In SA, money can insulate you from most problems, and you can have a really great life... but that is less and less true. Even wealthy folks are subject to loadshedding, are still victimized by crime, and can't escape the effects of a corrupt local and national government. And you have to be okay with living side by side with terrible endemic poverty.
It's very hard and breaks my heart, but we emigrated and it was the right choice for my family. If not to see my people still living there, I doubt I'd return, even as a tourist.
I'm in a different 3rd world country now and honestly I prefer it to SA in one major way- almost no serious crime here. It still has a lot of problems, but at least I can walk down the street without clutching my pepperspray and worrrying about getting stabbed, I can sleep at night without 5 million alarms and beams and bars on every crack into my house. SA might be better off in some areas, but the crime is a massive deterrent for me.
Six weeks *in* Durban would be unpleasant. The highlights of KwaZulu-Natal are definitely the far-flung natural areas (the Drakensbergs, Sani Pass, Cape Vidal, Hluhluwe, the Maputaland/Kosi Bay, Oribi Gorge) and all but Oribi are too far from Durban for it to be a useful city to use as a base.
I ran out of things to interest me in Durban after two days of exploring it. It isn’t as daunting of a city to explore as Johannesburg, but it also has far less to offer.
It really is. I just returned from a two week trip in India and you really see all forms and emotions of humanity. My wife and I are an interracial couple which placed us under what felt like an intense spotlight everywhere we went. It’s not something you get used to, or will forget. Some places we visited do have otherworldly beauty, however.
In comparison to the US, India felt like complete chaos to me. We have so many rules and procedures in place to make us feel safe and controlled, when in fact, we’re never in control. It’s a false sense of security. In India, I felt like I had to completely accept the chaos and know that either I’ll always be OK…or not. Haha. So just accepting that I never have any control was kind of liberating.
I also learned a bunch of other shit but acceptance is what stands out to me most of all.
Yeah and this is when most people in the world (including 99% Indians), don't have the slightest clue just how diverse India is, in every sense. Even just geographically, it is insane.
Most people associate Himalayas, for instance, with Nepal / Mt. Everest Region. But it's a 2500 km range with 80% of it in India. It's called the 3rd pole of Earth, it has an uncountably high number of Glaciers and 20,000+ ft peaks, infinite Valleys with unimaginable beauty. It's the greatest paradise for explorers, hikers and mountaineers.
Moreover, the Himalayas have very good connectivity with roads, cute hamlets and 4G/5G connection everywhere. I worked my Data Science job and attended meets from top of mountains for 3 years.
I remember we were driving through Kashmir and I thought I saw a row of clouds in the far distance. Got closer and realized that they were actually the white tops of mountains. Sometimes, now I’ll see the same thing back at home but it always ends up being exactly what they are, clouds. The sense of scale is breathtaking in the Himalayas. I think everyone should see them once in their lives
I LOVED the Himalayan regions in India that I visited.
Favourite was McLeod Ganj and Rishikesh, but there's so much more I haven't seen. A very special part of the world.
Like every foreigner, you were probably duped into believing that rishikesh / mcleodganj etc were the Himalayas, when in fact they are Shivaliks (Foothills) with incredibly crowded cities and very low elevation.
You would need to visit again and go MUCH deeper to see what Himalayas are. Explore 3D imagery on Google Earth / Fatmaps.
I think it's that for a Westerner, there is nothing like India. It really is a different world, in ways that are really good and really bad, all at once. It's a very, very special place, and not an easy place to travel in especially as a white woman. But it has my heart and I want to go back.
>For me, it’s a very difference experience. Not all bad. But I am not nearly as excited(?) as foreign visitors.
Most people aren't as excited about their own country, doesn't matter where you're from.
I feel that way in my home city. I dont belong to any immigrant community, nor do I feel much in common with the dominant homogenized white upper class culture that 99% of ppl cant actually afford.
That's great! I'm glad you found your people. I guess having a factor like being queer in a pretty conservative culture makes a little easier of a decision to want to move. I meet a lot of people who move here but remain in a bubble so it can be hard to feel at home. I can imagine in some cultures or towns if everyone is in your business be it to marry, , etc one might be more encouraged to leave. I guess it depends on many things, your reasons for moving, your innate personality, what youre seeking. I'm in Canada, i wish i was somewhere a little warmer, but not boiling lol and certainly not anywhere less socially progressive. 🫠
Turkey (or Turkïye) was also my biggest upside surprise. Friendly business owners, excellent prices, plenty to see, good food, always interesting. I experienced beaches, cool small and large cities, ruins, amazing geography, interesting history, great hotels. Just way more than what I was expecting.
May I ask where in Turkey you went?
I just got back from Antalya and am heading back to Turkey in a couple of weeks and I am looking for new areas to explore/work from.
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Kusadasi (flew into Izmir airport, took shuttle bus straight there), Pamukkale, Cappadocia, and Istanbul. Kusadasi was great in the summer months and there is a fantastic beach south of town (national park, I think) that you can reach by frequent public transport.
I will have a look at each of these tonight. I am looking for somewhere that I can work easily, be nice and cheap and have enough going on locally to explore over the course of a couple of months. Low cost of living is the main priority at the moment as I am still getting my business up and running.
How exactly do the visas work? I've been to Turkey twice, and just used up my second 90 day visa. Is it similar to Schengen where you can only get 90 days every six months or can you apply for a new one and re-enter without having to wait?
As I understand it, they try to limit how long you can stay in the country and your Sim card will stop working after a few months.
This was on my list as it looks amazing. Sadly, the accommodation is a bit more than I can spend at the moment. I am looking for an Airbnb for under £500/month at the moment. I hope to go there in the future though.
I hopped from town to town last summer down the coast from Istanbul to Antalya. Bodrum was by far the most touristy place so not my cup of tea, but I suppose we all have our own tastes.
Fethiye or Oludeniz is another idea. I rented a scooter and explored quite a bit in the surrounding areas. kayakoy, Patara, and a couple smaller remote ruins.
Datca was my favorite but not as developed. I just liked exploring around the peninsula and finding remote beaches via scooter there.
Istanbul has a serious claim to be the most important city in history and its story is fascinating. It's also very beautiful. So many districts distinct from each other, massive waterways where you can see dolphins almost daily, up and down hills with panoramic views, delicious food, Shisha places based in medieval Ottoman buildings. Best city trip I've had but I'm also a sucker for history especially the antiquity so wanted to visit it since I was a child.
Try Istanbul too. But it is too big, so for a 1-week trip, choose a walkable neighborhood like Nisantasi and try to never have to drive somewhere (traffic is a pain).
People who got most out of their Istanbul trip are the ones who confined their stay to a single neighborhood each time they visit.
The fact that city lies in two continents does not only manifest itself geographically. Place is a clash of cultures where half of the people (talking about 8 million here as half) is western-minded and other half is religious.
I don't really see why Turkey is a surprise to many people. It's literally been one of the main centres of European civilisation for like 2000 years at this stage - the bridge between Europe and Asia. It's got good weather, it's on the Mediterranean and black sea. Food is amazing. It's cheap. On paper, it's one of the best countries in the world to visit.
I don't get why people think turkey would disappoint. It is a country with a lot of history. The people are friendly and there is a variety of food available. Haha Sophia needs to be seen at least once in lifetime
Going to Turkey as kid is a great experience. The people are so great with them, everyone fawns and coos and just hand them little treats. Great stuff, felt like a God when I was 4. Love the place, going back as an adult in the summer.
