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Post by domeplease on Oct 14, 2018 10:49:54 GMT -5
Tequila & I are starting this Travel Thread. There is to be NO Politics Posted on this Thread. Thank you. I am starting this new Thread, for in the Future I MIGHT be traveling again, not only for Pleasure but also for Business. I know WE have one Poster living in Singapore and another Poster who has visited 100 Countries. WOW = I have been to around 30 Plus Countries. I have always believed that Travel to other Countries is the Best education possible. Just my thoughts… My first trip will be to Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan & Thailand. Hong Kong for good but reasonable prices Suits (for Biz); the Food and maybe some Biz. Next Singapore; ALL for business; but I will squeeze in some R&R Than Japan for the food. And finally, Thailand for business too (Funny biz, that is…) and for some R&R. I have read about & researched Singapore a lot. Also, I have had around 14 Folks I know visit Singapore. Ten of them raved about Singapore. The other Four just complained & complained about Singapore; but they complain about every country they visit. Personally, I think they should plan their next trip to MacDonald’s ONLY. Based on what I have read and comments from the Ten that have spent time in Singapore; here are my initial conclusions: --Singapore: 1. It is probably the one of the cleanest city in the world 2. Crime is nearly ZERO = It is SAFE 3. Drug use is almost non-existent (or not seen) 4. It has the most diverse food of any city in the world & the food is amazing 5. Their Hotels are amazing 6. One can fly there on some of the highest ranked airlines in the world 7. Everyone gets along = Little to no Hate 8. Recent survey shows that 85% of their citizens believe that their lives will only get better 9. No Religious problems; Jews, Muslims, Christians, etc. all get along & many have their places of worship right next door to each other or a block away. 10. It is one the greenest cities in the world 11. They retain 90% plus of all rainfall 12. They Re-Use most of their water 13. They have a great system for preventing flooding 14. One of the most Tech cities in the world, if not #1 15. One of the Richest Nations per Capita 16. Hardly no homeless 17. Great Public Transportation 18. Superior Hospitals/Medical Care --10-10-18: Singapore Rural Area: www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/10-asian-cities-to-visit-before-everyone-else-hears-about-them/ss-BBOc5Br?li=BBnb7Kz#image=10 Would love to get feedback on Singapore. And on other Countries you all have visted. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2018 16:47:26 GMT -5
Hey, Dome.. Singapore has been my home for 10 months every year since 1995. It’s a great place to live on a lot of levels. You are correct, it’s green, has progressive policies with regard to the environment, little serious crime, is multi cultural with a fine educational system, a great place to jump off to other SE Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and others, the food is interesting and people are taken care of through a massive HDB system of government condominiums where the vast majority of people live. They are subsidised through the nation’s mandatory savings program called CPF.
Cars are crazy expensive as is petrol as is alcohol and a lot of imported “luxuries”, private rents are high and certain freedoms are regulated somewhat. It’s not a place to be stuck with little money looking for a job. Most expats are skilled professionals whose companies pay for their housing, international school education and tax relief. A lot of banking, IT types here. It’s a former British colony, so there is a lot of love for all thing English.
It’s a tiny island, but is wired with terrific public transport. MRT, buses and taxis, even bicycles are available.great internet service and the people are highly tech savvy.
They don’t suffer fools and the court system is strict. No drugs, extreme dissent or slander are tolerated. It’s not for everyone, but if you work hard, are law abiding and clever, you can flourish here.
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Post by inger on Oct 14, 2018 17:04:40 GMT -5
Chuck, I was just wondering why 10 months per year? Does it have to do with retaining your US citizenship, an immigration law, or your personal preference?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2018 18:34:01 GMT -5
We have a place in Ft. Lsuderdale that we go to in the summer for a month and we spend a month during December- January holiday time. Hopefully, I can start spending more time in the states in the latter part of 2019.
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Post by greatfatness on Oct 14, 2018 20:21:14 GMT -5
Pretty great food culture also, from my visits.
