In addition, despite the fact that I try to find something positive about every place I visit, there are a lot of places I just didn’t connect with for whatever reason, or didn’t have enough time to visit. I think everywhere deserves more than once chance–so here are ten places I need to visit again!

Cambodia

Some real talk here: I kind of, um, hated most of my time in Cambodia (except for moments at Angkor Wat and in the Ratanakiri Province). Awful, right? After an amazing, action-packed month exploring Thailand, my cousin and I went to Cambodia and so many things went wrong. We were both really sick; we’d left our friends behind in Thailand and missed them (and their traveling skills); the endless heat and oppressive humidity was getting to me; we were there over Thanksgiving and the homesickness was out of control; and honestly, the locals seemed to harass us, hate us, lecture us, or be annoyed that we weren’t acting the way they wanted. I feel like all of these things combined together to make me hate it, and I couldn’t wait to leave. When we crossed to border into Vietnam–via a boat on the Mekong, on a visa that our couch surfing host had done incorrectly which would make us get detained later (but that’s a different story)–I let out a breath of relief. I know Cambodia is a beautiful, complicated, impoverished country, and I think I need to give it another chance.

Read more about Cambodia here. 

China

China is one of those places that, while I was there, I didn’t love it–but now that I look back, I think “WOW! What a great country!” China, partially because of the situation I was in while there (an internship working with earthquake survivors in Sichuan province) pushed my boundaries like no other, and therefore wasn’t exactly a comfortable experience. I witnessed tragedy, heartbreak, corruption, illness, confusing cultural norms–and was struck by the resilience and joy of the people, and the country itself. Oh yeah, I need to go back.

Read more about China here. 

Thailand

Unlike the Cambodia saga above, I just adored Thailand. The smiling people! The food. The diverse, gorgeous landscape. The sweaty, chaotic cities. The idyllic islands. Thailand pretty much has everything, and even though I spent a month there, I have so much left to see! Plus, E has never been, which is reason enough to return.

Read more about Thailand here. 

South America

Is it cheating to put an entire continent on here? I haven’t been to South America since I studied abroad in Peru and Ecuador in 2009. That study abroad trip was my first real time away from home, and my first solo travel, which means that a lot of my memories are overshadowed by my homesickness, my parasite (yep), my idiocy (even more yep), the reasons I left in the first place (struggles in school and relationships), and my sky-high expectations slowly crumbling beneath me. That being said, now that I’m more comfortable traveling–and (slightly) more comfortable in my skin–I would love to go back to South America. I mean, there is so much more of that giant continent to explore.

Read more about Peru here and more about Ecuador here. 

Panama

We spent only three days there on our honeymoon in 2015, on the island chain of Bocas del Toro. I…did not like it. I don’t know why. I found it overcrowded, dirty, and rather stressful. So maybe I do know why–but I have been to a lot of places that fit those criteria, and that didn’t necessarily bother me. I think the Bocas are exploding with tourism and are not equipped to handle it, and the environment is starting to suffer. It really is a beautiful corner of the world, though!

Read more about Panama here. 

Iceland

Two 17-hour layovers were not enough! Iceland has simply exploded onto the international travel scene, for good reason. I’d love to spend more time there!

Read more about Iceland here. 

Vietnam

Although I would go back to every country I visited during my tour of Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, South Korea & Vietnam) the one that pulls me the most is probably Vietnam. I can’t quite put my finger on the why. It stands out in my mind as the most beautiful, but it’s also the place where, as we were traveling so quickly, my cousin and I missed a lot of gems, or just stayed for a day or two. It’s funny, because we had some visa issues and did not leave the country on good terms–but I’m still dying to go back. Or maybe that’s why, and I’m just contrary.

Read more about Vietnam here. 

Italy

Okay, I know Italy is on everyone’s bucket list or return-to list. There’s a reason Italy is one of the most visited spots in the world–and I’ve only seen a few little corners! I haven’t even been to Rome or Florence. I think I haven’t been in a rush because a) Italy is expensive; b) Italy is crowded; c) I will always want to go to Italy and d) Italy is a place I can travel to when I’m older, too. Now, this is usually the opposite of my travel philosophy–I always want to see it now, rather than later, because you just never know if you’ll get another chance, do you? Italy has been creeping higher up my list after our visit to Venice, and the fact that we have friends living all over the country. Not that Italy needs a reason to creep up anyone’s list–it is Italy, after all.

Read more about Italy here. 

Greece

I’ve told you (maybe too much) how even though it was a crazy trip, I completely loved Greece. And I’ve only been to Santorini and Athens–there is so much more to see! The combination of relaxed (sometimes too relaxed, admittedly) attitude, delicious food, ancient history, and beautiful scenery just hooks me in.

Read more about Greece here. 

France

I’ve been to Paris, and Lille, but I would love to get out of the cities and explore more of France. I’m particularly intrigued by Normandy. Truthfully, I didn’t “fall in love” with either Lille or Paris, and I think France deserves another chance! And I didn’t just choose it because it rhymed with chance! I also am part French, and like any true American, I’m eager to learn more about one of my self-assigned homelands.

Read more about France here. 

Do you have places you need to give another chance?

Linking up with Wanderful Wednesday and Faraway Files. 

The post Ten Places I Need to Visit Again appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

There are so many absolutely beautiful places to see in this world, but not nearly enough time to see them! This is one of the reasons why I love this series Amy has put together so bloggers, like us, can “oooh and aaaah” over all the incredible adventures! I’m Robin, the girl behind Penn & Quill, a fashion and lifestyle blogger from Phoenix, Arizona. In December of 2013, I travelled with my sister to the beautiful and colorful country of Panama.

Bocas del Toro, Panama

The adventure took us through the city, mountains, and islands of Panama. Starting in Bocas Del Toro, a small island of Panama that you can easily spend one day wandering around. Dinner was spent at El Ultimo Refugio, which was incredible and the sunset view was one I’m glad I didn’t miss. I’d recommend another day of hopping around to the different islands via water taxi and spending some time exploring. We went to Red Frog Beach (on another nearby island) and gave the ziplining tour a whirl, followed by lunch on the beach and soaking up some rays of golden sunshine!

El Ultimo Refugio, Bocas del Toro, Panama Coffee plantation, Boquete, Panama  Boquete, Panama

For a complete change of scene, we were off to the mountains of Boquete. We enjoyed delicious food, a Christmas parade, a coffee plantation tour, and a tour around the mountains. I’m not a huge coffee drinker at all, but I’d still recommend the tour. It was so interesting to learn all about how it’s made and we were even able to roast our own! The end of our trip was spent in Panama City where we stayed with a friend of mine from college. We ate extremely fresh seafood from the market, saw the Panama Canal, toured the old sites of Casco Viejo, and spent some time getting to know locals.

Panama Canal Seafood market and Casco Viejo, Panama City

If you are planning on heading to the colorful country of Panama, I highly recommend the following restaurants:

Visiting the islands of Bocas Del Toro, Panama?

• Where to eat? – El Ultimo Refugio (restaurant entry way and patio view pictured above)

Visiting the mountains of Boquete, Panama?

•  Where to eat? – Georges Grill at Fireside Inn

Visiting Panama City?

• Where to eat? – El Mercado de Mariscos/The Seafood Market (Meal pictured above)

I’ve loved being able to share my Panama story with you! I’d love to know all about one of your favorite adventures or if you’ve ever traveled to Panama!

If you’d like to learn more about my adventures, need help planning a trip to Panama, or want some fashion and lifestyle advice follow my blog on instagram, twitter, and pinterest!

Thanks for having me!

The post Around the World with…Robin! appeared first on Amy and the Great World.