I'm terrible at holidays and very much like my comfort zone. With that said I would probably go back to Japan to see more of the country. I went last year with my wife and a friend to Tokyo,...
I'm terrible at holidays and very much like my comfort zone.
With that said I would probably go back to Japan to see more of the country. I went last year with my wife and a friend to Tokyo, Hakone, and Osaka with little day trips to Hiroshima, Nara, Yokohama, and (my favourite because there was a festival on) Chichibu.
I was well outside of my comfort zone the entire time, but still enjoyed nearly every moment. I would love to see more, but would also enjoy that experience again. So anywhere really different from my European culture.
We went for a few weeks last autumn and I've got to agree with you, that's a country that I'd like to keep coming back to. We went all the way to Hokkaido and then slowly made our way through...
We went for a few weeks last autumn and I've got to agree with you, that's a country that I'd like to keep coming back to. We went all the way to Hokkaido and then slowly made our way through Tohoku down to Tokyo, making quite a few stops. Traveling across Japan is so convenient as well, especially for tourists. I'd love to go back and maybe visit somewhere radically different like Okinawa ^^
We ended up eating every meal twice, so many new things to try and almost all of it good, though I can't say I was a fan of the raw horse meat ;) It's not as expensive as I believed it would be...
We ended up eating every meal twice, so many new things to try and almost all of it good, though I can't say I was a fan of the raw horse meat ;)
It's not as expensive as I believed it would be either. We flew from Europe in mid-December for 2 weeks and it ended up costing about 1.500€ each all-in. We managed our own flights, hotels, and travel (Japan Tourist Rail Pass is a must!!), and ate waaaaaaaay too much!
I love travel. It's one of the most special things in my life (obligatory: other than my wife/kids, before I get something thrown at me). I feel like for every place I visit and tick off my list,...
I love travel. It's one of the most special things in my life (obligatory: other than my wife/kids, before I get something thrown at me).
I feel like for every place I visit and tick off my list, I add 3 though, and it's overwhelming how many places I still want to see.
I want to revisit the Netherlands, which I lived in for 2 years when I was young. While there, I'd like to hire/buy a cheap car and travel as much around central Europe as possible. Germany (went when I was a kid, but never as an adult), Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, etc etc. I feel like I could spend my entire life exploring Europe and barely scratch the surface. I'm heavily considering moving there for a few years and exploring it during that time like my life depends on it. Maybe get a cheap campervan and just live on the road for a year or 2.
I also want to travel rural Japan, having already done the usual touristy trip to Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka. I'd love to see the countryside, and some of the really old towns/villages.
I really want to see the north and south poles. Not necessarily the actual/exact pole points, but visit the Arctic and Antarctic. I find snow/ice stunningly beautiful, on par with how most people view beaches and mountains (I'm from a country that doesn't really get snow/ice but has endless beaches/mountains, so that's probably why).
Also Korea, Slovenia, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, Alaska, and I really want to seek out and explore remote islands. I'm fascinated by remote island life. The list goes on forever though.
I truly believe travel is one of the most important things a person can do in life. It exposes you to other cultures, customs and foods. It widens your knowledge of the world and all the different people in it. It makes you wiser each time you travel, and puts things in perspective for your own life, in both directions. It can teach you to appreciate the life you have versus some of those that struggle day to day, but if you live in a struggle yourself, it can also help you see that there are always options, and maybe open your eyes to a better life somewhere else.
Yes! I love travel as well, and I would like to go everywhere! Currently I would like to go to Tibet, New Zealand, and Scotland. Mostly it's the people that fascinate me. Landscapes are beautiful....
Yes! I love travel as well, and I would like to go everywhere! Currently I would like to go to Tibet, New Zealand, and Scotland.
Mostly it's the people that fascinate me. Landscapes are beautiful. Don't get me wrong. I love the variety, get stunned to speechlessness, and enjoy the epiphanies from sightseeing. But people...
I would rather hostel and backpack than take a cruise. I love seeing other people's reactions to famous sights. I'd rather spend a month living like the people in an area than have a luxury trip with guides.
I think it's for the same reason I love drawing/painting people and the things they do. Most of the time a mountain will wait for me to get around to it. But people are so fascinating and fleeting. Even the same person changes every minute and second, little by little...
