If 2020 has shown us one thing, it is because nothing can be taken for granted. Everything can change or stop overnight, without warning. This is why if there are things you want to do in your life, you shouldn’t wait. To postpone it, at the “right time”, is to risk missing the boat and then regret it bitterly.
So, for this year, it’s decided, you will write your bucket list and above all, make it happen. Well done ! And to help you fill it out, I’ve compiled 20 experiences, 20 things to do before you die ideas for you, which I invite you to do.
Having goals is important and putting them in black and white is even more important: it helps us to visualize our intentions and to make them more concrete. And then in the end you know: dreams in the drawer make mold. We should all take a few minutes to write a list of the 20 things to do before we die.
Admire the Northern Lights
Do not panic, you do not have the arrival of the little green men in front of you. An aurora borealis is nothing more than an atmospheric phenomenon observable near the north pole (the equivalent near the south pole is called an “aurora australis.”
Caused by the friction between the particles of the solar wind and the Earth’s upper atmosphere, it manifests itself as large green light trails in the sky. Nothing to do, therefore, with the Martians. Still, it is one of the most spectacular and magical natural phenomena in the world and certainly one of the things to see before you die.
Swim with dolphins
Known to be both very intelligent and very playful, the dolphin is a highly friendly animal (apart from the fact that he loves the Galak). What a dream, then, to share with him a moment of complicity in the water. With respect for the animal, that goes without saying.
Eat a burger in New York
I can imagine that if New York is on your bucket list, it’s not just to eat a burger and leave. And yet, it would almost be worth it. The Big Apple and THE burger city. If the Shake Shack chain is renowned for offering excellent ones, it remains a fast food. If you want to dine in a real “restaurant”, I recommend that you go and try the succulent burgers from another chain, Five Napkin Burger.
Learn to play an instrument
If you didn’t have the chance to take music lessons when you were little, you may be dreaming of doing it. Learn Wonderwall on the guitar, slap on a bass or play the piano while standing. And for you, that means a lot. In this case, go for it, there is no age to start. Learning music, in addition to the pleasure it provides, is a recognized way to work on memory and concentration!
Watch the sunset in Santorini
The sunsets on the Greek island of Santorini have (in part) made its reputation. Located on the crater rim of a sunken volcano, in the middle of the Aegean Sea, the island itself is a gem. But it is the colors of the twilight that set the white walls of its villages ablaze that are among the things to see before you die. It’s one of the most beautiful islands to visit at least once in lifetime.
Learn a foreign language
Even if we all learned a language – or two, or three – during our studies, a few years later, we often have nothing, or very little left. Finally, yes, we know that Brian is in the kitchen. Great, Brian. Take the opportunity to do the dishes.
And yet, that it is practical to be able to communicate in the language of the country when traveling, or failing that in correct English. And how pleasant it is to discover another culture and its peculiarities through the way inhabitants express themselves.
If that’s one of the things you want to do before you die, then again, it’s never too late to get started! While there is nothing like traveling to the country to practice, there are also many ways to learn from home. You will certainly find one that suits you. Find the best way to learn a new language and start right now.
Go on an African safari
Aaaah, believe in Out of Africa and go crisscrossing the African savannah. Discover its mysteries and its bewitching charm. And with a little luck, catch sight of Robert Redford and Meryl Streep the Big 5, the 5 emblematic animal species of the region: the lion, the leopard, the elephant, the black rhino and the buffalo. Photo safaris have replaced major hunting expeditions, but the African savannah retains all of its wild appeal. An unforgettable experience and for sure a must do before you die.
Volunteer
Because enjoying life to the fullest also means showing solidarity and mutual aid, volunteering a few hours is certainly one of the things to do before dying. For that, you have a whole bunch of options available to you. For example, you can join an association, volunteer for humanitarian missions, or even experience eco-volunteering. It’s up to you to find the area in which you would like to be useful.
Marvel at the Taj Mahal
Large mausoleum of white marble dating from the 17th century, the Taj Mahal is one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. It houses the remains of the Mughal Emperor Shâh Jahân and his wife, Arjumand Bânu Begam in whose memory it was built. The poor had indeed died giving birth to their 14th child (!), While she was following her husband in one of his military campaigns. I think we can say that she has earned it, her mausoleum! A true jewel of Mughal architecture, today it is also a must-see tourist spot and a must-see before dying.
Go scuba diving
It has long been a human fantasy to be like a fish in water. Failing to be the man of Atlantis (kisses to you if you have the reference), the man of the rest of the earth has therefore imagined a whole bunch of systems, from the diving bell to the diving suit, to go for a walk underwater.
Formerly reserved for a scientific or military elite, diving has since become more democratic thanks in particular to Commander Cousteau, who cannot keep his red cap in his diving suit, participated in the invention of the current system with cylinder and regulator.
