10 Things… You Should Do Before You Die

We all have a bit of a bucket list that we’d like to see ticked off at some stage, and there are some experiences in life you really can’t miss… and not all of them will break the bank either. Hard as it was to lower it down to just ten, we’ve picked our favourites, and believe us, they are worth every second! _______________________________________________ Travel And we don’t just mean go anywhere or do anything (though how fabulous would that be!). We mean take in some – or all – of the Seven Wonders, gaze in awe at the beauty of the Northern Lights, float in the Dead Sea, swing off the edge of the world in Ecuador and, best of all, go and visit the real Santa in Lapland. Learn a poem… … And pass it on. We love the idea of learning off a poem in order to pass it on to someone else… Our only problem is choosing which one. Gamble in Vegas There’s no real reason behind this except for the fact that it’s mighty craic. While you’re there, pamper yourself in one of the many A-MAZING hotels, visit the Bellagio fountains and take a trip to see the Chippendales. Seriously. Do. Sleep under the stars There’s no experience quite like sleeping outdoors and a night under the stars, will certainly be one you’ll always remember. See if you can catch the sunrise while you do – it’s another must on the list (as is sleeping in a treehouse). Sky dive Jumping out of a plane is exhilarating to say the least and to feel like you’re flying is like no other experience in the world. If you have the time and the money, a sky dive is a must. Ooh, we kind of want to throw a hot air balloon ride in here too (okay, okay, we know that’s cheating). Stay awake all night… Just because you can. Do it out of choice with a group of friends, chat to your heart’s content and solve the problems of the world together. You could also stay up watching some of those classic movies that you’ve just never got around to seeing – we’re talking Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Casablanca. Support the sport Be sure at some stage in your life to visit a major sporting event: this could be anything from Wimbledon to the Rugby World Cup, to the All-Ireland final or the Olympics. Save up and take the chance – even if you’re not a big sporting fan it’s worth it for the atmosphere alone. Speaking of sport (kind of) Skinny dipping is another must. Lose your inhibitions and frolic in the waves – probably try it out somewhere that’s a bit warmer than the Atlantic though. Be spontaneous Allow yourself to get completely lost in a new city – no Google Maps allowed - or head off to the bus station (or even better, the airport) and book yourself a ticket on the next bus out of there, destination unknown. Conquer a fear Whether it’s a fear of spiders, flying, heights or anything else, try and conquer it at some point in your life. Take control of the fear, as the possibilities afterwards are endless. Honorary mentions: Obviously we couldn’t get a lot of things into the list, but there’s a few from Her Towers that just have to make the cut including: going to a masquerade ball, forming a Spice Girls tribute band, making a snow angel, singing karaoke, dancing in the rain, visiting Disneyland, joining a flash mob and burying a time capsule. Phew!