I love meeting people when traveling too, which is ironic(?) because i'm a massive introvert when at home, and don't really go out or socialise at all (I used to when I was younger, but since...
I love meeting people when traveling too, which is ironic(?) because i'm a massive introvert when at home, and don't really go out or socialise at all (I used to when I was younger, but since having kids it just kinda stopped).
When traveling though, I love seeing how other people live, chatting to people and learning about the cultural differences, comparing our lives, hearing stories of what it's like to live and grow up there, etc.
Honestly, The Netherlands is one of my favourite places on earth, and my wife and I plan on going there for a solid 3-6mths while our kids are still small and not in school just so we can trial it...
Honestly, The Netherlands is one of my favourite places on earth, and my wife and I plan on going there for a solid 3-6mths while our kids are still small and not in school just so we can trial it as a potential place to live longer term (while doing lots of weekend/week long trips in the EU to figure out if somewhere else suits us more).
The people are amazingly nice, the culture is very laid back and relaxed (which suits us perfectly), the countryside is stunningly beautiful, and the location is perfect with so much of Europe at your doorstep and the UK just over the water. I really got along with everyone I met there, and to this day seem to get along really well with Dutch people in general. I was only a teenager when I lived there, so I'm sure lots has changed since then (20 odd years) as the entire world has changed since then, but I have a few Dutch friends here where I live and we talk about it regularly, and they say I'd still love it today and fit in really well so there's high hopes.
I too would like the Nordic region, although I think I would probably stick to Denmark or Sweden in summer and Finland or Estonia in winter. I live in Hawaii and a big snowy winter is something I...
I too would like the Nordic region, although I think I would probably stick to Denmark or Sweden in summer and Finland or Estonia in winter. I live in Hawaii and a big snowy winter is something I haven't seen in literally almost 10 years since I lived in Rhode Island, nearly half my life ago. I miss a proper winter... :(
Australia is definitely on my list. Besides having a couple of friends in Melbourne, I really want to take a trip into the Outback to check out the Birdsville Races. I have read a few articles...
Australia is definitely on my list. Besides having a couple of friends in Melbourne, I really want to take a trip into the Outback to check out the Birdsville Races. I have read a few articles about them and it seems like such a wild scene, almost like the Kentucky Derby meets Mos Eisley.
The Maldives is another spot I'd like to see some day. The capital city of Male is so densely packed that it must have some cool and unique things to discover. And the resort islands out in the atolls look incredibly beautiful and serene.
I was originally from the Blue Mountains, then Sydney, then ... all over Australia and the world. The Blue Mountains is definitely a special place, and will always be dear to me. There's just...
I was originally from the Blue Mountains, then Sydney, then ... all over Australia and the world. The Blue Mountains is definitely a special place, and will always be dear to me. There's just something about the bush up there, the sheer abundance of animal life, the sounds and smells. I'm sure lots of it is nostalgia, but no matter where I am in the world, I always miss there. Pity there's almost zero work there to survive without commuting 1-2 hours to Penrith/Parra/Sydney, and the way the Government rehomes all their "drug problems" up there to "clean up" Sydney rather than actually give them the medical and mental assistance they require.
I have always been mesmerized by the White Cliffs of Dover. I would love to go see them in person to really soak it all in. With how beautiful pictures make it. IRL has to be amazing.
I have always been mesmerized by the White Cliffs of Dover. I would love to go see them in person to really soak it all in. With how beautiful pictures make it. IRL has to be amazing.
California is not as lily white as much of the US. Roughly 1/3 white, 1/3 hispanic, 1/3 asian. It's pretty diverse and relatively close if you are American. As a white person you will be a...
California is not as lily white as much of the US. Roughly 1/3 white, 1/3 hispanic, 1/3 asian. It's pretty diverse and relatively close if you are American. As a white person you will be a minority but so is everyone else.
Asia and Latin America are also options. More language issues, of course; some Americans learn Spanish in high school so that helps in the latter but pretty much nothing can prepare you for Asia. You will (initially) feel very much like a foreigner and a "fish out of water" but it will not kill you. It's educational, liberating and growing!
I travel quite a bit for work - mostly to Asia but also EU and around the US; my wife is Mexican. Nearly 30 years of traveling. So I'm "already traveling" to new places regularly and most parts of the world feel no different than next door in terms of comfort zone now. They do have radically different cultures than the US in many cases but you learn from them and they become familiar friends.
