NationStates Jolt Archive

I've decided that since I finish my undergrad degrees in the middle of this year and can't start the Honours program until February 2009, I'm gonna use these six or seven months to have a great adventure and travel somewhere cool. I'm gonna earn money for a while when I finish uni and otherwise use backpacker places and the like, hopefully the biggest cost item will be flights (and these days you can even get some of those pretty cheap).

Right now I like the idea of going to China again, but if I do then I also want to see Mongolia, so ideally catch the train from Beijing to Ulan Baator. In fact, I love trains, so if anyone has an idea that involves one you are immediately appealing to me.

I loved Hong Kong when I was there the first time, so it is also on the cards. But I also really want to go to Japan some day...I wonder whether it'd be possible to do it all: plane to HK, train up the coast through Shanghai and Beijing to Mongolia and from there catch a flight to Japan and spend two weeks or so there.

Anyways, this is all in the very unrealistic early planning stage and I'm looking for information, input and material to fantasise about (cue predictable funnies). If anyone has an entirely different idea, bring that up too - I'm still open.

What have you people got?

Take a trip around the U.S., I say. It's an experience, to say the least.

If it was me, I'd take the train all through the EU, especially Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and surrounding countries. Youth hostels, street food, impressionist museums... my idea of escape.

Take a trip around the U.S., I say. It's an experience, to say the least.
Yeah, that's the big alternative (along with India). But I worry that the place is so big that you just end up flying from city to city for lots of money. It's not something I'd want to do in one go. Though with a bit of luck I will live in New York for a few years some day, so I can do it then.

If it was me, I'd take the train all through the EU, especially Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and surrounding countries. Youth hostels, street food, impressionist museums... my idea of escape.
The only places I'd really want to go in Europe are my grandma's, my old school, the Nordschleife, Maranello and London.

Not worth the cost of the plane tickets. ;)

I'll be doing Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Israel, Greece, and Italy this summer. I assume I'll recommend them all
You - in Greece AND Italy?
Bring your portfolio, they're looking for more sculpting models.
.
Mentioning Ruffy is optional .... best use discretion :p

I just bought a house in Bulgaria, about forty-five minutes from the Black Sea and Borgas. The mountains are south about a half an hour, and there is a train that runs the whole country with a sleeping car. It also goes to Turkey.

Another world, another language. Good foods, friendly peoples.
A unique experience to be sure.

If you're interested in Japan by rail, I REALLY recommend you get a hold of a JR Rail Pass (http://www.japanrailpass.net/eng/en001.html), they're good on everything JR except the fastest of the Shinkansens and are a good bargain if you plan to go travel around the country for a bit instead of staying in just Tokyo/Osaka. If you're looking for places of interest in Japan, I'll be happy to help.

Yeah, that's the big alternative (along with India). But I worry that the place is so big that you just end up flying from city to city for lots of money. It's not something I'd want to do in one go. Though with a bit of luck I will live in New York for a few years some day, so I can do it then.

Flying in between cities is... Unnecessary. That's why the road trip is so popular in this country, and also because there's just so much to see and do along the way.

I'll be doing Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Israel, Greece, and Italy this summer. I assume I'll recommend them all

I suggest going across Europe and meeting all the NS'ers along the way (posting as you go of course)

I'm hoping to do this sometime but I have about £25 to my name and no job :p

SNIP

I hear it can get pretty depressing though

good thing everything is ludicrously cheap

Road Trip!

China sounds interesting.

Also
NY/DC - Chicago - Twin Cities - Edmonton - Alaska


or if you're real adventurous, do a South America or African or Russian/former USSR road trip.


OR do a boat trip!

First thing to do is check out Oasis Airlines - depending on your location, they fly from Vancouver or London direct to Hong Kong - they're a long haul budget airline and if you book early enough, it will save you lots of money.

From HK, there's a train all the way up to Beijing, it takes about 48 hours but you can stop off in Shanghai along the way.

From there you have a train to Ulaan Bator.

