roodboi said:

There were two potatoes walking down the street. They introduce themselves -the one potato said, I'm russet who are you? The other potato replied, I-De-Ho.

Harlepolis said:

Have you ever told us why you are there?

uh let the real hot weather places. i am very bad in places that have hot weather.

I honestly can't think of any place I'd refuse to visit on principle. Even currently war-torn and corrupt places seem intriguing if only because they offer an unpolished, unromanticized picture of what real people less fortunate than myself go through.

I wouldn't visit these places as a husband and father, though. And were I to visit as a single, childless guy, I'd be really antsy about giving money to certain more oppressive locales. I'd want to go on a shoestring.

I'm not too keen on visiting Chad right now. It seems like it has the worst of climate, poverty and refugees. Not that I hate the refugees; they deserve to go back to their homeland to live in peace, but it just seems so desolate.

I'm not to keen on visiting Svalbard (Spitsbergen) either; it's so cold there and barren.

There are other places that seem run down and desolate (many African nations, many former Soviet Republics) but would probably be quite interesting once I got there. And there are other places I wouldn't go to because of the political situation (Saudi Arabia, Sudan, North Korea), but if they got rid of their evil dictators or pulled themselves culturally out of the Dark Ages, they would have potential.

But I would love to visit Eastern Europe. I grew up with the propaganda that all of the people were poor and ugly, but there are some incredibly beautiful women in those countries.


[Edited 1/9/10 9:56am]

TD3 said:

Just curious, is it because of the climate or something else?
I should add though that it's not quite as cold here as many might think.
It's probably warmer here right now than in many parts of USA.

purplehippieonthe1 said:

Partly but really no desire... the curiosity bug has never hit me. Some tried to get me to do an Arctic cruise and I demurred. I'd been on one in the Pacific ( Alaska/Canada) and after the seeing the bears, waterfalls, lakes, nature after day 4 I was "done". Places like that, I would very much like to have hook up with a local and show me the city/town. I like the touristy stuff but a couple of days of, I want to experience culture. Someone was telling me if you do a cross Atlantic cruise some of those ships stop over to Iceland can for 5 or 7 days, I'm not sure how long. What's the temp now?

I don't want to go anywhere that isn't at least 40 degrees warmer than it is here today.

Lammastide said:

I'm currently working here: http://www.qf.org.qa/output/page301.asp

Harlepolis said:

Hey Harle, how are the people over there and what are you studying, if you don't mind me asking?

As far as travel, places I have no desire to visit are England, Italy, Germany. Mexico or any Central American country. I would like to try Paris as I have friends/family that have been there and still travel there and they love it. I also like Toronto, although I haven't been there in years, but would like to visit more places in Canada as well.

I love the Caribbean and would love to visit more Caribbean islands.
[Edited 1/9/10 13:24pm]

The Mid East

2elijah said:

Qataris are cool Speaking as a New Yorker, they're way more civilized, sophisticated and level-headed than most of us, contrary to what the Western media tends to portray Arabs to be. So, word of advice; never visit any of those countries with pre-conceived ideas.

My only complaint is the climate, winter is just lovely but ooooh lord, the summer is just ruthless(and loooong)

TD3 said:

Currently it's 9:25 PM and the temperature in Reykjavik is 6°C (43°F)

Harlepolis said:

You're right, when visiting other countries one should not go with pre-conceived notions, and I try not to do that, but there are just some countries I just have no desire to visit at all, and not because of pre-conceived notions, but I have to say that your advice is definitely good advice. I'm not jealous of the hot weather because the highest today in NYC was 30 degrees, and we are in for more, colder temperatures. It seems the past two winters here have given us bone-chilling weather. I remember in June of 2009 people were actually wearing light coats. I guess I got used to many of the fall-like winters we've had before 2008. Oh well, I could be in someplace colder, so I will count my blessings.

Anyway, it must be cool being right there and learning about the Qatari culture. Take some pics and share. One place I'd love to visit though is Egypt. I would love to see the pyramids, and get hands on experience with the culture. I hope one day I can do that. I have a friend that took her mother there, and the pics she brought back of the pyramids were astounding.
[Edited 1/9/10 13:57pm]

Jamaica

The homophobia.

I would like to visit.... again....

Italy (Rome & Venice)
Switzerland
Hawaii

Countries that I would like to visit:

Cuba
Turks & Caicos
Bahamas

prb said:

totally off topic but yesterday I saw a documentary about the Tasmanian devils and the infectious cancer they had, very interesting and sad to see but I had to think about you, that you lived there. Wasn't Chilly also from there? I should check her address again.

MrsMdiver said:

guess what I saw a mosquito 2 weeks ago

xpertluva said:

what the media is giving you is a completely different Image, nearly all the middle eastren countries are safe, Iraq is maybe the only one and thats because of the obvious reasons we all know about.....
[Edited 1/9/10 16:42pm]

Harlepolis said:

Very cool gig. Is it an English-language school, or do you work in Arabic?

RenHoek said:

Thanks for the suggestion! I don't know much about Turkey. I'll have to do some research.

seeingvoices12 said:

I hope you're right. I've always been fascinated with that part of the world. I think it goes back to watching old Sinbad movies when I was little and reading The Arabian Nights.

ZombieKitten said:

Over here they keep airing this show called "Bite Me", or something like that. The crazy guy goes all over dangerous places and lets things bite him.
He spends a lot of time in Australia.
I will invite him to come here and let my Australian Cattle Dog bite him.

That man is inane.

ZombieKitten said:

something bit me on NYE...i spent an hr straight trying not to scratch
huge arse red patch the next day.

2elijah said:

We have almost the same things in mind.
I have zero desire to go to England, Germany, Russia (among others) and would love to go to Italy, Paris & Canada...oh and some island hoppin as well - except for Trinidad, Jamaica, Haiti & Cuba.

When u ready to come to Grenada and want company to go around...hit me up!

There is no country in the world where I do not have something to learn from the culture and people.....except America.

We really wanted to visit Panama.. but I saw this show about some indigenous flies that burrow into your skin? This guy got hit with a ton of them, and some girl was pulling them out of his back. It was disgusting..

It's just something to think about..but really there's no country I wouldn't visit, actually.

Well... I take that back. I wouldn't want to climb Mt Everest. I read the book, Into Thin Air(??) I think that's the title. It was about this climb to Mt. Everest where a few climbers and guides didn't make it. I just don't see the "fun" in that sort of mountain climbing. But to each his own, I guess.

I'd just be happy to get to one of the major cities right here in the United States such as New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco. The only other country that has ever caught my interest is Canada. I guess because a lot of the cool Americans went up there in the 1960s dodging the draft so I would think it would be a lot like the United States but more liberal.

I hate countrysides and ancient buildings. That stuff just looks depressing to me and I can see enough grass and country in Mississippi. The more buildings, concrete, and skyscrapers, the better. I strictly like modern contemporary and futuristic so Japan looks real good to me but I would be bored out of my skull there because I have to be where there's a large black population because I love to talk shit and party.

My idea of hell would be places like Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, Montana, etc.

We've been having lows in the teens lately and I have been absolutely loving it. The colder the better. Now if we could just find a way to get rid of that damn sun in the daytime.