meeting people and/or travelling together

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.