For Japan, I'm not sure whether it's cheaper to fly from HK or Beijing but I'm guessing about $300 no matter what. Therefore, if you're flying from the US, you might skip Oasis in favour of a stopover in Tokyo.

However, your best option might be to pick up a round-the-world ticket - head to a travel agent and choose your locations, it should give you some more ideas in terms of where you might want to go.

If it was me, and I had the time, 6 months would be a lovely amount of time to travel around South America, if you're really courageous, do it on an old Enfield motorcycle a la Che Guevara.

NY/DC - Chicago - Twin Cities - Edmonton - Alaska
And, most CERTAINLY, a few places in BC *nods emphatically*

First thing to do is check out Oasis Airlines - depending on your location, they fly from Vancouver or London direct to Hong Kong - they're a long haul budget airline and if you book early enough, it will save you lots of money.

From HK, there's a train all the way up to Beijing, it takes about 48 hours but you can stop off in Shanghai along the way.

From there you have a train to Ulaan Bator.

For Japan, I'm not sure whether it's cheaper to fly from HK or Beijing but I'm guessing about $300 no matter what. Therefore, if you're flying from the US, you might skip Oasis in favour of a stopover in Tokyo.

However, your best option might be to pick up a round-the-world ticket - head to a travel agent and choose your locations, it should give you some more ideas in terms of where you might want to go.

If it was me, and I had the time, 6 months would be a lovely amount of time to travel around South America, if you're really courageous, do it on an old Enfield motorcycle a la Che Guevara.

If Oasis Airlines is booked, try Oceanic.

I've decided that since I finish my undergrad degrees in the middle of this year and can't start the Honours program until February 2009, I'm gonna use these six or seven months to have a great adventure and travel somewhere cool. I'm gonna earn money for a while when I finish uni and otherwise use backpacker places and the like, hopefully the biggest cost item will be flights (and these days you can even get some of those pretty cheap).

Right now I like the idea of going to China again, but if I do then I also want to see Mongolia, so ideally catch the train from Beijing to Ulan Baator. In fact, I love trains, so if anyone has an idea that involves one you are immediately appealing to me.

I loved Hong Kong when I was there the first time, so it is also on the cards. But I also really want to go to Japan some day...I wonder whether it'd be possible to do it all: plane to HK, train up the coast through Shanghai and Beijing to Mongolia and from there catch a flight to Japan and spend two weeks or so there.

Anyways, this is all in the very unrealistic early planning stage and I'm looking for information, input and material to fantasise about (cue predictable funnies). If anyone has an entirely different idea, bring that up too - I'm still open.

What have you people got?

Wow. I envy you. I hope you have lots of fun. But arent you gonna see India? Japan is very expensive...

If you want an adventure, go to Birmingham. Take a walk through some underpasses and you'll get to see real-life, modern day Neanderthals!

I've decided that since I finish my undergrad degrees in the middle of this year and can't start the Honours program until February 2009, I'm gonna use these six or seven months to have a great adventure and travel somewhere cool. I'm gonna earn money for a while when I finish uni and otherwise use backpacker places and the like, hopefully the biggest cost item will be flights (and these days you can even get some of those pretty cheap).

Right now I like the idea of going to China again, but if I do then I also want to see Mongolia, so ideally catch the train from Beijing to Ulan Baator. In fact, I love trains, so if anyone has an idea that involves one you are immediately appealing to me.

I loved Hong Kong when I was there the first time, so it is also on the cards. But I also really want to go to Japan some day...I wonder whether it'd be possible to do it all: plane to HK, train up the coast through Shanghai and Beijing to Mongolia and from there catch a flight to Japan and spend two weeks or so there.

Anyways, this is all in the very unrealistic early planning stage and I'm looking for information, input and material to fantasise about (cue predictable funnies). If anyone has an entirely different idea, bring that up too - I'm still open.

What have you people got?

Trans-Siberian Railroad.

And, most CERTAINLY, a few places in BC *nods emphatically*Well yeah, and YT too for that matter.

Well yeah, and YT too for that matter.

