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The Least Friendly Country List
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Moldy Rutabaga



Joined: 01 Jul 2003
Location: Ansan, Korea

PostPosted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, just to stir the pot, here's my "Worst list." You can see the rest at http://keneckert.com/pictures/travel/worst/worst.html.

1. Filthiest Bathrooms: Hue, Vietnam
2. Scummiest Hotel: Down Town Hotel, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
3. Sleaziest City: Pattaya, Thailand
4. Most Corrupt Airport: Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
5. Worst Food: England
6. Most Irritating Hawkers: Hanoi, Vietnam & Bali, Indonesia (Tie)
7. Worst Architecture: Korea
8. Worst Weather: Winnipeg, Canada
9. Most Depressing Place: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
10. Worst International Food: Korea
11. Most Overrated Country: Singapore
12. Worst People: Las Vegas, USA
13. Worst Airport: Tr*deau, Montreal, Canada
14. Worst Drivers: Las Vegas, USA
15. Most Dangerous City: Mexico City

But in general, I think it's true that countries are not unfriendly overall but that parts are. I don't know what it is, but I've always found people mean in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg hasn't been much better. Atlantic Canada is supposedly famous for friendliness, but the people I met in Fredericton were jerks, I got attacked in Cape Breton, and the townspeople in St. John's, Newfoundland, are arrogant pr*cks. Nevertheless, countryside people in Newfoundland are amazingly welcoming, and Halifax is a great city. Toronto people are not as haughty as they're made out to be. Albertans don't deserve their redneck stereotype.

The further east I go in the states, the more I like the people. California, Oregon, and Washington can fall into the ocean for all I care.

I find Chungcheon Koreans, those in the center of the country, friendliest. Daegu people are cliquey, shifty, and conservative. Busan people are more open, and I like their burping, farting directness.

I found the Indonesians on Lombok, the island next to Bali, somewhat hostile. I didn't feel all that safe there. Everywhere in Vietnam I felt like a plucked goose.


Last edited by Moldy Rutabaga on Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:41 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Underwaterbob



Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito

PostPosted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 5:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

These probably qualify:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/21/postcards_from_hell?page=full
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Quack Addict



Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Location: Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Underwaterbob wrote:
These probably qualify:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/21/postcards_from_hell?page=full


Yikes! The Philippines was only ranked 51st.
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Underwaterbob



Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito

PostPosted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quack Addict wrote:
Underwaterbob wrote:
These probably qualify:

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/21/postcards_from_hell?page=full


Yikes! The Philippines was only ranked 51st.


That surprised me too. I knew things weren't too hot down there, (bwahaha) but I had no idea it was that bad.
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oldfatfarang



Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.

PostPosted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/21/postcards_from_hell?page=full

That's the most depressing site I've read for a long time.
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wilson535



Joined: 22 May 2010

PostPosted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 9:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Moldy Rutabaga wrote:

5. Worst Food: England


just out of curiosity, where did you eat? i'm from england. i have absolutely no idea what you are talking about there.
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Perceptioncheck



Joined: 13 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 3:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

wilson535 wrote:
Moldy Rutabaga wrote:

5. Worst Food: England


just out of curiosity, where did you eat? i'm from england. i have absolutely no idea what you are talking about there.


Pretty much every Asian person I've spoken to who's been to England has complained about the food there. A lot of them loved the country, the people, the architecture, the culture. . .but man, did they hate the food.

Put it down to a different palate. Or something.
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nautilus



Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 5:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting list there moldy.
Moldy Rutabaga wrote:

1. Filthiest Bathrooms: Hue, Vietnam

There's a certain PC bang in Bucheon...
Quote:
3. Sleaziest City: Pattaya, Thailand

Yep..
Quote:
5. Worst Food: England

Know what you mean but still seems a bit unfair.. I miss my meat pies and yorkshire pud.
Quote:
6. Most Irritating Hawkers: Hanoi, Vietnam & Bali, Indonesia (Tie)

Yeah, vietnam.
Quote:
7. Worst Architecture: Korea

Yes...
Quote:
9. Most Depressing Place: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada

Wigan, N.England.
Quote:
11. Most Overrated Country: Singapore

Good call. V. Expensive and a little dull.
Quote:
13. Worst Airport: Tr*deau, Montreal, Canada

Lusaka, Zambia.
Quote:
14. Worst Drivers: Las Vegas, USA

Outskirts or countryside anywhere near Beijing.
Quote:
15. Most Dangerous City: Mexico City.

Jo'burg, SA.
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Moldy Rutabaga



Joined: 01 Jul 2003
Location: Ansan, Korea

PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 6:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks, Nautilus.

I would of course probably include Johannesburg if I went there. Nasty stories I've heard! A friend who worked there who habitually saw bodies falling from buildings, taxi drivers shooting at each other, the sort of thing you imagine in a Monty Python skit.

I meant the list to be fun, as I really do like England. I just didn't have anything edible there. I think I learned to drink Guinness there because I was half-starving. I do like meat pies and Yorkshire pudding, but our crappy uni cafeteria rarely served them. What I remember was pepper so dry and tasteless that it would fly away like dust. Good curry, but I'm being picky that it's not English food.
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eljuero



Joined: 11 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 3:15 am    Post subject: Go east!! Reply with quote

Moldy Rutabaga wrote:
Well, just to stir the pot, here's my "Worst list." You can see the rest at http://keneckert.com/pictures/travel/worst/worst.html.

