meeting people and/or travelling together

STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
READ and
REACT( if you feel like doing it):

Next year, around january or february,( or maybe a month later depending on circumstances) I ( female 50) want to make make my "once a year "big" escape".
Yes, I know still a long time to go but I like to enjoy the thought and the process of making plans to go away, looking at the world map, wandering "where next?" and meantime I sometimes make small trips in "my comfort zone area" (places close to home in Europe).
Have no destination yet, but would like to get in touch with other mature travellers and share some ideas and plans. Who knows, we might be able to add some extra dimension to our travel by meeting and eventually sharing some of it.
I definitely prefer to travel together than alone, however I am quite independent and also like to go off on my own, so enough space for each individual. I will be from 4 to 8 weeks away.
Have a look at my forum activity by clicking my name and you will read some about me.
Thanks for reading this message.
Anamore

Hello
Have you looked at Uganda - and doing some volunteering - as somewhere/something different - and mix it together with sightseeing?
I am off again in a couple of days for 5 weeks to help out at the project I have started up subsequent to my first visit there nearly 5 years ago.
I may well be out there again Feb/March next year - but never plan very far ahead - I just keep an eye open for a cheap flight. See my blog www.ugandalodge.com/blog to read more about if you think it could be for you.
Thanks
Ann

Have you seen too much of Europe?

Have you stayed in age freindly, family oriented youth hostels?
Its a pricekess experience.
Rooms for two available. Private bath in some.
www.hostelz,com

I stay there or in pansiøons, when I want privacy.

I'm 68.

Solo travel is absolutely best. Meet and or travel with new friends along the way. Its the sharing and learning cultures, that counts big too. Otherwise your trip is abc. Another bloody cathedral.

www.ricksteves.com money belt.
Won't need it till you already did. Saved my assets and all fixtures 3 times.

egypt babe
come and let me show u the way ;)

where you get around with the languages you know its ok travelling alone
anywhere the infrastructure is ok you might travel on your own
lets meet somewhere in europe
on the other hand dont you have a dream destination make it come true

If you have not been here yet, why not try South AFrica. English is the main language, so you will have no trouble communicating - en aangesien jy van Nederland af kom, sal jy ook baie maklik met Afrikaans oor die weg kan kom Game reserves, the Drakensberg, lovely beaches, plenty of sunshine, a great infrastructure, a Rainbow of cultures, an excellent wine-route, whale watching, shark cage diving, nightclubs, classical music..... whatever your heart desires.
Have I done enough marketing yet?

Edited by: RudiK

Good for you.I went round the world in 2005 in 3 weeks...OK...obviously didn't do the whole world but the cities places I wanted...I went alone...and had a ball.2006 went to Vietnam for 3 weeks solo too....you meet all sorts of people and the beauty of travelling alone is just that.....I went on excursions etc and met people but I was proud of my independence and not having to answer to anyone!!!

There are so many places to go and interests are a consideration I love Asia & travel there often on holidays with at least one of my adult children this year it will be Japan i have been to 60 countries let me know an interst check your private message

Indonesia --- always things of interest to see and do.

How about Mali?

January and February are the right months to go and you've got several amazing festivals, like Festival in the Desert

"Festival in the Desert , Tombouctou (Timbuktu), Mali

01 Jan 2010 - 31 Jan 2010 Date to be confirmed

Held since 2001, the Festival in the Desert has developed from a curiosity into a recognised event. Played out over three days in mid-January, it takes place near the small desert town of Essakane, near Tombouctou (Timbuktu). The festival format is cultural and traditional events during the day and, as the light fades, the desert is bathed in lights and the music begins. Robert Plant has appeared here but emphasis is given to Saharan and African music. The daytime events include exhibitions, camel rides and 'tinde' songs by desert women. The festival has its origin in the ending of the Tamashek war in 1996, when there was a ceremonial burning of weapons and a festival of music and dance to mark the occasion."

and the Segou festival

http://www.festivalsegou.org/new/en.html

Me? I'd rather see a place how it is normally. Without jacked holiday prices.
And chat WITH locals, to learn about anything.

A blessing of Irish pubs. Real crossroads.

Hello everybody, thanks for your reactions so far.
# 1 Dear Ann, I looked at your weblog and I am impressed with your work in Uganda. You really try to make a diference. I However Uganda isn't my cup of tea and I am not even thinking of going there ever, but...never say never..

