Travel and the paranormal
Jul 14th, 2006, 08:38 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Travel and the paranormal
Okay, I'm probably starting this too late at night. I realize it's already after midnight in the Eastern time zone. But, as always seems to be the case the night before a trip, I'm up doing laundry!
Every once in a while someone starts a thread about "haunted" tours of one city or another. The very fact that these tours exist in so many cities indicates that I'm certainly not the only one who has a fascination with the subject. And one of Indytravel's responses to my Bloomington, Indiana thread got me thinking about this.
Has anyone ever seen, heard, felt a ghost? Particularly at a hotel or restaurant?
I'd be terrified to stay in a hotel that has a reputation for being haunted. But I've eaten in restaurants that are supposedly haunted. Anyone else have feelings about this one way or the other?
Every once in a while someone starts a thread about "haunted" tours of one city or another. The very fact that these tours exist in so many cities indicates that I'm certainly not the only one who has a fascination with the subject. And one of Indytravel's responses to my Bloomington, Indiana thread got me thinking about this.
Has anyone ever seen, heard, felt a ghost? Particularly at a hotel or restaurant?
I'd be terrified to stay in a hotel that has a reputation for being haunted. But I've eaten in restaurants that are supposedly haunted. Anyone else have feelings about this one way or the other?
Jul 14th, 2006, 08:46 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Caph, if it makes you feel any better I am doing laundry for a trip too, lol!
We have stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado quite a bit, and it is supposedly haunted. There is a book about it...very interesting. I don't mind staying there...actually really enjoy it...but I would NOT want to be in the one room! I would just rather heard about it than experience it.
We have stayed at the Hotel Del Coronado quite a bit, and it is supposedly haunted. There is a book about it...very interesting. I don't mind staying there...actually really enjoy it...but I would NOT want to be in the one room! I would just rather heard about it than experience it.
Jul 14th, 2006, 08:57 PM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That's pretty much the way I feel about it too, mms! As I told Indytravel, I'd probably have a heart attack if I saw a ghost! But, as I said, I have a real fascination with the subject.
I'd probably be a little braver about a hotel in which only one room is supposed to be haunted. As you said, I sure wouldn't want to stay in that room though!
I'd probably be a little braver about a hotel in which only one room is supposed to be haunted. As you said, I sure wouldn't want to stay in that room though!
Jul 14th, 2006, 09:42 PM
#4
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
aaahhh. so nice to know i am not alone in the universe doing laundry late at night. and i'm on the east coast, so it is really late for me. i leave friday for california for two weeks, so this is a huge burden off my list of things undone due to dealing with flooding.
about ghosts....long ago i stayed in an old inn where there was a ghost. i was scared, didn't sleep much, but was not affected otherwise. i have two friends who have ghosts in there homes...they always have stories. i've heard my mother call my name in the middle of the night, altho she's alive and not even in this state! if i were in a ghosty situation, i think i'd just pray a lot for divine protection, not knowing what else could possibly save me!
a man broke into my house during the daytime last week while we were gone. when we came home, he was standing naked in the kitchen drinking a glass of water!!!!! not even trying to hide or get out once he saw us. yes, the police came and arrested him. they said he was delusional and probably high. they wanted to search the house for drugs he may have stashed. it was freaky, but not malicious. the children are afraid to be home alone now. i have to decide if i want to press charges! i don't much feel like it. i guess i would prefer the naked intruder over a haunting....
about ghosts....long ago i stayed in an old inn where there was a ghost. i was scared, didn't sleep much, but was not affected otherwise. i have two friends who have ghosts in there homes...they always have stories. i've heard my mother call my name in the middle of the night, altho she's alive and not even in this state! if i were in a ghosty situation, i think i'd just pray a lot for divine protection, not knowing what else could possibly save me!
a man broke into my house during the daytime last week while we were gone. when we came home, he was standing naked in the kitchen drinking a glass of water!!!!! not even trying to hide or get out once he saw us. yes, the police came and arrested him. they said he was delusional and probably high. they wanted to search the house for drugs he may have stashed. it was freaky, but not malicious. the children are afraid to be home alone now. i have to decide if i want to press charges! i don't much feel like it. i guess i would prefer the naked intruder over a haunting....
