Travel Discussions

I have no great urge to visit China, France or anywhere in the Middle East. You might be able to talk me into visiting South Africa and possibly Kenya, otherwise the rest of Africa is not interesting.

There's lots of places in the US I still have yet to see, including the north-central and northwest states (Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, etc.). Funny that people visit here from other countries and we go to their countries but don't see much of our own.

--Bob

Hi Jo,

We went on a cruise and one of the stops was in Jamica. They told us not go off the path or we would be taking our own lives in our own hand. I guess it all depends where you go. If it is a resort, etc., I would suggest checking online and asking more people. I do hear there are many people spots. Just investigate. And enjoy where ever you go. Cozumel is beautiful, Grand Caymen is also beautiful. Clear water white sand (which is hard to walk on, your ankles sink, but I could live in either one of those places)

Hey Bob,

I also agree with you on that note. There are many places to visit in the US.

 

I totally agree with you, Bob.  Although I have traveled to a few other countries I really prefer to stay in the US and see more of my own country.  There are plenty of places I'd never consider traveling to which limits my options but I don't want to worry about things like terrorism, religious wars, not being able to drink the water, or my personal safety.  I guess I'm kind of a chicken LOL.

I have no interest in going anywhere near the middle east even though I have family in Ramallah. Our family has told us in the past (when they were visiting US) that they weren't sure if they'd be able to go home!  Sometimes they just close it down and say you can't come home right now.  Other times they were not allowed to leave.

My cousins just went there for a month to visit relatives and had a very good time site-seeing but something happened that completely ruined their trip (I do not talk to them a lot so I only know the snippets they say on their website)  Anyway, one of them was separated from the rest (I don't know why) for like 1/2 the trip!  And the point of my story is, my family members were actually born in Ramallah and yet they themselves had to deal with stuff like this.... so who knows how they'd treat someone who isn't even related or part of the culture.

Oh and the first things my cousins said after their trip is how much they are grateful for living in the US and how they took so much for granted in the US that they won't anymore.  They even joked about destroying their passports b/c whatever happened was just that bad!

To me, I'm not going any place that makes up laws at the drop of a hat and can do whatever they want.  I'm with Bob, there are plenty of places in the US and Canada to explore.  I'll go to he Caribbean but I won't do Mexico (and not because of swine flu but  because I feel they don't have strict enough laws to protect travellers).  I'd like to visit Australia someday and I'd be up for seeing England and Ireland but that's about it.

Bugg, you survive in the Detroit area, so you are far from chicken :) 

vivasuzi said…

Bugg, you survive in the Detroit area, so you are far from chicken :) 

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LOL!  I'm in the 'burbs though so it's not so tough out here.  I'm in Chicago right now though which has me a bit out of my comfort zone but is doing wonders for my phobia of big cities.

I have no interest in the Middle East, Africa, or Asia. 

 

Yeah i know what you mean.  It takes me 25 mins to get to downtown detroit and I avoid going alone at all cost... and this is in the US! So as you can imagine, I'd never go to a foreign and especially not hostile country alone.

As for Chicago, I find that it takes a few days for you to adjust to "it's ok to walk outside at night".  B/c in Detroit it's usually "b-line straight to your car, don't stop for anything".

njchicaa said…

I have no interest in the Middle East, Africa, or Asia. 

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Although there are some places in Asia that I probably wouldn't go (China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Pakistan, Bangladesh), I am interested in going to India, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, Bhutan, Taiwan and Japan. I don't expect to go, but I certainly wouldn't turn down a trip. I probably would never go to Indonesia but wouldn't turn down a trip to the Philippines.

--Bob

Not on my travel list: Cambodia, Yemen, Bolivia, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Iran, Nepal. Bhutan, Papau New Guinea, Venezuela, Iceland, Chad, Sri Lanka, etc...

bkovacs said…

I have no great urge to visit China, France or anywhere in the Middle East. You might be able to talk me into visiting South Africa and possibly Kenya, otherwise the rest of Africa is not interesting.

There's lots of places in the US I still have yet to see, including the north-central and northwest states (Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, etc.). Funny that people visit here from other countries and we go to their countries but don't see much of our own.

--Bob

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Well we've been to almost every state. Haven't been to Texas, Mississippi or Alabama but with two cross country trips (one 11 weeks the other 15) yup we've been to most. I would love to do a Safari actually but I think that might be on my bucket list even after I hit the bucket.

At the risk of sounding like a spoiled brat - but I'm sure I'm old enough to be your mom if not older - I've been to Jamaica both via a cruise and via a vacation. I wasn't impressed with Cozumel, the Grand Caymen island are beautiful. The entire western Caribbean is amazing. We've been to Galopagos, Hawaii.....so England was last year; Paris this year and now on to more exotic excursions (or scary maybe). I agree Jamaica is not a place to roam around freely!

bkovacs said…

njchicaa said…

I have no interest in the Middle East, Africa, or Asia. 

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Although there are some places in Asia that I probably wouldn't go (China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Pakistan, Bangladesh), I am interested in going to India, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea, Bhutan, Taiwan and Japan. I don't expect to go, but I certainly wouldn't turn down a trip. I probably would never go to Indonesia but wouldn't turn down a trip to the Philippines.

--Bob

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Bob, are there specific reasons - like politics or safety or just cuz. Oh by the way - I need a wireless (not expensive) headphone so I can watch TV and not bother my husband and we just got a Toyota Tundra.

Jo... China, Vietnam and Indonesia are off the list for me for political reasons. Perhaps a better way to say it is that I don't want to spend my money in those countries if I don't have to. Cambodia, Pakistan and Bangladesh are off the list for safety reasons. I hate to do that for Bangladesh but I work with a very kind and gentle man who is from Bangladesh, and he says that you can get killed there over a pair of shoes. Doesn't sound like my kind of place.

Bhutan is supposed to be the happiest place in the world, and I've wanted to visit ever since the Smithsonian featured Bhutan in last summer's Folklife Festival. The movie "Travellers and Magicians" made Bhutan look pretty good, too. The other countries on my list are all at least moderately advanced with superb cultural and historical points of interest. Or so I think, anyway.

I'll look around for headphones. Do you need the Tundra to tow your trailer? You don't seem the pickup type.

--Bob (who lives in Virginia, where the state vehicle is the pickup truck)

What about a trip to Peru? Mach Pichu?

I totally agree with you about China. My husband wants to go really a lot. We traded my Lexus (yup no pick up for me) for China. Ok so we had the Toyota 4 Runner which towed our 25' trailer. But at over 1,000 miles we are afraid to take it anywhere there are hills:) and certainly not to CO. My husband got a pick up truck before we moved to Plymouth because we were out of the mini van stage but still needed something to haul the kids back and forth to college. The truck has a cap so it's not that bad. That truck has a zillion miles but he's just using it to commute. So in comes the Tundra that will easily pull our trailer up the Rockies. Funny when we first moved here (I'm putting off coloring my hair; going to my basement to exercise; and doing laundry so I'll keep writing) the pickup like you said was the town vehicle. We just needed a deer on the top but with the cap it's ok. So we ordered a cap for the Tundra and put on side boards and just hope that our friends who live in fancy areas are allowed to have a truck in their driveway! No Joke!! Jo PS thanks for the headphone help. I also have not exactly ringing but electricity sounds running through my head all the time so if I had these I think it would cut down on the noise. Right now when I'm writing I'm distracted and don't hear it that much and when the TV is on but I've been online for 3 1/2 hours with a whole day to go Jo

I'll go anywhere. It's a big old ugly world out there. Gotta see as much as possible before the fat lady does her solo.

DUISparky said…

I'll go anywhere. It's a big old ugly world out there. Gotta see as much as possible before the fat lady does her solo.

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If you went to Israel with a significant other and another couple would you go it alone or insist on a tour group?

If I'm going to travel, I much prefer decent accomadations... (aka a hotel with toilet and shower in the room at the least).  Which takes several places off the list for me including a safari.  My sister did one last summer and had some interesting stories to share afterward. 

The only places I'm really interested in would be the western islands (tahiti hawaii etc...) and places in Europe at this point.  Maybe australia. 

My biggest thing would be safety and again the whole accomodations thing.

