What's the best country in the world?
Discussion
Yep the downside to NZ is its distance from everywhere.
Oz is 4 hours, you can get to pacific islands in reasonable time, everywhere else is 12+ hours away.
Also means shopping in NZ is not as easy, prices are higher and range is limited, and sometimes when it sells out thats it, no more for ages. So we tend to shop internationally and import, more so than UK.
High street prices for things like TVs mean its often cheaper to fly to Oz and buy it there...
Oz is 4 hours, you can get to pacific islands in reasonable time, everywhere else is 12+ hours away.
Also means shopping in NZ is not as easy, prices are higher and range is limited, and sometimes when it sells out thats it, no more for ages. So we tend to shop internationally and import, more so than UK.
High street prices for things like TVs mean its often cheaper to fly to Oz and buy it there...
The Crack Fox said:
Norway (lived and worked there a few years ago) is lovely but the stuff many Brits value (eating out, cars) are prohibitively expensive. The weather in summer and winter is great, the inbetween stuff can be very grey and very depressing for long periods.
The UK is pretty damn good. I've lived and worked abroad and can see some places would be wonderful, but never quite as good as the UK. The sense of humour is almost unique, the mix of satire and self-deprecation is unlike anywhere else, and the sense of fair play still pervades in most places, then there's the BBC and NHS... I've been to 30-odd countries in my life but like it here best.
Some friends of ours went on holiday to Norway and lost weight as they couldn't afford to eat.The UK is pretty damn good. I've lived and worked abroad and can see some places would be wonderful, but never quite as good as the UK. The sense of humour is almost unique, the mix of satire and self-deprecation is unlike anywhere else, and the sense of fair play still pervades in most places, then there's the BBC and NHS... I've been to 30-odd countries in my life but like it here best.
Sounds great.
I don't know why so many seem to think the UK is crap in some way.
Dazed and Confused said:
Some friends of ours went on holiday to Norway and lost weight as they couldn't afford to eat.
Sounds great.
I don't know why so many seem to think the UK is crap in some way.
I spent a week in Alesund, doing some safety course for work, ten years ago. The bar over the road cost £18 for the cheapest thing on the menu, a burger. Pizza joint next door wanted £25 for their cheapest pizza. Sounds great.
I don't know why so many seem to think the UK is crap in some way.
RobDickinson said:
Yep the downside to NZ is its distance from everywhere.
Oz is 4 hours, you can get to pacific islands in reasonable time, everywhere else is 12+ hours away.
I remember first flying to NZ. We had a change of plane in Melbourne and I genuinely thought the stretch to NZ would be maybe 1 hour tops. Its just across the water you know..Oz is 4 hours, you can get to pacific islands in reasonable time, everywhere else is 12+ hours away.
3 hours later. 3 hours!! Thats like the UK to Turkey or Russia. Its miles away!
Can we have a list of what people consider essential criteria for 'the best country in the world'?
Mine:
1. safe: rule of law, generally trustworthy state institutions (government, police, etc)
2. free: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and all that jazz
3. clean: people generally take pride in their towns, villages, cities and make them look nice
4. low tax: because I am not a socialist
5. good education, healthcare
6. good but not excessive welfare system for the needy
I know that some of these are mutually exclusive. Some of the few places on the globe where the Venn diagram overlaps seems to be the UK and maybe Germany / Holland?
This from an expat who lives somewhere where the only criteria matched is number 4.
Mine:
1. safe: rule of law, generally trustworthy state institutions (government, police, etc)
2. free: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and all that jazz
3. clean: people generally take pride in their towns, villages, cities and make them look nice
4. low tax: because I am not a socialist
5. good education, healthcare
6. good but not excessive welfare system for the needy
I know that some of these are mutually exclusive. Some of the few places on the globe where the Venn diagram overlaps seems to be the UK and maybe Germany / Holland?
This from an expat who lives somewhere where the only criteria matched is number 4.
King Herald said:
Dazed and Confused said:
Some friends of ours went on holiday to Norway and lost weight as they couldn't afford to eat.
Sounds great.
I don't know why so many seem to think the UK is crap in some way.
I spent a week in Alesund, doing some safety course for work, ten years ago. The bar over the road cost £18 for the cheapest thing on the menu, a burger. Pizza joint next door wanted £25 for their cheapest pizza. Sounds great.
I don't know why so many seem to think the UK is crap in some way.
paua said:
It isn't common for a Kiwi to defend Aust, however, the chances of being killed & eaten by some animal in Sydney is somewhat less than that of some mad f
k in a van/car/truck running you over in London/Barcelona/Nice/Berlin or parking their plane in your office in NY.
Cheers
[citation needed]k in a van/car/truck running you over in London/Barcelona/Nice/Berlin or parking their plane in your office in NY.Cheers
Some Gump said:
paua said:
It isn't common for a Kiwi to defend Aust, however, the chances of being killed & eaten by some animal in Sydney is somewhat less than that of some mad fk in a van/car/truck running you over in London/Barcelona/Nice/Berlin or parking their plane in your office in NY.
