OK............We have all travelled aroung the world and seen lot's of great countries, but the question remains....... WHICH ONE IS THE BEST????????
IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ONLY ONE TO GO BACK TO WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE????????
........................this is going to be very interesting..............
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I haven't been to a lot of countries, so I maybe my
selection is limited.
Also Israel. I am Jewish so it is my ideoligical homeland.
Although I have to say Australia has been by far an
excellent country to live in for the past 19 years. I am
free as a bird and have lots of opportunities as my feet.
No Doubt !
Lebanon is my favorite place to go !! Wonderful landscape,
plenty of archeological & historical sites, excellent food
and extremely friendly people.
India- challenging,interesting and diverse!!!
costa rica- in early 90's- beautiful beaches!!,cloud
forests, wild and bird life, active volcanos, caribe and
indig. people....
vietnam- while every one was going North- I travelled
mostly by boat thru the Mekong Delta- interesting..
Middle East- friendly people,safe-despite all political bs
heard in us media.
central-S. america- interesting,diverse and many developing
countries In early 90"s- Columbia was one of my favorites..
If you have the time and desire you can travel afford. by
local transportation.
Only in India could I have such a hard time and still be in
love with the country and the culture. Huge and diverse and
just so fascinating. I've been to lots of other places I
love but nowhere captured my imagination like India. I
imagine I shall continue to return there till the day I
drop!
Just curious, what did you find hard about India?
Defenetly Papua New Guinea! The best place, the most
amazing people I've ever met. I've been to 14 countries in
my 21 years on earth and I have no doubt what so ever that
if I have to choose only one more it will be PNG again.
Go there and you will understand!
Where are you Canadians...??
Canada is the most beautiful country in the world. The land of milk and honey...
The caleidoscope of colours, languages and cultures...
The largest country in the world...
Ten provinces and two territories spread over more than 9,000,000 square kilometers of land.
From rugged Atlantic coastline to the beautiful Rockies on the Pacific side. We have fertile farmlands in the south and vast and wild frozen Arctic in the north.
...Canada is THE BEST place in the world.
Is the lucky country. We have a fantastic multicultural
existence going on here.
So many different people have moved from their home lands.
And with time and getting to know everyone it is all coming
together.
One of our great politians died this week. He was at the
forefront of being open about racism, giving the
aboriginal people rights, looking after gays etc.
This was all in the 70's when I was a kid but we have
reaped the rewards of this.
Australia is the best.
Hey you Canadian dickhead, get your head out from your
asshole, and have a look at an atlas why don't you?
RUSSIA is still the biggest country in the world, and
Canada is number two.
Canada is 95% frozen, and the people are about as dull as
they come. Eh? Eh? Eh, what's that you say?
You Canadian schmucks are forever looking longingly south
at the grand ole U.S.A., envy in your hearts and
wistfulness in your souls.
Why? For one simple reason - the whole world looks to
America because we got something Canadians will never
have.
That's..... PIZZAZZ. Hollywood, New York, Michael Jordan,
Bill Clinton, the Internet, etc. etc. We got special
stuff, we got it all. And you Canadians? What do you got?
Snow. Oh yeah, and ice hockey, which is probably the
dullest game ever invented.
The best country in the world is the U.S. of A. Everybody
knows it. It's not even worth debating.
The USA, a country where little children stumble upon their
parents' loaded weapons and accidental blow their brains
out. What a place.
Pakistan is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can have your tinsel-town bullshit, you, and anyone who
looks like you can get stuffed!
It's exactly because of that type of arrogant bullshit that
the rest of the world, including Canada, doesn't look up to
the U.S.! If you think Canada wants to be anything like
the U.S. you'd better get YOUR head out of your ass.
You are an arrogant prick!! From my travel experiences
Americans are looked at as self centered, ignorant and down
right high on themselves. I never want to be mistaken for
an American when I travel and you won't find one Canadian
who would. Your above post justifies the way that most of
the world sees Americans...as just plain ignorant!
