Hatrack River Forum: Vacations

This is topic Vacations in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

where's a good place to go? intra/inter-continental? Seen a bit of europe and a bit of asia.

fallow

Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :

South Africa is a good place to go. I lived there for two and a half years.

If you decide to go, then Cape Town is a great place. It's a beautiful city by the sea. While you're there, check out Robben Island for a bit of history. I've been there three times and each time it was a little different.

Rent a car in CT and take the Garden Route along the coast. It's really great.

I also suggest that you go on safari in the Kruger National Park. And also check find someone to take you on a tour through Soweto and go to Nelson Mandela's old house.

I think SA is one of the best countries for a vacation, but living there sucks.

And everything is CHEAP!

Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :

Wyoming - the Grand Tetons - Yellowstone - Montana . . . *sighs dreamily*

Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :

I really liked Norway....

Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :

You've been to Norway? Cool! I live here [Big Grin]

When are you planning on going fallow?

Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :

Where in Norway, Yogi? I spent some time in Oslo a few years ago, and I'm seriously considering going back...it was beautiful.

Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :

I live in a small town about an hours drive from Oslo. It's called Moss

Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :

Ooh! I might hafta come visit. [Razz]

Posted by Xaposert (Member # 1612) on :

What do you like? Oceans or beaches? Landscapes? Landmarks? Shopping? Activities?

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :

Everyone has a different idea of what comprises as "vacation". For me, vacation is usually getting as far AWAY from people as possible. Even though I am extremely outgoing -- my idea of vacation is to get out of the norm.

Last year we (family) went to stay for a week on a farm in the middle of nowhere in the Pocatello valley (border of Utah/Idaho). It was absolutely blissful.

I avoid tourist traps -- although I did love the Mt. Rushmore area.

So people like to do the opposite -- go to big cities and see lots of sites.

So it all depends on what you think is a vacation that will determine what we recommend on where you should go.

Farmgirl
(like my daughter would consider "vacation" be to three days of shopping at Mall of America)

Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :

New Zealand

Go on the overnight cruise in Fiordland National Park. See dolphins and penguins. (We liked Doubtful Sound better than Milford Sound, which is where the majority of tourists go.)

Go deep sea fishing near Paihia.

Try trout fishing on Lake Taupo.

Try the food in Hamilton.

Ride the Trans-Alpine train on the south island.

Try cave tubing at Waitomo.

Drive through Hobbitland north of Wellington.

Attend a traditional Maori hangi dinner with entertainment.

Try the Hoki-Poki ice cream.

Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :

Skillery, I'm sold. *checks out flights to New Zealand*

*digs through couch for pennies*

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

skillery forgot (or didn't know) about some of NZ's other attractions -- the Jatraquero Kiwis! tt&t and um . . . hmm, I know there are several others.

St. Yogi, the one other person I know online (from another forum) who lives in Norway also lives in Moss! O_o How weird is that?

Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :

Hmmm...Norway...

What's to do and see?

I might like to watch as they float those giant oil rigs out to sea.

How far can one get on English alone?

Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :

Well, _I_ didn't have any problem while I was there. I think you'd be okay.

Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :

Wow rivka, that IS weird! There are only about 27000 people living in Moss. What're the chances!?

Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :

Skillery, english is no problem. Everyone speaks it.

Take a look at this people: http://www.visitnorway.com/foreign_offices/usa/

Edit to say that even though Norway is a great country, everything is extremely expensive. Well I don't know the prices in America so I might be wrong, but from my point of view it's quite expensive.

[ March 12, 2004, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: St. Yogi ]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Dunno. Weird though, innit? [Big Grin]

I wonder if you know her . . . may I ask how old you are?

Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :

I'm sixteen, but I might still know her anyway even though she might not be my age.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

She's eighteen, IIRC. Very into horses -- spends hours working in a stable. Very into movies, especially older ones. (If you do know her, I think that would be enough to identify her.)

Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :

I don't think I know her, but I'm sure there are a lot of girls around here who fit that description.

But if she's 18 then there's a 40% chance she goes to my school.

[ March 12, 2004, 03:45 PM: Message edited by: St. Yogi ]

Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :

quote:
New Zealand

I'm saving to go... I plan to go not this coming September/October, but the one following that...

[Smile]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

*blink* Really? Spending hours each day working with horses is that common there? Cool!

If you do ever meet her (or think you might have), I'm rivka over on that forum too. [Smile]

Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :

Her name wouldn't happen to be Amanda would it?

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Nope. [Smile]

Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :

Alright.

Posted by Ghost of Xavier (Member # 2852) on :

I so very much want to visit NZ. I was thinking it would be a great honeymoon vacation. I'll bet the tourism has tripled since LOTR came out though.

