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Travel The MEGA Travel Thread!
- Thread starter Jamshyd
- Start date
rachamim
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Carl: On the Lake...Yeah, they have said that but on my trip this year I actually saw ALOT of work by the train station, as well as ALOT of land speculation everywhere between Monviong and the Lake. The biggest shock this trip were all the pre-fab buildings that have been thrown up, all the pastel fake stucco jobs. Prices are mad crazy. I though the days of 75US 8 room fully furnished flats would last forever. Oh well.
On Heart of Darkness, not a clubber anymore myself. Had my wife with me on this trip. I have never even been to "Hreart," with the shhotouts years ago I thought it best to stay shy and with the ban on US Diplomatic personell I just might be mistaken for a Yank and have that type of problem.
Another big shock...One late night I had to get a money transfer, still was not prepared for the addition of ATMs so was getting my money wired in every week. 24 hour Western Unions are not plentiful so I headed all the way across town (staying usually at World Star on Monivong across from ALCEDA) to Naga World.
I was thinking they were still moored on the Mekong, on the riverboat. I should invest in casinos man. I am sure you do not need me telling you, what is it 25 stories tall? They say the tallest building in PP is going to be the new bank building but I swear it is still going to be Naga. It is frightening how fast they are progressing. First time there was in the mid 90s right after foreigners could get in, when Poi Pet was still a tent city and thatched huts. Everything changes they say.
On Heart of Darkness, not a clubber anymore myself. Had my wife with me on this trip. I have never even been to "Hreart," with the shhotouts years ago I thought it best to stay shy and with the ban on US Diplomatic personell I just might be mistaken for a Yank and have that type of problem.
Another big shock...One late night I had to get a money transfer, still was not prepared for the addition of ATMs so was getting my money wired in every week. 24 hour Western Unions are not plentiful so I headed all the way across town (staying usually at World Star on Monivong across from ALCEDA) to Naga World.
I was thinking they were still moored on the Mekong, on the riverboat. I should invest in casinos man. I am sure you do not need me telling you, what is it 25 stories tall? They say the tallest building in PP is going to be the new bank building but I swear it is still going to be Naga. It is frightening how fast they are progressing. First time there was in the mid 90s right after foreigners could get in, when Poi Pet was still a tent city and thatched huts. Everything changes they say.
rachamim
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Jam: Ahhh, just reading the thread finally and I see you mentioned Sikkim!
On Yunnan. I have been there, but only in the south, as far as Bo Country. I trekked in on foot, illegaly back in the bad old days of 1992/3. Went with a mate from the army. We began in Chiang Rai, then hoofed it almost 74 kilometers, that was in one 24 hour period mind you. We crossed just south of Mae Sai, innertubed across for a shirt if you can imagine, and then walked with tribesmen most of the time and did it straight on (ahhh, army days).
At least I got the see the famed Triangle when it actually existed. Now with Yabba (Yaa Baa) I would not risk it at all. That and another hill tribe militia is sitting on the border or so I have heard. Before Yabba it was a very controlled place, KMT knew how to keep banditry down for sure. Now it is everyone and their son until Kokang and WA controlled lands.
We crossed into Yunnan in a tiny farming village in Banna Prefecture. From there we travlled almost strictly by evening until Bo Country. I trekked by myself, mate was down with runs, and saw the hanging coffins, which we also have here in the Phillipines interestingly enough. The coffins are on a winding trail that leads to an ancient stone gate and a mountaintop citadel that reminds me very much of Ma'sah'dah in Israel. Also like Israel, the Bo were supposed to have fought a heroic battle there that destroyed their ancient culture.
People said there were villagers descended from the Bo but I never met them. Most of the time trips back are terrible but not that one. We trekked again, as if we had a choice, and took it much slower, spending nights in a couple of friendly Wa villages, and one night in a Hani village, and then back on an inner tube as if we had never left.
Except for HK that is the extent of my China time. There are a couple of places I wish to go, certainly to see the Turkomen, but others as well. I would love to go to that country where they have blue eyed Chinese, said to be descended from a lost Roman Legion.
