On the way to my placement, I pass by the airport every day. Usually, I’m sitting in my car, in bumper-to-bumper traffic and can’t help but stare longingly at the jumbo jets taking off.

I haven’t travelled very much, but I really want to. Every time I think about the future, all I know is that I really want to travel this beautiful world and visit all the amazing wonders that Allah has created. I think the term is called wanderlust, and as I look through pictures that I’ve pinned on Pinterest on my ‘Places to Dream About‘ board, I can’t help but find it fitting.

So I decided to make a wish list of all the places I’m dying to visit, for some reason or another.

1. Malaysia 

I’ve recently become obsessed with visiting Malaysia, for reasons unknown. I think it began a few years ago when I first stumbled upon a popular Malaysian’s fashion blog, and ever since then, I’ve become fascinated with visiting Malaysia, a place which seems both modern and traditional at the same time.

I’m a lover of architecture, and from the pictures and videos I’ve seen of Malaysia, it seems to be a place that boasts both modern Western architecture and Islamic design principles. I became even more obsessed with visiting Malaysia when Amenakin visited both Singapore and Malaysia recently, and I watched her vlogs of her travels. It looks so beautiful (and the food looks SO good) and I pray that I have a chance to visit soon!

2. Great Britain

I have been obsessed with everything British every since I was a little girl. Unlike with Malaysia, I know exactly when this obsession began. Growing up, my best friend Zainab was British and her mum had a British accent. I spent a lot of time with her and her family. She’d come back from and tell me stories of things she’d do there, and so my love of all things British began.

Obviously, the next natural thing that increased my love of all things British was Harry Potter. As a kid, I used to walk around talking in a British accent, pretending that I was British, and dreaming of a post-secondary education at Oxford (lol).

Since then, my love of English literature and my childhood memories have further blossomed into a real desire to see the country and the cities where so many of my favourite books have taken place. Sometimes I feel like I’ve already been there, because it feels like I’ve travelled there so many times in my mind, watched the London fog press itself up against windowpanes, heard the pigeons cooing in Trafalgar Square, and seen the blinking lights of the London Eye in the clear night sky. But then I remember this is all my imagination and not reality. So I hope to be able to make this dream a reality someday.

3. Egypt

Another place that I’ve been in love with since I was a kid. It’s funny because right now as a Grade 4 teacher candidate, I’m teaching my students the same Social Studies unit that I LOVED learning when I was a kid: Ancient Civilizations. And as I tell my students all about mummies, tombs, and pyramids, I am struck with the same feeling of excitement and curiosity that I felt as a kid learning all about Ancient Egypt.

And obviously, I don’t meant to stereotype Egypt since I know that it’s not just about all of the things I just listed. But as a lover of history, I’m dying to visit the ancient sites where there’s so many untold stories hidden, and see the infamous pyramids that remain a mystery to this technologically advanced day.

4. Greece

By the same token, I’m also teaching my students about Ancient Greece, and again, can’t help but marvel at the history of Ancient Greece, and the gorgeous remains of temples and buildings that still stand today.

I’ve also been intrigued by the cerulean blue rooftops of houses in Santorini, which almost seem to match the stunning blue of the Mediterranean Sea not too far away. Built into the hills of Santorini, the houses seem like architectural marvels, and I can’t help but be in envy of the view some of those houses must have of the Sea in which a thousand ships were launched into. So much history it makes my heart pound with excitement!

5. Spain

I became interested in Spain when I learned in high school history that it was once a Muslim country. As I pored through images of the ancient cities and stunning cathedrals, I found glimpses of minarets and classic geometric patterns which spoke of an Islamic influence in architecture. And so I long to see the way that the Islamic architectural influence remains, even though the Muslims left long ago.

Other than that, I’d love to see the rolling hills, the Gothic buildings, the winding roads, and views of the Mediterranean Sea.

This is by no means a comprehensive list. There’s so many other places I’d love to visit and travel to, but there’s are the top 5 that are on my mind right now! Other honourable mentions: Italy; New Zealand, Dubai, Turkey, Korea, Japan, Thailand, and India.

Where have you travelled to before? Are any of your top 5 places to visit the same as mine?

Hope you all are having a great day!

Thanks for reading,

Ikhlas