One trick if you travel for work: add an extra day or weekend to the beginning and/or end of the trick for "personal time" while on-travel. Then do all the touristy things on those days. Generally it costs your employer little or nothing to change the travel day - sometimes you can even make it cheaper for them. Especially with Asia travel where you have major jet lag to deal with, demanding extra days is pretty common and accepted.
On occasion I've taken my wife on business travel as well - the hotel is paid so it's just the plane ticket, and if you travel a lot that can often be free via frequent-flyer programs.
I've never really had the chance to travel. I've been to California a few times (friends paid most of the expenses) and I went to Wisconsin when I was younger, but that's about it. Budget's never...
I've never really had the chance to travel. I've been to California a few times (friends paid most of the expenses) and I went to Wisconsin when I was younger, but that's about it. Budget's never really been good enough outside of that.
That being said, lately I've been fantasizing about going on a road trip sometime to nowhere in particular and seeing where I end up. Either that or going to Italy or Germany.
I'm terrible at holidays and very much like my comfort zone.
With that said I would probably go back to Japan to see more of the country. I went last year with my wife and a friend to Tokyo, Hakone, and Osaka with little day trips to Hiroshima, Nara, Yokohama, and (my favourite because there was a festival on) Chichibu.
I was well outside of my comfort zone the entire time, but still enjoyed nearly every moment. I would love to see more, but would also enjoy that experience again. So anywhere really different from my European culture.
Suggestions are welcome!!
We went for a few weeks last autumn and I've got to agree with you, that's a country that I'd like to keep coming back to. We went all the way to Hokkaido and then slowly made our way through Tohoku down to Tokyo, making quite a few stops. Traveling across Japan is so convenient as well, especially for tourists. I'd love to go back and maybe visit somewhere radically different like Okinawa ^^
We ended up eating every meal twice, so many new things to try and almost all of it good, though I can't say I was a fan of the raw horse meat ;)
It's not as expensive as I believed it would be either. We flew from Europe in mid-December for 2 weeks and it ended up costing about 1.500€ each all-in. We managed our own flights, hotels, and travel (Japan Tourist Rail Pass is a must!!), and ate waaaaaaaay too much!
I love travel. It's one of the most special things in my life (obligatory: other than my wife/kids, before I get something thrown at me).
I feel like for every place I visit and tick off my list, I add 3 though, and it's overwhelming how many places I still want to see.
I want to revisit the Netherlands, which I lived in for 2 years when I was young. While there, I'd like to hire/buy a cheap car and travel as much around central Europe as possible. Germany (went when I was a kid, but never as an adult), Belgium, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, etc etc. I feel like I could spend my entire life exploring Europe and barely scratch the surface. I'm heavily considering moving there for a few years and exploring it during that time like my life depends on it. Maybe get a cheap campervan and just live on the road for a year or 2.
I also want to travel rural Japan, having already done the usual touristy trip to Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka. I'd love to see the countryside, and some of the really old towns/villages.
I really want to see the north and south poles. Not necessarily the actual/exact pole points, but visit the Arctic and Antarctic. I find snow/ice stunningly beautiful, on par with how most people view beaches and mountains (I'm from a country that doesn't really get snow/ice but has endless beaches/mountains, so that's probably why).
Also Korea, Slovenia, Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, Alaska, and I really want to seek out and explore remote islands. I'm fascinated by remote island life. The list goes on forever though.
I truly believe travel is one of the most important things a person can do in life. It exposes you to other cultures, customs and foods. It widens your knowledge of the world and all the different people in it. It makes you wiser each time you travel, and puts things in perspective for your own life, in both directions. It can teach you to appreciate the life you have versus some of those that struggle day to day, but if you live in a struggle yourself, it can also help you see that there are always options, and maybe open your eyes to a better life somewhere else.
Yes! I love travel as well, and I would like to go everywhere! Currently I would like to go to Tibet, New Zealand, and Scotland.
Mostly it's the people that fascinate me. Landscapes are beautiful. Don't get me wrong. I love the variety, get stunned to speechlessness, and enjoy the epiphanies from sightseeing. But people...
I would rather hostel and backpack than take a cruise. I love seeing other people's reactions to famous sights. I'd rather spend a month living like the people in an area than have a luxury trip with guides.
