Military folks (or other travelers)... step in.

[RedLS1GTO]

The "regrets" thread got me thinking about my time in the Navy, the things I got to experience, and the places I got to see. Part due to luck and part due to a lot of hard work, I think I had a hell of an eventful 7 year active career. I got to speak directly to 2 sitting Presidents, have hit a golf ball on 5 continents (Australia and Antarctica are still on the list), and have seen some simply amazing places. I know I'm not the only one.

So... where are the coolest, most interesting places you have been?

If I had to pick 1, it would be the Seychelles. We spent 10 days there during my first deployment. It is 1 of those places that I really can't even describe. I think it says something that Prince what's-his-nuts and the hot Princess chick went there for their honeymoon. The people were absolutely amazing and welcomed us with open arms... and open bottles of Seybrew (their local beer).

Number 2 would probably be Rhodes, Greece... although there are portions of that stop that I don't remember :leaving:, it was a phenomenal place to spend a week. I will always have fond memories of "Bar Street".

[VatorMan]

Seychelles was very nice. Most of my time was on the Left coast in the USN so a LOT of experience in the Orient. My one cruise in the Mediterranean took me to France, Italy,Spain, Greece, Turkey and Israel.

I guess the coolest place I've ever been has to be Hayman Island on the Great Barrier Reef. Nightly fruit bat flyovers, our own personal Cockatoo, and exquisite diving. It was a trip of a lifetime.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/vatorman/Australia/Australia2007179.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/vatorman/Australia/Australia2007171.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21/vatorman/Australia/Australia2007182.jpg

[Rob]

Surprisingly - Alaska is by far the most amazing place I have ever visited.

Don't do a cruise though, fly up there, rent a car, hop a train, take a bush flight, don't get trapped on a cruise ship. There is so much to see and more beauty and massive spans of land and terrain than you will ever see in your life.

It's amazing.....Go hike on a glacier, kayak with the whales, salmon fishing, do the dog sled thing, eat reindeer hot dogs, have FRESH crablegs.

Live!!!!

If all goes well with my Dad, my whole family will all be heading back up there again next summer. (Supposed to go this year but my Dad is not up to it currently)

[VITE1]

Way to many to pick just one. Watching the sunset over the Mountains in Malaysia, The surf on the South China sea on Bitan island, Dinner in Kowloon overlooking HK island, Fire Island National seashore, Golf in Singapore, Watching Shanghai change from a communist disaster to the 'Paris of Asia".

[DAB]

been to 48 states, parts of canada, PR, bahamas, most of europe and london, spent a year in antarctica including a few days at south pole.....and the place i like best is home.

:DAB:

[VatorMan]

When you travel to the outside world, you really find out how spoiled Americans are.

3 star hotels would be 5 star in some places. Cheap fuel, open roads, decent and plentiful health care, etc...

[Rob]

When you travel to the outside world, you really find out how spoiled Americans are.


:iagree: I could not agree more.

:stoppingbeforeitgetspoliticalthough:

[boracayjohnny]

There are a lot of great places I've been to chose from; Asia, Europe, and South America. I've found things in each one I've liked. However, if I had to really make a choice of the favorite place it would be the Philippines. It's so many things in one; you can find stunning beaches, permanent summer weather, nice people, great food, inexpensive living, etc, etc... There's just such a long list for me.

[VITE1]

When you travel to the outside world, you really find out how spoiled Americans are.

3 star hotels would be 5 star in some places. Cheap fuel, open roads, decent and plentiful health care, etc...

:iagree:

The converse can also be said. When I would visit China, Taiwan, HK, Singapore, Malaysia, India and other places the level of service, the work ethics, the discipline of individuals, and the over all desire to work hard and accumulate real wealth was a wake up call.

[DJ_Critterus]

I've been all over Europe, Asia, and North America both as a civilian and when I was Active Duty. Of all the places that are my favorite, I dream of moving back home to Italy.

[RedLS1GTO]

When you travel to the outside world, you really find out how spoiled Americans are.

This...

... the level of service, the work ethics, the discipline of individuals, and the over all desire to work hard and accumulate real wealth was a wake up call.

...and this.

I have tried to picture living in each of the places I've been. I generally come back to "I don't know that I would want to give up (insert something American here)". Much of it has to do with the space, the ability to move freely, easily, and quickly, affordable luxuries, etc.

With that said, we (the collective we) are definitely a bunch of spoiled, entitled, lazy brats. I have never seen another culture come even close to the "give me" mentality that is so widespread here.

[69camfrk]

Of all the places I've been, the island of Crete Greece is by far my favorite. Amazing scenery, beaches, food. You name it. I would live there in a second.

[DJ_Critterus]

Of all the places I've been, the island of Crete Greece is by far my favorite. Amazing scenery, beaches, food. You name it. I would live there in a second.

I took the hydrofoil over there one year from Italy. That was an amazing weekend. I was a teenager at the time, but I think I pretty much stayed hammered with dad chugging ouzo.

[boracayjohnny]

With that said, we (the collective we) are definitely a bunch of spoiled, entitled, lazy brats. I have never seen another culture come even close to the "give me" mentality that is so widespread here.