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Post by inger on Oct 14, 2018 20:40:08 GMT -5
I never go anywhere. The only time i’ve Ventured out of the states was when I crossed into Canada (twice) on a trip to Niagra Falls. Once I walked across the bridge at the falls. The other time I was on a bus for a tour that lasted a couple-three hours...
Oh well. Plenty to see here in the states. In the last 19 years I’ve lived in MD, then CO, then KY, back to MD, then back to CO. I almost went to OK once. I had myself volunteered for it, but then the company I worked for wound up backing out of a deal to build a greenhouse there to supply Lowe’s Home Centers. Just as well on that one. I gave SD a sideways glance during a growth spurt around Rapid City, too...but didn’t think I’d like it there that much.
In addition to the states I lived in. I also worked in NJ, DE, and PA.
So, my world is rather small compared to some, though I know lots of people that have lived in one place their entire lives, so to them, I seem like a pioneer, a great traveler to exotic places. My lone remaining brother has lived in Cecil County, MD his entire life. He almost went crazy went his oldest son moved to GA.
I doubt I would enjoy the food of other cultures (I’m a picky eater) the politics, the language barriers, etc. Of course without the actual experience, how do I really know?...
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Post by michcusejoe5 on Oct 14, 2018 21:34:57 GMT -5
Ive been travelling a little more in recent years but no where too exciting and basically always domestically. I will be going to Hawaii in a few weeks...second time to Maui and first time to Kauai. Im slowly working my way through the US / attending every MLB stadium. I am currently up to 21 states and 16 MLB parks. Hoping that golf or work takes me to Europe or Asia at some point...never been to either.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2018 23:36:09 GMT -5
Actually, I miss the states a lot. The nature, wide spaces, you can see stars, go on road trips, great food, terrific music scene, my house and back yard... I envy Joe, getting to see all of those stadiums. I've been to eight. To be honest, I left for work and the longer I stay away, the more I miss it. Best of all worlds for me would be to live in the US for 8-9 months per year and in Asia the other 3-4 with some side trips to Europe, especially Rome. I had some misspent holidays in Amsterdam in my 20s that I wouldn't want to repeat. Spent 4 years in Abu Dhabi that built up my bank account, but little else. Its a small world and its good to be adaptable. My wife in Singaporean/Chinese and I have two step kids in their early twenties who also like to wander. Of course Singapore is so fucking small, I totally get why they travel.
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Post by domeplease on Oct 15, 2018 5:43:02 GMT -5
Hey, Dome.. Singapore has been my home for 10 months every year since 1995. It’s a great place to live on a lot of levels. You are correct, it’s green, has progressive policies with regard to the environment, little serious crime, is multi cultural with a fine educational system, a great place to jump off to other SE Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and others, the food is interesting and people are taken care of through a massive HDB system of government condominiums where the vast majority of people live. They are subsidised through the nation’s mandatory savings program called CPF. Cars are crazy expensive as is petrol as is alcohol and a lot of imported “luxuries”, private rents are high and certain freedoms are regulated somewhat. It’s not a place to be stuck with little money looking for a job. Most expats are skilled professionals whose companies pay for their housing, international school education and tax relief. A lot of banking, IT types here. It’s a former British colony, so there is a lot of love for all thing English. It’s a tiny island, but is wired with terrific public transport. MRT, buses and taxis, even bicycles are available.great internet service and the people are highly tech savvy. They don’t suffer fools and the court system is strict. No drugs, extreme dissent or slander are tolerated. It’s not for everyone, but if you work hard, are law abiding and clever, you can flourish here. CHUCK: Great Post = Thanks so much. You re-affirmed MUCH what I heard/read about Singapore. I had read about the CPF Program = BRILLIANT MOVE.
Whenever I finalize my plans for a visit; I will contact you first for guidance. Again great information. Thanks.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2018 8:25:21 GMT -5
No problem, Dome. Hope we can get together when you visit.
