Travel bucket lists, memories and more.

[Dani8]

Hit me. Anything travel related whether that be international, domestic or discovering your own city

eg when I'm missing Asia I go to ethnic areas in my own city like

Little Hanoi

http://www.tripatrek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/cabramatta.jpg

Chinatown

https://c1.staticflickr.com/4/3795/10975962423_8764b7dc43_b.jpg

Hngout in a japanese mart

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d9YVzfnbxqY/TSGMJv7Ce6I/AAAAAAAAACY/tBriTgHs7UI/s1600/DSC02566.JPG

or

Little Italy

http://bookyeah.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Norton-Leichhardt-sydney-apartment-accomadation-rental-short-term-bookyeah-5.jpg

Little istanbul

http://cdn.concreteplayground.com/content/uploads/2017/01/lahmajun-ali-baba-marissa-ciampi.jpg

Middle east without the long haul flights

http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/c0b9f1aec0a5fce546753a3c82870d1b?width=1024

The Spanish Quarter

http://www.sydney.com/sydney-life/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Spanish-Quarter-Haymarket.jpg

http://www.sydney.com/sydney-life/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Spanish-Quarter-Haymarket.jpg

Food with movies (I'm hijacking back to movies)

https://img.grouponcdn.com/deal/cLZfDvSZPTadAYi1zgQb/t620x376/3d-960x576.jpg
http://innercitystinge.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Govindas-A-600x310.jpg

Or read a travel book. Some of my faves - Diarios de motocicleta
Anything by Isabel Allende or Paul Theroux
Suck up the atmosphere and multi cultural festivals. This one is coming up

http://images3.aystatic.com/events/318429/431049_home_hero.jpg?1483516643



All welcome to share your love or non love of travel, near death experiences, nightmare toilets, and cats in kitchens.

http://salesigndesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/W07-Welcome-ColorOnBlack-banner.jpg

[Dani8]

One to kickstart a new poster who is from Morocco

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16998772_1476290019071381_1728564812005841875_n.png?oh=cd9add374ea9c6868d3456f08ed2d82e&oe=59438DFD

That's on my bucket list. My dear departed brother spent some time there before going to university. I think he spent the entire time stoned on hash, bless.

[Dani8]

Happy Losar. Year of the firebird. Any Tibetans or Nepalis on this forum?

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/s960x960/16992109_1458717464162326_2040371702830567780_o.jpg?oh=cb2c360a1823c8c85119bad312159748&oe=59349F10

[matt72582]

I first went to Europe in 2004, when I was 22.. (Netherlands and Germany -- Amsterdam mostly, New Years). I've been to Europe 5 times, once for almost 5 months, the rest were an average of a few weeks. I went to Australia twice, was there for 6 months, and then again for 3 months.. Asia -- spent a month in Thailand... I've been to Canada and Mexico multiple times, a few road trips around the US (once by bus, once by car, rest on trains and planes).

Grand Palace
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/543598_10150976157280743_542397185_n.jpg?oh=a5505f3359deebea17cd507ff0b96176&oe=592B64D9


Protest in Bangkok
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/554408_10150976150710743_1403821629_n.jpg?oh=f7934843e4669c9f9baa0d62c1ac9348&oe=593C1FF6


Pink Floyd fan-group before a Roger Waters concert in Toronto, Canada
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11698501_10206119937931822_7538895962913494724_n.jpg?oh=361e62229e9c1e8b939bb41392d72210&oe=5937299A


On a movie set for an international movie contest
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t34.0-12/11303523_10204225795312107_2070002285_n.jpg?oh=d524612b9c87f9b4525ed7fc2e97745d&oe=58B6EEE9


Biking around near Kanchanaburi
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/522958_365478103513746_163651663_n.jpg?oh=7ad90899c1127508ce650532f42743f3&oe=5940C249


Playing music, big part of traveling
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/522265_365459223515634_1914659466_n.jpg?oh=b3693d610acdf5c1cf9ec63b0463452f&oe=5941CFCF



NYC
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/4180_550553499548_4700784_n.jpg?oh=4cce5c93bbf512dbfa519fd0173a47ec&oe=592A52B8


Temple of Poseidon in Sounioun, Greece
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1927765_71805580742_1332_n.jpg?oh=aea681ccc823547e84357252e41b9528&oe=593D7D9C

[Dani8]

Very cool , Matt ��

My bro lived in Calgary with his family for while.Loved it.

[matt72582]

Very cool , Matt ��

My bro lived in Calgary with his family for while.Loved it.

Very cool.... I wanted to ask you and anyone else who traveled --- what have you learned?

[the samoan lawyer]

Travelled a fair bit before kids arrived. Took a while out and went to China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, USA and Canada (Vancouver and Toronto only).


Seriously not a day goes by that I don't think about it, best time.

[matt72582]

Travelled a fair bit before kids arrived. Took a while out and went to China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, USA and Canada (Vancouver and Toronto only).


Seriously not a day goes by that I don't think about it, best time.

What years did you travel? In 2004, cell phones weren't that consuming, as opposed to now..

What cities in Thailand and Australia? I was in Bangkok for 9 days, then off to Kanchanaburi for 9 days, Ayuttuyah for 3, and Chiang-Mai for a week... In Australia, I'd say I spent almost 5 months in Melbourne, 2 weeks in Sydney, and then 5 weeks in Bamawm (North Victoria) working on a farm.. Second time, mostly Melbourne, a few weeks in Sydney during the Australian Open (when hostel prices doubled).

[ScarletLion]

It's painful now, knowing that I'll never have those 18 months of care free travelling again. But at the same time I know I did an amazing thing just going round the world and having fun.

Highlights:

Nicest view: Coles bay, Tasmania
Nicest beach: The Mamanucas, Fiji
Best city: Melbourne, Australia
Best activity: Skydiving, Lake Taupo, NZ
Best bit of culture: Angkor What, Cambodia
Friendliest people: Fiji

http://i.imgur.com/25i2xLY.jpg

[Dani8]

Very cool.... I wanted to ask you and anyone else who traveled --- what have you learned?

That's a very difficult question and probably requires a tl;dr thesis and a bucket of coffee. My longest trip was 3 years and that was certainly life changing so I doubt I could put it into words.

Probably the easiest answer is it doesnt matter where you go, we're all the same. Regardless of dollars under the mattress, status in the community, language, belief systems, 'strange' clothes we all still care for our loved ones, don't know what tomorrow brings, and get on with things until the inevitable.

Also, the world is a very small place. I cant tell you how many times I've lost contact with someone in one country then run into them a year or so later somewhere else. Such a bizarre experience to rock up to a tiny village somewhere and hear your name.

[Dani8]

Very cool.... I wanted to ask you and anyone else who traveled --- what have you learned?


Just thought of another

Aerolineas Argentinas only has one plane in it's fleet, and it's circa 1970.

[TJLamb0518]

I'd love to go to the town they shot Danny Deckchair in.

But I'd never leave.

[Dani8]

I havent seen the movie but I have been to Bellingen. Very nice area.

[the samoan lawyer]

It's painful now, knowing that I'll never have those 18 months of care free travelling again. But at the same time I know I did an amazing thing just going round the world and having fun.

Highlights:

Nicest view: Coles bay, Tasmania
Nicest beach: The Mamanucas, Fiji
Best city: Melbourne, Australia
Best activity: Skydiving, Lake Taupo, NZ
Best bit of culture: Angkor What, Cambodia
Friendliest people: Fiji

http://i.imgur.com/25i2xLY.jpg


Nice pic. Where was that? What Island Fiji you do? Have to agree, would be hard to find friendlier people. I was at the bar and realised I had left wallet behind, barman gave me the drinks anyway and just told me to pay for them later.


Angkor Wat was a highlight for me too.

[the samoan lawyer]

What years did you travel? In 2004, cell phones weren't that consuming, as opposed to now..

What cities in Thailand and Australia? I was in Bangkok for 9 days, then off to Kanchanaburi for 9 days, Ayuttuyah for 3, and Chiang-Mai for a week... In Australia, I'd say I spent almost 5 months in Melbourne, 2 weeks in Sydney, and then 5 weeks in Bamawm (North Victoria) working on a farm.. Second time, mostly Melbourne, a few weeks in Sydney during the Australian Open (when hostel prices doubled).


Travelled in 2009. We didn't bring our phones but did buy one for when we were heading further afield for a length of time. Too many cities to remember really, although in Thailand we stayed in Krabbi for a while and loved it. Went to Bangkok and Chiang mai but not the other two.
In Oz I started in Cairns and worked way down to Sydney stopping at a fair few places. Didn't make Melbourne which was unfortunate.


Travelling days over Matt or still got the bug?

[ScarletLion]

Nice pic. Where was that? What Island Fiji you do? Have to agree, would be hard to find friendlier people. I was at the bar and realised I had left wallet behind, barman gave me the drinks anyway and just told me to pay for them later.


Angkor Wat was a highlight for me too.

We did alot of the yasawas and mamanucas. The best one was one where a tiny sand strip linked 2 islands. It was Waya and Wayasewa. Just spent a few days walking between the 2, swimming, fishing and eating and drinking. Amazing. Also went to Bounty Island, waya lei lei and a few others.. Nacula was a highlight.

http://www.beautifulpacific.com/fiji-holidays/pictures/Yasawa-01.jpg

[Dani8]

Ha. How do you get rid of the bug? I've had mine since we had a family holiday in Queensland when I was 3. I still remember it. The bug is always gnawing away. It's just the long haul flights I don't like.

I have another answer for Matt about what travel taught me. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. I had a punch up with someone on imdb about this who said it doesnt exist. I dont think he had ever been out of his home town. It certainly does exist - just depends on which side you are on.

Years ago I cycled around India. Got tricked into going to Kashmir by a kashmiri travel agent in Delhi (the kashmiris were desperate for tourist dollars due to the conflict between India and Pakistan. He told me, my travel companion and 2 english girls the conflict was over, there was no longer a curfew, and the soldiers on both sides were only at the border. Well, to cut a long story short, our bus arrived in Srinagar after the non existent curfew and we had to sneak through the streets to get to our houseboat. Rifle fire and bombs going off was a new experience, lemme tell ya. The lovely people who ran our boat turned out to be pakistani trained militants and the stuff they told us about what was going on was so eye opening. As we were leaving they asked us to smuggle out letters to the UN for them. How can you say no to someone who watched his family shot infront of him.

[matt72582]

I think the bug is over, mostly because of money... It's not as fun as it used to be, mostly because of technology... My last two trips were to San Francisco to see and meet Mort Sahl, which is possible in the future if I get some luck with my music/writing.... I found some pics last night, I'll post a few more and would LOVE to see more from all your guys' travels.

[matt72582]

Ruins in Ayuuthya (I can never spell it correctly)
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/181297_10150999256125743_16675883_n.jpg?oh=a47c0eb80cb370526275bf318a7b118a&oe=5940C4A2


Muiderslot in The Netherlands (2009)
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/61183_472958015742_7435298_n.jpg?oh=35d8cbec78c40a18b5584fda00394aad&oe=59441D10


Budapest, Hungary
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/58089_472959485742_1412440_n.jpg?oh=89575181beb31494cbeb4bdd6014c181&oe=593E266F


Apeldoorn
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/63086_472967030742_7718683_n.jpg?oh=77cfbe9ca6c84148bd70185d436d4495&oe=59712942


Basel, Switzerland
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p206x206/37143_472968480742_4229076_n.jpg?oh=aad53772cb93e888eb2c27378edc4266&oe=5970926B


Visiting a friend from previous travels in Cologne, Germany (Dom Cathedral)
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44951_472969110742_7456379_n.jpg?oh=7be0cfd39d00c5b3a32bd34f369daf4f&oe=593DB306


Naar Amsterdam.. Zaans-Chans (windmills and fresh cheese being made, and clogs)
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/36077_472964495742_7168555_n.jpg?oh=cbbc6c3ab2a24fd8144a2d3589924866&oe=592F2E31


Aegina Island
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/44265_472974945742_3039911_n.jpg?oh=47ca6e45da89e75e0212731e6d69d804&oe=592D2822

[Dani8]

I must say, the selfy stick kinda dampens the bug a bit. I dont want those damn things in my line of vision when taking travel photos.

[Nestorio_Miklos]

My mac was stolen about a year ago with most of my pictures. :(:(No backup. There's very few I retrieved from Cloud or FB. This one is from Padova, a couple of years ago.

http://oi67.tinypic.com/21vuk7.jpg

http://oi68.tinypic.com/2ecf392.jpg

[Dani8]

NOOOOOOO Nesto :bawling:

I'll dig out a few oldies.

[Dani8]

From a cooking course I did in Vietnam. It was a miracle. I sold jesus in a turmeric pancake on ebay

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_86132836678_5873110_n.jpg?oh=97984058c42b299295cfae47694247d7&oe=592C5511

Lake Titicaca

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85843686678_1419405_n.jpg?oh=02de3fc8153dac37aaadb86d4addeaed&oe=592E00B5

My favourite panning shot. I cant achieve this with digital yet. That was back in the analogue days. Beijing.

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85855301678_5049383_n.jpg?oh=6b581ece537fd70edae2e5d6cf993114&oe=593556A0

Kerala India

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85857616678_8184723_n.jpg?oh=36379ba1e7cf87ac3b866da19afeec87&oe=592AC75C

Just near where I lived in Kyoto

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85876366678_5262524_n.jpg?oh=39ca12747cbffd60b8d9e492f814361a&oe=593739D1

Last village on the way to K2

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85856661678_4943329_n.jpg?oh=c194966ea56e8b5c2669272a949688d1&oe=59709814

Lhasa

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85856636678_7401502_n.jpg?oh=d55c3ee9d8b566f76bebe6a460e515f0&oe=5925BC58

Tanzania

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85856651678_1494110_n.jpg?oh=c474d654d2d569116cb2770da2ff3a7c&oe=593F3188

That'll do for now. Stirring up the bug.

[Dani8]

OK I'm going to tell a story about those photos because half the fun of travel is telling stories and wondering how much your imagination is embellishing.

The pancake story, seeing as it's shrove tuesday, came about because my husband was laid up in bed with a dislocated knee when we were in Hoi An. Beautiful little spot, and the foody capital of Vietnam. A vietnamese aussie foody recommended this course so off I toddled. All students met at a cafe for a briefing, then took a boat to the restaurant and cooking school (not my photo)

http://likevietnamtour.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/restaurant_redbridge_cooking-school.jpg

First we all had a tour of the open air market which was pretty packed (not this market but I cant find my other photos

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_86130711678_3117115_n.jpg?oh=ed3b2485d0f71e8eff576fa5257d2e9e&oe=5940950A

then met the 'food nazi' in the open air school (not this guy. This is a google image)

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/0e/0b/c6/62/photo1jpg.jpg

Apart from the turmeric [rawn pancake which was delicious despite looking like jesus, we made fresh rolls, including making the rice paper

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/06/3e/c0/67/red-bridge-restaurant.jpg

Green ppaya salad and food ornaments

https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/07/8d/e6/9e/red-bridge-restaurant.jpg

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85816876678_5504364_n.jpg?oh=609cfd1be8def2611029c3285c5d1daa&oe=593DD38A

eggplant curry and whole spicy fish which was served up to us for lunch with a cold beer

http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/saigon-beer-export-bia-980x559.jpg

When I got back to the hotel and told my husband all about my day he whined about his knee. How did he dislocate it? Travel is always such exciting stuff. He slipped over in the bath picking up his dropped cake of soap. True Story.

[Dani8]

I found this when googling vietnamese beer. We went to this beer resto for dinner one night in HCMC. The place was full of what seemed to be gangsters and hookers. It was an uneventful night but the food was good and the beer was icy cold, unlike a pizza place we went to in ecuador where the pizza was cold and the beer was flat...more on that later; dont wanna HJ my own thread.

http://static.asiawebdirect.com/m/bangkok/portals/vietnam/homepage/our-favourite-beer-hoi-bars/allParagraphs/04/image/Bia-Hoi-Ha-Noi.jpeg

Vietnamese love their bia

http://www.mthai.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Beer-Vietnam5.jpg

[Dani8]

Moving along to Lake Titicaca. My abuelita at a homestay. This was my third experience of high altitude sickness (once you get it you have a predisposition to it) and I felt like my brain was bubbling out through the back of my skull so she took me into her kitchen nd made me soup, as you do, and patatas bravas. What else are you going to do with almost 4000 varieties of the humble spud.

Very very poor people but so much generosity of spirit on Lake Titicaca. And they are TINY!!! The average height in the Andes is 4'8". Must be the altitude. The pressure pushes them closer to the ground.

Yes I am joking. I think it was the spanish conquistadors who gave them short genes because the Incas were quite tall.

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85840056678_6226411_n.jpg?oh=7883037fdd2dc156d0f0af3268be97dc&oe=592ACA05

[Dani8]

Now THAT is one freaky deaky sized pizza oven. Big enough for both of my crazy neighbours at once.

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_86122681678_6756804_n.jpg?oh=7bb54225892f5d9b70a92f711ba9ff0a&oe=5971B112

It was actually an empanada oven but you know what they say - never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

And one for MsAus who I think said the other day she has gwinny pigs - a three story cuy house. My silly husband stuck his finger in to pat one and it bit him LOL

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_86123881678_3347667_n.jpg?oh=60cc3ad3c317d63708867138a6a052c4&oe=596C6BF1

Gratuitous hand shot in the Amazon - I have a hand fetish

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85842436678_2279496_n.jpg?oh=288564f2d65549a5e63a7e612e511517&oe=59334D50

Hangin out in the kitchen again, but that's not food this time. He's dyeing alpaca and llama yarn.

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85839151678_4315577_n.jpg?oh=53c3bbe810a2d9b26c7fac3bfc0e75ba&oe=596C5C57


Last one. Just chillin in Aguas calientes after Machu Picchu

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85842446678_4655346_n.jpg?oh=5449f4a352fac32395b155b1abe850ad&oe=59711CEE

[matt72582]

I'm LOVING this thread -- keep the stories and pictures coming!

Sorry to hear about the photos going bad with no backup. I have a little story. I was hanging out with some new friends I met in Austin, Texas, and one of the guys (from Sweden) was on his first trip to North America and he left his camera on the bar. One of the bartenders was really drunk and started to dance on the table. Her foot hit a beer bottle, it spilled onto his camera, destroying everything. She didn't seem to notice, and moved over a bit, and he went to say something, and I kept an ear open, and heard her say something like "Nothing I can do about it" and the English girl with us protested, assuming because the guy was Swedish that she could say whatever... We both went over there (since I'm American) and I managed to get the number of the place, and the manager.

Before that incident, I'd tell friends I'd never get Facebook. But it became very convenient for travel. And to backup my pictures, if I was ever near a computer, I'd upload pictures on, that way I can access them from everywhere. If my laptop dies, it's still there. I backed up stuff, but two computers and two laptops went bad...

[Dani8]

I hope he could claim on insurance, but hell, once your travel diary is gone it's gone. My husband did something to my photo files and I seem to have temporarily lost all my resized photos :bawling: except for what I have on facebook.

[Wplains]

I'm European so Europe is pretty much home ground. Been all around many times though favorite country is Italy. Grew up in the States and lived in Canada. Never been to the Far East though I'd love to go. Countries at the top of my visit list: Australia and New Zealand. Am in Africa at the moment (Angola) and will be going to Capetown in Friday. Love SA - fabulous country. Place I least liked to travel to were Gulf States - mostly malls in the desert, saw nothing very interesting and totally uninteresting food; hot, dusty and expensive. Loved Israel though - great food, people, places. Went on a fantastic tour under the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Fascinating place. Maybe one day I'll get to South America - only been to Brazil so far.

[Dani8]

I'll get one more story in before my caffeine hit wears off.

China. I spent 6 months there, the border opened for independent travellers into Tibet so I spent a month there, then it magically closed just as I returned to China (it was before the 2000 olympic bid and chinese governemtn was trying to make itself look good. Anyway, I feel very lucky for that opportunity. Saw some sht there that made my hair curl, so started my 3 decade love affair with human rights activism.

I digress, as I am want to do.

Stayed in a little place clled Dali, and my favourite restaurant was called Salvador. I am not making that up, I swear. The young son of the owner asked us if we wanted something special for dinner so myself, aussie travel companion, nother aussie, two scots and and irishman asked for roast chicken dinner. He's never made one before but told us he would take us to the famous Xizhou livestock and produce market the next day to buy a chicken.

http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/7e06abea75a04bd2a2cfcb3feb87ab45/man-carrying-chicken-in-jute-bag-to-livestock-market-yuanyang-area-cf0e76.jpg

http://l7.alamy.com/zooms/78592f84f79842d18da0015a4c29dad7/pigs-for-sale-at-the-shapin-market-north-of-dali-yunnan-china-atbr1a.jpg

Have I said I love markets? Many wondrous things to be seen and aromas to smell.

I told these dudes they were very sun smart. No melanoma for them!

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85855311678_1502505_n.jpg?oh=d641c13e0a9fd3e635c62bcf34960c87&oe=5934FA0E

Got back to our hotel later that day and we all sat around drinking...you guessed it

https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2016/05/23/chinesebeer_wide-967d0e1acf711fcadd9ff98980298d78d896ca57.jpg?s=1400

Long necks were 20 cents US.

Finally dinner rrived and I swear to allah, that bird in the middle of the table must have weighed 4-5 kilos. The chinese dont kill boy birds like in the west. They castrate them so they grow extra lrge in a short period of time and eat them. Girl birds are kept for egg production.

Snout to tail living at it's finest.

[matt72582]

Might as well put more pictures...


Here's an interesting story... I was in Germany, and since my friend was teaching for the day, I thought I'd go to The Netherlands to get us some ganja. I was always going to Venlo before, but this time I thought I'd check out Belgium by going to Maastricht. It was funny to see thirty people my age all get off at the same stop, and seeing each other at every shop (since they only sell 5 grams of weed/harsh).... On my way to Belgium, waiting at a bus stop, this girl let me know my bag was unzipped. As we got on the bus, we continued our conversation. I learned it was her last day in Holland before going back to Jordan, so I thought I'd take her out to a sidewalk cafe, drank some Jagermeister.. At about 10:30pm, she asked, "When does your train leave?" -- "Oh, it left an hour ago".. She asked if I was crazy, I said I was having fun, and that I'd get back somehow.. She gave me the names of a few bostels (hostels on a boat on the water) but they were all booked up, I only managed to see a dance floor with all the beautiful people. I had to stay up all night, then took the first train at about 6am.. After a few hours, I fell asleep and was awoken by a stop. I asked the woman near me where we were. "Frankfurt" -- I'd missed my stop, but she had a lot of questions for me, nice conversation.

On my way back to my hostel (I wasn't staying at my friends' yet, just hanging out) I fell asleep for an hour before an employee told me it was time to checkout. I asked him to add another night, he said they were booked (and I had the room to myself the entire time).. I got into a cab, didn't even put in my contact lenses, and had a taxi take me right down the road.
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1929429_86330140742_4833416_n.jpg?oh=fc959d009f1e5b90f8f8b525c198c122&oe=593FA014



Hawaii... The last few trips, I've routed myself. Instead of a nine hour wait, I can buy two separate tickets. Not only was it cheaper, but I got to rest from an already long flight, and I got to see a place I'd never been to.. Waikiki Beach was very salty!
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/63101_10151324166975743_300987365_n.jpg?oh=1b5397a7ed2561375ccbe0b46a99b423&oe=5935BE31


Working on a tomato farm in Bamawm, Australia... I saw this attractive woman my age at a bus stop, and I could tell she was a backpacker looking for a job, so I asked, she was, and she called and I was hired.
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/401417_10150659197220743_562607045_n.jpg?oh=4af349c18769d05849ed73c6e2a1ed55&oe=593C870C

After leaving the farm (since they weren't paying us, and when they finally did, we got shorted) after 5 weeks, me and the girls (Robert came the day after) tried looking for a work-for-accommodation hostel, didn't find anything, so we lived here for a week -- and it was one of the best times!
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/396226_10150684552350743_1191026238_n.jpg?oh=63fb990ddfa8402d572d1e4cffea285e&oe=592FE6A7




Queen's Day in The Netherlands
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10400179_94176590742_3082403_n.jpg?oh=f65db3fac1643feb1dd709216967437b&oe=592FE82E

[Dani8]

I love the stories. I have more more MORRRRRRE. I don't actually make these up - they happened. Yesterday I wished my Nepali friend a Happy Losar. He punched me on my lymphedema arm and I pretended it really hurt. Poor guy was beside himself.

Travel stories dont just have to be about travel. Any multi cultural experience at home counts as well �� Also movies books music art food from other countries. Anything goes in this thread.

[Dani8]

Matt, for you my new travel bug bestie. Back to my answer to your question - we're all the same. Everyone just wants to be happy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY

[Dani8]

OK jumping ahead of myself here but this is story my husband told me when he got back from Israel recently. I couldnt go because 1. it was short notice and I couldnt get my dogs into holiday kennels 2. I had a health scare at the time and waiting for my specialist appointment 3. 36 hour flight for 5 days and then 36 hour flight home? Not happening. I need atleast 4-6 weeks between long haul flights.

We went to Turkey for our honeymoon. First night there I fell inlove with the place and people, the architecture, the everything about it

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85814156678_1110104_n.jpg?oh=522ef280a0f49bc5b5a0652a64d0c5c2&oe=5936E1A0

He said when we arrived in customs (I have no memory of this...I ws probably drunk from being served cocktails on Air Emirates) I miss heard the customs guy saying Anyone not Turkish please come forward - nd I ran up and being the queue jumper I am said with a massive smile 'we're Australian'. He burst out laughing and Turks behind us cheered, and he told us to go straight through. Huge friendship between Turkey and Aus because of our history in WWI at Gallipoli. Amazing people. I just adore them.

What a turd I must have been. I'm sure husband made that up.:rolleyes:

[matt72582]

I think we're mostly the same in wanting happiness.... And since mass media, I think most people think alike. People tend to like the same awful music too :(

You know, I've had a few instances where I saw someone in one country, then 4 months later, seeing them again. I've also made it a point to re-connect, sometimes 4-5 times with a few friends. I guess I could have gone to new countries every time, but it's the people that make the place, and if I like the place too, I rather spend my time there, instead of trying to up my count of travel destinations.

[matt72582]

Oh, and by the way, is anyone here a Couchsurfer?

[Dani8]

No I would never consider couchsurfing. I have a problem using someone else's toiley, and that brings me to another topic. Worst toilet experiences. These are hilarious when people start telling them.

1. India. I had amoebic dysentery. Well, public toilet dash outside of the Taj Mahal and I was instantly cured. Works so much better than big pharma, I kid you not.
2. a toilet in China. Big brave Scot I was with said the squat toilet was so bad if his foot had slipped in he would have cut it off with his swiss army knife.
3. Ooh Ooh - travelling in China with two TINY canadians and a French architect we found ourselves in a wee village out in the middle of nowhere on the way to Tibet. We were laughing that the very pit toilet we were using (yes girls do go to the toilet together and laugh about sht) an Aussie had fallen in and not been found for a day. Walking back to our room the ground was covered in snow. It was moving. Suddenly one of us turned on our led light and the ground was a tsunami...covered in maggots.
4. So many bad china toilet stories. I'll come back to them.
5. Africa. Sitting in a Tusker beer bar
http://www.urbanadventures.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/rsz_tusker.jpg
we heard screams from the toilet. Everyone ran thinking a woman was being mugged or worse. She said there was a giant snake in the bog. It was a worm.
6. Same thing happened in Tibet. A guy was screaming so everyone ran. Hundreds of worms poking up through his poopie. He should have taken my advice to use charcoal tablets.

I have so many more but my mind is suddenly traumatised and gone into blank mode.

[Dani8]

Oh I forgot. Weirdest toiley experience ever - Japan. You have a menu to press so no one hears you tinkle. Seriously. Sound of person rolling off reams of toilet paper, music, hand clapping so you cant hear them piddle; or if you dont have that, just sing loudly off key, pull off reams of toilet paper, clap away. Worst ever is the heated toilet seat in winter. If the person before you doesnt turn it off, it feels like he or she sat there for a very long time reading The Japan Times and doing the crossword. Ewww.

