From this thread: http://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/17gy1m/google_unveils_detailed_map_of_north_korea/c85l8f5

It is a goal of mine to eventually visit every country in the world and I am currently about 70% of the way there. If using the Travelers Century Club list of places, I have now been to 184.

Here is a map of the places I have visited. Green = overnight, red = transit, yellow = day trip, orange = visiting in 2013. http://i.imgur.com/VaM14jk.jpg

I did an AMA a few years back. I have visited 30 new countries since then including Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq. http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/dyho7/iama_travel_junkie_i_have_visited_150/

Comments: 537 • Responses: 100  • Date: 

broccolibush4237 karma

What was it like being in North Korea?

valeyard8953 karma

It's a pretty bizzare place. It's stuck in a time warp back in the 1980s. No advertising or internet but there are huge Soviet-style monuments of angry/happy workers and statues with propaganda posters everywhere. They love their concrete and marble. As a tourist you are limited in what you see but we did travel through the countryside a bit on the way out on the train.

Dawens21 karma

Does it at all feel like George Orwell's 1984?

valeyard8952 karma

Honestly the US/UK feel more like that with all the surveillance, etc. That being said there was a hidden floor in the hotel that has propaganda posters and listening equipment as well (it was closed off when we visited but I've heard of it). The propaganda in NK is really blatant but it made me realize just how much subtle propaganda we are exposed to it in the West as well.

D33M1NU520 karma

I heard somewhere when my sister went to visit South Korea that there is a "fake city" along the border between the two countries. It looked like a real one, but all of the buildings were empty. Only a few people actually lived there, only to pretend to walk around at scheduled times. Is this true?

valeyard8914 karma

haven't heard that but wouldn't be surprised. I didn't visit the DMZ on my trip.

yingmail2 karma

Was the countryside beautiful?

valeyard8910 karma

It was actually... very green and no litter. Outside of the cities it's still a very agrarian society and most of the farming work is done by hand or ox plough.

valeyard8913 karma

People still live 'normal' lives though we saw people out on the way to work, playing in the parks with their kids, etc. Very little traffic or cars but they have these massively wide streets. So it kinda felt empty in a way. All for show, really.

itsnotatoomer33 karma

Which country has the most attractive ladies?

valeyard8990 karma

Argentina and Iran

Guboj24 karma

Iran was a very unexpected answer. I bet most of the people that read this will google "Iran women"...

valeyard8922 karma

Central Asian/Middle Eastern women in general are the most exotic... there are some real hotties there overall. Also lots of babuska/unibrow types too.

itsnotatoomer15 karma

What's your success rate on bedding foreign ladies?

valeyard8978 karma

Sadly 0%. But gotten laid in many countries traveling with SO/wife . :)

aleigh8017 karma

Good for you sir! Nothing wrong to look, just don't touch

valeyard8920 karma

Not that I haven't thought about it :) But that's not been my goal. I did meet a guy in Colombia who wanted to bed a girl from each country. Good luck on that in Saudi Arabia.

bobbrah6 karma

Would you go to Iran again right now If your boss gave you the money and a week off work?

Do Iranian woman like tourists or are they too pious?

valeyard8913 karma

Of course I would go again. It is such a cheap destination at the moment as their currency has plummeted.

They like tourists just fine, they are curious. Most people in Iran aren't religious at all, they are Muslim in name only.

LifelessPoo32 karma

What do you do for a living and how can you afford all of this travel in terms of time and money?

valeyard8947 karma

I'm a Linux software developer, I've been at my job long enough now to get 4 paid weeks off a year and a week at Christmas and use the bulk of it to travel. I do 1 or 2 big trips (2-3 weeks) and a few shorter long weekend trips a year. I just make travel a priority so do not spend much on drinking, video games, etc. I also play the stock market a bit with covered calls, that helps bring in some extra cash.

I also am a Frequent flyer mile collector and so usually my airfare is cheap/free.

SamEdge3 karma

Who do you frequent fly with? I also love to travel but have only recently began.

valeyard8911 karma

I have lifetime platinum status on American Airlines.. but I've started flying United more lately to build up lifetime status there.

imisstrooper30 karma

Most awesome toilet/least awesome toilet?

valeyard8933 karma

Best are the electronic western toilets in Japan. They'll wash your ass for you and blow dry it. Worst are drop pit toilets pretty much anywhere in Africa.

lichenforest25 karma

What country had the best poutine?

valeyard8938 karma

Canada!

