Traveling round the world

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

Myself and a friend have been throwing the idea about quite a bit and its sounding more and more possible, were looking at Jan 09 as a starting date and back before September 09

a rough list of countries is:
Aus, Cambodia,Canada,Cook Islands,Cuba,Fiji,Guadaloupe,Hong Kong, India, Indonesia,NZ,Singapoure,South africa, Thailand,US,Vietnam

Obviously we couldnt do all of these but we would like to do a fair few.

What im after is any experiences you guys have had of these countries and prehapse some others we could visit along the way, what kind of costs are we looking at etc etc...

Just anything at all that will helo us out will be good to know Thumbs Up

cheers muchly

c_dug
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Shay HTFC · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Karma :

Word of advice: If for some reason women with big voiceboxes turn you on, don't go to Thailand.
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Whosthedaddy · Super Spammer Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Karma :

The wifes grandparents are doing a round the world cruise next Jan. Lasts for 4 months and the itinerary is fantastic! Mind you, it is costing them £15,000.
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lofty · Spanner Monkey Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Karma :

Are you planning on working through a holiday company that does sort of 'round the world trips' or are you just going to decide on a few places and book flights etc? I had a friend that did that, and it ended up costing him a lot, and in hindsight he would much rather have worked through a travel agent that specialises in 'exploration' sorts of holidays. If you are doing it all separately it will cost a bomb, I might be going to NZ for a month at xmas, and the cheapest flight I have found is about 900quid.

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

A few companies do round the world flights, basicly for one smallish payment you get 6 or 7 flights, i think we figured if we do all the major journeys by plane and the rest by train/coach we should be able to keep prices down a bit...

c_dug
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GhostRider · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Karma :

craigie b · Citizen Smith Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Karma :

Vietnam is an amazing country, well worth visiting.

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

thegubner · World Chat Champion Joined: 25 Mar 2007 Karma :

hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I've not been to either place myself, but I would say Cook Islands and Fiji are pretty much of the same thing.

So unless you specifically had reasons for going to both (such as making lots of friends from both places whilst visiting New Zealand), you'd be as well spending a little time at one or the other, rather than both, as it would be expensive to venture from one or the other, most of the flights are generated from Oz or NZ.

Personally, I'd go for the Cook Islands, less developed tourist-wise, probably.

Polynesians: very nice, hospitable people*; small towns and villages, lots of sea and sun.

*in their own homes. In NZ they can be a bit "moody" cos the more urbanised society tends to make them bolshy with drink and gang-competition, but for the most part, still very hospitable, in the right environment. Get them in their own homes, in a sunny tropical place, instead of a stressed-inducing more so-called "sophisticated" environment like Auckland or Wellington, and Polynesians are some of the most charming people you can meet.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

haha well this is where me and my friend are having a bit of a clash, hed rather go to more developed places such as aukland and wellington and hence countries like the US and canada being there, personally id rather go to the more remote and less touristic places, we seem to be compromising fairly well so far so we shall see how it goes...

c_dug
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hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Personally (although I love the place myself) I'd counsel people like you who want to experience the proper feel of the place, to avoid most of the Auckland tourist experiences (and even more so Wellington) as other than just landing-on-plane places.

The stuff in between is much more interesting for tourists, and you can get a better feel for the life of the people in smaller towns. Life in Auckland is like that of smaller towns, but its much more stressful due to being more "cosmopolitan" ... you have to have lived there first to appreciate it : Auckland, to me, is totally "home" - its like London but with better beaches Laughing

The only thing that draws me to re-visit Wellington is the relatively new cultural museum at Te Papa (not been there yet). Other than that, Wellington is the sort of place I only go to get the ferry across to the other island (which is a very nice trip in itself).

Like I said, the Cook Islands (or Tonga or Samoa) would give you a better "off the beaten track" experience.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

Deckx · Nearly there... Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Karma :

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

What is it that is so amazing about Thailand, everybody says it yet nobody can actually offer an explanation as to why, other than, it's just....just...awesome...

