I feel like TAR has convinced so many people to get off the couch, me included, and explore different countries after airing for 30 seasons. With the number of locations visited from little, unbeknownst villages to large-scale cities, there is definitely at least one destination that has captivated someone to the point it takes over a part of their life. I would love to know where in the world everyone is inspired to fly to sometime in the future and why.
Getting the ball rolling, here is my current list of travel hopes (and top 2 with extensive support):
1.
Dubai, UAE (Season 15) - Before The Amazing Race, I admit uncultured me was under a false impression the entire Middle East was a "crisis territory" when the conflicts inside and out Iraq was part of the broadcast routine every evening when I got back from school. I didn't realize there was this magical, luxurious country called the United Arab Emirates cornered on the bottom of the Persian coast doing its own thing, and Dubai was in the process of becoming what is now a crown jewel. I was impressed when I first saw the Burj Al Arab in season 5, but the full-scale visit during the middle of season 15 took every misconception I had about the term "Middle East" and spun it into dust. The extravagant architecture and playscape, Burj Khalifa still writing history, the priceless... Gold Souk, the vast Margham Desert Conservatory, the mall's winter wonderland, and Palm Jumeirah - essentially the Bahamas on roids! It's one of those destinations where everything seems too good to be true - except it
IS true. Nothing else quite describes my feeling for this oasis. After those two episodes, it's been on my bucketlist waiting to be visited. Reading more about the location in my spare time, it fuels my enthusiasm for this city even more. Even the 20K private suite on Emirates Air is a stretch, but it's a goal I want to hit. It's a city where you know you made it. I ultimately want to visit before I get too old to head out on a whim, and it's my most anticipated visit until Antarctica is somehow added to that list.
2.
Bora Bora, French Polynesia (Season 22) - I've always heard the islands surrounding Tahiti are where honeymoons are eternal. Though, I was never really convinced until the premiere of TAR22. From the skydive task, I have never seen ocean so blue before even on those Disney Nature documentaries. It stuck on my mind through the promos into the actual episodes. Even though the race route approximately covers a length measurable by several football fields it's fantastic for leisurely travel! The most entertaining thought for me about this is not sitting back and taking in UVBs, but is the possibility of scheduling a pearl diving and shucking session with a local farm, assembling my own va'a and rowing it out into the Pacific, playing coconut soccer on stilts on a tiny motu (unreal, but I want to do it!), simply things that immerse me with what people actively avoid on their peaceful Polynesian vacation. Thanks to TAR, I'd say Bora Bora has more going on than I thought. It's always a victory breaking off of those stereotypical impressions. Like Dubai, also one of my milestone destinations where a getaway will mean more if shared with someone equally adventurous. I guess time will tell.
3.
Ha Long Bay, Vietnam (Season 10)
4.
Zanzibar City, Tanzania (Season 11 & 29)
5.
Marrakesh / Ourzazate, Morocco (Seasons 3, 10 & 25)
6.
Iceland (Season 6)
7.
Hawaii (Seasons 2, 3, 4, 6, 11, 14, 20) - Have never been before and I want to visit most if not all the islands