Question? Where have you bean?

[PacWestGS]

Over the past few weeks; or months; or years; or whatever and whenever during your life’s’ experiences. I have decided to ask a question of the MOA members: Where have you bean, and on a scale of: one to five, how far did you explore those locations? (one, being remote visit ((Been there, don’t know sh!t)), five being extensive knowledge ((done that, learned quite a bit))

I'll give you a hint, and will expand as the days, time and classification permits.

I've bean to all of the lower 48 but Maine and Vermont, in my adult life (4); I've bean to Alaska, Hawaii, and the three territories of the US (Guam, Puerto Rico and Micronesia (2/3)). I've been to most of Western Europe, off and on over twenty-years (3), I've been to South America (three countries) (1), I've been to Haiti twice and ten years apart, (under different circumstances)(2) and I've been to Southeast Asia (four countries) over a 12-year process (5), and Asia (Bangladesh) top to bottom(2), and I’ve been to Japan and Korea off and on(1). I’ve been to Mexico and Canada at different times and at different locations(2). Lastly I’ve been to Australia and Papua New Guinea for a couple months(1). There may be some places I forgot and if I remember I’ll post later…

Again, this is a question of what are your life’s experiences, where have you been and where do you want to go? What did you do there and would you return, and why?

I still dream of circumnavigating the globe on a bike; East to West, North to South, even if it takes the rest of my life.

That’s my dream, one day at a time. :thumb

[GlobalRider]

Where have you been, and on a scale of: one to five, how far did you explore those locations? (one, being remote visit ((Been there, don’t know sh!t)), five being extensive knowledge ((done that, learned quite a bit)). What did you do there and would you return, and why?


I take it, on a motorcycle?

Canadian Provinces I've toured in...
<img src="http://www.world66.com/myworld66/visitedCanadianStates/countrymap?visited=NBNLNSONQU"><br/>
Level of familiarity: 4. I'd tour eastern Canada again in an instant. The scenery was great and the people were friendly and laid back.


States I've toured in...
<img src="http://www.world66.com/myworld66/visitedStates/statemap?visited=FLMINYVT"><br/>
Level of familiarity: 2. One day I'll do a lot more of it when I have the time. In the past, the strength of the US buck made touring elsewhere a better deal.


European countries I've toured in...
<img src="http://www.world66.com/myworld66/visitedEurope/countrymap?visited=AUBEENFRGEITLTNLSW"><br/>
Level of familiarity 5+...I know it like the back of my hand. I tour there annually for the scenery, the roads, the food and drink, the people, the sights and old world charm. I've visited cathedrals, technical museums, war sites, hiked, etc. Europe simply can't be beat! Besides, it costs me less per day to tour Europe which even requires an airfare, than it cost to tour Eastern Canada.

And where I'd like to tour...
The rest of the world, time and money permitting.

If you really want to "explore" the world, you're far better off doing it on foot or on a bicycle.

Edited to add: You're also far better off touring on your own. You meet the locals and people from other countries that are also touring and get their views. Touring in a tour bus or with a motorcycle touring company usually means you're stuck with a bunch of people from your cultural background. Why would I go that far to experience that?

[kbasa]

I've been to all the lower 48 on a bike. Still need to get to Alaska.

Been to Baja Mexico, most of Canada, at least the lower provinces, Ireland and the Isle of Man, but those haven't been on bikes.

[SheRidesABeemer]

Everything is relative. We can only one-up ourselves. My daughter asked me what my first big trip was. Looking back on my first year pictures, a ride to the White Mountains in NH was a big deal trip. It was also 2 hours away. But at the time, I'd never traveled solo anywhere, so it was a big trip.
Then traveling to the Rally in Trenton, Ontario was a big trip; imagine traveling to Canada! Now weekend trips to Ontario or Nova Scotia or a ball game in Toronto are not such a big deal.
Then came traveling to Spokane; riding clear across the country. How much of the states did I really experience? Not important, I experienced the country and how big and not so big it is.
This year I rode in the Alps, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. Amazing, I'd need to live there 3 years before I could begin to claim to know them. But I was there long enough to form an impression mostly of the roads, the food and hospitality of the people.
So I know the New England states like the back of my hand, because I live here, and any of my idle unplanned riding happens here. I know comparatively little about anywhere else, because I have been only a visitor there. And who knows what next season brings, but I know my world will expand a little more because of the motorcycling hobby I have.

[flash412]

I've been to 49 states (missing SD) and five Canadian provinces, ridden in nearly all of them. (Rode to the Arctic Circle from Anchorage.)

I've visited Juarez and Cozumel, Mexico. I've been to Belize and Guatemala, Jamaica, St. Thomas, Caymans, Dominican Republic.

In Europe I have ridden in England, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man (two TT's), lived in France for two years, East and West Germany (before the reunion, Germany after), Lichtenstein, Belgium, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Hungary, Italy.

Visited but not ridden in Finland, Spain, Morocco, Israel, United Arab Emirates.

Rode in South Africa (Dustybutt 1000), Swaziland and Lesotho. The two passport stamps of which I am the proudest are entering Lesotho via Sani Pass and departing via Maseru.

Rode in Hong Kong & Kowloon, China (once) and on the Izu Penninsula of Japan (twice). Have visited Hong Kong several times, it is one of my favorite cities.

Repeatedly visited many places in Taiwan & Korea (on binniz). Flew in a helicopter from Kumi to Seoul once, with the M*A*S*H theme song playing in my head the whole way.

Been to Shenzhen, Chengdu, Shanghai and Qindao China; some several times. I changed planes in Beijing once. But I will be there for four days next month and would appreciate any info on borrowing or renting a bike. Visited Singapore.

Drove a rentacar all over both islands of New Zealand. Rode from Rockhampton down almost to Melbourne, Australia and back up.

