13 Travel Goals for 2013 : As the Bird flies... Travel, Writing, and Other Journeys

The time has come to make some goals for this new year. Last year I made and pursued 12 goals for 2012 that were related to travel and it was only when I looked back and felt a small whirlpool of pride start to churn inside me that I decided to do the same challenge again.

If you'd like to play along these are the "conditions" I apply when compiling a list of 13 travel goals for 2013.
These goals should be adventurous but not overly ambitious.
These goals should be realistic but not ridiculously easy.
These goals should make you really think about what you want to achieve from travel be it a day trip with friends, a beach holiday with your bikini or a longer trip with your own sweet self to unknown shores and futures.

These goals should be varied and exciting but at the same time you should be completely open to the possibility of them not working out. You should accept now that you won't meet them all, but the beauty is in not letting that stop you try.
Most of all these goals should bring you fun and laughter for the year.
In the last year I've learnt that travel can reward and reveal in more ways than you expect; from the smallest of personal discoveries - I am significantly better at dealing with spiders than NewMan - to the more dramatic and deep - if you don't believe in yourself, no-one will! - so ensure that you guide your goals to help you achieve whatever it is you want to achieve personally and professionally.

Here's my list in its purest form. You may observe that I write the list to myself, which may seem a little strange.

The reasons why I've chosen what I've listed doesn't matter now really. In fact, I'll enjoy filling in the gaps in due course...

1. Explore Nordic Europe
2. Always have at least one month ahead of travel planned. It's the best thing for your stress levels and relationship.
3. Let's go back to Amsterdam. That was fun.
4. Fill those wasted hours in airports with writing and planning and writing.
5. Return to Thailand. You know it makes sense.
6. Shoot more videos. Maybe NewMan will let you borrow his Go Pro? Yeah, probably not.
7. Always have a Plan B and a skeletal Plan C too if possible.
8. Visit Japan.
9. Don't overpack. Ever. Seriously, Frankie. EVER.
10. Use the cloud. Dropbox is your friend and Evernote is your secret lover.
11. Write your first travel guide. How cool would that be?!?
12. Take NewMan to Italy. You both like pizza.
13. After he arrives in March make sure you see your new baby nephew lots and lots and lots and tell him how wonderful the world is and how much adventure awaits him...