Or being at a gym dressing room and being undressed, and someone walks up and asks what bleach you used to get pink nipples because that's the in thing. I dread to think what someone in a gym who bends over gets asked about their bottom bleacher.

[the samoan lawyer]

Ha. How do you get rid of the bug? I've had mine since we had a family holiday in Queensland when I was 3. I still remember it. The bug is always gnawing away. It's just the long haul flights I don't like.

I have another answer for Matt about what travel taught me. One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. I had a punch up with someone on imdb about this who said it doesnt exist. I dont think he had ever been out of his home town. It certainly does exist - just depends on which side you are on.

Years ago I cycled around India. Got tricked into going to Kashmir by a kashmiri travel agent in Delhi (the kashmiris were desperate for tourist dollars due to the conflict between India and Pakistan. He told me, my travel companion and 2 english girls the conflict was over, there was no longer a curfew, and the soldiers on both sides were only at the border. Well, to cut a long story short, our bus arrived in Srinagar after the non existent curfew and we had to sneak through the streets to get to our houseboat. Rifle fire and bombs going off was a new experience, lemme tell ya. The lovely people who ran our boat turned out to be pakistani trained militants and the stuff they told us about what was going on was so eye opening. As we were leaving they asked us to smuggle out letters to the UN for them. How can you say no to someone who watched his family shot infront of him.


Woah! Crazy story!! Sounds like Belfast in the 70's!


I don't think its possible to get rid of the bug. I cant get as far afield now but in the last 18 months was able to get to Germany, Iceland, France and Czech Republic.

[Elessar]

Great stories, Dani. Now I know who is in your avatar (gwinny fricking biting pigs!).

[ScarletLion]

Some photos I took:

12 apostles, Victoria, Australia

http://i.imgur.com/ZvHIjbS.jpg

angkor what, cambodia

http://i.imgur.com/Y6PCNi6.jpg

Pai, Thailand

http://i.imgur.com/Ckeq2N9.jpg

Wai o Tapu Thermal park, New Zealand

http://i.imgur.com/cFtjDym.jpg

The Whitsunday Islands, Australia

http://i.imgur.com/qoNV4OM.jpg

[the samoan lawyer]

Some great stories and photos here in this thread. Dani you're hilarious!!


If I find any photos of travelling I'll get them up but I'm not great at that stuff.

[Dani8]

Woah! Crazy story!! Sounds like Belfast in the 70's!


I don't think its possible to get rid of the bug. I cant get as far afield now but in the last 18 months was able to get to Germany, Iceland, France and Czech Republic.

It was pretty bad. I mean Srinagar is great and I'd been there a few years earlier just post monsoon and this time it was just post freezing winter so to experience it in two incredibly diverse climates was pretty amazing, but people were racing to get there before curfew on this road (following photos courtesy of dr google)

http://travelthemes.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Leh-Ladakh-Jammu-Kashmir-India-2.jpg

and there was a fatality right infront of us. *insert bad word* what the hell was I thinking. A totally needless accident considering there was a landslide a kilometre up ahead and we were stuck there for hours. Sights like this are not uncommon

http://www.facenfacts.com/NewsDetails/17041/daily_img/17041_S_accidents-Jammu-Kashmir.jpg

The mantra became 'when we get to Srinagar, Inshallah'.' memo to self - next time take a plane. Oh that's another story... I'll try to remember that one for later.

It was Ramadan so no food during the day. Not a big deal but the two english girls were smoking a bit (lot) of hash and getting the munchies so travel companion decided to leave the houseboat to go into town to buy some food if any non practising muzzies were selling. The streets were dead except for gormless soldiers standing around with their rifles. Suddenly people came pouring out of the mosque after prayer time and he got caught in crossfire. Funny you should mention northern island because my dad went to the widgery tribunal and the same thing happened to him, although he and his mate were drunk and there were no mosques involved.

Travel companion turned up with the best bread I've ever tasted.

http://harmukhnews.com/Upload_Images/Upload_Images_Articles/0a65bda8-d89f-4903-8533-a6c4bb732075.JPG

Pretty stupid in hindsight because we were the only dumb tourists in Srinagar at the time and our boat was constantly surrounded by these pesky sellers

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130826/kst2.jpg

but when you travel for a lengthy period you end up doing some pretty dumb sht.

[Dani8]

Pai, Thailand

http://i.imgur.com/Ckeq2N9.jpg

I think that same guy got me drunk. god, that whiskey is vile!!! but keeps delhi belly away. That rocket fuel would even kill ebola virus.

[Dani8]

Party! Who else is mardi grassing?

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16998104_1299298060109248_3876435023484358712_n.jpg?oh=47bfcce24bdebbe2a6943a53c67684ae&oe=593ADE0C

[ScarletLion]

I think that same guy got me drunk. god, that whiskey is vile!!! but keeps delhi belly away. That rocket fuel would even kill ebola virus.

Sang Som is what we drunk. I think it was supposed to be Rum but it tasted more like bad whisky mixed with oil and sweat.

[Dani8]

bad whisky mixed with oil and sweat.

LOL. Sounds like the whiskey I drank but I cant remember what brand. Took a long time for my brain cells to recover.

I think we could have an entire thread on booze that made you blind which reminds me of this experience.

Home made brew in Hunza valley - yes this is true. Not all muslims think booze is haram. I'm not sure what brand of paint stripper my lovely host used but one tiny sip nd I couldnt see. Really, I;m not that cheap of a drunk but my sight totally crapped out. It was the Aga Khan's birthday so quite rude to refuse. Oh my lordy lord. When he wasnt looking I tipped it on a pot plnt. 10 minutes later that poor thing was dead.

[ScarletLion]

I;m not that cheap of a drunk

You keep saying this. I'm not convinced.

[Dani8]

I did actually lose my sight temporarily. I think that stuff is pure alcohol.

Another time in India I was invited to lunch by an indian family I had met on the beach in Goa. They had, just the day before, been airlifted out of Kuwait when Iraq invaded and had lost everything there. Dear god, travel stories give me verbal dysentery. Anyhoo, after an amazing banquet (that woman was an incredible cook) they gave us home made arrack. The husband kept saying 'one more for the road'. Dont drink and drive but it's ok if you're on bicycle. Well cycling back to our hotel was hilarious if it had happened to someone else. Pitch black, no moon at all, I dont know where our lights were or if we were just too drunk to switch them on. I have absolutely no recollection of how long that took to find our room.

[Dani8]

Ohh...from wiki

Pakistan[edit]
Alcohol is strictly licensed or otherwise illegal in Pakistan. However unregulated production in rural areas thrives. Products include tharra and its variants including what is ironically known as "Hunza water" and rudimentary beers made from barley, rye and other grain mixtures. Some brandy is also produced in the north where fruit is more readily available. Methanol contamination is a serious problem in some regions.

[ScarletLion]

I had some dodgy stuff in Bali. Some guy cooking a barbecue disappeared when we asked for some booze and came back holding 2 carafes of colourless liquid. Come to think of it, it may actually have been lighter fuel for the barbecue, it certainly tasted like it.

Reminded me of the scene in The Three Amigos when the hapless barman brings el guapo's men the tequila.

Either way it did the job, as that was basically the last memory of the day.

[rauldc14]

I don't think I could afford much to travel out of the country, so my target is on visiting all 50 states.

[Dani8]

I don't think I could afford much to travel out of the country, so my target is on visiting all 50 states.

That's cool. Which states have you been to already?

[Dani8]

Come to think of it, it may actually have been lighter fuel for the barbecue, it certainly tasted like it..

LOL. I think I had the same stuff in Lombok.

Rocket fuel - just say no.

Had some home made arak in Turkey. Making my way up the stairs to go to bed was a display of pure elegance. I should have been prima ballerina.

[Dani8]

Did you try the 'shrooms in Bali, Scarlet? My dear departed bro told a story about his trip to Bali. He ordered mushroom soup. Came out as a clear soup and he asked where the mushrooms were. Waiter thought he was asking for magic mushrooms (yeah I;m sure my bro embellished that bit) and some time after eating it he became jesus christ (which is funny because his initials were JC). His wife had to help him back to the hotel and lock him in the bathroom with just a candle for the next week. I dont believe the week bit either. Maybe I;m mixing tht part up with another story.

They flew to India and were immediately hit with culture shock at the airport. I've never experienced full on culture shock except on returning to Sydney 3 years after leaving. Anyway, they locked themselves in their hotel room for a week and just cried. LOL. What a baby.

[matt72582]

Has anyone gone 2-3 days without speaking a word to anyone because of languages issues? It drove me a little nuts. And as time goes on, communication seems to be more difficult. People also don't seem capable of talking to strangers, and unfortunately, many just stare at their phone, possibly losing a great opportunity for a conversation.

[Dani8]

No, I talk to anyone, even if we cant find a mutual gibberish. For me travel is first and foremost about people, so I atleast try to learn bazaar lingo so I can haggle and have some fun, be polite, ask someone's name etc. I dont bother learning directions phrases because I have no sense of direction anyway. Half the fun is getting lost. As for my phone, only took it to usa so my husband and I could call each other if we got separated and so I could text my family if I felt like it.

[Dani8]

I don't think I could afford much to travel out of the country.

Just on this point, dont feel bad. As my mountaineering buddy says, travel sure wont make you rich, lthough some people think they can supplement their travels by doing stupid sht like buying gemstones or rugs then flogging them when they get home only to find they're fake, or even more stupidly, traffic drugs.

Despite the fun in this thread it's not all roses. Muggings (never happened to me although my husband's ipod was flogged out of his bag enroute in NZ). People get killed - a young aussie recently went missing in Rio airport and turned up floating in the ocean a long way from the airport. My niece was attacked when she was volunteering in Peru. I was pulled off my bicycle by young guys in India, groped in the surf in India, groped in Jammu on the way to Kashmir (like groped between the legs just walking on the street). Almost died a couple of times. My travel companion almost bled to death after minor surgery was botched. Slept in some pretty dodgey places eg on the pavement outside Tokyo train station the night before my plne out. They close it overnight so homeless and drunks cant sleep there. Been spat on. Refused hotel rooms or food because we were white devil foreigners. Extortion attempts because we were in a remote area and had no way of getting out if we didnt pay up. Bad food (not too many of those but they were certainly memorable for all the wrong reasons). Been hassled to screaming point. Almost got pushed out of a train. jesus cherist the memories are flooding back. Ripped off by taxi drivers with the oldest tricks in the book. Been stuck with whiney backpackers. Overnight bus rides that take 4 days. Trains breaking down for hours. Cerebral malaria - if I had a gun I would have blown my brains out. Seen some atrocities that made me so angry (I'm not proud of this) I trashed my hotel room.

The list goes on. Toilets which I've mentioned. Bed bugs. Loud music through shtty speakers that makes you insane. Stench from open sewers in heat waves. Planes grounded for days due to weather. Got chased by a crazy old guy with a big stick in Bombay. Got chased by a crazy young guy with a huge metal gadget in Osaka. Unwittingly walked into a secret meeting of taliban in Islamabad nd had to back out slowly. Had a gun pointed at my face. Had my neighbourhood terrorised in Kyoto by bososoku (young thugs wanting to join yakuza) Lots and lots of tears and I'm pretty seasoned, but you get pushed to breaking point at times. So many bad experiences as well as the fun times.

[Dani8]

I love Istanbul!!!

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16998903_1478291382204578_3419833196712920999_n.png?oh=8801ac8906d8086d8e4a601718aa8409&oe=594275C8

[Austruck]

The piggies bit him probably because they are hopeful that anything near their mouths is food and it's worth the risk to test that theory. :D

Here's a shot of my rubber-band-torturing daughter when she and I went to England in 2008 (when she was 15). We budgeted SO well and it was a CHEAP vacation of 10 days and yet we saw so much stuff! I'm proud of us for doing it all by ourselves. Here she is at the Globe Theater (in the rain):
http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=29204&stc=1&d=1488407386

Here is hubby and me renewing our vows in Las Vegas with Elvis in 2000:
http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=29205&stc=1&d=1488407542

And here's one of my favorite pictures of hubby, on our most recent cruise. Doesn't he look like he's having fun?
http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=29206&stc=1&d=1488407613

[Dani8]

LOL. Hubby is having a ball, for sure! Congrats on your renewal before Mr Presley.

nd the globe theatre looks like my gwinny pig house.

[Austruck]

As for UPCOMING travel, I am about to cross something off my bucket list, perhaps the #1 item on that list. I'm going on a cross-country TRAIN TRIP with Amtrak the first half of May! Why? Because I've wanted to go on a cross-country train trip. Duh. :D

Actually, I'll also be writing a book during/about/on the trip. I've got the cover done already (I always seem to do the covers before I get the books done)...
http://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=29207&stc=1&d=1488407821

And since it's primarily a book-writing trip, I am running an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to give people an opportunity to preorder that book by supporting the trip or to donate more and get more of my books as a thank-you... The main campaign reached its goal, so I can continue the campaign up until the trip itself:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/train-of-thought-book-travel#/

I am SO excited about this trip. I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas morning!

[Austruck]

And the globe theatre looks like my gwinny pig house.
And probably smelled about the same, too.

[Dani8]

Ooh Ooh. I want your book. Will throw a couple of rupee at your crowdfunder.

[Dani8]

OK put me down for the bestie package, MsAus. I'll give the ebooks to my mother in law. The real books are mine, all mine BWAHAHAHA.

[Austruck]

Ooh Ooh. I want your book. Will throw a couple of rupee at your crowdfunder.

:cage:

[matt72582]

Dani - woah, glad everything turned out ok (somewhat).... I was curious about specifics when it came to problems because of skin color. Did someone say anything specifically?

I think the worst thing that happened was delayed payment from the farm, and also a lot of money being docked, but I would do it all over again, since I had some good times. Of course, I remember organizing a strike, to which everyone agreed (with the help of others who chimed in) but it rained a few hours later, so we couldn't work anyway, so I wonder..

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/407506_3255546718188_638451726_n.jpg?oh=d20c940e959f948b0f03e49231acdd5c&oe=59338BB6

But towards the end, many of us took extra days off, and wouldn't work. The way I looked at it was "Ok, I got ripped off, so let me use this accommodation to recoup a tad."

