Hello and Help - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Highway_child · 05-06-2004, 05:19 PM

Hi my names si, im from the UK, as from August i will have the means to travel anwhere for approx 6mths to a year, iv done australia but the question now is where do i go ? i fancy thailand but im worried its become westernised, i want excitment but not too much risk. Im hoping for a balance of ease of transport, accomodation and visas but also a real adventure/ traveling experience.
My names simon im looking forward to spending time chatting, i wanna travel the world, hope ya can help !

**Bgirl** · 05-06-2004, 06:21 PM

WELCOME TO THE BOARDS Highway_child !!!
If you want to experience something new why don't you come to Brazil?! I guarantee It's a beautiful place with lots of excitment no matter where you go here! And the time you want to spend chatting... I'm on line every day in the chat room... hehehe I do it while I work! Go there!!!

**tecia** · 05-08-2004, 08:44 PM

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!!!! you will love it here and everyone will help!!!!
about thailand talk to worldwidemike, my retro career, and tapsilong
they should be helpfull

good luck!!!

***Beady*** · 05-10-2004, 02:49 AM

Hey there Si!!!!

Welcome to the family!

**Canadian Dude** · 05-10-2004, 03:15 AM

to the family Highway Child!!!

Quote:

as from August i will have the means to travel anwhere for approx 6mths to a year

Dam, your luckcy

..that sure beats my 2 weeks

...

Quote:

where do i go

Quote:

i want excitment but not too much risk

Hmm, I hear your concerns about Thailand, I have heard since "The Beach" hit th big sceen backpackers have flocked to this place in amazing numbers...So I am not sure if it to Westerenized..But it really does sound saturated with tourists.
No one can make the call for you on where you should go, but you will find alot of good ideas by flipping through the information that has been compliled here on the Travelpunk.com.

My advised for a place to go, with a little excitment and almost no risk:

Cuba
Ecuador
Canada

Just some ideas

Hope thats helps ya a bit!!!

**Carisia** · 05-11-2004, 10:43 AM

Dear Child of the Highways!

First, WELCOME!!!

I think that if you fancy Thailand, go for it!!! With modernity, most developing countries are becoming westernized in their big cities at least, and there's no way to avoid it, fortunately or unfortunately. BUT I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT SHOULD HOLD YOU BACK. How you experience a new country during your travels have as much to do with you as it has to do with the place. SO, even if a country or city has become westernized, it doesn't mean that that's the only way you can experience it. These countries, especially the Asian ones, have civilizations that date back over 2000 years. Yeah there is westernized and touristy crap, BUT, there still are ancient sites, traditions, cultures, religions, languages, foods, dances, music, museums, remote neighborhoods and villages, parks, etc... You can choose to experience a more authentic Thailand if that's what you're looking for and if you tap into the right resources and sources of info. AND, at times, when travel roughing it out'ness is getting to ya, you may actually welcome and appreciate some of the westernized resources too! SO GO FOR IT!!! Plus, the more you wait, the more westernized it may become, so don't let skepticism hold you back if visiting Thailand is one of your passions, it's one of the most beautiful cultures, people, traditions/history and cuisines I've heard of!!!

**joanofarc** · 05-11-2004, 11:03 AM

i'm going to thailand in august, and i chose it for four reasons:

4) the food - nuff' said.

good luck with whatever you do! and welcome to the boards, simon!

**LiveFreeorDie** · 05-11-2004, 06:48 PM

I agree with the above posts that you should check out Thailand if it appeals to you. If you don't, you will always wonder about it. Plus, with all of your time...why stick to just Thailand? Once in Bangkok you are a very short plane hop from Cambodia (capital city is Phnom Pen). Also within Cambodia there are some fantastic temples to check out, such as the Angkor Temples (fly into Siem Reap from BKK). These are certainly touristed as well, but in my opinion (but not from first hand experience) would be worth checking out. You could easily venture into Laos and Vietnam as well. I have been to Asia several times but only for short trips. However, the cultures in Asia are so different from what you experience in the West, that even in the touristed areas, there is much to see and learn. A longer trip to Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam is definately next on my itinerary. Good luck and welcome to the boards!

Highway_child · 05-12-2004, 01:27 PM

Yhank you all for your warm welcome i appreciate it, after looking into planning that little bit more, im thinking more like 2-4 months traveling, im gonna be strong and stick to thailand, just looking forward to a different way of life, i have concerns about medication i have to take with me, any help ?

Thx again for your replies

**joanofarc** · 05-12-2004, 01:45 PM

the shots cost a fortune - but i'm sure it's worth it.
i got the hepatitis-a vac. and took the oral typhoid vac., there are others you could get, but those are the must haves. give malarial meds a skip unless you'll be chilling in the n. east a lot.

as for your travel first-aid kit - s.e.a. style:

immodium
dramamine - you'll be on lots of ferries, well, i will
ginger pills - you won't be sorry here. they cure what ails your belly... bangkok belly.
35% deet repellant - i normally don't endorse deet, but i have to here

Highway_child · 05-14-2004, 04:26 PM

Thx joanofarc, it sounds like your plannin trip to Thai? if u r id love to chat more with u about your plans, itd really help, no im afraid my medication problem is a little more serious, i was involved in a car accident, i have a deteriorating spine and im on very strong painkillers, im concerned about taking these to Thailand, especially upto 4 months supply, i dont want to be executed, not on holiday !
id appreciate places to turn to for help, i dont want to miss out due to my illnes,, this holiday is making up for 5 years of hell, beacause of bein ill.

B)
dont give me any hassle about escapism

**joanofarc** · 05-15-2004, 08:35 AM

hassel you about escapism? ha! never from me, dear - i assure you that... and, i'm terribly sorry to hear of such a long illness, thankfully you're on your way again.

you'll have no problem bringing your prescription medication into thailand - i should think, even if they are "the big shit"... all you need to do is carry identification and a couple of copies of your perscription for those pills - it may not hurt to call your doctor and have him type a note for you stating why you carry those pills . that should be more than sufficient, and actually i hear that they sell a lot of the more basic pain killers there (ie; vicodin) as long as you have a prescription, and who knows, maybe even if not.

feel free to ask away what ever questions you might have, i'm a travel research maniac, so i might be able to help... i'm scheduled to fly into bangkok from lax august 5th. i've done a lot of studying on this site, you may find it helpful. have fun - i'm damn excited mysef.

Highway_child · 05-18-2004, 04:42 PM

Thank you very much for your compssion, its much appreciated, i have good news too, iv persuaded a friend to join me in my thai travel, im really vhuffed, as to traveling alone, well hell if its the only way, its the only way but im happy that iv 95% pulled it off, he just has to ask work for 2 mths off

yjen its hello Thailand !

iv got in contacts with TAT, youl kno who they are hey joanofarc, theyve put my question forward to the government police and asked me to do the same, i have, awaiting the answer, i wont be entering Thailand without a letter rfom Tony blair saying i can have my tablets,. hee hee, naa im gonna take a letter from my doc and hopefully both embassies, believe me i migvht seem overkill nut these tablets are heavy.
Anyways about to check your site out joan, hope its as informative as i need, by the way iv found the Lonely Planet guide fantastic, also iv decided to master some basic language, here check out this 100% free learn thai site, its fantastic.

http://www.learningthai.com/

im very very very very excited now ! Yeah !!!!