Favourite travel "Experience"

[ReLoad]

Hi All,

Over the last week I've had a couple of colleagues from overseas down here and they asked me what is the one single best thing to do here in Australia (as they only have 2 days up their sleeve) which got me thinking, what was my one greatest favourite traveling experience/moment I've ever had.

Its not so much about the destination, but more the experience.

My wife's favourite was when we were traveling with friends and got stuck up the top of mount Pilatus for a couple of days due to bad weather, and we basically told yarns, played card games, drank a fair bit while the weather outside was abysmal. we were pretty much stuck, couldn't do anything, missed flights, but resigned ourselves to having a great time and enjoying the moment.

Mine was when I was younger in Las Vegas and somehow ended up playing coughs with a second rate pro boxer and got invited back to his suite for the pre fight party - holy cow what a party.

I'd like to think that we as Australians given our love of travel end up in all sorts of places and situations which make for those unique moments. I'd love to hear others experiences.

(side note, the ended up going bushwalking in Tasmania for their 2 days)

 

[11sjw]

Solo: 12 hours on the ground in HKG (been there a few times but always with family). Raced around the city like a madman eating great stuff and buying a few smaller items. Loved it.

Family: Thinking of my wife, primarily, and daughter. Being able to spend the most recent Christmas with my wife's sister in Philly (their parents are both deceased so a sister/aunt is the closest family Xmas they'll get). The tyranny of distance, or more precisely the expense to cover it, meant that this would be the last Xmas they get with someone that still believes in Santa. Rather special really.

 

[Deleted member]

So many to choose from. But the best for my money was the most spontaneous.
Mrs GPH and I were on a conference which was held on a small cruise liner. That in itself was pretty cool. We sailed at night, and stopped each day. We were in kefalonia and had gone ashore and were just walking about. Had a coffee etc. when a friend suggested we hire a tinny to check out the bay's. So we did. Decided to head out via the cruise ship, grab bathers towels etc. two other friends saw us and asked to join us. Se we ended up 5 in a tinny. Came into the most magic little bay, pebble beach, so we stopped , had a swim and soaked up some rays. We noticed that up the slope through the olive groves we could see a place that looked like good could be had. Off we go, ordered Greek salad, calamari lamb etc. cheap local wine and had one of the cheapest, tastiest and frankly amazing time. All was spontaneous and simple.

 

[Alanslegal]

All my super-happy moments always involve a handful or more people, lots of good food, lots more drinks and fab entertainment.

One of my epic vacations was going on a close mate's Bucks Week in Asia in 2008. This was before the Hangover movies mind you We spent 10 days between Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Bangkok. Each night someone 'stepped up' and lead the way, all I remember was the morning walks back to the hotel after a big night in town, sleeping from 8am to around 4pm, waking up to go find food and then repeating itself for the whole trip. We still talk about it to this day.

In 2009 I flew my first First Class flight. It was a Singapore to Sydney flight with SQ

In 2010, spending a week in Pamplona, Spain. Now that is one crazzzzzy town during San Fermin Festival aka The Bull Run. The whole town wears red and white, and it is completely madness! The day where they official open the festival, the streets are packed with people, everyone has three bottles of sangria each and sprays it into the air, everyone gets soaked and all the white clothing, turns red. It was also the same year that Spain won the World Cup 2010 and we watched the semi final match in the Pamplona Town Square, the atmosphere was ballistic partying with all the Spaniards. We partied through the night, on the streets, with the locals. We then went to Barcelona and watched the finals on the beach - Spain won and the rest is history.

In 2012, spending a few days in Split, Croatia with a few friends, it was gorgeous summer day by Bacvice Beach. It was a simple beachside cafe, nothing fancy but a great host who just wanted you to drink more and more With absolutely no care in the world other than enjoying the day with a few friends and letting the world go by. It started before midday, drinks were free flowing. Three hours later I am on the phone to another friend nearby, in Slovenia. After a few words, I am told to "sit tight, we'll be there in 4 hours". They manage to persuade a driver to drive them almost 400kms from Slovenia to Croatia. They were 250EUR lighter but to them, the fun had just began. More drinks until sunset, with lots of potent Raki? straight up This then lead to dinner around 9pm at some nice seafood restaurant; my friend wanted to dance topless on the tables two times, waiters had to hold her back twice. Then ended up in the Old Town in some bar, very happening place. Again no RSA however I hear that that the bar owner was on the lookout for me Lucky I left a bit earlier on my own accord, and never went back

In 2014, I proposed to my girlfriend in Paris That was the highlight on the year

Lots of other very memorable experiences as well.