JJohn816 karma

Which country would you never return to? Please describe your experience there.

valeyard8929 karma

Probably various countries in Africa. I probably won't ever be back to Togo for example. Not any particular reason, but then there weren't too many attractions there to make me want to return. Same with places like Turkmenistan or small countries like San Marino or Andorra.

In terms of bad experiences, I dislike Egypt although it is likely I will still go back for diving the Red Sea at some point. We visited in summer 2003 right after the Iraq War started.. there were very few tourists in the country at the time and so we were endlessly hassled by the touts. I got pretty sick there as well even being careful with the food. So it's just left a bad taste in my mouth (er, literally).

JJohn811 karma

Thanks! On a side note, does the rule, Never drink the water, apply everywhere you go?

valeyard8916 karma

Pretty much. I always use bottled water, even for brushing my teeth. In Egypt and India though the bottled water can be suspect so make sure the bottle seal is original and not loose.

campermortey10 karma

My good friend went to Egypt and did a Nile cruise and apparently he and his dad just got filthy sick on the boat. I'm pretty sure it was the ice cubes or something they put in the drink. Yeah, I think the water thing applies. Although, I drank out of the fountains in Rome and had no issue. Some of the best tasting water I've ever had.

valeyard8918 karma

You can drink water in most of Europe with no problems. Places in Africa, India, etc.. though no way, bottled water all the way.

Stammy4LA15 karma

Im interested in how the North Korean public treats foreigners? Were they hospitable? Do they seem afraid of their government?

valeyard8929 karma

Most of them were pretty apprehensive.. there's the language barrier so really we didn't get to speak with any of them (but one of the guys in my tour was married to a South Korean, he was able to speak with a few people). On our trip we went to this funfair where there were lots of locals around, one of the rides was a bumper cars. We were riding around and like a Western Imperialist I rammed into a local woman's car... the look of fright on her face was just tragic. They probably don't know enough of a difference to be afraid of their government.

TheDutchRudder4112 karma

How is a North Korean married to a South Korean?

EDIT: Thought he said guides.

valeyard8915 karma

No, he was Canadian, married to South Korean.

GammaScorpii12 karma

How old are you and how long ago did you visit North Korea?

valeyard8922 karma

I'm 41. I started traveling hardcore about 26. I was in NK in August 2007.

ubuynow11 karma

Where do you usually stay on your travels? Hostels? Couch surf? How about in places like Afghanistan and Iran?

valeyard8917 karma

It varies. If I'm traveling with my travel buddies/wife usually we stay in hotels and split costs. If going solo I'll use a combination of hotels/hostels/couchsurfing. I collect hotel points so sometimes I'll get cheap/free nights at Starwood or Holiday Inn hotels. In Afghanistan my travel bud and I stayed at a guesthouse run by the tour agency. In Iran I just stayed at regular hotels.

Guboj14 karma

I would like to know how did you convinced your wife to split the hotel cost with you.

valeyard8911 karma

She works too :) She has her own hotel points and we split using them.

SneakyButcher11 karma

Any plans to go to Antarctica?

valeyard8910 karma

I'd love to... just not sure when as it would blow most of my travel budget for the year. I've flown over it before on the sightseeing flights out of Australia (http://www.antarcticaflights.com.au/) so I've almost been there (we didn't land).

timbuku1 karma

I did a last minute Antarctica trip from Ushuaia, Argentina. Price was $3149 vs full price that is in the 7-8000 range.

valeyard891 karma

Yeah, that is always an option. I want to visit Falklands/South Georgia as well so it is also a question of time as those trips are usually 20+ days.

ghost-of-sparta10 karma

did you pick up any languages?

valeyard8917 karma

I'm pretty decent with Spanish (studied 5 years) and can read French fairly well. Otherwise I know travel Russian and a few basic words in Arabic, Japanese and Chinese. That can get me pretty much anywhere I've visited.

envyone2 karma

Tell us about ex-soviet countries, please. How was it?

valeyard893 karma

Some are a bit depressing... Azerbaijan is a bit of an industrial wasteland, lots of rusting oil derricks and pipelines in areas. Others like the Baltics were much more enjoyable.

