Disillusioned Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 I've been a radio ham for 16 years now, and all I've had to do to talk to people around the world is just pick up a mike and press the button. I can't understand for the life of me why someone thinks they're going to absolutely die if they can't go to see some steel tower in France or a bunch of neatly stacked bricks in Egypt. When I talk to radio hams in other countries, I never have to worry about the plane being delayed or my flight being cancelled, or losing my luggage, or being subjected to a cavity search just because some pervert working for the TSA doesn't like my face. To me, it's a challenge to finally get through to someone in one of those distant countries where you're lucky to receive a signal from them at all. So... what's the appeal? I obviously don't get it.
dasein Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 For every real travel enthusiast, there are 5 who affect the attitude because they are lacking in personality, insight and accomplishment in their lives, and seek to bandaid it with "world traveler." Dating sites are full of these types, mostly female, some men. You have found one when you ask them to share details of their latest trip and the first words out of their mouth are "the food was great." If they want to tell you about a person or people they met first, their lives and attitudes, and not just some oily dude they slept with, they are the real deal as far as getting something worthwhile from traveling. In other words, if their descriptions of their travels resemble the script of the movie "Eat Pray Love," run the hell away as fast as you can.
carhill Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 I see you've never been chased by an elephant in Africa I was just looking at the video of it yesterday while transferring old 8mm tapes to DVD. Smelling that beast in person, feeling the impacts of their feet, etc, etc, has no real substitute. Standing at the cusp of one of the seven natural wonders of the world cannot be compared to reading about it or seeing a picture or video. Riding on the world's fastest passenger train, flying on the Concorde, bla, bla. If it's an addiction, I call it an addiction to life. The world is full of it and life is brief. I have many friends who disagree. That's OK. There's plenty of life for everyone.
Lucky_One Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 A fetish? No. I don't have to travel to be able to have sex. On to the real question. Going in person is the only way to use your other senses (taste, smell, touch, and see) to learn about and appreciate other countries and cultures. You are stuck with listening to someone. Travel with a carry-on, and wash your undies in a sink at night. You don't need to lose your luggage to travel, silly.
Author Disillusioned Posted September 5, 2011 Author Posted September 5, 2011 For every real travel enthusiast, there are 5 who affect the attitude because they are lacking in personality, insight and accomplishment in their lives, and seek to bandaid it with "world traveler." Dating sites are full of these types, mostly female, some men. You have found one when you ask them to share details of their latest trip and the first words out of their mouth are "the food was great." If they want to tell you about a person or people they met first, their lives and attitudes, and not just some oily dude they slept with, they are the real deal as far as getting something worthwhile from traveling. In other words, if their descriptions of their travels resemble the script of the movie "Eat Pray Love," run the hell away as fast as you can. You got that right! One thing they all seem to have in common is that they lack imagination. That turns me off... people with no imagination bore me. I see you've never been chased by an elephant in Africa I've never had any other negative experiences there either. Talking to a guy in Tanzania over the radio was thrilling enough for me, thank you.
Author Disillusioned Posted September 5, 2011 Author Posted September 5, 2011 A fetish? No. I don't have to travel to be able to have sex. On to the real question. Going in person is the only way to use your other senses (taste, smell, touch, and see) to learn about and appreciate other countries and cultures. You are stuck with listening to someone. Travel with a carry-on, and wash your undies in a sink at night. You don't need to lose your luggage to travel, silly. Another futile attempt to make me jealous...
carhill Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 While not strictly a 'fetish', aggressive travel, meaning to places and cultures where one is essentially 'lost', can be pretty exciting, and, ironically, similar for those one might encounter, which sometimes leads to very good sex
Emilia Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 I've never had any other negative experiences there either. Talking to a guy in Tanzania over the radio was thrilling enough for me, thank you. I think you should get a passport and leave the States even for only a day before you form an opinion on something you currently have no experience of
Emilia Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 While not strictly a 'fetish', aggressive travel, meaning to places and cultures where one is essentially 'lost', can be pretty exciting, and, ironically, similar for those one might encounter, which sometimes leads to very good sex That's exactly right. Quite specifically in a tent camping on the banks of the river Zambezi
grkBoy Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 I've been a radio ham for 16 years now, and all I've had to do to talk to people around the world is just pick up a mike and press the button. I can't understand for the life of me why someone thinks they're going to absolutely die if they can't go to see some steel tower in France or a bunch of neatly stacked bricks in Egypt. When I talk to radio hams in other countries, I never have to worry about the plane being delayed or my flight being cancelled, or losing my luggage, or being subjected to a cavity search just because some pervert working for the TSA doesn't like my face. To me, it's a challenge to finally get through to someone in one of those distant countries where you're lucky to receive a signal from them at all. So... what's the appeal? I obviously don't get it. I get what you're saying, and I used to think like that...until I went to Greece for the first time as an adult. I was mesmerized now only with the artifacts and ruins, but the day to day culture of Europeans, and how different it was from the US. Since then I've tried to go back more and more. Been to Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. Even now I still dance on the idea of moving to Europe. If you want to travel as a lifestyle, then you have to either make some great money, have friends/relatives everywhere, or give up on other things. So you might have a beater of a car, live in a modest studio apartment, and not buy any new "electronic toys" because you put your money into the trips. PLUS...you make contacts and friends all over. So they can crash with you and you with them. Or you go visit relatives. Sometimes it's about packing light and taking trains from country to country. It's an acquired taste, but I can't get enough. It's an escape. See things and see lifestyles different from my own. Gives me a sense of perspective on how the world is outside of Chicago.