Jul 14th, 2006, 09:56 PM
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
OMG, corwin! How frightening to come home and find someone in your house. Naked, no less! I know what you mean about preferring that to a haunting. But still...
The two friends who have ghosts in their houses, doesn't it totally freak them out?
The two friends who have ghosts in their houses, doesn't it totally freak them out?
Jul 14th, 2006, 10:17 PM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You are not alone! Here's a thread on the subject from the Europe board, started after I inquired about staying at a haunted chateau.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=34814287
I have paranormal experiences, at home and abroad. I had a ghost in my condo unit when I first moved in three years ago......I tried to get rid of him but was told "Well, you know, he was here first." Once my friend came over, and she felt him, too! Wait! It gets crazier! So I had to have a "talk" with him and told him that I was the new owner, and he could continue to live with me, rent-free, as long as he kept to himself and didn't bother me or my friends. Or else I would pull out the big guns in exorcism. It's been fine ever since, pretty much.
As far as travels, though, I do not take ghost tours because of my tendency to attract them! I only had a semi-negative encounter once....in an apartment I rented in Prague. When I look back, though, it was probably trying to get me to mingle more outside, because I met some of the most amazing people in the bar outside while trying to avoid the ghost!
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=34814287
I have paranormal experiences, at home and abroad. I had a ghost in my condo unit when I first moved in three years ago......I tried to get rid of him but was told "Well, you know, he was here first." Once my friend came over, and she felt him, too! Wait! It gets crazier! So I had to have a "talk" with him and told him that I was the new owner, and he could continue to live with me, rent-free, as long as he kept to himself and didn't bother me or my friends. Or else I would pull out the big guns in exorcism. It's been fine ever since, pretty much.
As far as travels, though, I do not take ghost tours because of my tendency to attract them! I only had a semi-negative encounter once....in an apartment I rented in Prague. When I look back, though, it was probably trying to get me to mingle more outside, because I met some of the most amazing people in the bar outside while trying to avoid the ghost!
Jul 14th, 2006, 10:25 PM
#7
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well, they haven't moved. nothing harmful ever happens, just appearances that are more oft reported by the children. about five years ago at a christmas party there was a 'hired' psychic off in a side room that you got to sign up to see for 20 minutes. she told me not to worry about my family because we'd been together for many lifetimes and i wasn't always the mother! do you ever think about stuff like that?
caph, still doing laundry? i cannot fold all this tonight. i'm taking my lap top to bed with me.
caph, still doing laundry? i cannot fold all this tonight. i'm taking my lap top to bed with me.
Jul 14th, 2006, 10:37 PM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Corwin, I've had that kind of reading....where our family (most of us) have been together over many lifetimes. The only one was my sister, whom she said was not family but a friend of the family--like a close neighbor. That suddenly made so much sense to me, because she's a little different from us!
My friend's nephew in Kona is currently seeing his grandma Tanouye, who actually died before he was born. He says she's here to take their other grandma to heaven, and that will be next week so she's just kind of hanging out at the house with him. The other grandma is severely ill. whooooo.
My friend's nephew in Kona is currently seeing his grandma Tanouye, who actually died before he was born. He says she's here to take their other grandma to heaven, and that will be next week so she's just kind of hanging out at the house with him. The other grandma is severely ill. whooooo.
Jul 14th, 2006, 10:43 PM
#9
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i think i'd like someone to come escort me if i was leaving this life. that sounds comforting in an odd sort of way. what's cool is that it's always the children who are more receptive or tuned in to what the spirits want to accomplish when they appear.
Jul 14th, 2006, 10:55 PM
#10
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
omg. what is the matter with that fauxstmarie person on melissa's referenced thread? good grief. who put her in charge of the universe?? can she not mind her own business and leave the rest of us alone?
crazy.
crazy.