I have a question though, is the SCUBA diving good there?

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

They seem to think so. [Wink]

Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :

quote:
Teshi:

I plan to go not this coming September/October

My wife and I went the November before last. We had scheduled deep sea fishing on the north island, but summer arrived late that year, and it was too cold for kingfish. In fact, we had a light dusting of snow one evening.

September might be a bit cold, especially on the south island.

When we go again it will be in January or February.

Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :

Do it all in one place, Africa, Norway, Hatrack---Do it all, go to Disney World.

Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :

quote:
I was thinking it would be a great honeymoon vacation.

Are you announcing something?

Posted by Ghost of Xavier (Member # 2852) on :

No [Razz]

Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :

skillery -- so you say the summer is the best time to go? November was cold? I found a site that says January and February are the warmest times...

The thing is I have to think now because I have to take a semester off university (or try and study abroad, which is more difficult).

Anybody who knows: How cold is November/Early December?

Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :

Teshi:

Late November and early December were almost perfect. Take some rain gear for occasional showers.

The ocean was still too cool for deep sea fishing. January/February is the best for that.

Posted by NdRa (Member # 2295) on :

Bali is the prettiest place I've ever visited. Never have I seen beaches as beautiful, and the people are all generally pretty gentle and kind. I have friends that never visit 3rd world countries because they say haggling vendors ruin the trip, but if this does not bother you, I suggest Bali.

I would love to do a cheap backpacking adventure through southeast Asia. Trekking through the jungles, being lazy on the gorgeous beaches, and partying hard at the full moon party sounds absolutely delicious.

Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

st. yogi, dunno, that's why I'm asking.

Went to Norway a couple years back. Lord, it was gorgeous. Nice folks, incredible landscapes, maybe a bit too many salmon dishes (is this possible?)

I've heard great things about Bali and, new zealand is a no-brainer.

I think what I'm contemplating is outdoorsy and vastly different culture.

fallow

Posted by St. Yogi (Member # 5974) on :

You went to Norway and didn't have an outdoorsy experience? That's just wrong.

http://www.stanton.co.nz/oe/norway/aboveGjendesheim.JPG

http://www.51wall.com/landscape/norway/pic/norway41.jpg

http://www.stanton.co.nz/oe/norway/besseggenRidge.JPG

http://www.stanton.co.nz/oe/norway/valleyInJotunheim.JPG

Posted by Danzig (Member # 4704) on :

My parents loved Bali when they went.

Personally, I would suggest Hawaii, especially the island of Kauai (sp?). Not much to do there other than beaches, though. I do not recall which island the Polynesian Cultural Center is on, but that is also worth a day's visit. Pearl Harbor if you are into that type of thing. Also, Hawaii is horribly expensive even for food. We stayed with family for most of our trip and used Frequent Flier miles to get there, so I am not sure about other costs, but they are likely astronomical as well. You need to be rich or be in a position to not need cash for many common expenses.

Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :

Xavier: What a coincidence! I too wish to visit NZ!

Posted by skillery (Member # 6209) on :

NZ Cave Tubing site.

Posted by fallow (Member # 6268) on :

I was at a conference. *shrugs* what else is new?

didn't make it too the fjords. went on a nice long hike, though.

Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :

looky that

and this

and scroll down for the sky . . . sigh

see what I used to wake up to every morning . . . . sniff

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

*coughs* Jerusalem! *coughs*

Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :

Krakow

Not that anyone will come...

Posted by Bokonon (Member # 480) on :

Someday, Kama, someday.

I need to visit the land of my forbears eventually!

-Bok

Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :

Yes, you do. [No No]

Not this August, though! [Eek!]

Posted by tt&t (Member # 5600) on :

Wow. Clearly I missed this, or I would have said:

YOU SHOULD ALL COME TO NZ!!!!!!!! Seriously.

[Party]

Posted by Lalo (Member # 3772) on :

Dude. We SO should.

Actually, what the hell. This summer is tied up with the bike trip, the next summer's devoted to living with my brother in Sicily, but after that, gorgeous, I'm all yours.

Possibly.

My arrival depends on circumstances I'm not yet aware of, and our hooking up depends if you finally get together with that cute dude we both know and like so well.

Posted by Zotto! (Member # 4689) on :

Lalo. Dude. The threesome is NOT happening.

With you, anyway. [Kiss]

Posted by Zotto! (Member # 4689) on :

Though seriously, I DO want to go to NZ. We'll see!

Ever been to Hawaii, fallow? The culture *is* slightly different, but mostly is just way pretty. *shrug*

Posted by Lara (Member # 132) on :

The Carpathians are supposed to be incredible. Poland has a fun night life, too, so bonus.