The BC tour would be for Amarenthe and Ladamesansmerci, of course, and this other dude named Dave in Vancouver. And the owls, who really aren't what they seem.
YT? Who's up there again?
Oh btw, The Hazeltons. Totally.
http://www.ourbc.com/travel_bc/bc_cities/yellowhead_hwy/photos/hazelton/roche_de_boule_01_640.jpg

Japan is very expensive...
Depends, there are ways to get Japan in on the cheap.

YT? Who's up there again?A sign forest (http://www.yukoninfo.com/watson/signpostforest.htm)!! I stopped to pee in their visitor's center when I drove up here.

I would go to either Rivendale or Endor.Those would be the parts of the BC and SE AK coast that still have unlogged old growth.

I would go to either Rivendale or Endor.

I live in Brisbane, Australia by the way.

I'm having a hard time figuring out how much a flight from Ulan Bator to Japan would be. Anyone know a website?

if i had a way of getting there and could stay long enough to do so, and knew my way arround well enough not to offend everbody, which of course i don't, i'd personally want to ride every remaining rural local futsu kidosha in nihon!

=^^=
.../\...

I live in Brisbane, Australia by the way.

I'm having a hard time figuring out how much a flight from Ulan Bator to Japan would be. Anyone know a website?

I simply wouldn't - fly from Beijing instead, I would bet you fly through there anyway even if you could find a flight from Ulaan Bator.

If you love trains I suggest you take the greatest train in the world- the one from Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet!

I simply wouldn't - fly from Beijing instead, I would bet you fly through there anyway even if you could find a flight from Ulaan Bator.
Well, Mongolian Airways (flying Boeings and Airbuses...phew) actually do have flights to Nagoya and Osaka, it just doesn't say any quotes.

If you love trains I suggest you take the greatest train in the world- the one from Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet!
I'm scared of the thin air. :(

Still, the pictures do look pretty damn cool.

I've just remembered another problem: none of my friends will have the time to go at that time for any prolonged period. They either work or study weird subjects that don't give them enough holidays. But going alone would suck...

Fly to London, hang around for a bit and then travel back home, staying on land for as much of the journey as possible.

If you love trains I suggest you take the greatest train in the world- the one from Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet!

yes, since its there, if you can, you might as well ride and enjoy it.
persoanally i think it's the wrong kind of railway going the wrong direction for the wrong reasons, at least wrong for the indiginous people, beliefs and life ways of tibet.

probably the one railway i have the most mixed feelings about of any in the world, but i certainly wouldn't miss a chance to ride it if i had one.

one i'd even give more of anything to ride is the darjiling himalian in northern west bengal province of india. more the scale of railway that is more really needed all over nepal and tibet. one that would actually be useful to LOCAL commuting and commerce. (and one closer to my own fantasies, which are beyond the scope of this thread to furthur elaborate on, much as i never tire of doing) although i think the dhr is probably a lot tourist oriented too. that's only a guess though, just looking at websites and schedules.

=^^=
.../\...

Fly to London, hang around for a bit and then travel back home, staying on land for as much of the journey as possible.
Well, I had a fantasy about driving a VW Bus from Singapore to Hamburg, but that's a tad silly and I have no idea how to work the logistics of that. Plus it might cost me more than I have.

you could always do the train from HK to Beijing and then the train to Tibet.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/19-travelling/

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/01/23/19-travelling/
Finally someone understands me.

You can do cross country train trips here the USA, I think. And the exchange rates! You'd be rich.

If Oasis Airlines is booked, try Oceanic.

I don't think that Neu Leonstein wants to end up on a mysterious island :P

Back to the main point, why not consider having New Zealand as a leg on your trip. Certainly, we pack plenty of beautiful landscape features, as well as plenty of adventure. The only problem is that you'll probably bore of us in a month or two. However, it is quite accessible from Brisbane.

In terms of rail stuff, we have the Tranz-Alpine, one of the most scenic train trips in the world, as well as the Tranz Coastal and Overlander. Even better, you can see an old Brisbane rail set in operation in Auckland in almost original condition, along with other old bits and pieces (its like a rail museum, but operational; and you better be in quick, the museum will cease operations in 2013)

Of course, from here, it is quite easy to get to China, we have flights to Hong Kong, Shanghai and soon Beijing.

