Freightdog wrote: ↑Thu Jul 27, 2023 8:03 pm

sigmoid wrote: ↑Thu Jul 27, 2023 7:46 pm was a surprise once you arrived. I think that's what's lost now when people have too much information and plan everything in advance. I still like to like to have the minimum amount of info about where I'm going, just the name of the place and a couple of good hotel recommendations. Everything else falls into place.

I think it’s potentially worse. With a little romantic idealism, and far too much (biased, subjective, ultimately misleading) information, I imagine most people finding that things aren’t what they’d hoped.

Proof, of sorts- read an UK .gov foreign office travel alert on the risks of a destination, then go there, anyway. It’s often built up to be much more than it really is. Dumbed down to the lowest common traveller, maybe.

DeparRudeAnts wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 7:59 am

Freightdog wrote: ↑Thu Jul 27, 2023 8:03 pm

sigmoid wrote: ↑Thu Jul 27, 2023 7:46 pm was a surprise once you arrived. I think that's what's lost now when people have too much information and plan everything in advance. I still like to like to have the minimum amount of info about where I'm going, just the name of the place and a couple of good hotel recommendations. Everything else falls into place.

I think it’s potentially worse. With a little romantic idealism, and far too much (biased, subjective, ultimately misleading) information, I imagine most people finding that things aren’t what they’d hoped.

Proof, of sorts- read an UK .gov foreign office travel alert on the risks of a destination, then go there, anyway. It’s often built up to be much more than it really is. Dumbed down to the lowest common traveller, maybe.

Ignoring the current state of the world, it wouldn't surprise me if in 20 years I'll be drinking dollar beers on a beach in Afghanistan.

DeparRudeAnts wrote: ↑Sun Jul 30, 2023 11:17 am Give it 20 and they'll have built a beach, and their engrish will be good n proper

phuketrichard wrote: ↑Fri Jul 28, 2023 5:44 pm seen that an have seen lots others as well>
We ( those who managed to do the trail before Afghanistan closed its borders and the Revolution in Iran in 79 )
have some fond memories

good fb group with lots of us old guys posting
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5214656 ... 9691238317

things have changed Enormously in the past 48 years since i first ventured to Asia and SE asia

there some great books out there from people that were traveling, smuggling an enjoying life in the 60-70's
these are a few i've read

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mikeukt wrote: ↑Fri Jul 28, 2023 9:41 pm Gotta love threads like this dealing with travel being an adventure because of the uncertainties and unknowns. Guidebooks and talking to people, great. Mine started in the UK with the Bit Book and one memorable conversation with someone who’d been there and raved about Quetta. Quetta in 76 was a great place. Few travellers, friendly people, great hash shops. After that trip, which took about a year and never went beyond Indian sub-continent, didn’t need any book, all just fell into place.

Contrast this freedom and excitement with another thread recently about someone who’d damaged their spine falling over and needed financial help getting home. Several comments along the lines of if you can’t afford the insurance, you shouldn’t travel. To me that’s a sad attitude. Travel only first class and cocooned in money. Really! Yes, bad things can happen, but what are you going to do? Stay home in case a drunk driver runs you over???

Life can be safe and very boring. Or…… OK, that's my tuppence worth.

PS Someone said the Salang tunnel was built in the 80s. Not so, well before, I went through it in the 70s.