What country are your favorite country to visit for a vacation/leisure traveles?

I know you're not following. I said that already.

And yes, finally, that's the point. Trolling the trolls.

I only said it...what...three, four, five times?

Pick up the pace, bud. Having to repeat everything just blocks the flow!

I've heard only wonderful things about Bolivia too. I missed it during my first trip down there, but if I ever make it down to that part of the world again it's definitely on my list.

I hear that it's worth making a trip down even just for Salar de Uyuni. But I know there are lots of other places in Bolivia I'd want to visit as well.

Wow, tumbledweeb.

I agree, this is a halfway relevant post and so is your response.

Too bad you're just now figuring that out. Tired of trolling or something?

Or was it because he didn't mention ziplining in the Amazon?

Though he did mention the Galapagos. Do real travelers actually go there or is that just a "bucket list item", too?

I might have seen those same hummingbirds if they were at a sort of reserve/research place for them! But yes there is much natural beauty there and having always been interested in animals going to the Galapagos was a no-brainer.I forget a few of the names of cities I went to (other than Quito and Banos). Another highlight I remember was staying in an accomodation lodge in the Amazon basin that was only accessible by canoe.

Didn't think of Bolivia to be honest, though I am desperate to travel more of South America so will have to look into it. Was very keen to do Peru (for the Inca trail) and Chile/Argentina but unfortunately like most of us time and budget put limits on what you can do in one trip!

I was actually joking about the poster's lack of English.

Next time you are abroad get a map. Fair point that there are plenty of places to see in your own country

Tumbleldweed wrote:

Have you been to Bolivia yet? Several posters mentioned that area and seemed taken by it. I'm thinking that it is just now getting onto a lot of the tourist maps.

Bolivia has been on the map for ages. Coming down from Cusco and crossing the lake to Cochabamba. Taking in the islands, on to La Paz, then southbound. Taking in Sucre and the mines in Potosi. Maybe going east to Santa Cruz, then finally going across Salaar de Uyuni into Chile.

The problems started when Morales came into power and started pulling all of his little d!ck moves. If you're an American entering Bolivia became a helluva lot harder a few years back.

Country club wannabe wrote:

Though he did mention the Galapagos. Do real travelers actually go there or is that just a "bucket list item", too?

In my opinion it's not somewhere to go for a 'bucket list'- if you're not someone who appreciates natural, unspoilt surroundings and animal life it's unlikely to be a place you'd find interesting. Aside from 2-3 inhabited islands tourists are not allowed on land without a guide, and numbers are restriceted each year, to help protect the area from degradation.

But if for wildlife lovers it is simply spectacular and for me it was an awesome place that I'd visit again in a heartbeat.

Copacabana I mean.

the mulleted maniac wrote:

Country club wannabe wrote:

Though he did mention the Galapagos. Do real travelers actually go there or is that just a "bucket list item", too?

In my opinion it's not somewhere to go for a 'bucket list'- if you're not someone who appreciates natural, unspoilt surroundings and animal life it's unlikely to be a place you'd find interesting.

I completely agree with you.

Apparently tumbledweeb has a problem with people traveling to famous spots though. To him that seemingly implies you're not traveling, just ticking off bucket list items.

Maybe he'll explain it to you if he's finally done with his stupid trolling.

Country club wannabe wrote:

I know you're not following. I said that already.

And yes, finally, that's the point. Trolling the trolls.

I only said it...what...three, four, five times?

Pick up the pace, bud. Having to repeat everything just blocks the flow!

Um. I quoted you saying that America is certainly NOT one of the best places to visit for somebody from outside the US, and that anybody who suggests this is ethnocentric as all get-out.

I said just because somebody else might think America is the best place to visit doesn't mean they're ethnocentric.

And you said my "definition" wasn't following, and that America is a great place to visit (despite claiming it has a disjointed history and NO historical monuments or something like that...).

My "I'm not following" remark was sarcastic, since you couldn't detect it.

I hate being nasty on message boards, but I guess I just never conceived that somebody would be so pathetic to have their sole purpose being trolling trolls. I started by standing up for you, thinking you were trying to defend yourself against those calling you a liar. Sorry for helping out.

As for picking up the pace (I'm a woman, by the way, so no "bud" necessary), I have two Ivy League degrees (undergrad and law). I have traveled. My 5k PR is 17:43 which isn't blazing but wins most of the local races. I'm quite happy with my pace, thank you very much. Sorry if it's cramping your trolling style.

the mulleted maniac wrote:

[ Was very keen to do Peru (for the Inca trail) and Chile/Argentina but unfortunately like most of us time and budget put limits on what you can do in one trip!

