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Posted
17 hours ago, lemonlime said:

Obviously amazing sites in Cairo.  But the air quality was so bad when we there, it was hard to go outside.  I have all these pictures at the Pyramids where it looks like it's a rainy, foggy, overcast day, just from huge amounts of smog.  After I left for Aswan, had a lingering cough for a few days.  But maybe I'm down on it because I really didn't explore much in Cairo.   And our hotel was far from the Four Seasons.  I was just jet lagged, having trouble breathing, and wanted to get further afield.

Edit to add that I loved the rest of our time in Egypt, but Cairo was difficult.

We didn't have that experience with the smog.  It was polluted, but it wasn't that bad.  We went in April; perhaps it's a seasonal thing?

But this does bring up a good point, and maybe it's a rule of thumb that should be adopted: the shitter the country, the nicer your hotel needs to be.  I don't mind staying at a pretty cheap hotel in Berlin.  But if I'm going to Nigeria, you better believe I'm staying at the Ritz Carlton.

13 hours ago, staboner said:

The most unsafe I have ever felt was Russia in the cities (ST pete and Moscow). Bribes, unmarked cop cars, lots of fucking people openly carrying weapons, it was far and away to most unsafe I have ever felt. Not a problem now cuz ain't no one going there for a generation or two :( 

*     *     *

For me there are a few must dos left: South Africa, Kamchatka Peninsula, and more parts of South America (Patagonia, Colombia, and parts of Brazil)

 

I've shared on here previously that Russia was the only place I've traveled where I felt unsafe even in my hotel.  Fucking mobsters running prostitutes out of the lobby and meeting with cops in the hotel bar.  And this was in a nice Western hotel.

Never again.

But, I have to ask--Kamchatka?

I do know that Alaska Airlines used to fly to Petropavlovsk from Anchorage years ago.  But that flight is long-since discontinued.  To get there now, I think you'd probably have to go through Moscow.

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Posted

Never been to Russia, so no on the Kamchatka. But obviously don’t go in winter. I have some colleagues that worked on a project in Sakhalin and they said it was the most brutal cold you could imagine. Needed arctic suits to be outside and even then you had to limit your time.

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Posted
4 hours ago, Ghost of LL said:

We didn't have that experience with the smog.  It was polluted, but it wasn't that bad.  We went in April; perhaps it's a seasonal thing?

I've shared on here previously that Russia was the only place I've traveled where I felt unsafe even in my hotel.  Fucking mobsters running prostitutes out of the lobby and meeting with cops in the hotel bar.  And this was in a nice Western hotel.

Cairo gets a lot of dust, which creates an orange glow/haze when the sun is low, which is photogenic. 

I never felt unsafe in Russia, but my traveling pal did get robbed. That was after going to what was a normal bar/club, which apparently had some guy hosting a birthday party there, mingled on main area with us/everyone, where dancers suddenly got full-frontal nekkid. Which was nice. 

That country just retains a unique and exotic vibe 
 

 

Posted
11 hours ago, Orale said:

I'm at 48 countries, most solo, and typing from Australia at the moment. Half or so were Europe, the rest South America and Asia. I could easily retire in BA eventually. The top of my bucket list is parts of Africa, Beirut, Cairo, and India. 

The wildest yet most rewarding place so far was Port-au-Prince after its earthquake in January 2010. I drove from the DR where I lived in a Uhaul type truck with medical supplies three days after the quake. It was eerily calm yet pure chaos at the same time. I also went six months before the quake to volunteer for a week and really enjoyed PAP. Watch Conan O'Brien's remotes from Haiti in 2018 and you'll see it was a really vibrant and fascinating place with wonderful people that has since tragically descended into the abyss.

check ya DMs

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Posted
5 hours ago, Ghost of LL said:

We didn't have that experience with the smog.  It was polluted, but it wasn't that bad.  We went in April; perhaps it's a seasonal thing?

But this does bring up a good point, and maybe it's a rule of thumb that should be adopted: the shitter the country, the nicer your hotel needs to be.  I don't mind staying at a pretty cheap hotel in Berlin.  But if I'm going to Nigeria, you better believe I'm staying at the Ritz Carlton.

I've shared on here previously that Russia was the only place I've traveled where I felt unsafe even in my hotel.  Fucking mobsters running prostitutes out of the lobby and meeting with cops in the hotel bar.  And this was in a nice Western hotel.

Never again.

But, I have to ask--Kamchatka?

I do know that Alaska Airlines used to fly to Petropavlovsk from Anchorage years ago.  But that flight is long-since discontinued.  To get there now, I think you'd probably have to go through Moscow.