Jul 14th, 2006, 11:02 PM
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Melissa, thanks so much for giving me the link to that thread on the Europe forum! Very interesting!
As is your story about the spirit here to escort someone! As corwin said, it's a very comforting thought.
As for children being more receptive...I remember reading somewhere years ago that it's not unusual for children to talk about past lives. But that, in cultures that don't believe in reincarnation, it tends to get "swept under the rug". So, since talk of it isn't encouraged, children soon forget.
When I was pregnant with our second child, our daughter often talked about her "other family". Logically, I suspect that it was a reaction to the fact that we were about to have another child -- our other child, her other family. But I couldn't help thinking about those reincarnation stories.
However, it's hard to reconcile a belief in ghosts with a belief in reincarnation!
As is your story about the spirit here to escort someone! As corwin said, it's a very comforting thought.
As for children being more receptive...I remember reading somewhere years ago that it's not unusual for children to talk about past lives. But that, in cultures that don't believe in reincarnation, it tends to get "swept under the rug". So, since talk of it isn't encouraged, children soon forget.
When I was pregnant with our second child, our daughter often talked about her "other family". Logically, I suspect that it was a reaction to the fact that we were about to have another child -- our other child, her other family. But I couldn't help thinking about those reincarnation stories.
However, it's hard to reconcile a belief in ghosts with a belief in reincarnation!
Jul 14th, 2006, 11:05 PM
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,044
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Verdun, France.
Roanoke Island, North Carolina.
I'm definitely NOT the superstitious, mumbo-jumbo type at all. Give me logic, science and reason all the way - but when I was in those 2 places, I believed.
Ken
Roanoke Island, North Carolina.
I'm definitely NOT the superstitious, mumbo-jumbo type at all. Give me logic, science and reason all the way - but when I was in those 2 places, I believed.
Ken
Jul 14th, 2006, 11:13 PM
#13
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
p.s. here's the original thread that the "Why Be Scared" thread branched off of:
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=34814233
Also, I work at Aloha Tower Marketplace, which has the historic Falls of Clyde nearby. I recently rode on the Amsterdam cruise ship....and met a man who said he had never believed in ghosts or seen a ghost in his life. One day, he was on the Falls of Clyde, and lo and behold, there was a very well dressed ghost! The man stood before him and --poof!-- the ghost was gone. I've checked with the Maritime Museum and no one knows of a ghost on the Falls of Clyde, but this man swears he was sober and wasn't hallucinating.
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...2&tid=34814233
Also, I work at Aloha Tower Marketplace, which has the historic Falls of Clyde nearby. I recently rode on the Amsterdam cruise ship....and met a man who said he had never believed in ghosts or seen a ghost in his life. One day, he was on the Falls of Clyde, and lo and behold, there was a very well dressed ghost! The man stood before him and --poof!-- the ghost was gone. I've checked with the Maritime Museum and no one knows of a ghost on the Falls of Clyde, but this man swears he was sober and wasn't hallucinating.
Jul 14th, 2006, 11:27 PM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CAPH, I hope you can make it to Hawaii one day. We have TONS of such stories to tell. My mall has a new owner rep, and she is unfamiliar with the culture of Hawaii. Our entire office--me, my general manager, our CFO, controller--relayed all kinds of gentle ghost stories over dinner one night to demonstrate how "different" Hawaii can be. The owner rep was blown away and kept asking, "What religion is this?!" And we had to keep assuring her, "It's not a religion; it's the culture." And then we had to tell more stories to try and help her not be scared.
I also used to be a total reincarnation skeptic. But the more I learned about the process, combined with paranormal stuff, the more I understand.
Actually, my friend's nephew was not going to say anything to his parents about seeing Grandma Tanouye. He confided in his brother. But once his dad got wind of it, he had to ask him if he saw ANGELS, and then he admitted to seeing what he saw. I think I'd like an escort as well. But knowing me, I will have researched the best way to get there beforehand, as well as some popular activities in my intended destination!