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/421072_10150631788295743_207196960_n.jpg?oh=24837af613694f17eaab5af14b7d63aa&oe=5942E385

And people were terrified when they saw me and a few girls sleeping in a park - I didn't sleep great, but it was very interesting, and we had fun. Once me and my friend Robert went and found a food van (never paid for food again) and brought it back for everyone. Inside, I thought of "primitive" life. There was a guy (in our village, lol) and the girls gave me a few looks. Later they thought he was weird, but he actually shared a room with a guy we met at the farm, 3-4 hours by train.. He had a joint too.. After he left, my friend Robert said "He was ok" and I thought the rest of us probably had that reaction because it was a stranger and we didn't want any authorities coming to tell us we couldn't sleep there. During the day, we'd leave our stuff in a locker for a dollar, and we didn't lay out a tent.

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/404521_10150680618810743_924851903_n.jpg?oh=267bd2c0ceddc6140358f1ed2dcade61&oe=592666CD


Couchsurfing
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/427083_10150687077490743_545704295_n.jpg?oh=2aa58bd842867a6d68a209fb6ce13c3d&oe=5973278E


I did get injured in the first month in Australia.. I've had chronic lower back problems, and this was the second time it was so bad that I had to lay in bed during New Year's Eve, weeks after..

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/401098_10150532099945743_757201880_n.jpg?oh=20f5d9540b7c564ad04eb0d457fe0e53&oe=5942CFDD

It's nice reuniting with friends from the farm, and meeting new ones (via Couchsurfing)
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/557857_10150748722655743_1663373406_n.jpg?oh=b1480e2e093b209e282df29ff3cedd17&oe=592BA6C5


More Couchsurfing... We stayed with a guy who lived a hundred yards from the ocean.
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/419264_10150700917005743_1938195237_n.jpg?oh=6f87c570adaa3021a8dae4add527c0d2&oe=592C3638


Now, come to think of it, the sad thing is the loss of friendship. Sometimes it happens naturally, and then sometimes while I'm looking through pictures, I realize someone unfriended me off Facebook, and I wonder why... It does hurt a little more when you think "This person is unlike the others" and then actions speak louder than words... But, the alternative would have been to stay home, and probably having less to show for it.

I hope you all kept journals -- I actually found someone I hadn't contacted since the airport, and after seeing her picture, I realized how we met. I guess I'm the type who would love to see how everyone is doing, but I know some people who are too self-conscious, and won't.

[Dani8]

Dani - woah, glad everything turned out ok (somewhat).... I was curious about specifics when it came to problems because of skin color. Did someone say anything specifically?

Do you mean about being anglo when I was spat on? Yeah I was called the slur for white foreigner. Happened more to my travel companion because he was an aggro dick, whereas I tend to just cruise along until someone pushes me the wrong way.
I dont actually care about slurs. It's contracting TB from human spit that worries me.

I got my arms and hair touched a lot in east africa. I thought it was sweet. Usually just women and kids being innocently curious - I used to touch corn rows as well. Never got groped there. Never got groped by a 'scary muslim' ever.

[Dani8]

Here re some more stories for those who dont want to travel, just so you know it's not all ponies and chocolate cake.

Met a girl in India who said she fell asleep with her head on her daypack. She woke up feeling what she thought was her daypack strap rubbing on her nipple. It was the finger of the old guy next to her. She had no idea how long it had been there.

Met an Israeli commando in China who had been in Kashmir the same time I was. He was with 3 other commandos. Two of them were shot by indian soldiers for looking 'muslim' and the surviving two rammed them and killed them. He told me that himself.

Two swedes skiing in kashmir when I was there were decapitated to get the attention of the UN.

Another Israeli in Ecuador. I'm short and this guy is shorter than me but tough as nuts. He went to an area of Colombia that was wrned against just to see what would happen. He was kidnapped by guerillas for rnsom. Like me he talks a lot and managed to talk his way out of it, even asking for a selfie when they said he was too annoying to put up with because he simply would not shut up about soccer. He told me that.

Congregated with cyclists in kenya at breakfast each morning, as you do when you're cycling or motorcycling. One guy was cycling in Uganda on his own when two guys jumped out of the bushes and grabbed his panier. Rather than let it go he got into a fight and while being bear hugged he bit the attacker on the cheek and took a chunk out while kneeing him in the balls until he passed out. The other attacker ran off. The cops flogged the first attacker for the name of the other guy and when they got it, shot the guy in the head. The other attacker was hunted down, brought back to the cop shop, and flogged to death. ll because the cyclist wanted to claim on insurance for a non existent walkman he said was stolen. He told me all of this himself. Really? Jesus christ. If I got mugged I would hand everything over and just ask to keep my memory card for my photos. It's just beeping stuff. You cn replace it.

Young guy in Bangkok who lost his mind. I had to cll his parents to come and get him.
Young guy in Ko Samui who was pushing people into bonfires. Same thing.
Two young guys in chitwn national park who had a psychotic break from hashish - same.
Notices everywhere in south asian hotels to take care packages to idiot backpackers/glampackers in prisons without trial.

Another guy told me he got bitten by a rabid dog and had to hve rbies injections. A huge horse needle stuck into his stomach by a doctor with filthy fingernails.

Toilets, high altitude sickness, cerebrl malaria, anaphylaxis - no biggy in the grand scheme of things but some of those stories are hair raising.

Still, I would go back tomorrow. I never experienced anything like this but 1. I have very good spatial awareness and 2. if I see trouble I back out of there.

[Elessar]

Great photo of Istanbul, Dani. And some horrifying stories there, you've met a lot.

I don't think I could afford much to travel out of the country, so my target is on visiting all 50 states.
I saw some American guy found a return ticket to Paris with a price of 400 usd. Keep checking, you'll never know :)

[Dani8]

Great photo of Istanbul, Dani. And some horrifying stories there, you've met a lot.


Always fun in retrospect, Elessar. Some of the best stories are the horror stories. Best one for me was being in a train crush in India. Hundreds of people pushing into a carriage with their chickens, lino, and the kitchen sink. Insane. I heard screaming and it took a while for me to realise that the screams were coming from my own mouth as I was about to hit the track below. Or my ridiculous aggro travel companion the first time I went to India jumping off a train wearing flip flops and landing in human poop. He got bashed for using the drinking water to wash his feet. And rightly so. They should have bashed a bit harder. White privilege at it's worst. That guy was a total dick. I was so happy when he got dysentery for flipping out that the latte he ordered was not a latte; I'm sure the waiter put sewer water in his next coffee (yes I will burn in hell for saying that. God, he was an ass clown. He even tried to take photos of floaters in the Ganges. Dude, seriously not cool to photogrph dead people at a sacred site)

[matt72582]

Oh my gosh!

[ScarletLion]

Young guy in Bangkok who lost his mind. I had to cll his parents to come and get him.
Young guy in Ko Samui who was pushing people into bonfires. Same thing.
Two young guys in chitwn national park who had a psychotic break from hashish - same.
.

I heard a story in Thailand that one guy had taken too much drugs, and he went to a nearby bridge which was a tourist attraction. People were standing on the bridge with their arms folded on the railings looking down at the river. This guy began lifting their legs and raising them above his head, thus throwing them off the bridge.

No idea if it was true but I didn't stand still on a bridge for about a month.

[Dani8]

I wouldnt be the least bit surprised, Scarlet. Young people go to places like thailand for their year out before going to university and break out. Buy whatever drugs they're offered for next to nothing, have absolutely no idea what goes into that crap, drink copious amounts of cheap booze, and end up flipping out. My dad saw me off at the airport for my 3 year trip and told me if I got into trouble with drugs to call him immediately. I rolled my eyes and said Dad, if I wanted a drug fuelled holiday I would have saved myself the airfare, stayed here, and atleast have a little bit of confidence in how that crap is made and what goes into it. Not to mention prisons over there. One of my brothers ended up in a prison in Athens. Sure as hell not 5 star accommodation.

[ScarletLion]

I wouldnt be the least bit surprised, Scarlet. Young people go to places like thailand for their year out before going to university and break out. Buy whatever drugs they're offered for next to nothing, have absolutely no idea what goes into that crap, drink copious amounts of cheap booze, and end up flipping out. My dad saw me off at the airport for my 3 year trip and told me if I got into trouble with drugs to call him immediately. I rolled my eyes and said Dad, if I wanted a drug fuelled holiday I would have saved myself the airfare, stayed here, and atleast have a little bit of confidence in how that crap is made and what goes into it. Not to mention prisons over there. One of my brothers ended up in a prison in Athens. Sure as hell not 5 star accommodation.

Yikes

http://alanparker.com/wp-content/uploads/MidnightExpress-Film-Stills-8.jpg

[Dani8]

I was just thinking of that movie yesterday. Gut wrenching. Silly silly guy.

[Dani8]

This is australia for any of you who want to come down this way. Record breaking heatwaves one week, this the next

https://scontent.fmel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16939153_1281288438631495_9055625097872596561_n.jpg?oh=7fcf6d5257c20646bcf2ad24a132c291&oe=5971CBD4

Must have been a pack of drop bears.

[Dani8]

Travel book list

https://experts.exodus.co.uk/top-ten-travel-reads/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mar_2017

[Dani8]

I am SO excited about this trip. I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas morning!

Thank you for backing this campaign! You're part of a passionate community empowering entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life.
Share the campaign with friends!

Done and done, Ms Aus

[Dani8]

https://scontent.fmel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17098527_1275196869215451_4789237443751486066_n.jpg?oh=50429bc98aeb406e9c9063b7eb3379ac&oe=593DBAC0

[Austruck]

Thank you for backing this campaign! You're part of a passionate community empowering entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life.
Share the campaign with friends!

Done and done, Ms Aus
I saw this today when I got home! Made me grin like an idiot... and also made me feel humble. I'm just enough of a travel newbie to be able to find humor and details in this trip where others might miss them. That's the idea, anyway.

You are such a brave soul. Your stories are scary and inspiring at the same time!

[Dani8]

I saw this today when I got home! Made me grin like an idiot... and also made me feel humble. I'm just enough of a travel newbie to be able to find humor and details in this trip where others might miss them. That's the idea, anyway.

You are such a brave soul. Your stories are scary and inspiring at the same time!

Dance like no one is watching, hon. Enjoy your trip. Take headphones because some irritating people will make you want to punch them otherwise. 'What are you doing? Tell me all about it. Have you tried the food here? It's horrible. And dont use the toilet for the next week. I just pooped in there after eating a vindaloo'.

Seriously, some people have no idea about boundaries.

[Austruck]

Ha! Luckily I am booked mostly for private roomettes or bedrooms on the train, though short spurts will be in coach seats to save money (and to experience every type of train travel that I can on one trip).

I have plenty of boundaries (as an introvert). And I have no shame about saying, "Oops, gotta go!"

[Dani8]

Ha! Luckily I am booked mostly for private roomettes or bedrooms on the train, though short spurts will be in coach seats to save money (and to experience every type of train travel that I can on one trip).

I have plenty of boundaries (as an introvert). And I have no shame about saying, "Oops, gotta go!"

When you're ready for it, I recommend a train trip in India. Amazing, totally amazing experience. I think your son should pay to give you a holiday.

Yodels...cough up!

[Austruck]

Poor Yoda! He's one of the Indiegogo backers, so it's all good. :)

[Dani8]

You two should go together one day.

[Dani8]

I miss Turkey

https://www.facebook.com/TurkeyWelcomes/videos/1486597751351652/

They've had so much bad press lately and in my experience, it;s such a friendly country.

[Dani8]

I cant remember where I'm up to because I've been hijacking myself all over the place but I'll go back to India.

This is very similar to the blood moon I saw under the influence of bad mushrooms I had in Gili Meno off the coast of Lombok (which is not in India so HJ already). The moon was so red I tried to feed mushrooms to my camera so it could see the same thing I was seeing. The singing mermaids in the water laughed at me. I then got lost walking back to my bungalow only metres behind me. My scottish travel companion was no help. She had Bali Belly and was groaning in her bed.

2nd attempt to return to India. Sunset at Goa. I did not feed shrooms to my camera this time. Please excuse the dust on my transparency. I think that was the first time I ever tried scanning a slide and I forgot to blow it off.

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85855321678_5863227_n.jpg?oh=bf130fb906552323717ba30d0d9237aa&oe=5972B63F

The family I mentioned who were airlifted from Kuwait the day before. I walked up to ask them what they were doing. Collecting pippis no less. We got to sample them the next day at sunday lunch.

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85855326678_5110723_n.jpg?oh=5cb1356e0e4696d421cea92a531f2811&oe=59717F16

The beauty of cycling in places like India is you can be in the middle of nowhere, not a soul to be seen (no sweaty tourist pits and bottoms on buses or trains), so you pull up stumps, jump off your bike, pull out your thermos of chai and some breakfast snacks, and holy hell, people appear out of nowhere. It's magic.

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85857131678_4502125_n.jpg?oh=e6b8385ced5b8e06cdcf0a30cf0c9137&oe=5925E76C

[Dani8]

Oh books. Here's another hijack. I was thinking of my israeli friend who got kidnapped in Colombia and annoyed his captors so much they told him to leave. That reminded me of this book which I read when I was going through my orchid obsession.

http://www.thecloudgarden.com/

For some strange reason I was reminded of their description of being bored while the guerillas were getting on with, well, guerillering so they decided to play cricket. Stumps - check. Bats - check. Ball - urm...they used a piece of fruit. The generale came over to watch what the commotion of 'howzat' was all about just as one hit a 6 and the piece of fruit smashed all over boss man's face. Oops.

I thought of another book but the memory fairy just went outside for a durry.