Cheers
[citation needed]k in a van/car/truck running you over in London/Barcelona/Nice/Berlin or parking their plane in your office in NY.Cheers
Quick google - Guardian says since 2000 35 snake bite deaths for Aust, rather less than vehicular homicides I outlined above.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/2...
Gunshot deaths in the USA since the murder of John Lennon - 1.15 million (as at Dec 2015 - Rolling Stone Mag)
Edited by paua on Saturday 2nd September 00:48
Some Gump said:
Some lovely images.
What did they look like before photoshop? A few look really unreal to my eye.
Question is interest not challenge =)
Processing is a mix of getting it back to what it looked like that the camera didnt capture and a little artistic fun... What did they look like before photoshop? A few look really unreal to my eye.
Question is interest not challenge =)
Being in Hooker valley at the foot of mt cook for sunrise is an amazing experience, never ever get tired of that. Often accompanied by Kea's trying to run off with your things..
RobDickinson said:
Processing is a mix of getting it back to what it looked like that the camera didnt capture and a little artistic fun...
Being in Hooker valley at the foot of mt cook for sunrise is an amazing experience, never ever get tired of that. Often accompanied by Kea's trying to run off with your things..
Camped up during a sea kayaking trip in the Abel Tasman.Being in Hooker valley at the foot of mt cook for sunrise is an amazing experience, never ever get tired of that. Often accompanied by Kea's trying to run off with your things..
Sat in front of camp fire eating an apple pie. Felt a nudge to my arm, looked round expecting to see my girlfriend or our guide but instead it was a big old possum.
He had that universal look on his face that says 'hey that looks tasty can I try some?'
Thought I'd hand him a piece.. he liked it.
So we (possum and I) sit in companionable silence in front of fire sharing the pie.
Guide was not impressed when he came back from cleaning up fish for our dinner..
Nice memory for me though, I sometimes wonder how the possum is doing these days...
Ayahuasca said:
Can we have a list of what people consider essential criteria for 'the best country in the world'?
Mine:
1. safe: rule of law, generally trustworthy state institutions (government, police, etc)
2. free: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and all that jazz
3. clean: people generally take pride in their towns, villages, cities and make them look nice
4. low tax: because I am not a socialist
5. good education, healthcare
6. good but not excessive welfare system for the needy
I know that some of these are mutually exclusive. Some of the few places on the globe where the Venn diagram overlaps seems to be the UK and maybe Germany / Holland?
This from an expat who lives somewhere where the only criteria matched is number 4.
Interesting list. All depends on perspective.Mine:
1. safe: rule of law, generally trustworthy state institutions (government, police, etc)
2. free: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and all that jazz
3. clean: people generally take pride in their towns, villages, cities and make them look nice
4. low tax: because I am not a socialist
5. good education, healthcare
6. good but not excessive welfare system for the needy
I know that some of these are mutually exclusive. Some of the few places on the globe where the Venn diagram overlaps seems to be the UK and maybe Germany / Holland?
This from an expat who lives somewhere where the only criteria matched is number 4.
Take 1 for instance - if you've got some cash I think that's over rated.
Where I live the Police are becoming less corrupt.
Now I can still fast track my drivers licence by paying £50. Why should I stand around on a hot day filling out forms, driving a scooter round a load of cones and parallel park a car.
I've been driving for 30 years. I'd rather bypass that and pay a bit of cash.
However the days are gone here where if you were caught with some coke you could bribe your way out of prison. That's a shame.
For me, just my opinion, your list makes for boring countries not the best.
People keep mentioning Australia as one of the best. Really?
Can't buy a SIM card without ID, no dogs in the beach, no drinking on the beach, no this, no that.. best or just dull?
Singapore and Switzerland probable tick off a lot of the above criteria but I'd hate to live in either...and yes I have spent time in both.
jdw100 said:
Camped up during a sea kayaking trip in the Abel Tasman.
Sat in front of camp fire eating an apple pie. Felt a nudge to my arm, looked round expecting to see my girlfriend or our guide but instead it was a big old possum.
He had that universal look on his face that says 'hey that looks tasty can I try some?'
Thought I'd hand him a piece.. he liked it.
So we (possum and I) sit in companionable silence in front of fire sharing the pie.
Guide was not impressed when he came back from cleaning up fish for our dinner..
Nice memory for me though, I sometimes wonder how the possum is doing these days...
http://www.selke.co.nz/dbimage_file_ZGJfaW1hZ2VzL3Byb2R1Y3QvcHJvZHVjdF80MS5qcGc=_type_crop_width_277_height_200.jpg pSat in front of camp fire eating an apple pie. Felt a nudge to my arm, looked round expecting to see my girlfriend or our guide but instead it was a big old possum.
He had that universal look on his face that says 'hey that looks tasty can I try some?'
