The Northern Lights, and other bucket list goals that aren’t worth the trouble

February 4, 2022January 31, 2023 journo

WANT to tick one of these goals off your bucket list? Just do the tick and not the thing, because it’s shit:

The Northern Lights

It’s a long way to the Arctic Circle, and all the countries you go through charge £24 for a burger and chips. They’re also freezing. Then you load into a bus to go somewhere even colder, and usually the Northern Lights aren’t feeling it that night so you’ve wasted your time. If you do see them you’ll say they’re amazing, but only not to look a prime dick.

Swimming with dolphins

Imagine how dolphins talk to each other about it. The shame of a distant cousin who’s sunk so low he hangs around boats in Miami trading spiritual experiences for fish. Humans paying through the nose for five minutes with a raddled crack whore cetacean. It degrades you both.

Fly in a hot air balloon

Arising at dawn, you climb aboard a hot air balloon and float low over the Serengeti while a few wildebeest mill around below. It’s cold and slow and your abiding memory will be of two commodities managers talking loudly about how much each balloon ride must clear after overheads. You thought you saw an elephant but it was a Jeep filled with ivory poachers.

Visit an active volcano

There’s nothing better than climbing a burning mountain to gaze with watering eyes through smoke and sulphur at something that could kill you without even trying. For the few vague sparks you see you might as well have visited a Dudley iron foundry.

See Uluru

It’s pretty notable for sure, but it’s also notable for how far it is from f**king anything. First you travel to Australia, which is already on the other side of the world. Then you fly six hours to Alice Springs, then it’s six hours in a bus to Uluru. The memories you make will largely be of transportation.

Go to Glastonbury

The greatest music festival in the world is still a music festival. If you’re lucky it won’t piss down, you won’t get covered in shit, nobody will nick your stuff from your tent and you’ll be home before the following Wednesday. But you’ll be a different person afterwards, someone who thanks the toilet for existing.