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Which country to visit?

Here is my list of top spots (no particular order) based on my visiting or being stationed there:
  • Canada (outdoors and/or Vancouver)
  • UK
  • Basically most of Western Europe including the little burgs like Lichtenstein. ;)
  • Netherlands
  • Ireland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Austria ("put a shrimp on the barbie!..." I could not resist.) :p
  • Switzerland
  • Japan
  • Thailand
  • Philippines
There are countries that I've not been to but would like to visit- Australia, New Zealand

JamesMike said:
China
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Bring a respirator/filter? ;)
 
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Huntn said:
That my dear was a joke from Dumb and Dumber, lol. :D
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I was never able to force myself to watch that.

But back on topic.....

If you want to stay in the US, a tour of the old south would include Charleston, Mobile, and New Orleans.Charleston is quaint and beautiful. Mobile is the original home of Mardi Gras in the US. New Orleans has great food.

Then there's Cheyenne Frontier Days if you want to visit the west.

I'd definitely visit some places closer to home before traveling abroad. People don't know what they have in their own back yard. It's like when my daughter and I were in Paris a few years ago and stopped at Les Halles for lunch. I knew that it was a block away from the Centre Pompidou, but nobody I stopped could give us directions, whether I said Centre Pompidou or Beaubourg. And yes, I was speaking French - they were just not familiar with some of the amazing things in their own city.
 
Huntn said:
Here is my list of top spots (no particular order) based on my visiting or being stationed there:
  • Canada (outdoors and/or Vancouver)
  • UK
  • Basically most of Western Europe including the little burgs like Lichtenstein. ;)
  • Netherlands
  • Ireland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Austria ("put a shrimp on the barbie!..." I could not resist.) :p
  • Switzerland
  • Japan
  • Thailand
  • Philippines
There are countries that I've not been to but would like to visit- Australia, New Zealand


Bring a respirator/filter? ;)
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Surprised you listed Philippines.

I hate it here! Haha! Actually only Metro-Manila and Pampanga unless men like to bar hop and look for other extracurricular activities. Both places are a dump. Places like Baguio, Ilocos, and Palawan I'm cool with. Anywhere outside Manila with fresh air where the rivers don't all smell like sewage and less people.

From countries I've visited -

Japan
England
France
Spain
Austria

In U.S. -

California (Bay Area, Lake Tahoe, Santa Barbara, San Diego)
New York (Manhattan)
Hawaii (I suggest BIG ISLAND, much better than Oahu)
Florida (Orlando for the family)

If OP still can't decide, turn on your TV and tune to The Travel Channel. Avoid that Man v Food crap. Watch Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern, and Samantha Brown. If you don't have it, some of the episodes are on YouTube. If you have TubeMate (sideload the app), I suggest downloading them. Sam's episodes are older like a decade ago, but smaller files at 70 mb. Tony and Andrew range from 170 mb - 200 mb and non-HD. Looks decent on a small 720p TV. I stopped watching Chef Tony when he moved to CNN. I have about 20 episodes of my favorites from them from The Travel Channel.

Countries I want to visit but haven't -
More of Asia since I only visited Japan
Italy
Netherlands
Greece
Brazil
Africa (after watching Blended)

Again, if you haven't decided, tune in on The Travel Channel or go on YouTube to search for some episodes. Next to watching Bob Ross paint, watching travel episodes can be very relaxing too.
 
Savor said:
Surprised you listed Philippines.

I hate it here! Haha! Actually only Metro-Manila and Pampanga unless men like to bar hop and look for other extracurricular activities. Both places are a dump. Places like Baguio, Ilocos, and Palawan I'm cool with. Anywhere outside Manila with fresh air where the rivers don't all smell like sewage and less people.

From countries I've visited -

Japan
England
France
Spain
Austria

In U.S. -

California (Bay Area, Lake Tahoe, Santa Barbara, San Diego)
New York (Manhattan)
Hawaii (I suggest BIG ISLAND, much better than Oahu)
Florida (Orlando for the family)

If OP still can't decide, turn on your TV and tune to The Travel Channel. Avoid that Man v Food crap. Watch Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern, and Samantha Brown. If you don't have it, some of the episodes are on YouTube. If you have TubeMate (sideload the app), I suggest downloading them. Sam's episodes are older like a decade ago, but smaller files at 70 mb. Tony and Andrew range from 170 mb - 200 mb and non-HD. Looks decent on a small 720p TV. I stopped watching Chef Tony when he moved to CNN. I have about 20 episodes of my favorites from them from The Travel Channel.