Quite a lot of the truck drivers at work and others I hear talking seem to go there, often they go for months at a time, yet the only reason I've heard in conversation yet is that the idea is to go there, and pay a few quid for a whore to love you long time and follow you round all holiday... so is that the only thing that's so great about it? if you consider that great.

Shay HTFC · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Karma :

I think it's basically a Westernised Far Eastern country so people feel comfortable there in and amongst their student gap yearers and ex-pats Confused

It's more geared up for tourism than say Vietnam and Cambodia Shocked

The scenery is very nice though and with a little bit of money you can live a pretty relaxed lifestyle.
But yes, there is a lot of arselicking towards it over it's neighbours, mainly due to the fact that it's still exotic, but westernised enough so you don't feel like you're in the middle of nowhere I guess.

Real adventurers would live in/travel to Vietnam / Cambodia or even.. Burma Shocked

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Deckx · Nearly there... Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Karma :

Irezumi aka Reuben · Carrot Top Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Karma :

GhostRider · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Karma :

hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

hellkat · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Anyway, enough of my constant reminiscing of NZ, no doubt I will be there soon enough Rolling Eyes

If you are thinking of the States, I can only give advice about New England and the Deep South (both of which are great) ... Boston is worth a visit, in places, its like London with American accents, but when you get out of there, its even nicer.

Small town America is much nicer than large cities, although you have to experience some of the large cityness, cos that's part of the essence of America.

I've not been to New Orleans since the hurricane, but I highly recommend it. Southern food is, of course, wicked, and the music in the Deep South is catchy and toe-tapping (avoiding treacly tourist-country type music, unless you really love it).

My ideal "beaten-track" journey in that area would be to fly into somewhere like Atlanta (one of the hub cities on plane routes, I think) ... and travel from there down to New Orleans, and around the Gulf of Mexico to Houston, Galveston and down to Brownsville.

Try to spend some time road-tripping through the mid-West. The plains (although boring and VERY long to drive through) are fantastic if you get interesting weather conditions. You could consider going at tornado season, for a bit of redneck thrills.

I haven't bothered to do the Route 66/Harley thing: to me that seems hackneyed and boring, but there are plenty of other things to experience in the States which I would probably do in a car, rather than on a bike, strangely enough.

The Northwest Pacific coast: another area I'd like to explore a bit more. Oregon is *beautiful*, and obviously a lot of people rate the ride/drive up from California. Big Sur is supposed to be outstanding, and if the Oregon coast is anything to compare it with, then its well worth spending time up there (might be nice on a bike, probably lots of twisties).

I quite fancy investigating historical stuff on the East Coast, but I've not had a good look at what might interest me, what areas, etc.

About time you went out and got some travel books outta the library, young c-dug Mr. Green

... read a few Lonely Planets or something, I dunno how actually useful they are. I tended to just decide where I was going, get on a flight, and find a hotel on the way. Always makes for interesting travelling.
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Not nearly as interesting in real life.

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

DeckX, you just took objection to the link of whores and thailand without answering the question, of what is so amazing about the place other than the above, just that there's more to it, right, my question was what.....

Ghostrider, thankyou for that, somewhat explains why so many people seem to go on and on about it, but again doesn't actually specify what's so great that can't be got in other countries. Cheap food/drink/accomodation and friendly people, not particularly rare qualities in many other countries. Or is it just that that makes it amazing to you? What do you do when you're there other than eat, drink and talk to people? I'm just really struggling to see what's so unique about it. Guess i'll just have to go and find out myself, expensive way to get the answer though.

Deckx · Nearly there... Joined: 09 Apr 2007 Karma :

GhostRider · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Karma :

[quote="Phoenix"]DeckX, you just took objection to the link of whores and thailand without answering the question, of what is so amazing about the place other than the above, just that there's more to it, right, my question was what.....

