summersnow^-^ SG Same here. Usually I dont travel with good friends (coincidence). I hv a few travel buddies, whom can "fit well" when go travelling. Easy to compromise, same frequency, same interest...we agreed to OTOT (own time own target) when she prefer shopping, where I prefer visiting cathedral. So is a good combination ya. Otherwise, sure a lot of conflict.
summersnow^-^ SG yo! Egypt!! i actually planning to go there recently... but thought since i hv neber been to middle eastern (n muslim) country alone b4, i dunno what to expect.... n one of my colleague's 'advice' has not been very helpful as well... but ha... definitely would like to go sometime next year as well!! (ever wonder why all those guide books r more towards ag moh?? even the 'bible' for backpackers... the LP... so, sometimes i oso dunno whether the warnings, precautions ect they say will actually b different for orientals or not...) I been to Dubai/UAE and Jordan in middle east, I hope Egypt shld not hv too much of a culture shock. I also considering to join contiki tour to Egypt if I can't cope backpack there alone. Hv u heard of a local writer - Wu Wei Cai? He backpacked to a lot of countries!! I read a lot of his articles, and sort of been influences by him. I also those crazy type, ever quit without a job, and went backpack for a month. Usually only in between 2 jobs then can afford to go such a long period. Yes, LP is a bible for backpackers. It is written by angmo, so I guess we can only use as a guideline. Hey, can we work out some places next Feb? I think Maurince also quite keen ya.
Fatum SG We Wei Cai ? ... His "Bei Bao Zhou Tian Ya" series of books inspired me to go backpacking in the first place ! ... and if you guys do hook up and go somewhere ... be sure to post some pics or a sort of a travelogue here yah ....
coffeeortea SG sure, i've gone on holidays with friends, but not backpacking trips, i'll be sure to post some of the stuff here.
Wanda SG I guess Hemmingway was trying to say that it's easier to accept your travel companions' weird habits and silliness if they happen to be the ppl you love. That's why I usually backpack with my then-bf/now-husband mostly. Coz it's easy to make decisions on accom, travel arrangement/itinery, food choices, etc. I definitely agree with this rule of not more than 4. More than 4 and everything becomes harder to arrange and/or more expensive to arrange, e.g. harder to find bigger guesthouse, need to pay more for a bigger rental car to acomodate ppl + luggage, etc. and most difficult of all, make decisions that everyone will be happy with - which I've found (to my regret) that it is near impossible to happen for a grp of 6. That was the lousiest F & E holiday I've ever had - in Perth.
littlestream SG Wow! I am so impressed with you people. I've never done it and doubt I'll make the "grade" anyways. I guess I'll just continue watching the Travel network.
sacredspirits SG ha... LS, u sure will make the grade.... u hv been living overseas as well... so, u shd b able to tahan and adjust to things well.... i oso similar to u... very 'tng lang'.... so, when i backpacked europe, quite an eye opener for me... ha... anyway, let me start sharing some little things that i picked up on my journeys... 1) in UK, what we call 'pants/trousers' in singapore r just known as 'trousers' here.... never say 'pants'.... cos 'pants' means underwear in UK... so, can u imagine telling another person of the opp. sex that his/her pants are really nice...?? 2) cant remember who mentioned about contiki tour thinggy.... hmm.... anyway, during my europe backpack, i heard that they more focus on partying and getting drunk.... hmm.... 3) heard that there is this 'hop-on-hop-off' bus called 'go bus' or something like that in egypt... u can hop on n hop off anywhere on it's specified route.... anyone done it b4 and knows whether it is good?? 4) in laos (5 years ago).... changing currency on the streets gives u better rates... but b careful..... dun let them get your money first b4 u get theirs!! and COUNT!! 5) in Lijiang, yunan, china, there is this orphanage in the old town... they hv guest rooms as well.... the rates are similar to the other guest houses in the old town... but money will b put to good use for the orphans..... (i hope) okay..... that's it for today.....
Wanda SG No doubt it's a really lovely place, but i believe they don't have flush toilets at the Lijiang gu cheng (old town)...and most of the toilets there are usually located away from the main house in a separate, standalone hut.
Fatum SG Wanda's been there as well ? ... ladies, gents ... looks like lots of you have been to interesting places, ... I'm gonna start a picture thread in this forum ... hope you guys can support this with pics of past sojourns ! ...
sacredspirits SG huh?? pics arh?? me IT thinggy very jia lat leh... dun even hv access to computer at where i m staying now.... been using the one at work place (after work or lunch time lah... me no eat snake one ok!! ...) how to put pics??!! (somemore i dun even own a camera!!!) wanda, if i remember correctly, the toilet at that orphanage in Lijiang is in the building itself (not in the rooms though)... only thing is that they hv limited hot water.... so if u go there in winter.... hmm... good luck to u!!
Wanda SG Yep....was part of the Kunming-Dali-Lijiang (Yunan) trip...missed Zhong Dian tho' due to lack of time, and it was too cold then, and we didn't have winter clothing with us. Lijiang is great (highly recommended)....we're gonna go back again to cover the places we missed. Dali is machiam touristy, clinical Sentosa like that...so, 2 days are enough.
littlestream SG Originally posted by sacredspirits: ha... LS, u sure will make the grade.... u hv been living overseas as well... so, u shd b able to tahan and adjust to things well.... i oso similar to u... very 'tng lang'.... so, when i backpacked europe, quite an eye opener for me... ha... anyway, let me start sharing some little things that i picked up on my journeys... 1) [b]in UK, what we call 'pants/trousers' in singapore r just known as 'trousers' here.... never say 'pants'.... cos 'pants' means underwear in UK... so, can u imagine telling another person of the opp. sex that his/her pants are really nice...?? D [/b] hahahahaaa...........that's funny!
sacredspirits SG it's true..... when one of my ang moh colleague came back from his holiday in US, he said he got a shock when someone told him.... ' u have got nice pants on... where did u get then??'... he thought he 'zao geng'!! (somemore he the old fashion reserved typical english!)
sacredspirits SG wanda.... saw your post about urumuqi.... tell me more abt the place can? me will like to go there one day as well.... share share, can? how u get there, how's the experience, food and accommodation.... kam siah.....