[Dani8]

Ooh Ooh I rmember. This book was written by my hubby's childhood neighbour. It's being made into a movie but I think for some reason it was shelved. Why you dont traffic coke in Bolivia

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43081.Marching_Powder

And not exactly a travel book but it involves a real life serial killer who travelled a fair bit and saw some interesting prisons that he liked to escape from. He's probably plotting another escape as I type.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1432626.The_Life_and_Crimes_of_Charles_Sobhraj

[Dani8]

One more story

The cherry blossoms in Japan. My dad came to visit just after they all blew away after cherry blossom time in Kyoto. I was so proud; everywhere I took him I would say 'dad, dad, two weeks ago all the blossoms were out' because I knew he had a fondness for japanese cherry blossoms. His demeanor went from 'that's nice' to 'seething through clenched teeth'. I didnt understand what was going on so finally asked him if all the white rice was making him constipated. He rolled his eyes so I just kept prattling away. Suddenly 'dad, dad...' He told me if I mentioned cherry blossoms again he would give me a clip on the ear. I said 'I just wanted to tell you that on friday night there was a guy on a moped at that set of lights so drunk he would fall off to the right, get back up then fall off to the left'.

I had no idea my dad had been to Japan half a dozen times with my mum hunting cherry blossom time and always missed it by that much. He needed a better travel agent.

[Elessar]

You make me to wanna go to India. It's always high on my travel list, but going there requires time for me. India is like a craddle of many cultures. My mom has been to India and Nepal and I envy her :rolleyes:

Just wanna throw things away and get on a plane right now.

[Dani8]

Before going to India the first time a friend said 'India...when you're there you cant wait to leave and when you go, you cant wait to get back'. It's a complete assault on all the senses. I've always wanted to go for Holi but I'd probably frek out about my camera gea

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rLSTZLMcBIg/VX8Pn2pXnBI/AAAAAAAAAFE/7JNwBkwJcXo/s1600/Colorful-Happy-Holi-SMS-Wishes-in-English544.jpg

[Dani8]

Happy Mardi Gras weekend from Sydney

https://scontent.fmel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16998907_1379484332115463_155640259288762221_n.jpg?oh=266c9d0fe12881e8ae4a83f2963d8dea&oe=592DEA54

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/wet-weather-not-enough-to-rain-on-sydneys-parade-this-mardi-gras-20170304-guqthv.html

[Dani8]

Who wants to come with me? Definitely on my wish list

http://wanderingtrader.com/travel-blog/jordan-travel-blog/jordan-safest-country-in-the-middle-east/

[Dani8]

Woahhh. I want to go to the Canadian Rockies. Who's with me?

https://scontent.fmel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17191051_1371617539551606_4977879300866235571_n.jpg?oh=197f0e528b865e1cf279fbd857213d60&oe=592C7261

Photo by Travel Photographer Paul Ziska who I follow on fb. Really nice guy and amazing wilderness photography.

[Dani8]

I covet the headscarf on the left. Scary, hey. She must be hiding a grenade launcher under there. I will never understnd why head scarves frighten some people.

https://scontent.fmel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/17017055_10154195524070178_5512638110632398659_o.jpg?oh=e3d9c800aea5bda2ab57e1ea592be3d6&oe=593A18FF

World Food Programme in Pakistan.

[Elessar]

Nice photo of an iceberg. The photographer is amazing indeed.

[matt72582]

Walking into town (Thailand) --- one of the my favorite pictures, and lots of memories.

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/554727_365464336848456_1696965320_n.jpg?oh=477f062d978960973ddf1c6e45f1a7cb&oe=593B895E


The Guest-House we stayed in

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/578203_365464750181748_169518859_n.jpg?oh=4246a76bc525d776a292e0a4842b4bd1&oe=59306C01



My friend was drunk, but told me he said "Can you GUYS please give me some space" not realizing he was covered.. (I went to sleep shortly before this happened -- we had to wake up in about 2 hours to work a 14 hour shift on the farm!)

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/423675_3255570878792_1446070820_n.jpg?oh=c973e65a3609a8207d7e01eded9745c2&oe=596D4E84


Jammin'
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/310142_641839811361_4576817_n.jpg?oh=e4082d588546fcd492dcd2ba81acd4d1&oe=596FA8FE

[Dani8]

Beautiful photos of beautiful people. Any Norwylandia peeps on mofo?

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2017/03/07/jarie-hagans-documentary-style-portraits-of-the-sami-people-of-norway/

[Dani8]

John Oliver and HH The Dalai Lama. Bad language warning and a very distressing albeit brief (maybe 2 seconds) clip of a self immolation so I have FF'd to the start of the interview at 10.28 so as not to offend, but it's worth looking at for those interested.

https://www.facebook.com/

[Dani8]

Intrepid women travellers

https://www.budgetbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Homemade-Chicken-Noodle-Soup-V2.jpg

[Dani8]

Is this true? Kulcha clash question for americanos. And is it true you dont have single flush and double flush on your toilets?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/03/08/most-americans-dont-use-electric-kettles-and-australians-just-a/

[Dani8]

John Oliver and HH The Dalai Lama. Bad language warning and a very distressing albeit brief (maybe 2 seconds) clip of a self immolation so I have FF'd to the start of the interview at 10.28 so as not to offend, but it's worth looking at for those interested.

https://www.facebook.com/

Wow. I didnt even get to finish that before it was taken down.

[matt72582]

Is this true? Kulcha clash question for americanos. And is it true you dont have single flush and double flush on your toilets?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/03/08/most-americans-dont-use-electric-kettles-and-australians-just-a/

Nope, just one flush handle... Also, unlike some European countries, and Australia, we don't have the shower in a room right next to the toilet.. Makes perfect sense there, as some take long showers, and some can't hold it!

[Dani8]

Nope, just one flush handle... Also, unlike some European countries, and Australia, we don't have the shower in a room right next to the toilet.. Makes perfect sense there, as some take long showers, and some can't hold it!

Makes perfect sense to have different rooms. Same in Japan (although my reasoning is probably different to yours, Matt). I dont recall from my time in US they dont have the dual button, though. Maybe we just have it here because this is a dry continent and we need to conserve water. I also dont recall not having a kettle next to my nespresso machine in hotels. This is funny.

[Rhys]

I have got some picture's from when I went to Ecuador in 2013. Here is two of them taken when I was down by the coast.




http://i.imgur.com/f8GUjB3.jpg




http://i.imgur.com/TMErjXP.jpg

[matt72582]

I found some more pictures (some from old burned CDs :)

My hero, Mort Sahl, meeting for the 4th time in San Francisco where he's still trying to save America by being our conscience.
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12631525_10153695808470743_4058707873191370023_n.jpg?oh=ad59e4cdcf85d5fe96c6764f9f210308&oe=592C5A3F


Working for Bernie Sanders
https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12321584_10153784349370743_8975924330646662724_n.jpg?oh=f1d2701af4d616516c02d605eee2c407&oe=592B2AE9


Newtown, Australia
(trying to make money to extend my trip)

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/397927_10150586369415743_1445045522_n.jpg?oh=5c6cc245049fd12fac10a05a3ac3b8a3&oe=59689964



Athens, Greece
This was a difficult picture, getting the angle right, climbing on the right spot, pointing downward.. Very close to the Acropolis

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1933817_185229005742_5711898_n.jpg?oh=3d9211a89c15ecb173ae590a612c132a&oe=5936D4CA

[Dani8]

I have got some picture's from when I went to Ecuador in 2013. Here is two of them taken when I was down by the coast.




]

Woooo another Ecuador lover. Where ws that, rhys?

I'll see if I cn retrieve my ecuador photos

[matt72582]

Woooo another Ecuador lover. Where ws that, rhys?

I'll see if I cn retrieve my ecuador photos

Yay - I'd love to see the pictures! Seriously, I check out this thread every time I come on hoping there are more pictures!

I traded a trip to South America and Africa to go back to Europe and Australia (again)... Oh well..

[Dani8]

Hmpfff. My husband did something weird when he changed me from exp to chrome. If he's lost my travel diary I think I will kill him...

[Dani8]

Testing for ecuador pics

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17155546_10155881179981679_2742006579325358691_n.jpg?oh=d13baef3a6dd5a2008f86a7f2faada94&oe=59289FCA

[Dani8]

One more test

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17264729_10155881206461679_3169456158126198312_n.jpg?oh=86cbc3ffa14e27abe795ecc3b9a056fa&oe=59303652

[Fabulous]

My grandparents were born in Italy and immigrated to Canada in the early 1960s. A few years ago my family took a summer trip across the Atlantic to travel around Italy. We spent a few days in Venice, Milan, Florence, Rome, and a large chunk down south in Calabria, where they grew up.

It was a very special time for me. Meeting relatives for the first time, many of them were in their twilight years. I knew it would be the first and last time I would ever got to see and speak with them. Hearing the news of some of them passing away in recent years had more of an impact on me than I'd ever imagine they would.

Hard to explain why I felt this way, but I did, and I'm thankful for it.

[Dani8]

Hard to explain why I felt this way, but I did, and I'm thankful for it.


That's beautiful, fab.

[Dani8]

Happy Holi!

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17190775_10154141386786394_7833469987089288525_n.jpg?oh=710f383070fe7f8364d71d6086e9855e&oe=5967985A

[Dani8]

This sent me off on a monday morning reverie.

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17265034_1490768617623521_4384106480787003789_n.png?oh=9235f4c2fb609ebe0b9ab8ceb80047fb&oe=595E14A0

I immediately reminded me of the book The Sheltering Sky which I read in Africa when I had cerebral malaria. There's a really great description of (I think it was the lead character) having a delirious fever from typhoid. He would escape from the physical pain by hiding in his head which gave him hellish hallucinations so he'd swing between the two planes. Pretty well sums it up. Would i do it again? You bet.

[Dani8]

Wow, my young niece sent me this. Really brings it home how harsh and disenfranchising it is to be a refugee.What a beautiful young human being. Tissue alert.

https://www.facebook.com/HigherPerspective/videos/1513754778656836/

I think it's appropriate for this thread in lieu of an earlier question by Matt. What does travel mean to you - meeting people like her for me.

[Dani8]

Something a bit more positive. One of my fave cities in the world

https://matadornetwork.com/notebook/27-images-prove-istanbul-instagrammable-city-planet/

[Dani8]

I'm bored so time for my morning hijack in my own thread. Some movies that inspired me to travel.

http://www.gstatic.com/tv/thumb/movieposters/34841/p34841_p_v8_af.jpg

http://www.gstatic.com/tv/thumb/movieposters/172507/p172507_p_v8_ae.jpg

http://www.gstatic.com/tv/thumb/movieposters/8926/p8926_p_v8_ae.jpg

http://www.gstatic.com/tv/thumb/movieposters/11112/p11112_p_v8_aa.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d4/The-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.jpg

http://www.gstatic.com/tv/thumb/dvdboxart/90697/p90697_d_v8_aa.jpg

Add yours

[Dani8]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e5/The_Last_Emperor_filmposter.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/69/Seven_years_in_tibet_soundtrack_cover.jpg

http://assets.hulu.com/shows/key_art_k2.jpg

[Elessar]

Great, Dani, some of these movies are on netflix so I'll check them out soon.
The Istanbul link is beautiful. Did I say that I longed to visit Istanbul? I did say, well now I have to repeat it again.

[Dani8]

Do it, El. Istanbul is magic, and the people are amazing. Just beware scamming taxi drivers, but you get them anywhere in the world. You havent travelled until you've been ripped off by those buggers.

[Elessar]

Oh, I have been ripped off by scamming taxi drivers everywhere I go, so don't worry.

I would have gone to Istanbul 10 tens already if not for visa problems ^^
The same can be said for Australia and New Zealand.

[Dani8]

Last time I got ripped off was in NYC. He even hugged me as he did it. LOL. Most expensive hug I've ever had.

What's the visa problem with Turkey?

[Dani8]

Oh no. This will be my undoing

https://elcaminobracelets.com/

[Dani8]

This looks stunning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfi5JS6HTH0

[Sarge]

This looks stunning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vfi5JS6HTH0

Friend watched it the other day. She said it was superb.

[Dani8]

Good stuff, Sarge. I fear it will awaken my sleeping travel bug.

[Sarge]

I have no urge to travel. Seen most of the places I want to and I love being at home. Mrs Sarge though loves to travel. So, we travel :D

[Dani8]

I have no urge to travel. Seen most of the places I want to and I love being at home. Mrs Sarge though loves to travel. So, we travel :D

You're a good husband!

I;m the traveller here but my husband tags along. He wanted me to go on a business trip to Israel in january but I whined so much about 36 hour flights for only 5 days he left me at home with the dogs. Just as well because he worked about 20 hours each day and got man flu coming home. I've never seen him so wrecked.

[Dani8]

LOL. Just a bit of kulcha fun for the day. This guy is a sri lankan aussie comedian. Top guy.

https://www.facebook.com/nazeem.m.hussain/videos/1413015875400181/

apologies for the fb linky

[Dani8]

LOL. What a freak. I want to go back

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17155374_1286324244787279_3714783351118304873_n.jpg?oh=1ead0ebc9bf44fa3ab1586514ec31903&oe=59704F81

[matt72582]

Thailand

https://scontent.fdet1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/550602_10150983194795743_997171432_n.jpg?oh=b40c686aa8b7e3c4096dabaf9ee93d77&oe=596EB925

[Dani8]

I dont like the tiger temple people but nice shot of you, matt.

[Dani8]

Well you learn something new every day

Legend tells us that after the arrival of the Spanish in South America, Natives were forbidden from playing the guitar. As a way of rebelling, the people of Bolivia, Potosi, created their own variation of the instrument. The result was a 5 double string mini-guitar with one the most distinctive and melancholic sounds of the Andes, the Charango!

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17309072_10155149858365844_451123663139340685_n.jpg?oh=fd4fe07ada89fe1b90561fc16bf7d7e1&oe=595F8FB6

[Dani8]

More holiday reading

https://www.bookwitty.com/reading_list/the-book-of-the-irish-7-must-read-celtic-myths-and/58c6577b50cef74d22b926c2

[Dani8]

Woah woah woah. 85 years old yesterday. Sydney sure looks different now

wrong photo

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17353626_1122817491177117_1210449322372791636_n.jpg?oh=429bc7aa025854ce459546bc6574c46c&oe=59590C28

[Dani8]

This gives me severe vertigo

https://www.facebook.com/nfsaa/videos/1516358735041645/

'scuse me. need to vomit.

