I teach professional coaching according to international standards.

You can get more knowledge about self-realization and development of your unique qualities here: https://www.instagram.com/roman_dosov/

A matter of life = a combination of several factors (don't be alarmed!)

Understand what you should do in life = understand “What do I want to do?” + “What am I good at / what can I become successful in?” + “What is needed and in demand in the society where I live?”

Finding a combination of all these parameters is not easy. What can I say, even answering each individual question can be very difficult. But let's take one.

My method consists of 6 steps.

1. "I love/want"

We allocate ourselves a quiet half an hour or an hour. We settle down comfortably in the most beloved and cozy place. We take a leaf with a pen. We ask ourselves the question:

“What do I have inclinations for?”

There are inclinations - these are:

These points may or may not be combined with each other. Something you may like, but you haven't tried it yet. And you like something, and you are already doing it.

We write down on the sheet EVERYTHING that comes to mind. At the same time, we absolutely do not think about how well we are doing and how much people need it. We do not evaluate according to any criteria (good / bad, useful / harmful, brings money / does not bring).

Examples: IT, auto, texts, physics, sports, parenting, renovation, creativity, cooking, dance, nail design, languages, party planning, socializing, etc.

Questions to help yourself:

What have I been inclined towards since childhood?
What manifested / manifests itself in my adolescence?
What manifested / manifests itself in my maturity?
What inclinations and preferences in activity do I notice in myself today?

2. "I am professional"

You can ask the next question immediately, or after a while - when you have a rest and gain strength for a new inner exploration of yourself. This item is big, get ready!

The question is: “What hard skills do I have?”

These are skills without which it is impossible to engage in professional activities, that is, to do something that is considered work and can be paid. For example: it is impossible to be a programmer without the ability to write program code, or to be an auto mechanic without understanding the structure of a car.

Including, indicate:

skills that you practiced for a short time or did not master very well (for example, if you worked as a furniture assembler for 1 month, feel free to record)
Skills you are/are not paid for (e.g. playing the guitar, knitting, cooking at home)

3. “I can also…”

The next question we ask ourselves is: “What are my soft skills (universal skills)?

These are skills that enhance your activities and affect life in general.

To better understand what it is, think about this: now the most valued employee is not the one who once learned a lot, but the one who can learn quickly, adapt effectively to new conditions, communicate productively and find non-standard solutions for every situation. These useful qualities-bonuses (they are also usually indicated by employers in the requirements for a vacancy) are soft skills.

And you definitely have them!

For example: empathy, emotional intelligence (the ability to understand the feelings of others and own your own), time management (the ability to manage your time), quick self-learning, creativity, “observation” in any area, clear self-organization, planning skill, the ability to beautifully argue your position, teamwork skills, resistance to stress…

In the same way as before, indicate the skills that you have acquired throughout your life, regardless of how long you were lucky enough to use it.

4. Good Habits

Yes, yes, at this stage we remember and fix all our good habits.

At the same time, there may be intersections with soft skills, but this is not necessary.

For example: the habit of planning your day can be attributed to such a skill as time management, but the habit of running in the morning is not a soft skill. However, here we need to enter both.

Examples of other useful habits, if you are already going to google, what applies to them:

drink warm water in the morning on an empty stomach
get up immediately after the alarm goes off instead of lying around for half an hour
go to the gym twice a week
exercise in the morning
reply to mail immediately without delay
practice affirmations every day
write gratitude diary
eat healthy food
set goals for the day/week/month/year
summarize at the end of the year
spend 30 minutes every day on a hobby…

In fact, here you can and should enter everything that YOU YOURSELF consider to be your necessary and useful habit.

5. "What will I choose?"

You need to choose:

• Do you prefer to take almost no risks in life, take risks in moderation, or are you reckless and ready to take big risks?

• Do you want to move towards your goals on your own or with a team?

• Are you more of a leader or participant?

• Are you ready to take responsibility only for yourself and your work, or for others too?

• Are you willing to invest a lot or a little time in moving towards your goals? Just be honest!

• Do you have a lot of energy or a little?

• Do you prefer chaos or structure? Creativity or order?

• Do you want to be the brightest and most noticeable or not stand out so much?

• Would you rather socialize or be alone?

• Are you focused as much as possible on a key goal in order to achieve it faster, or are you ready to go to the goal for longer, but balance many goals at once?

• Are you physically strong or weak?

• Are you stress resistant or not?

• What are your health concerns?

• Do you prefer dynamics/movement or static/calm?

• Are you of a humanitarian or technical mind?

• Do you value stability or diversity?

• Do you value reliability or perspective?

It is better to write down the answers too.

6. Well, what to do with all this, Roman? How to use what I have gathered thanks to your technique?

And now the most important thing.

It is not enough to know your strengths - you need to understand HOW TO APPLY THEM.

I noticed a long time ago that there are typical financial paths that a person can follow. Look closely - where are you going now?

• Hamster: quick and easy money, but no risk. Always wants "quick and free cheese" that only happens in a mousetrap. Therefore, he often becomes a victim of fraudsters, a participant in all sorts of dubious financial adventures, invests in “pyramids” and gives them to “infogypsies”. Always follows the crowd. Which is logical, most often loses rather than gains money.

• Rogue: quick and easy money, and willing to take risks. It has every chance to face many sanctions on its way (administrative or criminal).

• Child: I float where the curve leads. He thinks that "life disposes of him, and not vice versa."

• Eternal student: I study a lot, I apply almost nothing. A typical delusion of such a person is “if I know a lot, then I can do a lot, which means I am in demand.” The truth is that no one needs our knowledge if it is not put into practice and does not benefit someone. Other thoughts of such people: "I'm not smart enough / experienced yet to try to make money with this." Behind this lies self-doubt and the desire for a 100% guarantee of success. However, there is no such thing in life (alas!) Such people often become teachers and bring knowledge to others (though only theoretical).

• Show business, sports, creativity: athlete, actor, musician, blogger, writer, etc. They develop according to the principle: “I am a distinguished person, I am paid for my difference from others.” The path that you need to choose only if you really love your kind of creativity and are ready to endlessly “invest” yourself in it.

• Scientist, expert, information businessman: I study a lot, I pass on my knowledge, I put my knowledge into practice. They do not wait for a bag of money to fall on their heads, but share their practical experience and receive rewards from others.

• Careerist: employee who is always on the move. They have a chance to grow up to work in large corporations and earn more than small entrepreneurs. Sometimes, over time, they move to the next stage - the Entrepreneur.

• Entrepreneur: creates a business, generating benefits for society, in accordance with its needs. Lives according to the laws of a market economy and follows current trends.

• Start-up: the same as the entrepreneur, only the development path is different. Much is tied to investments, the ability to present oneself, to communicate in certain circles. This path is no worse and no better than an entrepreneur, it just has its own characteristics.

• Investor: , unlike the entrepreneur, does not aim to benefit the market.

Learn more