bipikachulover9 karma

What are Nepal and Bhutan like?

valeyard8910 karma

Bhutan was amazing, we spent 10 days there going to one of the festivals. The festivals are amazing with several days of monk dances. The food there was pretty good too. It's slowly opening up to Western influence. Nepal was just a plane stop so can't say anything about there.

tommyisaboss7 karma

What is the craziest thing you saw in any of those countries? And the funniest?

valeyard8921 karma

Craziest is probably seeing just how much/high they pile stuff on trucks in Africa, especially considering the condition of the vehicles in the first place. We saw a cow sitting on the roof of a minibus in Burkina Faso. I wasn't sure at first if it was alive or not (it was).

I've got to think on the funniest.. I remember LOL recently but can't remember where. :)

Charlie_Joe7 karma

Any scary incidents on your travels? What's your worst and favourite places you have been?

valeyard8911 karma

Pickpocketed twice in Rio and St. Petersburg. Wasn't really scary more a hassle though. There was a point in Mali on our way back from Timbuktu the driver went offroad through the desert so was like oh shit at that point. but it turned out to just be a shortcut.

Favorite place is probably Buenos Aires, or as a country overall, India. Least favorite is Egypt.

Charlie_Joe4 karma

Thanks for your response, it makes a change to see someone on Reddit saying that India is their favorite country!

valeyard895 karma

It's definitely a love it or hate it place. For someone who hasn't traveled much or out of their comfort zone it would definitely be overwhelming. You just have to go with the flow.

OOKAMISHURA6 karma

Hi. Im curious about what you think of Bangladesh. Where did you stay/visit? Also what do you think of Sweden?

valeyard898 karma

I liked it.. the chaos of Dhaka reminds me much of India. Riding out on the boat in the river was a pretty neat experience watching the life go by.

valeyard892 karma

Sweden was nice... and felt like a bargain coming from Norway. I loved wandering around Gamla Stan in Stockholm. So many babies there, in one or two blocks I think we counted 15 prams. We also rented a car in Kalmar and drove from one end of Oland island to the other. Amazing how remote and open that place felt.

freakoverdose6 karma

I saw your answer on how you finance your travels...But are you married? Children? I have a fanily and even if I could afford this travel, it seems it would be near impossible.

valeyard8911 karma

Yes am married with a 21-month old daughter. She has already been to Turkey and will be going to Japan next month.

Mtfilmguy6 karma

What was your favorite country so far and why?

valeyard8919 karma

Hard to pick one but India is usually high up there. I love the color and food and history and chaos of the place. I doubt I could live there but I always love to visit. My visa is still good for 3 years so hopefully I'll get one more trip there.

Other favorites are Argentina (mmm, bife de chorizo) and New Zealand.

Fultrose6 karma

What about least favorite countries?

valeyard8915 karma

I did not like Egypt much at all. The history yes, but not the people or food. Experienced more tourist hassle here than anywhere else. I'm usually very patient but I started snapping at touts by the end of my trip.

Most people dislike Nigeria, but I loved it for many of the same reasons I like India.

Morlaak1 karma

So what did you like most about Argentina and New Zealand?

valeyard892 karma

Scenery mostly.. NZ of course is gorgeous all around. I like Aussies too, very outspoken most of the ones I have met. And the girls are cute.

mcfattykins6 karma

How many times were you scared for your life in unstable countries?

valeyard8910 karma

I was a little apprehensive going into Afghanistan. We went with a tour company though and they provided an armed guard which was pretty badass. Can't say I've been too apprehensive anywhere else.

Gnallstaff6 karma

In your opinion, what countries had the best architecture?

If you could answer by continents, that would be awesome...

valeyard8914 karma

Asia has probably some of the best/most exotic architecture.

  • Uzbekistan for the Silk Road Timurid style. Very gorgeous mosques and medresses with blue/turquoise tile
  • China : Style of temples/pagodas/etc

Europe: Italy. All the churches and old Roman ruins

North America: Chicago.

South America: Peru for the ancient Inca temple architecture.

Africa: West Africa for the Sahel style mud mosque architecture

Fultrose6 karma

Have you ever felt like you were in any danger?

Any reason you seem to have steered clear of Eastern Europe so far?

On average how long do you stay in each country?

valeyard8915 karma

Flying into Afghanistan I felt a little apprehensive.. It was only a month or so after they caught Bin Laden (visited Pakistan as well on that same trip). Also in Mali when we visited Timbuktu, the driver drove off the road and out into the desert and I was like shit we're gonna be kidnapped... but apparently it was just a shortcut.

Not sure why I've missed Eastern Europe so far... I've mainly been focusing on Africa/Asia the past few years. I had a trip booked to Poland last year but ended up going to Nigeria instead.

When I first started traveling I would spend longer periods in each country (month in Australia, 3 weeks in Chile, etc). Now my visits are usually a lot shorter as I will visit 3-5 countries per trip. So some places I'm only there 1-3 nights. I've spent the most time in UK (6 months) India (45 days) and Australia (49 days)

mojitz3 karma

What's your goal in all this? No offense, but it seems like hitting up as many countries as you can isn't a particularly interesting or admirable goal. How can you feel any connection to a place you've only flitted through in a night or 2? Don't you wish you had more time to explore?

valeyard8913 karma

It's enough for me to get a taste of a place.. I'll go back and spend more time if I like a place. I've been back to Argentina 6-7 times now and still discover things.

Uberslaughter5 karma

Which places have the best/worst foods. Any particularly memorable dining experiences?

valeyard8918 karma

Best/favorite food has been in South Africa, Syria, India, Myanmar, Italy. Worst food is Egypt. Probably one of the most amazing dining experiences was a 20-course chef's tasting meal at Guy Savoy in Paris..my wife and I flew over for the weekend for her birthday one year. The bill was very memorable as well....

Uberslaughter8 karma

Approximately how much?

valeyard895 karma

A bit over 700EUR including wine. Luckily that was when the Euro was on par to the dollar...

exiledz5 karma

What are your top five destinations? Why? (City / country)

Can you suggest a place that you think everyone should visit someday?

valeyard893 karma

  • Buenos Aires, Argentina: Good food, architecture, gorgeous people

  • Cape Town, South Africa: Scenery, food, wine

  • Istanbul: History, food

  • Thailand: Temples, food, scenery, friendly people

  • India: food, culture, color

kinda cliche but Taj Mahal was incredible.

FatherlyTripod5 karma

I would love to go travelling as much as you at some point, but me and my SO just had a baby. What countries in your opinion are best suited for kids and parents alike?

valeyard899 karma

Turkey really loved kids.. we went there with my 7-month old daughter. She was just swarmed with attention. Japan and Venezuela (South America in general) love kids, especially blondes.

valeyard894 karma

Here are some of my favorite experiences:

  • Ending up in a hospital in Chile with Guillain-Barre syndrome
  • Accidentally walking into a family's backyard in Georgia (ex USSR). The whole town came out to investigate us
  • Flying over Antarctica on the sightseeing flights.
  • Dealing with border guards in the Ivory Coast. One had badass written all over him
  • Racing at 80mph+ in Svalbard on a snowmobile
  • Wandering into the barrio in Asuncion, Paraguay and spending the day with a family
  • Climbing among the ancient temples in Bagan, Myanmar

shiv4m4 karma

  • How did you finance these trips?

valeyard897 karma

Combination of stock market trading, and savings from cutting back on other things. I'll do 2-5 trips a year, about $15k total usually.

Guboj4 karma

Seems strange to me that you have visited the entire American continent except for Cuba, and you are not planning on visiting it in 2013. Why is that?

valeyard898 karma

I'm waiting for my travel buddy's schedules to sync up for a trip. One of them is a professor and has been trying to get a license to go legally. I would then go as a 'student'. ;) I'd like to visit there and Belize in the next year or two.

Morlaak1 karma

I was about to ask the same thing, it seems a bit out of place.

I'm guessing it has something to do with Cuba being an expensive place for tourists.

Indigoes1 karma

It could also be because it's difficult for Americans to visit legally.

valeyard891 karma

That's the main thing. I can go through Mexico of course but just waiting for the right time.

yelahammer3 karma

Are you educated in any way that makes you "qualified" for these types of travels/adventures? The idea of going to NK or Afghanistan, while amazing, scares the shit out of me. How do you know you won't be locked up by some rebel group or government just for being American (I'm assuming you're American for some reason).

valeyard897 karma

I am American but have dual US/UK passports. I've just traveled enough to realize that the likelyhood of anything happening is pretty remote. I'm more likely to get hurt on my way to the airport or in my own bathtub in most cases.

HardenPoundGunkshot3 karma

Any advice for people who would like to travel sometime soon in thefuture?

valeyard898 karma

Don't be afraid to venture out of your comfort zone.

Metroid_Dread3 karma

I've been to a country you haven't! (Tunisia :P)

Serious question: as places become more or less safe (for example: after the Arab Spring many formerly easy destinations have become difficult or impossible), do you have a long term plan of places you need to get to ASAP or places you should wait a few years/decades to get to? Which countries are on your ASAP plan, and which countries are you waiting on and why (Cuba?)

valeyard898 karma

Well I am seriously glad I visited Syria when I did (Feb 2011)... that would definitely be off my radar for awhile otherwise.

I'm doing a trip to Yemen/Somaliland/Djibouti in March. There was just a FCO warning for Brits to get out of Somaliland though, so am debating what to do there. I'd rather see them sooner than later, I hate having to reschedule plans :). The only other 'iffy' ones at the moment are the North African countries and Mauritania.

Cuba I hope to do next year with my travel buddies, or whenever our travel schedules sync up.

ramzie3 karma

What did you do in Finland?

valeyard897 karma

I've been there twice now.. once spent a few days in the Aland Islands. The 2nd time was a few days in Helsinki on my way from St. Petersburg to Estonia. I knew a girl in Helsinki I'd met on my North Korea trip, we went out to dinner there one night. Mainly I just wandered around Helsinki.. went to some underground rock church and out to Suomenlinma (sp?) fortress.

IKILLYOUWITHMYMIND2 karma

Do you mainly stick to the tourist areas of the countries you visit or do you see some of the more hidden away areas? I'm wondering because I have an interest in rough or poor cities around the world (but I'm British and have only ever been to France.)

valeyard892 karma

Mainly tourist areas but we've been to lots of other places. We were wandering around in some town in Georgia (the country) ended up in a family's backyard and the whole clan came out to meet us. Invited us in the house for tea.

NinjaDiscoJesus2 karma

proof?

valeyard8922 karma

I have photos up: http://valeyard89.imgur.com/

amp932 karma

I am setting off on a five month journey across Canada, What are some must have items for backpacking.

valeyard892 karma

Don't forget where your towel is. Otherwise plastic bags are useful, stuff in stinky clothes and keep things organized. I photocopy maps out of books or take photos of the maps on my camera so I can zoom in on them.

Khayrian2 karma

No questions but thanks for doing this AMA, what a fabulous life! Am currently viewing every single one of your photos. Thanks for posting! ...EDIT: Yes, now some questions after viewing the albums - "Traditional Hotel" is that the name of it? What is that meat hanging from the butcher's in Syria? It looks like a camel?

valeyard893 karma

yes that is a camel neck in the Aleppo market. Was sad to hear that the market was burned down in the conflict :(

GucciTheWalrus2 karma

I personally love a good meal. What country would you rate has the best overall food?

valeyard892 karma

my last trip to Myanmar I don't think I had a bad meal there.. everything was good. Overall though I'd probably say Italy.

Kosme-ARG2 karma

How did people live in Iran, is the goverment oppressive and/or authoritarian as it is depicted? How does it compare with others countries like Kuwait, UAE or Saudi Arabia.

valeyard892 karma

The internet and media are regulated (reddit is blocked! unless you use a proxy) which is different from other countries but it probably not something you'd notice easily. Iran is still very modern/Westernized yet without all the Western fast food places and companies that are everywhere in Kuwait, Bahrain, etc. They still have Coca-Cola/Fanta though.

_2chainz2 karma

What are your thoughts on Iran being that I am from there I want to know your perspective

valeyard892 karma

I wish I'd had more time there. Getting the visa was a hassle so ended up with less time than I'd hoped. Still I enjoyed the visit. Loved the architecture there and food was great. I'm in love with saffron ice cream now (had lots of it in Isfahan). I was surprised how modern it was in many ways despite sanctions.

avillanuv2 karma

Where did you go in Iran? and how was it?

valeyard892 karma

I visited Kashan, Abyaneh, Isfahan, Shiraz and Persepolis. Amazing place, wish I'd had longer to visit Tehran and Yazd but it took too long to get my visa and had to cut the trip short.

Mysteriousdewd1 karma

Anyways you found to travel cheap? I am wanting to travel but do not want to spend more than in the 700$(flight included) range due to budget restrictions. Most stuff I find though are to places I do not want to go, or are only 3 days at the location. I want to stay in a country for 10-15-20 days, and my max allowed in my budget is 1000$.

valeyard891 karma

I use frequent flyer miles usually to fly places.. many credit card and other offers you can get enough points for a 'free' trip somewhere. You can use couchsurfing or hostels to keep costs down. Also a great way to meet people.

schmelzerfy1 karma

I'm hoping to go to South Korea in the fall, and was wondering if you think there are any must see things? or any general advice, also this would be my 1st time out of the country. OH and one more random question, luggage, hard or soft? or any brand that you recommend?

valeyard892 karma

I still haven't seen much of South Korea... I visited Jeju Island but missed Seoul other than seeing the train between Incheon and Gimpo airport.

partytimeusa1 karma

Favorite place?

valeyard892 karma

Buenos Aires rates up there.. I've been back 6-7 times now. Just a neat city.

Spacetree1 karma

I'm not sure if this is still going, but how did you plan for these trips? Did you use a travel agency or a tour group, or did you do the research yourself and play it by ear once you were in the country? Also, do you stick to the more tourist-oriented activities or do you go off the beaten path and explore on your own?

valeyard891 karma

I do all the planning myself, book my own flights, etc. I only use a travel agency/tour company if totally necessary (North Korea, Turkmenistan, Iran, etc) or if my time is short and I need to be efficient with transportation.

I mainly will visit the highlights of a country but also walk around neighborhoods and explore on my own.

ulgi1 karma

Which country seemed to treat tourists the worst? Which the best?

valeyard893 karma

Thailand the best probably and Egypt the worst.

suupaahiiroo1 karma

Where are you from yourself and what place in that country (or vicinity) would you recommend? What was the most interesting archeological site you've encountered? What piece of nature (mountain range, national park, ...) did you enjoy especially? What did you enjoy in the Netherlands and Belgium?

valeyard892 karma

I'm from the US (Texas). Definitely in Austin I'd recommend visiting Barton Springs/Zilker park. Further afield is Enchanted Rock. Lots of other cool things do do around Austin, BBQ and music heaven here.

Bagan in Myanmar is probably the most impressive site I have been to. Over 2000 temples spread out over the area. Angkor Wat and Persepolis are amazing as well.

For nature, Svalbard, Kyrgyzstan and Yosemite Park had some of the coolest natural scenery.

remierk1 karma

What countries would you like to visit again to get a more thorough experience?

valeyard895 karma

Brazil and Russia for starters. I'd like to get out to Siberia and Kamchatka for starters. Brazil I'd visit the Amazon and do Carnaval up in Northeast. I've been to Carnaval in Rio before.

GyuuNyuu1 karma

Why have you avoided eastern europe?

valeyard892 karma

No real reason... just none of my trips have been there yet. My travel buddies have been there already so usually we focus on Africa, Asia, etc. I had a trip planned to Poland last year but ended up changing it to go to Nigeria instead.

Snuggerdog1 karma

I see you've visited French Guiana in South America. As an enthusastic francophile, i'd like to know what you thought of this country (and food, lodging etc). I hear it is very Dangerous am i correct?

valeyard892 karma

It was ass expensive mainly especially coming in from Suriname. I don't recall it being dangerous.

edit. Now I do remember there were some warnings about Kourou area to watch out for dope smokers. But that's the only thing I remember.

NewRedditorHere1 karma

How have you accumulated the money to do that?! Do you have a business back home and hire someone to run it while you reap the benefits? I'm genuinely curious!

valeyard893 karma

No, just travel on my vacation time. I have taken an unpaid leave of absence several years ago when I did 3 months in South America/Africa.

I've had some luck on the stock market (bought Apple at the right time...) that helps fund most of my travel. I've also cut back on other unnecessary spending (drinking, video games, etc).

ratandjmt1 karma

Where is the best place to get fried rice? I have been all over the states, several european countries, Iraq, Quatar and Norway and found the best fried rice in a little place outside Kaiserslautern, Germany.

valeyard891 karma

I had the best fried rice at some beach shack in Bocas del Toro in Panama of all places. Had all kinds of seafood in it.

