Most random travel stories/places?
Any unconventional travel destinations or stories that you’d recommend (or NOT recommend) for whatever reason?
Maybe it’s more common to go there from the US, but I’m from Europe and mine is probably Panama City - the historic old town and Central American Spanish-speaking vibes combined with tax haven, weird-looking skyscrapers and that godawful Samsung screen. Still a cool experience, have heard that the rest of the country has super cool nature aspects that I’d go back and try.
I lived in Panama for 3 years when I was young.
As far as obscure places, I’ve visited the island of Putuoshan in China. There are reversed Swastika symbols all around the island (the Buddhists had that symbol first). There were absolutely no other white people there except for my friend and I. At one point a little boy pointed at me and said “Laowai.”
The island overall was very beautiful and it was interesting to see all the Buddhist monks with their shaved heads and orange suits.
The reversed swastika is very common in Asia. It originates from what I think is Hindu/Buddhist tradition. The Nazi's decided it was cool and so they adopted it as their symbol. The "reversed swastika" as such is actually the original swastika, and the one Hitler used was really the true reversed one.
The Nazi's coopted a lot of things. The "Heil Hitler" salute is actually the same salute that American students would give to the US Flag during the Pledge of Allegiance, but the US changed it during the war to the hand on heart thing to distance themselves from the Nazis.
1) The actual/original "swastika" is indeed an ancient Buddhist symbol. You're bang on about that. And yeah, we all know certain d-bags coopted the symbol along the way unfortunately. They desecrated it so badly that it's criminal to even display it in Greece, China, Netherlands and a metric ton of other countries (I tried to point out the non-obvious ones out of respect since we all know it's obviously and properly illegal in some certain places).
2) Right again about the salute being what was done during the pledge of allegiance once upon a time. Again before certain d-bags coopted that too along the way unfortunately. Personally, I do think the hat over my heart during the pledge is a more meaningful and respectful display anyways though.
3) Of course in a thread about travel stories we still somehow provoked Godwin's law of all things. Seriously, fuck him, and the rest of them, for doing what they did that's a descpicable thing that's grown into it's own social/political theory half a century later, and still ongoing. As evil as they were too, I guess Stalin, Pot, Mao, Hirohito, Mussolini, Franco and Amin are laughing in their graves since we tend to ignore their atrocities instead of "his". Oh, I forgot about Mugabe too. And Zuma. And since we're speaking of SA, Mandela's second wife, Winnie? She was just about the sheer consumate embodiment of evil. Let's not forget that Che Guevara was a racist, homophobic, mass murdering piece of shit to the full tilt too. Can't stand the people who boast about wearing a Che shirt, thinking he was some Robinhood-esque man of the people. Zero clue about who he really was: indiscriminately killing blacks, homosexuals, and literally started the Cuban missle crisis. I know I'm ratning on who can possibly be the actual bottom of the barrel here and it angers me that we have this many contenders. But please, bear with me.
Hot take: but someone like Pablo Escobar was actually a man of the people. Mark "Chopper" Read. Andrew Pritchard. "Freeway" Rick Ross. Even if all their money came from illegal dealings, they pulled a Bane and lived out a version of “We take from the corrupt! The oppressors of generations who have kept you down with myths of opportunity, and we give it back to you, the people. This place is yours. None shall interfere.” - I know, I paraphrased a little bit. In the meantime, speaking of said people, go watch "How to make money selling drugs" by Adrian Grenier (Vince from Entourage). Won't spoil it, but I'll let you take a wild guess as to who they research and figure out is the actual top drug kingpin...
‘Laowai’ means just ‘foreigner’ in mandarin
Gweilo is the one I'd be more head on a swivel about. Chosenjin is another one. Or Gaijin if we want to cross the sea.
I’ve been surfing all over the world. Some notable places:
- Bell’s Beach Australia
- Jeffrey’s Bay South Africa
- Hossegor France
- Lakey Peak Indonesia
When I was surfing in South Africa, I saw a shark swim close to me and it scared the crap out of me. I now wear a Shark repellent band when I go in the ocean.
In Indonesia I got thrown really deep into the water at an offshore break and it was one of the few times when I felt out of breath and barely made it to the surface.
Another notable place to visit was Egypt. I rode a horse around the pyramids at Giza, saw Mt. Sinai and hiked to the top as well as scuba diving in the Red Sea at Dahab.
I was in Nepal where I walked on a symbol that was sacred to them. I was like 7 and did it on purpose. An old lady came up to me and screamed at me in the local language.
I assume she cursed me, which is what I assign all of my misfortunes and shortcomings since as being caused by.
Isn't nepal landlocked? Is there a direct flight to it ?
Panama City was a great time - Casco Viejo right next to El Chorillo which still had bullet holes from the invasion
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Consequatur rerum sit dicta repellat sit qui debitis provident. Natus natus et dolorem et nobis eos.
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