I'm sure I have left some places out. But I haven't had coffee yet.

Oh yeah... short visits to Malaysia, Thailand...

I WAS planning to ship my bike to Panama and ride it home in 2005. But when I was offered free motorcycles on loan in Australia and South Africa, I junked that plan. How often does someone halfway around the world offer you a free bike? I am STILL planning to do that trip when I build up enough vacation time again.

A pal invited me to ride down to Puentas Arenas with him for Xmas in a couple of years. My s.o. said I should go. I'm paying all the bills now while she's in school. In a couple of years, she'll be done and well employed, so she'll pay the bills. Maybe my employer will gimme a six month leave of absense and I can pull it off.

I've barely scratched the surface of Australia and Africa. I want to ride all the way across Asia. I want to ride in Spain.

Of everywhere I have ridden, the Dolomites in Italy is the best. The roads, the food, the people the hotels, the wine. It is ALL good. The prices ain't so great any more. So... I am very much looking forward to riding Argentina for all the same reasons but with LOW prices.

[jmerlino]

I've been riding just over a year (started in July last year), and I've got a total of about 10,000 miles under my belt. At this point, I've been to MA, CT, RI, NY, VT, NH, and ME, and last weekend, I made it into southern Quebec for a couple of hours (I had wanted to get to Montreal, but the further west I got, the worse the rain got, until I decided to punt and headed back south.)

As far as serious exploration, I'd say NH and VT have been my big areas. One of the better rides I've done has been up through the Lake Champlain islands. On that ride, I made a point of getting off the main road and exploring the islands a bit.

[PacWestGS]

I'm glad I asked the question, and no, not just on a motorcycle but any trip: business, vacation, travel, tour, bus, car, train, foot. And especially on a bike.

:thumb

[MCMXCIVRS]

By motorcycle I have ridden in every province in Canada. Level 5 for BC and Alberta, level 4 in Nova Scotia and PEI, 2 for the rest.

Also have been to a few US states. Level 5 status for Washington, Idaho and Montana. Level 3 status for my trips to Oregon and California. Wyoming and NY get a 1.

Non motorcycle travel adds Florida, Nebraska, Alaska, The Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico for US and US territories destinations. The list of other countries includes Mexico, Grand Cayman, Bahamas, and Italy plus the Vatican City if you're getting really nitpicky.

For my future travel dreams... its a big world, and I'd like to travel and or ride in as much of it as I can someday. Realistically though, Europe, Austrailia and New Zealand are motorcycle destination I seriously want to do. I also plan to do lots more riding in Canada and the US hopefully in many new places.

[Cliffy777]

I have never bean anywhere.
However, I have been a few places.
(Sorry, my mom is an English teacher).
Wait, "bean" is the British way of saying it, yes?

[BobFV1]

I have never bean anywhere.
However, I have been a few places.
(Sorry, my mom is an English teacher).
Lighten up - the guy made a typo. I've seen his other posts and he seems to be articulate and intelligent.

And by the way, the Brits spell it the same way we do - they pronounce it properly in terms of the history of the word, we Americans have phonetically mutated it.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Countries I have lived in for one year or more:

USA, Japan, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, Malaysia, India

Countries I have done long term stints of one month to one year in:

China, Kuwait, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Russia, Tajikistan, Panama

Countries I have visited more than once for one month or less:

Germany, Netherlands, France, Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Austria, Australia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, United Kingdom, Ireland, United Arab Emirates, Finland, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakstan, Turkey, Egypt, Brazil, Costa Rica, Korea, Canada Mexico, Switzerland

Languages spoken: English(5/5), Russian(3/3), French (2+/2+), Spanish (2/2)

Countries visted on buisness (just passin thru) - lots but I stopped counting. I did count in 1990 and I visited 41 countries that year. Good for the frequent flyer miles!

[Holly]

Several round trips; Ontario and New Mexico on a bike, but my favourite year was the year I was 66 degrees north and south. On a plane to Iceland and plane and icebreaker to Antarctica. Cool!

Darn, my penguin gif is way too large to upload.

Holly

[PacWestGS]

Lighten up - the guy made a typo. I've seen his other posts and he seems to be articulate and intelligent.

And by the way, the Brits spell it the same way we do - they pronounce it properly in terms of the history of the word, we Americans have phonetically mutated it.


Thanks Bob, no typo, just what you said at the bottom, eh. We always made fun of it the military. :D

"Como Estah, meho, vhere have juu beeean", "What have you beean up to?"

And yes my sister-in-law is a bloody Brit.

Cliffy, pun taken :stick

[Honu]

I have bean hardly anywhere, in comparison to y'all.

motorcyle: Mostly just Western states.
Plane: South Africa for a month and London for 16 hours. Hawaii, PA, Wash. D.C.
Car: Up through Canada and down through Mexico.
Raft: Rogue river-Or, Sacramento river- Ca, Green River- Utah.
Hiking boots: All over the Sierra-Nevadas, parts of Utah.
Womb: Was conceived in Hong Kong.

That's pretty much it. Wow, I really feel inexperienced. I better get out there and get going.

[PacWestGS]

In honor of my wife, (whom I met in the Compass Rose Lounge, 59th floor (top) of the Westin Hotel, Bangkok) and the fact that I have spent mucho time in and out, up and down, and back and forth in this country; I'll start there:

I could fly around the world blindfolded and the plane could land at Don Muang International Airport (Bangkok) any time of day. When the door opened I would immediately know where I was, there's just something about the dust, two-stroke oil fumes and the smells of Thai cooking. (I've heard India is the same way, for some people, don't know; yet).