Anyone ever met a culturally-sensitive American whilst
travelling?
Bravo to Erika, Kirst, Angel, and anyone else who shares their sentiments. You are one bloody arrogant soul, Uncle Sam. Fact, I've travelled to 44 countries on 5 continents, and not just as a business or arm-chair traveler. I've totally immersed myself in my host country's culture, intermingling with the local people. The feedback I've gotten is that Canada is one of the most well respected and admired nations in the world, definitely more so than your US of A. The only common interest that other peoples of the world have in your country is your greenback. Otherwise it's nothing but scorn. Why else are American citizens and embassies targeted for attack more so than of any other nation.
I was born in Canada, but attended University in the States. College life was indeed one of the best periods I've had, and I made a lot of friends (american), but it doesn't change my sentiments that americans are one ignorant bunch (at the risk of generalizing, you've proven this).
During my travels, I've come to the opinion that, out of all of the developed nations of the world, americans are the least traveled. What does this say generally about your country's acceptance of the infinite variety of peoples and culture, that the world is nothing but one global community?
Sure, the rest of the world looks to America, but with scorn (can you blame them, with small-minded comments such as yours). America looks at the rest of the world, only to rape and pillage a nation's resources.
Isn't there enough aggro in the world without ruining the
huge communication opportunities that the internet offers
??!! Let's celebrate the amazing differences all our
countries offer to those lucky, free and healthy enough to
travel, not put each other down !
I would recommend Thailand as a fabulous country to visit -
the people are friendly, the food is absolutely delicious,
the beaches are divine, it is easy to travel through, the
hill tribes are amazing, accom is really easy to find, there
is heaps to do, the weather is gorgeous - best in Nov/Dec
and everyone there seems to have a friend who has anything
your heart desires. Enjoy.
First off, I am an American. I'd like to say that all of
you Canadians (apart from the first one who was just voicing
his opinions about his country) are just as judgemental and
culturally insensitive as the idiot Uncle Sam was. How can
you possibly say stuff like, "americans are the worst
traveled, most culturally insensitive, closed minded people
in the world" and not see the utter hipocracy you convey
with your blanket statements of scorn? Really incredible.
Its no different that the jerks on this board saying, "all
the jews in Israel are rude" and "all the people in Cairo
are trying to rip you off." The truly cultured travelers
would not take part in all of that wrangling at all...they
would just shake their heads and laugh at your
ignorance...you should concentrate on getting more than a
sociology 101 understanding of "cultural depth" and truly
learn something rather than just repeating what you read in
books.
.
Having traveled extensively to about 40 countries (although
in the big scheme of things that's not all that much), I'd
have to say that I enjoyed my trip to Russia the best.
Russia with its amazing culture that has hidden for so many
years....too bad its so damn cold!
I'm a Canadian and I must agree with Eric here. C'mon my
fellow Canucks, you can't judge Americans as a whole,
otherwise Mr. Sam has every right to judge us as a whole. I
was annoyed when I read his comment, too, but don't sink to
his level. I think that's exactly what he was trying to get
you do. The usual criticisms of the USA are that they are
self-centred, hyper-patriotic, whatever. But it sounds like
Canada is developing this very attitude by trying so hard to
dissociate themselves from it. "We're not self-centered,
we're too perfect for that!"
Friendly people, beautiful country, breathtaking art, great
food, and most importantly, an awesome panorama of
languages, people, tradition, and culture.
Australia
I hate america and americans. WHenever i meet one i stay
away and urinate on their pillows before they sleep.
Canadians I like. Shame about your accents though, sometimes
it's hard to tell the difference so I apologize in advance
to all Cans who contracted scabies unnecessarily from my
antics.
Again, please americans, stay at home and make the world a
much better place for the rest of us.
Scabies? From pee?
Going to China You're entering to a dream. I don't mean the
dream society, but something really different. Go to
Forbidden City anytime of the year, it doesn't matter. You
will always find something that You have NEVER seen.
india.
By far, Cambodia - for it people & historical significance,
both recent and past and northern Mozabique - an unspoiled
paradise.