[Dani8]

Poor Peru

https://www.facebook.com/WorldNewsTonight/videos/10154745191994818/

[Dani8]

4 more books for your travel reading

https://www.bookwitty.com/reading_list/jorge-amados-novels-marxism-humor-and-the-beauty/58c9006550cef75dadc413cc?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ongoing&utm_content=jorge-amados

[ashdoc]

from vijaynagar ( city of victory ) near hampi in southern india---seat of an ancient hindu empire . i visited in 2009 . photos taken by myself .

https://scontent-mrs1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2188_1099286885427_208_n.jpg?oh=57324cd08a7b02ede3975f38dde0ec50&oe=595893DA

https://scontent-mrs1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2188_1099293885602_8069_n.jpg?oh=3669fc31e8d45a0c70f89971243f57ec&oe=59655929

https://scontent-mrs1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2188_1099288085457_3633_n.jpg?oh=e6fb6aa434db1da02617bdf84f4caa73&oe=5955FA78

https://scontent-mrs1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2188_1099303885852_2490_n.jpg?oh=d555b241cb137cd0f2bec09745048033&oe=5958BE9B

https://scontent-mrs1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2188_1099305125883_9922_n.jpg?oh=4c32f40311757b54ff62f216d32b3546&oe=595D5121

https://scontent-mrs1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2188_1099319366239_1437_n.jpg?oh=0e799312f1dd4b3d8aa25e98448eb9aa&oe=59699089

https://scontent-mrs1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2188_1099323566344_3196_n.jpg?oh=aedc20a2813f0decec68115a0a0a0b8d&oe=595A8469

https://scontent-mrs1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2188_1099321766299_7380_n.jpg?oh=88016dfc8023256466e97ba78dd8b55d&oe=59560693

https://scontent-mrs1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2188_1099324006355_1326_n.jpg?oh=2857830859ae0db472ad34fd0b4dd5e5&oe=596CE262

https://scontent-mrs1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2188_1099325446391_5101_n.jpg?oh=df5f735af8e217de3863dc2844a5b355&oe=59620F40

https://scontent-mrs1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2188_1099326686422_804_n.jpg?oh=5e61b5cb5fcd8e3387af1c84b825712c&oe=5963F3D5

[Elessar]

Oh yes, books. More of books. I love reading. I may not be able to check out those books you posted in the next year, because I have just bought a bunch from amazon secondhand-book store. But they sound interesting.

[Dani8]

I follow some book pages on fb so I'll park any travel stories in here for us, El.

[Dani8]

Cheapest places to travel in 2017

http://www.tourradar.com/days-to-come/most-affordable-places-to-travel/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=DTC17AffordablePlacesAUS

[Nestorio_Miklos]

Cheapest places to travel in 2017

http://www.tourradar.com/days-to-come/most-affordable-places-to-travel/?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=DTC17AffordablePlacesAUS

i like that picture from Vietnam. it looks like that two-rock gate closing up on boat from ... cant recall from where :D.

[Ms. M]

You took really great picters. Every of You :love:

[Dani8]

i like that picture from Vietnam. it looks like that two-rock gate closing up on boat from ... cant recall from where :D.

Yeh that's HAlong Bay. Stunning. I recommend it, Nesto. Beautiful people, except in the undercover market in HCMC. Gahhh the women physically hold onto your arm to mke you buy something. Strong lil things.

[Nestorio_Miklos]

Yeh that's HAlong Bay. Stunning. I recommend it, Nesto. Beautiful people, except in the undercover market in HCMC. Gahhh the women physically hold onto your arm to mke you buy something. Strong lil things.

so long as it is somethin pretty i dont mind to buy :D I am so easy to bargain with.:D they usually feel it and following me everywhere

[Dani8]

so long as it is somethin pretty i dont mind to buy :D I am so easy to bargain with.:D they usually feel it and following me everywhere

You should go. You'll probably end up broke because they love standing infront of western men and say 'You very handsome'. My husband loved it.

[Nestorio_Miklos]

You should go. You'll probably end up broke because they love standing infront of western men and say 'You very handsome'. My husband loved it.

LOL .. sure .. who wouldn't .. I'm actually going to Tanzania this year. BTW i watched that Solace last night. Yeah, it was pleasant to watch. not great just fair and i love Hpkins in about anything :D

[Dani8]

LOL .. sure .. who wouldn't .. I'm actually going to Tanzania this year. BTW i watched that Solace last night. Yeah, it was pleasant to watch. not great just fair and i love Hpkins in about anything :D


I loved Tanzania. Are you going to Zanzibar as well? So jealous.

Glad you liked Solace. I found that very entertaining, and a great twist.

[Nestorio_Miklos]

I loved Tanzania. Are you going to Zanzibar as well? So jealous.

Glad you liked Solace. I found that very entertaining, and a great twist.

to tell you the truth i dont know much where we going. my friend's daughter got married there to an indlan guy and they have all the details. I think they gonna take us by surprise. Only thing i know for sure how much i gotta pay :D

[Dani8]

to tell you the truth i dont know much where we going. my friend's daughter got married there to an indlan guy and they have all the details. I think they gonna take us by surprise. Only thing i know for sure how much i gotta pay :D

Waaaa safari. Cant wait to see your photos.

Zanzibar is just a ferry ride. Check your DFAT to see if you need yellow fever vax.

[Dani8]

Am I the only weird kid here who follows high altitude mountaineering sites? Weather watch on the Himalaya

http://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2017/03/22/everest-2017-weather-watch/

[Dani8]

Hey wut?

http://www.jacamo.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Chuck-Norris-Thats-his-dog-chuck-norris-meme-funny-331.jpg

[ashdoc]

God's own country---state of kerala . 2014 . photos taken by myself .

https://scontent.fsin2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10253798_10203840916566383_8480322488444131561_n.jpg?oh=c48c2e743b382468ce198296867696cb&oe=594EC226

https://scontent.fsin2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10268717_10203840918286426_3560752133404221420_n.jpg?oh=1e20dffcaae613f26ce022ea4925d9f8&oe=596AB1FE

https://scontent.fsin2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10309722_10203841036449380_897845169649860915_n.jpg?oh=ad0dd0cf090e4a95ac01f10663daf13f&oe=596D56ED

https://scontent.fsin2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10155676_10203841042009519_530933438116823720_n.jpg?oh=6715d0c36e55736faafd83c63c3c75d7&oe=596EEC7C

https://scontent.fsin2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10277568_10203841194733337_8540932467965896878_n.jpg?oh=c837258b515e8118334d63175099e290&oe=595585DD

https://scontent.fsin2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10170732_10203841419858965_6684673456577089120_n.jpg?oh=585fd7fd322c158587fdf5cf43d1404a&oe=5973AD77

https://scontent.fsin2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10330440_10203840586958143_5443611400998242159_n.jpg?oh=18e96eb25af1fb9b774df41087f675bf&oe=595EE02B

https://scontent.fdel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10171924_10203840902366028_1431142153997458778_n.jpg?oh=6b68478ddb2e607b55f58933bab294db&oe=5964849E

[Dani8]

Kaufmann Lake Canadian Rockies. I want.

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17457391_1690839007600088_746647295436556445_n.jpg?oh=d1d6481b7653919527899f6f529ce4d9&oe=5956F114

[Dani8]

LOL. I dont think I could do this

https://www.facebook.com/LADbible/videos/3047770595270110/

[Dani8]

Mustang was closed to travellers when I was over that way. I covet that hat

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17554295_10154805049738141_5447610836487408513_n.jpg?oh=955716833a188f0c5e05517dd543c7d5&oe=59663EB2

[Dani8]

Wakey wakey sleepy intrepid travellers

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17626352_10156006814779502_6607846052003865678_n.jpg?oh=a898eb1b895621fecfb9e5cb1561c07d&oe=594FA153

[Dani8]

God's own country---state of kerala . 2014 . photos taken by myself .]

Nice. I loved Kerala. Much preferred it to Goa which was jammed with stoned backpackers.

[ashdoc]

Nice. I loved Kerala. Much preferred it to Goa which was jammed with stoned backpackers.

westerners go to goa mostly for partying drugs and alcohol , which is cheap compared to their own countries . actually goa has many places for sightseeing , but many dont do that .

[Dani8]

westerners go to goa mostly for partying drugs and alcohol , which is cheap compared to their own countries . actually goa has many places for sightseeing , but many dont do that .

I think I stayed two or three nights and met some lovely locals. Kerala I stayed about a month. I'm not into the backpacker drug nd booze scene.

[ashdoc]

I think I stayed two or three nights and met some lovely locals. Kerala I stayed about a month. I'm not into the backpacker drug nd booze scene.

go to dudhsagar waterfalls in goa if you visit again---

https://scontent.fbom1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11011235_10208271367084877_1462983290766913132_n.jpg?oh=9049b28f8a06aa66df208be3bca5ab6f&oe=595BF1A1

https://scontent.fbom1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12065685_10208271575290082_5933163047565940015_n.jpg?oh=57144b606c5284844ac5f27925bb28dc&oe=598E6D1F

https://scontent.fbom1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12189808_10208271345724343_3238414294884500321_n.jpg?oh=18e510d079f8819c2c8ec1c3e0aa4ad1&oe=598E6C6C

[Dani8]

took this in Kerala. Sorry for the dirt on my transparency

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85856031678_4894651_n.jpg?oh=61f97af5b4dbb05d1f13af778c320abe&oe=5958BB5B

[Dani8]

I so want to go to Isfahan

https://www.facebook.com/GypsianBoutiqueTours/photos/a.472433546123705.108855.365065150193879/1511809842186065/?type=3

photo not working

https://www.facebook.com/GypsianBoutiqueTours/photos/a.472433546123705.108855.365065150193879/1513939261973123/?type=3

[Dani8]

One more try

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17759937_1514933175207065_8476482014198063658_n.jpg?oh=e90a3e913e845a192902eceb7b4de34d&oe=59535CA9

Qom. Iran’s second holiest city after Mashhad, the heart of the Islamic Revolution and home to the Shrine of Hazrat-e Masumeh, the mausoleum of the sister of the eighth Shiite Imam.

[Dani8]

Stunning photo gallery of Tibet

https://www.globalonenessproject.org/library/photo-essays/drokpa-nomadic-mountain-people-tibet#m[]=photo-essay&photo=1

[matt72582]

One more try

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17759937_1514933175207065_8476482014198063658_n.jpg?oh=e90a3e913e845a192902eceb7b4de34d&oe=59535CA9

Qom. Iran’s second holiest city after Mashhad, the heart of the Islamic Revolution and home to the Shrine of Hazrat-e Masumeh, the mausoleum of the sister of the eighth Shiite Imam.

It works -- nice picture.

[Dani8]

It works -- nice picture.

I want to go. Stunning architecture.

[Dani8]

Kyrgyzstan.

https://www.facebook.com/290250311377511/videos/334536106948931/

[Dani8]

Carrum Beach Victoria

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17634838_1422100157853880_7128803404015444907_n.jpg?oh=568cf66ce6564d96af9ddb80bc6b3678&oe=5998C195

Queenscliff Harbour

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17861982_1422106187853277_6956760759619983204_n.jpg?oh=863b0cacc9424b3a86b0e353cd4aa35b&oe=598F8F1D

[Dani8]

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17862011_10208813498198101_916619508824731105_n.jpg?oh=3c98ee7b1ac4cd83d75b3e80c1acf700&oe=598F1C25

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17884375_10208813496558060_8393266059053444026_n.jpg?oh=e92026730462cefb37de9e100faa5c1c&oe=5955A1C2

This is a breeder in Mongolia but reminded me of being in a food shack on the highest point between China and Tibet one night on a bus trip, and stumbling outside with AMS. Doubled over vomiting when suddenly I thought fireworks were going off. Looked up and saw that I was surrounded by a pack of roaming Tibetan mastiffs. They are huge!

[Dani8]

More from one of my favourite cities in the world. Istanbul. OMG the Blue Mosque is unreal. We stayed smack bang between Hagia Sofia and The Blue Mosque so got the call to prayer at dawn in stereo. Actually there are so many mosques there we got it in surround sound. Haunting yet comforting. I love the Adhan.

http://turkeywelcomesyou.net/istanbul-tour-historical-places/

[space_dementia]

I've not really travelled much and the only foreign holidays I've been on is Turkey, America NY and Canada, Toronto. Toronto being a place I fell in love with instantly and hope to visit again very soon, I loved the place and its people. Below is a shot of the CN Tower.

https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/12360400_10153284555437951_1650900705962735909_n.jpg?oh=5ac69e232a3099817de292435a31866e&oe=5984ECFC

[Dani8]

Turkey. Where did you go when you were there, space d?

https://scontent.fmel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18119366_1545476488797111_7065617229177353068_n.jpg?oh=c05698c3a2ae04b4919747a3506a1234&oe=598BBBB8

[Dani8]

Sydney harbour put on a show for ANZAC Day

https://scontent.fmel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18118868_10154309520655723_639555409182076883_n.jpg?oh=9a1d9d51d8ef6f7e3b6821b3834a5f1c&oe=59911C06

Bon Voyage Austruck. I'm looking forward to your train adventure. Dont forget to send a postcard.

[Dani8]

OMG my thread fell off the first page. Wakey Wakey Intrepid Travellers. :bawling:

I went to the pirate island on Galapagos but unfortunately did not find Charles Vane's sweaty hotness.

http://www.chimuadventures.com/blog/2017/05/pirates-galapagos-islands/

[Elessar]

Oops, I was too busy traveling so I didn't read your last posts ;)

I went to Nîmes to see a reenactment of Roman games (Nîmes has a gorgeous Roman arena, smaller than Colosseum in Rome but full well preserved, since AD 70). What a show.

https://moveablefeastofamess.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/dsc_0661_small.jpg

https://moveablefeastofamess.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/dsc_0718_small.jpg

https://moveablefeastofamess.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/dsc_0681small.jpg

(Photos by Elessar)

[Elessar]

Then, when those Roman soldiers were marching on the street, this little darling came out of his house and ran after them:

https://moveablefeastofamess.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/dsc_0854_small.jpg

https://moveablefeastofamess.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/dsc_0858_small.jpg

[Dani8]

Wow. My eldest sis is over your way at the moment. She was in Nice yesterday having lunch then shot across to Monaco to have dinner with her son.

