Anyone have recommendations for my next trip?
 

No I'm not "going to Hell" as some ask that I should. :)

The work here is up and down again and my passport is twitching. The "huge" wave of design work that was supposedly coming on in January seems mysteriously absent. The good folks at GE are asking that we ramp up but those that have been hired in the last 4 months have been twiddling themselves nervously hoping that they dont get layed off.

I, on the other hand would love getting another trip in so early in the year.

So...where have you been in Asia that you think was non-touristy but interesting? Where have you been in Asia where your head was not lopped off and you were not killed by a natural or political disaster? Where might someone crazy like me go for a few months to just wander around and learn about that area and those people? Where might I go that one doesnt need a million dollars to survive in common conditions of that region?

English speaking folks might be good as well but it's not required.

Japan...India...Malaysia....Korea...Russia...Hong Kong?

Japan is probably too expensive for a long trip but the 4 hours that I was there on the way to the Philippines, it seemed interesting.

India would be cool just because there are a few people that were here that I met through the years that I'd like to visit. That and looking for all those American programming jobs that were sent there might be interesting.

Malaysia seems interesting but not touristy from the quick research from the net. Not a common vaca destination but might be a cool place to visit.

Korea might be cool but there isnt much I know about it now.

Russia might be interesting in that mysterious "cold war" sort of way. There's a guy that works at the office from there that would rather die than go back but this would be just an exploration trip. :) Not going back to drink Vodka til my liver explodes ( although there is something that sounds kinda appealing about that too ).

Hong Kong...dangerously close to mainland China and those legions of cheap workers that make everything here. Have to look into that one more. It seems creepy for some reason but I'll give it a look.

And given the last few trips and the unintended consequences of political and natural disasters upon my return.....who should I jinx next (jinx NOT Jinx mind you )?

This is all in the pre-pre-prep stages as something may come through at work but my life is centered around travelling light. Thank you, "new economy".

All home items are bought and intended to fit into the car. The car fits into the secure storage unit here in Cincy. Inside a week everything can be wrapped up and another great adventure can be underway.

So what do you think? Where should the Slang curse hit next?

If you're not hell bent on a true Asian scene, how about working your way around New Zealand? It's coming to the end of their summer mind you, but Auckland is noted to be an up and coming city, there is a good mix of business and leisure in the populated parts of the Islands, they speak English, and the South Island offers some magnificent scenery. Doesn't seem overly expensive judging by the exchange rate ($1 NZ = 65 US cents) - B&Bs for around NZ$75 per room per night. Hire a trail bike if you want something that'll get you around fairly cheaply, mix car and bike for best of both worlds. Check out here for initial ideas and use the search engine for answering specific ideas.

Failing the above, China could be a good bet as an alternative - I'm in Shanghai myself at the end of March on business, but only for a couple of days. If you end up there and at that time let me know and maybe we can down a few beers! :beer: :guinness: :drunk:

That wasnt even on the radar but it sounds like a potential


Someplace bike friendly would also be cool. Biking daily has become a way of life now. A month of going without adds fat to me like crazy.

NZ is a bike target of mine. Nice call. I was gonna say Indonesia but you said you wanted to keep your head on your shoulders.

Looks like a nice place

Have either of you guys taken a bike on a plane? Would it be better to buy one there or send it before the trip? Any suggestions?

This bike is no hybrid fancy ass sexy smooth lightweight carbon fibRe racing bike, just a general all around transportation tool.

The wheels would pack easy enough and the weight isnt a real problem but it seems like a big PITA to get it there with me on the plane.

Just checked on the visas requirements. "No visa required for a stay of up to 90 Days." Another money saving detail :)

You can probably rent one there. It is simple enough to pack a bike for flight. You can have a shop do it or just grab a bike box from the dumpster behind the bike shop. Take the air out of the tires! (People on planes hate loud bangs) Pull the wheels and maybe your handlebars off. Pad it with your extra clothes and maybe some foam. Put the wheels in next to the frame. Make sure all the tools you needed to take it apart are there for reassembly. My father in law had a pretty extensive list for touring. Tools/ spare tire/ spare tubes/ short piece of tire for an emergency repair if you cut your last tire spare spokes etc... Depending on where you are though a credit card is your handiest tool. Leave the box at your first/last accomodation. Most international airlines don't charge to haul your bike unless things have changed in the last few years. It is a nice ego boost to get off the plane assemble your bike and go.

Adventure Cycling is a nice resource. If you really get the bug I can dig up some of the old guys lists etc... Makes it pretty easy.


From your link.
Bicycle Rentals.co.nz
52 Rutherford st, city, Nelson

Bicycle rentals offer mountainbike, touring bike tandems , city bikes trailers, panniers and much more. We have drop off points thoughout the country for one way hires and offer a buy back option which means we sell you a new or used bike and gear and buy it back for 50% of the cost at the end of your tour, as long as it is returned in good condition.

I have been to HK a twice ( befor the Chinese took over ) , it is on the list of places that I would like to get back to , Aus is up there as well .

Well, Sunsparkz did say she was lonely.http://www.cellar.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

Costa Rica. Or the Peruvian Amazon. Don't push your luck with the bird flu, it's gonna be all over Asia in a few months.

Hi Slang - haven't planed a bike myself, although met a guy transporting his by air to the Canary Islands last year. He used a purpose built carrier. Looked like an expensive option to me, and Griff has given plenty of alternatives - that sell and buy-back looks pretty intersting and even the one way hire would make sense as you could do a bit of cycling plus add car or trail bike occasionally (I was actually proposing a motorised bike to begin with - didn't click that you wre a pedalling man!) as a means to cover distance more quickly.

It sounds so good I might even end up trying it myself!

The only proviso I think will matter is that you're coming to the end of their summer and the weather may not be so kind as a result. I'd check this out before your visions of sunny days cycling turn into battles against wind and floods (well maybe not that bad but best to be clear on what to expect weather-wise.

Yeah, NZ would be on top of my list. Spent 2 weeks there last year. Very easy to get around. Rented a bike in Mapua (near Nelson) and spent one week exploring around the NW coast of the South Island. Lots of wineries and great beaches!

I also know some people running an ecotourism outfit out of Kho Samui, Thailand. They do bike & kayak tours.

Did you make a choice about this? I forgot to check in to the thread and I regret it.

I've officically pulled the trigger on re-assignment. After 10 months of promises and "optomistic assessments" of work coming, with minimal monetary results, I'm setting up in another city. I'd have loved to stay here and this company wanted me to stay but they just dont have the work for me.

It's frustrating to me because I actually believed that there would be work here for me "for at least the next four years". Silly me. There was a sizable pay cut to come here in the first place.

No, I'm not bitter.

It looks as though a trip at this point is not in the cards. The details that allow such things change so quickly though and are completely out of my control.

So what does that mean? I'll more than likely set up another trip, do the research, etc, etc for sometime later in the year.

Did you have a suggestion?

#1 Kurdish Iraq

#2 Bhutan

There's a guy at the office that's a fellow world traveller. He's going to Bhutan this fall, and pretty jazzed about it.

It seems that there are motorcycle rides across many Asian countries and are very popular with Westerners.

Not out of the question but sounds a bit "bhudda-ish" for me personally.

Iraq would be a definate GO but they are not issuing visas last I checked. They're silly about civies wandering around drunk with cameras in "war zones". :blush:

You can bet your ASS there would be memorable photos coming in from a slang trip to Iraq.

From the Iraq link - " that the distance between the Iranian people and their hideous regime is galactic"

Just for the record, this would appear to be true from the small number of folks that I've run into from there. Those Iranian online chatters are unconfirmed but have been consistently polite and curious about the English language and general conversation.

It seems that tourist visas ARE being issued now.


I've got to go there more than anywhere else.

Tourist visas were not being issued when the planning was going into the previous trip.

Now it seems like they are encouraging tourism.

Does it have to be Far East?

Mid-year could coincide with 'Le Tour' which is supposed to start in London this year. Get hold of a copy of 'French Revolutions' and try what Tim-boy did, but maybe 'post' as opposed to 'pre' - all that French scenery, food and wine, the effects of the latter two being suitably burned off each day in the saddle....heaven!

Good gods, man! Don't tell him to go to a civilized country! He could cause an international incident!!