On Yunnan. I have been there, but only in the south, as far as Bo Country. I trekked in on foot, illegaly back in the bad old days of 1992/3. Went with a mate from the army. We began in Chiang Rai, then hoofed it almost 74 kilometers, that was in one 24 hour period mind you. We crossed just south of Mae Sai, innertubed across for a shirt if you can imagine, and then walked with tribesmen most of the time and did it straight on (ahhh, army days).
At least I got the see the famed Triangle when it actually existed. Now with Yabba (Yaa Baa) I would not risk it at all. That and another hill tribe militia is sitting on the border or so I have heard. Before Yabba it was a very controlled place, KMT knew how to keep banditry down for sure. Now it is everyone and their son until Kokang and WA controlled lands.
We crossed into Yunnan in a tiny farming village in Banna Prefecture. From there we travlled almost strictly by evening until Bo Country. I trekked by myself, mate was down with runs, and saw the hanging coffins, which we also have here in the Phillipines interestingly enough. The coffins are on a winding trail that leads to an ancient stone gate and a mountaintop citadel that reminds me very much of Ma'sah'dah in Israel. Also like Israel, the Bo were supposed to have fought a heroic battle there that destroyed their ancient culture.
People said there were villagers descended from the Bo but I never met them. Most of the time trips back are terrible but not that one. We trekked again, as if we had a choice, and took it much slower, spending nights in a couple of friendly Wa villages, and one night in a Hani village, and then back on an inner tube as if we had never left.
Except for HK that is the extent of my China time. There are a couple of places I wish to go, certainly to see the Turkomen, but others as well. I would love to go to that country where they have blue eyed Chinese, said to be descended from a lost Roman Legion.
Jamshyd
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I believe you are referring to Xinjiang ("East Tukistan"). Apparently some romans moved into Xinjiang after having lost a battle (whose name escapes me at the moment) to the Persians (who apparently wore highly-polished armour that they hid under silk, and as soon as the battle started they took off the silk, blinding the romans with the glare from their armour).
Thanks for sharing that story, I always appreciate reading such.
Speaking of illegal hiking, when I came back from Laos (the Friendship Bridge crossing), a couple of backpackers joined up with our group (we were trying to cut down taxi costs...etc) and mentioned that they had just used a "secret tunnel" under the bridge. I found that very interesting, but never found any more info on it...
---
For everyone (mostly carl
), as promised,
Here is a map showing all my interests in Africa.
- Notice that Eritrea and Ethiopia would be ideally connected to a trip to Yemen (and perhaps Oman), for reasons of cultural interest (the "Queen of Sheba" story). Yemen and Oman are the only countries in the Arabian peninsula that remotely interest me, although I'd be happy to use my name to my advantage and go with a Hajj to Saudi Arabia's otherwise off-limits areas). Btw, I'd love to check out the Island of Socotra (now part of Yemen).
- Sailing down the Nile all the way to the Mediterranean has always been a dream of mine, but unfortunately it will probably never be realized in this lifetime, thanks to Sudan. I still want to visit Alexandria in Egypt and regret not having gone there during my last visit.
- Another cool trip that would probably never work is crossing North Africa by land and sea. I think the most problematic part is Algeria. I'd make a detour into Malta for the same reasons I'd go to Eritrea/Ethiopia: non-middle eastern semitic cultures.
- Notice that little segue in Libya? The is one of the remotest places on earth (so much so that I actually cannot find a wikipedia entry on it!), but still fairly accessible with good planning. It is a volcanic site in the middle of the Sahara. Being called "Waw ennamous" (Valley of Mosquitos), one can expect a hell of a camping night!
- I am very interested in Mali, but not in any of the countries surrounding it. Perhaps one could fly from Morocco. I would really like to go to Timbuktu, if for no reason other than bragging rights haha. I also have some interest in Ghana.
- Namibia, Botswana, and Lesotho are basically the only sub-saharan countries I have any interest in visiting. Maybe Mozambique and Malawi too, but South Africa itself sounds like one of the ugliest societies on the planet...
- Madagascar, The Comoros, and basically all overseas French territory are of great interest to me, greater than all of the above actually.
EDIT: Btw, here is a fun fact about Oman: In the UAE, there is an Omani exclave of Madha. Inside of Madha, there is a UAE enclave of Nahwa! here is a map if you're interested: http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/madha-na.jpg
Thanks for sharing that story, I always appreciate reading such.