Yeah, I think Kamchatka is just the end of the world. Kind of the same feeling with Patagonia, parts of Oz I guess too. Just no fucking people around, lots of nature, not a transit point of any sort. That kind of travel lust to be at the end of it all where no one goes. 

Feeling unsafe in Russia is certainly a different feeling. Cops, hookers, mobsters in cahoots and you just kind of do what exactly? Don't make eye contact, don't look like a tourist, always carry your papers, and if you can befriend some locals that you can go out with. I took all this advice from a colleague/mentor that also specifically mentioned feeling very uncomfy in his hotel. And mind you he is extremely well traveled. Timeframe 2005 to 2010.

I spent two weeks in Russia. I have like maybe 10 travel stories I tell to friends. At least 3 from these two weeks. Machine guns, unmarked cops, bribes, physically removed from a bank, I can go on. Any longer than 2 weeks I would be in jail, deported, or made king. Fuck if I know. That place is straight up batshit crazy. But I will say its a different world in Siberia and if you can ever go there (ever again?!) I would recommend it. The people are very nice, very welcoming, and love it when strangers come by. Thirsty AF, but hey I get it. Its a beautiful shithole. 

Posted
22 hours ago, mycox said:

Barcelona: Not me, but my friend got his Rolex (dumb idea to wear while traveling) pickpocketed while taking a piss in an alley. He didn't even know it was stolen until he told me he was talking with a couple of guys while taking a piss.

That shit happened to me, except it was my work iPhone. A little after 4am-ish stumbling back to hotel after a night out, and some innocent seeming dudes came dancing up to us. 7 seconds later I realized my phone was gone.

I was only a third year law firm associate at the time, but my firm remote wiped the phone and sent me a new one the next day. Can’t let a single billable hour potentially go to waste…

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Posted
That shit happened to me, except it was my work iPhone. A little after 4am-ish stumbling back to hotel after a night out, and some innocent seeming dudes came dancing up to us. 7 seconds later I realized my phone was gone.
I was only a third year law firm associate at the time, but my firm remote wiped the phone and sent me a new one the next day. Can’t let a single billable hour potentially go to waste…
I was in Zurich years ago and spilled a beer on the firm MacBook. The partner I mostly worked for laughed on the phone and said to get a new one there on them. Derp.
Posted
In a lot of places it's camouflage

Maybe in a bar/club or group setting. But I suspect it is not wise to stumble back to a hotel drunk at 3am by yourself or even with one other person. In a strange city or country.
Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, Patricio Swayze said:

Maybe in a bar/club or group setting. But I suspect it is not wise to stumble back to a hotel drunk at 3am by yourself or even with one other person. In a strange city or country.

Did I tell you about the time in Hue when I couldn't find my hotel for the life of me.  I have a crazy great sense of direction. I never ever get lost even in brand new cities and never forget what hotel room I am in. (Back then GPS and google maps didn't work in Viet Nam) Even in an intoxicated state.  What I didn't know was that in smaller towns in Viet Nam they turn off all the lights to the hotels, buildings and houses to conserve energy after about 10pm.  At least they did.  Its surreal.  The whole block looks abandoned.  I walked up and down the same street and the two streets paralleling my hotel street at least 4 times looking for a lit up hotel. Finally some guy who must have been watching on a motorbike saw me confused AF and told me he would take me to my hotel.  Jumped on the back and he's going exactly where I had been.  He pulls up to what looks like an abandoned building only for me to realize its my hotel.  At least when I got to Hoi An I was prepared to be walking down pitch black streets after about 10pm.   So when I left this brits room at 11pm in Hoi An at least I knew I was in for a 45min walk in the dark. 

Edited by midtown
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted
I’m currently in South Africa and it’s been  a pretty cool experience for me. Dollar is is strong here, food has been good and it’s a physically beautiful land.

Fucking badass. I have a colleague that lived in SA for a bit on an O&G project. He raves about the food.

I don’t think I could get that close to the Namibian desert without making a visit.
Posted

Yeah I really like the food here. It’s seems a bit cleaner and a little bit smaller on the portion size. Another thing is it seems most of the places have milkshakes on the menu and not just the usual variety.

I’m staying with a friend I met hiking the  PCT last year. She and her family usually vacation in Namibia. They rave about it. Unfortunately I won’t make it over there but I’m super grateful for all that I’ve gotten to experience here.

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  • 2 years later...
Posted

On ADVrider there is an absolutely epic ride across Siberia by user Colebatch. It is worth finding and reading, just be aware it will take days of your life.

