Sam's super review of the world (or the parts I have seen) (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Ford Prefect
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Yeah, I was hoping to hook up with people about the place but I kind of alienated myself on here because i got caught up with working 70 hr weeks. As a result the only people I knew I would be going near too were the east coast guys but bad timing meant it didnt work out. But i've had a couple of friendly faces about the place. One of my closest friends from school is teaching in china and i was with him for a week, one of my brothers mates was in NZ at the same time as me, had a buddy from home in New England as the same time as me so we hooked up. So the travelling alone part hasn't been too bad.
Nice read, Jasper. Vietnam is somewhere I'd recommend to anyone, and Thailand is one of the places I just have to go back to. I'm planning on going on a chill/fishing trip next year, catch some big ones.
On NZ, a friend of mine sold up and moved to the north island after having been on a 3 week holiday, then came back after 6 months after being bored shitless. I haven't been but it looks an amazing place if you don't mind life a bit quieter.
So you did drowning?
Interesting what you said about the cost of living in America, but it is all relative after all, at the opposite end look at somewhere like Norway.
On NZ, a friend of mine sold up and moved to the north island after having been on a 3 week holiday, then came back after 6 months after being bored shitless. I haven't been but it looks an amazing place if you don't mind life a bit quieter.
So you did drowning?
Interesting what you said about the cost of living in America, but it is all relative after all, at the opposite end look at somewhere like Norway.
OP
Nice read, Jasper. Vietnam is somewhere I'd recommend to anyone, and Thailand is one of the places I just have to go back to. I'm planning on going on a chill/fishing trip next year, catch some big ones.
On NZ, a friend of mine sold up and moved to the north island after having been on a 3 week holiday, then came back after 6 months after being bored shitless. I haven't been but it looks an amazing place if you don't mind life a bit quieter.
So you did drowning?
Interesting what you said about the cost of living in America, but it is all relative after all, at the opposite end look at somewhere like Norway.
On NZ, a friend of mine sold up and moved to the north island after having been on a 3 week holiday, then came back after 6 months after being bored shitless. I haven't been but it looks an amazing place if you don't mind life a bit quieter.
So you did drowning?
Interesting what you said about the cost of living in America, but it is all relative after all, at the opposite end look at somewhere like Norway.
The north island is fucking balls man, there is really shit all to do there. The south is where its at, thats where LOTR was mostly filmed.
To give you an idea - the North Island is where they filmed the Hobbiton sections. The rest was filmed on the south island. If i have you on fb have a look at the arthurs pass album in my photos and that is what its like everywhere on the south.
Yep, very interesting to read, where you as impulsive as your description? I know a very long trip is unusual, but its bit interesting reading you decided to stay week or weeks in some places, as you describe (and in others like Aussie land 
). Though I'm jealous of such a trip, I would never do it alone, too much downtime and too daunting to do it alone (I would be bored out of my mind alone, done trips with 10+ peeps, still get too bored when its too much downtime). Everything is more fun in pairs or more.
). Though I'm jealous of such a trip, I would never do it alone, too much downtime and too daunting to do it alone (I would be bored out of my mind alone, done trips with 10+ peeps, still get too bored when its too much downtime). Everything is more fun in pairs or more.
OP
Yep, very interesting to read, where you as impulsive as your description? I know a very long trip is unusual, but its bit uninteresting reading you decided to stay week or weeks in some places, as you describe (and in others like Aussie land ). Though I'm jealous of such a trip, I would never do it alone, too much downtime and too daunting to do it alone. Everything is more fun in pairs or more.
). Though I'm jealous of such a trip, I would never do it alone, too much downtime and too daunting to do it alone. Everything is more fun in pairs or more.
The downtime sucks when you aren't with people. But I got used to it. The worst is when you have been with someone or a group for a few days or weeks and then you go to being alone again....thats really bleak.
Good on you.
If you think you got looks in China for being a lao wai, imagine what I get for being a lao wai with a 34-week pregnant China girl.
You should have dropped the panda penitentiary for something else. There's an abundance of sites around Chengdu, the most memorable for me being Emei Shan, though the best season for that is mid to late Autumn.
Besides the amazing food, I hope you tried the tea houses.
There's a few more things than skyscrapers to Shanghai, and this is coming from a Beijinger..
Did you fly from Vietnam directly to Sichuan? Otherwise Guangxi and Yunnan provinces (and Guizhou) are on the way and a must-see. Probably my two personal favourites so far, along with Sichuan (Yunnan alone has a few dozens ethnic minorities btw, just to contradict Greg).
I liked Xian, even if the terracotta army might be as fake as Dal Pero's CEPU certificate.