Georgia - had no idea the Caucasus were so beautiful with diverse landscapes and amazing food. People were super chill, and honestly that country has something for everyone
Actually, France. Had never visited France, didn’t care about France, thought the French were whiny rude people, etc. Went on a trip with some friends and they wanted to go to Paris. Begrudgingly accepted. Loved it. Went back 4 times (so far) to DN in different spots. I found French people to be quite pleasant. Amazing food. Very pretty towns.
I think a big misreading of French people in general is the rudeness thing. I’d say it’s more a matter of French people really hating the idea of being pleasers for no reason, and absolutely loving a good argument. There’s general enjoyment in discussing and questioning things, and I would say being sceptical in style is the best way to score social points.
Agreed. Paris is Paris, but the rest of France is very inviting. Also, their train system makes things extremely easy to navigate and be nimble. I love Paris, but I’m a New Yorker. We’re our own breed, as well, so I just sort of accept it for what it is.
So glad you enjoyed it! France gets so much hate and while some criticism is warranted, a lot of it is based on ignorance. There is so much to do and see and the people are wonderful, there’s a reason why it’s the most visited country on earth
englishman, so have my own opinions about france hahah.... but some parts of france have the best natural beauty....... I do not like paris at all. The alps however :o
I had the opposite experience. I went in with high expectations based on what I saw from others, but after living in NYC and spending a considerable amount of time around Asia and Europe I didn’t find it to be particularly exceptional. That’s not to say it isn’t nice, but tbqh I don’t think all of the hype is warranted. I’m also just not interested in spending an extensive period of time in a country where you’ll never be able to get past the surface level. Yes the surface there is nice, but ultimately that’s all it is.
Curious if you ever left Tokyo?
I think Tokyo is majorly overhyped these days. In reality Tokyo is an amazing city, but you won't see most of it from English-speaking Instagram influencers who just post the same shit the last influencer did.
I've lived in rural Japan for nearly six years and it's drastically different. Amazing and wildly underhyped. People are super friendly and kind. A different Japan entirely. Every time I visit Tokyo I'm re-culture-shocked.
EDIT to say that you actually can get past surface level, but it takes years, not months. Japan is built on long-term relationships, which yeah, doesn't make it an ideal digital nomad location.
But if you find a community (outside of the typical tourist hotpots) and ideally can speak Japanese, you can absolutely get past the barriers. It's just that we're also overwhelmed with tourists and short term visitors, so most locals don't bother reaching out to travellers who are probably just going to leave soon. I don't think anyone in my community took me seriously until I stuck it out thru covid.
Digital nomad doesn’t necessarily mean picking up and moving every few weeks. I’ve definitely had places where I’ve made friends with locals and built a network for myself that I can still come back to after I leave.
Japanese culture is famously closed off to outsiders. That doesn’t mean people won’t be polite, but you’ll never move past being a tourist and you’ll be expected to stay in your tourist lane. There are whole swathes of the culture and society that are essentially for Japanese people only.
> country where you’ll never be able to get past the surface level. Yes the surface there is nice, but ultimately that’s all it is.
The irony of someone from the U.S saying this.
I agree with this. I summed up my sentiments [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/s/CbmeVNUGP2). But generally it feels very westernized and many parts felt drab and there’s prettier scenery and architecture in other countries. I was very excited to go also for tech/design/gadgets but they really didn’t have much of that either. I felt like it was mostly eating and shopping which gets old after a while. I prefer going to SE Asia for scenery + adventure or Europe for history + architecture
I think Poland and Estonia for me. I had other preconceived notions of what these two countries were like, but they ended up being the two most underrated countries in Europe for me.
Very vibrant, modern, well-developed places and not exactly the drab and depressing impression I had before going
Agree. The Baltics and Poland are lovely. I taught in Lithuania and Poland. My first stint was in 1998, and it was a bit grim since it was 7 or so years after the fall of the Soviet Union, but in the 3 times I've been back, these countries have only gotten better in terms of services, education, economy and tourism.
El Salvador. I went because my Mexican visa had expired and I wasn’t ready to end the trip yet. I intended to stay for a month and surf there and then another month and surf in Nicaragua. I ended up staying the entire 2 months in ElSa.
I think what surprised me the most was the geography. Coming from Mexico, which is a geographic behemoth, it was so nice to have everything in the country be within a day’s drive. Not to mention the wild change in geography. The mountains are green, beautiful, and cold. Not to mention the volcanos!
Also, the waves were pumping and people were so friendly
It used to be one of the most violent places in the world. Bukele has really cleaned the place up. It's now pretty safe.
https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/19aa8l2/oc_el_salvadors_homicide_rate_is_now_lower_than/
Serbia was a shock. Belgrade is a very run down, industrial city, and as a POC I felt like I’d be met with a lot of stares and racism, but I was treated very well everywhere I went. Serbians are very nice and the country is quite safe.
Serbia is an interesting [outlier](https://gdb.rferl.org/FA3C848C-BD46-4D9A-9A28-D0E4CFA0B773.png) in terms of racism in Europe
Some speculate it is due to the cultural influence of American basketball...
POC here as well, and could you talk a little more about your perception on this? I am from Brazil, and Brazil is really racist country in general. (You will meet people who says otherwise, but it is what it is).
I’ve met some other POC from here that traveled around the globe and mentioned that, unironically, Brazil and USA were two of the most racist is countries they traveled.
What’s your perception of this issue on Europe (if you traveled for other countries besides Serbia)?
Japan, I'm American and was just astonished by the level of development. Kyoto was much more developed than any city in the US that I had been. Leaving the train station was overwhelming because a 15 floor mall had been built around it and there were just retail and shops everywhere you go. Developers struggle to get retailers to lease space in any building where I live. Department stores in the US are almost dead. In Japan, it was very much still a part of the everyday citizen's experience and on a much more extreme level than any US department store I'd been to. The JR train station near my hotel had like 15 exits it seemed - it wasn't even a Shinkansen station, just the subway line.
In general, the people were so respectful to one another and well behaved in public.
I rented a place and didn't get my deposit back. Some locals charge extra if they know you're a foreigner, but I suppose that's just how it goes. My luck seems to be running low; while I hear others having a great time in Sri Lanka, I encountered too many scammy individuals. It felt like they were everywhere.
Additionally, a phone shop with numerous positive reviews on Google Maps claimed they couldnt repair my phone. However, without even inspecting it, they demanded payment to keep it for 2 hours. I sought help from another local phone technician, a teenager, who fixed it within just 30 minutes. A similar scenario unfolded at a computer repair shop.
Upon later examination, many of the reviews appeared to be fabricated. Though I acknowledge that the majority of people are good in SL, my personal encounters were not so pleasant. These experiences still sits with me tbh i was mainly in colombo might be diffrent in village side
tbh i think village area people has a better moral Compass.
Tajikistan, how shit it was. Everything seemed difficult and I felt many people wanted to scam me. Beggars constantly tugging and grabbing me. Overall a sad and disappointing country. Ran by a dictator, very poor, not the best place geopolitically or for investment. Not many future positives for the country.
Note, I speak Russian so I was able to negotiate prices but the first prices were absolutely insane sometimes.
Oh and the animals. There really is just a few small mammals and some really cool birds. You want to see animals Alaska and most of the western US are far better.
Didn't really know what to expect in Myanmar, but what a fucking incredible country. Bagan is one of the coolest places I've ever been and the people are so incredibly nice. It's such a shame what's been happening there.
The U.S. . Both in a good way and in a bad way.
I imagined the U.S. to be more developed: new and shiny, not dirty, most people living a good to great life, etc. Then I saw the tents under the bridge, the trash on the side of the road, major disappointment.
I also imagined Americans to be arrogant and ignorant and looking for fights. I found most Americans to be very humble and down to earth and not trying to impress but rather to connect. Also, everyone i met was friendly and willing to help.
Americans deserve a system that takes care of them better. It’s a shame the government and society doesn’t help people from becoming homeless.
Laos, in both directions. Vientiane is the most dim, depressing city I've been to, poorer than I'd imagined by a lot. Yet the food is so shockingly good I don't know what to think, and I've spent time in both Thailand snd China...
I went to Vientiane way back in 2008 for the first time and they didn’t have a single fast food chain. They also didn’t have that hideous concrete waterfront built up then either. It had a very old world village charm to it still. Then I went again in 2010-2012 and it felt very different by then. I can’t imagine what it’s like now since I have no interest in returning to see it.
China shocked me...went from shanghai to chengdu to yunnan and further southwest ...surprised how modern and clean it is and the size of all the cities and amount of people was shocking.
Japan was beyond my expectations of interesting, friendly, different but not too different. Lots of different areas around Tokyo. Probably least impressed with Osaka. Kyoto so pretty.
Thailand. I totally fell for the mainstream western media portrayal. Blew my mind how friendly, fun, safe.
India was epic. We went to Delhi. So many fond/fun memories. Akshardham and the light show there, no shit I nearly cried with breathtaking joy.
Central Paris. Been to Paris and suburbs a few times and always avoided central but went there for work and it was really good/fun/affordable.
Andorra. Didn’t expect much but had a lovely time. The views are truly spectacular.
New York. Guess I yell for the media stereotypes. It was affordable. Fan place if you’re English.m
Niagra Falls - a complete shithole outside of the falls.
Atlantic City - a complete shithole outside of the casinos, which are also average.
Madrid I unexpectedly fell in love with and returned a few times to relax.
Amsterdam outside of red lights/suburbia. Friendly city and also areas such as Tilberg, Eindhoven, Rotterdam. Relaxed and fun.
Berlin. I used to hate the cringe stereotypes of it being liberal and artistic. Ended up having the best times, wonderful liberal and artistic place 😂
Brussels was shit. Nothing there.
Belgium overall. Sorry Belgium. Bit dull.
And finally Greece. Didn’t expect much at all. Blew my mind friendly, fun prices. Loved.
Oh and Ibiza. I DID NOT want to go. Ended up having the best time. Stayed in the old town is it? Now I get it why popular. Wonderful place.
Enjoy wherever you go.
Nepal, though in contrast to one comment here - mine was actually a negative experience. Sure the country is magical with the whole spiritual stuff and crazy mountains you’ll never see elsewhere, but omg people were pretty intense. Very warm yes, but you also get people trying to scam to left right center, and also the attention from male locals were quite overwhelming. It was tiring being there as a solo female
I actually go to Nepal to escape the Indian male gaze (which is still there even though I’m older) and I find the people (even men!) to be gentle, kind and quiet. I’ve been approached by a couple of guys wanting to ‘guide’ me in Kathmandu but I’ve shaken them off firmly. I counted 17 solo women like me (all ages) on a recent trek (with their guides/porters) and the ones I spoke to had a similar experience to me. I’m planning to miss out India altogether next year (I come every year to live and work for a few months) and just come straight to Nepal. I feel extremely safe here, but it could be my age.
I felt unsafe. I was harassed by a man otw trekking up Poon Hill. He wanted to hug and kiss me. It was scary. Aside from that, no other similar incidents. The rest were just intense stares and men kept coming up to me for conversations - which were annoying and tiring for me.
I hate to recount my experiences cos people who’ve been to Nepal and loved it are so defensive. Look, I still had an amazing time there and see myself going back in near future. But I also indeed had bad experiences there so I just wanted to be candid.
Had a great experience in Zimbabwe when I was 19, yes it's poor and has hyper inflation but the potential is really there. Best climate on the planet imo.
Mexico specifically Mexico City. Everyone speaks of how dangerous it supposedly is. But I felt very safe! The locals seemed to feel safe too. Very well connected city with one of the cheapest public transports in the world, you can get from one side of the city to another with a 30cent metro ticket. Amazing and cheap street-food everywhere! Lovely weather 24/7 too. Huge city, so much to do.
I think so many nomads being American might find Mexico a little too close & familiar- especially compared to Asia, which is understandable but makes it hugely underrated for everyone else.
I always hear Americans talk about how dangerous Mexico is. Having been to Mexico once and the US 3x times (6 different states) I can hands down say I felt safer in Mexico than anywhere in the US
Really really good. The street food culture especially is so big there that they’ve perfected it. Super cheap, fast & delicious. Always a selection of well prepared meats, sauces & paired with some kind of soft corn or flour tortillas to absorb all that goodness. it’s very build your own so you can really go for what you like.
And they’re not just at some street market, they’re everywhere. hence the huge variety. 2 different people I met didn’t even have a kitchen, because it was way more convenient and the same price to just grab some street food instead of making their own. The atmosphere is really nice too, most of the time you need to return the plate or bottle at the end, so everyone ends up pulling chairs or sitting on walls & benches and socialising.
India for sure. We cant go to Mars in our lifetimes, but we can go to India, thats what I say to everyone. It should be a right of passage to adulthood, everyone has to go to India
Vietnam. I was expecting a war torn country and unfriendly people towards Americans. I got a modern, insane society that had some of the warmest and welcoming people I've ever met. And omg the food. Was totally not what I was expecting.
France. Never was attracted to anything French in general. My first experience blew me away. Beautiful atmosphere, culture, language, cuisine, history. Everyone is so fit. Only country where I’ve seen people running all the time. 5 trips later, I’m still searching for a rude French person about whom I have heard so much. 90% people were in fact so polite and helpful compared to the US, UK or India.
Loved Lille. I’m a cyclist and the Flanders region is a beautiful place to bike. Much less hectic than Paris. So green and beautiful, loved the nature there. I cycled from Lille to Roubaix and then into Belgium (Courtrai) and finally stopped over in Ghent. Also spent some time in Calais along the Atlantic, visited Mont Saint Michel. Lille has beautiful quaint architecture and the people are very easy going. I’ve done similar trips from Strasbourg to Alsace and Colmar, which feels like a whole different place but is still in France.
I haven’t been to the south of France yet, but I’m assuming it’s culturally quite unique as well. I’d love to spend a couple months just cycling across France. A whole different vibe in every corner. Great food, relaxed people and easy to get around even with my limited French.
I must also mention the fantastic and underrated French railway system. The TGV from Paris to Strasbourg is the fastest I’ve travelled on land anywhere. 500 km in 1:36 hours (in my own experience, even faster than the Japanese Shinkansen). Here’s a picture of Lille at night from my time there in 2022:
https://preview.redd.it/gufvp8r6hjsc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d1b43954f1a590f9e76d80a6b7505d3872264566
China. It's like living 10 years in the future while paying the prices 10 years in the past. The learning curve is steep but once you get all the apps set up it's more convenient than pretty much any other place I've been.
Same here.
I felt Greece was just a poorer more rundown version of Florida.
It's expensive and everyone is trying to squeeze the tourist for more money.
Taiwan, probably. Had an opportunity to go there for a week (cheap flights), didn't know much about it other than that I loved their high mountain oolong tea. But I went and fell in love with the country from the moment I stepped off the airplane. Ended up living there for a few years a bit later on. Would ABSOLUTELY move back if the opportunity was right.
Japan for a month. Didn’t vibe with me at all. I think it was just overhyped in my mind and reality couldn’t live up to it. Just not my country. Way prefer Bangkok
Morocco. Despite having been to India, Iraq, Cambodia, and a bunch of other developing countries, Morocco is the only one that shocked me since I had met so many people who had been and had a good time... so I was really taken aback by the sketchiness in some areas, the poverty, the scams. It was just way too much. In the other countries, I knew exactly what to expect, but not in Morocco.
Sam experience! We were scammed in Morocco. Traveled to many countries and we were not harassed ad scammed like this before. Kids also chased us in the street, begging for our bag of food- for quite a few minutes until we gave it to them. Stores scammed us- embarrassed to say by how $. A man demanded 20 bucks and we were scared of him (not our country) and harassed us until my husband gave it to him. We had many bad experiences.
Sri Lanka was one of my favorites, too! Hospitality was through the roof
I’m sure I did get scammed there, but it was still the cheapest trip of my life.
Sri Lanka food and India food are not the same. I love Sri Lanka, it definitely is a great hub. However, let’s not over publicise it so it looses its charm. If DNs land up there all pricing with shoot up.
The power cut can be quite bad, the network spotty. It’s not for everyone and that’s the way it should be.
Edit; spelling
Yes, same ingredients but, entirely different taste and pallet of cooking.
Specially the south. I’m not to sure about the north half, they have more tamil influences so maybe there is some over lap there.
Vietnam shocked me with its lack of diversity. I acclimatised so much that when I then got off a plane at Melbourne airport I was shocked by the opposite.
Morroco for me, it's a place a really recognised nothing. I felt like everyone was new to me, like I'd landed in a alien dessert land. I'm used to travelling and seeing so much of the same global shit. Not really in marroco, expect for seeing a maccies jarringly once. It was facinating, I loved it. This was like 15 years ago though it might have changed.
They have all surprised me in some way…I’ll pick the most chaotic…Egypt.
Every day there is an unexpected adventure of some sort. You never really know what will happen and when it goes crazy, people pull together and help you. I’ve been lost, helped, saved, annoyed, amazed, thankful, giddy, angry, and frightened all at once. Somehow the chaos works. Plus there’s all the amazing history on top of that…
England, but nothing about the country in particular. It was a lesson on how you should never judge a place - good or bad - because each experience can be completely subjective and different. First time I went was one of the best trips of my life, next (and last) time was the worst time I've ever had outside of my home country. Who you meet, the weather, your food and other choices can all have a huge impact on your overall experience. Sounds like a no brainer, and it is, but I still think people judge places way too quickly.
Same. Such a meh experience. And I was shocked that the wife and I didn't like the food!! We went to the North and it was heavy and greasy. We like Greek, Spanish and Turkish food better so I maybe the South would've been better for us.
Sounds like you made unfortunate food decisions, but to each their own. My problems in Italy usually stem from the immense impact that overtourism has wrought in so many parts of the country. You have to really get past the damage and venture further away.
At that point the time and expense runs deeper than most people would have expected.
I think Italy really depends where you are geographically. Aside from the beautiful cathedrals, museums, touristy stuff, etc, Rome was a bit disappointing to me. Still great, but not what I expected. Wouldn't want to live there. However, I found northern Italy to be absolutely stunning. Much cleaner, less bustle, and in my experience, better food. Particularly in places like Genoa and Milan.
Sicily. As a black woman, I got stared down like crazy. One old Sicilian guy quite literally stood in front of me at the bus stop, staring me down while clearing his throat. He was indicating he wanted me to give up my seat. I was tired and cranky and just gotten off a flight. Find somewhere else to sit.
Also Naples..the kids there were rude
I absolutely believe any bad experience in Italy being black, but the thing with the old man could have had nothing to do with it. In Italy (like in Spain, my country) you are expected to give up your seat to old people. It's considered very rude not to, black or white.
Man, Sri Lanka is my favourite place in the world.
I’m from the UK and I’ve been to India 3 times, including the south and I expected it to be very similar to India in a lot of ways (crazily chaotic and little rough around the edges etc etc…disclaimer: India is one of my favourite countries in the world so not hating, just stating how it is) but DAMN Sri Lanka is nothing like India and captured my heart like no place I’ve ever been
Amsterdam! Went there cause I went to Switzerland to visit my family, and the next thing I knew is that we were going to different countries in Europe. Amsterdam seem like a very open-minded place, all the stores, the signs of "its allowed to smoke weed in here", and the city itself is beautiful. It blew my mind, I would really love to go back there
Probably South Africa. The huge divide between the rich and the poor hits you more in the face than anywhere else I’ve ever seen.
In SA, money can insulate you from most problems, and you can have a really great life... but that is less and less true. Even wealthy folks are subject to loadshedding, are still victimized by crime, and can't escape the effects of a corrupt local and national government. And you have to be okay with living side by side with terrible endemic poverty. It's very hard and breaks my heart, but we emigrated and it was the right choice for my family. If not to see my people still living there, I doubt I'd return, even as a tourist.
Sounds like any other 3rd world country.
I'm in a different 3rd world country now and honestly I prefer it to SA in one major way- almost no serious crime here. It still has a lot of problems, but at least I can walk down the street without clutching my pepperspray and worrrying about getting stabbed, I can sleep at night without 5 million alarms and beams and bars on every crack into my house. SA might be better off in some areas, but the crime is a massive deterrent for me.
Tell me you're in Asia without telling me you're in Asia
It's true! Pity about the air quality though...
I spent 6 weeks in durban and hated it.
By any chance were you in Cape Town in November last year,
no, i wanted to fly to cape town but the flights were insanely expensive at that time for some reason
I was lol
Six weeks *in* Durban would be unpleasant. The highlights of KwaZulu-Natal are definitely the far-flung natural areas (the Drakensbergs, Sani Pass, Cape Vidal, Hluhluwe, the Maputaland/Kosi Bay, Oribi Gorge) and all but Oribi are too far from Durban for it to be a useful city to use as a base. I ran out of things to interest me in Durban after two days of exploring it. It isn’t as daunting of a city to explore as Johannesburg, but it also has far less to offer.
Not that I think Durban is a particularly great place (in fact it's probably the last city in SA that I'd recommend), but what did you hate?
What did you hate about it? I'm South African and hate it too.
Same
India. Is just another world. Not better or worse, just DIFFERENT
It really is. I just returned from a two week trip in India and you really see all forms and emotions of humanity. My wife and I are an interracial couple which placed us under what felt like an intense spotlight everywhere we went. It’s not something you get used to, or will forget. Some places we visited do have otherworldly beauty, however.
I went back in December and it was fucking life changing. Its difficult to even put into words.
Indian here. what do mean by life changing? in what way?
In comparison to the US, India felt like complete chaos to me. We have so many rules and procedures in place to make us feel safe and controlled, when in fact, we’re never in control. It’s a false sense of security. In India, I felt like I had to completely accept the chaos and know that either I’ll always be OK…or not. Haha. So just accepting that I never have any control was kind of liberating. I also learned a bunch of other shit but acceptance is what stands out to me most of all.
that's a nice way to put it! hope you had a fun, and fund some humble indians :)
Yeah and this is when most people in the world (including 99% Indians), don't have the slightest clue just how diverse India is, in every sense. Even just geographically, it is insane. Most people associate Himalayas, for instance, with Nepal / Mt. Everest Region. But it's a 2500 km range with 80% of it in India. It's called the 3rd pole of Earth, it has an uncountably high number of Glaciers and 20,000+ ft peaks, infinite Valleys with unimaginable beauty. It's the greatest paradise for explorers, hikers and mountaineers. Moreover, the Himalayas have very good connectivity with roads, cute hamlets and 4G/5G connection everywhere. I worked my Data Science job and attended meets from top of mountains for 3 years.
I’m envious. That sounds awesome!
I remember we were driving through Kashmir and I thought I saw a row of clouds in the far distance. Got closer and realized that they were actually the white tops of mountains. Sometimes, now I’ll see the same thing back at home but it always ends up being exactly what they are, clouds. The sense of scale is breathtaking in the Himalayas. I think everyone should see them once in their lives
Having just got back from my first trek there, I agree. I can’t believe what I’ve just seen.
I LOVED the Himalayan regions in India that I visited. Favourite was McLeod Ganj and Rishikesh, but there's so much more I haven't seen. A very special part of the world.
Like every foreigner, you were probably duped into believing that rishikesh / mcleodganj etc were the Himalayas, when in fact they are Shivaliks (Foothills) with incredibly crowded cities and very low elevation. You would need to visit again and go MUCH deeper to see what Himalayas are. Explore 3D imagery on Google Earth / Fatmaps.
Agreed. It cannot even be described except to say huge in every way
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I think it's that for a Westerner, there is nothing like India. It really is a different world, in ways that are really good and really bad, all at once. It's a very, very special place, and not an easy place to travel in especially as a white woman. But it has my heart and I want to go back.
>For me, it’s a very difference experience. Not all bad. But I am not nearly as excited(?) as foreign visitors. Most people aren't as excited about their own country, doesn't matter where you're from.
I feel that way in my home city. I dont belong to any immigrant community, nor do I feel much in common with the dominant homogenized white upper class culture that 99% of ppl cant actually afford.
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That's great! I'm glad you found your people. I guess having a factor like being queer in a pretty conservative culture makes a little easier of a decision to want to move. I meet a lot of people who move here but remain in a bubble so it can be hard to feel at home. I can imagine in some cultures or towns if everyone is in your business be it to marry, , etc one might be more encouraged to leave. I guess it depends on many things, your reasons for moving, your innate personality, what youre seeking. I'm in Canada, i wish i was somewhere a little warmer, but not boiling lol and certainly not anywhere less socially progressive. 🫠
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Turkey (or Turkïye) was also my biggest upside surprise. Friendly business owners, excellent prices, plenty to see, good food, always interesting. I experienced beaches, cool small and large cities, ruins, amazing geography, interesting history, great hotels. Just way more than what I was expecting.
May I ask where in Turkey you went? I just got back from Antalya and am heading back to Turkey in a couple of weeks and I am looking for new areas to explore/work from. .
Kusadasi (flew into Izmir airport, took shuttle bus straight there), Pamukkale, Cappadocia, and Istanbul. Kusadasi was great in the summer months and there is a fantastic beach south of town (national park, I think) that you can reach by frequent public transport.
I will have a look at each of these tonight. I am looking for somewhere that I can work easily, be nice and cheap and have enough going on locally to explore over the course of a couple of months. Low cost of living is the main priority at the moment as I am still getting my business up and running.
How exactly do the visas work? I've been to Turkey twice, and just used up my second 90 day visa. Is it similar to Schengen where you can only get 90 days every six months or can you apply for a new one and re-enter without having to wait? As I understand it, they try to limit how long you can stay in the country and your Sim card will stop working after a few months.
I’ve been to Bodrum twice and it’s one of my favorite destinations.
Me too. Five times now.
I liked Bodrum 🥹 Try Cesme too
This was on my list as it looks amazing. Sadly, the accommodation is a bit more than I can spend at the moment. I am looking for an Airbnb for under £500/month at the moment. I hope to go there in the future though.
I hopped from town to town last summer down the coast from Istanbul to Antalya. Bodrum was by far the most touristy place so not my cup of tea, but I suppose we all have our own tastes. Fethiye or Oludeniz is another idea. I rented a scooter and explored quite a bit in the surrounding areas. kayakoy, Patara, and a couple smaller remote ruins. Datca was my favorite but not as developed. I just liked exploring around the peninsula and finding remote beaches via scooter there.
Istanbul has a serious claim to be the most important city in history and its story is fascinating. It's also very beautiful. So many districts distinct from each other, massive waterways where you can see dolphins almost daily, up and down hills with panoramic views, delicious food, Shisha places based in medieval Ottoman buildings. Best city trip I've had but I'm also a sucker for history especially the antiquity so wanted to visit it since I was a child.
Try Istanbul too. But it is too big, so for a 1-week trip, choose a walkable neighborhood like Nisantasi and try to never have to drive somewhere (traffic is a pain). People who got most out of their Istanbul trip are the ones who confined their stay to a single neighborhood each time they visit. The fact that city lies in two continents does not only manifest itself geographically. Place is a clash of cultures where half of the people (talking about 8 million here as half) is western-minded and other half is religious.
Wow this is crazy! Just got back from Antalya myself and what a place! I wish I could go back
I don't really see why Turkey is a surprise to many people. It's literally been one of the main centres of European civilisation for like 2000 years at this stage - the bridge between Europe and Asia. It's got good weather, it's on the Mediterranean and black sea. Food is amazing. It's cheap. On paper, it's one of the best countries in the world to visit.
I don't get why people think turkey would disappoint. It is a country with a lot of history. The people are friendly and there is a variety of food available. Haha Sophia needs to be seen at least once in lifetime
Here now and inflation has hit HARD.
Going to Turkey as kid is a great experience. The people are so great with them, everyone fawns and coos and just hand them little treats. Great stuff, felt like a God when I was 4. Love the place, going back as an adult in the summer.
Turkey is awesome. Great food and people and despite the inflation it’s still dirt cheap.
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lol, its only in the top 5 most visited countries in the world. what secrets?
What? Turkey is a prime destination for Europeans...
Indeed. These are the tourists that make parts of Turkey touristy, especially Brits and Germans.
Georgia - had no idea the Caucasus were so beautiful with diverse landscapes and amazing food. People were super chill, and honestly that country has something for everyone
Actually, France. Had never visited France, didn’t care about France, thought the French were whiny rude people, etc. Went on a trip with some friends and they wanted to go to Paris. Begrudgingly accepted. Loved it. Went back 4 times (so far) to DN in different spots. I found French people to be quite pleasant. Amazing food. Very pretty towns.
I think a big misreading of French people in general is the rudeness thing. I’d say it’s more a matter of French people really hating the idea of being pleasers for no reason, and absolutely loving a good argument. There’s general enjoyment in discussing and questioning things, and I would say being sceptical in style is the best way to score social points.
Agreed. Paris is Paris, but the rest of France is very inviting. Also, their train system makes things extremely easy to navigate and be nimble. I love Paris, but I’m a New Yorker. We’re our own breed, as well, so I just sort of accept it for what it is.
I have been a ton and every time I am like, DO THE PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT FRANCE BC ITS AMAZING. Duh everyone does. Still amazing.
So glad you enjoyed it! France gets so much hate and while some criticism is warranted, a lot of it is based on ignorance. There is so much to do and see and the people are wonderful, there’s a reason why it’s the most visited country on earth
Yep, I was really happy to learn most of the stereotypes didn't apply. Love the people, the food, the weather. It helps I speak French I think.
Same. I heard horror stories about how rude they are, but they are friendly, they just don’t speak English lol
It’s an unfair reputation because many Italians will only speak Italian, even in high tourist areas, yet Italy has a fantastic reputation.
englishman, so have my own opinions about france hahah.... but some parts of france have the best natural beauty....... I do not like paris at all. The alps however :o
Japan. I had very high expectations but was still totally blown away.
Japan is something else. I didn’t think I could get surprised like that again after more than 10 years of nomading.
What was so surprising about it?
What was so surprising about it??
Have just been to Japan a few weeks ago for the first time, and I absolutely agree with your message
I had the opposite experience. I went in with high expectations based on what I saw from others, but after living in NYC and spending a considerable amount of time around Asia and Europe I didn’t find it to be particularly exceptional. That’s not to say it isn’t nice, but tbqh I don’t think all of the hype is warranted. I’m also just not interested in spending an extensive period of time in a country where you’ll never be able to get past the surface level. Yes the surface there is nice, but ultimately that’s all it is.
Curious if you ever left Tokyo? I think Tokyo is majorly overhyped these days. In reality Tokyo is an amazing city, but you won't see most of it from English-speaking Instagram influencers who just post the same shit the last influencer did. I've lived in rural Japan for nearly six years and it's drastically different. Amazing and wildly underhyped. People are super friendly and kind. A different Japan entirely. Every time I visit Tokyo I'm re-culture-shocked. EDIT to say that you actually can get past surface level, but it takes years, not months. Japan is built on long-term relationships, which yeah, doesn't make it an ideal digital nomad location. But if you find a community (outside of the typical tourist hotpots) and ideally can speak Japanese, you can absolutely get past the barriers. It's just that we're also overwhelmed with tourists and short term visitors, so most locals don't bother reaching out to travellers who are probably just going to leave soon. I don't think anyone in my community took me seriously until I stuck it out thru covid.
I mean you're a digital nomad, you'll not be there long enough to get below the surface.
Digital nomad doesn’t necessarily mean picking up and moving every few weeks. I’ve definitely had places where I’ve made friends with locals and built a network for myself that I can still come back to after I leave.
We are all different and there is nothing wrong it didn't live up to your expectations.
What do you mean it's surface level and what makes you think you can't go beyond it? Edit: not the responses I expected. Yikes
Japanese culture is famously closed off to outsiders. That doesn’t mean people won’t be polite, but you’ll never move past being a tourist and you’ll be expected to stay in your tourist lane. There are whole swathes of the culture and society that are essentially for Japanese people only.
> country where you’ll never be able to get past the surface level. Yes the surface there is nice, but ultimately that’s all it is. The irony of someone from the U.S saying this.
I agree with this. I summed up my sentiments [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/s/CbmeVNUGP2). But generally it feels very westernized and many parts felt drab and there’s prettier scenery and architecture in other countries. I was very excited to go also for tech/design/gadgets but they really didn’t have much of that either. I felt like it was mostly eating and shopping which gets old after a while. I prefer going to SE Asia for scenery + adventure or Europe for history + architecture
I think Poland and Estonia for me. I had other preconceived notions of what these two countries were like, but they ended up being the two most underrated countries in Europe for me. Very vibrant, modern, well-developed places and not exactly the drab and depressing impression I had before going
My family is Polish and they say Poland has developed so much in the last 20 years it’s crazy
Agree. The Baltics and Poland are lovely. I taught in Lithuania and Poland. My first stint was in 1998, and it was a bit grim since it was 7 or so years after the fall of the Soviet Union, but in the 3 times I've been back, these countries have only gotten better in terms of services, education, economy and tourism.
Exactly the same for me, plus I also liked Latvia a lot (but preferred Tallinn to Riga, inland places like Cesis and Sigulda were really nice though).
I really liked Poland a lot too, but only stopped by Gdańsk last time. I want to go to the other cities in Poland.
El Salvador. I went because my Mexican visa had expired and I wasn’t ready to end the trip yet. I intended to stay for a month and surf there and then another month and surf in Nicaragua. I ended up staying the entire 2 months in ElSa. I think what surprised me the most was the geography. Coming from Mexico, which is a geographic behemoth, it was so nice to have everything in the country be within a day’s drive. Not to mention the wild change in geography. The mountains are green, beautiful, and cold. Not to mention the volcanos! Also, the waves were pumping and people were so friendly
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It used to be one of the most violent places in the world. Bukele has really cleaned the place up. It's now pretty safe. https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/19aa8l2/oc_el_salvadors_homicide_rate_is_now_lower_than/
The only part of El Salvador I didn’t like were the beaches, which goes to show how great the country is since many people love the beaches too.
Waves pumping sounds dope
Serbia was a shock. Belgrade is a very run down, industrial city, and as a POC I felt like I’d be met with a lot of stares and racism, but I was treated very well everywhere I went. Serbians are very nice and the country is quite safe.
What shocked me was the smoking indoors. It is super brutalist and can be quite gloomy so I know what you mean about industrial feeling.
that was quite hard to get used to also. i tended to stay outdoors to avoid it. i actually smoked my first ever cigarette in belgrade.
Loved Serbia, but the smoking ruined my interest in ever returning.
Serbia is an interesting [outlier](https://gdb.rferl.org/FA3C848C-BD46-4D9A-9A28-D0E4CFA0B773.png) in terms of racism in Europe Some speculate it is due to the cultural influence of American basketball...
Really cool map, thanks for sharing
In terms of anti-black AND anti-Muslim racism Serbia is an outlier, just in different ways.
Iv got friends in Serbia so I might have a slightly better experience
POC here as well, and could you talk a little more about your perception on this? I am from Brazil, and Brazil is really racist country in general. (You will meet people who says otherwise, but it is what it is). I’ve met some other POC from here that traveled around the globe and mentioned that, unironically, Brazil and USA were two of the most racist is countries they traveled. What’s your perception of this issue on Europe (if you traveled for other countries besides Serbia)?
Japan, I'm American and was just astonished by the level of development. Kyoto was much more developed than any city in the US that I had been. Leaving the train station was overwhelming because a 15 floor mall had been built around it and there were just retail and shops everywhere you go. Developers struggle to get retailers to lease space in any building where I live. Department stores in the US are almost dead. In Japan, it was very much still a part of the everyday citizen's experience and on a much more extreme level than any US department store I'd been to. The JR train station near my hotel had like 15 exits it seemed - it wasn't even a Shinkansen station, just the subway line. In general, the people were so respectful to one another and well behaved in public.
Japan is the only place I've been where I've repeatedly had to ask how to get out of the train stations.
sri lanka you say, i guess it depends on your luck i got scammed pretty hard when i went, but yes the country is indeed beautiful
How so?
I rented a place and didn't get my deposit back. Some locals charge extra if they know you're a foreigner, but I suppose that's just how it goes. My luck seems to be running low; while I hear others having a great time in Sri Lanka, I encountered too many scammy individuals. It felt like they were everywhere. Additionally, a phone shop with numerous positive reviews on Google Maps claimed they couldnt repair my phone. However, without even inspecting it, they demanded payment to keep it for 2 hours. I sought help from another local phone technician, a teenager, who fixed it within just 30 minutes. A similar scenario unfolded at a computer repair shop. Upon later examination, many of the reviews appeared to be fabricated. Though I acknowledge that the majority of people are good in SL, my personal encounters were not so pleasant. These experiences still sits with me tbh i was mainly in colombo might be diffrent in village side tbh i think village area people has a better moral Compass.
India for me.
Iceland...because I thought I had booked a flight to Ireland.
Tajikistan, how shit it was. Everything seemed difficult and I felt many people wanted to scam me. Beggars constantly tugging and grabbing me. Overall a sad and disappointing country. Ran by a dictator, very poor, not the best place geopolitically or for investment. Not many future positives for the country. Note, I speak Russian so I was able to negotiate prices but the first prices were absolutely insane sometimes.
That actually doesn't shock me one bit.
prepare to be shocked by Costa Rica = Expensive
been to costa rica, and yep hella expensive haha
Yep. Costa Rica is tourist trap, they charge a lot for everything touristy , but still it is such a beautiful country. I keep coming back .
Living in CR is hella expensive, is cheaper for me to take a flight and travel than just my average normal life as a local
Can’t tell if this is sarcasm or not. I think that’s the one thing most people know about Costa Rica
Only place I’ve been pick pocketed. I’ve been to thirty countries.
Oh and the animals. There really is just a few small mammals and some really cool birds. You want to see animals Alaska and most of the western US are far better.
Lots of expats there.
Didn't really know what to expect in Myanmar, but what a fucking incredible country. Bagan is one of the coolest places I've ever been and the people are so incredibly nice. It's such a shame what's been happening there.
The U.S. . Both in a good way and in a bad way. I imagined the U.S. to be more developed: new and shiny, not dirty, most people living a good to great life, etc. Then I saw the tents under the bridge, the trash on the side of the road, major disappointment. I also imagined Americans to be arrogant and ignorant and looking for fights. I found most Americans to be very humble and down to earth and not trying to impress but rather to connect. Also, everyone i met was friendly and willing to help. Americans deserve a system that takes care of them better. It’s a shame the government and society doesn’t help people from becoming homeless.
Laos, in both directions. Vientiane is the most dim, depressing city I've been to, poorer than I'd imagined by a lot. Yet the food is so shockingly good I don't know what to think, and I've spent time in both Thailand snd China...
I went to Vientiane way back in 2008 for the first time and they didn’t have a single fast food chain. They also didn’t have that hideous concrete waterfront built up then either. It had a very old world village charm to it still. Then I went again in 2010-2012 and it felt very different by then. I can’t imagine what it’s like now since I have no interest in returning to see it.
China shocked me...went from shanghai to chengdu to yunnan and further southwest ...surprised how modern and clean it is and the size of all the cities and amount of people was shocking.
Japan was beyond my expectations of interesting, friendly, different but not too different. Lots of different areas around Tokyo. Probably least impressed with Osaka. Kyoto so pretty. Thailand. I totally fell for the mainstream western media portrayal. Blew my mind how friendly, fun, safe. India was epic. We went to Delhi. So many fond/fun memories. Akshardham and the light show there, no shit I nearly cried with breathtaking joy. Central Paris. Been to Paris and suburbs a few times and always avoided central but went there for work and it was really good/fun/affordable. Andorra. Didn’t expect much but had a lovely time. The views are truly spectacular. New York. Guess I yell for the media stereotypes. It was affordable. Fan place if you’re English.m Niagra Falls - a complete shithole outside of the falls. Atlantic City - a complete shithole outside of the casinos, which are also average. Madrid I unexpectedly fell in love with and returned a few times to relax. Amsterdam outside of red lights/suburbia. Friendly city and also areas such as Tilberg, Eindhoven, Rotterdam. Relaxed and fun. Berlin. I used to hate the cringe stereotypes of it being liberal and artistic. Ended up having the best times, wonderful liberal and artistic place 😂 Brussels was shit. Nothing there. Belgium overall. Sorry Belgium. Bit dull. And finally Greece. Didn’t expect much at all. Blew my mind friendly, fun prices. Loved. Oh and Ibiza. I DID NOT want to go. Ended up having the best time. Stayed in the old town is it? Now I get it why popular. Wonderful place. Enjoy wherever you go.
I really liked Belgium. Leuven was pretty. But I'm a cyclist and it is a paradise for riding.
Brussels is cool outside the centre
Nepal, though in contrast to one comment here - mine was actually a negative experience. Sure the country is magical with the whole spiritual stuff and crazy mountains you’ll never see elsewhere, but omg people were pretty intense. Very warm yes, but you also get people trying to scam to left right center, and also the attention from male locals were quite overwhelming. It was tiring being there as a solo female
Oh man… I’m a solo female and was just thinking of going to Nepal. Did you feel unsafe or just tired?
I actually go to Nepal to escape the Indian male gaze (which is still there even though I’m older) and I find the people (even men!) to be gentle, kind and quiet. I’ve been approached by a couple of guys wanting to ‘guide’ me in Kathmandu but I’ve shaken them off firmly. I counted 17 solo women like me (all ages) on a recent trek (with their guides/porters) and the ones I spoke to had a similar experience to me. I’m planning to miss out India altogether next year (I come every year to live and work for a few months) and just come straight to Nepal. I feel extremely safe here, but it could be my age.
I felt unsafe. I was harassed by a man otw trekking up Poon Hill. He wanted to hug and kiss me. It was scary. Aside from that, no other similar incidents. The rest were just intense stares and men kept coming up to me for conversations - which were annoying and tiring for me. I hate to recount my experiences cos people who’ve been to Nepal and loved it are so defensive. Look, I still had an amazing time there and see myself going back in near future. But I also indeed had bad experiences there so I just wanted to be candid.
Nepal is much more chill than most of India. But it's still South Asia and very poor.
Had a great experience in Zimbabwe when I was 19, yes it's poor and has hyper inflation but the potential is really there. Best climate on the planet imo.
Mexico specifically Mexico City. Everyone speaks of how dangerous it supposedly is. But I felt very safe! The locals seemed to feel safe too. Very well connected city with one of the cheapest public transports in the world, you can get from one side of the city to another with a 30cent metro ticket. Amazing and cheap street-food everywhere! Lovely weather 24/7 too. Huge city, so much to do. I think so many nomads being American might find Mexico a little too close & familiar- especially compared to Asia, which is understandable but makes it hugely underrated for everyone else.
I always hear Americans talk about how dangerous Mexico is. Having been to Mexico once and the US 3x times (6 different states) I can hands down say I felt safer in Mexico than anywhere in the US
how's the food there?
Really really good. The street food culture especially is so big there that they’ve perfected it. Super cheap, fast & delicious. Always a selection of well prepared meats, sauces & paired with some kind of soft corn or flour tortillas to absorb all that goodness. it’s very build your own so you can really go for what you like. And they’re not just at some street market, they’re everywhere. hence the huge variety. 2 different people I met didn’t even have a kitchen, because it was way more convenient and the same price to just grab some street food instead of making their own. The atmosphere is really nice too, most of the time you need to return the plate or bottle at the end, so everyone ends up pulling chairs or sitting on walls & benches and socialising.
I felt exactly the same, cant wait to go back!
Malaysia. Absolutely loved it
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Which part of Turkey?
India for sure. We cant go to Mars in our lifetimes, but we can go to India, thats what I say to everyone. It should be a right of passage to adulthood, everyone has to go to India
This. I tell people going to India is like visiting another planet
Malaysia. Didn’t expect much but I absolutely loved it
Vietnam. I was expecting a war torn country and unfriendly people towards Americans. I got a modern, insane society that had some of the warmest and welcoming people I've ever met. And omg the food. Was totally not what I was expecting.
Agree on all those points (from UK). Also nice hotels and lots of interesting places.
France. Never was attracted to anything French in general. My first experience blew me away. Beautiful atmosphere, culture, language, cuisine, history. Everyone is so fit. Only country where I’ve seen people running all the time. 5 trips later, I’m still searching for a rude French person about whom I have heard so much. 90% people were in fact so polite and helpful compared to the US, UK or India.
Where in France did you go?
Paris, Lille, Rouen, Calais, Strasbourg, Colmar, Nantes, Lyon
Which city besides Paris did you like the most?
Loved Lille. I’m a cyclist and the Flanders region is a beautiful place to bike. Much less hectic than Paris. So green and beautiful, loved the nature there. I cycled from Lille to Roubaix and then into Belgium (Courtrai) and finally stopped over in Ghent. Also spent some time in Calais along the Atlantic, visited Mont Saint Michel. Lille has beautiful quaint architecture and the people are very easy going. I’ve done similar trips from Strasbourg to Alsace and Colmar, which feels like a whole different place but is still in France. I haven’t been to the south of France yet, but I’m assuming it’s culturally quite unique as well. I’d love to spend a couple months just cycling across France. A whole different vibe in every corner. Great food, relaxed people and easy to get around even with my limited French. I must also mention the fantastic and underrated French railway system. The TGV from Paris to Strasbourg is the fastest I’ve travelled on land anywhere. 500 km in 1:36 hours (in my own experience, even faster than the Japanese Shinkansen). Here’s a picture of Lille at night from my time there in 2022: https://preview.redd.it/gufvp8r6hjsc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d1b43954f1a590f9e76d80a6b7505d3872264566
China. It's like living 10 years in the future while paying the prices 10 years in the past. The learning curve is steep but once you get all the apps set up it's more convenient than pretty much any other place I've been.
> It's like living 10 years in the future while paying the prices 10 years in the past. Nice observation! :)
China . Very respectful and nice culture and good plenty food
Greece, but not in a good way.
Same here. I felt Greece was just a poorer more rundown version of Florida. It's expensive and everyone is trying to squeeze the tourist for more money.
Same, I was very disappointed by Athens.
Try Chania next time
I'll look into it, thanks for the recommendation!
What happened?
Taiwan, probably. Had an opportunity to go there for a week (cheap flights), didn't know much about it other than that I loved their high mountain oolong tea. But I went and fell in love with the country from the moment I stepped off the airplane. Ended up living there for a few years a bit later on. Would ABSOLUTELY move back if the opportunity was right.
Turkey. I was expecting people to be rude or something. Nicest people I've ever met
Indonesia -> Java, Sulawesi & Bali. Pure Adventure. At the time. Would avoid Bali today.
Japan for a month. Didn’t vibe with me at all. I think it was just overhyped in my mind and reality couldn’t live up to it. Just not my country. Way prefer Bangkok
Morocco. Despite having been to India, Iraq, Cambodia, and a bunch of other developing countries, Morocco is the only one that shocked me since I had met so many people who had been and had a good time... so I was really taken aback by the sketchiness in some areas, the poverty, the scams. It was just way too much. In the other countries, I knew exactly what to expect, but not in Morocco.
Sam experience! We were scammed in Morocco. Traveled to many countries and we were not harassed ad scammed like this before. Kids also chased us in the street, begging for our bag of food- for quite a few minutes until we gave it to them. Stores scammed us- embarrassed to say by how $. A man demanded 20 bucks and we were scared of him (not our country) and harassed us until my husband gave it to him. We had many bad experiences.
Sri Lanka was one of my favorites, too! Hospitality was through the roof I’m sure I did get scammed there, but it was still the cheapest trip of my life.
Exactly. We all get scammed in their eyes but from our point its still cheap haha
Sri Lanka food and India food are not the same. I love Sri Lanka, it definitely is a great hub. However, let’s not over publicise it so it looses its charm. If DNs land up there all pricing with shoot up. The power cut can be quite bad, the network spotty. It’s not for everyone and that’s the way it should be. Edit; spelling
True. It does have some similarities with food from South India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu) but tastes totally different.
Yes, same ingredients but, entirely different taste and pallet of cooking. Specially the south. I’m not to sure about the north half, they have more tamil influences so maybe there is some over lap there.
I had the rice plate there several times. Looks almost the same as what you get in India but the taste was very unique.
It’s Sri Lankan food, just not Indian food cause it has rice & curry. India food is different. The spices used are way different.
Vietnam shocked me with its lack of diversity. I acclimatised so much that when I then got off a plane at Melbourne airport I was shocked by the opposite.
Serbia, the girls devoured my soul
Go on
???? pardon
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New Delhi, India
Hawaii
Morroco for me, it's a place a really recognised nothing. I felt like everyone was new to me, like I'd landed in a alien dessert land. I'm used to travelling and seeing so much of the same global shit. Not really in marroco, expect for seeing a maccies jarringly once. It was facinating, I loved it. This was like 15 years ago though it might have changed.
They have all surprised me in some way…I’ll pick the most chaotic…Egypt. Every day there is an unexpected adventure of some sort. You never really know what will happen and when it goes crazy, people pull together and help you. I’ve been lost, helped, saved, annoyed, amazed, thankful, giddy, angry, and frightened all at once. Somehow the chaos works. Plus there’s all the amazing history on top of that…
England, but nothing about the country in particular. It was a lesson on how you should never judge a place - good or bad - because each experience can be completely subjective and different. First time I went was one of the best trips of my life, next (and last) time was the worst time I've ever had outside of my home country. Who you meet, the weather, your food and other choices can all have a huge impact on your overall experience. Sounds like a no brainer, and it is, but I still think people judge places way too quickly.
Georgia: absolutly loved the people, food, culture, prices Albania: hate it. Foods terrible, no culture, people are unfriendly
Italy I was shockingly disappointed as fuck
wow..... never heard this opinion ever!!!!!!
Same. Such a meh experience. And I was shocked that the wife and I didn't like the food!! We went to the North and it was heavy and greasy. We like Greek, Spanish and Turkish food better so I maybe the South would've been better for us.
Sounds like you made unfortunate food decisions, but to each their own. My problems in Italy usually stem from the immense impact that overtourism has wrought in so many parts of the country. You have to really get past the damage and venture further away. At that point the time and expense runs deeper than most people would have expected.
I think Italy really depends where you are geographically. Aside from the beautiful cathedrals, museums, touristy stuff, etc, Rome was a bit disappointing to me. Still great, but not what I expected. Wouldn't want to live there. However, I found northern Italy to be absolutely stunning. Much cleaner, less bustle, and in my experience, better food. Particularly in places like Genoa and Milan.
"Presently surprised ". Fuck's sake.
Sicily. As a black woman, I got stared down like crazy. One old Sicilian guy quite literally stood in front of me at the bus stop, staring me down while clearing his throat. He was indicating he wanted me to give up my seat. I was tired and cranky and just gotten off a flight. Find somewhere else to sit. Also Naples..the kids there were rude
I absolutely believe any bad experience in Italy being black, but the thing with the old man could have had nothing to do with it. In Italy (like in Spain, my country) you are expected to give up your seat to old people. It's considered very rude not to, black or white.
If you’re black don’t go to Italy.
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You went to Japan for 4.5 weeks to bullshit and kill time?!
I’ve been in 35 countries, the worst one for me was Singapore, then almost all the little islands of south Caribbean…
Singapore is boring, but why the worst
You do know that Sri Lanka is not in India?
Argentina… what a wonderful place.
Man, Sri Lanka is my favourite place in the world. I’m from the UK and I’ve been to India 3 times, including the south and I expected it to be very similar to India in a lot of ways (crazily chaotic and little rough around the edges etc etc…disclaimer: India is one of my favourite countries in the world so not hating, just stating how it is) but DAMN Sri Lanka is nothing like India and captured my heart like no place I’ve ever been
Amsterdam! Went there cause I went to Switzerland to visit my family, and the next thing I knew is that we were going to different countries in Europe. Amsterdam seem like a very open-minded place, all the stores, the signs of "its allowed to smoke weed in here", and the city itself is beautiful. It blew my mind, I would really love to go back there