Travelling the World!

[Milkshake]

Well.

My girlfriend is studying law, she's completed her degree and done her diploma - next stop, traineeship with a Law Firm. However, she got a letter in the post last weekend explaining that the firm were looking for 5 out of the 10 trainees to defer their position for a year till Sept 2010.

In the same weekend, I was informed that the company I'm working for is getting rid of 2700 jobs from the division I work in - roughly 1/3 of the workforce.

So, we decided fuckit. We're going to go and travel for the year, leaving in September. There's no plan as of yet, and that's where you guys all come in.

Obviously, we have ideas about places we'd like to go and see - but if you had the chance to visit any place (preferably again - somewhere you've been before and loved) I'd love to hear about it. Any idea is welcome, we're both super-fit adventurer types (within reason) that aren't adverse to a bit of hiking/camping.

So, go crazy. Has anyone got any suggestions?

- Stu

 

[old.user4556]

I loved Prague.

Vegas was also worth seeing + The Hoover Dam at the same time.

I'm not much of a traveller though.

 

[Yoni]

A trip in the Amazon, Ecuador etc

 

[leviathane]

south america to canada

 

[Sockstuff]

Climb mount Fuji.

 

[DaGaffer]

What do you like? Where have you been before? Do you speak any languages? Do you want to fly everywhere or travel mostly overland?

Personally, I'd highly recommend South America, New Zealand and South East Asia.

 

[rynnor]

Drive around all 50 states (including Hawai'i and Alaska) - some wonderfull scenery.

If your feeling more adventurous and dont mind spending a lot of time in horrifically basic toilets when you have a bad stomach you could head to South America - try to make it so you arrive in South America during the winter months - it wont be unbearably hot then but still warm

I liked Mexico though its gotten a lot more like a warzone nowaday's - thousands killed there in drug wars...

 

[cHodAX]

A tour of every country in Europe would be my pick, great food, great scenery but also all ammenties that European civilisation requires.

 

[Zenith.UK]

SE-Asia is definitely worth the trip.

Taj Mahal in India.

Maya Beach on Ko Phi Phi Leh, Thailand. If you've seen "The Beach" you know where I'm talking about.

Angkor Wat in Cambodia

 

[mycenae]

Krakow in Poland is beautiful, full of history and stunning architecture.
Vegas is most definitly well worth seeing, its simply astonishing.
kenya is also incredible. Masai Mara plains, shimba hills and treetops lodge all come highly recommended as places to stay whilst on safari.
A bit closer to home, but well worth a visit....Jersey is really gorgeous. Some amazing sights and vistas and lots to see and do.

 

[Zenith]

Personally Im pretty tired of Thailand due to the tourists, thats why I decided to go to Malaysia instead. Found it much better... theres some great places there. The eastern side of it is great for trekking.

Id love to see Venezuela and most south america, seems like a great place to venture to. A trip to see Europe is a good idea aswell..

 

[DaGaffer]

Personally Im pretty tired of Thailand due to the tourists, thats why I decided to go to Malaysia instead. Found it much better... theres some great places there. The eastern side of it is great for trekking.

Id love to see Venezuela and most south america, seems like a great place to venture to. A trip to see Europe is a good idea aswell..

Venezuela is gorgeous, but its also a right pain in the arse - money hassles galore.

 

[Scouse]

InJah, my dear boy. Home of cricket.

 

[old.Tohtori]

Finland and especially lapland in the winter.

 

[DaGaffer]

InJah, my dear boy. Home of cricket.

Don't tell him that. That's a good reason not to go!

 

[Munkey]

Oman! Very traditional and full of the nicest arabs you will ever, ever meet.

Or do Dubai if you want the whole 'glitz in the desert' thing.

If you wanna go to Thailand, try the islands, like Koh Tao.

Malta is a gorgeous little place as well.

 

[Milkshake]

Some awesome suggestions...

Oman, wow, never even thought of that.
Jersey, totally - but maybe not on this trip.
Thailand, Malaysia etc...all possible.

Been trying to think of a theme or an expedition rather than just "travelling". Will have to see.

 

[Hawkwind]

Oman! Very traditional and full of the nicest arabs you will ever, ever meet.

Or do Dubai if you want the whole 'glitz in the desert' thing.

If you wanna go to Thailand, try the islands, like Koh Tao.

Malta is a gorgeous little place as well.

Oman has some great sites. Go around Sept/October south of Muscat and see the Turtles laying eggs. Be warned though Oman is not cheap. Not enough hotels there and subsequently prices are high.

Arabian nights in amazing Oman | Mail Online


Dubai, you can get some great deals right now as due to the economic situation hotel booking are way down on what they normally get.

Personally I'd go to Malaysia.