Boston is cool, but Padoville is more fun, he drives an über flashy yellow car.
An English friend of mine is taking a sabbatical in Australia. He has been there and only there for 10 or so months now. I can't think of a sadder approach to travel than flying to the other end of the world to see upside-down Brits.
If you think you got looks in China for being a lao wai, imagine what I get for being a lao wai with a 34-week pregnant China girl.
You should have dropped the panda penitentiary for something else. There's an abundance of sites around Chengdu, the most memorable for me being Emei Shan, though the best season for that is mid to late Autumn.
Besides the amazing food, I hope you tried the tea houses.
There's a few more things than skyscrapers to Shanghai, and this is coming from a Beijinger..
Did you fly from Vietnam directly to Sichuan? Otherwise Guangxi and Yunnan provinces (and Guizhou) are on the way and a must-see. Probably my two personal favourites so far, along with Sichuan (Yunnan alone has a few dozens ethnic minorities btw, just to contradict Greg).
I liked Xian, even if the terracotta army might be as fake as Dal Pero's CEPU certificate.
Boston is cool, but Padoville is more fun, he drives an über flashy yellow car.
An English friend of mine is taking a sabbatical in Australia. He has been there and only there for 10 or so months now. I can't think of a sadder approach to travel than flying to the other end of the world to see upside-down Brits.
Cambodia is one of the weirdest places I've ever been to. It gave me a feeling of sadness.
I really want to go to Chiangmai, it's a must for whenever I return to Asia (next year fingers crossed) and also Vietnam which I didn't go to. I agree with you not recommending southeast Asia enough, it's beautiful and cheap
I found Beijing pretty dirty and disgusting (but that's just me) didn't get the opportunity to go to Xian or Shanghai and I def want to visit there sometime.
It's a shame you didn't get to go to Japan as I found it very very interesting and pretty. Maybe next time hehe
I don't know what kind of parties you like but last time I was in NYC I went to a club in the meatpacking district called kiss and fly, I had a great time (the music is more european than American) and if you're more into bars just walking down the street from kiss and fly is a great bar I've always wanted to go but I usually end up making other plans
Definitely hit the MoMA, IMO one of the best museums in the us, if you're into American art (like Edward hopper) go to the Whitney on Madison ave, I have great recommendations but I've always been too busy with other plans to go
I really want to go to Chiangmai, it's a must for whenever I return to Asia (next year fingers crossed) and also Vietnam which I didn't go to. I agree with you not recommending southeast Asia enough, it's beautiful and cheap
I found Beijing pretty dirty and disgusting (but that's just me) didn't get the opportunity to go to Xian or Shanghai and I def want to visit there sometime.
It's a shame you didn't get to go to Japan as I found it very very interesting and pretty. Maybe next time hehe
I don't know what kind of parties you like but last time I was in NYC I went to a club in the meatpacking district called kiss and fly, I had a great time (the music is more european than American) and if you're more into bars just walking down the street from kiss and fly is a great bar I've always wanted to go but I usually end up making other plans
Definitely hit the MoMA, IMO one of the best museums in the us, if you're into American art (like Edward hopper) go to the Whitney on Madison ave, I have great recommendations but I've always been too busy with other plans to go
OP
To my knowledge no...I read a couple of books on the history of the Qin dynasty and the terracotta army before I went there. Inc modern history and the discovery. Written by western historians that I trust. The whole experiece at the army is very odd and over touristy if that's what he means. But the army has been carbon dated.
But you're comparing the preservationist mentality between China and, say, Italy, and they are worlds apart.
Authenticity to the Italians means "these same molecules were there 2000 years ago". Authenticity to the Chinese means, "We can reproduce the fabrication process of how we made these 2000 years ago so that it's virtually undetectable today."
Authenticity to the Italians means "these same molecules were there 2000 years ago". Authenticity to the Chinese means, "We can reproduce the fabrication process of how we made these 2000 years ago so that it's virtually undetectable today."
OP
I don't mean to offend, but do you know how carbon dating works? The Chinese would have had to have discovered that much terracotta dated to the reign of the Qin dynasty (bearing in mind the historical accounts that confirm the armies production during the reign of the first emperor, that have been openly scalable to read for over 2000 years) and then build the army from it and then bury it along with the evidence of raids on the warriors which are recorded in historical accounts (I can't remember the name of the author) of the accounts.
Yes, I do. And as we know from Biblical scholars, that's just God's way of playing tricks on us into believing that the world is more than 4,000 years old. 
My point wasn't about the Xian warriors in specific, but about two very different cultural approaches to what historical authenticity and preservation means.
My point wasn't about the Xian warriors in specific, but about two very different cultural approaches to what historical authenticity and preservation means.
OP