The 'Wow!' factor (or not).
#1
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The 'Wow!' factor (or not).
To follow up on the conversation in Craigs trip report, I was wowed by Burma; laid back people, gorgeous countryside, Lake Inle...
...and I was underwhelmed by Bali; polluted, crowded...
If we include Turkey as an Asian destination, it provided the biggest 'Wow!' I've had yet.
...and I was underwhelmed by Bali; polluted, crowded...
If we include Turkey as an Asian destination, it provided the biggest 'Wow!' I've had yet.
#2
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Places I was "wowed" by:
Angkor
Central Java
Sri Lanka
Egypt
Petra
my first experience of Bangkok
wowed in a quieter way by Luang Prabang
Places that I felt underwhelmed by:
Greece
Chiang Mai
There are lots of places I've enjoyed but did not feel wowed by, for instance, Morocco, Bali, Singapore, Hong Kong, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak, Viet Nam, Turkey.
Angkor
Central Java
Sri Lanka
Egypt
Petra
my first experience of Bangkok
wowed in a quieter way by Luang Prabang
Places that I felt underwhelmed by:
Greece
Chiang Mai
There are lots of places I've enjoyed but did not feel wowed by, for instance, Morocco, Bali, Singapore, Hong Kong, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak, Viet Nam, Turkey.
#4
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Wowed by places...Denmark...at the age of 17...back in 1973....Ghana a few years ago...went twice in two years...Morocco and Tunisia...back in either 1981/1982 or 1982/1983...Paris...back in 1976...the first time....Singapore/Thailand/Bali...the first time back in 1998....and New Zealand...back around 1994...and also Istanbul..back in 1999. That's all I can think of right now. Happy Travels!
#7
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Places wowed by (in no special order:
Borobodour
Bali (back in 1989)
Cappadocia
Florence & Tuscany
Venice
Alhambra
High Atlas Mountains & their oasis
Karakorum Highway
Kashgar Market
Burma
Killing Fields
Angkor
Bangkok temples first time
Jain temples in India
Lake Atitlan & Chichicastenagro in the 70s
All of England
Paris & Vence/St. Paul de Vence area
NOT Wowed by:
Rome
Spain (escept for Alhambra)
Portugal
Singagpore
Lombok
Phuket
Ireland
Malaysia
Delhi
Beijing
Scotland
Scandinavian countries
Lots of other places I'd put in the middle category (great trip by no wow):Vietnam, rest of Turkey, China, Greece, Israel, Hong Kong, Japan etc
Borobodour
Bali (back in 1989)
Cappadocia
Florence & Tuscany
Venice
Alhambra
High Atlas Mountains & their oasis
Karakorum Highway
Kashgar Market
Burma
Killing Fields
Angkor
Bangkok temples first time
Jain temples in India
Lake Atitlan & Chichicastenagro in the 70s
All of England
Paris & Vence/St. Paul de Vence area
NOT Wowed by:
Rome
Spain (escept for Alhambra)
Portugal
Singagpore
Lombok
Phuket
Ireland
Malaysia
Delhi
Beijing
Scotland
Scandinavian countries
Lots of other places I'd put in the middle category (great trip by no wow):Vietnam, rest of Turkey, China, Greece, Israel, Hong Kong, Japan etc
#9
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If I had to narrow the WOWS down to I think they would be:
1. Jain temples in Rajasthan
2. Karakorum Highway (1992)
3. Morocco -- especially High Atlas Mountains (1980)
4. First trip to Thailand which was also my first trip to Asia (1985)
5. Bali (1989)
6. Florence (1972)
7. London (1968)
1. Jain temples in Rajasthan
2. Karakorum Highway (1992)
3. Morocco -- especially High Atlas Mountains (1980)
4. First trip to Thailand which was also my first trip to Asia (1985)
5. Bali (1989)
6. Florence (1972)
7. London (1968)
#10
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You guys are so organized! I've tidied my list up a bit.
Wow:
#1 Turkey (2002)
#2 (Almost a tie for #1) Burma (2006)
England (1991)
Mexico/Cancun (1995)Loved the warm crystal clear water, the pyramids, colonial and indigenous history (Merida).
Laos (2007)- Never seen a landscape like that before. Wowed on the flight into LP.
Non-Wow:
Bali - (2001)For reasons listed earlier
Morocco- (2000) Hassle factor, didn't find people to be that friendly.
Nigeria- (1993) HOT! Steamy, crowded.
Jamaica- (1993) Where I discovered I really didn't want to spend my entire vacation on water sports.
Bahamas- (1997)-Discovered I wasn't into duty free shopping.
Hmmm, looking at the lists above is making me re-examine Greece for next year.
Wow:
#1 Turkey (2002)
#2 (Almost a tie for #1) Burma (2006)
England (1991)
Mexico/Cancun (1995)Loved the warm crystal clear water, the pyramids, colonial and indigenous history (Merida).