Hi Jorg, Sorry for not replying to your question much
sooner but I haven't looked at this thread since I posted
my bit. As I said, I love India but the thing I found
difficult was the attitude of men towards me - a Western
woman. I was dressed appropriately (long, sleeved baggy t-
shirt and long baggy skirt) and I was with a male partner
each time I went. In India being with a "husband" is no
protection against harrassment (unlike in, say, Egypt). I
particulary recall one incident on a train were a man of
about 60 spent a couple of hours talking and playing cards
with my "husband" whilst I read a book and as soon as my
partner went to the toilet he reached over and grabbed my
breast! Luckily, I never spent more than three months
there at one time before going to another country for some
respite! But, like I said, I love the country to bits
:-))
...Yep here it goes the best country (in terms of
backpacking and meeting locals and getting totally absorbed
by the beach and doing other lazy things). No need to
tranquilze yourself by smoking the odd spliff. The whole
experience will do it for you...Lol
Go for it, Go, Go to FIJI!
the best country in the world has got to be JAPAN!! They
have an amazing culture. There's so much peacefulness, and
moderness (is that a word??) all at the same time. They are
the most delightful people I've ever met. They are not the
docile, dull people that most of the world thinks they are.
they really know how to have fun.!!
"Uncle Sam", you cheap, IGNORANT, unintellegent bastard!! I
have been to many a place, and Americans are by far the
worst set of people I have ever encountered. Let me bring
you up to date, if you can keep up. Canada is NOT 95%
frozen. We do have a thing here called spring, summer and
fall. All before winter. In case you forgot, a lot of the
states in your fine little country have the exact same
weather patterns as we do here. Take a look at Detroit, or
New York, for instance. I think perhaps it best if you
research your data before calling them facts. You only make
yourself look like an arrogant, stupid bastard. What was
your comment about the Internet?? Do you think that it
orriganated and is only in the States?? As for what do we
Canadiens have?? Well, we have most of the music that you
americas like to listen to. Bands like The Barenaked
Ladies, Moist, Our Lady Peace, Sarah Mclaugin (I don't know
how to spell her last name...). Yes we invented ice hockey,
but we also invented basketball, a game that your prized
Michael Jordan likes to play, and Superman. (Bet you didn't
know that...) We invented the telephone, and penicilin.
Would you like me to go on, or is that enough for you?? So,
now that you have made an enormous fool of yourself, are you
quite convinced that the mental ignorance block you seem to
be experiencing is being caused by the fact that you have
your own head up your ass??
- Just one request for US citizens:
...please stop calling yourselfs as 'Americans' !!!
- I'm a proud Chilean citizen, and therefore an amercian as well (as any other canadian, mexican or brazilian is)
- Why don't you start using the term 'Usonian' developed by the great architect Frank Lloyd Wright ??
End to linguistic imperialism !!!
a huge hug to all the amercians, asians, europeans, polinesians and africans
Tomas Greene
Chile
name calling on the travel board? not quite what i
expected. pretty disappointing actually.
Dear Uncle Sam,
The USA, along with the world's other more prolific and
diverse nations (India, China, Russia, Indonesia, etc...),
has a great diversity of features ranging from the sublime
to the horrific. For all of us to argue over these points
ad nauseum is rather pointless...
One thing is for sure though, you are an absolute fucking
moron.
Beck, Eric & Jorg...if you don't like it then move on and
save your lecturing for someone else.
Dear All,
Aftering living in England for all my life and only
visiting faraway places like Oman, Gibraltar, Northern
Africa, etc, I decided to return to my roots (as 3/4 of my
family come from Queenstown in County Cork). I was amazed
by the scenery, fascinated by the people (who were so open,
friendly and willing to tell you all about their lives),
warmed by the peat fires, etc. If any of you are going
there make sure you visit Poulnabroune with its 4500 year
old druidic standing stones and Leprachaun tombs (I shit
you not). S.Ireland is best in the early part of the year
so you can really experience it, can't wait to get back
there as soon as I get back from the middle East (currently
living and working in Israel for 6 months).