 

[dmitri]

Great topic. I have had some crackers over the years. Being in New York for that ridiculous polar vortex storm in 2013 was pretty amazing. New York covered under buckets of snow is awesome. Christmas day in Paris 2011 was pretty damn good too. Next one should be our first family holiday (me, wife and 4 month old) in Europe, February 2016.

 

[Limewood]

Ours was cruising around the Dalmatian Coast with 38 other Pax (mostly 55+) for 8 days on a near new super small ship MV President we departed late on the 1st day from Split Croatia, this fabulous boat was able to moor right in each port and with the town of BOL on Island of Brac being our absolute favourite, and its Stina wine cellar to die for, with 6 Aussies on board and 2 poms we became the A team! was a laugh a minute, we visited 6 of the hundreds of beautiful islands cruising on crystal clear waters, saw century old buildings and land marks (inc. Marco Polo's house), the food on board, restaurants ashore and tours excellent, places very clean and the locals most welcoming. Best vacation we've ever had, going back for more Sept. next.

 

[chelzmalee]

I have a few I think...

Visiting my great uncle's grave in Poznan, Poland (2013) - he was a member of The Great Escape - and visiting the prison camp site in Zagan, Poland, and speaking to a local guide about it.

Taking our dragster to the California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield, California - showing off our pride and joy to all our friends and feeling so much pride.

Visiting London, New York and Washington DC with my mum (2013) - I was originally doing it solo, and it was so amazing to spend that time with her and share my travels.

 

[Limewood]

In 2013 a good friend of ours invited us to spend time with him in Davao Philippines, so we flew down from Hong Kong, he had a real nice house, his dining room seated a 100!, 1st night was a special 5 star welcome dinner for us and our other Philippine friends at the Marco Polo Hotel, just 10 courses! (possibly a Mitchelin chef?) we visited some of his banana farms, Eco lodge, but his private island with white sandy beaches, on the water Bure's, pristine water and the seafood was really something else, it sure was an excellent 5 days. The only problem we had were the minders carrying side arms and AK47's.

 

[Limewood]

couple more...

 

[Milboo]

One of mine has to be sitting on the veranda of an organic farm/ Casa in Vinales, Cuba as the sun was setting, drinking these amazing minty, cinnamony drinks that came with the bottle of rum on the side and then sitting down to a table piled high with plates of food. All of it grown or raised on the farm and then all cooked in a kitchen without electricity.

My 2 'moments' when travelling when I had to blink rapidly were seeing lions a mere metre or 2 from me in the Kruger as they are 'my' animal and seeing the Last Supper in Milan (as I hold an art history degree). I hate to think what will happen when I visit the Uffizi for the first time.

Otherwise - I love that buzz every time I am in New York. Keeps drawing me back!

 

[drron]

Way too many to even come to a Top 10.
But they include swimming with a sea lion in the Galapagos-but several other moments in the Galapagos came close.
Kayaking with Humpbacks in the Inside Passage.
Christmas in the Poconos with our son and his new Fiancee.
Christmas in the Adirondacks with our extended family.
Coming face to face with an Anaconda in the Amazon jungle.
Lodges in Botswana.Hard to say the absolute highlight but probably joining the pack of wild dogs as they tried to chase down Impala.
Walking with rhinos in Zambia.
The people of Togo.
Myanmar.
Spending a couple of hours in Barbados chatting with our tour leader Des Haynes and a few of his mates including Clive Lloyd,Wes Hall and Gordon Greenidge.
Beluga Whales in Hudson Bay.
7 polar bears feasting on a dead Fin whale.
The penguins of Antarctica.
Macquarie Island-a real gem.

I just have to keep travelling as I just seem to keep having wonderful moments.

