I miss traveling

[gigatoaster]

Hello there

I had the chance to travel to 40 countries and my objective was to visit 100 by 40 years old. I guess I’ll have to wait for 50 years old.

In 2019, I wanted to travel once a month. I started with Cambodia, US and Philippines but then it stopped in March.

Fast forward to today, I have some free time to visit friends but it seems impossible: I can’t go anywhere. ?

I thought I would survive but it’s harder & harder.

Which destinations would you recommend for a trip in January? My first criteria is the least constraint, location I don’t mind.

Have you guys traveled recently?

 

[SVM_Neighbours]

I think that brave new world will delete any need of travel and you would only need to login to e.g. Metaverse.

 

[KaliYoni]

Set 1

• Malta
• San Marino
• Singapore
• Monaco
• Vatican

Set 2

• Syria
• DPRK
• Iran
• Bhutan

 

[wonderings]

I don't look at travel in terms of location, lots to do and see in your home country I am sure. I have been fortunate to have done a little bit of travelling, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, England, Scotland and Wales, Ireland, US, Antigua and Canada (home country). I am looking forward to just hitting the road in the summer and had west. Take what comes an enjoy the experiences that come along (I travel by motorcycle). All my trips have been enjoyable and hard/impossible to rank them, they are all so different and all so great to me.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Hello there

I had the chance to travel to 40 countries and my objective was to visit 100 by 40 years old. I guess I’ll have to wait for 50 years old.

In 2019, I wanted to travel once a month. I started with Cambodia, US and Philippines but then it stopped in March.

Fast forward to today, I have some free time to visit friends but it seems impossible: I can’t go anywhere. ?

I thought I would survive but it’s harder & harder.

Which destinations would you recommend for a trip in January? My first criteria is the least constraint, location I don’t mind.

Have you guys traveled recently?

Ah, this thread (and post) sing to me.

I have always loved - actually, adored - travelling and - for both pleasure, but, above all, for work, - I have travelled extensively (and have worked in three continents).

I used to think nothing of hopping on a plane and crossing two continents en route to where I worked at the time in the space of a day or two, and doing that regularly, every six weeks or so.

And now, for the past two years, for the first time in over thirty years, I haven't left my home country.

If I were younger, I would be knawing my knuckles in wild and intemperate frustration.

Instead, I thank my lucky stars that I have been blessed in my careers and have been able to see and do so much.

Nevertheless, I do look forward to - I can't say "a resumption", because I do not think, or believe that this is what will happen, but to the crafting and constrcution of a "new normal", one which also allows for extendive travel.

For, nothing, but nothing, compares with being able to see, and stand, and savour the atmosphere of a country or culture for yourself. No book, (and I'm an avid reader), no TV travel or documentary series, no online (pathetic) substitute.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I think that brave new world will delete any need of travel and you would only need to login to e.g. Metaverse.

What an appalling.....nightmare.

 

[wonderings]

I think that brave new world will delete any need of travel and you would only need to login to e.g. Metaverse.

Sad statement. Anything and everything virtual is a pale shadow in comparison to the real world. No video game is a replacement for the real thrill of anything in real life and will never be an adequate substitute.

 

[stephenschimpf]

My girlfriend and I have stopped traveling internationally since the start of the pandemic, but that means we travel more within the U.S., which is in many ways even better.

We've discovered how great Sedona and the surrounding area is, and have traveled there twice to do off-roading in a Jeep Rubicon, see the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Petrified Forest National Park, and to watch the Perseid meteor shower in incredibly dark, clear skies.

About a month ago we flew to Nashville, rented an SUV, visited Jack Daniel's and George Dickel, the moonshine places in the eastern part of the state, then went to Kentucky to visited the bourbon distilleries (I spoke with Jimmy Russell at Wild Turkey!), then made our way across country with our al-kee-haul stopping in Memphis for history and BBQ, Louisiana for Cajun food, Texas for Dealey Plaza, to try Whataburger, and steak in Amarillo, and then Albuquerque for a couple of days for Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul filming locations.

We just got back from four days in San Francisco to see the two unique Metallica 40th anniversary shows. Oh, and of course we do our usual trips to Las Vegas.