Luv u all
IGOR
I just loved the food!
I am sorry but I can't say one country is better than any
other. I have done a lot of travelling around the world
and each country has something special to offer.
Egypt - the ancient religions and relics, the shopping, the
culture in general, spectacular sunsets and sunrises,
islamic culture and art.
Jordan - Petra, the desert castles, the history of T.E.
Lawrence and the nomadic tribes, friendly people who want
to help you without wanting anything in return.
Africa - the animals, the people, the diverse landscape,
the misery of the people displaced by civil wars.
Europe - the diverse cultures, history, art and food.
U.K. - pork pies and warm beer (just kidding), royal
family, castles and their ghosts, the strange accents,
friendly northerners, Lochness monster.
Australia - a true multi cultural society, Uluru, Great
Barrier Reef, Aboriginal culture and art.
Asia - the Buddhist philosophy, the gentle nature of the
people (especially Nepal & Thailand), the food.
South America - the Inkas and what they left behind,
diverse culture due to the Spanish.
The Soviet States - the history and monuments and buildings
of the Tzars, the art in the railway stations, the
amazingly diverse landscapes, very diverse cultures from
one region to the next.
China - the Great Wall, the millions of people and how they
live.
My list could go on even further as these are just a few of
the places I have visited. When I travel I like to
experience the countries on all levels - intellectually and
spiritually - you only get to know a country when you spend
time there and interact with the local population not on a
tourist level.
silly question really! what's travelling bout
anyways...competion?...silly buggers
go east ........go west...............
u.s.a
is.......the.......best
and you all know it....just abit jelious
tell you what
see a sychatric........stay as you are and has always been
again...boooooooooooo
one of your masters from the
u . s . a
What a wonderful and open-minded person Jennifer is! She has
been everywhere and it's all just so bloody wonderful. And
to think that Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, and
Australia are just a few of the places she has visited! I
can't wait till I hear about the rest.
OK, here is a very personal list of my favorite countries:
India - for the sheer diversity. Everything is here.
Sudan & Ghana - for the people
Nepal & Cameroun - beautiful landscape
Italy & Thailand - for the food
I'm not getting into the Hate or Love USA-debate, but New
York definitely has got nice skyscrapers
I forgot to ask the important question: Which is the most
horrible, disgusting, and appalling place you people ever
saw?
DEUTCHLAND
Germany is and always will be, not the best, but the ONLY
country that ever metters. We, the german people are the
supreme reason of glory for the human race. WE deserve the
world.
HK
I would have to give my nod to the woderful country of
Thailand. Old, beautiful, and freindly, what more could you
ask for?
As for the business about hating Amercians....I am a proud
U.S.onian and I take offense to your generalizations. I am
twenty years old and to date I have traveled to ninteen
countries (not that much, but not bad for my age) In this
time I have seen drunken British people try and kick down a
Buda statue in a thousand year old Watt, Germans push
children out of the way to get ahead in line, French tourist
unwilling to try food based on the way it looks, and Greek
tourist scratch thier names into ancient Chinese pagodas,
just to name a few instances. That is not to say that
there are not awful American tourists, it is merely ment to
show we Americans by no means have am monopoly on rude and
boorish behavior.
Mali. and Niger.
Just a vote for a couple of lovely, spirited, Sahelian
countries in Africa.
Oh, and one more word:
Go
haqeem
is the best place, hands down. Also the Czech Republic, but
you gotta go to Olomouc--go Univerzita Palackeho! And
Lebanon, the greatest little country of all.
You have probably met many of us ugly Americans, behaving
ourselves, and never realized it. It's a well-known fact
that 90 percent of the "Canadians" out there are ashamed
Americans in disguise...
I should know. I rule the place. You know what will
happen to anyone who doesn't vote for my nation as the
greatest country on earth.
