The Nice People Thread, No.16: A Universe of Niceness.

vivatifosi

PasturesNew wrote: »

As somebody who has never travelled - and will never travel - I can think of nothing more bizarre than paying to sit and listen to somebody else's travel stories.... that's a bit like those "holiday snaps" people used to (allegedly) be forced into looking at after people came home from their 2 weeks in a caravan in Bognor, but at a posher level

I like travelling to different places and do it whenever the opportunity arises. There are certain places that I would like to go to, but for practical reasons this is not straightforward, e.g. Libya, Iran and Siberia. So if they go there and I can't I get to hear all about it.


I have a particular thing for ancient ruins hence the first two. In the case of the latter I want to take the Trans Siberian Railway, but to do what I want to do would take significantly longer than I can currently take off work. Therefore I live vicariously through others.

zagubov

I reckon that Michael Palin travelling all around the world had absolutely the best job ever. Also that Michael Portillo with the train journeys.

Couldn't afford to travel widely across Europe as a kid and almost nobody could afford to travel across continents.

chris_m

Pyxis wrote: »

I had to google Kevlar underpants.

Reminded me of Corporal Jones in Dad's Army... "They don't like it up 'em!"
(Although I don't suppose they'd protect the family jewels from a bayonet thrust).

They probably would - kevlar's what they use to make bullet-proof and stab-proof vests.

Pyxis

vivatifosi wrote: »

I like travelling to different places and do it whenever the opportunity arises. There are certain places that I would like to go to, but for practical reasons this is not straightforward, e.g. Libya, Iran and Siberia. So if they go there and I can't I get to hear all about it.


I have a particular thing for ancient ruins hence the first two. In the case of the latter I want to take the Trans Siberian Railway, but to do what I want to do would take significantly longer than I can currently take off work. Therefore I live vicariously through others.

That's the thing, isn't it? There will always be loads of places that you'll never get to, so it's great seeing those places through the eyes of someone intelligent, and someone who often has access to parts of places that a normal tourist might not!

There's a similar fascination with historical reconstruction programmes like Wartime Farm that's on at the moment....... people 'living' the life of others in various parts of history. Social history is fascinating, and programmes like those go into the minutiae of what they wore, what they ate and how they cooked it, (e.g. fuel was short, so they used hay boxes), how they farmed, how they travelled, how they entertained themselves. Much better than just reading a book about it.

So in a similar way, those travel progs are much better than photographs or tourists' videos or even written accounts.


I'm also very unlikely to visit those places Viva mentioned, (probably for different reasons), and I doubt I'll get to the Himalayas or parts of Russia or Alaska or most South American countries, or any African countries, or Antarctica or....or....or..... (most of the world, really!), but I can still 'see' them through those programmes.

As in the history progs, it's not just about seeing sights either, because the social problems of the places and the politics are touched on, which is very interesting.

One other thing that comes across is that ordinary people are pretty much the same wherever you are........ok, you get factions that go off piste in any culture, but most people just want the things we want....peace and quiet to raise and educate one's family.

PasturesNew

I did see a couple of episodes of An Idiot Abroad, with Karl Pilkington's travels

That was a good series.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Idiot_Abroad

I've nothing "against" travel as such, it's just that I've never done it, couldn't afford it, would be travelling alone, so wouldn't actually get any enjoyment or benefit from it at all ... and would probably make some mistake and miss a flight, or do something wrong, or end up in the wrong place, or just get mugged

SingleSue

I'd love to go by rail all over Europe (or at least parts of it) as it is easier with a wheelchair than trying to fly and less hassle (no need for a fit to fly certificate!)...plus I love trains.

Pyxis

PasturesNew wrote: »

I did see a couple of episodes of An Idiot Abroad, with Karl Pilkington's travels

That was a good series.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Idiot_Abroad

I've nothing "against" travel as such, it's just that I've never done it, couldn't afford it, would be travelling alone, so wouldn't actually get any enjoyment or benefit from it at all ... and would probably make some mistake and miss a flight, or do something wrong, or end up in the wrong place, or just get mugged

Pastures, All my travelling is done alone.

Out of loads of holidays in the last 10 years, only one has been with someone else., and even then we had separate rooms.

The secret is to pick a holiday with a theme that interests you, and where everything is organised for you.
Picking a theme that interests you means that you are instantly in a group of people with the same interest, so that gives you something to talk about straight away, and you know that you have at least that one thing in common.

A good travel company (and I have a particular favourite) will say that although you are in a group, you can have as much solo time as you wish. Usually there are some meals organised, but there will be others that aren't, so as to give a choice. For people that don't like eating alone, a good company will suggest places you can eat, and with my one, the tour manager always says that they will be going to a particular restaurant, and if anyone wishes to join them, meet in the lobby at x o'clock, etc.

Any problems can be ironed out by the tour manager or the guide.

My particular interest holidays are singing, and music with art, history and architecture always thrown in for good measure. However, I have also done walking ones, and there are other things like physical activities, photography, painting, cookery, famous gardens and all sorts of other things.

One I particularly liked was on the History of Medicine, which was in Italy. Yum yum!
(I'm going to Italy next week on something similar.)

These holidays usually have the morning doing the activity, and then the afternoon being taken to sights, but it varies a bit.

