To anybody who has traveled..
- Thread starter MaKaVeLi_420
- Start date
Just jumped the border from Thailand to Laos a few days ago. Already have my visa for Cambodia for the next destination.
Right now I'm in veng vienne (sp?) the nature here is incredibly beautiful. But the town it self is full of asshole tourists who come here solely for the 'tubing' going down the river in a tube passing by bars and people from the bars reel you in with a beer on a rod. Where they get drunk and party. It's not for me though. I'm getting a mountain bike and take some more snapshots because the mountains here are amazing!
When are you going to start bro?
Right now I'm in veng vienne (sp?) the nature here is incredibly beautiful. But the town it self is full of asshole tourists who come here solely for the 'tubing' going down the river in a tube passing by bars and people from the bars reel you in with a beer on a rod. Where they get drunk and party. It's not for me though. I'm getting a mountain bike and take some more snapshots because the mountains here are amazing!
When are you going to start bro?
My cuz was out there, ^^^ have a safe trip!
As for me, the longest I was out of the country was Germany, with a girl and her family. Little town in the middle of nowhere lol. No one spoke english except her. It was a life changer to see how they lived. Last trip was with my girl to Jamaica, it was 8 days, enough to really appreciate what I have here and you can guess what else goes on there haha. Trying to see China one day.
As for me, the longest I was out of the country was Germany, with a girl and her family. Little town in the middle of nowhere lol. No one spoke english except her. It was a life changer to see how they lived. Last trip was with my girl to Jamaica, it was 8 days, enough to really appreciate what I have here and you can guess what else goes on there haha. Trying to see China one day.
Well, they like to say that something was made in Germany. Still the definition for the best quality here. I've seen some shit where they say made in the US as well. But mostly for advertisement, cause Chinese people tend to buy foreign products if they have the money.
You would have to learn putonghua (mandarin). Most Chinese speak it, but every area has their own language. My mother in law only speaks a Hunan Dialect. When Mao was in Beijing and proclaimed the PRC he was talking in a Hunan Dialect that most Chinese don't understand lol
The city and area I live in has the same language like Taiwan. That's why there are many Taiwanese people living and doing business here. Now the Chinese people from Xiamen are even allowed to travel to Taiwan without visa...
You would have to learn putonghua (mandarin). Most Chinese speak it, but every area has their own language. My mother in law only speaks a Hunan Dialect. When Mao was in Beijing and proclaimed the PRC he was talking in a Hunan Dialect that most Chinese don't understand lol
The city and area I live in has the same language like Taiwan. That's why there are many Taiwanese people living and doing business here. Now the Chinese people from Xiamen are even allowed to travel to Taiwan without visa...
fucking awesome man. I love to talk about this stuff right here. Copping a motorbike? What a great idea....I'm sure you will be able to sell it. As for me, I'm so crazy busy with work. Heading off to Mexico in November...this will be a good year with about 12 or 13 stamps in my passport before 2011 is done....
As far as China goes, Mike, I have a friend staying in Shenzhen. Is that anywhere close to you?
As far as China goes, Mike, I have a friend staying in Shenzhen. Is that anywhere close to you?
Copping a motorbike is a great idea yeah, and I'm not worried about not selling it.
On this trip was the first time I even drove a manual scooter (rented a few times). First I wanted to buy that and drive around with that. Since I discovered it actually is a lot of fun and I'm a great driver too.
But now I bought a proper bike with the clutch and all. Back home I need a license to drive this, although this bike is only 135cc.
I m going to extend my visa for Vietnam tomorrow. I needed to do a few test runs on this bike to the Ha Long Bay and some areas of north Vietnam, which are all breathtakingly beautiful. I decided to take this bike to HCM city anyway. I don't want to spend a lot more money on a new bike.
And since I drove it a few weeks now. The bike wants to drive faster now lol! So I'll see how things will turn out with it.
This particular bike turned out to be a piece of shit though. I don't know anything about bike. In the mean time I learned a lot. I've been a lot in the shops for repairs and always try to look/help with the fix. Eventhough I dont speak Vietnamese and they don't speak English lol.
Actually my next trip I'm thinking about doing all on motorbike. No more busses with stupid fucking tourists! For Vietnam I don't even have a guidebook. Just a map. This way you can get everywhere. I've been in places not even listed on my map. And actually they where the most worthwhile.
On this trip was the first time I even drove a manual scooter (rented a few times). First I wanted to buy that and drive around with that. Since I discovered it actually is a lot of fun and I'm a great driver too.
But now I bought a proper bike with the clutch and all. Back home I need a license to drive this, although this bike is only 135cc.
I m going to extend my visa for Vietnam tomorrow. I needed to do a few test runs on this bike to the Ha Long Bay and some areas of north Vietnam, which are all breathtakingly beautiful. I decided to take this bike to HCM city anyway. I don't want to spend a lot more money on a new bike.
And since I drove it a few weeks now. The bike wants to drive faster now lol! So I'll see how things will turn out with it.
This particular bike turned out to be a piece of shit though. I don't know anything about bike. In the mean time I learned a lot. I've been a lot in the shops for repairs and always try to look/help with the fix. Eventhough I dont speak Vietnamese and they don't speak English lol.
Actually my next trip I'm thinking about doing all on motorbike. No more busses with stupid fucking tourists! For Vietnam I don't even have a guidebook. Just a map. This way you can get everywhere. I've been in places not even listed on my map. And actually they where the most worthwhile.