Countries I want to visit but haven't -
More of Asia since I only visited Japan
Italy
Netherlands
Greece
Brazil
Africa (after watching Blended)

Again, if you haven't decided, tune in on The Travel Channel or go on YouTube to search for some episodes. Next to watching Bob Ross paint, watching travel episodes can be very relaxing too.
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Places like Baguio, Ilocos, and Palawan I'm cool with... Exactly! Most of my time in the Philippines was spent at Subic Bay Naval Air Station. I loved that base. Everything I needed was there, although we made excursion out into down to the Mexican place and male servicemen did seek female companionship in Alongapo, but I avoided that (happily married). :) Used to run from the BOQ up to the hospital on top of the mountain and back, passing the bat tree and avoiding the packs of monkeys. Diving and skiing was great as long as you stayed away from the mouth of the river. ;) Made a couple of trips to up to Clark AFB before the volcano trashed it. The country side was the best if you did not worry about the anti-govt rebels which were prevalent in the 1980s.
 
Solomani said:
I don't want to die inside a crocodile's stomach.
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They are not a problem - they are big and easy to spot (unless blind drunk). It's the little, creep-crawly things that will get you. So, a choice: death from a quick chomp, or slow, agonizing death from poison.

What greater adventure could you want!?
 
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“You can go to heaven if you want, I'd rather stay here in Bermuda." - Mark Twain

Strongly recommended.
 
I always felt Vienna was my favorite city until I had a chance to visit Venice, Italy. Both cities are intimate, allowing you to walk freely and marvel at the unique charm they offer.

Vienna is full of music and you can hear some beautiful music inside some beautiful churches. The architecture all around the city is ornate and majestic.

The architecture in Venice is a little more subdued comparatively but still magical. It is a unique experience to explore the labyrinth of the canals, each more picturesque than before.

Rome is simply epic and also another city that begs you to walk and explore the rich history it has to offer.
Paris is simply beautiful and part of its charm is that you'll always discover something new upon each visit. It has the energy of a big city, including its iconic attractions, and the quiet charm of hidden treasures nestled within the neighborhoods.
 
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"It's a small world when you have unbelievable t*ts, Roy."

^ Just couldn't resist. There's another Farrrelly Brothers reference for ya. An arguably funnier and better ending with more heart than any of the Dumb And Dumber films. Great soundtrack. "Bad Reputation" by Freedy Johnston is a great song while driving like Roy Munson did across Amish territory.

Back on topic...

I'm in Ilocos Norte right now. Badoc, hometown of my late-Grandfather. I'm basically like my avatar Kylo Ren right now honoring my Grandfather's name and learning about my maternal family's history and staying at his home (over 100+ years old) where he grew up. Very close to my Grandfather who died in Dec 2007. No wonder he lived up to 97. Quiet, peaceful in Badoc just like his personality. He never stressed hard. Always cool-headed, very friendly, and loved to eat his vegetables and made terrific pinakbet dishes.

If you ever visit Philippines, go to Vigan. One of the seven wonder cities of the world. Like the Filipino version of San Barbara/Solvang of PI without the beach. Comparing Quezon City, NORTH EDSA region where I reside and Ilocos is like comparing Hong Kong to Portland, Oregon. I prefer to be at Oregon. That's Ilocos or most towns outside Manila. Scenic. Peaceful. We can unlock our doors and nobody bothers us. No squatters. Rice fields all over. I can bike ride anywhere and ot is like renting bikes at Catalina. This province is where I plan to retire if I'm not in the San Diego region.

It can be a little boring since the closest mall is 45 minutes away. No mainstream restaurants. No bars or clubs . Not as many girls around bit better than city girls if you can find one. I live in QC and used to city life. But at my age or stage in my life, I prefer boring. For awhile, I wasn't proud being Filipino. I consider myself Californian or American first. That's where I was raised and lived for 28 years out of 35. But after visiting Ilocos, I sorta pride my 25% Ilocano blood more. I'm also quarter Bisayan on my father's side. But Ilocano and my maternal side relatives is where my heart is closest to.
 
Scepticalscribe said:
To be honest, Antarctica strikes me as the sort of place that would present an unseasonal challenge irrespective of when one paid the continent a visit. While I'd class myself as pretty widely travelled, this is not one destination that is on my list of places to visit.
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My grandfather went on a cruise to Antartica in the early/mid 1990's. He had traveled extensively and Antartica was the last remaining continent he had no visited. Going there I suppose was symbolic more than anything. It doesn't exactly seem like a destination with a lot of "local culture" :p.

I think the OP needs to be a little more specific about where he's from, where he's been, what his budget is, timeframe, traveling nationally or internationally, etc.

If he's looking for something tropical, you can't beat Bermuda- one of my personal favorites. Turks and Caicos is beautiful though a bit more expensive. In Europe, really anywhere you go has its pros and cons. It's very easy and cheap to hit multiple countries on one trip. I might not spend too much time France right now though :/ .

