If You Wanted To Visit A Country Full Of Culture, Where Would You Go?

[Nautica]

Like, seriously. Somewhere full of nature, not so robotic, where people have real gatherings, and make things by hand, etc. Where would you visit?

[BellaAmore]

My list of places to go before I die is endless!
I would love to explore China, India, the Amazon or even Cambodia maybe....

Before I die I will walk the great wall (Or part of it) and take a rickety train ride across India

(How beautiful are these pictures??)

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Like, seriously. Somewhere full of nature, not so robotic, where people have real gatherings, and make things by hand, etc. Where would you visit?

[Odelay]

The hill tribes region of Northern Thailand is pretty cool. Many of the people who reside there are of the Hmong. Very friendly people and beautiful, too, assuming they're not strung out on decades of opium addiction. Saw women washing their clothes on the riverbank, and waving at us in our longboat. The kids are cool, too. They'll try to sell you hand crafted items when you first arrive, but if you don't buy, then they'll leave you alone and even escort you on some local hike or adventure. They even got my shy 10 yr old niece to go swimming with them in a beautiful little swimming hole that we/they found.

EDIT: Oops, I didn't answer the question, since I've already visited No. Thailand. Hmm... maybe the Scottish Highlands. Parts of the Amazon. Peru. Any of the fishing cultures from New Foundland to Iceland to the fjords of Norway.

[runningdownthatdream]

Like, seriously. Somewhere full of nature, not so robotic, where people have real gatherings, and make things by hand, etc. Where would you visit?

Many things to consider before making a recommendation which would suit you. For instance, have you traveled outside North America and where to? What type of places would you like to stay in: B&B, hostels, 3-star or higher hotels, how comfortable are you dealing with non-English speakers and/or aggressive men, how much money can you spend (not including airfare) per week, do you want to be close to major shopping or cities?

Without knowing your preferences, the safe, beautiful, relaxed place with a unique culture which I generally recommend to anyone wanting to get away is Bali. One big town (can't really class it a city) which is Denpasar but lots of villages with beautiful, friendly people who will appreciate your skin colour. Forests and plains and unforgettable rice terraces. Stunning beaches. Old temples and almost daily religious (hindu) celebrations. All types of very affordable accommodation from B&B to 5-star scattered across the island. Very favourable exchange rate which will allow you to snap up unique artwork, clothes, handcrafts, and outstanding coffee beans! Everyone on Bali seemed to be an artist of some sort - your waiter is likely a painter or sculptor, the taxi driver is a singer, the hotel bellhop makes clothes. And one of the best surprises: locals LOVE reggae music. Bob is literally a god!

If you do go, for sure you should check out the town of Ubud which alone was worth the journey.

The worst thing about Bali has nothing to do with Bali: the cost of airfare from North America and the time to get there.

[surf4490]

Been travelling all my life and have lots of great memories .Highlights would be sunset on lake Titicaca .the Blue Train in South Africa and Holy week in Seville to name a couple.

[EvaCassini]

Back to Japan, i miss it a lot

[surf4490]

And if you've never been visit Ireland before you die :cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

[Quiet Reflections]

you can find that in any country if you look for it and avoid the tourist traps.

[EvaCassini]

Also the UK, I hear you can go to the pubs and drink with horses! ;)

I would also like to meet the Doctors and guys from Top Gear.

[surf4490]

Jeremy Clarkson lives on the Isle of Man (its nice but doesn't live up to the name):D

[flabbybody]

my first choice would be UK. although the language barrier would be a struggle

[Jericho]

my first choice would be UK. although the language barrier would be a struggle


lol.
Don't worry...We make allowances! :tongue:

[EvaCassini]

lol I would love to meet him, May, and Hammond...anyone got the hook up?

I know there are a lot of Englishmen here. ;)

You hook me up, I'll hook you up!

[surf4490]

Just stay south of Newcastle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1zfG9No12Y

[dderek123]

I liked Thailand (lived there for 5 yrs). It offers a bit of everything for a tourist. The culture is very different from American or Canadian cultures. If you go to Chiangmai there are elephant camps which will let you take care of an elephant for a week (mahoot). That was one of the things on my bucketlist but never got around to it.

Also, I heard Cambodia is great. The people are supposed to be really really nice. Never got around to going there either.

For me, I would like to go to Iceland next. Would love to go hiking and offroading to see some of the really cool nature (reminds me of parts of Canada). Also the people are supposed to be very unique (beautiful blonde viking women).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImKCDQUmAQc

[Vladimir Putin]

The United Kingdom.

[Silcc69]

Either Sweden or Japan. Sweden because they're so free sexually over there and Japan because of all the bad ass tech that comes out of there.

[robertlouis]

Edinburgh has just celebrated the greatest and largest arts festival in the world for the 66th time since 1947.

So, if it's culture you want, Scotland in August is hard to beat.

[Ben]

Like, seriously. Somewhere full of nature, not so robotic, where people have real gatherings, and make things by hand, etc. Where would you visit?

Iceland. No joke. It looks interesting.... Not entirely sure if they "make things by hand." I mean, maybe the North West Territories would fit the bill.

[robertlouis]

If I wanted a cultural immersion in the US I'd head for Austin.

Did SXSW 7 years ago and loved every minute.

[rockabilly]

Ireland or Scotland

[kristy321ca]

Scotland for sure. More tgirls in Edinburgh

[dunkiex]

Been to Burma, Thailand, Afghanistan and Iran (years ago) and found the cultures in those countries so fascinating. The Afghans were incredibly friendly. Was able to travel and see where Gheghis Khan used to hang out.

[PEPE3Z]

If I have read correctly, Nautica asked for culture. I love UK, but sorry folks, in culture, you brits are not the champs. Culture is more likely in China, Italy, Greece, Spain, Egypt, Turkey, Japan, Thailand, France, Morocco, Russia...

[GroobySteven]

If I have read correctly, Nautica asked for culture. I love UK, but sorry folks, in culture, you brits are not the champs. Culture is more likely in China, Italy, Greece, Spain, Egypt, Turkey, Japan, Thailand, France, Morocco, Russia...

A stupid post from someone that if they've even visited the UK, has probably not made it out of the tourist traps of London. The UK has "culture" in droves, like many of those countries you mention. However, some of those countries celebrate ONE culture and don't embrace more (Japan for example).

Someone mentioned any country can have those things if you say away from the typical tourist traps and I agree. Have you fully discovered your own country?
This year so far I've been to Thailand, Krakow, Montreal, Bordeaux (region), Costa del Sol (where I am now), Arizona, California and later this month in Budapest. I wasn't interested in coming to the Costa del Sol as it lacks the "culture" which I seek on a holiday, until I investigated further and had a tapas lunch beside a roman baths, Moorish castle and a 1000 yr old cathedral in the stunning Antequera (look it up) yesterday before driving a few miles away to look at 5000 yr old tombs and then to limestone formations at El Torcal.

You just have to look further. Every state in the US has places to be discovered. I've been to something like 45 of them and looking forward to the rest.

You need to clarify what you are looking for in a trip.

[MacShreach]

If I have read correctly, Nautica asked for culture. I love UK, but sorry folks, in culture, you brits are not the champs. Culture is more likely in China, Italy, Greece, Spain, Egypt, Turkey, Japan, Thailand, France, Morocco, Russia...

To be fair that depends how you define 'culture'...European culture is pretty much a continuum, like a box of chocolates (where did I hear that) the cultures are all slightly different but are very rich. Me personally, inside Europe, France, Italy and Scotland, not necessarily in that order. Most in-your-face is definitely Italy, most chic France. Scotland...I'm biased.

But for real wow, then: India! Brazil (I am amazed no-one mentioned it so far!) China, Japan, Thailand. Turkey--it has big problems and these may very well get worse, but in terms of cultural heritage the place is amazing. Egypt is probably off-limits for the foreseeable, unfortunately.

If you only speak English and that bothers you, then of course, you're restricted-- but here again India has to be at the top, since everyone with an education not only speaks it but is happy to.

Oh and btw, I was reading the other day that there are between 8-10 MILLION hijra in INdia now...and you know, they discovered hormones...:cheers::tongue:

[GroobySteven]

Brazil (I am amazed no-one mentioned it so far!)

I've found Brazil to be one of the most difficult and somewhat dangerous places to visit, with culture to be harder to find than other mentioned places. I've been there maybe 10-12 times and always enjoy it but it wouldn't be somewhere where I'd suggest people to visit above some of the other mentioned places. For traveling to foreign countries if you only speak English and want to find you way around safely but fun - Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam rank high. Japanese speak almost no English and can be a hard place to navigate and China, once you're outside the major cities is incredibly difficult.

[Stavros]

It might help this thread if posters actually read what Nautica asks for when seeking advice on culture:


Like, seriously. Somewhere full of nature, not so robotic, where people have real gatherings, and make things by hand, etc. Where would you visit?

[GroobySteven]

It might help this thread if posters actually read what Nautica asks for when seeking advice on culture:

I stand by what I posted - you can find that practically anywhere.

[MacShreach]

I stand by what I posted - you can find that practically anywhere.
I agree. Culture is everywhere. If someone is used to the package tourist destinations, they'll have to dig a bit, but it's there.

As to your earlier, I agree that Brazil is, umm, maybe not a beginner destination, especially if you only speak English, but having said that it is by no means the most dangerous or difficult.

There are skills to traveling, especially when you leave the beaten track (as I am certain you know) and the only way to learn them is to get in there. There is a way of being neither a target nor an aggressor, but just getting along...it's not so easy to describe.

In a lifetime of travelling I can only think of maybe four occasions when I felt really in danger, and two of those were in the Swat Valley, which is kinda hot, you know? One other was in Athens (of all places) but I was very young, and the other, equally weirdly, was in Iceland! Dangerous situations can occur anywhere, even in the UK; try navigating Sauchiehall St around midnight on a Saturday.

(And just to add: I have felt seriously threatened and in danger far far more than four times while I was at home in Scotland. Like the time in the Horseshoe bar in Glasgow, just chatting with some friends when a guy just came up and said 'Are you a Tim or a Prod?' 'Neither,' says I, honestly. 'I'm an atheist.' 'Aye,' says the other, 'but are you a Catholic atheist or a Protestant one?' It didn't actually turn violent but it was a ballhair away...a resourceful barman defuseed the situation.)

As to the culture, it depends on your definition: for me, music is really a big thing. Brazil's musical culture is just amazing, and absolutely everywhere.

[sukumvit boy]

I'm hooked on Thailand and SE Asia , but Prospero's stunning new avatar got me thinking about tribal cultures and photographer Jimmy Nelson's amazing book ."Before They Pass Away"
The image is of an Ethiopian Mursi tribesmen.
At least in Ethiopia ,the home of coffee , one should be able to find a good cup of coffee. Until a few years ago , with the globalization or Starbuck's and the like , the stuff that they called coffee was pretty horrible.
http://www.beforethey.com/tribe/mursi
http://www.beforethey.com/

[TatianaSummer]

I would pick Spain. They have a great culture, nature, and its a safe country as I heard.
Plus I know who hot yummy sexy smoking hot tgirls there that I can visit. :)