Bangkok is like New York (Manhattan), concrete jungle to the max, busy and bustling 22-hours a day; can't wait to get out of it. There are however some of the best shopping malls in the world and some of the best copies of anything that has ever been made: clothing, watches, purses, everything including Microsoft Windows. Bangkok may be a woman’s dream in shopping, but it's a man’s dream for everything else; they don't call the place "SIN CITY" for its lack of churches and religious flavor, there is plenty of that. If you are there at least visit “Patpong Alley” Silom Road, if you want it ‘dirty’ visit “Nana Plaza” off Sukumvit Road. To keep it clean though, take a water-taxi up the Chao Phraya River and visit the 'Grand Palace' and the rest of the Buddhist temples along the river. In the 'Grand Palace' is a temple that contains the 'Emerald Buddha', this is a solid three-foot emerald statue of Buddha which is adorned in solid 24-karat gold. The King of Thailand gets to dress it three times a year for the seasons. After that and before you find any of the Irish Pubs and live Jazz coffee bars, get out of town, or you will be swallowed whole and never want to leave.

My favorite town: Chiang Mai, it's like a little Bangkok only the weather is much better. It is up in the Northern part of the country where there are hills, mountains and Teak forests. Elephants are still used to conduct logging operations and are still a viable function of their economy.

Speaking of the wether, there are four (really three) seasons in Thailand; Hot, F**king Hot, Oppressively F**king Hot, and the Monsoon "Rainy" season, which is still by the way Hot. Chiang Mai is about 20-degrees cooler than Hot. They actually wear goose-down jackets in the winter (its 70-degrees) but that is well, cold.

I have been as far north as Chiang Rai in that area (built two medical clinics). If you get much farther north you will be in the ‘Golden Triangle’. Bad juju, be careful, they will kill you. (Really it is safe, but be aware)

Central Thailand is like Texas, only greener and dirty, the landscape is flat or craggy mountains with slow moving (muddy) rivers that flood every year. The original capital "Ayuthaya” is mostly in ruin (they filmed the movie Mortal Combat and few other Sean Claud Van Damn movies ‘Kick boxer”) To the west of Bangkok is Kanchanaburi, the river Khwae (Kwai) runs through here and is where the “Bridge over the River Kwai” was built and subsequently blown up by allied bombers. You can still take a coal-powered train up the track to the Burmese Border along the rail-road that was built by POW’s (I was staying in a floating motel-room on the river when I realized I met my future wife. I remember getting up in the mornings everyday for a month and jumping into the River Kwai and going for a morning swim, now how ‘cool’ is that, two-miles north of a historic WWII landmark). The museum is pretty impressive, as is the cemetery.

The South-East coastal area is again one of my favorite areas. If you can go; go to Phattaya Beach for the excitement and parties, then head down to Rayong and Ko Samet Island for some well deserved relaxation. Chanthaburi Province Southeast is the fruit country of Thailand and is one of the better places to find all kinds of citrus groves. It’s like California/Florida but it’s not.

On the other side (West) is the “Trunk” of the elephant that winds down from Ratchaburi to Malaysia. I’ve been all the way down to Krabi which is on the mainland East of Phuket (Which was devastated by the Christmas Tsunami) This area of Thailand is made up of low-land mangroves, and mountainous triple canopy jungle. There are some natural hot springs that are quite relaxing and then of course there are the numerous fishing villages along both sides of the coast that provide a daily supply of seafood. (If I didn’t mention it already, Thai’s eat a lot of seafood, pork and chicken, along with rice and rice noodle, and vegetables). (Also, if you have only ever eaten Thai food in America; you have not eaten Thai food; the spices and freshness are just better in-country)

I love Thailand and will someday move into my house 45-miles Northeast of Bangkok (Brother-in-law built it, Mother-in-law lives in it, I paid for it). It will be the place that I start exploring the rest of the world. IF you are going over there PM me with particulars and I’ll let you speak with my lovely wife.

Thai people are fantastic, friendly and helpful. They (or we) call this the “Land of Ten-Thousand Smiles”

Until then and until the next country on my list, continue to explore. :thumb

[PacWestGS]

I have bean hardly anywhere, in comparison to y'all.

Honu, I have bean to Keno too. (That's Klamath Falls, Oregon for all you non-locals) My folks moved back there in 1990 after years down south. I'd visit often, until they both passed away.

Hey, I'm native Oregonian, Mother and Brother from Grants Pass, I was born in Portland (Milwaulkie), spent time in Wolf Creek got transplanted back and forth until the Army.

We'll have a Jackson County 'Mudslide' together next month. :drink

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Well I am truly a recluse compared to some of you folks...I have been to 48/50 with about a 5 on about 40 and 2 on the other 8. I have yet to go to AK and HI, have not figured a way to ride there yet...lol. That is my plan for next year, me and buddy going to AK. Have ridden in about 25 of the states visited.

As for other countries...well some inconsequential visits here and there, "business" related...and Europe I have ridden most of it, well Western Europe anyway...the Iron Curtain was still drawn when I left there.

Canada...love it to death but have visited about 4 provinces, ridden 2 of them.

As I said a real recluse compared to you folks...I am not done yet though...lol.

[PacWestGS]

That is my plan for next year, me and buddy going to AK.

Andy, I keep hearing you talk about "THIS" trip. I want to do "THIS" trip, maybe I need to be involved in your planning of "THIS" trip and join you.

I've been to AK but I haven't really 'BEEEAN' to AK, it is one of the places I want to see more of. After going to B.C. I want to go farther, I want to go all the way, 'Prudhoe Bay', and ANWAR so I can see a lonely Caribou before the oil drilling in an area that no one else will ever see but complain about.

Please keep me in your plans. I will have to take leave but I do want to do this.
Someday...

HeHeHa :thumb

Russ

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Hi Russ that would be awesome...I will be going with that same buddy that lives by you, when I come back out in the very near future we will all have to get together and do the intro thing and do some bantering. we too plan on going all the way to Prudhoe Bay and do the "cheesy picture" as described by Flash in his awesome write up. Also doing many of the trails in Denali and wearing out the knobby tires :D

We will definitely hook up Russ. My impression at first is that personalities will mesh fine, an important necessity on the long ones eh?...lol

Thanks Russ,
Andy

[andy45320]

Hi Russ that would be awesome...I will be going with that same buddy that lives by you, when I come back out in the very near future we will all have to get together and do the intro thing and do some bantering. we too plan on going all the way to Prudhoe Bay and do the "cheesy picture" as described by Flash in his awesome write up. Also doing many of the trails in Denali and wearing out the knobby tires :D

We will definitely hook up Russ. My impression at first is that personalities will mesh fine, an important necessity on the long ones eh?...lol

Thanks Russ,
Andy

Well darn...I too loved Flash's write up and would I would love join you guys but I would not be able to ride any of the trails on my lowly single-sport GT. How long of a trip are you planning Andy? I was planning a 3 weeks off of week next year sometime and have been debating on where exactly to go (thinking anywhere north of the mexico border is fair game :))

[Honu]

Honu, I have bean to Keno too. (That's Klamath Falls, Oregon for all you non-locals) My folks moved back there in 1990 after years down south. I'd visit often, until they both passed away.

Hey, I'm native Oregonian, Mother and Brother from Grants Pass, I was born in Portland (Milwaulkie), spent time in Wolf Creek got transplanted back and forth until the Army.

We'll have a Jackson County 'Mudslide' together next month. :drink

I'm a Californian originally (navy brat) but I've lived up here long enough to fit in. Looking forward to the mudslide. :thumb

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Well darn...I too loved Flash's write up and would I would love join you guys but I would not be able to ride any of the trails on my lowly single-sport GT. How long of a trip are you planning Andy? I was planning a 3 weeks off of week next year sometime and have been debating on where exactly to go (thinking anywhere north of the mexico border is fair game :))

Russ we were planning about 2 weeks at most since we both have commitments that are inescapable for too much longer. From Flash's write up the GT would do it fine although why not take the GS? The day before I left to come home we pored over the AK, Yukon and BC maps and after doing mileage distances we were in shock. Frankly at this point we are scavenging all data about the roads, shipping into the SEA area of my bike to leave with him (and yourself too maybe if that works) and we were looking at maybe having to ship back to SEA from Anchorage depending upon time constraints, and after all that we would still be racking serious mileage.

I am 2600 miles away from his/your home approx...and then it looks like a week to go from your area to the Arctic Ocean without Iron Butting and we are not going to do that on vacation...lol. Oh well lots more homework to do, and can't wait to get the intros done and three heads are better than two for planning etc for sure. Awesome...are you sure that the GS would not be available?...lol

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

screwed that up didn't I?..lol. Answering the wrong guy but hey nothing is out of the question after all. Time will tell after all kinds of planning details are done. You are from WI and so your mileage is almost the same anyway...lol. Russ I now know after reading the post that you would be taking the GS and I am now going to listen to my hooked on phonics set for comprehension...lmao

[PacWestGS]

screwed that up didn't I?..lol. Answering the wrong guy but hey nothing is out of the question after all. Time will tell after all kinds of planning details are done. You are from WI and so your mileage is almost the same anyway...lol. Russ I now know after reading the post that you would be taking the GS and I am now going to listen to my hooked on phonics set for comprehension...lmao


Well, now that you have filled me in on some of your trip. I will buy the Baja lighting kit for my YZ426F and steal a license plate off my trailer, It sounds like a lot more fun than the GS. :ha :rofl :lol

Hey, my plan was the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry (Bellingham to Skagway/Haines) and then up to Denali, down to Anchorage and then upto Fairbanks, up 65 to Prudhoe Bay (Ship/ferry?) to Tuktoyaktuk (Yukon Territory Hwy 5 south to Dawson) and south back home.

No, I think I'll take the GS.... :dance

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

Hey Russ I think you may have just come up with the answer to the time issue...maybe a rerun on my recent trip to get my bike out there again and then fly back for the trip...this is awesome...as George Pepard said in the A_Team..."I love it when a plan comes together"...hehehehe.

[PacWestGS]

I'm a Californian originally (navy brat) but I've lived up here long enough to fit in. Looking forward to the mudslide. :thumb
So (was) my father and (is) sister, no problems here.

Hwy 66 to Keno, WOW, lots of fun. :D

Honu, I can't bring everything (motorcycle ya know) you want to bring the Kahlua or the Bailey's, I'll bring the Vodka and (Scotch, opps different drink)

[PacWestGS]

Hey Russ I think you may have just come up with the answer to the time issue...maybe a rerun on my recent trip to get my bike out there again and then fly back for the trip...this is awesome...as George Pepard said in the A_Team..."I love it when a plan comes together"...hehehehe.

One day on a big boat, kickin back enjoying the 'Inside Passage' $450.00 est.

[PUDGYPAINTGUY]

One day on a big boat, kickin back enjoying the 'Inside Passage' $450.00 est.

I am down with that Russ...well worth it considering time versus cost...and it will make a cool adventure in itself...outstanding and jolly good

[PacWestGS]

I am down with that Russ...well worth it considering time versus cost...and it will make a cool adventure in itself...outstanding and jolly good

Yeah, I don't know, what's a 1000-miles (plus) /20-hours worth to you while holding a cocktail and enjoying a 'fabulous view'?

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=7491

I was thinking 10-12 days if didn't diddle.

[PacWestGS]

Cambodia: (The real Wild, Wild West, oh, wait that’s the East)

Cambodia (Kampuchea) is similar to Thailand in many ways, and very different in others. First the French had a huge interest in this region of the world, far more than Thailand. So the architecture is very post revolutionary French, (Vietnam is more of the same). If you remember this was the ‘French version of Tropical Paradise’ before they pissed off the locals and got chased out.

I think some of the biggest visual changes between the countries is that Cambodia is ‘Chessboard-Flat’ with the exception of three mountain ranges to the Southwest, Northwest and far east. Rice paddies abound and everything is ‘Shades of Green’ or ‘Red’ clay that is.

Phnom Penh is a beautiful city, with its round-a-bouts, fountains, and cobbled stone roads, patched with used motor-oil, dirt and severely pot-holed. The Mekong River runs through it and provides commerce and subsistence. Almost everything there is broken and forgotten where it broke. The public bus ‘Barn’ in the center off town, looked more like a scrap-yard and parts bin to keep other old and tired buses working. Almost everything the government has is a hand-me-down from some better off country. This is a poor country of proud people, albeit these people are still scared to death of being educated and need to be led on the right path.

The food is good, and there are plenty of different flavors: French, American, (mild-Asian) and local flare, (mashed potatoes and river fish). Oh, don’t drink anything with ‘ice’ if you didn’t twist the cap, it’s probably contaminated). Beer ‘Heineken’ good, cold.

The central market is one of the highlights of spending a day in town. You can find, gems, (real and fake), precious metals, wood-carvings and other handy-work, and clothes, specialty t-shirts with any sort of ‘printed copied material available’, “Hard Rock Café anywhere you’ve never been”. You can also find, Semi-automatic and fully automatic military weapons, on sale from 22-caliber to 120mm and the ammunition for all of it. There is a place out side of town on the way to the airport where you can rent anything that ever been made and blast away. I’ve heard they got an M60 tank you could shoot if you’ve got the money.

The one thing however that you will find, is hundreds if not thousands of people from the very young to the very old that are missing various limbs. Some are the sad fact of living in perpetual war, between themselves and between their neighbors. Others are self-imposed wounds by trying new ways to survive, a lot of the injuries to middle aged men come from trying to disassemble explosives for the purpose of fishing, there is unfortunately no shortage of landmines and bombs left over from the wars. The children, are the ones who suffer the wrath of their keepers though, they learn from a very young age through NGOs and GOs in their schools (if lucky enough to have one) and from agencies that I helped train to properly find and dispose of the minefields and place warning signs everywhere they find a new or old minefield. (There were no maps; they don’t mark them like the US Military does, so a minefield is found in one of two ways: hearsay or victim) Cambodia does have one of the premier artificial prosthetics centers anywhere in world short of (Walter Reed Army Medical Center).

There are a few more locations that are a must see while visiting. One is the old Tuol Sleng prison in the center of town. During the end of our war (US/Vietnam) and before Pohl Pot started his extermination of the ‘educated’ he had a problem with the rulers from Vietnam; there were POWs (American, French, other) that were not to be handed over to the Vietnamese, so they were slaughtered in their cells. (From the pictures I saw and the conditions these men were in this was more of a ‘mercy killing’ as apposed to what they might have revealed about their torture and captivity). Their cells are just as they were 27-years earlier, without the bodies (those were recovered by US teams before the fall of Cambodia ((Remember we weren’t there)). On your way out the end of the tour is a map of Cambodia, it’s about 15’ long and 10’ high, it’s made from human bones. The other place that you must visit is the local ‘Tower of death’ 'Cheung Ek' the nearest and most photographed of the ‘Killing Fields’. The tower of death is a tiered glass tower filled with sculls of some 8,000 of remains recovered in just this one spot; it’s about 15’-square and 50-feet tall. It will give you the willies and a perspective unlike that of Auschwitz or Dachau, at least the Germans tried to cover up their horrors in a fascist kind of way, Pohl Pot and the Khmer Rouge just left the ground blood red. The locals who survived came to bury their own. (I’m not making this stuff up, I’m not reading it from a travel book, and it is indelibly inked into my memory)

One last place back in town to walk by is the Phnom Penh prison, truly Hell on earth.. This is NOT the place you want to spend even a few minutes of your life; the people I saw were chained to the floor in a 3x5 foot open cell, with a #10 can for body waste. They are released a few times a day to move about the inside courtyard and work on maintaining their own facility but that is about it. Very little if any money is spent on these people. There was once an American tourist held there, she was busted for possession of drugs at the airport. The US Embassy paid and some human watch groups paid a hefty ransom to free her. (If US prisons were even remotely close to this, no one would commit a crime; for the fear of being caught) (SERE training was better than this)

OK, enough of the horror tour, the countryside is quite beautiful, green and open, with palm and coconut trees, canals and streams criss-crossing the land. The Khmer Rouge are supposed to be defunct so that makes the Pailin area a place to visit, this is the ‘Ruby Capital of the World’, but don’t stop there, no trip to Cambodia would be complete without visiting the Angkor Wat Temple in Siemreap Province. (Now I have to admit, I didn’t make there in the two times I was in Cambodia, so I will have to return someday)

Well that’s about it, the people are friendly and will look at you with bewilderment the farther from the city you get, but do be careful, consider arming yourself (only if you are prepared to use it) before taking a car/bike tour of the country, there are bandits and corrupt police/soldiers that will kill you, but hey, it’s rare. I’d travel with a minimal amount of (their) money and be prepared to give it up without question.

Angelina Jolie doesn't have a problem you won't either.

[lorazepam]

Been to 47/50 states, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Canada. Mexico City, Monterrey, Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

England, Holland, Italy, Germany, France in Europe.

Mainland China, Hong kong, Taiwan, Viet Nam, Thailand, Korea, Singapore in Asia.