Just a little off-topic; you say you love trains. Do you post on any rail forums by any chance?

By the way, as much as there is some kind of romanticism associated with the coast to coast road trip I suspect it would bore you senseless.

How about Japan - China - Mongolia - Tibet - Nepal - India?

well seeing as your from Australia and in all likelihood a poor peasant maybe you should try Australia's east/west/north/south coast

accept it your too old for adventures now :p

You can do cross country train trips here the USA, I think. And the exchange rates! You'd be rich.

and risk being kidnapped and abused by the government/fundies/high school girls looking for something European?!

also its a well known fact that compared to the US folk we others types are giants! (http://www.youngeagles.org/images/news/archive/2007%20-%2001_04%20-%20Giant%20LEGO%20Aircraft%20Carrier%20Launched-1.jpg)

note: that is a random image got on google dressing like that would in all probability kill me

Yeah, that's the big alternative (along with India). But I worry that the place is so big that you just end up flying from city to city for lots of money. It's not something I'd want to do in one go. Though with a bit of luck I will live in New York for a few years some day, so I can do it then.


The only places I'd really want to go in Europe are my grandma's, my old school, the Nordschleife, Maranello and London.

Not worth the cost of the plane tickets. ;)

You can always travel in the economy class in Indian trains. Not the best way to travel from comfort POV, but it will get you there cheap, plus the people you travel with are the best kind and not the snotty elites you will find in first class etc.

If you are the backpacking kind looking for 'different' experiences, I would recommend India. It's got something for everybody due to its very diverse geography, flora and fauna, people, history, buildings etc. Only China comes close to that diversity and you don't have to put up with authoritarianism of China. ;)

If it were me, I'd be doing a tour of Greece and Italy. I would have to go alone because no one would want to read every inscription on every tomb ...
If you're looking for a beautiful and underappreciated part of the US, may I suggest the Black Hills or the Badlands?

The only places I'd really want to go in Europe are my grandma's, my old school, the Nordschleife, Maranello and London.

Not worth the cost of the plane tickets. ;)

Maranello do I sense a Ferrari fan?

You did mention London mate there is a hell of a lot to do in London and surrounding areas even if you just spend your holiday in England maybe go to France euro rail tickets are fairly cheap and it only takes a couple of hours to get to Paris from London, I have heard that Belgium and the Netherlands are great places to go for backpackers again only a few hours from Paris.

Of course you can travel around Europe by train almost anywhere. I know you said that they wasn't many places you wanted to go and maybe you have went to places when you where there as you are originally from Germany (which part if I may enquire?), but you should look on various websites and Lonely planet guides as there is a lot of stuff for people to see and do throughout Europe from those who like to see the old castles and churches to those who enjoy the adventurous activities or if you just want to party in capital cities and experience the way they do things over there.

Whether you decide to go in the end I wish you a pleasant journey and a safe trip, have fun.

I would recommend India. It's got something for everybody due to its very diverse geography, flora and fauna, people, history, buildings etc.

Some of that flora and fauna will attempt to return home with you, in your lower intestines and other body parts. They're very friendly.

I'll add to the pitch for New York City. One stop shopping. Within the city limits, you can find all the India you want, and China, Russia, Korea, and if you know where to look, Italy*, Greece**, Ireland***, Poland, the West Indies, parts of Africa, and a chunk of Central America. Add in the immediate suburbs and you get Cuba and Afghanistan and other places. Guyana has a substantial portion of its population here, percentage-wise, there is more of Guyana in NYC (14%) than there is France in Paris (3.3%)!

You can even experience mutually hostile nations like India and Pakistan WITHOUT being grilled at the border.

*NOT Little Italy. What is left of it is pure tourist. You want Arthur Avenue or Bensonhurst.