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Post by domeplease on Oct 15, 2018 9:17:50 GMT -5
Pippsheadache: Are you the one that has travel to 100 countries??? If so would love to hear about some of these trips. Thanks
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Post by domeplease on Oct 16, 2018 10:01:54 GMT -5
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Post by domeplease on Oct 16, 2018 11:42:43 GMT -5
--10-16-18: us.cnn.com/travel/article/paradise-beach-south-africa/index.html Paradise Beach is simply undiscovered, except by the small community that hugs the dunes in a neighborhood whose expansion is limited by protected park lands. The few stray bits of litter get picked up by residents who grab the occasional bag of chips or empty bottle that blew off someone's porch. The only restaurant as such is the sailing club, where there's a bar and sometimes an open fire for a "bring-and-braai." This means that the bar provides wood, and generally speaking matches, and the guests bring everything else needed for a grill out: meat, salads, bread, plates and utensils. Drinks are, of course, available at the bar, as well as a selection of raw meats wrapped in cellophane into a braai pack (in case anyone forgot to stop by the butcher). Sport plays on the screens inside, for anyone who's watching. Everyone else gathers around the fire, sheltered from the wind by the tall fencing, which also keeps the sand dunes from spilling inside. The only other option for eating out, without making the short drive to Jeffreys Bay or the slightly longer drive to the nearby town of St. Francis Bay, is lucking upon a special occasion like the Happy Hippo events on a farm on the Seekoei River. This is the kind of place where the address is listed as "on the gravel road en route to St. Francis Bay." The drive feels en route to nowhere, but once there, there are rabbits and small farm animals for the kids, live music with local bands and fresh food from sushi to wood-fired pizzas to curries. The river, especially during the dry season, is more what many might call a broad stream, making it ideal for walking along or across. Paradise feels quiet partly because some of the homes are used as rentals for holidaymakers, who mainly arrive during the summertime break at Christmas. These houses are the only accommodation, either as bed-and-breakfasts (both Airbnb and more traditional style) or longer-term rentals. In the off-season, these guesthouses are rarely all full, though they always seem open and inviting. Middle-class homes in South Africa's big cities are invisible from the street, hidden behind walls and electric fencing. There's none of that in Paradise Beach. Homes open to the street, or look over the ocean. Fences are designed to keep in dogs or protect flower beds, not to electrocute prowlers. When big-city people arrive, that openness feels foreign, and exhilarating. Not that the urbanites arrive in great numbers, at least not like Cape Town's or Durban's manic rush to the shore when millions of visitors flood into town during the holiday season. Here, the tourists blend in with the locals. Out-of-towners move into houses and go about their business. There's no hotel or resort complexes, no high-rise towers. The tallest structures around town are the giant white windmills on the new power-generating farms. That's much of the reason that Jill Thompson settled in Paradise Beach in 2004, after living in countries across the continent. She founded Mpendulo Savings in 2008, creating a system of pooling savings in nearby townships to support local communities. Here she's found meaning in her work and in her environment. "I feel a profound connection with nature," Thompson says. "Alone on the beach with my dogs early in the morning. Our footprints the only ones on the pristine sand. It feeds my soul like nothing else does." --10-16-18: www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/30-cities-to-visit-that-are-really-really-clean-14731774 |
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Post by pippsheadache on Oct 18, 2018 14:59:27 GMT -5
