Last Updated on June 15, 2021 by Tina
I’ve been trying to write one decent post for more than a week already, but I don’t know why I couldn’t finish one. I think the one month that I stopped writing made me lose my momentum. And then I remembered I’m turning 39 tomorrow, and 4 years ago I wrote my 40 before 40 bucket list. So I decided to revisit the list, and check how many I was able to tick off.
I’m very sure I won’t be able to tick off everything on the list because of the pandemic, but let’s see how many I was able to do, and what are things that I may be able to do before I turn 40 even in this current situation.
My 40 Before 40 Bucket List
Items I was able to tick off:
1. Get inked.
I was able to get this done in 2018. You can read about my experience in my post I Got Inked on Araw ng Kagitingan-My First Tattoo Experience.
2. Sleep in a capsule hotel.
I did this during my Taiwan trip in 2017. I stayed at Hey Bear Capsule Hotel. It was so cool. The capsule has its own flat-screen TV and a mirror. I was not able to write about the experience, but let me share some pictures.
3. Watch live Muay Thai fight.
Was able to tick off this item in 2019 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It was so cool and thrilling to see a live Muay Thai fight. I was told though that the fights in Bangkok are more exciting.
4. Climb Mt. Kinabalu.
I was able to climb Mt. Kinabalu in 2018. Unfortunately, we were not able to reach the summit due to the bad weather condition during our hike. The climb is a bit expensive, but I am thinking of doing it again in the future. I want to reach the summit and maybe do the via ferrata.
5. Hike Qixing Mountain, the highest dormant volcano in Taiwan.
I was able to do this in 2017. I climbed Qixing Mountain alone. It was raining when I did this and the wind at the summit was super strong so I didn’t stay there for too long. But it was a fun experience. I miss the solo hikes already.
6. Release a paper lantern.
Was able to do this during my trip to Taiwan in 2017. It was drizzling when I did it, and everything happened so fast. But I had fun writing my wishes on the lantern. Would love to do it again someday.
Items I might be able to tick off before I turn 40:
7. Learn how to surf.
I got stuck here in La Union for more than a year but never learned how to surf. But I’m planning to start next month after I get my second dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine so let’s see how it goes.
8. Visit all the countries in Southeast Asia.
I’m almost done with this. Only Brunei and East Timor left on the list. Maybe if these two countries open in the first half of next year, then I might be able to tick off this list. I don’t think I could go solo to East Timor though. I think it will be better if I go there with someone else.
9. Have a spontaneous road trip with no destination.
This one’s easy so I might be able to do this before I turn 40.
10. Quit my 8 to 5 job and become a digital nomad.
I already quit my 8 to 5 job in 2018. Unfortunately, I’m back to the 8 to 5 again this year. Hopefully, I will be able to quit later this year for good and be a full-time digital nomad.
11. Learn fluent Italian.
A hot Italian with six-pack abs is a good motivation to learn this language, but I just realized learning this will only be useful if I go to Italy. I’m thinking of changing this to Spanish instead. Not only will it be useful for a trip to Spain, but also to South America.
12. Make a vegetable garden and have all the plants mentioned in Bahay Kubo song planted on it.
I almost completed this garden last year during the lockdown; only six plants left. Time to prepare the garden and replant.
13. Sleep in a treehouse.
I might be able to tick this off this year. There is a treehouse in Baguio that I have always wanted to check out.
14. Have a successful online accessories business.
I’ve tried, but not successful. Maybe time to work on this again.
15. Have a bikini selfie like that of Arci Muñoz. (Refer to picture below)
This one is totally doable. Not here in La Union though.
16. Have a naked selfie like that of Solenn Heussaff. (Refer to picture below)
This one is also doable. I just need a big hat, a private beach, and a good photographer.
Things I won’t be able to do before I turn 40 but I still wanna do in the future:
17. Hike Rainbow Mountain in Peru.
18. Trek the Annapurna Base Camp.
19. Trek the Everest Base Camp.
20. See the Northern Lights/Aurora Borealis.
21. Rope swing into the water.
I could have done this two years ago if I went on with my original plan of going to Koh Rong Samloem in Cambodia.
22. Go on a cruise.
23. Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
24. Ride in a hot air balloon.
I will definitely do this when I get the chance to go to Capadoccia. I just don’t know when.
25. Backpack through Europe for 2 months or longer.
Europe has always been my dream for the longest time already. I don’t know why I didn’t do it when I was younger and had more money. Waiting for the universe to conspire again. I’m very positive that it will happen.
26. See the great pyramids.
27. Explore Chefchaouen, Morocco.
28. Trek the Great Wall of China.
I’m thinking of traveling on the Trans-Siberian Railway and doing a stop to trek the Great Wall of China.
29. Visit a pink sand beach.
30. Trek the Inca Trail in Peru.
31. Explore a real castle.
32. Hold a baby panda.
33. Stay in an overwater bungalow.
34. Eat in an underwater restaurant.
35. See/try to climb Mount Olympus.
36. See Christ Redeemer in Brazil.
37. See the Grand Canyon.
38. Visit 5 continents.
Since I no longer have a time limit to accomplish this, maybe visit all 7 continents.
Items I don’t plan on doing anymore:
39. Attach a lock to a love bridge.
I don’t know why I added this to my bucket list. Now that I am reading it, I find it too cheesy. There might be a bridge here in the Philippines where I could do it, I just don’t know if I still want to do it.
40. Attend a music festival.
This is another item that I don’t know why I included in my bucket list.
So in the 40 Before 40 post, I also wrote this “I also wanted to add “Fall in love and get married” to the list but I am not sure if that is going to happen before I turn 40 so better put something attainable haha”. I did fall in love, but I didn’t get married. Who knows, I might have a whirlwind romance and get married before I turn 40. 😛