#2 Hi gawkabout, thanks for your information on Europe, but I have lived in 3 countries in Europe and until 2003 my holidays were always in Europe. So yes I know a lot about south and northern Europe.
In 1987 I was on my first adventure outside europe: one month travelling in Turkey and in 2003 I started with Asia.
I still can go everywhere and having turned 50 I only notice that I need to sleep at night and that I can't stand noisy (drunk) people around after midnight. Some people like to be alone all the time. Me I like to have someone around. I also connect easily with strangers, but (only) lots of loose talk isn't enough for me. If you are in Europe( Netherlands) in the nearby future let me know in advance. We might meet.

#4 Egypte babe..... well cornell 1 please learn some more about how things work outside Egypte. I am not a babe and most women don't like to be called babe ( anyway not by strangers)...

# 5 Hi Lhasaipso, speaking english is enough to go all around Europe. Alone is no problem at all. If you want to visit europe we can meet and even do some travel together, but for now I want to plan something outside Europe because in january it will be winter here so I like to go somewhere warm and come back with spring

# 6 Hi Rudik, yes South Africa would have been a possibility years ago, but now everything we read about it is dramatic, too many dangers. En ik ben niet een moedig vrouw dat alleen naar een verre land vertrekt zonder angst voor het gevaar. Ik wens u het allerbeste want zelf Johanesburg schijnt gevaarlijke te zijn. Your marketing is great and the country is beautiful but without social and political stability tourists stay away. And I am not that much of a adventurous woman to face it all on my own

# 7 Hi miss congeniality I don't have to see the world in 3 weeks. I just did Vietnam in 4 weeks and after that I had a second holiday to slow down. Nobody obligated me to run around but 4 weeks visa and the hassle of prolongation were the reason why I did so much in 4 weeks.
I can meet people anyway alone or with someone else around. I am still independent even if I am with another person. Making plans together, giving in, compromising sometimes and getting it your way other times,it's all part of the deal.

Sharing a travel with someone doesn't make me more or less proud of myself. Maybe more I would say, because sometimes it's easy to walk away, do my own thing and blame it all on the other, but it can be so rewarding to talk it over and talk it out and learn some more about myself and each other. I have worked very long with other people and I know it's important to use these skills and do things together. Even thou we live in a society that emphasizes individuality we are still beings that can't survive without connecting to others and being part of some community how small it may be.

Further, Iam quite relaxed about it all. I have nothing to prove to myself or others. Lots of destinations can be interesting, but they are not a must. I might go on my own, but still have the time and it's summer anyway so nice life in my part of the earth.

...a possibility?

My niece recently visited me and has done a lot of traveling and meeting people using the couchsurfing website

I was sceptical at first but it really worked out well fro her.

dp

Old road saying; "Fish and houseguests, stink after three days."

One objection to us yanks is, "They're afraid of everything, but won't listen to the explanation."

Hear 'em out. The pearl is in the "Oh and by the way..." at the end.
What else would you be doing?

When you get stuck behind a tottering old couple... or baby pram, on a sidewalk;
That's your chance, to look up at beesarre building details, and bay window decor.

Have chiil time fun. You're on vacation.

How about somewhere in the South Pacific? Pretty easy to meet other travellers in Fiji, Cooks, Samoa and Tonga, more exciting to travel through Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

Hi dutchpickle, I know the couch surfing concept, but I don't feel at easy staying in the home's of people I don't know.
I prefer to pay for a place and be left in peace and have my freedom. I am quite able to accommodate to one person I am with but accommodating to all kinds of other people every day brings me into stress. I end up not doing my thing but feeling greatly constrained. While with just one travel companion it's just much more easy to arrange things to fit both and stay happy.
Gawkabout is right : a friend of mine was last year away and stayed with her friend in the home of a couple friend of her friend and she got into trouble. the people were very nice but she felt greatly constrained with not enough air to breath and her friend didn't understand it. Well, the ticket to a far destination costs a lot of money and if you spend 2 weeks out of 4 in a situation like this, better stay at home.
If it's someone I know and like to be around with I am most delighted to be with them at their home and to have them at my place. There is nothing so great as to feel easy in the place of someone you can call friend. It becomes home.
But I don't want to go around (mis)using others hospitality for the sole purpose of travelling cheap and not giving anything back. I don't feel good about it.