 

[RooFlyer]

St Petersburg, then cruise to Moscow; Moscow

Galapagos cruise (just finished )

 

[ChrisGibbs]

- White Xmas with the family (Wife and 3 children) in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. A great place for the entire family to enjoy
- New Years Eve with the family in New York staying at the W in Time Square and watching the ball drop from Madame Tussauds
- Great seats for a New York Knicks game at Madison Square gardens and seated near Alan Alda and Phil Seymour Hoffman (RIP)
- A week with the family over New Years on Turtle Island, Fiji
- A quick 3 day trip from SYD - New York and back to celebrate the wife's 40th Birthday in NYC with friends from Tokyo and Boston including a 4th July Red Sox vs Yankees game, dinner at Mercers Kitchen and Buddha Bar

I'm lucky to have a job I enjoy that takes me to a whole bunch of places around the world and also allows me to give something back to my family who miss out on a lot for me being away for so many significant events. Hopefully we can add to this list over the next few years.

 

[leadman]

Far, far too many in my travelling life, as my aim is to find that little spot; a pub, bar, restaurant, etc, hidden away far from the tourist tracks, not listed in any travel guides or recommended by the "travel journalists". Found many by just wandering the cities and towns but a few favourites is Cluj Romania, HKG pre 1997 and Kuching

 

[dmitri]

Far, far too many in my travelling life, as my aim is to find that little spot; a pub, bar, restaurant, etc, hidden away far from the tourist tracks, not listed in any travel guides or recommended by the "travel journalists". Found many by just wandering the cities and towns but a few favourites is Cluj Romania, HKG pre 1997 and Kuching

Leadman, I also found a cracker of a bar in Cluj, my wife's family lives there. It was the only good thing about the place I thought.

 

[Deleted member]

Hussongs Bar in Ensenada was pretty cool. The bouncer with a 38 in his belt at the door to keep the mariachi bands out. Amazing experience.

 

[leadman]

Yes, forgot about my two escorts in Karachi; unfortunately not two good looking ladies but two gentlemen, one carries a pistol the other an uzi

 

[Renato1]

On our last trip to Europe back in 2013, I decided that I'd drive from Italy, around Switzerland, through France to Brussels, then spend some time in Amsterdam before driving back through Luxembourg, Lichtenstein and through Austria. I was booking hotels one or two days in advance on Bookings.com (an expensive proposition, which I will never do again).

And in Switzerland I booked a hotel near Brussels which had reasonable rates. As I was to discover "near Brussels" doesn't mean quite the same thing to Bookings as it did to me. I thought I had booked into a suburb of Brussels.

So, 60km from Brussels, the navigator tells me to get off the motorway. My wife says "Where are we going?". I said, "I don't know".

20km later along the road, my wife says "Where the hell are we going?". I said, "I don't know".
Then we turned into a very forested, very winding road and "Where the hell are we going?". I said, "I'm stuffed if I know".

Finally, we enter the town which I'd accidentally booked. It was called Bouillon. It was like a picture post card. Beautiful river, a round town "square" - like I was in a French movie form the 60s - and my wife said, "Wow, this is magnificent and look at the great hotel over there (which had a sign "Hotel De La Poste") ...... isn't that where we're staying?"

We were only there for a day, but for months afterwards we kept talking about how great Bouillon had been. It was the highlight of our northern European drive, and we had only gone there because I stuffed up on Bookings.com.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[OATEK]

Christmas in London when my daughter was working at the Palace. Household Carol Service in the Queen's Chapel, and a lovely bottle of red from the Queen's table (La Petite Eglise opened but not consumed at their family lunch and sent home to us by the Yeoman of the Cellars) and a nice plum pudding presented to my daughter.



A very Royal Christmas!

 

[Mattg]

I have too many "favourite" travel experiences to list them all!

But one that comes to mind would be riding camels in the Sahara Desert in Morrocco. (I did a 2 day overnight tour out of Marrakech and it cost about $70 all-up!)



I find that the best experiences are memorable because of the people though. I will pretty much always enjoy a destination if I know people there who are able to host me and show me how the locals live. It's always much more interesting that way than just staying in nice hotels, eating at tourist hotspots and sightseeing from the comfort of a bus.

In terms of Australia, I think it's pretty hard to beat a ferry ride from Circular Quay to Milson's Point in Sydney! Then, return by walking/running over the Harbour Bridge. On the side facing the Opera House, of course.