I love Germany as a country. The people are so friendly and some of the sights are fantastic. Cologne has a fantastic cathederal to visit. Berlin is just awesome. I also had the honour to visit Belsen. What a fascinating place. I would love to go and visit Auschwitz one day.
Firstly, awesome thread, travelling is a great passion of mine so great to have a place to discuss some of the best places we've been to I've been all over the place in my time, lots of those already mentioned (Oslo, Lisbon, Barca, Dubrovnik, Krakow, Vegas, Cairo, Rome, Amsterdam, LA etc) and can concur that I loved each and every one. I was fortunate enough to do a year round-the-world backpacking with the missus a few years ago and took in some simply incredible sights. SE Asia will always be very special to me, especially the stunning beaches of Thailand (catching a 21kg sailfish off Koh Phi Phi will always be one of THE highlights of my life), the beautiful tranquility of Vang Vieng in Laos (which apparently has since turned into a ****ing nightmare, complete ruined by so many gap year travellers swarming on it, but it was virtually untouched when we were there), the sheer majesty of the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia at the crack of dawn but my favourite country was probably Vietnam where we spent a month moving from Ho Chi Minh City in the south up to Hanoi in the north via some incredible scenery, the best food I have ever eaten and the friendliest people I have ever come across. What the yanks did to that country makes me physically sick, but that's a different conversation for a different day.... Some people may be nervous of travelling somewhere like that (my mum for example couldn't understand why I wanted to go there) but I honestly could not recommend it enough to anyone, I will certainly return one day. Other places dear to me are Sri Lanka where I got married a couple of years back - and of course the ridiculously idyllic Maldives where we honeymooned afterwards - which shared much of the same characteristics I mentioned of Vietnam and again comes highly recommended. Fiji has the best beaches I've ever seen (and probably will ever see), particularly up on the Yasawa Islands off the north east coast, and I did some quality diving out there and in the Cook Islands which was incredible. We stayed in the place they filmed Celebrity Love Island on Fiji which was good fun! I've been to Oz a couple of times, spending three months there on our big trip and loved it, particularly Fraser Island and the Whitsundays and Sydney was ace as well. I've got a mate who lives in Bondi so we stayed around there which was awesome! Went to the MCG and SCG for I'll fated 06/07 Ashes tour where we got whalloped, but at least I can tell the grandchildren I saw Shane Warme take his 700th test wicket one day. New Zealand was lots of fun as well, especially the South Island which surely has some of the best scenery you will find anywhere on Earth. Totally agree with Chris about both Rome and the pyramids of Giza, you seriously have to see them to believe it and like Chris says the history of how they were constructed all those thousands of years ago into such magnificent, awe inspiring structures consisting of 2 millions blocks, each weighing a couple of tons, having been transported 1500 miles up from Luxor in he south is simply staggering. I've seen more beauty in the world, but I've never seen anything that quite took my breath away like when I first rolled up there at sunrise. Got engaged to the wife there as well which is a nice added touch Of the places I have yet to visit, I've always fancied Cuba and that's probably top of my list, though as we've just started a family big trips are probably off the agenda for a while so that might have to wait a few years until she's a bit older - this year we're off to Skegness, Broadstairs in Kent and best of the lot Hunstanton with all the in-laws! Slightly different from Thailand, but I'm sure well still have a right good time!!
It's all out there mate, the world is a much smaller place these days and you can fly anywhere within a day! Like I said with the little un in tow we won't be going anywhere nearly as thrilling for a few years so good to have got so many places in while we can!
I have been to Aushwitz and it is an amazing place, not in a good way obviously. everything is as the Nazi's left it. Massive bundles of specticals and human hair, loads of kids toys and suitcases and photo's of the prisoners and what time they met their fate and how. Disturbing. It's about 45 minutes away from Krakow in Poland.