I also used to be a total reincarnation skeptic. But the more I learned about the process, combined with paranormal stuff, the more I understand.
Actually, my friend's nephew was not going to say anything to his parents about seeing Grandma Tanouye. He confided in his brother. But once his dad got wind of it, he had to ask him if he saw ANGELS, and then he admitted to seeing what he saw. I think I'd like an escort as well. But knowing me, I will have researched the best way to get there beforehand, as well as some popular activities in my intended destination!
Jul 14th, 2006, 11:30 PM
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 9,737
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"But knowing me, I will have researched the best way to get there beforehand, as well as some popular activities in my intended destination!"
Spoken like a true Fodorite, Melissa!
Spoken like a true Fodorite, Melissa!
Jul 15th, 2006, 01:56 AM
#16
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A building at Notre Dame U. My friends and I walked in, and this calm just falls over us. Unearthly peace. No way to explain it, other than a spiritual presence of some sort.
And- this doesn't really count- but I'm occasionally really freaked out by large picture windows (in my house, or other wise) in the middle of the night. You know, when you're the only one awake and when you look towards the window, you see your reflection and darkness. No noise at all. I'm always half convinced all turn around one of these days and see a glowing set of eyes. It's completely irrational- except when I was a kid, we once found a raccoon in the backyard birch, taunting the dog. (Middle of town, so weird). And all you could see of him/her, was.....a set of glowing eyes! So maybe it comes from that.
Yeah, I'd like to go on one of those tours someday: Orleans or Seattle. Love ghost stories- when I travel, I always pick up a local anthology- it's a great way to get a feel for the place's history.
Melissa- ever seen a series called
"Obake Casefiles" at a Hawaiian bookstore? My aunt bought me one, once, for Christmas. Not even sure if it's still in print. Creeeepy, but very interesting.
Great thread, Caph52!!
And- this doesn't really count- but I'm occasionally really freaked out by large picture windows (in my house, or other wise) in the middle of the night. You know, when you're the only one awake and when you look towards the window, you see your reflection and darkness. No noise at all. I'm always half convinced all turn around one of these days and see a glowing set of eyes. It's completely irrational- except when I was a kid, we once found a raccoon in the backyard birch, taunting the dog. (Middle of town, so weird). And all you could see of him/her, was.....a set of glowing eyes! So maybe it comes from that.
Yeah, I'd like to go on one of those tours someday: Orleans or Seattle. Love ghost stories- when I travel, I always pick up a local anthology- it's a great way to get a feel for the place's history.
Melissa- ever seen a series called
"Obake Casefiles" at a Hawaiian bookstore? My aunt bought me one, once, for Christmas. Not even sure if it's still in print. Creeeepy, but very interesting.
Great thread, Caph52!!
Jul 15th, 2006, 06:57 AM
#17
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All of this reminded me of another place. My husbands old fraternity. During a Christmas break, while we were in school, the housemother passed away...yes, at the house. I never saw anything, but for the rest of my college years, the guys all talked about her still roaming the halls. Even though these were college guys, some of the stories I heard, I would have to say it was true.
Jul 15th, 2006, 07:16 AM
#18
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Caph:
Your post cracked me up! About three months ago my husband and I were having dinner at a local Chinese restaurant in our town in Louisiana. Earlier that day, Sylvia Brown had been on the Montel show and I was telling my husband about "wood sprites," and we were discussing the paranormal. Just as he finished saying, "I don't know if I really believe in all of that," the little jar of duck sauce started moving across the table. We both watched it move about 6", then looked at each other and started laughing. It continued moving until it was in the middle of the table (about 2' from where it started). We both reached for it, but he picked it up and felt the bottom (same thing I was thinking - maybe the bottom was wet, the table wasn't level, and it was sliding). Dry as a bone. He put it back where it belonged and we both watched it like hawks for the rest of the meal.
P.S. We're leaving for a trip in 10 days, and I'll be up till 2:00 a.m. doing laundry, I'm sure!