Pippsheadache: Are you the one that has travel to 100 countries??? If so would love to hear about some of these trips. Thanks Hi Dome -- first, thanks for starting a thread like this and for keeping politics to the politics thread. You sound like a well-traveled guy yourself. I haven't quite hit 100 countries -- I am somewhere in the mid-90s -- but by this time next year I should have made it, because we will be visiting friends in West Africa (Mali and Ghana), an area of the world I have never visited (we will also get to Senegal and probably Togo and Benin). It is NOT tourist country, and I am getting old, and visiting the difficult places is something I need to do in the very near future because obviously we never know what fate has in store for us. My wife and I have been to many other parts of Africa -- it is probably my favorite continent to visit because life is so unlike what we experience elsewhere -- but not the more forbidding West. I certainly defer to Chuck on Singapore. We loved it there -- it seemed like Beverly Hills with humidity -- orderly, clean, efficient. No blade of grass is higher than any other blade of grass. But definitely not a place to get crosswise with the law, unless caning is on your bucket list of life experiences. I remember they had T-shirts there which read "Singapore -- it's a fine city. Fine for spitting, fine for littering, fine for jaywalking" etc. One of the reasons we wanted to go was to stay at the original Raffles Hotel, which is a tourist destination in its own right. You have your own private butler, they give great historical tours of the hotel, and it has its own on-site museum. Of course it has the Long Bar, where the Singapore Sling was first concocted (so they say.) Touristic, but fun. A step back in time. Singapore is easy for anyone. We also liked the Changi area near the airport, lots of cutting-edge restaurants and a rather moving WWII POW camp to visit. From there we took a train to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, going past the old rubber plantations. Interesting to see, and KL is a very dynamic city as well. Nice blend of old and new. If you go to Singapore, you pretty much have to go to KL. But again I am on Chuck's turf here. Everyone has his own travel philosophy. At first, I wanted to see all the "travel poster" sites -- Eiffel Tower, Parthenon, Coliseum, Great Pyramids, Great Wall, Taj Mahal, Sydney Opera House, Corcovado, Machu Picchu, Gibraltar, Table Mountain, Chichen Itza, Mount Fuji, Kremlin, Petra etc. -- those are all amazing things to see and it is a privilege and frankly an undeserved blessing to have done so. But over the years my wife and I have focused more on two things: being in situations where we spend time interacting with locals -- always independent travel, always going to local markets, eateries where locals go, visiting native encampments off the tourist map -- and doing nature adventures. One of the single greatest experiences we ever had was mountain gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda. Strenuous, but moving and exhilarating. Highly highly recommended. Also it is hard to top wildlife safaris in Africa -- Serengeti, Masai Mara, Okavango Delta in Botswana, South African game parks -- and other incredible experiences like the Galapagos, Australian wildlife, you name it. I would love to do Antarctica, but my wife is reluctant, so I am still working on her. Time is short. There is so much beauty in the United States that if that was all I ever saw, I would be happy with it. Jeez, Yellowstone is one of the greatest places on Earth. Grand Canyon, Glacier National Park, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain National Park, Badlands, Bryce, Zion,Smokey Mountains, Carlsbad, Everglades -- you name it, all of our national parks are magnificent (although Yellowstone and Grand Canyon are always at the top of my list.) I always tell people that I am a bad guy to ask about where to go, because I love every place I have ever been. Okay, some more than others, for sure, but every place has something amazing to offer. The world is spectacular, even with all the crap that has gone on at all times in recorded history. You just have to pick your spots and take advantage of opportunities. As you can probably see, next to baseball, travel is the topic I love most. Okay, and music. Sorry and a bit embarrassed for being so long-winded. |
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Post by inger on Oct 18, 2018 18:15:32 GMT -5
Long winded? No, my dear friend. You were eloquent, as always. You were on point and captivating. Since I am quite certain I will never travel to much, if any of the world outside the USA, I was thrilled to read that we have co-experienced a few of America’s natural wonders and that they do rate highly on your list. I also better understand those stretches of time through which we suffered your absence and what a privilege it’s been for this tiny group that you’ve enjoyed being with us.
You could make a post easily as long as this one about each individual place you’ve traveled and I can at least speak for myself and say that I would be just as captivated by each post. How wonderful that you also have a wife that has enjoyed these travels with you.It’s truly remarkable to have someone to co-experience journeys as you have. You’re both very fortunate...
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