Europe, and Asia was all bidness, Canada and Mexico, both pleasure and bidness.

[Hodag]

I went to lorazaspams house this last summer, I thought that was living on the wild side.
Other than that i don't get out much.

[BubbaZanetti]

let see, in my relatively short time on this planet (i'm a life n00b, its kinda like being the message board n00b, except no one makes fun of you for talking about oil and tires too much) i've been to most of the eastern and midwestern states, some of the western states and all of the pacific coast states in the lower forty eight. i lived in scotland for a while and have been to the uk, france, spain, italy switzerland, germany belgium and luxembourg. i've also been to some of canada (left and right coasts plus ontario) and i added new brunswick to the count on a 1000/24 rally this summer

[jmerlino]

My previous answer only included places I've been on my bike. Via other modes of transportation, I've been to most of the eastern seaboard states, including a 6.5 year stint in Georgia. I've also been to California and Oregon, as well as Quebec and Ontario, and Spain, England and Ireland.

[PacWestGS]

BUMP back to the present.

Laos, the Semi-Untouched and Almost Unblemished Parts of Southeast Asia.

Vientiane is a wonder old city of French design and old world Buddhist cultures. Like Phnom Penh there is huge central circle to town and everything moves away from this with long streets and roads extending out like a spiders-web. Also, like Phnom Penh, Vientiane is located along the Mekong River. Although not used for commerce because way down river there are some beautiful water falls (kind of like Grand Rapids or Sioux City Falls) that keeps large vessels from going up the river. There are some rather large barges that are used to conduct river commerce between the cities along the river and between Thailand, but for the most part Laos is land-locked.

During the Indo-China War, Laos was used extensively by allied forces and them other people whom didn’t exist, and the ones did; Air America. There is a US built military installation down town that looks very much like US military installations in other places around the world; almost like they imported every brick, window frame, and door and cyclone chain-link fence with triple stand barbwire. I can’t remember what the Laotian Government uses it for but it still looks like a military base complete with vintage era ¼ ton jeeps and 2-1/2 ton US Army trucks.

The reason above for the semi-untouched and unblemished phrase is that there are these areas along the Lao/Thai border that was a discharge/release point for unused ordinates from Air Force planes returning from bombing missions in and along the other border Lao/Vietnamese. For some unexplainable reason (to me, I know the safety and political reasons, but) they didn’t arm (re-arm) these bombs they just dropped them in formerly un-inhabited areas. Well it is now much inhabited areas and has a major highway from the big cities in the North to the big cities in the South. If you can imagine hundreds of thousands of pounds of unexploded ordinates (UXO) stuck in the mud and for the ones that exploded anyways the huge ponds they created. We are cleaning this up, but it takes time and is very dangerous. Now, for the other border, well that was an active war zone and probably the heaviest bombed location in the world, although I think Tora Bora in Afghanistan is catching up. Yes, the Ho Chi Minh trail runs through this part of the country and although it was supposed to be a ‘Neutral’ country it was not. It’s not that the Lao Government supported the North Vietnamese they did not, they supported the US occupation and protection we provided them from also becoming hard-line communist, (they are or did become Socialist) and they just couldn’t control such a vast and mountainous area. Hence the use of the Hmong and support from them people whom do not exist because the US Government said “There are no US troops in Cambodia or Laos, you can take my word for that”. Thanks Dick, no US Troops, least not in a US uniform. OK, enough of the chit chats, you can read a vast number of conspiracy books on the matter. There are numerous thousands of pounds of UXO littering the country side, big 2000lb stuff, smaller 500lb stuff and millions of them little self dispersing bomblets (CBU) that cover large areas with these neat little baseball size toys for each generation of children to find. The US, Aussies, and a handful of other countries are out there cleaning it up, but what a mess war is after the fact.

I was building (re-building) a hospital completed by the Vietnamese in 1973 in the village of Xepon (Zee-pone) 42-miles from the Vietnam border and a little over a hundred miles east of Savannaket Laos. It was falling apart, had huge holes in the roof and generally a condemned building, many of the buildings on this site were unfixable, mostly due to poor construction and cheap materials. They built sturdy bridges and ‘Memorial Statues to Victory over the US/French’, but lousy at everything else. Anyway this isn’t a what I did story, but under the US Ambassadors Humanitarian Assistance Program this is what I did, it’s a mighty fine ‘NEWish’ building with a half-million dollars of donated medical equipment installed, running water and electricity, something it never had before I arrived. Something the whole town does not have, running water, sanitation or electricity, we are talking National Geographic Cover Story here. There are about 72,000 local inhabitants living within 50-miles or so and the agreement was that doctors from Savannaket would make trips out to care for the locals on a regular basis. Many of the young and old had Malaria, Dengue-Fever other diseases or infections. A main part of this building project was a Labor and Delivery Room and a Surgical Suite, and Dental Office. I don’t remember what the infant mortality rate was, but it was high. And it was not IMHO (and although this may piss-off some Vietnam Vets) not caused by ‘Agent Orange’. I didn’t see cancer, or deformed people and this is the area that got saturated with this stuff. And just so you know I’m not biased the NGO I worked with and who showed me all these places, worked in this same area during the war was GB Vet who did (un-named) missions into Laos. Sorry if that burst the bubble, but I just didn’t see it at the source; I saw a lot of 30-40 year old normal people who held no grudge, just questions.