Since the pandemic started, we haven't gone on a cruise or traveled internationally, but still travel a fair amount.

 

[gigatoaster]

Thanks for your messages, everybody.

I won’t travel abroad in January, we can see the situation getting worst.

I will wait more, it’s been 2 years. I hope in April it would be possible to travel for my birthday.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Thanks for your messages, everybody.

I won’t travel abroad in January, we can see the situation getting worst.

I will wait more, it’s been 2 years. I hope in April it would be possible to travel for my birthday.

Well, Covid circumstances have also put me in your shoes, for I have walked in your moccasins on this subject matter.

In other words, I feel your pain; perhaps, by the coming April - my birthday falls during that month, also, and I love spring and Easter - matters may have improved.

I never expected to be confined to Our Isles for a full two years, and this evening, prompted by your thread (and posts), I wrote out a list (a list of longing) for myself of all of the countries I have visited, either personally or professionally.

 

[gigatoaster]

Nice nice. I wanted to ask you what are your favourite places…

For me, every time I go somewhere it’s my favourite place, haha! But there are few that I will keep in my mind forever: Tasmania, South Africa, Vanuatu & New Zealand.

My objective is to find a job in Australia or New Zealand next year to live there.

 

[wilberforce]

Nice nice. I wanted to ask you what are your favourite places…

For me, every time I go somewhere it’s my favourite place, haha! But there are few that I will keep in my mind forever: Tasmania, South Africa, Vanuatu & New Zealand.

My objective is to find a job in Australia or New Zealand next year to live there.

Well, I sailed there. 35 ft sailboat from Mexico via South Pacific. Not so easy working (legally) in NZ or Oz unless you have some special situation.
Favorite places: tropical south pacific and the Greek Aegean

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Nice nice. I wanted to ask you what are your favourite places…

For me, every time I go somewhere it’s my favourite place, haha! But there are few that I will keep in my mind forever: Tasmania, South Africa, Vanuatu & New Zealand.

My objective is to find a job in Australia or New Zealand next year to live there.

"Favourite" is something that is both extraordinarily subjective and subject to change (over life).

I have worked in some of the fascinating, challenging (yet terrifying) countries on the planet, and - in some odd way, they would be among my favourite places.

Does one mean physical beauty? Culture, history? That conjunction of beauty, history, culture and climate?

My parents loved Greece and Turkey, and, as a teenager, I was a passionate Francophile and could imagine nothing more wonderful than that I would spend the rest of my life in Paris.

 

[wilberforce]

"Favourite" is something that is both extraordinarily subjective and subject to change (over life).

I have worked in some of the fascinating, challenging (yet terrifying) countries on the planet, and - in some odd way, they would be among my favourite places.

Does one mean physical beauty? Culture, history? That conjunction of beauty, history, culture and climate?

My parents loved Greece and Turkey, and, as a teenager, I was a passionate Francophile and could imagine nothing more wonderful than that I would spend the rest of my life in Paris.

"Favourite" is also driven mainly by individual experiences. I lived with a local couple in a remote part of French Polynesia for several months, participating in their daily work, some of which was quite hard work and uncomfortable. This made a much more lasting and insightful experience than looking at pretty scenery. But it was my individual experience; another person may not have the same experience at all.
So now in traveling I try to search out life experiences, rather than appearances.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

"Favourite" is also driven mainly by individual experiences. I lived with a local couple in a remote part of French Polynesia for several months, participating in their daily work, some of which was quite hard work and uncomfortable. This made a much more lasting and insightful experience than looking at pretty scenery. But it was my individual experience; another person may not have the same experience at all.
So now in traveling I try to search out life experiences, rather than appearances.

Agree completely, and very well said.

Several years ago, I spent the best part of two years in Afghanistan, in a senior capacity with one of the EU missions in that tragic country, and, bizarrely and unexpectedly, I loved it, and came to really like the people from that country with whom I worked.

 

[Huntn]

Hello there

I had the chance to travel to 40 countries and my objective was to visit 100 by 40 years old. I guess I’ll have to wait for 50 years old.