Speaking of illegal hiking, when I came back from Laos (the Friendship Bridge crossing), a couple of backpackers joined up with our group (we were trying to cut down taxi costs...etc) and mentioned that they had just used a "secret tunnel" under the bridge. I found that very interesting, but never found any more info on it...
---
For everyone (mostly carl
), as promised, Here is a map showing all my interests in Africa.
- Notice that Eritrea and Ethiopia would be ideally connected to a trip to Yemen (and perhaps Oman), for reasons of cultural interest (the "Queen of Sheba" story). Yemen and Oman are the only countries in the Arabian peninsula that remotely interest me, although I'd be happy to use my name to my advantage and go with a Hajj to Saudi Arabia's otherwise off-limits areas). Btw, I'd love to check out the Island of Socotra (now part of Yemen).
- Sailing down the Nile all the way to the Mediterranean has always been a dream of mine, but unfortunately it will probably never be realized in this lifetime, thanks to Sudan. I still want to visit Alexandria in Egypt and regret not having gone there during my last visit.
- Another cool trip that would probably never work is crossing North Africa by land and sea. I think the most problematic part is Algeria. I'd make a detour into Malta for the same reasons I'd go to Eritrea/Ethiopia: non-middle eastern semitic cultures.
- Notice that little segue in Libya? The is one of the remotest places on earth (so much so that I actually cannot find a wikipedia entry on it!), but still fairly accessible with good planning. It is a volcanic site in the middle of the Sahara. Being called "Waw ennamous" (Valley of Mosquitos), one can expect a hell of a camping night!
- I am very interested in Mali, but not in any of the countries surrounding it. Perhaps one could fly from Morocco. I would really like to go to Timbuktu, if for no reason other than bragging rights
haha. I also have some interest in Ghana.- Namibia, Botswana, and Lesotho are basically the only sub-saharan countries I have any interest in visiting. Maybe Mozambique and Malawi too, but South Africa itself sounds like one of the ugliest societies on the planet...
- Madagascar, The Comoros, and basically all overseas French territory are of great interest to me, greater than all of the above actually.
EDIT: Btw, here is a fun fact about Oman: In the UAE, there is an Omani exclave of Madha. Inside of Madha, there is a UAE enclave of Nahwa! here is a map if you're interested: http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/madha-na.jpg
Last edited:
postlapsarian
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I'm going to stay in Indonesia for about 8 months next year. After that, I'm going to Egypt and I would love to go to Syria, Iran and Israel, but I don't know how safe it would be.
I would also absolutely love to see North Korea. Just looking at the photos, it's so eerily empty, but it's large and everything is spread out.
I would also absolutely love to see North Korea. Just looking at the photos, it's so eerily empty, but it's large and everything is spread out.
postlapsarian
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Jamshyd said:I believe you are referring to Xinjiang ("East Tukistan"). Apparently some romans moved into Xinjiang after having lost a battle (whose name escapes me at the moment) to the Persians (who apparently wore highly-polished armour that they hid under silk, and as soon as the battle started they took off the silk, blinding the romans with the glare from their armour).
Thanks for sharing that story, I always appreciate reading such.
Speaking of illegal hiking, when I came back from Laos (the Friendship Bridge crossing), a couple of backpackers joined up with our group (we were trying to cut down taxi costs...etc) and mentioned that they had just used a "secret tunnel" under the bridge. I found that very interesting, but never found any more info on it...
---
For everyone (mostly carl
Here is a map showing all my interests in Africa.
- Notice that Eritrea and Ethiopia would be ideally connected to a trip to Yemen (and perhaps Oman), for reasons of cultural interest (the "Queen of Sheba" story). Yemen and Oman are the only countries in the Arabian peninsula that remotely interest me, although I'd be happy to use my name to my advantage and go with a Hajj to Saudi Arabia's otherwise off-limits areas). Btw, I'd love to check out the Island of Socotra (now part of Yemen).
- Sailing down the Nile all the way to the Mediterranean has always been a dream of mine, but unfortunately it will probably never be realized in this lifetime, thanks to Sudan. I still want to visit Alexandria in Egypt and regret not having gone there during my last visit.
- Another cool trip that would probably never work is crossing North Africa by land and sea. I think the most problematic part is Algeria. I'd make a detour into Malta for the same reasons I'd go to Eritrea/Ethiopia: non-middle eastern semitic cultures.
