Sojournin' Sundays

**Cold Warrior** · 09-14-2008, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Shannon

I'm cleaning today since I was in Tampa yesterday. I feel so out of sync.

TOTD: I love to travel and experience different cultures. I do not think it is essential though. The internet and television have made other cultures and perspectives much more accessible to the masses than was possible in the past.

Certainly, the internets and TV have made a huge range of knowledge available to people who, previously, would have to read books to get the same. Young people who utilize these technologies today almost casually know about things I, as a child and young adult, felt was "exotic knowledge." Of course, as with most things, the vast majority use them for other purposes, primarily social, but that doesn't detract from the availability of huge stores of knowledge. And God, I'm certainly addicted to travel videos, for example, as I have all of Michael Palin's works on DVD.

However, I still don't think that these really provide a full substitute for actually being there. A Samantha Brown travelogue of China may be interesting, and provide a certain level of overview that one previously derived from books. But actually walking around HK, and presumably Beijing and Shanghai, talking to people, observing the customs and mores in detail, teaches you so much more about the everyday concerns and issues of the people than can any book, travelogue, or internet site.

**Shannon** · 09-14-2008, 02:43 PM

No, there is really no substitute for actually being there. Although, I can think of a couple places I visited where my initial thought was "It looked better in the picture".:p

**Cold Warrior** · 09-14-2008, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Shannon

No, there is really no substitute for actually being there. Although, I can think of a couple places I visited where my initial thought was "It looked better in the picture".:p

Oh yeah! That's certainly true for a lot of Eastern Europe, in that the photos tend to show you quaint churches and monastaries, renovated "medieval" buildings, etc. -- sort of "Prisoner of Zenda" style. They fail to show you the gulag-type apartment blocs and office buildings that are the legacy almost fifty years of occupation by the Cossacks.

**Jumpy** · 09-14-2008, 02:53 PM

TOTD reminds me of the youtube Matt vid. I read about Matt and how he started his traveling on very little money, and ended up being fully sponsored. What a life!!

I wish more American young people were able to take that year to see the world. Also wish there was more of a focus on learning a second language starting in gradeschool, etc.

I have only traveled to cruise ship type locations, staying for a week at a time, and mostly not seeing much past the resort and the beach, and the touristy .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNF_P281Uu4

**Cold Warrior** · 09-14-2008, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Jumpy

TOTD reminds me of the youtube Matt vid. I read about Matt and how he started his traveling on very little money, and ended up being fully sponsored. What a life!!

I wish more American young people were able to take that year to see the world. Also wish there was more of a focus on learning a second language starting in gradeschool, etc.

I have only traveled to cruise ship type locations, staying for a week at a time, and mostly not seeing much past the resort and the beach, and the touristy .

What a great video, Jumps. It'll be on my ipod this afternoon, thanks!

I've only done one cruise, and that was many years ago with my ex-wife in the Aegean. When we go to the Caribbean, we generally try to avoid the Sandals-style resorts, as you don't get to sample any of the real island, its food, its people. I would like to do an Alaska cruise.

BTW, post the youtube as an [URL] not as a [IMG] file and it works a lot better.

**Jumpy** · 09-14-2008, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

What a great video, Jumps. It'll be on my ipod this afternoon, thanks!

I've only done one cruise, and that was many years ago with my ex-wife in the Aegean. When we go to the Caribbean, we generally try to avoid the Sandals-style resorts, as you don't get to sample any of the real island, its food, its people. I would like to do an Alaska cruise.

BTW, post the youtube as an [URL] not as a [IMG] file and it works a lot better.

edited.. thanks.

**linda22003** · 09-14-2008, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by Cold Warrior

I've only done one cruise, and that was many years ago with my ex-wife in the Aegean. When we go to the Caribbean, we generally try to avoid the Sandals-style resorts, as you don't get to sample any of the real island, its food, its people. I would like to do an Alaska cruise.

I doubt I'll do another Caribbean cruise, but the one in the Baltic we took was wonderful. As for Alaska, come along on the one we're taking next spring!
http://www.rssc.com/voyage/details.jsp?code=MAR090520

**lurkalot** · 09-14-2008, 10:00 PM

Just got back from Vegas, humming "if I can just get off of this L.A. Freeway without getting killed or caught" as I negotiated insane drivers, tourists and road construction until we cleared the city...then five hours of NOTHING....nothing ..nothing...no radio, no cell, nobody else...FIVE hours with a five year old in the back alternating "I gotta peeeeeeeeeeee!" with "are we there yet?" and "I miss grandma, she's more fun that you, why aren't you ever any fun mama"
someone shoot me please

CW you can take your travel and put it...................

**Bubba Dawg** · 09-14-2008, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by lurkalot

Just got back from Vegas, humming "if I can just get off of this L.A. Freeway without getting killed or caught" as I negotiated insane drivers, tourists and road construction until we cleared the city...then five hours of NOTHING....nothing ..nothing...no radio, no cell, nobody else...FIVE hours with a five year old in the back alternating "I gotta peeeeeeeeeeee!" with "are we there yet?" and "I miss grandma, she's more fun that you, why aren't you ever any fun mama"
someone shoot me please

CW you can take your travel and put it...................

So what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas but the trip back can be Hades? :D

Glad you are safe at home.

And I have had zero success finding the song by Waylon about the old veteran teaching guitar chords and life lessons to the youngster. Still looking though.

Have a good week, Lurkie. :D

**Cold Warrior** · 09-14-2008, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by lurkalot

Just got back from Vegas, humming "if I can just get off of this L.A. Freeway without getting killed or caught" as I negotiated insane drivers, tourists and road construction until we cleared the city...then five hours of NOTHING....nothing ..nothing...no radio, no cell, nobody else...FIVE hours with a five year old in the back alternating "I gotta peeeeeeeeeeee!" with "are we there yet?" and "I miss grandma, she's more fun that you, why aren't you ever any fun mama"
someone shoot me please

CW you can take your travel and put it...................

Ain't parenthood wonderful? :D