There is a tour rep at the airport to help you through any checking-in problems. The trick is also to allow bags and bags of time. I always get to the airport with more time to spare than recommended; I'd rather relax in Departures for a while than risk some problem occurring with the journey there or long queues to get through bag drop and/or security.

Going outside the peak seasons always, always makes life easier too, as the airports are less busy.

Anyway, if you ever did want to take the plunge, I'm more than willing to help you with it, and talk you through things. There are some things that would be useful for you to know before you go.......what to do at the airport, etc., online check-ins, bag-drop, security requirements, etc. Forewarned is fore-armed!

As I said, I'd be more than happy to help you with that, and set things out on paper for you, or even to help you with things at the airport, etc.

There are places you can go to from your local airport, so you don't even have to go to one of the big ones on your first trip. Depends on the holiday, obviously.





Edit. There are a lot of holidays that aren't themed, just visiting sights etc., but with the same degree of care taken to ensure it's hassle free.

PasturesNew

Pyxis wrote: »

Pastures, All my travelling is done alone. The secret is to pick a holiday with a theme that interests you, and where everything is organised for you.
Picking a theme that interests you means that you are instantly in a group of people with the same interest, so that gives you something to talk about straight away, and you know that you have at least that one thing in common.

A good travel company (and I have a particular favourite) will say that although you are in a group, you can have as much solo time as you wish. Usually there are some meals organised, but there will be others that aren't, so as to give a choice. For people that don't like eating alone, a good company will suggest places you can eat, and with my one, the tour manager always says that they will be going to a particular restaurant, and if anyone wishes to join them, meet in the lobby at x o'clock, etc.

Any problems can be ironed out by the tour manager or the guide.

My particular interest holidays are singing, and music with art, history and architecture always thrown in for good measure. However, I have also done walking ones, and there are other things like photography, painting, cookery and all sorts of other things.

These holidays usually have the morning doing the activity, and then the afternoon being taken to sights, but it varies a bit.

There is a tour rep at the airport to help you through any checking-in problems. The trick is also to allow bags and bags of time. I always get to the airport with more time to spare than recommended; I'd rather relax in Departures for a while than risk some problem occurring with the journey there or long queues to get through bag drop and/or security.

Going outside the peak seasons always, always makes life easier too, as the airports are less busy.

Anyway, if you ever did want to take the plunge, I'm more than willing to help you with it, and talk you through things. There are some things that would be useful for you to know before you go.......what to do at the airport, etc., online check-ins, bag-drop, security requirements, etc. Forewarned is fore-armed!

As I said, I'd be more than happy to help you with that, and set things out on paper for you, or even to help you with things at the airport, etc.

There are places you can go to from your local airport, so you don't even have to go to one of the big ones on your first trip. Depends on the holiday, obviously.

The trouble is .... I don't get on with people, because I have such an alien way of thinking and lifestyle to them that I simply "don't fit into" any groups of people, or with individuals. It's not a question of being able to have as much time alone as possible .... as managing to find anybody at all that I'd "gel" with and having anything at all in common to speak with people about. I just end up feeling isolated and excluded when in the company of others.

To "get on" with others I'd have to live a lie .... and make up answers, instead of telling the truth. I've "nothing to contribute" to conversations that anybody is willing to hear.

And ... I have no money for travelling

Pyxis

PasturesNew wrote: »

The trouble is .... I don't get on with people, because I have such an alien way of thinking and lifestyle to them that I simply "don't fit into" any groups of people, or with individuals. It's not a question of being able to have as much time alone as possible .... as managing to find anybody at all that I'd "gel" with and having anything at all in common to speak with people about. I just end up feeling isolated and excluded when in the company of others.

To "get on" with others I'd have to live a lie .... and make up answers, instead of telling the truth. I've "nothing to contribute" to conversations that anybody is willing to hear.

And ... I have no money for travelling

Well, you don't have to get on with people. Some of my trips have had one or two people that were a little different, doesn't matter. You don't have to have raucous fun with people. I don't like spending time in the hotel bar in the evening, I just go to my room and have early nights, or come on MSE on my iPad! I'm always first down for breakfast as I wake early and I prefer the peace and quiet when there are fewer people there, plus you get first pick of the food!

I will chat to other people at other times, though. However, there's nothing wrong with 'lying' if that helps you........one technique I use if I'm feeling shy or overwhelmed is to act. I act the part of a confident person, I smile a lot, etc.
I haven't made up a back story as such, but if people ask questions about some aspects of my life (family) I will usually make something up, because I just don't want to talk about that. I'm acting being someone else for a few days. No matter..... you won't be seeing those people again, so there's no harm done.

So, there don't have to be lots of occasions where you would 'need' to talk to people, believe me, and because you won't be seeing them again, it doesn't matter if you make a faux pas, or inadvertently offend someone. Anyway, if you do, just say the A word, and people understand about that. You could also mention that to the Tour Manager/guide, so that they know.

The money side is obviously a difficult one to overcome......I can't help you with that! Although watch this space if I win the lottery! :rotfl:

Pyxis

By the way, a lot of people on the holidays I go on are there on their own, too.

Some people come with a friend, some people come in a couple, but there are always others there on their own.

You're not expected to hook up or gel with anyone, either.