- Notice that little segue in Libya? The is one of the remotest places on earth (so much so that I actually cannot find a wikipedia entry on it!), but still fairly accessible with good planning. It is a volcanic site in the middle of the Sahara. Being called "Waw ennamous" (Valley of Mosquitos), one can expect a hell of a camping night!
- I am very interested in Mali, but not in any of the countries surrounding it. Perhaps one could fly from Morocco. I would really like to go to Timbuktu, if for no reason other than bragging rights
- Namibia, Botswana, and Lesotho are basically the only sub-saharan countries I have any interest in visiting. Maybe Mozambique and Malawi too, but South Africa itself sounds like one of the ugliest societies on the planet...
- Madagascar, The Comoros, and basically all overseas French territory are of great interest to me, greater than all of the above actually.
EDIT: Btw, here is a fun fact about Oman: In the UAE, there is an Omani exclave of Madha. Inside of Madha, there is a UAE enclave of Nahwa! here is a map if you're interested: http://strangemaps.files.wordpress.com/2007/01/madha-na.jpg
All your travels plans are so crazily similar to time. Can you hide me in your suitcase?
Jabberwocky
Frumious Bandersnatch
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the western tibet idea is a good one...I've read about Mt Kailas before. I might try to do that someday, I hope I can get to it before the Chinese government destroys it.
Jamshyd
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In Egypt and Jordan (I assume you'll be at least passting through jordan if you plan to visit these countries), it is so safe you simply forget that you're in the middle-east. Syria is also extremely safe, as of 2006 (I pretty much crossed the country from the Jordanian border to Aleppo that year).postlapsarian said:
In Israel, yes - you will notice undoubtedly that you're in a warzone, even if your risk of being affected by it is very low. Honestly though? Israel is a waste of time. There is nothing there to see or experience but ugliness. Jerusalem used to be a charming place before it was left for dead.
I don't know about Iran though. I've never successfully got there despite desperately wanting to do so.
MyDoorsAreOpen
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Jammy, get to Sikkim before it either gets overrun by backpackers (already beginning to happen), or China takes it. There is no crossing by land into Tibet from another country. Period.
Russia is a country with a lot of unexplored places, that pretty much lack tourist infrastructure. If you like alcohol, including some very high quality drinks, you'll love Russia. In fact, Moscow and St. Petersburg are really the only tourist spots there. Don't go there without a bit of the language, though.
China, too, has a lot of areas that few people bother to see, especially when any given little backwater village there is likely to have a piece of architecture built dynasties ago, and reams of local history and lore going back thousands of years. I'd hit up Sichuan, the coast of Fujian, and Zhejiang, and of course many parts of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Zone, in search of some of the world's finest hash. It's a very dirty country overall. Southern Yunnan is pretty unspoiled, though.
Jam, if I was going to do your first itinerary, I'd start it Tokyo --> Boat to Korea --> (Pyongyang ??) --> Beijing --> Kashgar, Xinjiang by hard sleeper train, 2 days. Either that or Tokyo --> Niigata --> boat to Vladivostok --> bus to Harbin --> train to Beijing.
Russia is a country with a lot of unexplored places, that pretty much lack tourist infrastructure. If you like alcohol, including some very high quality drinks, you'll love Russia. In fact, Moscow and St. Petersburg are really the only tourist spots there. Don't go there without a bit of the language, though.
China, too, has a lot of areas that few people bother to see, especially when any given little backwater village there is likely to have a piece of architecture built dynasties ago, and reams of local history and lore going back thousands of years. I'd hit up Sichuan, the coast of Fujian, and Zhejiang, and of course many parts of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Zone, in search of some of the world's finest hash. It's a very dirty country overall. Southern Yunnan is pretty unspoiled, though.
Jam, if I was going to do your first itinerary, I'd start it Tokyo --> Boat to Korea --> (Pyongyang ??) --> Beijing --> Kashgar, Xinjiang by hard sleeper train, 2 days. Either that or Tokyo --> Niigata --> boat to Vladivostok --> bus to Harbin --> train to Beijing.
rachamim
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Jamshyd: "Referring to East Turkmenistan.": Not exactly... The township is in Yongchang County near the Gobi, far east of that. The Legion is the XXV that captured Flavius Josephus in Judea.
