The consensus from people I have met is to visit fewer countries but spend more time in each. I travelled extensively in my twenties and agree with this. Below

The consensus from people I have met is to visit fewer countries but spend more time in each. I travelled extensively in my twenties and agree with this. Below the highlights for me: - South India in monsoon season. Its off season and only the crazies venture out. See the Temple @ Hampi, Visit Vattakanal/Kodaikanal, Palolem beach. Note you'll need at least a month to "acclimatise" to India. People who stay for shorter durations tend to hate it. People who stay for longer tend to fall in love with it. - The train from Shanghai to Tibet. Visiting temples in Lhasa and you can visit the (north) base camp of everest. The train journey itself is surreal. - The Indonesia learn-to-surf-and-party-trip. Start in Jakarta, party. Take economy train to Batukaras, learn to surf. Overland to Bali stopping at solo/surakarta for a friday-night wayang kulit performance, or Bromo via the trekking route (not the jeeps). I have never visited any central/south African countries. However I havent met a person who has and didn't feel it was the most memorable part of their round the world trip.