The more unrealistic I am with my dreams, goals, and imagination, the more I am able to achieve.
I’m a dreamer and I do everything in my power to make those dreams come true. Life is worth living, after all, and I’m making it happen. I believe that I’m going to succeed and I go after everything that I want. At 31 years of age, I’ve been able to travel to 34 countries and experience every extreme adventure I could imagine including flying a jet pack, the ultimate in dreamlike adventure. When I set my sights on a new location, it is only a matter of time before I’m immersed in the environment. We flew to Alaska for a weekend vacation after dreaming it up the day before; we sold everything we owned, resigned from our jobs, and moved to California from eastern Canada after only two weeks of imagining life there; and we spent two adventurous weeks in Costa Rica and Nicaragua after three days of planning. I’ve been dreaming again and I have two new destinations in mind: Fiji and Tanzania.
Renowned for its stunning beaches, beautiful warm climate, and unique relaxed island atmosphere, Fiji is calling my name. When I picture spending time in Fiji, I am not relaxing on the beach while working on my suntan though; I’m diving in the warm, clear water surrounded by a myriad of colorful fish and coral; I’m hiking inland through Fiji’s native jungle to the spectacular Biauvesa Falls; and I’m sailing around the islands with my fishing and snorkeling gear on deck. Fiji is a Mecca for all dreamers, adventurers, fun seekers, divers, families, and anyone else who is looking for their very own tropical experience of a lifetime. Fiji consists of over 320 islands many of which are not inhabited. I want to explore!
“The most dangerous risk of all– the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.” — Randy Komisar, The Monk and the Riddle
I want to live my life rather than just imagine it and an African Safari should be on everyone’s bucket list. It is a new world that can’t be understand through books or videos. I long to see the stunningly beautiful landscapes and vast pristine areas with my own eyes. Wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, hyenas, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, warthogs, elephants, rhinos… the list continues. Imagine witnessing them all in their own environment; it must be completely life changing. I envision a closeness with my surroundings that surpasses anything I’ve ever experienced.
Tanzania is justifiably famous as one of Africa’s best safari locations. With world famous parks like the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, Tanzania offers more land devoted to wildlife conservation than any other African country; making it the focus of my African dream. Tanzania hosts some of the last untouched places left on this planet. It is a place of vast horizons, untamed wilderness, grand majesty, and mouth-dropping beauty. I want to take in the sights, the smells, and the sounds that are unquestionably unique to Africa and hold them in my memory, as well as share them with other, for the rest of my life.
Travel is all-consuming. Instead of thinking about how things may be, I want to see them as they are. We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty and limitless possibilities. Lets explore!
Have you been to Fiji or Tanzania? Fuel my burning desire by allowing me to revel in your stories. Share what they are like with me and with others.
Do you want to explore Fiji or Tanzania for yourself? What is it that holds your interest? Are there driving factors that I’m missing?
I will travel to Fiji and Tanzania. I’m capable of making it a reality. All of my dreams are possible. What about you?
I know you will do this! You stop at nothing.
When you know more about Africa, I’d love if you’d email me. My husband has always wanted to go on a safari and I didn’t know how to make it possible. I’d love your help. As we get older, we have less and less to worry about. Our kids are grown and we’re looking for the next adventure like you.
Thanks Lesley,
Peggy
Peggy,
Fiji is first up with plans to travel there in November, but I will email you this month with everything I know about Africa.
May the world be at your doorstep,
Lesley
Hey Lesley,
An African safari will be my university graduation gift. We, 6 of us from my class, asked for it and our parents agreed.
I can’t wait!
Did you book yet? Are you doing a package like flight and safari together? Tell me more!
Ally
Ally,
I didn’t book yet but I’m looking into it. Send me an email at info@bucketlistpublications.com and we can discuss it further.
I might be able to help you out with the planning.
Thanks for taking the time to read my work and for commenting.
May the world be at your doorstep,
Lesley
http://lesleycarter.wordpress.com/
My husband and I are hoping to make Africa our next family vacation. Now that our two children are old enough to enjoy it, we want them to have the experience.
I’m emailing you what I’ve learned so far. Let me know if you don’t get it.
Dawn
I’d like to take my wife and daughter on an African safari within the next year. So far, we have Rio, Brazil and western Canada coming up this year but we’re thinking March or April for Africa.
Thanks for the information on Tanzania. I’m going to do research now. You’ve inspired me.
John
John,
How old is your daughter? We’re thinking that if we make it to Africa this year, then our daughter will stay with family since she is only 5 months old, but I would love for her to experience it at some point too! How amazing would that be for a young girl?
Good luck with your planning. I’m been doing a lot of research myself and I think I have a great company in mind that offers tour packages. Please email me at info@bucketlistpublications.com if you’d like my input.
May the world be at your doorstep,
Lesley
I was thinking about making Korea my next big trip but an African Safari was always a dream. You always get me thinking. When I get back from Spain, I’m going to look at Tanzania and see if it is financially possible.
I want to go to Fiji for my anniversary. I already sent this post to my husband as a reminder 🙂
I´ve never been on an African safari, but later this year we are going out to Australia and New Zealand – only a short hop from Fiji. Who knows, I might see you there, Lesley!
I went to Fiji in college. It was the end of a class I took in Australia. We had such a great time there! We slept in huts, spent a few days just hanging out on the beach with our beach chairs half in the water, traveled to a few local islands, and almost died (at least we thought we were going to) when a huge storm blew up while we were on a sailboat! So much fun, thanks for reminding me. You will have a great time there!
I would love to visit Fiji. It look so beautiful. Love that quote…..so true. 🙂
Hi Lesley,
My husband and I want to take our granddaughter on an African Safari. We’ve already taken her to Ireland, England and Italy but she loves animals and the outdoors. I think she’s going to be a vet. It would be the best gift we could offer her and enjoy with her.
I may contact you via email to share a few thoughts with you if that is okay?
I love your writing and your passion
I was wondering when you would post about Africa. My husband turns 50 in 2013 and I want to book an African safari for us. It will be a surprise so planning will be difficult but worth it.
Secretly, an African safari is my dream trip too.
I look forward to reading along as your plans progress.
Keep writing,
Heather
Your outlook on life and your spirit are so inspirational! Africa is on my bucketlist too. First up, Italy next month. Then, I’ll start planning an African Safari.
Lets encourage each other to make the arrangements before the end of 2012.
I love reading your posts!
Tiff
I am overdue for a vacation and I will definitely look into Africa. From the comments of women here, my wife would love it too. Maybe I’ll make it a surprise although I don’t know how she would get the time off of work if I didn’t tell her…
You lead and we will follow! You should write a book. You would make millions. I hate if a go a day without my daily dose of Lesley Carter.
As a photographer, I thought about going to Africa a thousand times and a thousand times over again, but it wasn’t until reading this post that I truly wanted to make it happen.
I will go to Africa! I’ll see you there!
I’m in Germany doing an exchange year, but I’d like to do an African safari at the end of June before I return back to Canada. It has always been my biggest dream and my parents told me that if I keep my current grade average, they will pay for my whole trip!
It will be the coolest adventure that I did yet!
It would be awesome if you got to go too. It doesn’t seem like you let anything stop you so I can’t see why not.
Good luck. Thank you for always being encouraging on my site. It means the world from a big time blogger like you.
Laura
I found you through twitter and glad i did. I look forward to more reading