Back to earth with a bit of a bump, then, Tony! Nowt wrong wi' Hunny! apart from a serious lack of pubs. Your earlier post - apart from making me rather jealous, reminded me of this tweet I saw yesterday from Rough Guides, where they asked their readers to vote for the friendliest countries they'd visited. Several Munky mentions are on the list Weston-super-Mare, however, is not? http://www.roughguides.com/gallery/the-friendliest-countries-in-the-world-as-chosen-by-you/#/3
If there is anywhere in the world I REALLY want to see then this is it. Not sure how I would deal with it to be honest and almost certain would be overwhelmed with several emotions. I'll support Munky's call for the Maldives - totally fantastic
I stayed in Poland and had the option of a trip to Auschwitz - which me and a friend declined, preferring instead to go hiking in the Tatra mountains. I've always considered that a serious mistake since. We did go, however to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, near Krakow, which is mindblowing and, quite deservedly, a UNESCO world heritage site.
I went there when my wife was quite pregnant and I cried so much whilst I was there looking at piles of kids teeth and clothing. It was awful. There was a part that was Dr Mengele "surgery" where he conducted the most horrific experiments. I stood in a gas chamber where and estimated 175000 people were murdered, the Nazis knocked the rest down in an attempt to hide what they had done but the rubble has been left and you can make them out still. There is a massive pond at the back of Aushwitz that has loads of ashes from the people that were executed and then cremated. Also there is a "shooting wall" with loads of bullet holes in where prisoners were executed if they were deemed a threat or if the Nazi officer faniced executing someone. They were so efficient, all emotion removed and it was run like a meat processing factory.
Visited Auschwitz a few years ago when I'd gone to Germany to see some football matches. Made me very uncomfortable, I wasn't able to feel sad or disgusted as awful as that must sound as honestly I felt disconnected? for lack of a better word, like it was unreal almost.
I only went to Turkey once, though away from the coasts I realise is a whole new ball game. Fethiye is a superb city, riddled with Lycian rock tombs carved into cliffs and hillsides. Further south, Kaş (pronounced Kash) is remarkable, for the clarity of the aquamarine seas, seafood restaurants clustered around the harbour, but best of all boat trips to the island of Kekova (some people swear this is the lost city of Atlantis). The boats drift slowly past ruined buildings, which due to eartquake activity, lie half submerged in the clear waters. You can look down and see sunken doorways, walls, stairways, etc. No snorkelling or scuba diving is allowed, to help protect this fascinating and extremely fragile environment. In fact, I'd go as far as to say, the day boat trip from Kaş - (cold stubbies for sale on board ) is probably the most enchanting day I have ever spent in my life!
most of the places i have been to were work related either in the RAF of as a civvie after. Berlin was excellent, in the days of the wall, Gibraltar, ditto, so long as the border was open. Bahrain was better than you would expect as it was/is very westernised allowing alcohol. Singapore was a young mans dream. Hong Kong, in the days of the British possession, was just supurb. since have been to Somalia ( before the trouble )-****e, Libya, ditto, Thailand, some good and bad, and Philippines, friendly and very easy going
Hisaronu in turkey was nice Sosua in the dominican Caleta De Fuste in the Canaries Oludeniz in turkey Havana in cuba cayo coco Island off the edge of cuba Paris Chartres in france Armhemse in holland All lovely places the dominican would be top of my list to visit again but lots of other places in the world i want to visit before i am 40 and only 8 more years to do it.
My favourite place in the world is Canada. If only everything wasn't so sparsely spread! In general the nicest population I've ever come across. I went to Edmonton when they still had the worlds biggest shopping mall and it was quite an experience - unfortunately I was there to compete so I didn't see as much as I would have liked. Turkey is a nice country if you do it right, but you have to get the correct balance of touristy and local because too local and you'll have nothing to do. Kusadasi used to be a good place but I understand it's now more tourist-focused. Thanks for the Croatian information, not somewhere I had ever thought of but looks great! Requests-wise, has anyone been to Sofia or Tokyo? Tokyo is a dream of mine, and I'm considering Sofia as a first holiday with my girlfriend (although we might go to Turkey).
I'm off to Cuba for a family holiday in July so I will give you the low down on restaurants and places to 'must see'!
I went to Japan when I was 15, Tokyo was one of the places I visited, highly recommend it, try Japanese ice cream, they look like little balls of soap but taste great haha
