The Travel Thread

nic · Post by **nic** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 4:10 am

bit more exy than melbourne, but the exchange rate atm makes it more palatable than 5 years ago when 1 usd = 60 cents aud

In SF (Haight and Mission Districts are best places to live - lovely big colorful houses imo) or Berkeley in teh hills close to the parks, down by the bay its a bit more ghetto (awsum, but more frat boys - which may or may not be your thing)

Oakland is a shithole, unless you are really street and really like hyphy or thizz.

Aye last nite was hyphy nigga, I was doin the Thizzle Dance all over da club.

Post by **fooishbar** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 6:26 am

oakland is total and complete loss. only fremont is worse.

mission is okay but far too full of pretentious hipsters. haight's pretty okay. i was staying near cnr franklin & sutter, pretty nice but not a hell of a lot going on.

C.I.A. · Post by **C.I.A.** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 5:44 pm

Hrmmmm. Need to make a decision at some point.

Would be nice to be a few hours drive from Tahoe, and SF isn't bad as far as US cities go...

What to do...

elysium · Post by **elysium** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:48 pm

I checked with a friend for you luv, and she said that they were a bit $$$:

We own two rentals in the East Bay south of Oakland and each of them rent for $1000+ a month, just to give you an idea.
Check out the following. It will give you some idea of what they are better than I.

http://sanfrancisco.olx.com/houses-apar ... nt-cat-363

Post by **JAMESSSS** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:27 am

What about a trailer park?

Popular literature and film wold have me believe it's probably the best option.

Not only will you meet a ragtag bunch of misfits with hearts of gold, you'll have the summer of your life and learn that sometimes you have to let go to finally stand up on your own.

Post by **breaksRbest** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:45 pm

CIA, a good mate of mine just got a new place in The Mission, supposed to be teh radness

I'll find out how much he's paying and if he needs a roomie

nic · Post by **nic** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:38 pm

wot about mrj?!

Post by **Friday** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:49 pm

How exciting Cia! San Fran is awesome - although it's been quite a few years since I've been...

Indonesia was great. Yogyakarta was definitely a highlight. Went to all the sights like the Kraton and the Taman Sari (water palace) which was built in the late 17th century - they've just started reconstruction of these incredible underground passageways and underground mosque as well which is just mindblowing.

Borobudur is incredible too, like nothing i've ever seen before. Absolutely breathtaking.

Also spent some time in a little village we were invited to, near Yogya in the Bantul region, right where the 2006 earthquake hit. Was pretty special to go there and see a real Indonesian village with no tourists etc.

So many other incredible things too! You really fit a lot in when you're gone for a month... Really really recommend people get over there and check it out. So much to see.

Back in Melbs now for a few weeks then we're heading over to Europe. Got back yesterday and have started the planning for the next one today

menace · Post by **menace** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:28 pm

thats looks rad friday
where you heading in europe ?
flying qantas

Post by **Friday** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:43 pm

at qantas. flying garuda for our internals in indonesia felt pretty dodgy at times!

heading to denmark (copenhagen and then to a little town near holbaek where joe lived for a few years), then to sweden and then france. should be good

not going for long so not going to try to cram too much in - learnt that the hard way the last time. just pick 2 or 3 places and do them properly instead of rushing around.

we've decided that with indonesia too - we go there every year as joe's dad and brother and sister live in jakarta, and his other sister in bali (in kerobokan

), so each time we go we pick one other place/island and check it out properly. next time it's going to be flores/komodo island, then after that sulawesi.

elysium · Post by **elysium** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 4:17 am

Weather for Kurdistan on Saturday: 47 degrees. Cripes! Am going to have to go find some sort of smart cotton kaftan or something to wear as a suit ain't going to work...

Post by **breaksRbest** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:09 am

elysium wrote:Weather for Kurdistan on Saturday: 47 degrees. Cripes! Am going to have to go find some sort of smart cotton kaftan or something to wear as a suit ain't going to work...

Elly

a shirt with USB powered fans perhaps?

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 11:24 am

cia > all of my friends in san fran have left the city pretty much...even the entire state is exy compared to everywhere else in the US.

id say that estimate of $1000 per month is on the conservative side...

nic is right, haight, mission and berkley are where you wanna be. also, traffic is HELL so dont assume that a two hour trip here geographically is a two hour trip there naimsain?

im so jealous!
apparently my dad found my social security card the other day, so it seems i have # and passport if i want to get out of melbs sometime soon....

retzie · Post by **retzie** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:34 pm

C.I.A. wrote:Hrmmmm. Need to make a decision at some point.

