Discussion
B17NNS said:
Right, I'm 33, recently out of a 10 year relationship. Need to go and erm find myself.
The idea of seeing a bit of the world appeals and scares me in equal amounts.
Who's done it. Any regrets? Where to go? Where to avoid? What to take?
Any help or advice greatly received.
I would recommend the former soviet states. Ukraine is exceptional. Women are at their cheapest, and a lot are very hot!The idea of seeing a bit of the world appeals and scares me in equal amounts.
Who's done it. Any regrets? Where to go? Where to avoid? What to take?
Any help or advice greatly received.
But for a bit of trekking while travelling, may I recommend the silk road.
I travelled from Islamabad across the Karakorum to Kashgar then up to Urumqi with a bit of climbing in Tian Shan. Was fantastic. Lots of history and great variety of people, all friendly.
I could not recommend this highly enough for a bit of getting away from it all.
Some pics
EDIT- Why can't I get the pics to show?!!!
Edited by elster on Sunday 28th December 21:05
donutsina911 said:
Vietnam looks worth a look after tonight's topgear 
Was thinking that myself.Seen a few 'Round the world' tickets for about £1k-£1.5k here www.roundtheworldexperts.co.uk.
A friend of a friend did it a few years back, will pick his brains next time I see him. Think he did Thailand and Oz.
elster said:
B17NNS said:
Right, I'm 33, recently out of a 10 year relationship. Need to go and erm find myself.
The idea of seeing a bit of the world appeals and scares me in equal amounts.
Who's done it. Any regrets? Where to go? Where to avoid? What to take?
Any help or advice greatly received.
I would recommend the former soviet states. Ukraine is exceptional. Women are at their cheapest, and a lot are very hot!The idea of seeing a bit of the world appeals and scares me in equal amounts.
Who's done it. Any regrets? Where to go? Where to avoid? What to take?
Any help or advice greatly received.
B17NNS said:
Right, I'm 33, recently out of a 10 year relationship. Need to go and erm find myself.
The idea of seeing a bit of the world appeals and scares me in equal amounts.
Who's done it. Any regrets? Where to go? Where to avoid? What to take?
Any help or advice greatly received.
I left in '89, aged 29, after circumstances very similar to yours, broken relationship, betrayal etc. Plus I was sick of the daily grind and tedium of factory life.The idea of seeing a bit of the world appeals and scares me in equal amounts.
Who's done it. Any regrets? Where to go? Where to avoid? What to take?
Any help or advice greatly received.
Plan was to backpack round the world, beginning with thumbing down to Greece, and taking it from there, no fixed plans. I eventually flew from Athens to Bangladesh, and then overland from there through Nepal, India, (30th birthday at the Taj Mahal) Sri Lanka, over to S,pore, Malaysia, and I got as far as Phuket, in Thailand, and came to a screeching halt for a year.
I then ran out of money, and went job hunting in Singapore.
12 years later I moved back to the UK.
I still ask myself why......
Well, you could go to Canada...
Or the US...
Or Peru...
Or Chile...
Or New Zealand...
Or Australia...
Or all of them in one go
Seriously though, if you've got the opportunity, take it. My only piece of advice would be to make sure you had a decent wedge left or a job lined up waiting for you when you get back
Oh, and I can recommend Travelbag for sorting flight itineraries out
Oodles more pics here if you fancy some inspiration
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingbadger/collecti...
Or the US...
Or Peru...
Or Chile...
Or New Zealand...
Or Australia...
Or all of them in one go
Seriously though, if you've got the opportunity, take it. My only piece of advice would be to make sure you had a decent wedge left or a job lined up waiting for you when you get back
Oh, and I can recommend Travelbag for sorting flight itineraries out
Oodles more pics here if you fancy some inspiration
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingbadger/collecti...
Edited by Famous Graham on Sunday 28th December 21:08
I did the Garden Route in South Africa, then down from Bangkok to Singapore, through Australia and then New Zealand about seven years ago. Best thing I've ever done. We bought a battered old Ford Falcon in Cairns (WHV962 where are you now?), filled it with camping gear and then drove it down to Sydney. Great fun. Just point it south and see what happens...no plan as such, just drive, find places, do stuff and then find somewhere to pitch the tent.