:iagree:

Many people in Philippines would laugh at the often whiny little bitches in the US. Even the poor people here have luxuries many dream of there. My definition of luxuries is health care, not going to sleep hungry, and a roof over their head that isn't cardboard.

[island14]

:iagree:

Many people in Philippines would laugh at the often whiny little bitches in the US. Even the poor people here have luxuries many dream of there. My definition of luxuries is health care, not going to sleep hungry, and a roof over their head that isn't cardboard.

I have problems even explaining it to them when we are drinking Rhum sometimes...

It is way beyond their comprehension... :yesnod:


:cert:

[mrvette]

I've been all over Europe, Asia, and North America both as a civilian and when I was Active Duty. Of all the places that are my favorite, I dream of moving back home to Italy.

HUMPFH.....I didn't know you were a WOP!!! :lol::cert:

[DJ_Critterus]

HUMPFH.....I didn't know you were a WOP!!! :lol::cert:

I'm not, but I was raised there and have always called it home.

[mrvette]

When you travel to the outside world, you really find out how spoiled Americans are.

3 star hotels would be 5 star in some places. Cheap fuel, open roads, decent and plentiful health care, etc...

Only 2 visits to the Caribbean islands.....and both of them confirmed the photographs.....nuff said....no need to return......if flight time was less and$$$ plentiful, would be nice to tour China/even Japan to see the future.....


:hurray::cert:

[RedLS1GTO]

Of all the places I've been, the island of Crete Greece is by far my favorite. Amazing scenery, beaches, food. You name it. I would live there in a second.

Damn. I forgot about Crete. Add that to my list of top places, although I only spent 1 night there.

[RedLS1GTO]

Even the poor people here have luxuries many dream of there...

Every time someone chimes in with the "poor" Americans gibberish, I can only roll my eyes and laugh.

Mofo, walk around Somalia, Djibouti, or any of a huge list of truly poor places sometime. Stop telling me that a 250lb woman with 2 kids playing Halo on their Playstation are poor. Wait, you only have 2 flatscreens? The horror!!!

I've seen poor (as have many others here)... and what we have here isn't even f'n close.

Ok, back to the cool places discussion. :D

[DAB]

I have problems even explaining it to them when we are drinking Rhum sometimes...

It is way beyond their comprehension... :yesnod:


:cert:

i was telling my architect some about your storm a few years ago, and the houses that were destroyed, and how we raised a few bucks to help your neighbors rebuild. he could not fathom building a house for a few hundred bucks of materials. building code? :rofl::rofl: that's not how they roll over there. guy with chainsaw? safety gear? :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

he just couldn't believe me.

we are spending what would be a fortune over there, just to build a work shop for my private use (not even to make things for a profit).

my parents visited the Philippines in the mid 80s - amazing stories.

[Rob]

amazing stories.

Doug -

I want to encourage you to take some time off at some point and go over there to visit. You wont be disappointed and you can meet many of those kids and families that yourself and the great people in this Barn reached inside their hearts to help.

[DAB]

sounds like fun, but with obligations at home, not going to happen.

[Norm]

As an Army Brat of 6-7, I lived in Japan for a while, I do remember quite a bit, but now.......would love to visit for a while.

[VITE1]

Every time someone chimes in with the "poor" Americans gibberish, I can only roll my eyes and laugh.

Mofo, walk around Somalia, Djibouti, or any of a huge list of truly poor places sometime. Stop telling me that a 250lb woman with 2 kids playing Halo on their Playstation are poor. Wait, you only have 2 flatscreens? The horror!!!

I've seen poor (as have many others here)... and what we have here isn't even f'n close.

Ok, back to the cool places discussion. :D

:iagree:

And what most American don't want to know is those poor people will do WHATEVER it takes to stay alive and get wealthy. They can't fall back because that's just death to many.

I've been to the 'Sweet Shops"in China and had drinks with some of the factory workers. They make more in a month in the factory working less hours than they did in a year in the fields at home. A few have saved enough to open their own small business.


I good friend of mine in Singapore family was so poor he and his 4 sibling all slept the same room and his dad was a fish Monger. He now is rich , owns a massive home and has lambo's, Ferrari and lives the good lie. Yet he has the same work ethic is father had because e KNOWS it can all be taken away by someone who's willing to fight harder for it.

[09CTSV]

That would be a tough decision for favorite places.
Barbados was great
Seychelles was good but on the off season it is not all that lively.
St. Maxime and St. Tropez France were awesome.
Barcelona Spain a good time.
Oslo Norway, Kiel West Germany, London England, Palma Marocia, Ibiza Spain, Rome was alright. Pompeii Italy.

One of the most memorable places was Split Yugoslavia in 1984 when the winter Olympics were going on in Sarajevo Yugoslavia . We were the first American ships since WWII to visit the port. I tried my best to spend $40 but only spent $20 over three days with shopping trying to get rid of the money.


I also have the list of places I don't want to go back to again.

[Dan Dlabay]

I have been all over S.E. Asia visiting Vietnam 2x, Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, and Malaysia. A lot of beautiful country side and great food and cheap prices.:cert: