The Travel Thread

[Misanthrope]

Decided to cut my Beijing visit a bit short. I'd originally planned to be there from Sunday until Thursday, but I think I'll head up on the Monday arvo now instead. Gives me a day for the Wall and a day to see some of Beijing, and that's about all I'm interested in.

Also gives me a day back here to finalize my affairs before I head to Shanghai for my flight home.

 

[LESStar58]

Love the US. Awesome country and (generally) awesome people.

Hated LA but loved Austin, Nashville, Chicagi and Wisconsin. It must be a mid west/southern thing but everyone was soooo nice. I can go back any time i want and people will put me up. Made so many friends.

Nashville is like another world. Leaves melourne for dead in regards to live music. The artists who play at places like Roberts are all world class musicians, singers and songwriters yet rely on tip money to get payed. No cover charge and they are not payed by the venues yet are ultra pofessional and better than any pub or barband youll see in Melbourne or Sydney.

 

[PJ]

Go to the Maitanyu? section of the wall. Less crowded and very pretty. Ming tombs are ok as well if you want something good out that way.

We did it with a personal guide, i can send you the details if you like.

On Tanzania Ngorongoro is brilliant as is Lake Manyara. We really enjoyed Tarangire as well.

If you have time we did a local day trip from Arusha to a village on the slopes of Kilimanjaro with a visit to a Chagga village and some caves and tunnels that they used in their wars with the Masaii. Was run by a local guy and called Nyange Adventures. His own company and really nice, professional guy. Very impressive.

 

[Misanthrope]

Thanks for the tips, PJ. I was thinking either Maitanyu or the section of the wall that's even farther out. Not sure I fancy a 10k hike in 35C, 80% humidity weather though :lol:

Tanzania, if it happens, will be part of a sponsored trip. I get to do a five day safari that includes the Serengeti, the crater, and a visit to a Masaii village. I'll be on cloud nine if I get it.

 

[soc123_au]

Do everything in your power to make Tanzenia happen Mis. Mrs soc did Kenya a few years ago. A week in Nairobi for a wedding and then a 2 week safari. She reckons it was amazing. She was there during the great migration, the photos are awesome.

 

[Misanthrope]

Do everything in your power to make Tanzenia happen Mis. Mrs soc did Kenya a few years ago. A week in Nairobi for a wedding and then a 2 week safari. She reckons it was amazing. She was there during the great migration, the photos are awesome.

I'm basically reminding them every 2-3 days that I am keen and have the free time. If they can confirm my spot, I'll buy a ticket tomorrow :lol:

 

[Dragon2010]

Less than one week for me now until I jet off.

 

[Pugzley]

Hated LA but loved Austin, Nashville, Chicagi and Wisconsin. It must be a mid west/southern thing but everyone was soooo nice. I can go back any time i want and people will put me up. Made so many friends.

Nashville is like another world. Leaves melourne for dead in regards to live music. The artists who play at places like Roberts are all world class musicians, singers and songwriters yet rely on tip money to get payed. No cover charge and they are not payed by the venues yet are ultra pofessional and better than any pub or barband youll see in Melbourne or Sydney.

 

[Dragon2010]

For me, I fly out Sunday. I get five days in LA before I depart off to Montana and get my room, drop off excess baggage then it's off to Vegas (supposedly). Someone invited me today to join them down there as they don't want to travel alone.

 

[kia ora storm]

Want to go to Vietnam in November ?...any suggestions on best places to go ?.

Definitely want to do Halong Bay and also thinking of going down to Phu Quoc for a week of nothing.

 

[Misanthrope]

Vietnam's my current front-runner for a base of operations in 2015 :crazy:

 

[kia ora storm]

Vietnam's my current front-runner for a base of operations in 2015 :crazy:

So what is your suggestion mate...where do I go on a 10 day trip.

 

[Dragon2010]

So what is your suggestion mate...where do I go on a 10 day trip.

Palestine.

 

[kia ora storm]

Palestine.

Something a little more tranquil...lol.

Vietnam is the go and need some suggestions...

 

[Misanthrope]

So what is your suggestion mate...where do I go on a 10 day trip.

I don't have any advice, as I've not made it there yet

 

[sportive cupid]

Ive been to Vietnam .
Was super impressed with the tranquility of Halong Bay .
Loved the old Asia feel of Hanoi ( which is the city closest to Halong Bay anyway so the two kinda go together ) It's an assault on the senses and you have to be prepared for something that's quite different from Aus and NZ ,but I found it to be a much more pleasant city than Ho Chi Minh City .The usual path seems to be from Ho Chi Minh up to Hanoi ,but I would suggest the other way around if Asia is new to you ..



In ten days you can't do much ,but consider internal plane travel because it's much safer now than maybe ten years ago.

Everyone goes to Hoi An and I agree with them .Its a pleasant ride from DaNang airport .It now has a few beach resorts I understand ( not so much when I was there several years ago) if you like that sort of stuff.

Try to get out and talk with the locals .Dont know about you but my knowledge of Vietnam prior to going there was the newsreels from the war .Talking to them( and a few returning US vets for me) gave me a surprising insight to Veitnam from the perspective of Vietnamese people .... Just confirmed me opposition to that war ,but also challenged my view of what it makes for happiness and a rich life. .
I loved Vietnam,but my teenage son found it confronting

Enjoy.

 

[kia ora storm]

Ive been to Vietnam .
Was super impressed with the tranquility of Halong Bay .
Loved the old Asia feel of Hanoi ( which is the city closest to Halong Bay anyway so the two kinda go together ) It's an assault on the senses and you have to be prepared for something that's quite different from Aus and NZ ,but I found it to be a much more pleasant city than Ho Chi Minh City .The usual path seems to be from Ho Chi Minh up to Hanoi ,but I would suggest the other way around if Asia is new to you ..


In ten days you can't do much ,but consider internal plane travel because it's much safer now than maybe ten years ago.

Everyone goes to Hoi An and I agree with them .Its a pleasant ride from DaNang airport .It now has a few beach resorts I understand ( not so much when I was there several years ago) if you like that sort of stuff.

Try to get out and talk with the locals .Dont know about you but my knowledge of Vietnam prior to going there was the newsreels from the war .Talking to them( and a few returning US vets for me) gave me a surprising insight to Veitnam from the perspective of Vietnamese people .... Just confirmed me opposition to that war ,but also challenged my view of what it makes for happiness and a rich life. .
I loved Vietnam,but my teenage son found it confronting

Enjoy.

Thanks for the tips...been to Thailand a few times so used to the culture shock.

Everyone is saying go to Hoi An so will definitely include it.

 

[Misanthrope]

The journey home begins in earnest this afternoon. Two hour train to Shanghai where I'll overnight and spend tomorrow.

Flight is at 1am on Sunday, so I'll be heading to the airport at 11 or so tomorrow night. Touch down in Oz at 8pm Sunday evening.

BRING IT OOOONNNN!

 

[Zoidberg]

So me and the GF are thinking about going over to NZ for the Auckland 9's next year and I was after some suggestions go things to do while we're over there. Not really sure how long we will stay so things to do in and close to Auckland is top of the list.

Thanks

 

[Ozzy]

If you have time and ability to get to the south Island, try Queens town and Milford Sound. On the North Island, Bay of Islands is okay and if you can take the smell of sulfur, Rotorua has some interesting sites. Good place to get a Hangi.