I think it's for the same reason I love drawing/painting people and the things they do. Most of the time a mountain will wait for me to get around to it. But people are so fascinating and fleeting. Even the same person changes every minute and second, little by little...
I love meeting people when traveling too, which is ironic(?) because i'm a massive introvert when at home, and don't really go out or socialise at all (I used to when I was younger, but since having kids it just kinda stopped).
When traveling though, I love seeing how other people live, chatting to people and learning about the cultural differences, comparing our lives, hearing stories of what it's like to live and grow up there, etc.
Honestly, The Netherlands is one of my favourite places on earth, and my wife and I plan on going there for a solid 3-6mths while our kids are still small and not in school just so we can trial it as a potential place to live longer term (while doing lots of weekend/week long trips in the EU to figure out if somewhere else suits us more).
The people are amazingly nice, the culture is very laid back and relaxed (which suits us perfectly), the countryside is stunningly beautiful, and the location is perfect with so much of Europe at your doorstep and the UK just over the water. I really got along with everyone I met there, and to this day seem to get along really well with Dutch people in general. I was only a teenager when I lived there, so I'm sure lots has changed since then (20 odd years) as the entire world has changed since then, but I have a few Dutch friends here where I live and we talk about it regularly, and they say I'd still love it today and fit in really well so there's high hopes.
I too would like the Nordic region, although I think I would probably stick to Denmark or Sweden in summer and Finland or Estonia in winter. I live in Hawaii and a big snowy winter is something I haven't seen in literally almost 10 years since I lived in Rhode Island, nearly half my life ago. I miss a proper winter... :(
Australia is definitely on my list. Besides having a couple of friends in Melbourne, I really want to take a trip into the Outback to check out the Birdsville Races. I have read a few articles about them and it seems like such a wild scene, almost like the Kentucky Derby meets Mos Eisley.
The Maldives is another spot I'd like to see some day. The capital city of Male is so densely packed that it must have some cool and unique things to discover. And the resort islands out in the atolls look incredibly beautiful and serene.
I was originally from the Blue Mountains, then Sydney, then ... all over Australia and the world. The Blue Mountains is definitely a special place, and will always be dear to me. There's just something about the bush up there, the sheer abundance of animal life, the sounds and smells. I'm sure lots of it is nostalgia, but no matter where I am in the world, I always miss there. Pity there's almost zero work there to survive without commuting 1-2 hours to Penrith/Parra/Sydney, and the way the Government rehomes all their "drug problems" up there to "clean up" Sydney rather than actually give them the medical and mental assistance they require.
I have always been mesmerized by the White Cliffs of Dover. I would love to go see them in person to really soak it all in. With how beautiful pictures make it. IRL has to be amazing.
My wife and I really wanna go somewhere not white. I would love to truly feel like a foreigner.
California is not as lily white as much of the US. Roughly 1/3 white, 1/3 hispanic, 1/3 asian. It's pretty diverse and relatively close if you are American. As a white person you will be a minority but so is everyone else.
Asia and Latin America are also options. More language issues, of course; some Americans learn Spanish in high school so that helps in the latter but pretty much nothing can prepare you for Asia. You will (initially) feel very much like a foreigner and a "fish out of water" but it will not kill you. It's educational, liberating and growing!
I travel quite a bit for work - mostly to Asia but also EU and around the US; my wife is Mexican. Nearly 30 years of traveling. So I'm "already traveling" to new places regularly and most parts of the world feel no different than next door in terms of comfort zone now. They do have radically different cultures than the US in many cases but you learn from them and they become familiar friends.
One trick if you travel for work: add an extra day or weekend to the beginning and/or end of the trick for "personal time" while on-travel. Then do all the touristy things on those days. Generally it costs your employer little or nothing to change the travel day - sometimes you can even make it cheaper for them. Especially with Asia travel where you have major jet lag to deal with, demanding extra days is pretty common and accepted.
On occasion I've taken my wife on business travel as well - the hotel is paid so it's just the plane ticket, and if you travel a lot that can often be free via frequent-flyer programs.
I've never really had the chance to travel. I've been to California a few times (friends paid most of the expenses) and I went to Wisconsin when I was younger, but that's about it. Budget's never really been good enough outside of that.
That being said, lately I've been fantasizing about going on a road trip sometime to nowhere in particular and seeing where I end up. Either that or going to Italy or Germany.