The Battle of Carrhae was lost by Crassus in a terrible way, with 1/3rd killed outirght, and another 1/3rd being taken captive. Though technically not Persian, the Parthians of this period were of mainly Persian stock and Persian speaking. their custom was to deport captives to Turkmenistan but at least the XXV took a much more mysterious path. Right now, all that is known about them after Carrhae is that somehow an inscription ended up in a cave in Kazakhstan talking about the XXV having been there.
What adds to the mystery is that when the Han quelled a Hun rebellion they encountered a series of logged pallisades in the town of Zhi Zhi (sic), and pallisades like that were erected in every Roman Camp but neither Han nor Hun used such barriers.
Then, when (Han) General Chen Tang moved towards the town gate he came upon a formation of foreign loking soldiers who fought in a curious "fishscale" formation, which of course was the Testudo, a stock Roman Defencive formation. Zhi Zhi WAS located in what is now Tashkent in Uzbekistan so in that regard you would be correct.
However, they were deported by the Chinese, in 36 BCE/BC to a town listed as Lie Jen in Gansu Province. Lie Jen means "Legion" and is only one of 3 population centers in all of China to have been named after barbarians. Lie Jen also just happened to be the Han word for Rome!
Just within the last 2 years the Chinese Govt. has conducted DNA and genomic investigations into the population of Gansu to determine whether or not the Romans were assimilated there. Despite many local Han having blue or green eyes, Western type noses, and curls (not to mention a penchant for bullfighting!) the govt. now says that the patrilineal line shows absolutely no trace of Roman settlement in that region. The patrilineal was the only side examined because of course the Romans were males, who it is assumed took local wives and assimilated.
Given the Chinese obsession with control, it is not surprising that this result has been released but it does make one might curious as to whether or not the govt. faked the results given the probable implications received from a determination of laege scale European admixture
You might be familiar with a well know case of the Takla Makan Basin Mummies, or as they are usually called, "The Chinese Desert Mummies." This was a population center in the extreme desert that existed at least 5000 years ago. There was a curious admixture of genetic stock showing every known race - except black at least so far (as much as biological race does not exist it is used to simplify things when talking about ethnological differences in the physicality of people) - in existence having mixed there.
You have mummies well over 6 feet tall with red and blonde hair, wearing Celtic textiles identical to ones found at sites in Austria, along with DNA only found among modern Ainu (Japanese aboriginals related to caucasians) and many other racial groups. Chinese have long been claiming that they are the true inheritors of that desert region despite it being the traditional homeland of the oppressed Uighur minority.
Sadly for the Uighur who have tried themselves to claim the mummies as ancestors, the Uighur only came to the region after the 9th Century CE/AD. Neither Chinese nor Uighur can honestly claim them but this of course does not stop either from doing so in hopes of gaining more legitmacy for their respective struggles.
However, the Chinese Govt, facing periodic flareups in Tibet and Chinese Turkmenistan desprately try to steer discussion away from scientific facts and into well charted territory that pretends Chinese have a right to rrule anything outside of the Han lands. Ergo it would be against their best interests to admit some Roman ancestry. If they admit that Europeans settled there eons before Han it would create ahwole other avenue of debate over territorial claims.
There are a great many racial mixtures in former Soviet Asia, as one sees in Kazakhstan, Tajikastan, and Kyrgyzistan. You can find some groups there with Asian eyes and naturally blonde, etc. However, in Yongchang you see only Han exhibiting these characteristics and no other Han are subject to it. It makes one seriously think that the Chinese have a vested interest in NOT revealing the truth.
The Battle of Carrhae was lost by Crassus in a terrible way, with 1/3rd killed outirght, and another 1/3rd being taken captive. Though technically not Persian, the Parthians of this period were of mainly Persian stock and Persian speaking. their custom was to deport captives to Turkmenistan but at least the XXV took a much more mysterious path. Right now, all that is known about them after Carrhae is that somehow an inscription ended up in a cave in Kazakhstan talking about the XXV having been there.
What adds to the mystery is that when the Han quelled a Hun rebellion they encountered a series of logged pallisades in the town of Zhi Zhi (sic), and pallisades like that were erected in every Roman Camp but neither Han nor Hun used such barriers.