Slickey1 karma

Wow, that's a lot of traveling. You're really living it up! I've got a few questions (= How was your stay in the Philippines? What did you do while there? Best beaches in your opinion that you have traveled to?

valeyard891 karma

I liked it there.. just kicked back a few days in Cebu and Bohol (Chocolate Hills). I'd love to go back to Boracay or Palawan at some point.

Best beaches were in Australia (Whitsundays) and Bermuda.

VaulthunterZer01 karma

All I can ask top 5 country's that have the best food

valeyard891 karma

Best are India, Italy, Myanmar, South Africa and USA.

Erasethehumanrace1 karma

What was your thoughts on Australia? Where did you stay over the 45 day period.

valeyard891 karma

Loved it but that was back when the AUD was $0.60.... It would be expensive to visit now unfortunately. :(

I went all over, drove from Cairns to Melbourne via Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra with my college roommate. Went to Alice Springs, Kings Canyon and Uluru in the NT and also drove around Tasmania (I have a distant cousin who lives there). I didn't make it to South or West Australia yet though.

Cun7Destr0yer1 karma

You should visit Slovenia

valeyard891 karma

Would love to. Was supposed to go last year but had to cancel trip due to family emergency.

Marylandman1011 karma

I just looked at your pictures. What's the backstory behind the monkey heads in Togo? Also what's your best souvenir?

valeyard892 karma

That is a fetish/voodoo market. There are hundreds of animal body parts here used in traditional medicine. The smell of the place is... not great.

Someone else had a post about this place a few days ago. http://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/174k5b/lom%C3%A9_fetish_markets_dried_animals_that_people/

valeyard891 karma

Best souvenir.. I don't usually buy many but I brought back a Kora (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kora_%28instrument%29) from West Africa that is pretty cool. Most 'unique' I guess is some of Kim Jong Il books from North Korea. The writing is just... bad.

Jagomagi1 karma

How'd you like Estonia?

valeyard892 karma

Kinda fun. Went out clubbing in the Old Town with a Brit I'd met at the hostel. I mainly just saw Tallinn and the road south to Riga.

zeeman71 karma

How was Canada and Poland?

valeyard892 karma

I've been to Canada many times but never to Poland yet. I liked Canada, especially the Rockies, just stunning scenery around Banff/Lake Louise. I'm still wanting to visit the Maritimes/Newfoundland at some point.

habadacas1 karma

How did you finance your travels? I am sure it was pretty expensive and its something i wish i could do. was it for work, done from personal finances, won a lottery?

valeyard892 karma

Personal finances, saving by cutting back on non essentials and some stock market earnings.

AwesomePossum50 karma

My brother (American) recently visited North Korea in September, some of the stories he had were incredible. What I found most interesting were the lies the North Koreans had to say about the US and the Korean War, one weird thing is that they think that every American is an Imperialist, which I would have to respond by saying I don't even know what an Imperialist is haha, it's insane the kind of brainwashing they have over their citizens, did you encounter similar situations/stories while you were there?

valeyard893 karma

Oh yeah.. you hear a lot about the 'Western Imperialists'. In the bookstores there are books like this: (http://i.imgur.com/tVI8Smv.jpg) Most of the people there are afraid the West will attack them. Well it's very similar to the fears Americans had of Russian attack during the Cold War. Propaganda works on both sides.... in a closed society like theirs though they don't know any better as that is all the have known.

seestokes0 karma

To be frank, how can you afford all of these trips? I'm curious if you just have a good job, which is a good enough answer for me, or if you have found ways to travel on the cheap? If so, any advice? I'm traveling to South Africa in September!

valeyard891 karma

A combination of both.. I have a good paying job but I also cut costs in places. Most of my trips seem to come in the $2500-$3500 range. I use a combination of frequent flyer mile/hotel promos, couchsurfing and hostels to keep costs down.

Enjoy South Africa! We went there on our honeymoon. My cousin was also just there.

addonem0 karma

How much have this costed you?

valeyard891 karma

Lets just say I could have bought a house or two...

Rock_it_Scientist-2 karma

Is there any place better than Murica?

valeyard891 karma

FUCK YEAH