**Food and culture only. Not the weather. Sorry, only so much one city can do.

***Ireland in NYC is pretty much pubs and a parade.

Come to the Principado de Asturias, in Spain. Here's the reason why:

ASTURIES, PATRIA QUERIDA! (http://www.asturiasnatural.com/)

Sorry, but the link it's in Spanish. For those of you who do not understand Spanish, here's a link in English with some information worth your time:

PRINCIPADO DE ASTURIAS (http://www.squidoo.com/asturias)

I'll be doing Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Israel, Greece, and Italy this summer. I assume I'll recommend them all

What are you, made of money? :eek:

Right now I like the idea of going to China again, but if I do then I also want to see Mongolia, so ideally catch the train from Beijing to Ulan Baator. In fact, I love trains, so if anyone has an idea that involves one you are immediately appealing to me.
Last summer, a couple of friends of mine did the following:

Fly to Tallinn (Estonia), spend a couple of days there. Bus/train (I forget) to St Petersburg to spend a few days, then overnight bus to Moscow for maybe a week. Then, the Trans-Siberian Railway all the way to Mongolia, where they rode yaks and slept in yurts (and drank yak's milk), as I have heard many, many times. Onward to China. Unfortunately I'm not sure where they stayed in China as I didn't really care by that point (they'd taken about 90 minutes of my time explaining just up to here), but they eventually flew back to the UK from Hong Kong. I think they spent about a month travelling in total, but I imagine that you can extend or shorten that as much as you like, pretty much.

Socialist Scandinavia, Prague and Rome, then find a beach (on a Greek Island perhaps?) and stay there. :cool:

Trans-Siberian Railroad.
The Ulan Bator-Beijing is a branchline of it, and certainly more interesting than the one to Vladivostock.

Depends, there are ways to get Japan in on the cheap.
If you had to make a rouch estimate of how much I could expect per day in accomodation and food...how much would that be?

Back to the main point, why not consider having New Zealand as a leg on your trip.
NZ is a place I wanna go to some day (I was thinking for a while about doing it these holidays but ended up with no money), but in the interest of keeping costs managable, it's probably best to do it seperately some other time. Chances are that unless I somehow fall into a Masters program in the States I won't be leaving Oz immediately after I finish Honours and get a job perhaps in Sydney or Melbourne.

Just a little off-topic; you say you love trains. Do you post on any rail forums by any chance?
Actually, I just like going in them. I know nothing about trains. :p

How about Japan - China - Mongolia - Tibet - Nepal - India?
Would be cool, but probably too expensive. Plus, I'm scared of the thin air. It's gonna kill me, I'm sure.

well seeing as your from Australia and in all likelihood a poor peasant maybe you should try Australia's east/west/north/south coast
Meh, I've seen lots of Australia when we travelled here like six times before we moved. The only part I haven't seen is Alice Springs and the northwest coast, and I can probably do without that.

You can always travel in the economy class in Indian trains.
On the roof? Yay! ;)

If you are the backpacking kind looking for 'different' experiences, I would recommend India. It's got something for everybody due to its very diverse geography, flora and fauna, people, history, buildings etc. Only China comes close to that diversity and you don't have to put up with authoritarianism of China. ;)
Rest assured that I'll make it eventually. Just perhaps not this time.

Maranello do I sense a Ferrari fan?
Well, Ferrari is only matched by Porsche as far as sheer proficiency is concerned. But Maranello is several magnitudes cooler than Zuffenhausen. :p

...as you are originally from Germany (which part if I may enquire?)...
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=barsb%C3%BCttel&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=70.083701,119.53125&ie=UTF8&ll=53.585576,10.158234&spn=0.189537,0.466919&t=h&z=11&iwloc=addr

Come to the Principado de Asturias, in Spain.
It looks nice, but my grandparents have a house on Mallorca and so I've done Spain a few times (we never went to the tourist beaches), including a time when we drove from Hamburg and took the ferry. Barcelona looked a nice place.

Last summer, a couple of friends of mine did the following...
That sounds very interesting. To be honest, Russia doesn't get me all that excited though, so I think I can save time and money by skipping that part. And besides, it's not like I need to be in Siberia to see cold...I hear they had -45°C one of these nights in Mongolia.