Nice to get home at the end of it all, but after about two days I wanted to go away again! Still get flashbacks to random moments and it always raises a smile. I have plenty of friends who never did it and are now in the position where they can't (kids etc), so I'm thankful I went away when I had the chance. I'd love to do it again one day.
Nice to get home at the end of it all, but after about two days I wanted to go away again! Still get flashbacks to random moments and it always raises a smile. I have plenty of friends who never did it and are now in the position where they can't (kids etc), so I'm thankful I went away when I had the chance. I'd love to do it again one day.
Just abre in mind that in "finding yourself" you'll also be finding hundreds of thousands of European, American, Aus and Canadians on years out. Sometimes seems the whole planet is following the same "Lonely planet" itinery.
That's fine but can be a little bit impersonal, and personally I prefer the route less troden to fighting the pack at the five stops on the "round the world" airline ticket destinations.
Don't take too much stuff, but have lots of money. Be prepared to spend a third of your time planning, doing admin etc to get yourself round the place. Buy any guide book that isn't the lonely planet. It's the starbucks of the guidebook world. Don't discount the small group tours either (from the likes of Explore! Adventure Company, Imaginative Traveller, Intrepid, G.A.P., Dragomann etc) although organised, they are an easy way to travel. Your share the cost of a guide and transport with a group, hotels are negiated in bulk and everything's organised. Pick the tour carefully and you'll get the expertise of a local and an easy life for a few weeks.
That's fine but can be a little bit impersonal, and personally I prefer the route less troden to fighting the pack at the five stops on the "round the world" airline ticket destinations.
Don't take too much stuff, but have lots of money. Be prepared to spend a third of your time planning, doing admin etc to get yourself round the place. Buy any guide book that isn't the lonely planet. It's the starbucks of the guidebook world. Don't discount the small group tours either (from the likes of Explore! Adventure Company, Imaginative Traveller, Intrepid, G.A.P., Dragomann etc) although organised, they are an easy way to travel. Your share the cost of a guide and transport with a group, hotels are negiated in bulk and everything's organised. Pick the tour carefully and you'll get the expertise of a local and an easy life for a few weeks.
I've not been but have just been made redundant so have a bit of money and am going next year, the plan is to stay out indefinately, I am certainly not going to pay £1-1.5k for a round the world ticket that restricts my time in an area, I am going for a bit of freedom after all. Air Asia is the easyjet of Asia too, and you can get a Malaysia to UK ticket for about £200 now, so I wouldn't want to fork out that huge amount up front.
My only preparation is getting a motorbike licence (Top Gear episode amplified that need!) and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course, which should allow me to earn money whilst I go around.
I was umming and arring about going to Israel first to learn Krav Maga, then Thailand, then Japan, then Australia (already have a 1 year working holiday visa) then surrounding countries (New Zealand, Fiji) then back around Asia.
My only preparation is getting a motorbike licence (Top Gear episode amplified that need!) and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course, which should allow me to earn money whilst I go around.
I was umming and arring about going to Israel first to learn Krav Maga, then Thailand, then Japan, then Australia (already have a 1 year working holiday visa) then surrounding countries (New Zealand, Fiji) then back around Asia.
Xaero said:
I've not been but have just been made redundant so have a bit of money and am going next year, the plan is to stay out indefinately, I am certainly not going to pay £1-1.5k for a round the world ticket that restricts my time in an area, I am going for a bit of freedom after all. Air Asia is the easyjet of Asia too, and you can get a Malaysia to UK ticket for about £200 now, so I wouldn't want to fork out that huge amount up front.
My only preparation is getting a motorbike licence (Top Gear episode amplified that need!) and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course, which should allow me to earn money whilst I go around.
I was umming and arring about going to Israel first to learn Krav Maga, then Thailand, then Japan, then Australia (already have a 1 year working holiday visa) then surrounding countries (New Zealand, Fiji) then back around Asia.
Isreal is usually the last place to go, as the Isreali visa isn't exactly popular in your passport... (though I believe you can as for your passport not to be stamped). Don't forget the cost of travel insurance, if you want to ride bikes abroad it will be expensive.My only preparation is getting a motorbike licence (Top Gear episode amplified that need!) and a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course, which should allow me to earn money whilst I go around.
I was umming and arring about going to Israel first to learn Krav Maga, then Thailand, then Japan, then Australia (already have a 1 year working holiday visa) then surrounding countries (New Zealand, Fiji) then back around Asia.
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