Then, when (Han) General Chen Tang moved towards the town gate he came upon a formation of foreign loking soldiers who fought in a curious "fishscale" formation, which of course was the Testudo, a stock Roman Defencive formation. Zhi Zhi WAS located in what is now Tashkent in Uzbekistan so in that regard you would be correct.
However, they were deported by the Chinese, in 36 BCE/BC to a town listed as Lie Jen in Gansu Province. Lie Jen means "Legion" and is only one of 3 population centers in all of China to have been named after barbarians. Lie Jen also just happened to be the Han word for Rome!
Just within the last 2 years the Chinese Govt. has conducted DNA and genomic investigations into the population of Gansu to determine whether or not the Romans were assimilated there. Despite many local Han having blue or green eyes, Western type noses, and curls (not to mention a penchant for bullfighting!) the govt. now says that the patrilineal line shows absolutely no trace of Roman settlement in that region. The patrilineal was the only side examined because of course the Romans were males, who it is assumed took local wives and assimilated.
Given the Chinese obsession with control, it is not surprising that this result has been released but it does make one might curious as to whether or not the govt. faked the results given the probable implications received from a determination of laege scale European admixture
You might be familiar with a well know case of the Takla Makan Basin Mummies, or as they are usually called, "The Chinese Desert Mummies." This was a population center in the extreme desert that existed at least 5000 years ago. There was a curious admixture of genetic stock showing every known race - except black at least so far (as much as biological race does not exist it is used to simplify things when talking about ethnological differences in the physicality of people) - in existence having mixed there.
You have mummies well over 6 feet tall with red and blonde hair, wearing Celtic textiles identical to ones found at sites in Austria, along with DNA only found among modern Ainu (Japanese aboriginals related to caucasians) and many other racial groups. Chinese have long been claiming that they are the true inheritors of that desert region despite it being the traditional homeland of the oppressed Uighur minority.
Sadly for the Uighur who have tried themselves to claim the mummies as ancestors, the Uighur only came to the region after the 9th Century CE/AD. Neither Chinese nor Uighur can honestly claim them but this of course does not stop either from doing so in hopes of gaining more legitmacy for their respective struggles.
However, the Chinese Govt, facing periodic flareups in Tibet and Chinese Turkmenistan desprately try to steer discussion away from scientific facts and into well charted territory that pretends Chinese have a right to rrule anything outside of the Han lands. Ergo it would be against their best interests to admit some Roman ancestry. If they admit that Europeans settled there eons before Han it would create ahwole other avenue of debate over territorial claims.
There are a great many racial mixtures in former Soviet Asia, as one sees in Kazakhstan, Tajikastan, and Kyrgyzistan. You can find some groups there with Asian eyes and naturally blonde, etc. However, in Yongchang you see only Han exhibiting these characteristics and no other Han are subject to it. It makes one seriously think that the Chinese have a vested interest in NOT revealing the truth.
rachamim
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Postlapsarian: Israel is VERY safe to travel in, as long as you remain in Israel per se. As for others mentioned, well IF you plan to visit all 4 go to Israel last or have them stamp the alternative in Israel as opposed to your passport because you will be barred from Syria, and dogged by Iranian Intel if you do not.
Jamshyd: I am suuprised you saw nothing but ugliness in Jerusalem. You never went to Carmel? Galilee? Israel is a country where a person can drive 30 minutes and experience both snow AND tropics! Its beaches are fantastic, its religious sites are awsome, and its historical sites are endlessly fascinating. So much to see that a person could literally spend their life there and never see it all despite its tiny size.
Judaisim gave the world both Christianity AND Islam and all 3 are strongly rooted in the land. Museums have the most diverse collections in eixstence. A novice could go out into the desert, or any other place, and dig just a half meter down and be innundated with pottery, tiles, and often coins.
Syria is neautiful I am told, although my clan was centered in Allepo, and my dad grew up there after they moved from Hebron, I as an Israeli am prohibited from visiting. Egypt and Jordan are OK.
Egypt does not need any selling as its history is fascinating to most, but Jordan has Petraeus (AKA "Petra") the Nabatean city with its magnificient stone buildings. I loved its sophisticated water system. Amman was worthless to me, ugly and nasty but to each their own.