In 2019, I wanted to travel once a month. I started with Cambodia, US and Philippines but then it stopped in March.

Fast forward to today, I have some free time to visit friends but it seems impossible: I can’t go anywhere. ?

I thought I would survive but it’s harder & harder.

Which destinations would you recommend for a trip in January? My first criteria is the least constraint, location I don’t mind.

Have you guys traveled recently?

Is your travel work related or are you free to travel whenever you want? I suppose traveling and visiting means more than visiting the airport in a country.

 

[gigatoaster]

Well, before I was living in Ireland. I found a website for cheap travels, for instance a direct flight Dublin-LA…cost 400€. There was a catch of course: it was Ethiopian Airlines. But that was before the crash and the airline was great actually, brand new 737 and empty because it was a new company (their ambitions at that time was to be as big as Emirates and Addis-Ababa a hub for travel between Europe & Asia & Africa).

Another exemple: 900 euros only for a SQ flight from London to Port Vila…but it was during the cyclone season…and some activities got canceled because there was actually a cyclone.

While I was working in Ireland, I unfortunately didn’t visit the country. I was just bored there, even though I had fun. But every time I was coming back from a trip, I was like “hum I should go on holidays again”. Which I did. I think was just “fleeing” and I could go like that every month for a few days…

I also traveled a little with work, mainly USA and in Europe for conferences. I was always taking extra-day to visit around.

I didn’t want to do “meeting room traveling”.

Then I moved to Singapore as it was my dream. I traveled a bit, too. Here also I took extra days to visit countries.

There was a “trendy concept” before Covid: “bleisure” or business leisure.

Thing is, I had the chance to study abroad and made a lot of friends abroad. I kept in touch and I was always lucky to be with locals. It makes the experience so much meaningful. I am also comfortable solo-traveling.

 

[smoking monkey]

Thanks for your messages, everybody.

I won’t travel abroad in January, we can see the situation getting worst.

I will wait more, it’s been 2 years. I hope in April it would be possible to travel for my birthday.

I also miss traveling but I've used this as a chance to dive into everything local. To take in as much as I can within a few hours of where I live. It has helped a lot, but I really miss sitting on a tropical beach at this very time of year. I miss my fave overseas restaurants. I miss the slow pace that comes with travel (well for me, I hate a packed itinerary).

 

[Huntn]

Well, before I was living in Ireland. I found a website for cheap travels, for instance a direct flight Dublin-LA…cost 400€. There was a catch of course: it was Ethiopian Airlines. But that was before the crash and the airline was great actually, brand new 737 and empty because it was a new company (their ambitions at that time was to be as big as Emirates and Addis-Ababa a hub for travel between Europe & Asia & Africa).

Another exemple: 900 euros only for a SQ flight from London to Port Vila…but it was during the cyclone season…and some activities got canceled because there was actually a cyclone.

While I was working in Ireland, I unfortunately didn’t visit the country. I was just bored there, even though I had fun. But every time I was coming back from a trip, I was like “hum I should go on holidays again”. Which I did. I think was just “fleeing” and I could go like that every month for a few days…

I also traveled a little with work, mainly USA and in Europe for conferences. I was always taking extra-day to visit around.

I didn’t want to do “meeting room traveling”.

Then I moved to Singapore as it was my dream. I traveled a bit, too. Here also I took extra days to visit countries.

There was a “trendy concept” before Covid: “bleisure” or business leisure.

Thing is, I had the chance to study abroad and made a lot of friends abroad. I kept in touch and I was always lucky to be with locals. It makes the experience so much meaningful. I am also comfortable solo-traveling.

I am fortunate, with 9 years in the US Navy, my wife and I got to see a lot of the Pacific, Japan and the Philippines, then with a career as an airline pilot, we traveled extensively, basically all of the US, substantial European travel, yet there are many more places on this Earth we have not visited than have.

 

[Macky-Mac]

I'm also among the "miss traveling" crowd. I'd hoped to resume but along came omicron......I've got several longer trips planned for places I've wanted to visit, so let's hope 2022 brings a return.....and hopefully by the end of March or April