1. Filthiest Bathrooms: Hue, Vietnam
2. Scummiest Hotel: Down Town Hotel, Johor Bahru, Malaysia
3. Sleaziest City: Pattaya, Thailand
4. Most Corrupt Airport: Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
5. Worst Food: England
6. Most Irritating Hawkers: Hanoi, Vietnam & Bali, Indonesia (Tie)
7. Worst Architecture: Korea
8. Worst Weather: Winnipeg, Canada
9. Most Depressing Place: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada
10. Worst International Food: Korea
11. Most Overrated Country: Singapore
12. Worst People: Las Vegas, USA
13. Worst Airport: Tr*deau, Montreal, Canada
14. Worst Drivers: Las Vegas, USA
15. Most Dangerous City: Mexico City

But in general, I think it's true that countries are not unfriendly overall but that parts are. I don't know what it is, but I've always found people mean in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg hasn't been much better. Atlantic Canada is supposedly famous for friendliness, but the people I met in Fredericton were jerks, I got attacked in Cape Breton, and the townspeople in St. John's, Newfoundland, are arrogant pr*cks. Nevertheless, countryside people in Newfoundland are amazingly welcoming, and Halifax is a great city. Toronto people are not as haughty as they're made out to be. Albertans don't deserve their redneck stereotype.

The further east I go in the states, the more I like the people. California, Oregon, and Washington can fall into the ocean for all I care.

I find Chungcheon Koreans, those in the center of the country, friendliest. Daegu people are cliquey, shifty, and conservative. Busan people are more open, and I like their burping, farting directness.

I found the Indonesians on Lombok, the island next to Bali, somewhat hostile. I didn't feel all that safe there. Everywhere in Vietnam I felt like a plucked goose.


As a former east coaster in the US I found Seattle to be the coldest place - it's referred to as the "Seattle Chill" there. I met transplants from all over the States who didn't like it there. What's worse is the natives from there think they're god's gift to N America. Portland was a much neater place.

Frankly, Korea isn't very high on my list for friendliness (beyond formality) and certainly not its architecture.
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Arthur Dent



Joined: 28 Mar 2007
Location: Kochu whirld

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

eljuero wrote:

Quote:
Frankly, Korea isn't very high on my list for friendliness (beyond formality) and certainly not its architecture.


I'll second that, particularly in public. There is a formality in the public sphere which seems at first to be politeness and civility, but I would now attribute it to a social tension.

Entirely different from in private, which really depends on the individual and the situation.

Architecture. Is that what it is?
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eljuero



Joined: 11 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 4:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote="Arthur Dent"]eljuero wrote:

Quote:


Architecture. Is that what it is?


Unfortunately it is. Mad
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misher



Joined: 14 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 8:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Guatemala city, Guatemala,


Got guns pulled on me in broad daylight once trying to get a taxi and also getting on a bus. If you look like a foreigner (gringo) then you might as well have a target on your back. Many zones of the city are controlled by mafia and the police might as well be mafia anyway. Also, when I was there in 1999 militant church groups were "doing god's work" by "cleansing" the streets shooting street kids drive by style in broad daylight. Oh yeah I saw a guy get shot too not far from the Canadian embassy. I can see why most backpackers/tourists head straight to Antigua, Tikal etc.

I actually felt the most safe in the mountains amongst the indegenoius people. It was insanely poor and bandits were here and there but the people were generally friendly and hospitable.
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eljuero



Joined: 11 Aug 2009

PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 2:55 pm    Post subject: Antigua Reply with quote

misher wrote:
Guatemala city, Guatemala,


Got guns pulled on me in broad daylight once trying to get a taxi and also getting on a bus. If you look like a foreigner (gringo) then you might as well have a target on your back. Many zones of the city are controlled by mafia and the police might as well be mafia anyway. Also, when I was there in 1999 militant church groups were "doing god's work" by "cleansing" the streets shooting street kids drive by style in broad daylight. Oh yeah I saw a guy get shot too not far from the Canadian embassy. I can see why most backpackers/tourists head straight to Antigua, Tikal etc.

I actually felt the most safe in the mountains amongst the indegenoius people. It was insanely poor and bandits were here and there but the people were generally friendly and hospitable.


Antigua, hard to imagine a much nicer city no? Guatemala city - over a hundred and twenty people were killed on city buses a year ago, 15 or so "helpers" as well. I met a guy in Central America who was riding the city bus in GC when someone got on to rob everyone. Another passenger pulled out a gun and blew the robber away. They just pushed the body off the bus.
Next stop coming up! Confused
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Sergio Stefanuto



Joined: 14 May 2009
Location: UK

PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 1:18 am    Post subject: Re: Go east!! Reply with quote

eljuero wrote:
As a former east coaster in the US I found Seattle to be the coldest place - it's referred to as the "Seattle Chill" there. I met transplants from all over the States who didn't like it there. What's worse is the natives from there think they're god's gift to N America. Portland was a much neater place.


I too have been very disappointed by the people from Seattle that I've met. Perhaps it's the miserable weather.
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