On a much smaller scale, I drove from San Francisco to New York. I saw all the major cities in between. It took almost 3 weeks and was amazing. I avoided doing it for the longest time for the same concerns you have.
I basically forced myself to do it. I'm glad I did. What's the biggest factor stopping you from starting? Do your best to attend to the biggest problem and your one step closer.
I basically forced myself to do it. I'm glad I did. What's the biggest factor stopping you from starting? Do your best to attend to the biggest problem and your one step closer.
I had been meaning to ask you about the Visa situation. In these countries, I assume you need to go to a hole in the wall building somewhere? Do they speak any english in these facilities? Is it a long process? curious about how that works....also do you worry about where to stay each night you are on the road? Ever meet any people who offer you to stay at their place?
lol at a hole in the wall somewhere.
When I was in India applying for my Burmese visa I passed the embassy of the United States. Damn this is a big building with tons of security and the flag that waved was as big as the building itself. Then I came to the Burmese embassy... this looked like a crack house with indeed a hole in the wall somewhere.
I always tried to arrange my visas and extensions myself. Although I couldn't do that in Vietnam. There I had to arrange it via a travel agent, and wham! And extra 10$ charge! (this is mostly why I want to do it myself).
The time depends from which country to which county you go to. There is always an option to make it faster but you'll pay some extra.
The longest I had to wait was 2 weeks for my Burmese visa from India, due to the political ties these countries have with each other.
Would I have done the same visa from Thailand I would have gotten it the next day.
Usually it takes one, two to five working days.
In all the facilities I went I had no problems with people speaking no English.
You can find the adresses on internet, then look on a map and try to find some local transport to get there.
I never really had to worry about where to sleep you can find hotels, hostels, guesthouses or other facilities pretty much everywhere.
Even in the smallest of towns, only then you probably will not find the sign for 'hotel' instead a word in their language.
In Vietnam this is 'Nga Nghi' (probably wrote that wrong though) but if you don't know the word you will pass it and assume there is no place to stay.
This trip not so much but when I stayed with 'family' in the out out out out outskirts of Jakarta in 2009 and my 'oom' went to work and the woman stayed at home doing the chores I often went walking about in the area I ran in to a lot of people full of amesement what a 'bule' (Indonesian for honkey) was doing in this area. I got offered food left and right and one woman offered me to stay at her place, everyone thought I was completely lost, lol.
And when you understand at least a bit of the culture and (body)language, people open up so much to you. Unseen in the places I've been in the west.
If you are still doubting, but still want to do it I can only advice you to (just) go. It isn't such a big step as it seems, you can make it as easy or difficult as you want (some exceptions excluded of course).
Actually I got so customed with traveling the decision to go home was just as hard as the decision to start this trip.
But at the moment I'm in Hong Kong, this will be my last stop and after this I will return home and try to fit in again, which will be very hard I think. But I will let things flow their way and we'll see. The reason for HK is because I want to do some shopping before I head home. Now it's the most expensive city in the world (I've been told) but the electronics are cheaper then in Europe. And I must say HK is and interesting melting pot of about every culture in the world. You have communist east european like style buildings everywhere next to the Sheraton and other new high tech buildings. It's very interesting.
When I was in India applying for my Burmese visa I passed the embassy of the United States. Damn this is a big building with tons of security and the flag that waved was as big as the building itself. Then I came to the Burmese embassy... this looked like a crack house with indeed a hole in the wall somewhere.
I always tried to arrange my visas and extensions myself. Although I couldn't do that in Vietnam. There I had to arrange it via a travel agent, and wham! And extra 10$ charge! (this is mostly why I want to do it myself).
The time depends from which country to which county you go to. There is always an option to make it faster but you'll pay some extra.
The longest I had to wait was 2 weeks for my Burmese visa from India, due to the political ties these countries have with each other.
Would I have done the same visa from Thailand I would have gotten it the next day.
Usually it takes one, two to five working days.
In all the facilities I went I had no problems with people speaking no English.
You can find the adresses on internet, then look on a map and try to find some local transport to get there.
I never really had to worry about where to sleep you can find hotels, hostels, guesthouses or other facilities pretty much everywhere.
Even in the smallest of towns, only then you probably will not find the sign for 'hotel' instead a word in their language.
In Vietnam this is 'Nga Nghi' (probably wrote that wrong though) but if you don't know the word you will pass it and assume there is no place to stay.
This trip not so much but when I stayed with 'family' in the out out out out outskirts of Jakarta in 2009 and my 'oom' went to work and the woman stayed at home doing the chores I often went walking about in the area I ran in to a lot of people full of amesement what a 'bule' (Indonesian for honkey) was doing in this area. I got offered food left and right and one woman offered me to stay at her place, everyone thought I was completely lost, lol.
And when you understand at least a bit of the culture and (body)language, people open up so much to you. Unseen in the places I've been in the west.
If you are still doubting, but still want to do it I can only advice you to (just) go. It isn't such a big step as it seems, you can make it as easy or difficult as you want (some exceptions excluded of course).
Actually I got so customed with traveling the decision to go home was just as hard as the decision to start this trip.
But at the moment I'm in Hong Kong, this will be my last stop and after this I will return home and try to fit in again, which will be very hard I think. But I will let things flow their way and we'll see. The reason for HK is because I want to do some shopping before I head home. Now it's the most expensive city in the world (I've been told) but the electronics are cheaper then in Europe. And I must say HK is and interesting melting pot of about every culture in the world. You have communist east european like style buildings everywhere next to the Sheraton and other new high tech buildings. It's very interesting.