Would be nice to be a few hours drive from Tahoe, and SF isn't bad as far as US cities go...

What to do...

Do eeeeeet! Can has Mammoth too

I vote live in Berkeley - cool place, BART to SF, less likely to fall into the ocean.

Shits all over Oklahoma

C.I.A. · Post by **C.I.A.** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:57 pm

mrj is potentially in for the move too. Wouldn't do it without him

Retzie... get a new post-doc position in the Berk. Do Eeeet!!

Work should house us for the first month or three, give us some time to find a place to live in. Zowie to rentals tho... hope that pay gets appropriate uppage or I'll be neighbours with My Name is Earl.

C.I.A. · Post by **C.I.A.** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 12:57 pm

retzie wrote:
C.I.A. wrote:Hrmmmm. Need to make a decision at some point.

Would be nice to be a few hours drive from Tahoe, and SF isn't bad as far as US cities go...

What to do...

Do eeeeeet! Can has Mammoth too

I vote live in Berkeley - cool place, BART to SF, less likely to fall into the ocean.

Shits all over Oklahoma

Lolz at the bart. When I lived in Tahoe we used to catch the Tart LOLZ.

retzie · Post by **retzie** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 3:53 pm

C.I.A. wrote:Retzie... get a new post-doc position in the Berk. Do Eeeet!!

My plan, let me show you it

elysium · Post by **elysium** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:08 pm

breaksRbest wrote:
elysium wrote:Weather for Kurdistan on Saturday: 47 degrees. Cripes! Am going to have to go find some sort of smart cotton kaftan or something to wear as a suit ain't going to work...
Elly

a shirt with USB powered fans perhaps?

oooh! I like it Glenny - where do I get one of those?!!

If they put a fan in a skirt you could be all USB-powered Marilyn Monroe styles.

elysium · Post by **elysium** » Fri Aug 08, 2008 8:49 am

BU's to finding the one LONG skirt in the whole of London today. I'm not sure how women dress in Kurdistan, but I figured that I couldn't go wrong with a modest ankle length skirt. The hemlines this season were not definitely not co-operating. After looking for 2 hours I finally managed to find one that was midcalf.

Post by **Friday** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 4:58 pm

does anyone have a paris lonely planet or the like that they'd be kind enough to loan?

i went to buy it the other day but it was published sept 2006... i know they do a new one every two years so asked at the bookshop when they were expecting the new edition and they said end of sept 2008. i'm there start of sept and it feels wrong to spend $35 on something that i know is going to be superseded in two weeks!

deviant · Post by **deviant** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 4:30 pm

anyone got any hot accomm tips for japan... tokyo, osaka, kyoto, nagasaki?

Polecat · Post by **Polecat** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:12 pm

Friday wrote:does anyone have a paris lonely planet or the like that they'd be kind enough to loan?

i went to buy it the other day but it was published sept 2006... i know they do a new one every two years so asked at the bookshop when they were expecting the new edition and they said end of sept 2008. i'm there start of sept and it feels wrong to spend $35 on something that i know is going to be superseded in two weeks!

Friday, go to the library and photocopy the Paris section of the LP France. Carlton North library has a good collection of LP books. Then you can carry it around in your bag as your travel and throw it out to fit your souvenirs in your bag to come home.

Lil MiSbreaks · Post by **Lil MiSbreaks** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 11:55 am

Hey travellers,

I get Jetstar sales emails a little bit before they get annouced.

FYI - Jetstar about to launch as MASSIVE sale to Japan, from $340 or something ridiculous.

So anyone going looking at Jetstar, check is very very soon!

deviant · Post by **deviant** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 12:11 pm

I already bought tickets to Japan

shall I ask this again....

anyone got any hot accomm tips for japan... tokyo, osaka, kyoto, nagasaki?

shepherd · Post by **shepherd** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:06 pm

the westin in kyoto is the place to stay dan - you want a comfy bed after walking around kyoto all day and this place is very plush

and there is a phenomenal okonomiyaki place down the road

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/pr ... uage=en_US

last time i was there we stayed in shimokatzawa in a house - which is right near shibuya. next time i think i'll stay in omotesando - great area! (http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/j ... sando.html)

Post by **JAMESSSS** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:10 pm

Hello!

Koh Tao is pretty mad.

Loving the beach life!