Still it would be good to know what sort of money they spent...

visit your local library

Yeah, that's the big alternative (along with India). But I worry that the place is so big that you just end up flying from city to city for lots of money. It's not something I'd want to do in one go. Though with a bit of luck I will live in New York for a few years some day, so I can do it then.

You could just visit New York, and everything within busing distance. That covers most of the East Coast, and it would give you a chance to see the city in depth, if you're serious about moving here some day.

You can relax at the beach in Mindanao; even get special treatment there. Just say you're American or pretend you're one.

I hear Kosovo's pretty nice around this time of year, too.

;)

hmm...I'd personally like to travel around the meditteranean for a few months, although I fear that would be obscenely expensive in the summer.

My girlfriend rates Istanbul as the best city she's ever visited, and I'd really quite like to visit Marrakech, Algiers, Alexandria and Gibralter as well.

I've decided that since I finish my undergrad degrees in the middle of this year and can't start the Honours program until February 2009, I'm gonna use these six or seven months to have a great adventure and travel somewhere cool. I'm gonna earn money for a while when I finish uni and otherwise use backpacker places and the like, hopefully the biggest cost item will be flights (and these days you can even get some of those pretty cheap).

Right now I like the idea of going to China again, but if I do then I also want to see Mongolia, so ideally catch the train from Beijing to Ulan Baator. In fact, I love trains, so if anyone has an idea that involves one you are immediately appealing to me.

I loved Hong Kong when I was there the first time, so it is also on the cards. But I also really want to go to Japan some day...I wonder whether it'd be possible to do it all: plane to HK, train up the coast through Shanghai and Beijing to Mongolia and from there catch a flight to Japan and spend two weeks or so there.

Anyways, this is all in the very unrealistic early planning stage and I'm looking for information, input and material to fantasise about (cue predictable funnies). If anyone has an entirely different idea, bring that up too - I'm still open.

What have you people got?

Do a pan-mid-east tour. Go to Dubai, Mecca, Medina, and Cairo. That's what I'm going to do once I finish being an undergrad.

You can relax at the beach in Mindanao; even get special treatment there. Just say you're American or pretend you're one.

I hear Kosovo's pretty nice around this time of year, too.

;)

Most of my friends who live in Mindinao advise against going there at this time.

Do a pan-mid-east tour. Go to Dubai, Mecca, Medina, and Cairo. That's what I'm going to do once I finish being an undergrad.

Non-Muslims are prohibited from visiting Mecca and Medina.

What are you, made of money? :eek:

Not at all. I'll be couch surfing quite a bit, and staying in hostels. Flights will be my most expensive part

Not at all. I'll be couch surfing quite a bit, and staying in hostels. Flights will be my most expensive part

Flights cost a shitload of money, though.

Flights cost a shitload of money, though.

I've managed to save up enough by serving tables. Anything that I lack, my parents have offered to loan me

I'm sure you already said this, but where are you from?

I would say either take a trip around the US, Australia, or Japan. They offer very different adventures. Bill Bryson does some REALLY great travel books, he is a fun read and will make you want to visit places you never cared about before.

I'm afraid I won't meet many backpackers who speak English though...
Don't worry about that. There'd be lots of Brits and Americans, and everybody else our age group speaks at least a little bit of English.

I've actually been thinking about going backpacking sometime this summer recently, so this thread is very interesting to me. I've always wanted to go to Italy and other parts of Europe. I'm afraid I won't meet many backpackers who speak English though, maybe I would have better luck in a place like Australia. I'm also kind of hesitant to go off by myself since I'm 19 and I've never lived more than an hour from home.

I've actually been thinking about going backpacking sometime this summer recently, so this thread is very interesting to me. I've always wanted to go to Italy and other parts of Europe. I'm afraid I won't meet many backpackers who speak English though, maybe I would have better luck in a place like Australia. I'm also kind of hesitant to go off by myself since I'm 19 and I've never lived more than an hour from home.
What? No. Pretty much every backpacker you'll meet pretty much everywhere in the world speaks English.