Ghostrider, thankyou for that, somewhat explains why so many people seem to go on and on about it, but again doesn't actually specify what's so great that can't be got in other countries. Cheap food/drink/accomodation and friendly people, not particularly rare qualities in many other countries. Or is it just that that makes it amazing to you? What do you do when you're there other than eat, drink and talk to people? I'm just really struggling to see what's so unique about it. Guess i'll just have to go and find out myself, expensive way to get the answer though.[/quote

Yeah, its difficult to narrow it down though mate, sure you can go anywhere else in the world an get good food an a friendly atmos, but I;ve been to Germany. Cyprus, New York and the Dominican Republic and never felt the same qualities (and also never been as cheap in any regard) as to what I found in Thailand. I feel that when your out to most places on holiday, people are nice to you but it seems forced in an effort to have your money out of you, whereas in Thailand I never once got that impression, and actually enjoyed haggling a price because its the Thai way and they have a laugh with you even when your knockin them down.

What did I do? All sorts mate, Fed crocodiles, shot AK47's amongst other guns, swam with Sea Turtles and basking sharks, drank myself stupid (goes without saying really), saw some great live bands, went exploring round bangkok city in general and saw some well fucked up shit (you could spend days travelling round there), watched snake handlers milk venom from king cobras and generally wind other venomous snakes up , saw buddhist temples etc etc etc, but I dont wanna turn this thread into "Diary of my trip to Thailand" so I'll leave it on that note.

And perhaps you should find out for yourself, the only expensive part would be the flight. Money spent there is unbelievable. I took £500 and ate/drank/smoked as much as I wanted plus all the other stuff I did as well as paid all my hotels an that covered it all nicely.

Have fun!

GhostRider
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c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

Well i had my around the world trip dream smashed the other night, did a realistic sum up of figures and it was alot more than i could afford in the given time, prehapse in a few years when i have a little more money to play with.

However thailand does sound interesting and alot more affordable, did anybody go there on your own? i cant really see my friend being intrested in doing a month or so in thailand so it would become a solo trip.

What are costs out there like? Its about £700 for a return flight, what kind of costs would i be looking at for one months traveling around thailand, accomodation, food, spending money etc etc....

Just a rough figure would be good so that i have something to go on...

If the idea of a month in thailand sounds bad for whatever reason please let me know, not making any serious plans for the moment but if it sounds good i'll probably be tempted Laughing

cheers, you've been alot of help so far Thumbs Up

c_dug
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GhostRider · World Chat Champion Joined: 31 Jan 2008 Karma :

Evenin'

When I went last christmas I went with my mate, who's cousin met up with us at a later date, he was coming over for a month away on his own.

He chilled with us for a few days then went on his way to Phuket for the remainder of his trip. He had absolutely no probs gettin around on his own, his photos suggest he found good company over there, and thats easy to do as there are loads of people who go over on student gap years, and also plenty of ex-pats too.

Its the kind of place you can just walk into anywhere an spark a conversation with anyone else sittin in the place, you'll find you meet some of the most interesting people going. Besides, if you're really stuck for company just take a walk into any bar with girls dancin on the tables and get yourself a beer, I'll wager you wont be alone for more than 30 seconds before you have some pretty little thing come sit next to you an start talkin cack, just dont fall in love with em haha.

Price wise? Well, it all depends on how wild you want to go. I spent over £500 but that was only because I purchased a BC Rich Warlock NJ guitar for £250 over there, which would have cost me a shit load more over in this country, so was an offer I couldnt refuse. Neglecting that though, £500 paid for everything and anything I wanted, I wasnt even payin attention to how much I was spending because, well, I was on my Jollys so aint gonna waste time staring at the thickness of my wallet every 5 mins, just thought fuck it enjoy meself.
If your banging whores every night your gonna get through your money rather faster than average, but providing you keep your lust under control then £1000 will see you living like a king for the entire month abslutely no doubt about that whatsoever.

Hope this helps,

GhostRider
____________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.