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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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 Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 7:34 am Post subject: |
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| Draz wrote: |
| oldfatfarang wrote: |
On travelling solo. You will never be lonely when you travel. Especially if you're hitch hiking. There are some incredibly kind people, all over the world - and you'll meet them hitching - and just walking around countries. However, you'll also meet some very bad boys and girls - we were robbed 12 times in 10 years. |
I found traveling massively lonely. A few times I met nice people but you know, they move on and you have to try to find someone else. I'm very much not an outgoing person. I can fake it but don't have the stamina to fake it all the damn time for weeks on end. At the same time being constantly surrounded by other people was exhausting. The cheap rooms are shared, so even if you don't have anyone to talk to, you are never alone. The worst of every possible world!
I don't understand how other people can do it. Of course, the huge majority of people DO NOT do this alone, which is another reason making friends can be hard. Most hostels in my experience were packed full of people traveling with friends, who weren't really interesting in adding anyone else. |
Heck, I'll go backpacking with ya, Draz. Just a little forewarning: I have no idea what I'm doing, probably snore, and could get lost in the bathtub. |
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jugbandjames
Joined: 15 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 8:48 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I don't understand how other people can do it. Of course, the huge majority of people DO NOT do this alone, which is another reason making friends can be hard. Most hostels in my experience were packed full of people traveling with friends, who weren't really interesting in adding anyone else. |
That's what I meant when I said how easy it is to create a bubble. Campgrounds are generally better than hostels, in my opinion, for meeting people. People at hostels are rude and in their little travelling bubble. People at campgrounds are usually locals travelling within their own country, or other poor people like me. There is usually a common area that serves alcohol, so if you want to meet other travelers you can do so there. In Europe, and especially Germany, lots of people have these RV spots and just come there to party. But, when you're tired or want some privacy, you can always just go inside your private tent. There were times when I could stay at a hostel where I preferred camping for the privacy it allowed. The only drawback is that campgrounds are not usually in the city center, so you need some form of transportation (bike!). |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:52 am Post subject: |
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| jugbandjames wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I don't understand how other people can do it. Of course, the huge majority of people DO NOT do this alone, which is another reason making friends can be hard. Most hostels in my experience were packed full of people traveling with friends, who weren't really interesting in adding anyone else. |
That's what I meant when I said how easy it is to create a bubble. Campgrounds are generally better than hostels, in my opinion, for meeting people. People at hostels are rude and in their little travelling bubble. People at campgrounds are usually locals travelling within their own country, or other poor people like me. There is usually a common area that serves alcohol, so if you want to meet other travelers you can do so there. In Europe, and especially Germany, lots of people have these RV spots and just come there to party. But, when you're tired or want some privacy, you can always just go inside your private tent. There were times when I could stay at a hostel where I preferred camping for the privacy it allowed. The only drawback is that campgrounds are not usually in the city center, so you need some form of transportation (bike!). |
Camp grounds like this are common to the U.S., too. There is one in my tiny little town. It has spaces for RVs, tents, as well as small cabins for rent. It has a laundry mat and propane filling station and a pool. Most important, though, is the bar and restaurant smack dab in the middle where the visitors and locals alike mingle.
Traveling around to places like that must have been a blast. It reminds me of a tale a comrade told me one time after he returned from a summer in Mongolia on a dig. He said the nomads, who spoke nary a word of English, would randomly pop into your tent, and from the central pouch of their robes would procure a bottle of vodka. Pulls would be taken from the bottle, grunts exchanged, and off the nomads would go. He thought it was the most exceptionally sociable group of people he'd ever encountered, despite an insurmountable language barrier.
Roaming about and being randomly sociable with whomever one encounters sounds like a great time.  |
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AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010
Location: Truck Stop Missouri
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| Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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Europe also has them, but many of them provide a shuttle bus service to get access to public transit or a town for shopping. I stayed at one where you rent small 1 person caravans and it had a common area where you cook for yourself and could sit down for a drink. This is not a low cost primitive campsite, but those are available too. More services in Europe, but less untamed wilderness that the USA offers.
