OH what a lovely image BacHien. So So true. Also got stuck into Barb's tale of travel disaster. Loved the story but not sure I would have been too happy travelling with her all the time. Her other companions sound like a nightmare.
Travelled once with a companion I didn't know. We were introduced by a mutual friend who reckoned that as we were both going to roughly the same place at the same time we should go together. We sat down one evening came up with plan A, travelled through Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe before returning to Kenya 4 weeks later, on plan P by then with many adventures and tales to tell and never a cross word. Rather amazing and quite unprecedented as I am not the most tolerant of people. Maybe because she was a virtual stranger to start with I was more considerate??
What I have learned from Barb's and my own recent experience, travelling with a TCFH is that it is ok to travel with a like- minded experienced traveller but not with someone who had basically undertaken a couple of holidays abroad, resort style and is of the opinion that makes them a world traveller.
Someone who is needy as well as a KIA, and who also insisted on eating at a certain time, otherwise that person literally melts away if the schedule is broken and like D, in Barb's tale of woe, does not respect the personal space of his/her travel companion. And, who is a chatterbox. Infact, my TCFR depicts the personalities of most of Barb's travel companions.
I am aware and accepted that I get pretty impatient at times, that I do not tolerate 'fools' gladly but still, some needy, KIA and talkative people drives me mental. :)
Travelling with strangers have it's benefit in that if you do not care to put with their antics, you can part company with ease and go merrily onward and forward.
One week and two days to go! :)
Ugh! I began walking up Gebel Musa (Mount Sinai) with one of those.
As I was doing the walk as a kind of pilgrimage I couldn't let fly and tell him what I really wanted to say.
Fortunately, he walked faster than me and soon left me behind....
from numerology there is a quick way to tell if the person is a chatterbox, just ask for their birthdate and if there are 3 no 1's you are in trouble, eg, born 11 mar 1940 or 15 12 1940 just check it out it always works for me
Hi,
I always (nearly) travel alone. I find it is best for me simply because I am free to do as I, and I alone, wish to do without having to consult anyone. However on the few occasions in over 50 years of travelling that I have had a companion it has always been at their request. Must be my magnetic attraction or something.
Have had mixed feelings about companions when I have travelled like this. Hiking in Sweden with a Belgian guy we met up with a German guy, he asked the Belgian if he could join us, the Belgian asked me, we agreed all was fine - better even than being alone I felt. Travelled once with a Dutch lady, very little problems - I can be a bit crusty on rare occasions - did things together and also split to do our own things before joining back up. Good experience. Travelled with a guy in New Zealand from my own country, had to pull him up once over manner in which he spoke, got an apology all went fine for the 2 months after, can accept that no one is perfect so all well and good there. Climbed with a Canadian elder, almost my age in Nepal and did not like the way he spoke to natives, told him gently and he was sharp with me. No second chances, told him - we split, apologies galore, sorry no way back. Respect for locals is vital when traveling. Just recently was on a bus in SEA, driver announced that there were many spare seats and we could move if we wished. The French lady next to me then asked me if I would like to move, I joked that I would but did not just do it when the driver spoke as I thought she might be insulted. Then continued to joke that in the short time that I had been next to her how on earth could I have been so obnoxious that she wished me to move. Had a good laugh and she then said it would be a pleasure to travel together. I thought that she meant for the bus journey but it became apparent it was for longer. 2 weeks later we split. Different ages, different nationality, different interests - worked so well.
On the few occasions that I have partnered up I have always been free to do my own things as have they and also been free to call a halt to the union. I would never contemplate being locked in to a trip of any length if there was no get out clause, no escape route so to speak.
I've not had any bad experiences because I only travel alone, other than a couple of trips with someone I met in Tunisia back in the 70s. She is the best possible travel companion, we do not stick to each other like glue, and we end up laughing our way through a trip. We've also stayed with each other several times (Canada and UK).
Being a camera-nut myself I can understand your not wanting to travel with someone like me or your friend and I would end up not getting the shots I want because I'd be feeling uncomfortable the whole time..
"I want o. but I need somebody to go with." yuk.
Maybe half yank passports are never used. Because partner dropped out at last minute.
Those poor saps will never know the joy of simmering and digesting what you saw and learned. Takes time. Not constant prattle.
And we solo snails can jump on a different train if ..
No discussion. No sales job. No choosimg digs or translated menu to please non-adventurers.
Hey Gawks - I think this might be the song you were thinking of - {http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3Rl0aMtad8]
It's certainly a Roger Whittaker one. And this clip has the words if you want them. Enjoy.
trusted partner
