blue artichoke

There will be a lot of 30 New Things over the next couple of days, because I have only a couple of days to complete the list. I've done most already; I've just fallen behind in reporting them. Brace yourself for the flurry.

I love to travel, and it's always been a goal of mine to do as much of it as possible. When I got my last passport, I tried to fill up every page with foreign stamps before it expired. I almost achieved that goal, but a few uncooperative countries no longer stamp passports, so even though I passed through immigration, I have no proof in my passport. I just renewed my passport, so I have a clean slate from which to start again. The goal is the same, to fill up my passport before it expires in ten years.

I have been traveling a lot as a 30-year-old, but mostly domestically. I have frequent flyer points from just about every airline, but because I'm more cost-conscious than loyal to a particular airline, I have only a few points with many airlines. Not even close to earning a free trip. Except that, this year, I did travel enough on one airline to earn a free round-trip ticket. Woohoo!

This is significant because it means that I've been doing a lot of something I love. Traveling. I'd like do more international traveling, but that requires money, time and a good travel partner (who also has the money and time). Achieving all three is a bit tricky and doesn't happen very often for me. (There is a trip to Machu Picchu in the works where I've found a good travel partner, but finding the time is proving to be a major obstacle). There are plenty of places to see and friends to visit scattered about the U.S., so though it won't put a stamp in my passport, domestic travel is just as exciting and satisfying as international travel. And now I've earned a free trip!

30 New Things Recap:

1. Roast a duck
2. Learn to make glass beads
3. Swim in an underground river
4. Sea-Trek
5. Touch a sea turtle
6. Make a chocolate meringue pie
7. Eat collard greens
8. Cirque du Soleil: Ka
9. Make ice cream
10. Eat lunch with a down's syndrome guy
11. Learn to post pictures on my blog
12. Wear shorts, a tank top and a thong on purpose, all day and in public
13. Join a Ladies’ Disc Golf League
14. Begin Muay Thai lessons
15. Visit a Spa and Got a Foot Massage
16. Pedicure
17. Cookie Press
18. Text Message
19. Christmas Spirit
20. UFC 79
21. Meet Celebrities
22. Gamble in Vegas
23. Snort Something
24. Ate sushi and sashimi
25. Coffee
26. Frequent Flyer

Getting to Know All About You:
Part 1: What is your favorite travel destination?
Part 2: What is your dream travel destination?