GRcade

Ecno wrote:I quite fancy going whale watching, Iceland seems like the best bet, to combine closeness and whale watching experience. Anyone got anything better, or can recommend any tour companies?

I've been in Iceland. We saw Orcas and Humpbacks. It was over in the west with a company called Laki Tours. The boat departs from Olafsvik but the office and associated cafe (which is worth visiting) is in Grundarfjordur.

When we were on the south of the Island at Dyrhólaey Lighthouse we saw tonnes of Minke Whales in the bay.

It's also worth going and seeing the Seals at Illugastadir. They're one the best animals to just sit and watch, they were one of the highlights of the island. There's also some interesting stories about events that happened at the now ruined farm 200 years ago.

Snowy wrote:I've been in Iceland.

So have i.

A bag of 14 packets of hula hoops there is only £2!

Worst thing is about Iceland (the country) is they actually sell Iceland (Povvo shop) food. It’s all price marked in English so your £1 Iceland (Kerry katona) pizza actually sells for £8 worth of their Icelandic (country) money.

Just booked myself an apartment in Williamsburg for a long weekend in New York next spring, gonna try combine copious amounts of weed and red bull to stay awake the whole 4 days. Never been before so can't wait to explore.

An apartment where the owner is, or isn’t present? I ask as if the latter vacation rentals <30 days where the owner isn’t present are illegal in NYC

Is present. Not sure I'd really care either way though to be honest.

Ah ok good. Well even if they weren’t tbh I doubt anything would happen, but in theory evictions can result. Really though it helps protect against rents going up beyond their already astronomical levels

Not sure many people really look in here, but thought I'd give it a bash.

Me and my gf are planning on taking a 6 month sabbatical this year to move to Bangkok. We have been planning on moving out there for quite a few years now but it just never happened for one reason or another. At present we are in Hamburg and enjoying life here but it is getting a bit stale and we need a bit of adventure/good food.

The plan was to move in March as that is when English schools hire (gf is a teacher), but we are hesitant due to the weather. I've been to Bangkok before but only in the high season, so great weather and very little rain. Has anyone been to Thailand in the months March to September? Was the weather as horrendous as it looks like it can get? I'm obviously aware Thailand is a big country and the weather varies, but we don't want to get there and either be stuck inside or melt.

We lived in Rome and stayed in August when the Italians tended to run away for the Summer and we survived the 40 degree weather. It wasn't overly pleasant but it was manageable. However, the tropics is most certainly going to be tougher.

We are thinking of maybe waiting until the high season to leave (Sept/Oct), but that's just so far away and we are getting itchy feet. I'm sure we can take some long holidays to other places in the mean time, but I'm a bit sad we may have possibly taken too long in finally deciding to go.

What would you people do in this situation?

Hello my virtual currency.

SandyCoin wrote:Not sure many people really look in here, but thought I'd give it a bash.

Me and my gf are planning on taking a 6 month sabbatical this year to move to Bangkok. We have been planning on moving out there for quite a few years now but it just never happened for one reason or another. At present we are in Hamburg and enjoying life here but it is getting a bit stale and we need a bit of adventure/good food.

The plan was to move in March as that is when English schools hire (gf is a teacher), but we are hesitant due to the weather. I've been to Bangkok before but only in the high season, so great weather and very little rain. Has anyone been to Thailand in the months March to September? Was the weather as horrendous as it looks like it can get? I'm obviously aware Thailand is a big country and the weather varies, but we don't want to get there and either be stuck inside or melt.

We lived in Rome and stayed in August when the Italians tended to run away for the Summer and we survived the 40 degree weather. It wasn't overly pleasant but it was manageable. However, the tropics is most certainly going to be tougher.

We are thinking of maybe waiting until the high season to leave (Sept/Oct), but that's just so far away and we are getting itchy feet. I'm sure we can take some long holidays to other places in the mean time, but I'm a bit sad we may have possibly taken too long in finally deciding to go.

What would you people do in this situation?

I'm hoping to be living over there for a bit around October time, GR meet up. Not read up on it at all though.

I'm in Athens for a month from later today, does anyone have any top tips? Was thinking of trying to fit in a trip to the islands one day at the weekend if anyone could recommend one?

Rocsteady wrote:I'm hoping to be living over there for a bit around October time, GR meet up. Not read up on it at all though.

We decided to wait until later in the year. My work agreed to a sabbatical (unpaid but that was expected), so we are hoping to leave around Sept or Oct. Not sure if we will just stay in Bangkok, but we are hoping to use the 6 months to maybe settle in a few places at least. As fun as it would be to just travel around everywhere that's not really wise.

In the meantime, we are planning on going to South America. Options are Colombia or Peru. Also maybe Cuba. Anyone been? I know someone here used to live in Colombia but not sure if they are still around these days.

I'm planning to do a month at a time in different cities in SE Asia so I've got time to meet people and amn't exhausted from being on the move constantly.

Chalkitdown lived in Colombia but got banned ages ago. I've never been but need to check out Cuba at some point.

Rocsteady wrote:I'm planning to do a month at a time in different cities in SE Asia so I've got time to meet people and amn't exhausted from being on the move constantly.

Chalkitdown lived in Colombia but got banned ages ago. I've never been but need to check out Cuba at some point.

Ah yes, I remember now.

I'm not 100% old on Cuba. I've watched some videos etc and it's not overly standing out at present. The plan is a 2 week trip, and I'm not sure there's enough there for 2 weeks, unless we travel around the whole island, which sounds like it may be difficult. My preference is the more lush forest areas, but am aware that a lot of the time these places require really long journeys, 4 day hikes, and a lot of money.

Anyone been to Vilinus in Lithuania? Seems cheap, I like eastern Europe. Thinking 3-4 day's in May

poshrule_uk wrote:Anyone been to Vilinus in Lithuania? Seems cheap, I like eastern Europe. Thinking 3-4 day's in May

Yeah, I've been. Went during their independence celebrations (in March I think). Really interesting place, the genocide museum is worth a visit, I'd recommend going to the cat cafe straight after, to lighten your mood. Uzupio is a cool area, run down and earthy.
Lithuanians are a bit wary. They'll quite happily chat away to you if there is no one else around, but as soon as someone is in ear shot they clam up and become guarded. Not surprising really given their history.

Not to directly contradict OS but tbh I wasn't overly impressed with Vilnius and I normally love eastern Europe. Found it fairly uninteresting, with a lot of churches and not a great deal else.

Much prefer Riga or Budapest out east.

Loving Athens just now, got that great combination of bring slightly rough, lawless and weird. strawberry floating great 2.50 gyros too.

Planning to go to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur this spring. Thinking 4 days in each location.

OnlyShallow wrote:

poshrule_uk wrote:Anyone been to Vilinus in Lithuania? Seems cheap, I like eastern Europe. Thinking 3-4 day's in May

Yeah, I've been. Went during their independence celebrations (in March I think). Really interesting place, the genocide museum is worth a visit, I'd recommend going to the cat cafe straight after, to lighten your mood. Uzupio is a cool area, run down and earthy.
Lithuanians are a bit wary. They'll quite happily chat away to you if there is no one else around, but as soon as someone is in ear shot they clam up and become guarded. Not surprising really given their history.

Rocsteady wrote:Not to directly contradict OS but tbh I wasn't overly impressed with Vilnius and I normally love eastern Europe. Found it fairly uninteresting, with a lot of churches and not a great deal else.

Much prefer Riga or Budapest out east.

Loving Athens just now, got that great combination of bring slightly rough, lawless and weird. strawberry floating great 2.50 gyros too.

Cheers both, Will think it over but will potentially give it a go as want something cheap and it's great to form your own opinion, sounds potentially marmite but think there is enough to entertain me

Going to Barcelona in a couple of weeks and scored some tickets for the champions league game Vs Lyon!!!

Booking flights to Singapore and Malaysia but not sure if to choose Malaysia Airlines or Singapore Airlines. Singapore airlines is £160 more and both have great departure times and durations.