places you want to visit but unlikely to go....

[Excape Goat]

A few years ago, I was drawn into Islamic art. So I did a few trips to Islamic countries. Upon those trips, I learned a few places that I wanted to visit.

Iran & Uzbekistan

I read an article on US Today about American tourists returning to Iran again. At that point in my life, I was into adventurous travel. I wanted to become the first wave of American tourists into Iran. I like history.... so Iran is a good place to vist. Unfortunately, Americans must travel in packaged tour. They are expensive. So I never took the idea seriously. Plus, I am not that adventurous.

I once saw a photo of a beautiful mosque in Uzbekistan. Plus, for a while, I was into the Cold War history. The Soviet Central Asia was my main interest. I seemed to like Turkish arts.
I took this trip more serious. I even checked with different airlines and discovered that I need to make connections after connections. I even visited the US embassy website over there. In the end, it came down to the issue of money.

Well, after 911, I decided not to travel to Islamic countries any time soon. I had done Morocco, Turkey and Israel/Palestine. So that's it.

[dfb547490]

Don't know about Uzbekistan, but unless you're in your 70s or 80s I'd say you have a good chance at being able to travel freely to Iran in your lifetime, probably within the next 5 years.

Since I'll be in the Navy after college, there's pretty much no place I'd want to go to that I wouldn't have at least a chance of being able to go (even if it required a war with those countries).


Alex

[Excape Goat]

Being in Navy can bring you to many places around the world.

[MikeLastort2]

I want to go to Egypt to see the pyramids and the Sphynx.

[fidlerre]

Originally posted by MikeLastort2
I want to go to Egypt to see the pyramids and the Sphynx.

agreed, along with visiting israel...

my parents went with my mother's father back in the 70's and my mom said it was the most amazing trip she has ever taken in her entire life...i would really like to go at some point, but right now i just couldn't find the courage to head to that direction of the world. perhaps in the future...

[Excape Goat]

Originally posted by fidlerre
agreed, along with visiting israel...

my parents went with my mother's father back in the 70's and my mom said it was the most amazing trip she has ever taken in her entire life...i would really like to go at some point, but right now i just couldn't find the courage to head to that direction of the world. perhaps in the future...

I did it in 2000. I am so glad that I did it then.... it is one of the most amazing places in the world. I will return again.

[MikeLastort2]

Originally posted by dfb547490
Don't know about Uzbekistan, but unless you're in your 70s or 80s I'd say you have a good chance at being able to travel freely to Iran in your lifetime, probably within the next 5 years.

Oh yeah, they'll be Democratic by then. :rolleyes:

Since I'll be in the Navy after college, there's pretty much no place I'd want to go to that I wouldn't have at least a chance of being able to go (even if it required a war with those countries).

Be careful what you wish for, young Alex. When I got back from being stationed in Germany, I was at a family function, telling my relatives about all the fantastic things I had seen during my three years there. I was talking to my father's Uncle John, a veteran of WWII in Europe (fought in Sicily, Anzio, Monte Cassino, all over France, Luxembourgh, Germany, et al).

He said "yeah, I saw lots of those places too. But I had to walk to each one and when I got there they were all on fire."

Visiting someplace you're at war with doesn't really count as "visiting."

[obie]

Lots of places on this list...

Antarctica -- just to say I did it.
Bhutan -- the chances of getting a visa are near zero, but it's gorgeous.
Vladivostok, Russia -- I've seen pictures of it, and it's friggin' UGLY, but there's something about the remoteness of it that's fascinating to me. Vladivostok would never have existed without Communism, and what's left is pretty much a ghost town. Just a strange place to me.
Greenland -- see Antarctica, above.
Doha, Qatar -- Combine Vegas with oil, and you get Doha. Just because it seems so incongruous to have dozens of high-rises in the middle of absolute nowhere.
Easter Island -- By far the weirdest place on earth, to me. How did anybody get there? What happened? The statues and relics on Easter Island are IMO much more interesting than the pyramids, because the mystery of Easter Island makes its history almost menacing.
Barrow, Alaska -- Just another place in the middle of absolute nowhere.