Non-Muslims are prohibited from visiting Mecca and Medina.

Non-Muslims can go to Mecca and Medina. Non-Muslims can also go to most mosques.

Edit: Alright now I thought about it for a second I believe it may be difficult for a non-muslim to get a visa to Saudi Arabia. That is the hardest part. Also you have to follow Muslim rules while in these areas. However as a tourist I doubt they would let you enter. One would need to work in the oil industry or some other essential activity where you could get a pass to go. So after thinking about it essentially you probably can't get in as a tourist.

Non-Muslims can go to Mecca and Medina. Non-Muslims can also go to most mosques. Not sure where you heard this.

From here

http://www.tomgrossmedia.com/img/hway-2-mecca-muslims-only.jpg

Non-Muslims can go to Mecca and Medina. Non-Muslims can also go to most mosques. Not sure where you heard this.

A quick Google search for "Mecca non-Muslims" should give you your answers.

On the roof? Yay! ;).

This could be you. :D

http://www.railwayshit.com/IndianTrain2.jpg

Good to know that backpackers speak English.
Yeah, don't worry. I mean, think about it, backpackers are usually western middle-class young people. And if those don't have at least some English at their disposal I don't know who has.

Good to know that backpackers speak English.

I just remembered that I kind of did go backpacking a couple years ago. I stayed in hostels in London, Paris, and Edinberg. I was with my family though so it doesn't really count.

I've actually been thinking about going backpacking sometime this summer recently, so this thread is very interesting to me. I've always wanted to go to Italy and other parts of Europe. I'm afraid I won't meet many backpackers who speak English though.
That's part of the joys of travelling. Learning enough of the local lingo to order a beer and ask where the toilet is. Failing that, improving your acting and charade moves to let the locals understand what you want/need.

I'll be doing Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Israel, Greece, and Italy this summer. I assume I'll recommend them all
Vietnam is very dirty. wouldn't recommend the cities.

If you had to make a rouch estimate of how much I could expect per day in accomodation and food...how much would that be?
Depends a great deal on where you want to be (Tokyo/Osaka/Kyoto or out in the countryside) and what type of accommodations are you willing to put up with (Japanese or western style, an actual room or more dormitory).

But, assuming you want to hang out in Tokyo, you're looking for an actual room and not either a capsule or love hotel, and your idea of food is not convenience store fare, about $115(AUD) per day will get you a room in a business hotel and keep ya fed. If you REALLY want to go the cheap route, I could halve that. Outside of the larger cities, the cost would be closer to $90 or so a day for the same, but, again, I could halve that.

I don't think that Neu Leonstein wants to end up on a mysterious island :PNot even with Kate?
o.0
Ah well, i's already gots a ticket with WYTYG in such a case. :p

What are you, made of money? :eek:

Lots of people offer him lots ... LOTS of things.

A sign forest (http://www.yukoninfo.com/watson/signpostforest.htm)!! I stopped to pee in their visitor's center when I drove up here.

Good point. Too bad i don't have enough ammo. :p

Vietnam is very dirty. wouldn't recommend the cities.
I'm planning on renting a motorcycle and going up into the country

Most of my friends who live in Mindinao advise against going there at this time.

...my post was bleeding sarcasm...

To the OP: the beaches in Gaza should be pretty interesting, too...

That sounds very interesting. To be honest, Russia doesn't get me all that excited though, so I think I can save time and money by skipping that part. And besides, it's not like I need to be in Siberia to see cold...I hear they had -45°C one of these nights in Mongolia.

Still it would be good to know what sort of money they spent...
About £1200 (maybe €1600), I think. Including a £500 flight from HK - UK, and all relevant visas and...uh, "admin fees".

...my post was bleeding sarcasm...

To the OP: the beaches in Gaza should be pretty interesting, too...

Lagos is also a blast, I heard. :p

If you're looking for something a little different, try www.adventurealternative.com

They specialise in volunteer work and also adventure holidays off the beaten track. They're good people.