Where would you go?

[Hunted]

To House Husband. I have no axe to grind. I'm a simple conservationist and all I know is what I read in the broad media, and from my personal contacts working at various UN NGOs around the globe. Perhaps you're right and spending tourist dollars in the local village would help villagers a little ... until the next army truck pulls up and demands the quasi-tax payment all villages are subjected to? (that's an analogy).
Personally I would boycott any place where a heartless, ruthless dictator rules and abuses their position of power so visibly, with scant regard for human or animal life. And while I understand it's your homeland and you feel a passion for it, doesn't it have a poor track record, hence the current food crisis, or the outcry in allowing it back into the HR Commission recently. Apologies if I'm wrong - didn't mean to offend.

[Africaunite]

2 hunted.

Why don't you just stay a simple conservationist and leave the highbrow intellectual thinking to others with a larger grasp of the situation?

[Hunted]

2 Aricaunite ... sure I can do that. I'll stay a simple conservationist just for you. Thanks for your valuable input, by the way. Hey, why not educate me on the "intellectual aspect" of this issue? Put that mighty brain of yours to work? I'm always enthusiastic to learn from others more knowledgable than I. So, I look forward to your reply ...

[Africaunite]

bwahahahaha i'm not about to contribute to your peasized knowledge sphere.

by your own admission, you are a 'simple' conservationist.

stay that way (even if its just for me).

[Hunted]

Enuf said...

[2.5 weeks]

To asianchick,

If you don't mind, could you please tell me how much your round trip ticket to Kenya/Tanzania costs on Emirates? Depending on how much a 2.5 weeks East Africa vacation may cost, we may look into a detailed Australia trip. (just had Aussie friends over last night and was told the weather will be nice during the day, and a bit cold at night, which we figured is okay, and Singapore is so closeby)
Also decided we're going to do a Vietnam/Cambodia trip another time for a week or so.

[Africaunite]

troo

[truetraveller]

I really don't understand how anyone can consider 2.5 weeks too long for 2 countries???!! How on earth are you doing your travelling??? 1 week just to explore the whole of vietnam??? It takes me at least 1 week to truly explore an area in a country - where you understand the culture, the people, the local food - and do you have any idea how many regions there are to cover in an entire country?

If that's the kind of travelling you want to do (covering as much as possible in a short amount of time), it really doesn't matter where you go.

There will always be something to do and see, and never enough time. What matters is that wherever you go, keep your mind open to a new culture, things, people, way of life. Otherwise, whats the purpose of travelling??

[2.5 weeks]

truetraveller, thanks for your input, but everyone has different styles of travelling, but it seem like you only call your own way 'true travel'.

I don't intend to explore the whole country of vietnam, but certain places only. Don't we all have our own interests? I am of Asian descendent, but raised in a western culture as an expat kid, and to me, visiting 10 temples in one region is boring (as we have tons in my country) whereas for a westerner that may be truly inspiring and interesting. Just an example here, but I think I should tell you to keep an open mind to other people's cultures, likes/dislikes, interests, etc. Not everyone is like you  

[has to be Oz]

I would head to Australia. The tropical north of Queensland is best in Aug/Sept because you can swim at the Reef ( you can't do this at all times due to stingers in the water) and there is less humidity than in Summer.

If I had 2.5 weeks I would do a three days at Palm Cove (just outside of Cairns), a four days on an island (perhaps Hayman) and then I would fly either to Sydney/NSW (Spring is fantastic in Sydney) or go to Ayres Rock and Kakadu (also the best time to see these places as it is too hot in Summer).

Does depend on Budget. If looking for a cheaper option I would also consider flying into Cairns and driving south stopping along the way in the little sea side towns of Queensland. I can recommend a stay in a little town called Agnes Waters which is an hour south of Gladstone. It is quite and very relaxing.

[swordfish]

2.5 weeks : not sure why you think you can d Vietnam in a week. I honestly can't imagine how anyone could travel a country this size in anything less than 3-4 weeks at the very minimum.

If I were you I would do this:
Bangkok- 2 Days (get your onward tickets here, much cheaper)
Cambodia - 3-5 days
Laos - 3-5 days
Vietnam - 7-10 days (go to Hanoi and Danang/DmZ/Hue if possible all in North)

You live in SE Asia now, its time to see it if you can. If you enjoy beaches, you can spend 2.5 weeks in Thailand very easily.

If you are a diver, then Micronesia is great.

If you enjoy culture, then 2.5 weeks in India would be great.

Anyway, lots of places to see and 2.5 weeks is not much time to do it in.

[This message has been edited by swordfish (edited 13-05-2005).]