Never been to Iran and will never get to go there until the Islamic Revolution is overthrown but not much chance of that I imagine. Would love to go though.
MyDoors: Sikkim is open to travel now? I was told no. I am sure Chin Country is closed still but it would be nice to get in at all.
Jamshyd: I am suuprised you saw nothing but ugliness in Jerusalem. You never went to Carmel? Galilee? Israel is a country where a person can drive 30 minutes and experience both snow AND tropics! Its beaches are fantastic, its religious sites are awsome, and its historical sites are endlessly fascinating. So much to see that a person could literally spend their life there and never see it all despite its tiny size.
Judaisim gave the world both Christianity AND Islam and all 3 are strongly rooted in the land. Museums have the most diverse collections in eixstence. A novice could go out into the desert, or any other place, and dig just a half meter down and be innundated with pottery, tiles, and often coins.
Syria is neautiful I am told, although my clan was centered in Allepo, and my dad grew up there after they moved from Hebron, I as an Israeli am prohibited from visiting. Egypt and Jordan are OK.
Egypt does not need any selling as its history is fascinating to most, but Jordan has Petraeus (AKA "Petra") the Nabatean city with its magnificient stone buildings. I loved its sophisticated water system. Amman was worthless to me, ugly and nasty but to each their own.
Never been to Iran and will never get to go there until the Islamic Revolution is overthrown but not much chance of that I imagine. Would love to go though.
MyDoors: Sikkim is open to travel now? I was told no. I am sure Chin Country is closed still but it would be nice to get in at all.
MyDoorsAreOpen
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^ Oh yes Sikkim is quite open, so long as you're not a citizen of Bangladesh.
Jamshyd
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Much as I wanted to see those places, I am not allowed to this thanks to you and your commeradesrachamim said:
. I have a palestinian ID whenever I go into wb and so cannot really cross into Israeli territory. The times I visited Israel proper were many years before. I don't know how the situation is today.aoe2junkie
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taiwan
Jamshyd
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I must have missed this for some reason...
I am currently boycotting anything South-Korean until their society changes completely, racist fucks. I never had any interest in SK and now even less so. There are few countries that I resent as much as this one.
According to LP, it is possible to cross into Tibet from Nepal... but that tends to change randomly very often. Interesting about China taking Sikkim though... that would suck big time.
But yeah, I remember you recommending me the boat to vladivodstok when I was in Tokyo... I would have so done it had things gone a different way...
cosmic charlie
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My parents brought me on vacation to Ohio once when I was a kid . I thought that was pretty Bizarre .
Kore
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Jamshyd mentioned Afghanistan earlier..
Backpacking in the Hindu Kush mountains would definitely be unusual, although not unheard of. Be sure to visit Bamian to see the former Buddhas (which the Taleban destroyed) and Bandi Amir--the Dammed Lakes. Bandi Amir is the most overwhelmingly gorgeous place I've ever been, and definitely the most unusual vacation I've ever taken. The landscape is alien and altogether beautiful. If you want a remote getaway, it's relatively undiscovered and not visited often since it's a bitch to get to.
Backpacking in the Hindu Kush mountains would definitely be unusual, although not unheard of. Be sure to visit Bamian to see the former Buddhas (which the Taleban destroyed) and Bandi Amir--the Dammed Lakes. Bandi Amir is the most overwhelmingly gorgeous place I've ever been, and definitely the most unusual vacation I've ever taken. The landscape is alien and altogether beautiful. If you want a remote getaway, it's relatively undiscovered and not visited often since it's a bitch to get to.
Jamshyd
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^ Thanks a lot for the advice Kore . I'd absolutely love to see Afghanistan. It used to be not-so-unusual in the backpacker scene, but I guess now it is post-war. When did you visit?
I heard the Minaret of Jam (get it?
) is worth not missing, too. Btw, didn't they restore (are restoring) the Buddhas (partially?).
p.s. Nice name/avatar.
. I'd absolutely love to see Afghanistan. It used to be not-so-unusual in the backpacker scene, but I guess now it is post-war. When did you visit?I heard the Minaret of Jam (get it?
) is worth not missing, too. Btw, didn't they restore (are restoring) the Buddhas (partially?).p.s. Nice name/avatar
.