I admire all of you who have read this and resisted the urge to throw abuse at Uncle Sam. I am fighting it even as we speak. Not all US citizens are that bad as we all know but we also all know the type he is. He will go through his whole life believing that crap and saluting his American Flag that no doubt flutters in his front garden. Anyway, I wholly endorse Usagi's comments but have to pick up on something - have you heard of Alexander Fleming (Scottish inventor of penicillan) and Alexander Graham Bell (Scottish inventor of the telephone)?
Every country is unique and as we bring as much to a country as it brings to us, I suspect an objective answer is unattainable.
I have been to about 25 countries, and I loved all of them,
because of their culture, the beautiful places, the people
I've met and the times I had there.
But my absolutely favourite place is a beach in Greece (and
I am not going to tell you where...), hardly anybody, and no
Germans or Americans who fight over who is best. I am glad I
never met the two of you....
I have been to about 25 countries (wow, am I not great!!!),
and I loved all of them,
because of their culture, the beautiful places, the people
I've met and the times I had there.
But my absolutely favourite place is a beach in Greece (and
I am not going to tell you where...), hardly anybody, and no
Germans or Americans who fight over who is best. I am glad I
never met the two of you....
I have to say i am sorry for any americans one might have
met that acted like uncle sam. We are not all bad and we
are not all rude to different cultures. The united states
is a great place to visit and get a education. There will
be beauty in everyplace you go because every place on earth
will carry it's owm beauty in it's own way. Also you have
to remember there is bad and good people in every land on
earth. It helps to remeber that when people are being
rude.:)
It's got to be. STUNNING scencery, ideal climate, friendly
people, fantasticly cheap, peace and quiet (with crowds if
you want them!), amazing walking, fun (w.water rafting),
gorgeous food (if you've just come from India!), great
sights.... my list goes on. I'd return every year if I
could. (very end of Sept is best time to go)
You guys never have been in Scandinavia. Denmark for the
best beer? Norway beautiful landscapes. Sweden for the
menÆs? And the best country in whole world Finland, where
the most liberate girls live, try it, you wonÆt bee
disappointed. Iceland why bother?
I just love the Americans.
Clearly Australia is the best country in the world. I've
heard a few people talk of diverse countries but I have to
say that Australia has few parrallels when it comes to
diversity: Australia has the largest deserts in the world,
after the Sahara (admittedly not that exciting), savannah,
huge tracts of lush tropical rainforest in North
Queensland, the world's largest reef, snowfields and
mountains in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, large,
cosmopolitan cities (Melbourne, Sydney especiaslly.
Australia also large communities of people of the following
origins: Greek, Italian, English, Lebanese, Vietnamese,
Chinese, Serbian, Scottish, Irish, Croatian... Unlike most
culturally heterogeneous nations in the world, Australians
are able to co-exist in relative peace and with very few
problems. Aside from that, we Aussies are easy-going and
laid back, friendly, not too quick to criticize and, I
think most important of all, are able to have a good laugh
at ourselves. Generally, Australians don't take themselves
too seriously (contrast, for example, an Englishman who
lives South of the Watford Gap)- nowhere in the world will
you be able to find a people so accepting of a good piss-
take, even at one's own expense, than an Aussie. We have
unashamedly developed piss-taking into an art form and in a
world of political correctness and hypersensitivity you
couldn't ask for much more.(for example, Australians of
Greek or Italian origin are frequently referred to, by
themselves included, as 'Wogs'but you won't hear of any
multi-million dollar law suits for being called one; eg2: I
emigrated with my family from England 9 years ago but still
I am often labelled a "fucking whinging pom" even by some
of my closest friends -who cares, they're just having a
laugh). We're often compared to Canadians, as sharing many
similarities and I think that's true to an extent. However,
Canadians tend to take our brash cockiness and transform it
into an excessive confidence bordering arrogance (and from
my experience Canadians always think they're right)but
apart from that they're pretty cool. In fact I don't have a
problem with anyone really, except maybe for Black, Jews,
Asians, Arabs, Hispanics... which leaves Australians, but
then we're all of the above so I guess I don't have a
problem with anyone after all.