Out-of-the-way places that I like to see but just haven't yet: Iceland, Faroes, Hawaii, New Zealand, Cape Town (might go for WC 2010, assuming SA gets it), Bali.

[dfb547490]

Originally posted by MikeLastort2
Oh yeah, they'll be Democratic by then. :rolleyes:

Small-d democratic ;)


Be careful what you wish for, young Alex.

Never said I was wishing for it.

Actually, now that I think of it, there's noplace the US would realistically be at war with in the near future that I have a burning desire to go to. Maybe China, but it's easy enough to go there now as it is. And my point was that most places that aren't easy to go to are places that we have a chance at being at war with, with a few exceptions (Cuba, Bhutan according to what obie said about getting visa's, maybe 1 or 2 others).


Alex

[chaski]

Originally posted by dfb547490
And my point was that most places that aren't easy to go to are places that we have a chance at being at war with Easter Island?

[Premium Hamatachi redded]

alaska. too far

[nicodemus]

Iran
Cuba
Saudi Arabia
Yemen
Tuva
Armenia
Madagascar
Tahiti
Fiji
Indonesia
Mauritius
Lebanon
Israel
all of the "stans": Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc...
Bhutan
Mount Athos

[dfb547490]

Originally posted by chaski
Easter Island?

Fair enough, I was thinking "difficult to get to" for political, not geographic, reasons.


Alex

[supersport]

Iran and Cuba top my list as well.

My wife is Persian so I'm sure someday I'll make it there, actually we were planning a trip before 9/11, but that sort of changed things. From what I'm told Americans are treated well there, they may not like our government, but they do not seem to have a problem with American tourist.

As far as Cuba, I always get mixed reviews from people who have gone. They love it or hate it.

[Excape Goat]

Originally posted by obie
Lots of places on this list...


Bhutan -- the chances of getting a visa are near zero, but it's gorgeous.


I met someone went there.... all you need to do is show up in Nepal with money. They will issue you a visa. I heard that they only issued 2000 visas per year, but do not get 2000 applicants. She got me interested. I even bought the Guide book for Bhutan. I lost intersts after awhile. I thought of Uzbekistan and Iran. I ended up in Spain and Morocco.

[gildarkevin]

Originally posted by supersport
Iran and Cuba top my list as well.

My wife is Persian so I'm sure someday I'll make it there, actually we were planning a trip before 9/11, but that sort of changed things. From what I'm told Americans are treated well there, they may not like our government, but they do not seem to have a problem with American tourist.

As far as Cuba, I always get mixed reviews from people who have gone. They love it or hate it.

Put me in the category of having been to Cuba -- twice -- and loving it. Both times were business-related, which kept me mainly in Havana, though I did get to a couple other spots. I'd highly recommend going before the embargo is lifted, after which it will really be little more than any other Carribean tourist destination, though without the nice beaches.

What you say about Iran is true about Cuba as well -- they hate the government but love the American people. It's a combination of seeing dollar signs and the novelty that we represent from not having much direct contact with us.

[dfb547490]

Actually, the people of Iran are supposed to be one of the most pro-US government in the Mid East.


Alex

[Michael K.]

Originally posted by dfb547490
Actually, the people of Iran are supposed to be one of the most pro-US

Yes.


government in the Mid East.
[/QUOTE]

Who, the Khatami-supporting reformers, or the theocratic ayatollahs?

I sense another thread buying a ticket to Politics as we speak.

[dfb547490]

Originally posted by Michael K.

Who, the Khatami-supporting reformers, or the theocratic ayatollahs?

I sense another thread buying a ticket to Politics as we speak.

I did'nt make myself clear, I meant that the people of Iran like the US government (and people) far far more than you might expect, not that the Iranian government is pro-US.


Alex

[chibchab]

I'd love to tour the Amazon ala Teddy Roosevelt, minus nearly dying.

French Polynesia

Australia/New Zealand

Djoubiti

Sri Lanka

Diego Garcia

Canary Islands