I've been through much of Europe, I've been through the Caribbean, to Israel numerous times, and as a New Englander, across much of America (strangely never California). The place I've always wanted to go is Africa- it's definitely on my bucket list. My dad used to go there frequently for work back in the 1980's through early 1990's. My brother did some volunteer work there as well. Aside from the politics, it looks like a gorgeous place.
 
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OLDCODGER said:
They are not a problem - they are big and easy to spot (unless blind drunk). It's the little, creep-crawly things that will get you. So, a choice: death from a quick chomp, or slow, agonizing death from poison.

What greater adventure could you want!?
Click to expand...
True. I don't want to go to bed at night in an Australian Hotel… and wake up in the middle of the night with a spider-the-size-of-a-rat on top of my blanket.
 
Solomani said:
True. I don't want to go to bed at night in an Australian Hotel… and wake up in the middle of the night with a spider-the-size-of-a-rat on top of my blanket.
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Heh! No, indeed. However, you are more likely to get a fatal bite from one hidden in your slippers (Funnelweb spider), although rare in built-up areas.
 
OLDCODGER said:
Heh! No, indeed. However, you are more likely to get a fatal bite from one hidden in your slippers (Funnelweb spider), although rare in built-up areas.
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Definitely good advice!

When I travel to the desert states of Nevada, New Mexico, or even when on vacation in Baja California (desertic part of Mexico)…. I always always shake my boots/shoes before I slip them on.

I'm no fool. I've read news of locals getting stung by small scorpions hiding inside dark-colored (black) boots and shoes.
 
Solomani said:
Definitely good advice!

When I travel to the desert states of Nevada, New Mexico, or even when on vacation in Baja California (desertic part of Mexico)…. I always always shake my boots/shoes before I slip them on.

I'm no fool. I've read news of locals getting stung by small scorpions hiding inside dark-colored (black) boots and shoes.
Click to expand...

In that case, if I were to tell you about red-back spiders found underneath country toilet seats, it might make you constipated. :)
 
filmbufs said:
I always felt Vienna was my favorite city until I had a chance to visit Venice, Italy. Both cities are intimate, allowing you to walk freely and marvel at the unique charm they offer.

Vienna is full of music and you can hear some beautiful music inside some beautiful churches. The architecture all around the city is ornate and majestic.

The architecture in Venice is a little more subdued comparatively but still magical. It is a unique experience to explore the labyrinth of the canals, each more picturesque than before.

Rome is simply epic and also another city that begs you to walk and explore the rich history it has to offer.
Paris is simply beautiful and part of its charm is that you'll always discover something new upon each visit. It has the energy of a big city, including its iconic attractions, and the quiet charm of hidden treasures nestled within the neighborhoods.
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Ah, yes. This post, @filmbufs exquisitely expresses exactly my preferences in such things. Paris, Rome, Venice, Vienna, you just almost cry with the beauty, culture, civilisation, and urbane sophistication of those effortlessly cool cities.

OLDCODGER said:
In that case, if I were to tell you about red-back spiders found underneath country toilet seats, it might make you constipated. :)
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Are you sure, @OLDCODGER that you are not receiving some sort of surreptitious stipend, or unrecorded retainer, from the Australian Tourist Board to promote this country/continent as a desirable and interesting destination?
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
Ah, yes. This post, @filmbufs exquisitely expresses exactly my preferences in such things. Paris, Rome, Venice, Vienna, you just almost cry with the beauty, culture, civilisation, and urbane sophistication of those effortlessly cool cities.



Are you sure, @OLDCODGER that you are not receiving some sort of surreptitious stipend, or unrecorded retainer, from the Australian Tourist Board to promote this country/continent as a desirable and interesting destination?
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Heh! If so, I'm doing a lousy job! Did I mention the dinner-plate sized bird-eating spider? :)
 
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OLDCODGER said:
Heh! If so, I'm doing a lousy job! Did I mention the dinner-plate sized bird-eating spider? :)
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Well, @OLDCODGER it must be said that your posts enticing people to visit Australia give a bestow a whole new dimension to my understanding of what constitutes attractive advertising, persuasive marketing, and seductive spin. As a strategy, it is certainly strikingly original.

Clearly, you must be on some form of retainer……..
 
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Scepticalscribe said:
Well, @OLDCODGER it must be said that your posts enticing people to visit Australia give a bestow a whole new dimension to my understanding of what constitutes attractive advertising, persuasive marketing, and seductive spin. As a strategy, it is certainly strikingly original.

Clearly, you must be on some form of retainer……..
Click to expand...


I wish! :) But thank you for the compliment! ('er indoors doesn't think I'm seductive - just sleazy)
 
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