Author Disillusioned Posted September 5, 2011 Author Posted September 5, 2011 sometimes leads to very good sex I have about as much need for sex as I have for a dead horse in my driveway. I think you should get a passport and leave the States even for only a day before you form an opinion on something you currently have no experience of I've been out of the country before. But it wasn't home.
AHardDaysNight Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 I wish I could travel. Alas, I have only traveled once or twice in my life. But then again, I am still young.
carhill Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 Hey, if the youtube thing takes off, maybe the dead horse in the driveway won't get beaten up as much
GorillaTheater Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 I see you've never been chased by an elephant in Africa <raises hand> I didn't even realize there was a serious problem until I saw the guide high-tailing it out of there. When I'm 90 and can't even remember my kids' names, I suspect I'll remember how I felt beating feet across the veldt. I love to travel, see new places and meet new people. My opportunities to do so are fairly limited, and I'd certainly do more if I could. One of these days: Iceland.
Author Disillusioned Posted September 5, 2011 Author Posted September 5, 2011 Hey, if the youtube thing takes off, maybe the dead horse in the driveway won't get beaten up as much It hasn't been delivered, and I don't want it. Not unless it can pay my electric bills...
Author Disillusioned Posted September 5, 2011 Author Posted September 5, 2011 I suppose you're going to want a flight to Mars when those become available.
irc333 Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 For every real travel enthusiast, there are 5 who affect the attitude because they are lacking in personality, insight and accomplishment in their lives, and seek to bandaid it with "world traveler." Dating sites are full of these types, mostly female, some men. . I actually went out on a date with a woman who traveled GLOBALLY A LOT! I asked her how often she travels and she says, "Any chance I get, I LOVE to travel" She kind of turned me off by saying she expected the man she dates to pay ALL the expenses, otherwise she just prefer to go alone. CHances are she's up into debt in her eye balls, was divorced twice, and exhibits a rather wreckless attitude toward things. She had a killer body, but she would probably put a man into the poor house, and chances are probably did the same to her ex-hubbys.
Author Disillusioned Posted September 5, 2011 Author Posted September 5, 2011 Ah hell, screw the places... I want to travel through time and other dimensions! Don't need no stinkin' passport for that!
proactivedreamer Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 I guess this mentality is the reason why only 15% of Americans have a passport. I could not imagine breathing my final breath having not seen another part of this wonderful world. My fondest memories have been ones of my travels, and I cannot wait to resume my life abroad. Why would traveling be a fetish? And I don't think there is anything wrong with someone wanting to find someone who loves traveling as much as they do. Traveling can change your life. I'd choose the experience of travel over an expensive car any day.
Author Disillusioned Posted September 5, 2011 Author Posted September 5, 2011 Traveling can change your life. Ya got that right... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Hayes_%28writer%29
xoxoDaniellexoxo Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 I like to travel because to me I get to experience a different type of culture. I would absolutly LOVE to go to the Galapogos (probably spelled it wrong) and get to see the animals, but for me that is more of a career type of trip because as someone who is pre-vet animals are just like crack to me lol. I would also probably pass out if I got to go swim with a humpback whale, blue whale or whale shark!! I live in the midwest so I don't really get to go to the ocean much but I love it so much. I hate going through the airport because it just sucks, lets be honest there is nothing enjoyable about it, and plane rides usually suck lucky for me I sleep through most of them, but for me the end result of getting to see something that to me is breathtaking is worth it, I know others want to go places for landmarks I have never actually gone to them so I can't really comment on that.
LurkerXX Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 Well I have done some travel, much as part of my job. But is in context of far more local traveling. The real thing CAN challenge and expand the imagination; there are also those who are mindlessly obsessed with seeing anything and everything. I would never want to annoy someone, just living their life in another country, in order to entertain me with their presumed exoticism.
LurkerXX Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 I hate going through the airport because it just sucks, lets be honest there is nothing enjoyable about it, and plane rides usually suck lucky for me I sleep through most of them, but for me the end result of getting to see something that to me is breathtaking is worth it, I know others want to go places for landmarks I have never actually gone to them so I can't really comment on that. Douglas Adams best describes any and all airports (though he is specifically talking about Heathrow, it matters not) in The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul.
xoxoDaniellexoxo Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 Douglas Adams best describes any and all airports (though he is specifically talking about Heathrow, it matters not) in The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul. Intresting!! I admit I am that dork in the airport bopping along listening to my iPod. I don't get why some people go in super nice outfits, I get if it is a business trip but my friend wears dresses and heels, my thoughts are if I am walking around and sitting for hours I am going to be comfy in my jeans or sweats lol!
LurkerXX Posted September 5, 2011 Posted September 5, 2011 yeah a Mafia style velour sweatsuit actually makes sense-why bother with pride in such a horrible place that makes us all rats.
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