[Elessar]

Sounds great!

Lunch in Nice then dinner in Monaco
Breakfast in Cannes, that's the way to go

I have yet to see those cities...

[Dani8]

Sounds great!

Lunch in Nice then dinner in Monaco
Breakfast in Cannes, that's the way to go

I have yet to see those cities...

She's going to the grand prix. Nephew invited me as well but alas.

[Dani8]

I'm seriously considering Morocco for my next jaunt

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/18192635_1108543502585776_7250234406798747381_o.jpg?oh=61c3fcbba2a32aefe47629410028a631&oe=5985D771

[Elessar]

I'm addicted to markets like that!

[Dani8]

I'm addicted to markets like that!

Me too. I can spend hours just sitting back and people watching.

[Austruck]

I'm writing this from Kansas, where I am visiting a childhood friend. I'm currently on my own travel bucket list trip -- a cross-country train trip on Amtrak (Pittsburgh to California and back till May 12). I get back on the Southwest Chief in a few hours and then will head from here to California over the next few days. I'll hang out in California a few days and then head back on a different train starting early next week.

Can't believe it took me this long to do something like this! Always wanted to see the country by train!

[Dani8]

Hulloo stranger. Happy travels. Are you sleeping well on the train? I find it quite hypnotic.

[Austruck]

First night was in coach. Sleeping in a coach seat isn't my idea of fun. LOL

Anyway, starting tonight I'm in little private roomettes the rest of the trip so I'll get to sleep, you know, horizontally. What a concept.

[Dani8]

First night was in coach. Sleeping in a coach seat isn't my idea of fun. LOL

Anyway, starting tonight I'm in little private roomettes the rest of the trip so I'll get to sleep, you know, horizontally. What a concept.

Oh I just assumed you'd be sleeping horizontal. I'm with you - I cant sleep upright either which is why I dislike long haul flights so much.
Have fun.

[Austruck]

I purposely saved some money on the first leg of the trip by booking just the coach seat. Plus, in order to write the book, I did want to experience coach, and I decided that getting it out of the way early was the best option. :)

[Dani8]

Good thinking, my intrepid travelling friend.

[Dani8]

El, let's have dinner here

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/s960x960/18216522_1552481544785561_1521698704502137818_o.jpg?oh=21303ca998eeb296dac34718eb0d633d&oe=59767375

[Elessar]

Great! What a photo.
If I go there, I think I'll spend 3h for dinner and 3h for wandering around and buying everything. Especially spices and oil.

@Austruck (http://www.movieforums.com/community/member.php?u=27): good luck with your trip! And I agree, nothing is more precious than a horizontal sleep ;)

[Dani8]

I can smell it,El.

[escapist]

(Live in the US) Been to India, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Some highlights:

- Street food in Mumbai, India (emphasis on taste, much less on hygiene) Sorry, sharing about Indian public toilets would just be too graphic.

- Watching a cultural show in Pattaya, Thailand at the age of 15 ... thinking to myself, "Gorgeous (topless) woman" ... had my picture taken with one of them, outside, all smiles and giddy with excitement ... twenty minutes later, on the bus back to the hotel, I find that most of them were born with male genitalia. :eek:

- Singapore: $1000 (SIN) fine for dropping a candy wrapper ... oh-kay. Otherwise, just boring.

- On a commuter train in Switzerland: Middle-aged man staring at me (I'm not white). I look to my buddy and laugh. Look back, and the man is still staring at me ... oh-kay.

- Interlaken, Switzerland: See a buncha cows grazing. Next minute, look up again and two of them have decided to fornicate, ten feet from us. :eek: My friends and I scrambling for our cameras.

- ICE train from Berlin to Munich: drinking a cold beer with my buddy on the train, watching the beautiful German countryside ... remember thinking, "I could move and settle here in a little wooden cabin."

- AVE high speed train from Barcelona to Madrid, Spain ... 300 km/h (and feels like 100 km/h) ... nice !

- Portland, Oregon, USA: Beer capital of the USA (and a foodie's paradise), even though I only drink red wine ... been here twice, and my love for this city knows no bounds. It is my fav place in the world and my #1 choice of where I'd want to live if I could move right now.

- Amtrak Coast Starlight (LA to Seattle) - took this train ride twice ... some great memories ... met my first ever girlfriend here, met some cool folks in the observation lounge, saw some amazing scenery.

- Alaska, USA: Scenery like in The Grey and The Revenant ... divine, untouched, virgin.

Would like to see:

- The Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis (or Australis) ... Alaska/Canada/Scandinavia ... wherever ... gotta see this.

- Australia ... had my tickets booked n everything, had to cancel last minute :(

- The UK ... esp. Ireland and Scotland and those little towns you've never heard of but are full of culture.

[escapist]

I'm writing this from Kansas, where I am visiting a childhood friend. I'm currently on my own travel bucket list trip -- a cross-country train trip on Amtrak (Pittsburgh to California and back till May 12). I get back on the Southwest Chief in a few hours and then will head from here to California over the next few days. I'll hang out in California a few days and then head back on a different train starting early next week.

Can't believe it took me this long to do something like this! Always wanted to see the country by train!

"Amtrak" caught my attention.

If possible, while on the West coast, (or sometime later) take the Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle ... it's one of the best Amtrak routes ... did it twice.

[Dani8]

(Live in the US) Been to India, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Some highlights:

- Street food in Mumbai, India (emphasis on taste, much less on hygiene) Sorry, sharing about Indian public toilets would just be too graphic.

- Watching a cultural show in Pattaya, Thailand at the age of 15 ... thinking to myself, "Gorgeous (topless) woman" ... had my picture taken with one of them, outside, all smiles and giddy with excitement ... twenty minutes later, on the bus back to the hotel, I find that most of them were born with male genitalia. :eek:

- Singapore: $1000 (SIN) fine for dropping a candy wrapper ... oh-kay. Otherwise, just boring.

- On a commuter train in Switzerland: Middle-aged man staring at me (I'm not white). I look to my buddy and laugh. Look back, and the man is still staring at me ... oh-kay.

- Interlaken, Switzerland: See a buncha cows grazing. Next minute, look up again and two of them have decided to fornicate, ten feet from us. :eek: My friends and I scrambling for our cameras.

- ICE train from Berlin to Munich: drinking a cold beer with my buddy on the train, watching the beautiful German countryside ... remember thinking, "I could move and settle here in a little wooden cabin."

- AVE high speed train from Barcelona to Madrid, Spain ... 300 km/h (and feels like 100 km/h) ... nice !

- Portland, Oregon, USA: Beer capital of the USA (and a foodie's paradise), even though I only drink red wine ... been here twice, and my love for this city knows no bounds. It is my fav place in the world and my #1 choice of where I'd want to live if I could move right now.

- Amtrak Coast Starlight (LA to Seattle) - took this train ride twice ... some great memories ... met my first ever girlfriend here, met some cool folks in the observation lounge, saw some amazing scenery.

- Alaska, USA: Scenery like in The Grey and The Revenant ... divine, untouched, virgin.

Would like to see:

- The Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis (or Australis) ... Alaska/Canada/Scandinavia ... wherever ... gotta see this.

- Australia ... had my tickets booked n everything, had to cancel last minute :(

- The UK ... esp. Ireland and Scotland and those little towns you've never heard of but are full of culture.


Street food in India is amazing. The toilets are a whole other ball game. I've never cured a case of dysentery so fast needing to use the public toilet outside of the Taj Mahal.

Lady boys in Bangkok. Wow. Some gay friends took me to a nightclub and I swear to god they were the most beautiful women I have ever seen.

Changi airport. Dont clean your teeth in the bathroom and spit your toothpaste in the basin or you'll hear an announcement threatening to fine you if you do it again.

I loved Europe. Oregon and Alaska I really wnt to go to, same with the northern and southern lights.

Ireland and Scotland I wanted to take my Dad, but sadly he died and I'm yet to get around to it.

I've been following this story since the news broke. So many holes in it but I wasnt there so have no idea what happened. Guys, dont mule drugs or take packages from strangers. Everyone knows this.

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/05/03/05/22/dea-tipoff-led-to-cassie-s-bogota-arrest

[escapist]

Street food in India is amazing. The toilets are a whole other ball game. I've never cured a case of dysentery so fast needing to use the public toilet outside of the Taj Mahal.

Lady boys in Bangkok. Wow. Some gay friends took me to a nightclub and I swear to god they were the most beautiful women I have ever seen.

Changi airport. Dont clean your teeth in the bathroom and spit your toothpaste in the basin or you'll hear an announcement threatening to fine you if you do it again.

I loved Europe. Oregon and Alaska I really wnt to go to, same with the northern and southern lights.

Ireland and Scotland I wanted to take my Dad, but sadly he died and I'm yet to get around to it.

I've been following this story since the news broke. So many holes in it but I wasnt there so have no idea what happened. Guys, dont mule drugs or take packages from strangers. Everyone knows this.

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2017/05/03/05/22/dea-tipoff-led-to-cassie-s-bogota-arrest

So sorry to hear about your Dad :(

Funny you bring up drug mules ... one of my fav documentaries is Locked Up Abroad ... heard of it ? Every single one of those is like the story you mentioned :) I'm familiar with 100 such stories, and can even name you the criminal penalties in some specific countries :p

And yes, always check your baggage ... they can put drugs inside the lining of your bag/suitcase ... scary ! :eek:

Look up Locked Up Abroad.

[escapist]

My travel highlights would be utterly incomplete without mentioning the following:

- Standing in line for 1 hour in Berlin, Germany, for an authentic Turkish Doner kebab ... and boy was it worth it !!! Best kebab ever ... even if it sent me straight to the bathroom.

- Scenery in (Jungfraujoch, Interlaken, Lake Brienz) Switzerland ... mmmmm ... on par with Alaska ... pristine

- Beach in Barcelona ... it was like watching XXX porn in the flesh ... all combinations of gender, age, and stages of sexual union ... repulsive. Sorry, not for me.

[Dani8]

Dad was great. The day I flew out for a 3 year trip he turned up at the airport and told me if I got into trouble with drugs to call him immediately. I sad Dad, if I wanted to use drugs I would have saved myself the bloody airfare nd taken them at home!!!

A lot of people reading the story of this girl are mentioned that show. I havent seen it. Have you read Marching Powder by Rusty Young about san Pedro Prison in Bolivia? There's a movie being made but it seems to be in limbo.

[escapist]

Dad was great. The day I flew out for a 3 year trip he turned up at the airport and told me if I got into trouble with drugs to call him immediately. I sad Dad, if I wanted to use drugs I would have saved myself the bloody airfare nd taken them at home!!!

A lot of people reading the story of this girl are mentioned that show. I havent seen it. Have you read Marching Powder by Rusty Young about san Pedro Prison in Bolivia? There's a movie being made but it seems to be in limbo.

Nope, not a big reader of books. But, all South American prisons are a bloody nightmare, it seems.

What are the big minorities in Australia ? You mentioned Turkish people.

Here in California, you are bombarded with the Spanish language everywhere - street/city names, and not to mention, a huge Hispanic population.

In Australia, is there a strong prevalence of any minority languages ?

[Dani8]

Nope, not a big reader of books. But, all South American prisons are a bloody nightmare, it seems.

What are the big minorities in Australia ? You mentioned Turkish people.

Here in California, you are bombarded with the Spanish language everywhere - street/city names, and not to mention, a huge Hispanic population.

In Australia, is there a strong prevalence of any minority languages ?

It's very multi cultural here, but the only lingo apart from multi lingual pamphlets and websites is English. I dont know any expat areas where you can't survive if you don't speak the language other than english. eg we have a very big vietnamese community not far from where I live. Very big tourist destination for vietnamese culture. Everyone speaks english. Some ethnic areas have shop nd street signs in their own language but I've never had a problem with non english speakers. ESL is very big here to help new migrants assimilate. Chinatown here is huge but the Chinese Aussie Community is incredibly well organised and proud to be Australian. Everyone in the service industry there speaks english - just another example.

[Elessar]

My travel highlights would be utterly incomplete without mentioning the following:

- Standing in line for 1 hour in Berlin, Germany, for an authentic Turkish Doner kebab ... and boy was it worth it !!! Best kebab ever ... even if it sent me straight to the bathroom.

- Scenery in (Jungfraujoch, Interlaken, Lake Brienz) Switzerland ... mmmmm ... on par with Alaska ... pristine

- Beach in Barcelona ... it was like watching XXX porn in the flesh ... all combinations of gender, age, and stages of sexual union ... repulsive. Sorry, not for me.

Me too! I have just standing in line for 1h for some restaurant but the food was superb. And the scenery in Jungfraujoch and Lauterbrunnen is the most heavenous that I've seen.

My photo there:

https://moveablefeastofamess.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/dsc_0275small.jpg

https://moveablefeastofamess.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/dsc_2025.jpg?w=840

[Austruck]

"Amtrak" caught my attention.

If possible, while on the West coast, (or sometime later) take the Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle ... it's one of the best Amtrak routes ... did it twice.
I had that as part of my itinerary. Amtrak canceled that leg (up and back) about two weeks ago, for everybody. A bridge was damaged by a freight derailment and it won't be repaired till the end of this month.

So I had to completely reroute the second half of my trip. I'll be going on the Starlight just from L.A. to Emeryville so I can get on the California Zephyr to head back home. I've heard if you're headed cross country that it has the best views. (I came west on the Southwest Chief, which was pretty impressive.)

[ashdoc]

photographing the bend of the river krishna in india from the top of a plateau called 'tableland' . photos taken by myself .

30275
30276
30276

[Stirchley]

Such a bizarre experience to rock up to a tiny village somewhere and hear your name.

I would die. :eek:

[Stirchley]

Here in California, you are bombarded with the Spanish language everywhere - street/city names, and not to mention, a huge Hispanic population.

Where I live in Connecticut, Hispanics are the majority. You can easily live here without knowing a word of English. I volunteer at a church food pantry & I am learning some Spanish from the Internet. They seem terribly pleased when someone takes the trouble to learn some basic phrases.

[Dani8]

They seem terribly pleased when someone takes the trouble to learn some basic phrases.