In the US, you are going to need a vehicle to tour and camp around. My question is.
If I land in a state I'm not a resident of such as California or Arizona, how do I get license plates put on a car I buy there so it's legal and a regal begal? |
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travel zen
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Location: Good old Toronto, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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Lonely Planet guides are great for newbie travellers !
My girlfriend and I used it to great effect in India. It was spot on in everything but one restaurant in Delhi..out of the thousands of spots, places and things to do in the book! Excellent.
How else would you know about what to do in the country? Most people living in the country wouldn't know (or care) about many of the sites and things to do.
I don't know if I would travel alone, especially in 3rd world or developing countries. I would also consider bringing your own condoms, and a small blunt weapon, just in case |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
Europe also has them, but many of them provide a shuttle bus service to get access to public transit or a town for shopping. I stayed at one where you rent small 1 person caravans and it had a common area where you cook for yourself and could sit down for a drink. This is not a low cost primitive campsite, but those are available too. More services in Europe, but less untamed wilderness that the USA offers.
In the US, you are going to need a vehicle to tour and camp around. My question is.
If I land in a state I'm not a resident of such as California or Arizona, how do I get license plates put on a car I buy there so it's legal and a regal begal? |
My friend, I'm afraid I do not understand your question. All license plates and driver's licenses are legal in the U.S.A. in every state. Ergo, a rented car in CA is legal everywhere. You shall have no issues traveling in my country insofar as your visa and your rental information is up-to-date.
I encourage all people to come and visit the wilds of America while they yet last. Just avoid Chicago and you'll be fine  |
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AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010
Location: Truck Stop Missouri
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| Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, if I'm a New York resident, will California or Arizona allow me plates so I can drive home to New York. I would be driving home across the states after landing in Phoenix or San Diego and buying a car. |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 6:15 am Post subject: |
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| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
| Well, if I'm a New York resident, will California or Arizona allow me plates so I can drive home to New York. I would be driving home across the states after landing in Phoenix or San Diego and buying a car. |
You hurt my brain. I don't know the answer to that question. You will get temporary plates (a piece of paper) until your real plates are shipped to you. You'd probably be home by then.
Why not just fly? It won't be that much more expensive than gas, boarding, and other goodies. It will also save you a lot of paperwork.
Then again, touring cross-country by car would be great. Perhaps a rental? I haven't the slightest idea.
But please do return with an answer when you find one. I'd be interested to know. |
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AsiaESLbound
Joined: 07 Jan 2010
Location: Truck Stop Missouri
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| Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 8:44 am Post subject: |
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This Ehow.com article talks about it where temp plates are good for like 20 days.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5201308_purchase-car-out-state.html
If a good deal can be had on a rental it might be worth considering. An RV to sleep in would be more ideal for a cross country trip. In my experience, rentals seemed impractical with the ridiculously expensive offers, mileage limitations, and requirements to have a credit card large enough to be blocked as a security deposit. It can be pricey in the states, but I found it's more practical in Europe where you could a small car for less than $200 a week with no kilometer-age limit. In that states, I paid like $400 a week some 10 years ago no including mileage. |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 5:59 am Post subject: |
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| AsiaESLbound wrote: |
This Ehow.com article talks about it where temp plates are good for like 20 days.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5201308_purchase-car-out-state.html
If a good deal can be had on a rental it might be worth considering. An RV to sleep in would be more ideal for a cross country trip. In my experience, rentals seemed impractical with the ridiculously expensive offers, mileage limitations, and requirements to have a credit card large enough to be blocked as a security deposit. It can be pricey in the states, but I found it's more practical in Europe where you could a small car for less than $200 a week with no kilometer-age limit. In that states, I paid like $400 a week some 10 years ago no including mileage. |
This can only mean one thing, comrade...
Grab your backpack!   |
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