Clearly Australia is the best country in the world. I've
heard a few people talk of diverse countries but I have to
say that Australia has few parrallels when it comes to
diversity: Australia has the largest deserts in the world,
after the Sahara (admittedly not that exciting), savannah,
huge tracts of lush tropical rainforest in North
Queensland, the world's largest reef, snowfields and
mountains in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, large,
cosmopolitan cities (Melbourne, Sydney especiaslly.
Australia also large communities of people of the following
origins: Greek, Italian, English, Lebanese, Vietnamese,
Chinese, Serbian, Scottish, Irish, Croatian... Unlike most
culturally heterogeneous nations in the world, Australians
are able to co-exist in relative peace and with very few
problems. Aside from that, we Aussies are easy-going and
laid back, friendly, not too quick to criticize and, I
think most important of all, are able to have a good laugh
at ourselves. Generally, Australians don't take themselves
too seriously (contrast, for example, an Englishman who
lives South of the Watford Gap)- nowhere in the world will
you be able to find a people so accepting of a good piss-
take, even at one's own expense, than an Aussie. We have
unashamedly developed piss-taking into an art form and in a
world of political correctness and hypersensitivity you
couldn't ask for much more.(for example, Australians of
Greek or Italian origin are frequently referred to, by
themselves included, as 'Wogs'but you won't hear of any
multi-million dollar law suits for being called one; eg2: I
emigrated with my family from England 9 years ago but still
I am often labelled a "fucking whinging pom" even by some
of my closest friends -who cares, they're just having a
laugh). We're often compared to Canadians, as sharing many
similarities and I think that's true to an extent. However,
Canadians tend to take our brash cockiness and transform it
into an excessive confidence bordering arrogance (and from
my experience Canadians always think they're right)but
apart from that they're pretty cool. In fact I don't have a
problem with anyone really, except maybe for Black, Jews,
Asians, Arabs, Hispanics... which leaves Australians, but
then we're all of the above so I guess I don't have a
problem with anyone after all.
Clearly Australia is the best country in the world. I've
heard a few people talk of diverse countries but I have to
say that Australia has few parrallels when it comes to
diversity: Australia has the largest deserts in the world,
after the Sahara (admittedly not that exciting), savannah,
huge tracts of lush tropical rainforest in North
Queensland, the world's largest reef, snowfields and
mountains in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales, large,
cosmopolitan cities (Melbourne, Sydney especiaslly.
Australia also large communities of people of the following
origins: Greek, Italian, English, Lebanese, Vietnamese,
Chinese, Serbian, Scottish, Irish, Croatian... Unlike most
culturally heterogeneous nations in the world, Australians
are able to co-exist in relative peace and with very few
problems. Aside from that, we Aussies are easy-going and
laid back, friendly, not too quick to criticize and, I
think most important of all, are able to have a good laugh
at ourselves. Generally, Australians don't take themselves
too seriously (contrast, for example, an Englishman who
lives South of the Watford Gap)- nowhere in the world will
you be able to find a people so accepting of a good piss-
take, even at one's own expense, than an Aussie. We have
unashamedly developed piss-taking into an art form and in a
world of political correctness and hypersensitivity you
couldn't ask for much more.(for example, Australians of
Greek or Italian origin are frequently referred to, by
themselves included, as 'Wogs'but you won't hear of any
multi-million dollar law suits for being called one; eg2: I
emigrated with my family from England 9 years ago but still
I am often labelled a "fucking whinging pom" even by some
of my closest friends -who cares, they're just having a
laugh). We're often compared to Canadians, as sharing many
similarities and I think that's true to an extent. However,
Canadians tend to take our brash cockiness and transform it
into an excessive confidence bordering arrogance (and from
my experience Canadians always think they're right)but
apart from that they're pretty cool. In fact I don't have a
problem with anyone really, except maybe for Black, Jews,
Asians, Arabs, Hispanics... which leaves Australians, but
then we're all of the above so I guess I don't have a
problem with anyone after all.