I got to visit the Ho Chi Minh trail and walk along the 4” gas pipeline that they built over 40 some miles of. There were bombed out and broken down rusting hulks of vehicles and even a motorcycle or two stuck permanently along the trail. This was not one of the most visited areas for tourism, but it is open if you travel to it. I also got to visit some very remote villages that were created because of the ‘Arc Light’(carpet bombing) missions where B-52 dropped 2000lb bombs along a path two and three hundred-yards wide and miles in length, they leave nice evenly spaced 15-20 foot deep 30-foot round craters for holding water, surprising thing this was. I saw the fuel drop tanks that are still used as canoes, fine aircraft grade aluminum, gusseted and easily split into two separate halves complete with rudder(fin). This was also when I forayed into Vietnam on a photo trip and souvenir shopping run.

One last thing to note about this area was the POW/MIA search teams that were digging up the land looking for missing American flyers that went down and never came home. Some do every now and then, but it’s an arduous task. They are there because I was there, and the UXO/Demining missions are there because we do the things we do. If I have not mentioned this before and I know I haven’t. The modern day Special Forces Green Beret (with or without a war) is mostly, but not always; “The United States of America Peace Corps with Guns!” We really are the “Hearts and Minds” campaign of the State Department. But that’s our softer side; the other side is those guys you saw on horse back in Afghanistan leading a regiment of indigenous warriors into battle. Or, the liaison between 42 countries during the first Gulf War.

Cont.

[PacWestGS]

Laos, is very very beautiful, it’s rugged, has extremely high mountains, big valleys and rivers, good motorcycles roads, (less the monsoon season), and very friendly people. Well once you get away from the Government corruption. You can bribe anybody here, the local police man to the ranking officials, (Johnny Walker, eat a few dried grasshoppers, and a smooth mouth will get anything done, isn’t it great, and a lot cheaper than our system of spending a million $$$ to investigate a $10,000 contribution).

In the North is Luange Prabong, the ‘Plain of Jars’ I have no idea, but it’s ‘Stonehenge’ of the East. There is a really big field with centuries old cement water containers, laying around in no particular fashion. Hashish and MJ hang from store fronts for cooking and other uses. Along the Mekong are caves that house ancient Buddhist images and statues, kind of like Terracotta Warriors. Very fascinating stuff and NO I didn’t get to visit these places either, so that is why I’ll go back.

I did take a drive up into the mountains North of Vientiane if I recall about 4,000 feet up. The weather and temperature was fantastic, nice and cool, clean crisp fresh air. A beautiful river had its head water near where we stopped for lunch; I could have a cabin built and be happy living there. Some of the villages we drove through had never seen a ‘white’ man so I was scary and undeniably a novelty to touch and look at, I was also very big and intimidating looking compared to them.

There is great food of all varieties to be had everywhere, (even rats and lizard on a stick) there are a lot of ex-pats that call Laos home, and I could see why. A lot of them are Vietnam Vets that are there to make former wrongs, right if that is possible.

Safety wise, it’s pretty good, but like Cambodia there are thugs and bandits that will rob you along the roads out in the country. The locals I worked and traveled with were armed and they knew I knew that and where it was. (They didn’t want anything bad to happen to me.) Funny thing about flying over there; International regulations state you must declare firearms before flying and you can not go through the magnetometer and make it go beep, (very low settings anyway) but, just place your 1911 or Smith & Wesson in the plastic box slide to the inspector along the outside of the detector and put it back in your holster on the secure side, no problem. I don’t think they have ever had a hijacking, or at least a successful one.

One last thing remembered here; this is where I was introduced to a bunch of drunks with a running problem. If you’ve never heard of the ‘Hash House Harries” or Hasher’s or a Hash Run, these are folks just like us in the BMW community: Good, but a little unstable. I got my Hash name the ‘Navigator’ one night because it got a little too dark to complete a run and about 60-people of all ages were lost in the jungle, I just happens to be with them. I had a little red-lens flashlight and my training to back track the miles of sandy/hard pack trails and broken foliage that we had crossed several times purposefully running in circles earlier, so the difficulty was a factor of x160 plus pairs of feet going in two or more directions. We got back late and found the first group and the ‘Hare’ waiting and making lots of noise, that could not be heard until we were very close. I never had to drink from the shoe again… I should use that name here but someone else already does.

Russ

P.S. This was a BUMP so if the thread dies I will not continue. Thanks for the memories I went through to write up these three counties though. I guess that’s why we travel outside of our home, the memories and people you meet along the way. I've been blessed with ability to travel far and wide and for long durations of time.

[kbasa]

48/50 on my bike. Most of the Canadian provinces. Northern Mexico. Ireland. Isle of Man (yeah, for the races)

I'm a geographic n00b, but am seeking to change that soon.

[Bob_M]

By bicycle I traversed the US from LA to NY, on another trip I went from LA to Steamboat CO and went over 7 passes over 10,000. On motorcycle I circumnavigated Mexico, but since then I have been mostly restricted to the Western US and Canada. I designed a regional park in the Russian far east a few years ago, and toured coastal villages and hill towns in Italy, Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia before the wars there blew it all up. Travel is good :thumb

[PacWestGS]

Bob that is so cool. Now that I know you, how old were you when you did this. Not that that matters you look like you could still do it today. But, I'm curious, was it one of those finding yourself things or did you just wake up one morning 'Forrest, Forrest Gump" and leave LA on a bicycle?

I'd like to mountain-bike the Cascade Trail from BC to Mexico but probably will not happen, maybe someday little parts at a time.

Russ

I'd also like to MC ride the 'Pony Express' someday.

[IAMBOB]

I'm an Army Brat, and an Army Retiree.. spent a LOT of time in Western Europe. BELIEVE It or not.. had my first birthday on a troop transport on the way to Germany (so I've been told) the USNS Rose. I don't remember it, so maybe my brother will see this and add truth or fiction..