#18 Hi Watsoff Yes I think that the islands in the south pacific are quite a world apart with another climate and way of life, not to speak of the culture. Also a destination to consider. A friend of mine was last year in french Polynesia but hadn't looked at the weather charters before hand and it was rain all the time. Not a bit but a lot. Even some of the beach accommodations that use to be very nice were leaking.... and the cheapest accommodation was 40 euro per night for 2 person.
Anyway I am not short of destinations. Everything is possible.I just wait to see if I find someone to make plans with otherwise before the end of the year I choose my destination and buy my ticket.
By the way I looked at your site. Quite some very nice pictures and your writing style is very good while the stories are full of feeling. Very good indeed.

anamore

I think that the hosts feel that they were benefiting from the social interaction too, otherwise they wouldn't open up their house to total strangers.

apparently there is a feed back system that weeds out the weirdos

it probably takes a person with a certain personality to do it. I was surprised at her adventurous spirit - she is from Vancouver and she did most of the couch surfing in Manila, Philippines

My best buddy from Texas is finally coming over. I live in Sevilla maravilla. He works with a guy who's bp'd Poland and Czek Republic. So now it sounds more do0-able to tightwad, nervous, said Texan. We meet in Frankfort. Guess he heard the ticket may be cheaper to that hub.

Its great! I haven't seen that end exceprt for A'dam and Brugge and Rotterdam.

If we pass that way, I'll pm you. Thanks.

EDUCATE A YANK TODAY. Careful though. We're tender.

Thanks for your kind words anamore. Hope you find your ideal destination! I'm currently visiting the UK and am suffering bad weather (soon to change) and a tube strike (hopefully over by tomorrow) and wish I was back in the S. Pacific. Ah well, one can't have everything.

Roll your clothes for packing. Less creases. And you can pull one thing out at a time.
If you're seeking a position, maybe a suit would be good. You can buy a blue blazer type sport coat , with metal buttons. Cheap , shows though. If you're looking for a job... ; clean jeans and professional looking shirt. Wear your mental "nice young man" hat.

If you wear good tennis.. shoes, wash 'em first.

good luck. Opportunity means starting place. A chance at better, later. Same applies to apartments in new towns.Its all a learning curve. You may fall on yer ass, the first six months. Just say,"What's the lesson in this?'

Its all music of the spheres.
press on, regardless.
ç(;oD>

I know that your last communication was quite some time ago, but I am very curious to know if you found someone to go with you and... where you'll be going.
I have been trying to find a travel partner and have not been successful up till now. Like you I prefer not to travel alone. Not only for the company but also find it more practical, eg. one can stay with the luggage while the other wanders around for information, a hostel or whatever.
Please do drop me a line, even if you already found someone. I really like to find out where you have decided to go. Happy travel!

I am heading to Nicaragua Jan 14-19 or possibly a few days more. I attend the annual meeting of a company in Managua, possibly with another friend this time, and then usually visit a few spots before heading home. This will be my 3rd trip there. If you think you might want to travel in Central America then Nica is a decent place in which to start off.

HI ladies, to satisfy your curiosity I let you know that at this very moment I just arrived in San Francisco California. I have now been one week in the USA and still have 3 to go. Just been some days together with a dutch lady who has to go back home. My next weeks are still very much a mistery to me as I don't have much of a plan. My trip back home departs from washington dc. I wish I would meet people in the USA to do things together, but I can force my luck. I put my ad in this site, but so far no reactions, so I go on on my own.
Yes I have travelled alone and with others( I met people thru travelsites and the experiences have been good so far) in the past but if no one is available I just have to go. This trip wasn't even planed, but I had to go away as I was feeling restless. I still want to go next year february or march, but don't know yet where.
Send me a pm if you want to "talk" some more. My head isn't up to my next trip at this moment. But as soon as I am at home I might as well start dreaming again.

I can't force luck, that's what I meant to say. If I stay home waiting to find people nothing happens and waiting for nothing...... that's not me. I am just a proactive type of person.

anamore,

I've been reading your postings and we seem to have the same adventurous spirits and outlook on life.

I try to visit a new location every year. I'm 54 yrs old, but I've been solo traveling for the past 10 yrs - Spain, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica, Mexico, Japan, Thailand, and a few other places that I can't remember. Right now, I'm planning a trip to Colombia in early 2010 since Latin America is my favorite travel destination. I've been trying to learn Spanish since I was in high school and that's my reward to myself for studying.

If you find yourself in the Seattle area, let me know and I can show you around my hometown. Also, if you ever travel to Latin America, let me know and perhaps our paths can cross.

Hi SoloMojo send you a pm