Peru is fabulous, as is the Inca trail. I trekked through a downpour for a couple of days but it was worth it.

I'd go again in a second. The 4 day trek is cool, but if I go again I'll try one of the longer routes, for sure. The Andes are phenomenal and Machu Picchu is truly unrivaled for sheer, jaw-dropping locations.

And as I mentioned, combining that with a trip southbound to Puno and Lake Titicaca and crossing over to Boliva that way would be stunning. Was keen to have a go at that but then the visa situation abruptly changed.

Will have to give it a go at some point, though.

Inca Trail was great, but crowded. I would also go for a longer route, even if just to get out of the crowds.

I'd also make sure to go during the dry season. All of the clouds obscured our views of what we were told was a gorgeous part of the Andes.

OK, wannabe. You say you've "travelled the world". Seriously, I suspect you've wandered a bit....but travelled, really travelled? You talk about having been all across Western US, yet you complain that it isn't friendly for backpackers nd is expensive.....Man, you don't get it...the West is all about backpackers and not spending money. It's about "travelling", man...something you haven't learned about yet. That's how most people see the most beautiful areas of the West.

Just a query: have you spent time in Hong Kong (or Kowloon)? Have you spent time in Surinan or how about Kepler trak on the S. Isl? Been to Samedan or even Val de Gardena? Have you witnessed the Lika plateau Drina bridge or the Plitvice WH site? Have you been to the West: have you trekked the PCT, the el Camino de Santiago, or have you explored the Olympics or climbed Mt. Baker. Have you fished Nest Lake on the Kenai, and how was your visit to Mt. Jeff Park or the Painted Hills or the Alvord Desert, or a thousand other historical and natural wonders?

Pick up your comprehension pace. Geez, did you really need that explained you? Case in friggin' point. Ivy degrees my a@@. Not all they're cracked up to be, eh?

For the third (?) time, I was replying to his comment about being from another country. I don't know how many more times I have to say that.

Yes, disjointed history and no historical monuments. But I have NEVER said it's not worth visiting. On the contrary, there is some absolutely spectular landscapes to behold.

Again, all stuff I've said repeatedly.

:/

I think travellers do go to the Galapagos, but it is definitely over run at this point. I had plans to go there, but did quite a bit of research first. Because it was going to cost $5-$7,000 I wanted to be sure it was worth it for me. After talking with a friend who works at the Institute on the main island, going to a video presentation given by some guides, and reading reviews of various tours, I decided against it. I'm not the type who likes to stay with a group on a trail with limited time. I'm afraid that this is an example of a country trying to balance preservation of a natural state with taking advantage of tourist dollars. Because Ecuador is a poor country, the Islands are is getting steamrolled by people wanting to make money.

Yep. 6 years on five continents is "wandering" a bit. But not traveling!

You just keep getting better and better, dweeb!

Going to Hong Kong in a few months, actually. And wow, really? You're going to kick off a list of fairly out of the way places with one of the most populated cities on the planet?

No, I haven't been to any of those places. Never head of most of them, either. These thousands of other historical and natural wonders, I'm sure you've been to them, right? As long as they're not listed on any lists or included in any mainstream books, of course. Because that's what traveling is, of course.

All except traveling to HK.

I guess what I'm not getting is why is it ethnocentric to say that somebody from another country might find America at the top of their list to visit.

Maybe it's because I've traveled so much in other countries (then again, so have you...), but most of the people I meet in developing countries, particularly Africa, do indeed say that out of all of the countries in the world, they would like to travel to and see America.

I met a kid in Kenya named New York because his parents wanted to go to New York so much.

So as an American, I can say with certainty that America is indeed at the top of the list for many non-Americans. Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean you can dismiss the travel choices or dreams of millions of non-Americans, or denigrating by calling the person who voiced those dreams "ethnocentric."

To be sure, there are also loads of people for whom America would not be their first choice. And there are a lot of people who do hate America with a passion.

P.S. My not understanding because you've been unclear in your writing does not mean that I have a comprehension problem.

Since NOBODY on this thread seems to "understand" you, please consider the fact that you may have a writing problem?

And I'm not saying that with malice, just something to think about.

Hilarious! What are you planning to do in Hong Kong? Your backpack travelling should work well there.

Just which of those places have you not heard of? Also, it seems that your opinion of "historical" is skewed to the point on pathetic. History comes in many shades.