India is also worth a look the golden triangle which is Dehli, Jaipur and Agra to see the Taj, Red Fort and palaces etc. Also, the much greener Southern areas like Chennai and Goa are well worth a look.

 

[taB]

Mongolia!

Get out into the steppes for some horse trekking or south into the desert for sand and camels! Moscow & Beijing are only short train rides away too (ish ).

 

[Cadelin]

Been trying to think of a theme or an expedition rather than just "travelling". Will have to see.

Can you define your budget? Just about every country in the world has something "interesting" to see, it really depends on what you like. And if you have an entire year, there is an awful lot you can do. Do you want to be travelling the whole time or you could travel somewhere work there (teaching english or working for a charity) for 6 months (while still exploring the region). Then spend the other 6 months more on the move.

 

[TdC]

currently featuring on the tdclist of places to go is: argentinia, chile, galapagos islands, gobi desert, japan, lord howe island (missed it last time I was in Oz), norway (this summer prolly), the rest of scandinavia (except denmark as I've been there already)

for a recommendation: get a round-the-world ticket imo, and visit a couple of places. for example from the posts above, perhaps try for India, Malaysia, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia and Japan (that's a lot btw). Talk to a specialist travel agent about the idea, ideally one that knows about non-standard adventure travel like that. Here's a list of operators that may help: Round the world flights - Wikitravel

also, if I may, I'd say less is more. Eg visit fewer places, but spend more time there so you don't have to rush. I say that because imo there's nothing worse than finding the most awesome place evar!!!(tm) and having to leave the next day, with no option of lingering. Also, if you have the option to look ahead, check out weather conditions and local festivals and stuff. For example: you're leaving in September, and say you want to visit New Zealand, then it would be a good idea to time it to be there mid November or later because they'll be going into spring/summer and the weather will be better. That kind of thing.

 

[Uara]

TdC if you want to go to the galapagos islands i'd recommend sooner rather than later. As i believe they want to restrict the amount of tourism going on due to the impact its having on the environment there!

 

[rynnor]

On South America I would reccomend Argentina on the basis of a mate who spent 6 months there - but if either of you are Vegetarian maybe give it a miss

Its dirt cheap out there - amazing scenery, good food/wine and nice people.

 

[TdC]

TdC if you want to go to the galapagos islands i'd recommend sooner rather than later. As i believe they want to restrict the amount of tourism going on due to the impact its having on the environment there!

bugger :/ I wanted to go there with a photographer friend of mine. I can wait though

 

[DaGaffer]

TdC if you want to go to the galapagos islands i'd recommend sooner rather than later. As i believe they want to restrict the amount of tourism going on due to the impact its having on the environment there!

Indeed. I wish I'd gone when I was in South America now; Ecuador was the one one country I regret not seeing.

I still have my to-do list of places, but apart from some biggies that I've still not visited (India and Japan in particular), the list is getting more esoteric; I really want to go to Alaska, Mozambique, Indonesia (for the diving), and Micronesia (ditto).

 

[Wonk]

Micronesia? You learn something new every day the islands looks gorgeous.

Peru is definately on the top of my list right now.

 

[DaGaffer]

Micronesia? You learn something new every day the islands looks gorgeous.

Peru is definately on the top of my list right now.

Yeah, it was some BBC diving documentary a few months ago that got me interested; I want to dive the WWII wrecks.

Peru is fantastic, as is Bolivia.

 

[Milkshake]

We have just under a year, but more reasonably I'd like to travel for around 6-7 months. Hotels are probably too expensive for us, we'll be on a shoestring - being that I reckon we can get about £4000 each to play with (possibly more, I have some savings).

Plan 1) SE Asia (Oct/Nov), Work in Oz (Dec/Jan) then possibly make our way up South America (Feb/Mar) then spend some time in North America/Canada (Apr/May) before returning home in June.

Plan 2) US/Canada (Nov/Dec), Work in Oz (Jan/Feb) then do Asia (Mar/Apr/May/June)

Feel we have to work somewhere to make this affordable, and Oz has such easy work permits for us both being under 27.

When I travelled round Europe last year I bought an Interrail ticket and a flight to Geneva then worked it out from there - was awesome, and allowed us to do things Ad-Hoc. As long as you are chilled out about things, just relax, then it all usually works out for the best.

 

[DaGaffer]

North America will kill your budget. Sorry, but it will, especially with the pound in the toilet. SE Asia, work in Oz and then South America is doable but tight I'd say - I knew a couple of guys doing a similar trip on that kind of budget 2 years ago when the pound was strong and it was tight for them (I spent quite a lot more than that and I was still staying in hostels most of the time).

 

[TdC]

well hostels and watching your consumption can help your budget, but it may be tight.
also, having a work permit for Oz isn't the same as having a job. you may get lucky, you may not. Also that time is the height of summer there, best to see about a job now, if possible, so you can roll into it.