I've lived in Germany a total of 12 years.. covering a few years in the 60's, 70's and 80's. I never owned a bike over there, and thought at the time it would be suicidal, a few people I knew bought rice rockets over there, and I don't think any of them got out of country unscathed. I spent time in Bad Tolz Germany hoofin it amongst the woods and hills. and would love to go back and tour that part of the country on bike, if nothing else I'm going back to tour the Eastern Side. I still have my map book and there are some places I want to see, see what they look like up close instead of through a fence.

I'd also like to see Austria and Switzerland on the back of a bike.. BEAUTIFUL country.

In this country, I've lived in New England most.. beautiful there, and most of my family is still there in NH.. nice place to visit, but I'm SOOO Tired of the snow and cold. Next summer, MOA in VT, I'll be making a ride up throught the White Mountains. and the Kangamangus Highway..

KY.. no real interest to go back, had my first bike there, and no desire to go back and see it again.

Washington State, Oregon, Idaho.. have to make it back there to do some SERIOUS touring.. You get everything up there, mountains, desert, ocean, but have to have GOOD wet gear..

[PacWestGS]

I spent time in Bad Tolz Germany hoofin it amongst the woods and hills. and would love to go back and tour that part of the country on bike, if nothing else I'm going back to tour the Eastern Side. I still have my map book and there are some places I want to see, see what they look like up close instead of through a fence.

I'd also like to see Austria and Switzerland on the back of a bike.. BEAUTIFUL country.



Tolz, 10th (77th) or something else? Very nice place. Did some training there in 1982 (Signal Corps stuff)

Austria, Switzerland and Northern Italy, (Alps) BEAUTIFUL no doubt about it. Skied several places down that way. Would love to see on a bike too. Maybe someday... :thumb

[Bob_M]

[QUOTE=SFDOC]... did you just wake up one morning 'Forrest, Forrest Gump" and leave LA on a bicycle?[QUOTE] Life is like a box of Chocolates

The LA-NY ride was loosely planned. I went with a sociopathic girlfriend with great atheletic ability who I met in east Texas, (the relationship did not work out :bolt ) Most of my bike trips were, just get enough money to leave, and leave. I was young, had that long gone fire in the belly, and energy to burn. The trip I am really interested in is the continental divide trail which Clement Salvatore wrote up In Rider magazine a year or so ago. He did it on a GS, but the trail is laid out in a bicycle touring book.

Get yourself some new knees, and by the time you are good to go, I could be back in shape. Scott C. is already ready. Gambrinus (who used to participate in the forum :brow cycles... I bet there are lots of mooks lurking in this forum who secretly bicycle ride (and like it)

[PacWestGS]

Get yourself some new knees, and by the time you are good to go, I could be back in shape. Scott C. is already ready. Gambrinus (who used to participate in the forum :brow cycles... I bet there are lots of mooks lurking in this forum who secretly bicycle ride (and like it)

My knees are fine for bicycles it's non-movement that stiffens them up. But this is harder to plan than a 3-4-day MC trip. Give a call some day and we'll just 'HOOK UP' for a local PDX bicycle ride somewhere.

You can always call me about a MC ride within 300-miles

Russ

[IAMBOB]

Tolz, 10th (77th) or something else? Very nice place. Did some training there in 1982 (Signal Corps stuff)

Austria, Switzerland and Northern Italy, (Alps) BEAUTIFUL no doubt about it. Skied several places down that way. Would love to see on a bike too. Maybe someday... :thumb

Spent four(or was it 6 or 8) weeks there with a Scout Platoon taking the Platoon Confidence Course taught by the 10th SF.. Fun times had by all.. Rapelling, rock and Helo... mountain climbing.. Patrolling, us with 10th playing opfor.. some "demo" stuff.. obstacle building/ clearing.. CRAP load of PT two or three times a day.. until we go to the land nav portion, platoon and 3 man team.. LONG distance, and if you missed the deadline for the truck you got to look forward to another 20K march back to camp.. with full ruck of course (scouts always carried the large alice) I had the luck of doing the small team land nav with the platoon Medic.. we did about 12 K, did a WET stream crossing in October in BAvaria, when I finally looked over his shoulder at the map.. we were going the wrong way!! He was following the back azimuth. Like I said, FUN Time had by all.. This was early 80's I think... and my FIRST FTX.. brand new.. still had the new guy dots on my boots!

[PacWestGS]

Aaahhhh yes, I remember that course being there, I didn't attend it but it was talked about like the Jungle Course in Panama. '82-'84 I was in Neu Ulm and Swhabesh Gemund (Pershing Brigade) Nuke em till they glow, easier to find with thermals... :rocker

[MarkF]

Have not been to a lot of places - YET. I love the adirondacks and VT. Eastern Ontario is very nice and so are the people. But my fav is that ribbon of territory that is the borders of West Virginia and Kentucky to the west, Virginia to the east and Tennesse to the west, North Carolina to the east with a little bit of Maryland to the north and Georgia to the south. It is heaven!

[Boingo]

Okay, I’ll bite.

On the bike, all of the western states, some of the central states, and 4 or 5 of the eastern states (yeah, I really do have to see more of my own country), western Canada, and Baja Mexico.

Off bike:
Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, India, Nepal, China, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, UK, Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxemburg.

[Honu]

By bicycle I traversed the US from LA to NY, on another trip I went from LA to Steamboat CO and went over 7 passes over 10,000. On motorcycle I circumnavigated Mexico, but since then I have been mostly restricted to the Western US and Canada. I designed a regional park in the Russian far east a few years ago, and toured coastal villages and hill towns in Italy, Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia before the wars there blew it all up. Travel is good :thumb

Damn Bob, you have been around a little.
And you still take time out of your busy fun schedule to make our little old Medford a more pleasant place to be.

Thanks for the Hwy 62 beautification, I will be watching as your plans come to fruition (Until January anyway). :D

Nice to meet you in the redwoods. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye, so... :wave