extrapenguin

marianainthemoatedgrange asked about the top 5 places I would most like to travel to, and why for the posting meme.

I actually really like travel! I find something about airports extremely relaxing – it's like, everyone there is transient, and it's also significantly more ethnically diverse than Podunk, Finland, so I stand out less. Helsinki-Vantaa is also a very good airport to run through; security takes next to no time. (It's short enough that I always feel disconcerted if I'm flying Schengen. I just meander vaguely in the direction of the gates and suddenly I'm on the plane? Wasn't there supposed to be a security check???) I also find airplanes cozy and familiar and reassuring: no worries about missing a stop, etc. It's also easier to sleep on a plane than a train or ferry imo.

Personal ranking of means of travel: airplane > train > ferry > bus.

1. Taiwan
I've never been to Taiwan, but it's a place I'd like to go hiking around at some point. I've seen a number of nice pictures of waterfalls and mountains, so I assume there are some paths a moderately decent hiker could use. Also poking at various historic locations and eating the food.

2. Japan
I've been to Kyoto and really enjoyed the Imperial Palace and the Nishi Honganji temple, amongst other places we visited! I'd like to go to either Tokyo or some place with historic monuments or some place known for its good tea, perhaps.

3. Lapland
I've been once, for a weekend, but I'd like to spend a week or so at a national park, ideally on skis in winter or hiking around outside the mosquito season. Maybe when the leaves are just starting to fall? Unlike the first two locations, though, I'd have to actually plan my eating, since every restaurant had max 1 item on the menu I could eat even with modifications...

(I was once on a work trip to LA. We had a few hours spare so we went to one of the parks in the mountains. An originally American colleague, when he heard that we'd gone to LA to look at the trees, told us this was the most Finnish thing ever.)

4. Korea
Another place where I could safely eat all/most of the food! A relative was there for a study trip and enjoyed it, though didn't have much time to look at the sights. All the historic buildings and such would be interesting to look at, too.

5. Canada/North Magnetic Pole
I love aurorae and it's been cloudy the past few times the Sun's been active. I want to see the pretty colors! And the North magnetic pole is more accessible than the South one. (Bay of Canada vs Antarctica.)