Thought I'd hand him a piece.. he liked it.
So we (possum and I) sit in companionable silence in front of fire sharing the pie.
Guide was not impressed when he came back from cleaning up fish for our dinner..
Nice memory for me though, I sometimes wonder how the possum is doing these days...
Shay HTFC said:
I remember first flying to NZ. We had a change of plane in Melbourne and I genuinely thought the stretch to NZ would be maybe 1 hour tops. Its just across the water you know..
3 hours later. 3 hours!! Thats like the UK to Turkey or Russia. Its miles away!
Melbourne to Perth, in the same country, 3 1/2 hours.3 hours later. 3 hours!! Thats like the UK to Turkey or Russia. Its miles away!
Sydney to Perth, again, in the same country, 4 1/2 hours. And all you can see below is sand......and the very occasional track.....and a cattle station or two if you are lucky....
jdw100 said:
RobDickinson said:
Processing is a mix of getting it back to what it looked like that the camera didnt capture and a little artistic fun...
Being in Hooker valley at the foot of mt cook for sunrise is an amazing experience, never ever get tired of that. Often accompanied by Kea's trying to run off with your things..
Camped up during a sea kayaking trip in the Abel Tasman.Being in Hooker valley at the foot of mt cook for sunrise is an amazing experience, never ever get tired of that. Often accompanied by Kea's trying to run off with your things..
Sat in front of camp fire eating an apple pie. Felt a nudge to my arm, looked round expecting to see my girlfriend or our guide but instead it was a big old possum.
He had that universal look on his face that says 'hey that looks tasty can I try some?'
Thought I'd hand him a piece.. he liked it.
So we (possum and I) sit in companionable silence in front of fire sharing the pie.
Guide was not impressed when he came back from cleaning up fish for our dinner..
Nice memory for me though, I sometimes wonder how the possum is doing these days...
To contrast, I was on a two week jungle warfare course and had been scoffing ration packs for a week or so when suddenly I needed to go. Crept off from the lads silently, did the business and just as I was 'finishing' I glanced over my shoulder to see a large snake about six inches from my bare arse. Thankfully it wasn't interested in the particular view but there was a few minutes of complete stillness after which it slithered off into the undergrowth. It must have been 8-10 feet long and, I suspect, of the constrictor variety as the venomous ones were super aggressive and territorial.
I crept back to tell the lads who didn't believe a word of it, never mind. I was just glad it didn't bite me
Oilchange said:
It's moments like that you will take to your grave, they sort of define one's life.
To contrast, I was on a two week jungle warfare course and had been scoffing ration packs for a week or so when suddenly I needed to go. Crept off from the lads silently, did the business and just as I was 'finishing' I glanced over my shoulder to see a large snake about six inches from my bare arse. Thankfully it wasn't interested in the particular view but there was a few minutes of complete stillness after which it slithered off into the undergrowth. It must have been 8-10 feet long and, I suspect, of the constrictor variety as the venomous ones were super aggressive and territorial.
I crept back to tell the lads who didn't believe a word of it, never mind. I was just glad it didn't bite me
Snakes are cool. When I first came out here I had a villa where my shower and sink were in a private garden area off my bedroom - a good size with tropical plants and a tree.To contrast, I was on a two week jungle warfare course and had been scoffing ration packs for a week or so when suddenly I needed to go. Crept off from the lads silently, did the business and just as I was 'finishing' I glanced over my shoulder to see a large snake about six inches from my bare arse. Thankfully it wasn't interested in the particular view but there was a few minutes of complete stillness after which it slithered off into the undergrowth. It must have been 8-10 feet long and, I suspect, of the constrictor variety as the venomous ones were super aggressive and territorial.
I crept back to tell the lads who didn't believe a word of it, never mind. I was just glad it didn't bite me
I 'shared' that with a big black snake. Clearly his territory but we had an agreement not to bother each other. I'd always make a bit of noise coming out there but sometimes I think it was too hot for him/her to slither away.
After a month or so it had clearly got used to me and even on cooler days just stayed where it was. From what I could tell it mostly ate the frogs, plenty of those around.
Glad it wasn't a cobra though, as those can be quite aggressive here.
What people fail to understand about Norway is that wages are extremely high. So for you to come as a tourist, yes it's expensive..... extortionate even but for us folk that decided to live here the stupid high wages balance it out nicely, I work a 37.5 hour week, get 2 weeks off at Christmas, 2 weeks for Easter, a week in October or February and then the entire month of July.....I've never worked so little in my entire life and earned more money than I've ever had living here. Summer time is spent out by the coast with the relatives on their boats then the winters spent up in the mountains skiing and staying with friends or family in their cabins.
Yeah I don't get to go out and eat nice food or whatever all the time but then you take those things for granted less because when you do then it's more special.
Yeah I don't get to go out and eat nice food or whatever all the time but then you take those things for granted less because when you do then it's more special.
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