Lil MiSbreaks · Post by **Lil MiSbreaks** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:00 pm

jbs!

mrj · Post by **mrj** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:10 pm

shepherd wrote:the westin in kyoto is the place to stay dan - you want a comfy bed after walking around kyoto all day and this place is very plush

and there is a phenomenal okonomiyaki place down the road

http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin/pr ... uage=en_US

last time i was there we stayed in shimokatzawa in a house - which is right near shibuya. next time i think i'll stay in omotesando - great area! (http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/j ... sando.html)

I actually spent a night in the westin and would agree. after two weeks of tatami mats and futons it was nice to have a nice western style bed. plus the room service burger was sick. was like $18 for a hamburger but it was as big as your face, another nice plus after 2 weeks of ramen.

gnat · Post by **gnat** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:01 am

jbs wrote:Hello!

Koh Tao is pretty mad.

Loving the beach life!

i think you may have our sun

Post by **breaksRbest** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:30 am

mrj wrote: was like $18 for a hamburger but it was as big as your face,

Faceburger!!

Polecat · Post by **Polecat** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 1:28 pm

BU buying overseas plane tickets before breakfast. It's put a zing in my step for the day

quick · Post by **quick** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:39 pm

YAY, my itinerary for my next trip thanks to working my arse off...

19/12 depart to Barcalona
24/12 Rome
28/12 London
02/01 Berlin
06/01 Prague
09/01 Paris
14/01 Tokyo
19/01 Bangkok
22/01 Home

SICK!!!

witty_pseudonym · Post by **witty_pseudonym** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:43 pm

any jobs going quickster?

that's farking incredible dude. CONGRATS!

Polecat · Post by **Polecat** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:44 pm

Good looking trip Mr Quick, but I hope there are some small cities in your travel plans. their charm can sometimes balance out the big busy places.

Post by **huge** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 2:54 pm

lol quick you should spend a bit longer is some places for once!

quick · Post by **quick** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:41 pm

Always jobs going, PM me and I'll send you my email addy so I can refer you if you want.

No small towns only cos of time frame, I figure, I'd rather check out many countries then choose a couple I really liked and go back to just them.

gnat · Post by **gnat** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:44 pm

rome is 2nd best city in world quick- suck it UP!

witty_pseudonym · Post by **witty_pseudonym** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:44 pm

best?

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:51 pm

full on quick! only three or four days in such big cities!
well im already itching to go away again...

same desires as last time, cheap, sun, sand, food, drink, read, culture.
want less adventure than three countries in three weeks though...too much!

tempted to go back and explore more of thailand but feel i may be copping out as ive been there three times so far...

any other ideas gang?

gnat · Post by **gnat** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 3:55 pm

ghetto kitty · Post by **ghetto kitty** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:10 pm

cro-magnon man?

Polecat · Post by **Polecat** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:39 pm

quick wrote:No small towns only cos of time frame, I figure, I'd rather check out many countries then choose a couple I really liked and go back to just them.

Hmmm. Imagine going just to Sydney and thinking it was representative of Oz, or Beijing of China?
In any case, have a ripper time

gnat · Post by **gnat** » Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:49 pm

lol kitty

dalmation coast ftw

Polecat · Post by **Polecat** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:26 am

Looking nervously at AIG, since I have my travel insurance with them :s

Lizkins · Post by **Lizkins** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:23 pm

quick wrote:YAY, my itinerary for my next trip thanks to working my arse off...

19/12 depart to Barcalona
24/12 Rome
28/12 London
02/01 Berlin
06/01 Prague
09/01 Paris
14/01 Tokyo
19/01 Bangkok
22/01 Home

SICK!!!

over Christmas and New Year again? oh man.... no Quickster for both again

fuckin awesome though, will give tips on some rad places to stay in Berlin and Prague, stayed in Osta Lido which is an hour out of Rome on train. So if you struggle on accommodation there, i have a sweet place that was by the beach.

Post by **breaksRbest** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 2:30 pm

Polecat wrote:Looking nervously at AIG, since I have my travel insurance with them :s

what are you nervous about? you reckon they're going under?

or is it just coz they're an American based company?

Lil MiSbreaks · Post by **Lil MiSbreaks** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:44 am

Its no biggie for the Aus office. Well, im sure it is, but as far as customers and policies go (which is everyones concern anyway) US office gross's 10billion per QUARTER. Loan is therefore only the next 2 years of confirmed profit to pay back.

Post by **breaksRbest** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:01 pm

Flights & Tour fully paid for!!!

anyone got any recommendations for hotels in Kuala Lumpur?

Polecat · Post by **Polecat** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:34 pm

2 weeks and counting to my trip. Still so much to organise! EEEP!

Blaxter · Post by **Blaxter** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 5:46 pm

Travel bug is getting everyone.