Everyone is. It's really nice. I always try to at least learn market lingo before going to a new country. Makes it so much more fun.

[Stirchley]

Dani8, don't have time to read this entire thread right now, but wondering if you have been to the U.K. and America? When I lived in London mid-seventies I worked at an Aussie hotel called the Walkabout. I believe the Walkabout club or whatever it was called was huge back then. I was the only Brit at the hotel & I was the punchbag for all their Brit jokes. :cool:

[Dani8]

Dani8, don't have time to read this entire thread right now, but wondering if you have been to the U.K. and America? When I lived in London mid-seventies I worked at an Aussie hotel called the Walkabout. I believe the Walkabout club or whatever it was called was huge back then. I was the only Brit at the hotel & I was the punchbag for all their Brit jokes. :cool:


Went to London when I was a kid, Stirchley. I've been to US twice. Loved both.

Did you work in Earl's Court in London? No No No I will never go there. It would be like going to Bondi Beach; Full of drunk backpackers. I can't tolerate them, and that's coming from a long term ex backpacker. Couldn't tolerate them back in the day and cannot tolerate them now. Loudmouth dick heads no matter what country.

[Stirchley]

Went to London when I was a kid, Stirchley. I've been to US twice. Loved both.

Did you work in Earl's Court in London? No No No I will never go there. It would be like going to Bondi Beach; Full of drunk backpackers. I can't tolerate them, and that's coming from a long term ex backpacker. Couldn't tolerate them back in the day and cannot tolerate them now. Loudmouth dick heads no matter what country.

I lived in South Kensington, a tube stop from Earls Court. London was absolutely swarming with Aussies doing the two year travel thing. My best male friend was Michael Howard from Sydney. We had tons of fun together.

[Dani8]

My best male friend was Michael Howard from Sydney. We had tons of fun together.


OMG I know him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Stirchley]

OMG I know him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you kidding?

[Dani8]

Are you kidding?


LMAO. Ofcourse but I get asked this every time I travel - hey my cousin owns a tribal rug shop in Sydney, maybe you know him? YES YES I DO.

Just playing.
:)

[Stirchley]

LMAO. Ofcourse but I get asked this every time I travel - hey my cousin owns a tribal rug shop in Sydney, maybe you know him? YES YES I DO.

Just playing.
:)

Phew. Thought you were going to say he's your father. :cool:

[Dani8]

Phew. Thought you were going to say he's your father. :cool:

LOL. I have experienced some weird things in my travels, but nothing pertaining to my Dad, although a neighbour I had in Japan years ago managed to track me down on email several years after I left via my ex because she met someone who had known my Dad and by sheer coincidence he also knew who my ex was. Rather bizarre. The world is a very small place. All she said was she knew an aussie girl from Sydney and her Dad came to visit - do you know someone called *sir name*. That's like asking someone if they know someone in Sydney called Smith or Wong.

[Stirchley]

LOL. I have experienced some weird things in my travels, but nothing pertaining to my Dad, although a neighbour I had in Japan years ago managed to track me down on email several years after I left via my ex because she met someone who had known my Dad and by sheer coincidence he also knew who my ex was. Rather bizarre. The world is a very small place. All she said was she knew an aussie girl from Sydney and her Dad came to visit - do you know someone called *sir name*. That's like asking someone if they know someone in Sydney called Smith or Wong.

I don't think I have ever had an experience like that. Quite the opposite, which makes me sad. In London I was constantly seeing someone off on their travels & hearing neither hide nor hair from them ever again. I often wonder what happened to all the people I knew in England.

[Dani8]

I don't think I have ever had an experience like that. Quite the opposite, which makes me sad. In London I was constantly seeing someone off on their travels & hearing neither hide nor hair from them ever again. I often wonder what happened to all the people I knew in England.

I get it quite a lot, but I also lose track of people I've become friends with. It just happens - Things come and go. Pretty spooky when it does happen though. I think I mentioned meeting people in Tibet I had become friends with in Africa and Japan over a year before, or not being able to escape an aussie guy who kept bumping into me in China then called out my name on a sydney suburban train station. I tried so hard to lose that clingon but it wasn't meant to happen. I think my ex is still friends with him. And then there was an english cyclist in Africa that was a pain in the beehind. He managed to track me down in Sydney through one of my brothers who he met in Pakistan. Lordy Lordy. This is years after knowing him. I must have a neon balloon over my head.

[Dani8]

Time is drawing nigh to renovate my bathrooms. Going with this to keep my travel bug alive and itching at the corner of my mind.

https://scontent.fbne1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18301326_1112904865482973_2070791367038993512_n.jpg?oh=6ad5689d08bee3f7c6604eec350e11dd&oe=5974B85E

[Nestorio_Miklos]

https://www.movieforums.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=30433

[Dani8]

That's beautiful. Where is it, Nesto? Reminds me of the colonial cities in Ecuador.

[Nestorio_Miklos]

i better give you the coordinates. The town is so small yet rare and beautiful. 48°27′29″N 18°53′47″E

[Dani8]

Really pretty.

[Nestorio_Miklos]

thanks a lot!:)

[Dani8]

This is Cuenca, Ecuador at night. Similar? Very clean and peaceful

http://www.viajaprimeroecuador.com.ec/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Azuay_Cuenca_Centro-de-la-ciudad_Tour-Virtual_Fachada-noche-copia4.jpg



https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/69/7c/9a/697c9a7464a91bbc6d31e04c489679a5.jpg

https://ajunglescientist.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/cuenca-flowermarket-at-night.jpg

I could retire there; I love that country.

[Stirchley]

I get it quite a lot, but I also lose track of people I've become friends with. It just happens - Things come and go. Pretty spooky when it does happen though. I think I mentioned meeting people in Tibet I had become friends with in Africa and Japan over a year before, or not being able to escape an aussie guy who kept bumping into me in China then called out my name on a sydney suburban train station. I tried so hard to lose that clingon but it wasn't meant to happen. I think my ex is still friends with him. And then there was an english cyclist in Africa that was a pain in the beehind. He managed to track me down in Sydney through one of my brothers who he met in Pakistan. Lordy Lordy. This is years after knowing him. I must have a neon balloon over my head.

I can relate. Strange people are constantly glomming on to me. I was going to a local place for good coffee for a couple of months, but every time there was this one particular weirdo there. Maybe he was legit sweet, but he gave me the creeps.

You know what's weird? I also say Lordy Lordy a lot. :cool:

You said you'd been to the States a couple of times? Can I guess Florida? And maybe NYC?

[Dani8]

I can relate. Strange people are constantly glomming on to me. I was going to a local place for good coffee for a couple of months, but every time there was this one particular weirdo there. Maybe he was legit sweet, but he gave me the creeps.

You know what's weird? I also say Lordy Lordy a lot. :cool:

You said you'd been to the States a couple of times? Can I guess Florida? And maybe NYC?

Hawaii when I was a teen, then Indianapolis for a business convention a few years ago and a holiday in amazing NYC. I was told by Americans that New Yorkers are really rude and people is one of my big things with travel so I didnt want to go. Such an unfair reputation. We had an amazing time! Loved it. The only thing I didnt like about 'Murica was LAX border control, but no biggy. You can get grumpy border control anywhere in the world.

[Stirchley]

Hawaii when I was a teen, then Indianapolis for a business convention a few years ago and a holiday in amazing NYC. I was told by Americans that New Yorkers are really rude and people is one of my big things with travel so I didnt want to go. Such an unfair reputation. We had an amazing time! Loved it. The only thing I didnt like about 'Murica was LAX border control, but no biggy. You can get grumpy border control anywhere in the world.

New Yorkers are the best people in the world IMO. One thing I discovered during my decade of living there was that their dry sense of humor is very similar to the British sense of humor. A lot of throwaway lines, for example. I would give anything to live there again.

[Dani8]

Very hospitable city. I would go back.

Edit to add - so was Indy.

[Dani8]

Aus on a misty morn. From the bureau of meteorology website

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18519683_1462489200481642_7656151393744831572_n.jpg?oh=7f547c3a30a9ad2e0850ff17f84664cf&oe=59BE07AA

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18446621_1462489240481638_1522218931561879869_n.jpg?oh=44acd4986368a959345d2a79539bb82d&oe=59B3CA64

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18446727_1462492393814656_4071484930948109259_n.jpg?oh=4db06626ea3f737b5a45d9d264c95c6b&oe=59BBA73A

https://scontent-syd2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18485807_1462500040480558_5260346225125054880_n.jpg?oh=6119d441db9b081722b5e4670fcdbc47&oe=59B2ADC0

[Elessar]

I have been away for a while, because I took a trip to Istanbul !
Finally. My long time dream. Expect a spam from me about it for weeks.


https://moveablefeastofamess.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/dsc_1135_small.jpg

https://moveablefeastofamess.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/dsc_1090_small.jpg

[Dani8]

So jealous.

[Listen Watch Go]

Istanbul looks so beautiful, it's so high on my list to go. Great pics too.

I'm so excited for my travelling in 2018. I'm doing Peru (Cusco and the rainforest), New Orleans and New York.

[Elessar]

Thank you. Your 2018 list sounds fabulous, I would very much like to do Peru too but perhaps not anytime soon.

In Istanbul I stayed in a hostel of 6 usd/night, which is close to Hagia Sophia and many things else. The bathroom lock is broken, after anyone takes a shower, that person has to knock from the inside so that people from outside will come and open the door for him to get out. The toilet is broken too. Hilarious. The window has to open all night long to let air in, and the tram was running just next to it. Amazingly I can still sleep :cool:

[Dani8]

Istanbul looks so beautiful, it's so high on my list to go. Great pics too.

I'm so excited for my travelling in 2018. I'm doing Peru (Cusco and the rainforest), New Orleans and New York.

Oh wow enjoy. Peru is fantastic. So is NYC and I want to go to NOLA.

https://scontent.fmel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85843686678_1419405_n.jpg?oh=6a5e08ff4eaaa7aec31c24baff79cb4f&oe=59A4A7B5

Cusco

https://scontent.fmel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85842431678_7513840_n.jpg?oh=d9f5c5fe566296ba2c5e80d0631f291a&oe=59C07BDD

Chihuahua in the Amazon. Gratuitous hand shot for cat_sidhe

https://scontent.fmel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/2766_85842436678_2279496_n.jpg?oh=37aa981e25e6644f1054b64b9da327b5&oe=59A9F450

LOL at the bathroom story, El.

[Listen Watch Go]

Nice. We were planning on doing Peru this Summer but it was working out too expensive so it's postponed until we have the money to do it properly.

I've done NYC before about 10 years ago but looking forward to going back. Mainly want to show my gf the sites as she's never been.

NOLA looks beaut, and as a jazz fan and a foodie I can't see how I won't love it.

[Dani8]

Nice. We were planning on doing Peru this Summer but it was working out too expensive so it's postponed until we have the money to do it properly.

I've done NYC before about 10 years ago but looking forward to going back. Mainly want to show my gf the sites as she's never been.

NOLA looks beaut, and as a jazz fan and a foodie I can't see how I won't love it.

How long are you planning for Peru and look into permits for MP if you plan to go because I read something recently about the government restricting them further and I;m sorry but for the life of me I cant remember what that was about. Hmmm might need to cross over to the food thread. Peruvian food is out of this world.

A friend of mine lives in NOLA and he loves it.

[Listen Watch Go]

I think about 16 days in Peru. A couple in Lima, then most of the time split between Cusco area (including MP) and the Amazon. We're quite heavy planners so we'll deffo get the MP tickets way ahead of time, thanks for the tip.

[Dani8]

I think about 16 days in Peru. A couple in Lima, then most of the time split between Cusco area (including MP) and the Amazon. We're quite heavy planners so we'll deffo get the MP tickets way ahead of time, thanks for the tip.

I didnt see much of Lima - Traffic is a nightmare. Miraflores is your best bet for a hotel IMO. Very clean away from the mad throng.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c3/33/bc/c333bc0fc44686ba1faccb406eb49e91.jpg

[Dani8]

Treat your girlfriend to a fancy Peruvian restaurant, LWG.

http://www.peruvianbanquet.com/00img/peruvian%20banquet_contact.jpg

http://pachamamalondon.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/FoodSelection-1024x578.jpg

http://www.peruviancuisine.nl/images/dsc_05992.jpg

http://www.peruviancuisine.nl/images/cebiche%20betho.jpg

and have a Pisco Sour

http://annstreetstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Pisco_Sour_01.jpg

I floated back to the hotel.

[Stirchley]

My drinking days are over, thank goodness, but what's in a Pisco Sour? Sounds terribly sophisticated. :p

[Dani8]

My drinking days are over, thank goodness, but what's in a Pisco Sour? Sounds terribly sophisticated. :p

peruvian rocket fuel made into a cocktail with limes, angostura and egg white. Only takes one to send me off.

[Dani8]

Friendship Garden in Chinatown, Sydney. Would be a perfect day for it today.

https://scontent.fmel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18485472_10156177492079502_3788123606130108545_n.jpg?oh=2c8b353abd7168f5831c05bf41c03fa6&oe=59AE28D3

[Stirchley]

Friendship Garden in Chinatown, Sydney. Would be a perfect day for it today.

https://scontent.fmel1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18485472_10156177492079502_3788123606130108545_n.jpg?oh=2c8b353abd7168f5831c05bf41c03fa6&oe=59AE28D3

I love love gardens, botanical gardens, etc. Especially when water is involved.

[Dani8]

Me too, Stirchy. Very peaceful. That's right on Sydney Harbour. So are our botanical gardens

http://www.sydney.com/sydney-life/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Kris-Albert-Tremellen-Royal-Bot-Gardens.jpeg

I went to an orchid exhibit there several years ago. Oh My.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e6/a3/97/e6a39765284b59460e4b3d60bb452883.jpg

Where re the botanical gardens in NYC? I missed it

http://www.thecultureconcept.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Orchid-Show-31.jpg

[Stirchley]

Brooklyn or the Bronx. Brooklyn has a fantastic botanical garden. But no point schlepping to Brooklyn or the Bronx as a tourist. Way too much to see in Manhattan.

[Elessar]

Me too, I love water. No landscape is complete without a little bit of ponds or rivers.

The Peruvian meal looks fantastic, Dani.