Thanks to these technical advances, you no longer need to be an expert to do your first dive. Today, lazing around underwater is not only a dream anymore, it is something to do absolutely before dying.
Visit the Pyramids of Egypt
“From the top of these pyramids, 40 centuries contemplate us”, exclaimed Napoleon at the foot of the mythical monuments of Giza… And that was two centuries ago. You will understand, these tombs of pharaohs have truly crossed the ages. They are even the last of the 7 wonders of the ancient world still visible today.
The site, which includes 3 large pyramids (that of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure), 4 smaller ones (therefore that of Khentkaous 1st) and the great Sphinx – is also classified as a UNESCO heritage. In short, a must-see site and a place to absolutely visit before you die.
Donate blood
Something to do not only once in a lifetime, but maybe even regularly. Indeed, thanks to this solidarity and generous act, nearly a million patients are treated each year.
If the procedure may seem quite intimidating at first, the health authorities are doing everything to make it more accessible, in particular with the deployment of mobile laboratories . Who has never passed a blood donation truck? And even if access to donation remains more difficult for some of us, many associations are working to eliminate discrimination and allow all those who wish to donate blood.
Go on a road trip
To do this, all you have to do is find a vehicle – even a bicycle – and set off on the roads for a few days, whatever they may be. What could be simpler ? You will see, being on the road gives the journey all its flavor, its intrinsic beauty, its scent of adventure and the best entertainment with the road trip games. Whether in your country or on the other side of the world, by motorbike, bicycle, car, van, motorhome, a road trip is certainly an experience to be lived before dying.
Climb Machu Picchu
If I tell you that this is a forgotten place discovered at the bend of a path in the Andes Cordillera … No, it is not the mysterious cities of gold but the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu . And even if, with all due respect to the conquistadors, it is not all gold, the unfinished city is a jewel of Inca architecture and testifies to the greatness of the empire.
Today listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is also one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World. But beyond that, it evokes an intoxicating mixture: the mysteries of lost cities, the fascination of lost civilizations and Indiana Jones-style adventure. An experience to live at least once in your life.
Solve a Rubik’s Cube
Cult puzzle, the Rubik’s Cube is also, with its ingenious but simple design and its bright colors, the emblem of the 80s. Long before tablets and other smartphones, how many hours spent trying to solve it (without success )? And how many of us who ended up, in desperation, by peeling off the stickers to put them back in their place and never touch them again!
Solving one of those damn cubes was therefore part of my bucket list challenge this year, and thanks to the magic of YouTube tutorials, here it is – and in less than three minutes, video in support.
Read a book in the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea, which is actually a lake, has two peculiarities. First of all, it is the lowest point on earth, since it is located 430m below sea level. And it also has a salinity such that we can easily float in it without producing any effort. It only remains to take out the last Harlan Coben and read a book quietly. A certainly unique experience and one of the things to live before dying, especially since this exceptional place could well be brought to disappear soon.
Dinner in a Michelin-starred restaurant
Because, since 1926, they have rewarded the quality of the cuisine offered in a restaurant, the famous stars awarded by the Michelin guide have become a kind of holy grail for many chefs and restaurateurs. For lovers of gastronomy, they are the guarantee of tasting top quality ingredients and dishes … Spending an exceptional evening… and also, it must be said, warming up the credit card. It is precisely this rare and qualitative character that makes this experience one of those that must absolutely be lived before dying.
Take a gondola ride in Venice
Typical of the city, the gondola almost alone symbolizes Venice. It is also a very pleasant way to get around the magnificent lakeside city and admire it as it should be: from the water. Finally, provided, of course, that you do not drive during rush hour. Because yes, in Venice, there are gondola traffic jams. To avoid this, my advice: let the bulk of the tourists pass and wait until the evening. A gondola ride on the Grand Canal at sunset is sure to be one of the most beautiful experiences of your life and a thing to try before you die.
Plant a tree
At a time in our history when the health of the earth is increasingly threatened by human activity, nature needs a boost. So why make a simple gesture that can help strengthen it? Not to mention the pride that you will have in a few years when the small seed, or the shrub that you will have planted, will have grown up.
See the 100 best films in history
If you are into cinema at all, you probably have a plan to watch all the “must-see movies” once in your life. You will then be spoiled for choice, from the list of the “100 best films in history” written by AFI to the top 250 of the specialist site IMDb, including those of films having received the Oscar, the César, etc.
But now, the cinema is also a matter of personal taste. As “official” as they are, these lists remain the reflection of those who write them. They take into account criteria that may not be yours. So feel free to make your own must see before you die list. “And may the cinema remain a pleasure!