I have travelled to a few places in Asia and the most wonderful experiences i had are the ff: -- Kuala Lumpur-Malaysia (lots of green scenery in the city, Petronas Twin Towers is a must-see especially in the evening, you can also visit Genting Highlands located up on the mountain, amazing place!) Singapore (clean and beautiful, i love the food!), Kathmandu-Nepal (the mountain views are breathtaking), Male-Maldives (beaches!!) and i also had nice time in some Indian subcontinents like Cochin & Bangalore, although you have to be prepared and be open to new things coz it's not like anything you see here in the U.S...I have also been to Bangkok, Thailand as well as Jakarta, Indonesia and they're both just ok, i would have preferred going to the islands than staying in the capital but i didn't get the chance...I have also been to Dhaka, Bangladesh and this is one place i would not go back to...some things there just terrify me, and safety concern is always in mind...In the Middle East, there is the United Arab Emirates you might want to try visit...especially Dubai, which is a beautiful, highly developed open city so there are lots of foreigners going there...lots of really good hotels, 4-star to the 7-Star hotel Burj Al Arab, nice clubs and good shopping and you can also go on desert safari..I have also been to Muscat, Oman and they have really nice hotel & beach resorts over there...the weather during summer is harsh though, really warm & humid...Someday i would like to visit Egypt, Greece & Jordan, some of my friends have gone to these places and they say it's really wonderful : - )....In Europe, my favorite is Paris...then Frankfurt, Germany....very beautiful places, nice weather and nice people most of them just don't speak English but they'll try to help you getting around as much as they can..I have also been to Dublin-Ireland, good place but a bit expensive for shopping just like Paris, but in the latter there are so many other things to do and sights to enjoy...Down under is of course Australia, and i had nice experience in Sydney, but also a bit expensive :-).....I wouldn't dare travel to Pakistan although i have always been amazed with how beautiful the mountain views are : - )

I think that depends on the other people involved. If it was just me I'd go it alone.

Wow - how exciting. We went to Paris this past March and reall loved it as well. But I haven't done such exotic places. My husband has before we were married. In fact he lived on a Kibbutz for a couple of years with his ex wife.

I haven't travelled to Israel, but when i do, i wouldn't mind visiting a Kibbutz :-)..I have been to other Middle Eastern countries like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, & Oman...didn't have a bad experience (well, except most of the flights here get delayed!), all of them are quite safe but not much historical & cultural sights to go to. When traveling to the middle east, i would still recommend you go with some people but not necessarily a big group....and check the local taxi rates because some of them take advantage and charge ridiculous amounts....people appreciate to hear a little Arabic say for example, Shukran for thank you and Afwan for you're welcome..A friend of mine went to Jordan & another one went to Morocco...I tell them they're crazy for going to these places by themselves...I'm adventurous but not daring like them to the point of disregard for safety!! Other than that, they say these places are wonderful..Good luck and hope you find the best destination!

I would avoid any Asian area & of course, anything in the middle east.

My aunt traveled to Japan & came back w/ a diplilating illness that her doctors told her was from her trip.  I can't spell the illness, but it's something like Bechets.  She's never been the same since.

So many people dream of visiting France or Italy and I am sure they are beautiful countries but I have heard that some of the French and Italian people hate, loath and detest American tourists.  Heaven forfend that I should force my unwelcome self on them and spend my money there, when there are so still so many beautiful places in my own country that I haven't visited.  One place that I have heard wonderful things about is London and England in general.  The language problem is limited and they still seem to like Americans, God bless them!

 

I have been to London and stayed in a Heathrow hotel but went to Piccadilly and the Windsor Castle.. it is true that it is much easier to get around because people speak the English language. It's a very nice place and great for shopping but i am more alert & cautious when riding the tube in London than when i am in Paris..I have been to Paris a few times and never had a bad experience, i find people very friendly & helpful. I have also heard people say that the French don't like the American tourists, but i think that they are misconstrued as "unfriendly" because of the language barrier....But the thing is, it's a tourist destination and there's so many different people there, you'll always find someone who can speak english : - )

Bugg isn't too far from me, I've survived. Not fond of the area, but since moving here, it has it's ups and downs. Rather be out in the country somewhere. :)

When we first moved here, 15 years ago my hubby said if you get a flat tire in Detroit, just keep driving even if it ruins the rim. lol....

Personally I would avoid the islamic counrties, just because of the history of violence against american tourists