Breathtaking Places I Desperately Want to Go to in 2023

They aren’t many but I’m damn sure the travels will change my life

Two days after my father died, I decided I wanted to get out of the village.

He was only 30 years old when he got a heart attack. I thought that was a pretty young age to die. Not his choice of course but I couldn’t help but think,

“I’m not gonna be stuck in this freaking little island for the rest of my life.”

To be fair, it isn’t a small island. I lived in West Borneo. It’s one of the biggest islands in Indonesia. You can easily buy hectares of land at a very cheap price.

But it’s very remote. The internet came late and only in certain areas get covered.

On top of it all, there isn’t much to see.

We have one beach that looks okay but still needs 5 hour's drive to get there. The road was and has always been in a bad condition.

So I couldn’t truly see myself living on the island forever. I managed my first “escape” after I finished my diploma at the age of 20.

First, moving to Java island (Bandung & Jakarta) for several years and started traveling frequently abroad.

This year as my job has become completely remote (a full-time writer), I want to take advantage of it by taking my interest in traveling more seriously.

For now, these are the top priorities that I want to get done in 2023:

Hanoi — the home for digital nomads

I grew up watching horror movies made in Vietnam. Despite getting scary vibes, it also gave me a snippet of how beautiful their landscapes are.

The fact that I’m Indonesian, I like the familiarity feeling it brings me, especially the paddy fields view and the way people live there.

One time I saw a video made by an ex-pat who lives in Vietnam and he showed the motorbike type he used to stroll around the city.

I laughed because I have the same type at my house too.

I’ve never been to Vietnam but I already know it’s gonna make me feel at home.

A couple of my digital nomad friends also confirmed how homey Vietnam is. They’re obsessed with the white egg coffee and how affordable a whole apartment is in there.

My top bucket list of things to do in Vietnam (most likely will add more):

• A few day’s trips to Halong Bay
• Check out the Hoa Lo Prison (I’ve learned their history since elementary school!)
• Visit the Marble Mountains
• Stay in Hanoi for a month and get a cute apartment
• Check out Mua Cave

Montreal — the best place to enjoy Fall

I’ve been coming in and out of Canada since 2019, and I already got the picture of how beautiful the country is.

But here’s the thing: every place shows magic depending on the season.

If you like mountains and have those “pinch-me” moments, go to Banff, Alberta, and its surrounding.

If you want a more relaxed summer with a mix of city and mountains vibe in the background, Vancouver is the best place to go.

Last year was the second time I’ve spent Fall in Banff and Vancouver. While it was still nice, I heard Montreal has a better view when it comes to seeing Fall foliage.

My top list to do is to hike on Mont Sutton. From all I read and heard, the view up there never disappoints.

Nusa Lembongan & Gili Trawangan — the endless white sand & turquoise beaches

As I moved to Nusa Lembongan last week, I could’ve checked it off the bucket list but I realized there are many activities here that I haven’t tried yet.

Snorkeling and seeing manta rays, visiting all the beaches, exploring mangroves, surfing, and many more.

Gili Trawangan is also on the list because I love turquoise beaches.

And these two islands got everything you want on a beach; white sand, turquoise watercolor, quietness, you name it.

My goal this year is to find a place where I can calm my mind — not much of nightclubs and fancy co-working spaces anymore.

Sometimes as you get older, the places you want to visit also change.

You try your best to find the hidden gems instead of following the crowds and visiting the overrated spots.

This is the picture I took this evening as I found a new beach to go for an evening walk to:

With all the lists, I’m hoping I can pull it off and get new travel experiences.

“Traveling — it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” — Ibn Battuta

Now, what about you? what’s your travel bucket list in 2023? We might have the same list, who knows:)

Enjoying more travel and digital nomad stories? Get full access here:

Also, read more inspiring travel stories from Anne Bonfert and Jillian Amatt — Artistic Voyages here: