Would traveling alone be just as fun as traveling with your best buds? 19y/o male here, I am absolutely going to be leaving the US/California out overseas this summer, just haven't decided yet. I've asked a some friends to come with me, a couple would like to go to Japan, and another group would like to go to London. THe thing is, we're all 19 and broke, only I have about 1.2k saved up and they don't. I've given them until about march to save up as thats then im going to be buying tickets, but i really feel like they won't come up on money in time. if they don't, should i just visit these places alone, or just keep saving the cash up for next summer or something, when i can go with friends. honestly, the two biggest things i'm trying to do is site see, and fuck, but i was wondering if it'd be a. boring to sight see alone and b. harder to hook up with chicks as a single dude. (no i'm not ugly, it just seems intimidating trying to pick up chicks from foreign countries going to bars by myself.) Another thing i'm concerned with is safety, as if i did go alone i would certainly want to experience night life but i'd be an easier target to mug/take advantage of being alone. thoughts?
I'm about to leave on a 1 year solo trip to Asia, first time traveling seriously. The way i see it, you'll meet more people alone than with a friend you cling to. And life is dangerous wherever you go, the worst that will happen to you is you lose some money or get roughed up.
Its scary, but it's supposed to be. All good things are.
>>1186516
I'm going to travel to Canada (just for a week) sometime soon because I want to travel everywhere but I only have one lazy friend and an Internet gf.
It does seem daunting, but I think it also seems relatively easy to meet people in hostels...especially in a major city such as London like you mentioned.
You might want to give traveling solo a shot with small trip like I'm doing and see if it works for you.
Maybe it will be great and you'll be fine in the future, or perhaps you'll realize you really need your friends with you.
I think you will be just fine. Its my first time travelling as well, but I flew off to New Zealand to work for two years.
One year down.
If your worried about going it alone, make up a list of things that you want to do or see, and do a bit of research!
Exercise good common sense, don't be a dick. Don't carry lots of cash or jewelry on you. Tip your bartenders (modestly) and don't be afraid to talk to the locals.
Far as hooking up goes, cant help ya there.
Hey guys. post travel blues stories and advice?
I'm really struggling here and i need some perspective. 25yr male fyi.
I was horribly depressed, did my 2 and half year European travel adventure, found myself spritiual awakening blah blah i hope you understand . I returned to my hometown, Adelaide where i have been more or less for the past 9-12 months. i feel very isolated and my depression is coming back, i find myself bored and unmotivated to do anything. i'm not sure if its adelaide, the people here, or if its just suburban life that is killing me.
i find some old friends/family boring and pretty well all of them are leading the kinds of lifes that i don't want any part of. everyone i know expects me to act a certain way due to our past history, and I willingly participate in the charade sometimes too. i just got an invite for a pre christmas gathering of my extended family, and the thought of going makes me physically sick. my priorities are vastly different and i tend to think deeper than most.
on a plus side quite a few people are openly commenting how they wish they had my strength of mind to live my own life regardless of social and cultural norms. while its nice to be an inspiration of a kind, fuck its hard being dragged down by all this shit.
though i have met a girl here, we were together for 3 months, and to put simply, having her around was my main source of motivation. she is now studying in scotland (organised before we got together, she is sad she had to leave me). which will take 6 months, i'm 3 months in. this might be a cause for my shitty mood. But still, if a woman is the ONLY thing i really like about this place, you think i still just hate this place?
tl:dr post travel blues stories and advice?
>>1186454
Listlessness after a long trip is normal, it's a rude shock when you get back home and realise that nothing has changed and your life is basically the same even after all the things you've experienced and personal growth you've gone through.
I find it's important to try and hit the ground running - after you've spent a few days catching up with family and friends it's time to start putting all those ideas you had while travelling into practice. Likewise the adaptability and sense of adventure you cultivate while travelling needs a bit of effort to turn into traits you keep with you even back at home.
However given that you've been back for nearly a year this sounds more like general depression. Not saying I don't want to help but /adv/ is probably going to get you faster and more helpful responses.
I can't give you much advice other than two things. 1: You need to start working towards something, whether that be developing a career, planning a new trip, making things work with the girl etc. Doesn't matter if it doesn't work out in the end, the important thing is to have an achievable goal you are getting closer to day by day.
2: This kind of relates to 1, but find something to occupy your time. If you do nothing all the time it will naturally make you feel isolated and bored, leading to thoughts like
>I tend to think deeper than most
Which is frankly a silly teenage mindset, which people use to try and feel better when they're out of place, to convince themselves they don't want something when really they can't be bothered to put in the effort.
>>1186491
i'm going to piggyback on this person's post, but you also come off as self-centered in your original post, fixating a little too much on "me," for example >while its nice to be an inspiration of a kind, fuck its hard being dragged down by all this shit.
however, i have felt your downswoop, after I studied abroad (8 years ago...). i had a smaller one when i returned home from living abroad for a year (what made it softer was having a girlfriend to return to-- which i ended a few months later).
I still feel it from time to time. it's been a goal of mine to get out of here and live in europe indefinitely, but that day by day gets placed further back in the pantry. I think about how much i'd have to trade to move, and it becomes increasingly less attractive.
now that I have a relationship that might last a very long time, now that im starting a career (and she is too), knowing what id do with all my stuff, learning a new language, adapting to a new society, making new friends, finding a job, all that... it seems too daunting. my dissatisfaction might just lie inside me, not with where i am.
anyway, mate. i wish u the best, so cheers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU6IndADEWI
>>1186454
My advice would be to start from the very basics - learn to structure your thoughts, format your wall of text and be concise. Not sure if they teach that in Adelaide though
New Japan General
As always, feel free to ask about:
>Traveling to Japan
>Living in Japan
>Teaching in Japan
>Joining the Yakuza
>Getting your weeb fantasies crushed
*Info on prostitution*
>http://rockitreports.com/category/sex-in-tokyo/
>http://erolin.net/
*Note about the JR Pass*
Many people ask about whether or not the JR Rail Pass is worth it. It depends on your itinerary.
>http://www.hyperdia.com/en/
Plug your itinerary into Hyperdia to determine ticket costs, then compare to the below JR Pass options:
>7 day Pass: 29,110¥
>14 day Pass: 46,390¥
>21 day Pass: 59,350¥
Please check the /trv/ sticky before asking questions. It's filled with links to great resources, many of them specific to Japan travel.
Please refer to the old thread while it's still up: >>1184988
Raves in Japan, what are some good places? Going there with a group for New Years.
Those are probably weird questions, but if questions about where to cum on a prostitute are ok, I guess mine are also ok:
1) Where in Osaka can I buy a small overpriced designer vase to put just one flower in?
2) Where in Osaka can I buy a kendama of good quality and design?
>>1186444
99 skyline gtr's get my dick hard
do cars like that drive around tokyo sometimes?
Hey /trv/, I've got a lot of vacation saved up (enough for a 20 day trip), and I've got a buddy staying in Valencia, Spain who I'd like to visit around late April. That being said, I've always wanted to go to Morocco and/or Algeria, and thought it might be cool to visit Casablanca or Algiers for a couple of days. A couple of problems are, I'm Black, and I speak only basic French, and no Arabic, plus I've never been to Africa. Am I going to be in way over my head? Is it really that dangerous in the major cities? Are people there really as racist as I'm hearing?
Also, forgot to mention I'm American. Dunno if that would make things better/worse.
There's little if any racism in Morocco, at least relating to skin color. I suppose nowadays there's a danger people will assume you're a sub-Saharan immigrant trying to beg enough money to bribe your way to Spain, but if you're not wearing a Real Madrid t-shirt and speaking creole, people will be able to tell you're a tourist pretty quick.
Algiers isn't any more dangerous than your average European city. In Casa there's a severe danger of boredom but not much else.
As for the languages, basic French is all you need; even with only English you'd be fine in Morocco at least. If you learn any Spanish you'll find yourself using that too.
>>1186432
Hey thanks, I've got a pretty good grasp of Spanish, so hopefully that comes in handy. And Casablanca was the closest point of reference for me, but Marrakech looks pretty cool, but a bit far, but I'll try to make it there. Any places besides Algiers I should go in Algeria?
OK trv I am a us citizen but I'm interested in obtaining another passport or two for travel and business reasons, I've been looking into it for many years but I decided to ask if anyone here has experience with this
So far I'm considering
Peru
Uruguay
Nicaragua
Brazil
If it helps I already speak Spanish and would physically blend in well in those countries.
Tldr has anyone had experience getting a second passport and quick easy countries to get it from
>>1186368
SOme of the Carribean ountries, I am told you can be eligible for a passport by making an investment in their country of a certain size -- they need capital, enough that the "buy in" was not huge. But this was a couple of years ago, and I didn't follow up since I don;t need one particularly.
How well you speak Spanish and what you look like would not factor into it.
>>1186368
Easiest would be Paraguay.
Deposit $5k into a paraguyan bank account, apply for permanent residency (just a few pages), get your residency permit within a few days, 30 days later you can apply for the passport.
>>1186386
Wow I had read it was fast but had no idea it was that fast, this is one of the ones I had actually thought knowing the language and theoretically blending In would be the helpful for I read they look for a rental in your name and a local doctor etc to "prove" you're actually residing
I'll leave for Budapest in 15 hours.
I'll be there, virtually alone, for four days. I've never travelled on my own.
What do I do in Budapest for four days? I don't want to be a tourist, I hate the herds mindlessly jumping from place to place and I abhor the idea of becoming one of them.
I already got my hands on the LonelyPlanet guide and on a smartphone (without a SIM card), where I downloaded the maps and Tripadvisor.
What can I do, beside strolling?
Is there anything I should know? Parts of the town to avoid at night? Common scams?
Do they speak English, there?
>>1186363
>I don't want to be a tourist, I hate the herds mindlessly jumping from place to place and I abhor the idea of becoming one of them.
autism
>What can I do, beside strolling?
enjoy the great nightlife and get drunk. food is also cheap and great.
>Is there anything I should know? Parts of the town to avoid at night? Common scams?
Just as safe as any other european city.
From my experience the central area is totally safe. Havent been to the outskirts that much but I don't see a reason to go there anyway. I've heard stories about the taxis being run by the mafia and people getting ripped off or robbed in them.
The party hostel scene there is amazing if you're into that. It is a "touristy" way to visit the city but imo the best and easiest way to meet people. I had one of the best nights there last summer.
I was there about 2 months ago.
Check out the ruin pubs. Specifically I would recommend Szimpla Kert.
Go at night, around 8, 830 PM. You will have a very unique experience! Don't be afraid to chat up people, it is kind of like a apocalypse bar with people from all over the world. Totally cool place (pic related, you can find your own corner just like that to have a beer)
Also Palinka burns. But you should try it.
Also Hungary is known for its wine. You should try it.
Hey guys,
Does anyone know of some sort of forum or service in which people can swap currencies?
For example someone coming to my home country could trade their currency with mine, in person on their arrival, for the exact exchange rate.
I am specifically looking for cash swapping AUD <->JPY
>for the exact exchange rate
Why would you do that? I get that you could pay some dude a little more than banks and such and save some money in exchange by avoiding the financial system but that's illegal and also not what you asked.
>>1186359
The Money Network?
I kind of understand why you're asking; banks and vendors exchange with a fee attached......Ideally if you could find someone who needs the country you have, and you need his country a Fee-free exchange could take place for an equal agreed upon amount.
Few probs though: what if one person doesn't send the right amounts and cheats you some bills, or what if counterfeiting enters the equation.
To be honest even at my levels of poverty such risk has never been woth it, but if exchange fees keep rising a p2p system might be worth creating given you can establish it as legit.
Off topic but simmilar question:
Do flight #s change? For example would the PanAm 202 flight ALWAYS be NYC to LA leaving at 8:00am stopping in Chicago.
I ask because if zi wanted to book one way to LA and just hop off in Chicago it might be cheaper than going directly to Chicago. A user contributed website with this jnfo could help me, assuming one exists.
Im interested. I have money from all over. Euro, CAD, Thai, Jordan Dinar, UAE Dinar, Iraq, turkey... way to many places.
The problem is it all totals like 400$USD. I have seen some people use Ebay or craigslist and it can be a good way but that incurs paypal fees and stuff, so if you find a good place or way to do it i would be interested.
Really didnt want to go drop in in Bank of America since im sure they take a steep cut for being small amounts of more obscure money not to mention they dont take Iraqi dinar...
I'm looking the best country to WWOOF in. I'm 24 and am considering doing this next summer. I only speak english and I've never been over to seas before. I have an interest in Nordic countries if that helps.
>>1186172
I guess you should start by looking at the Nordic countries, or countries where English is the primary language.
Not sure what else you want from us.
PS -- Maybe do a week in your home country, see if you like working as unpaid labor on a hippy's farm before paying for a plane ticket to go do it elsewhere. That is a serious recommendation, if you have never worked on a small farm.
>>1186172
Hey anon, I'm currently finishing up a 5 month stint at a farm in the UK.
It's really a great experience- you just need to understand that farming can be tough work and sometimes you might be asking yourself "why the fuck am I doing this for no money?" Otherwise, I've had nothing but fun. I've gotten involved in armored medieval fighting, I fucked 3 different foreign girls, and I get stoned as a boulder with the other guys on the farm after work every day.
Also, my main issue with WWOOF is that you have to pay a fee for each country you want to WWOOF in. Workaway is a better deal, because it's 30 euro for the entire catalogue across the world- though it's not just organic farming. You could be doing anything from working in a hostel to just helping some family with household chores. I've started doing that instead, and I'll be heading to spain next year for a bit of workaway.
One key thing to remember about WWOOFing, or workaway in general- at the border, don't fucking tell the agent what you plan on doing- just say you're traveling and have a fake itinerary or something. It's perfectly legal to do WWOOF or workaway on a tourist visa, but a lot of border agents don't really get that.
New Zealand
I want to travel all the African countries, but I've always wondered one thing..
>How do you bribe with border customs?
Why would you need to bribe them?
This is how bribes (sort of) work:
>Your shit is in order, yet they still hold you back
Pay a small bribe right away, you're set
>Your shit is not in order
You pay a bigger bribe.
>I want to do this very difficult thing
>I have put 0 effort into planning and have nil common sense
>>1186122
Make sure you cross at well populated paces.
Recently drove through West Africa with a fellow /trv/ler, we visited 8 countries together and paid a grand total of 2 cigarettes to bribe border officials. Get your visa, vaccination and any vehicle papers you need in order, and all it takes is time and patience.
>>1186122
>Your shit is in order, yet they still hold you back
>Pay a small bribe right away, you're set
If you have the time, simply insist everything is in order. They'll let you go. Or insist you have nothing to give. Doesn't take long - minutes.
>Your shit is not in order
>You pay a bigger bribe.
Or wait somewhat longer and ask if there's a way to get shit in order further down the road.
>>1186136
The ones where my companion and I ran into most shit and bribe attempts were invariably the busiest border crossings.
I was discussing with a friend about my interest to visit Japan. I'd like to see a few historic places that are outside the usual tourist destinations.
He advised me not to, as the people there could be quite racist (especially towards darker colored people). How accurate is this?
>>1186055
Very, my wife is Japanese and can't stand most people who aren't Japanese or white. But you're a pussy if let this shit stop you, I knew most people in Papua New Guinea would hate me and I still went there. Sometimes it just feels better knowing that your very existence irritates people.
Incorrect. I'm at the end of my trip and everyone has been super nice and friendly. They loved me in Shinjuku. Had a blast in Kyoto and Osaka. If you smile and speak a little Japanese it will go a long way!
I had a businessman hug me for an entire elevator ride, and jammed out to rock music in a 7-11 with a bunch of dudes playing air guitar. Went to a hip hop club in Osaka where I was one of the only black guys. Shit is real cash here and don't let anyone tell you different.
>>1186055
>He advised me not to, as the people there could be quite racist (especially towards darker colored people). How accurate is this?
American resident of Japan 7 years here.
Absolutely absurd and not at all accurate. Of course there is xenophobia in Japan (there is everywhere really), but it is trumped by Japanese politeness and and intense desire to avoid confrontation. Even if there was some intensely racist person who saw you and hated your presence, they would not make it known to you. You will absolutely, positively not encounter any racism based simply on your skin color when visiting Japan.
Anyone who is not Japanese is a gaijin, and there are basically 3 kinds of gaijin: Chinese, Koreans and miscellaneous. Congrats, you're miscellaneous--whatever your skin color is. Black or white is equally "foreign" to most Japanese. Black American? You're an "Amerika-jin". White American? You're an "Amerika-jin". Hell, I've asked my Japanese friends before what percent of America they think is black and some said as high as 40-50%. lmao.
If you face any profiling or discrimination during your stay in Japan (which is quite unlikely) it will be because you are a *foreigner*, not because you are specifically black or latino or whatever the fuck.
>>1186118
Your wife sounds like a galactic B tbqh m8, most Japanese people are not like this OP. And I don't know if this guy is living in Japan or what, but yeah.
The US dollar is now worth 20.69 mexican pesos.
Anyone heading south this winter?
Anyone want to meet up in San Diego and drive down Baja?
>>1185997
>Anyone want to meet up in San Diego and drive down Baja?
Want to, but can't.
hmm I'm from Orange County but haven't ever been to Mexico. What's there to do on a day trip there? Can I get drugs from a pharmacy?
>>1186023
Day trip is kinda short but you could have a good time in the and get Valium I suppose.
Never been on a plane before. And don't know anything about airports but I bought a flight ticket to Hong Kong with 1 layover in Chicago. (1 hour and 45 min layover)
How do layovers work? I'm from Canada and will be landing in US Chicago first. What do I do once I leave my original plane? Do I go to immigration? Do I get my luggage and then prepare to board next plane? Both? Will the airport staff go out of their way to help me?
Simplified instructions really appreciated
>>1185812
You're flying the same airline I suppose for both legs? Likely you'll be kept in the behind-security nature of the international terminal and just change gates. The deal is that you pre-clear TSA with immigration as a Canadian from Toronto, so that transit thing where you used deplane and do US immigration isn't quite the same as it used to be or that other citizenships have to face. Call the airline to be sure. And, of course your flight attendant and a gate agent when you deplane in Chicago will be very helpful.
https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/operations/preclearance
You might have to lose your water bottle if you buy one in the terminal in Canada and wish to bring it through Chicago to the next flight :(
>>1185816
The first plane i'm flying is American Airlines. The second is ANA airlines.
Is going through immigration a quick process?
>>1185817
>Is going through immigration a quick process?
I find lines long at OHare in general. They were famously the worst of the worst in the last bit of news.
ANA code shares with United and Air Canada, not American. So your bags aren't exactly checked through :(
Going to Manchester for a couple days in March before continuing further into Europe. I've figured out what I want to see and do there, but what about food? Any must try places or types of food?
I live in Manchester
Fast food: Archie's. no other place is needed. It's the best
Restaurants: Don Giovanni's, Reds bbq, Happy seasons (china town), solita's
>>1186109
Sweet thanks. Is there a good place to try those meat pies too? I'm also going to a City game; should I just get one there?
>>1185779
Take a bus.
Go to Bolton.
Enjoy human prices and quality.
I'm going to Las Vegas tomorrow, I'll be there for the entire week.
Has anyone ever been? I'm trying to figure out things to do, night life, etc.
Otherwise I'll spend the entire trip sitting in a casino drinking.
South Rim of Grand Canyon if you have the money, West Rim if you don't
>>1185633
>Has anyone ever been?
Yes
> I'm trying to figure out things to do, night life, etc.
I just found the whole casino scene very depressing, thus I was also not interested in the nightlife, so can't help you there.
What I did:
>national atomic testing museum
>hoover dam
well worth the visit!
>Mob museum
kinda ok, but too overprized for what it is. But vegas is expensive anyways, so you might as well
>that national monument or whatever red rocks or something thing just right out of town
Amazing landscape!
>get a rental car and drive through death valley
>explore all of the casinos
It's more of a horrortrip (at least for me), but I found it worth seeing. All that retarded fake shit…
That pseudo-venice that smells of chlorine instead of shit, that plastic new york, the totally over the top aria (they have some very nice art installations scattered throughout the complex, very worth seeing!)
>Go on a hajj and do your Tawāf (طواف)
That is: go round the Trump tower 7 times counterclockwise and praise your new lord
>>1185751
>went to vegas but doesnt like casinos or nightlife
wow man, great trip 10/10 thanks for the blog
I'm flying with them soon and I've heard a lot of negative talk about them. Should I be worried about anything? Is there anything I should prepare beforehand?
>>1185541
bring a parachute?
I'll also be flying with them in two weeks' time. My sister really liked her flight with Spirit and recommends them to everyone, so I'm not too worried. It's also only like a 1 hour flight so how bad could it really be
>>1185569
Mine is 2 hours 48 minutes. Should I be worried?