Laos (2007)- Never seen a landscape like that before. Wowed on the flight into LP.
Non-Wow:
Bali - (2001)For reasons listed earlier
Morocco- (2000) Hassle factor, didn't find people to be that friendly.
Nigeria- (1993) HOT! Steamy, crowded.
Jamaica- (1993) Where I discovered I really didn't want to spend my entire vacation on water sports.
Bahamas- (1997)-Discovered I wasn't into duty free shopping.
Hmmm, looking at the lists above is making me re-examine Greece for next year.
#12
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My list of "wows" in no particular order: A lot
New Zealand
Egypt
Canadian Rockies
Midwest USA - Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, etc.
India (specially Varanasi)
Norway
Switzerland (Berner Oberland)
Bangkok
Patagonia
Peru (Machi Pichu)
Capadoccia (Turkey)
China (Guilin)
Japan
Angkor Wat
Santorini
Amalfi Coast
Iguazu Falls
Non "wowed"
Chile
Mexico
China (except Guilin)
France
Australia
Hong Kong
Denmark
Sweden
Rio de Janeiro
New Zealand
Egypt
Canadian Rockies
Midwest USA - Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, etc.
India (specially Varanasi)
Norway
Switzerland (Berner Oberland)
Bangkok
Patagonia
Peru (Machi Pichu)
Capadoccia (Turkey)
China (Guilin)
Japan
Angkor Wat
Santorini
Amalfi Coast
Iguazu Falls
Non "wowed"
Chile
Mexico
China (except Guilin)
France
Australia
Hong Kong
Denmark
Sweden
Rio de Janeiro
#17
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After sleeping on this question, I realized that there were also "wow" experiences that were a part of a larger trip:
staying in the primary rainforest in the Danum Valley in Sabah
the Tower of London
Wandering alone in the Grand Bazzar in Istanbul until I knew my way around
Bora Bora
Being driven in a beat-up station wagon out into the barren rock and sand of the Sahara outside of Erfoud, Morocco. As a boy on the fender pointed the way through the drifting sand and the water bubbling through the rock, the wind exposed sections of perfect Roman roads. Spending the night at a tiny oasis - the stars so bright and plentiful. Arising in the morning to watch the sun rise over the dunes and returning to the oasis to be served bowls of chocolat chaud and freshly baked bread.
staying in the primary rainforest in the Danum Valley in Sabah
the Tower of London
Wandering alone in the Grand Bazzar in Istanbul until I knew my way around
Bora Bora
Being driven in a beat-up station wagon out into the barren rock and sand of the Sahara outside of Erfoud, Morocco. As a boy on the fender pointed the way through the drifting sand and the water bubbling through the rock, the wind exposed sections of perfect Roman roads. Spending the night at a tiny oasis - the stars so bright and plentiful. Arising in the morning to watch the sun rise over the dunes and returning to the oasis to be served bowls of chocolat chaud and freshly baked bread.
#18
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lets see....almost every place we visit with a few exceptions:
non-WOW's:
korea
ireland
all of florida, especially orlando
gpanda in a speedo
las vegas
weekend market, bangkok
chiang mai
WOW's:
turkey X 2
thailand, each and every trip
angkor wat
egypt, especially the first sighting of the pyramids as you fly across the dessert on arrival into cairo
major european cities: paris, london, prague, berlin before the wall came down
collobrieres, france
windsor castle
taj mahal, in any light
first view of machu pichu as you round the corner of the entrace gateway
needham common
any fodors GTG
grand palace, bangkok
d'orsay museum, paris
non-WOW's:
korea
ireland
all of florida, especially orlando
gpanda in a speedo
las vegas
weekend market, bangkok
chiang mai
WOW's:
turkey X 2
thailand, each and every trip
angkor wat
egypt, especially the first sighting of the pyramids as you fly across the dessert on arrival into cairo
major european cities: paris, london, prague, berlin before the wall came down
collobrieres, france
windsor castle
taj mahal, in any light
first view of machu pichu as you round the corner of the entrace gateway
needham common
any fodors GTG
grand palace, bangkok
d'orsay museum, paris
#20
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Wow:
Bali (1986)...worried from the comments above that it has changed for the worse
Tobago Cays in the Grenadines...jaw dropping beautiful water/beaches
Chiapas, Mexico (1993)
Tuscany
Paris (I thought it would be a cliche....but it was just lovely)
Ravello, Amalfi coast
So-So
Barcelona (thought I would love it)
Berlin
Capri
Bali (1986)...worried from the comments above that it has changed for the worse
Tobago Cays in the Grenadines...jaw dropping beautiful water/beaches
Chiapas, Mexico (1993)
Tuscany
Paris (I thought it would be a cliche....but it was just lovely)
Ravello, Amalfi coast
So-So
Barcelona (thought I would love it)
Berlin
Capri