That's OK - French farmers are always looking for an excuse to block motorways with their tractors - they'd probably treat him like a national hero!

BTW where's Bargalunan these days...? Ou ce trouve-t-il cet homme-ci?

This will be a little long but hang with me.


I'd like to visit most all countries that I can go and return with my photos and head still attached. France ( or Europe as a whole ) would be cool at some point. Maybe not now though.

Americans and this society here as well as other developed countries ( I'm guessing ) see their ways, customs and beliefs as the best in the world. That's fine and many times they each have a good reason for having this attitude. Even in my home country, I dont fit in well and it's somewhat of a problem.

When I visit third world countries they dont try to convert me to their ways. Most of the time it's very nice to learn about their way of life and even lifestyles but they dont pressure me or somehow expect that I'll jump into their culture and love it forever more.

Much of this may be because I'm willing to dig in and spend time with people of that country from a wide range of classes or income ranges. I dont make humor at their ways. This is how things are done here and that is their deal, not mine. That's a part of the appeal of going.

Those countries may appreciate my flexibility in exploring their way of life because to most Westerners, it's unacceptable in some way. They are used to having people reject their customs and lifestyles so they don't push it. In most cases they think that the US is nothing but the land of milk and honey and that life here is perfect all the time once you get here. They dont appreciate those things they have that the US does not. It's also those things that make my trips enjoyable.

When I go to Europe I wont be going on the "W Bush promo tour", I'll be going to take a million photos, to meet people and to have a good time. If I'm going to end up with people that are anti-Christian, anti-Bush, pro-all the shit that I dont support or agree with and they dont completely understand that I'm there to have a good time, not a political or religious movement and hassle me about all these things, I'll just move along.

The Frenchman in Manila was often out in the lobby of his hotel, the one of my choice there in Manila. He's a nice enough fellow but would continuously say things that were insulting or confrontational even if at a low level. He was often of the mind that I would not follow the rules of the hotel or that I was somehow incapable of understanding them. He was used to dealing with people that are different from me. People trying to rip him off or bend the rules.

If I go to France to visit, I'm going to go and do those things that **I** want to do (within the guidelines of basic respect and their laws ), eat those foods that **I** want to eat, and go to those places that most interest ME, not what "most people like".

It's my opinon at this time that Westerners ( and I am one and have a lot of experience with "us" ) in general are kinda pushy, think they know infinitely more than anyone else and they expect you to follow their suggestions and find it insulting if you dont value their recommedations. They dont know me and how weird I am and try to "help me" by steering me to things that " most people " like.

It's not been like that with the natives of the third world countries that I've gone to visit. Those people see that I learn and am interested in the ways and history of that country and they dont fuck with me when I want to do those simple things that interest me.

Like driving a tricycle or just wandering the streets to meet people with a translator.

Another one?

Precisely.

There was a flaming bag of carabao shit at the front step last week.

I take that as a message from Gloria. :)

Rock on Brother Slang !!!!
Tell it like it is !!

Its YOUR adventure , do just the hell what you want !!!

Sounds like you will enjoy wherever you go as you seem to approach the adventure of travel with an open mind and a desire to learn. There's as much (no, more) to be gained from taking inward experiences of a country and its people as much as taking the visual record.

You have a great approach, Slang, and maybe that's why it becomes difficult to decide where to go - because you probably know at the outset that you cannot fail to take and make enjoyment from any place you visit.

That's true.

Going places that dont normally see white Westerners is also a consideration of sorts as well.

There were villagers in Pakistan that had never soon a white guy in person. As much negative exposure as the US has and white Christians have in general having some positive experience is a good thing for everyone.

Having grown up in rural Pa and not actually meeting anyone non-white in person myself until age 13 or so....the exposure can soften harshness and open fairness with any specific group of people.

It's a start anyway.

There are clearly far more reasons to think that someone is an asshole than their religion, skin color, nationality or ability ride a bicycle in cold weather. :)

Like political party affiliation :blush:

I thought one of your requirements was a place where you wouldn't get your ass shot off?

Let me talk to a few people that have just recently been there. The northern region that is.

I'll take a look at this. I've not done any research into going to Iraq since about this time last year.