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Why do I want to see the wonders of the world: to reach a goal
Febuary 4, 2010. By Arnold Rapinan

Machu Picchu of PeruThis is a follow up to my previous post, “I want to see the wonders of the world.” The obvious answer is because they are beautiful and there for all of us to see. However, for me, it is more than just to see them but also to reach a goal.

Growing up, I didn't dream of travelling around the world to see the wonders. As a kid, I didn't even know they existed. Then one day, five years ago, I realized that if I try hard enough, I maybe able to visit one special place every year for the next 30 years of my life. That would be cool!

Knowing that there will be a year I will not be able to travel due to lack of time, financial shortage, family obligations, health issues [I hope none], inability to take off from work, or other unforeseen circumstances, I decided to settle with the new 21 wonders of the world. I was thinking it is a good and attainable goal, these wonders are great places to see, and it would be an adventure. Hence, in summer of 2005, the quest for visiting the new 21 wonders of the world began. So far, my wife and I have visited six wonders and we are planning our #7 for this year.

To be able to visit 21 special places in one’s lifetime is not a lot (think about it), but the truth is that many of us will not have that opportunity. So I hope I can continue to visit a wonder every year, reach my goal and move on to the next one. Have you seen any of these wonders and which one was your favorite? I will blog about my experiences next.