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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Advice/ reccomendations wanted for travelling.
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01/05/2006 10:01:07 AM · #1
Okay, me and my wife have decided to do something very bold, so we're selling our house in November and going travelling around the world indefinitely.
I'm hoping to build up a great portfolio of photo-journalism so I can get a good photo-journalism job on my return... if I return! So I'm looking for interesting and explosive news-worthy places around the world. I'm willing to take risks and I'm willing to travel to war-zones (but not with my wife, obviously!).
Kate wants to do Indonesia and I want to do Mexico at some point, but other than that we're completely open-minded. I'm leaning towards the idea of covering all of central and south America. But I'm also interested in the Himalayas, Mongolia, Russia and China. Also some of the war-torn African countries.
I have several years as an IT consultant behind me, and am quite happy to put some of those skills to use to help me and others along during my travels.
Me and my wife are also musicians, and plan to play with as many other musicians as possible wherever we go.
Any ideas?
01/05/2006 10:10:34 AM · #2
No real suggestions for ya', but it sounds like the adventure of a lifetime. Best of luck to you!!
01/05/2006 11:25:54 AM · #3
Uhm.... WOW!!! Can I go?!?!?
01/05/2006 11:43:02 AM · #4
Good for you guys! Manic and I are doing the same thing, except we are not selling a house (we don't own one) and we plan to be away for at least a year, depends on uni and how broody I get ;) I was actually gonna do this on my own starting this April but as fate would have it, all my plans just desintegrated when I met him :P so now I have to wait a couple years more. Good luck to you and keep us updated!

June
01/05/2006 11:58:07 AM · #5
Wow - Great for you!!! (psst - Need a camera caddy, I could work for cheap if you cover all the expenses? :o).....

If you want conflict: I would suggest some of the less well covered places (seems every jorno and his dog with a camera is in Iraq or the Middle-East), as you say maybe somewhere in central/northern Africa [I think this would also be great from the travel perspective as there are safe places in amongst the insanity, so could do side trips seperatly]. I have seen pics of Ethiopia and it was nothing like what I had in my minds eye - I would love to get there before it gets on the main tourist path.

S.E. Asia is just amazing (both good and bad) - Don't miss places like Thailand and the islands around Indonesia - I know there are a lot of tourist spots but off the path they are just amazing.

I have never been but I think India would be an interesting place to spend some time. Interesting stage of development with both the hi-tech, growing middleclass and also the poverty. Big range of environments - tropical to (seriously) high altitude. Make sure you get to a test match against Pakistan (or even England) while you are there :)

As you say China and Russia would also be interesting. Maybe more so for your purposes, some of the ex soviet countries that are still in flux from the break-up.

OK - Enough of this because now I am just plain jealous..... Please setup a blog or something so the rest of us with no life can see something from somebody that does :-))

Seriously, Great for you & your better half :) to attempt something like this.
01/05/2006 11:59:30 AM · #6
You might take a look at the lonely planet website:

Lonely Planet Journeys

If I picked a place to go based on the DPC photos, I would go to Iceland.
01/05/2006 12:26:26 PM · #7
Thanks for the recommendations!
June... where are you planning on travelling to?
I have to say that I've always been very jealous of travellers but have never seen myself as doing it myself. It's photography that's opened it up as a serious possibility, and something that will develop my career.
I'll certainly keep a blog! In fact, I'm toying with the idea of taking a laptop as well as 2 bodies and my lenses... I don't know how practical that is yet.
I do have a new blog which is for my music photography, give it a visit!
//EyesOpenMusic.blogspot.com

Message edited by author 2006-01-05 12:28:03.
01/05/2006 12:49:23 PM · #8
Sounds awesome - good luck with that! If you end up in war-torn central Texas give me a shout. Plenty of bands to play with here though and not far from Mexico!

I've always wanted to go to Marrakesh/Morocco & Egypt. Bhutan is also high on the list.

Big time photojournalistic destination right now is the Three Gorges Dam project in China. Huge areas of land about to be submerged, lots of villages and people being relocated, in some cases brick by brick. Supposed to be finished in 2009 so not much time left to see/ record it.

Probably a lot of potential in areas hit by the Tsunami last year, now that the world has 'forgotten'. Rebuilding efforts
you could help with or photograph, perhaps needs for IT skills.

You could hit New Orleans afterwards to compare/ contrast the
rebuilding efforts.
01/05/2006 01:01:53 PM · #9
Wow, that's gutsy. What an adventure!
:-O
01/05/2006 01:03:26 PM · #10
I hear Iraq is hopping...

(Forgive the flippant comment).

I spent five years in Indonesia between 2000 and 2004, and would be happy to discuss some of the details of expat life there. There's always news, and I can put you in touch with some former colleagues who are still working there as print/photo/video/radio journalists. Let me know.

Oh yeah, the traditional music scene is a good and developing one. Gamelan has gotten some exposure abroad, and of course there's dangdut (a mixture of arabic and bollywood) that's a staple of everyday life in most of Indonesia's islands. So if music is an interest, I'd say Indon is a good place to hit.

I spent six months in 1999 living in Bali, on about US$2 a day. Inflation has happened, but not that much.

Message edited by author 2006-01-05 13:07:02.
01/05/2006 01:30:54 PM · #11
The Kurdistan area of Turkey, the country around Transylvania (Hungary/Romania), Kamchatka, high up the mountain plateaus in Mongolia, Afghanistan, Iran, Jordan, Israel, Antartica....

01/05/2006 01:56:12 PM · #12
Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

Thanks for the recommendations!
June... where are you planning on travelling to?
I have to say that I've always been very jealous of travellers but have never seen myself as doing it myself. It's photography that's opened it up as a serious possibility, and something that will develop my career.
I'll certainly keep a blog! In fact, I'm toying with the idea of taking a laptop as well as 2 bodies and my lenses... I don't know how practical that is yet.
I do have a new blog which is for my music photography, give it a visit!
//EyesOpenMusic.blogspot.com


Still haven't decided but we are looking at mostly 3rd world countries cause they are cheaper. We'll probably visit every continente except Antarctica.

June
01/05/2006 02:09:12 PM · #13
Wow, some great ideas there. The plan is to go to cheaper countries, as we can last longer there.
I'm VERY interested in the Three Gorges Dam project in China. I already made a mental note of that project.
Rgo, my wife has spent a while living in Indonesia as a result of some volunteering work when she left school. She then got a degree in S.E. Asian studies and spent more time living there. We may spend some time settling there in the not-too-distant future, so I may well contact you for the list of contacts you mentioned! Of course, I'd be happy to aid with rebuilding from the Tsunami if we were in the area. How hard would it be to get work as a journalist/photo-journalist there?
01/05/2006 02:17:27 PM · #14
Way to go Bobster, just the kind of adventure I would be keen on!

Here is one site full of amazing information on anyplace in the world that you want to go to along with first hand info on what to watch for, dangers, tips etc. I always check out this place before traveling anywhere.

virtual tourist

If you are wanting to go to Russia you'll need a visa which can take a while and cost lot of money, not to mention lots of paper work. If you are staying in hotels there it is not as difficult, but if you are just traveling around with no concrete addresses where you are staying it will be very difficult.
01/05/2006 03:15:27 PM · #15
If you go to Russia, by all means take the Trans Siberian Railroad all across the country. If you go west to east, (Moscow to Vladivostok) you can connect with trains down to Harbin or into Mongolia, and other places, for more exploring. On the Trans Siberian, you will meet some awesome people and see scenery that just can't be described adequately. And of course, get off and stay in some of the places if you can.

(I did it about half way, and would have loved to have done the whole thing.)
01/05/2006 04:01:15 PM · #16
If you want danger and excitement, try Central/South America. There are lots of scary things going on down there. Just don't get kidnapped, killed or directly involved with armed guerillas. I guess that last bit applies in just about any place you travel, but kidnapping seemingly well-to-do people and holding them for ransom is somewhat of a cottage industry down there. In the Middle East, it would seem that kidnappers are more interested in making videotape of them cutting your head off with a not-so-sharp knife as a means to dissuade Western involvement in the region.

Well, whatever and wherever you go, have fun, but please be careful.
01/05/2006 04:11:11 PM · #17
buy some REALLY good suitcases.
You know that insurance add with the wheels falling off and the handles falling off and people beating and kicking thier luggage - i've been there, its not nearly as humerous to experience as it is to watch.
Dubai would be a good place to leave the wife while you go into less "safe" areas of the middle east. Dubai is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
01/05/2006 04:32:32 PM · #18
On the suit case note, this is truly important. If you are not traveling by car or private transit, and will depend on public local transportation, you have to boil down everything you need into a backpack. One pack each, and you need to be able to carry it for several miles. I have seen folks walking through the poor third world neighbourhoods with half a dozen peices of Samsonite, despetately trying to make it to the end of the block, with the young and hungry watching them the way coyotes watch wounded rabbits. If you have a sidebag, or a camerabag, it has to fit in or strap onto your main pack, keeping both hands free. Carry anything more and your risk of loosing it becomes very real, the longer you are out the more likely. I met a Scottish kid in Bejing who had been on the road for six years and he had everything he owned in a pack smaller than my daughter's school backpack. Don't let what you are bringing along keep you from getting where you want to go.
01/05/2006 04:41:00 PM · #19
Just out of curiousity, have you guys decided when you are gonna set off yet?

June
01/06/2006 08:58:19 AM · #20
Thanks again!
I'll check out Virtual Tourist over the coming months.
The Trans Siberian Railroad is definitely on my list of things to do if I'm in that region. I've always wanted to do it, and Mongolia is also very high on my list.
I'm going to have to get a very good rucksack that'll hold all my camera gear (2 bodies, 70-210mm, 24-70mm, 12-24mm, 105mm macro, laptop) and my essentials, which will HAVE to be essential because of all my heavy and bulky camera gear! Anyone have any reccomendations?
We're probably setting off in November but we're not going to make very firm plans, we want to go where the spirit takes us!
01/06/2006 09:01:21 AM · #21
well if you fancy Afghanistan give me a shout. My Dad has moved back there, and being the ex minister for urban development is pretty connected should you need any help.

Oh and Afghanistan is certainly one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The people and the landscape

Message edited by author 2006-01-06 09:02:25.
01/06/2006 09:13:49 AM · #22
Wow, you bet! Thanks!
Edit... you're a useful chap with your great sheet music website as well!

Message edited by author 2006-01-06 09:14:43.
10/08/2012 01:44:32 PM · #23
I know this was a while ago, but how did the world trip go?

Message edited by author 2012-10-08 13:44:46.
10/08/2012 02:06:42 PM · #24
I have found over the years that the key to a successful trip is "Less clothes and more money"

Ray
10/08/2012 03:09:10 PM · #25
Originally posted by RayEthier:

I have found over the years that the key to a successful trip is "Less clothes and more money"

Ray


Rich and naked doesn't go over so well in some most countries.
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