Posted
On 3/27/2023 at 9:33 AM, midtown said:

In the last 5 years actually more like 8 years now that I think about it.

Colombia, Costa Rica (3), Belize (6), Panama, Scotland, England (2), Belgium, Holland, Hungary, Austria, Czech, Vietnam (2), Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Japan.  And planning Chile/Argentina now and Pakistan is also on my short list.

At least 75% of those are solo. The thing I hear most from people is that they just assume every place is dangerous.  Not once in any of those countries did I feel in danger in any way what so ever. I also don't do stupid shit. I assume most Americans would say sitting outside a soccer stadium after a game in Medellin drinking .50 beers with the locals is dangerous.  It is not.

A little advice.   Do a little research.  There is so much content available.   Stay out of places you shouldn't go.   Find several solo female vlogs or blogs.  Solo women no doubt have to be more careful than 52 year old dad, esp in countries where woman have less rights; so listen to them.   Leave anything valuable or flashy at home even if its not expensive.

Group tours are great for those not wanting to set out on your own.  A group and a guide is safe.  I also like them because they are cheaper and efficient and you get to meet lots of people.  The draw back is that you are stuck on a bus/van with people.  Viator is my go to for tours.

I've never met so many amazingly nice people traveling.  It's seldom I met any locals that are unkind or rude and in most cases they are 10x nice than your neighbor.  I also don't act like a jackass Cancun/Vegas traveler.   IMO it's good to get out of your comfort zone

How do you know a certain place isn't appealing if you've never been there and all you know about that place is what the media tells you?   No doubt there are place that I loved and places that I was "meh".   I have a friend that absolutely HATES Costa Rica which is beyond comprehension for me but each to their own.

Personally I get ill at the idea of going to a mega-resort in Mexico and hanging out with a bunch of other fat obnoxious Americans and eating at a buffet.

Solid advice on the solo female travelers.  We stumbled across a YT channel called Itchy Boots.  This chicka is extraordinary.  First, she's tiny, like maybe 5'2" buck twenty, well educated, speaks 5-6 languages and from the Netherlands.  So, yeah, she's blonde and attractive.  Not the kinda of woman (as a dad) you would expect to be traveling by herself.  She doesn't usually travel after darkness and will bail off a main road/route and never think twice about it.  She's travelled 190,000 km or 118,000 miles, all on motobike.  Fuck, the weather rain, snow, mud, desert, desolate, jungle trail, isolated, very isolated, mud road (in Africa 40+trucks stuck on it) the list goes on and on.  I'd recommend, starting at Season 4 or 5, by then she had found her style of recording and gotten better with a drone. Most of her vids are about 20-25 minutes long, so they are quick watch.  She covers border crossings, her accommodations (anything from someone's spare bedroom to thatch hut or....) food, getting stuck, broke down and more.  Our biggest take away has been, echoing from above, how nice everyone is she encounters.  The episodes of Middle East travel were especially something.  I don't think she ever bought a meal.  Paging @Patricio Swayze yep, she's been to Socotra, and I'd agree it would be a place to see.  As our man @midtown says from above you have to get out there and learn the ropes.  You can't catch fish from the couch, you have to go.

There was an older gentleman in a masonic lodge I'd become good friends with who always talked about his trip to Ajijic, Mx.  We did a little more research and made the decision to go. My man Fred set up a meeting another mason he knew from Mexico and the hook was set.  Fantastic trip.  We flew to Guadalajara rented a car and drove all over the place. Turned out my masonic connection was a national officer in the Mx Grand Lodge.  He pretty much turned his house over to us, gave us places to go, people to talk to, etc. It never hurts to know a guy, right?  We wound up in Manzanillo out on the coast.  For the olds, it is where Bo Derek went running down the beach.  That was filmed at our hotel.  We didn't know it at the time, but we were "hooked" on Mexico and Central America.

Spoiler!  We are preparing another trip to Panama in the spring.  I'm waiting on a Letter of Introduction from our Grand Lodge to the Panama Grand Lodge, so I can attend some local lodge meetings and meet some brothers who know everyone and everything about the local areas.  Should be one for the books.   I've digressed let's get back on track.

Here's a link to Noraly's web page.  One thing she doesn't say is one of the reasons she got started in this.  She returned from an overseas job and found out her bf had been cheating on her.  So, she sold off her stuff and took a trip to clear her head, and the rest is history.  If you like any kind of travel, give her channel a watch, you might learn something.

Itchy Boots

 

 

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