Your post cracked me up! About three months ago my husband and I were having dinner at a local Chinese restaurant in our town in Louisiana. Earlier that day, Sylvia Brown had been on the Montel show and I was telling my husband about "wood sprites," and we were discussing the paranormal. Just as he finished saying, "I don't know if I really believe in all of that," the little jar of duck sauce started moving across the table. We both watched it move about 6", then looked at each other and started laughing. It continued moving until it was in the middle of the table (about 2' from where it started). We both reached for it, but he picked it up and felt the bottom (same thing I was thinking - maybe the bottom was wet, the table wasn't level, and it was sliding). Dry as a bone. He put it back where it belonged and we both watched it like hawks for the rest of the meal.
P.S. We're leaving for a trip in 10 days, and I'll be up till 2:00 a.m. doing laundry, I'm sure!
Jul 15th, 2006, 09:08 AM
#19
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Obake is the Japanese word for ghost. And yes, I've seen the book "Obake Casefiles," but I don't read that stuff if possible. I got enough paranormal stuff to think about in real life! The book was written by Glenn Grant, who used to lead ghost tours around Honolulu. My friend said that it was such a spooky tour that some people (men, no less) would leave the tour and not finish it because they couldn't handle the fear! Glenn finally passed away at an early age a couple of years ago--he claimed a dog obake had been after him for years. Anyway, I think his colleagues continue with ghost tours and such but are not at all as famous as Glenn. You can inquire at The Haunt (I think it's their bar) or the adjacent Seance Room, both on King Street in Honolulu past Puck's Alley near the University.
Hey, CAPH, not just as a Fodorite but as a solo traveler!
Hey, CAPH, not just as a Fodorite but as a solo traveler!
Jul 15th, 2006, 10:10 AM
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Love this thread..
I have had paranormal experiences my whole life and they have all been good experiences but it is still creepy when you see a ghost or one touches you or messes with you..
When I go to Hawaii, I always have something happen to me..I think the islands are one of the most haunted than any haunted house in the US..
My husband lived in a true haunted house in college and I have had wild experiences in Paris too..
I live in San Diego so I know the Hotel Del ghost but the Whaley House in Old Town is considered one of the most haunted in the country..
I get severe headaches immediately when there is spirit activity.. also, my body feels a weight on my chest too..
One time we were in a bar in Tempe, AZ called 9th & Ash and we heard someone say the place is haunted so we asked the cocktail server and she said it was way haunted upstairs where there is a dining room so we asked if we could go up and she gave us a tour..mind you we were on our first drink.. she left us up there by ourselves and I was talking to the room and asking for some sort of movement and right after that it got really cold and this entity walked right through me and levitated me about an inch of the ground and my husband stood up and it walked through him too and he was about an inch of the ground.. we slammed our drinks so fast and ran down the stairs, shaking and went straighth to the bartender and ordered 2 shots and still can't believe the experience we had!!!
I have had paranormal experiences my whole life and they have all been good experiences but it is still creepy when you see a ghost or one touches you or messes with you..
When I go to Hawaii, I always have something happen to me..I think the islands are one of the most haunted than any haunted house in the US..
My husband lived in a true haunted house in college and I have had wild experiences in Paris too..
I live in San Diego so I know the Hotel Del ghost but the Whaley House in Old Town is considered one of the most haunted in the country..
I get severe headaches immediately when there is spirit activity.. also, my body feels a weight on my chest too..
One time we were in a bar in Tempe, AZ called 9th & Ash and we heard someone say the place is haunted so we asked the cocktail server and she said it was way haunted upstairs where there is a dining room so we asked if we could go up and she gave us a tour..mind you we were on our first drink.. she left us up there by ourselves and I was talking to the room and asking for some sort of movement and right after that it got really cold and this entity walked right through me and levitated me about an inch of the ground and my husband stood up and it walked through him too and he was about an inch of the ground.. we slammed our drinks so fast and ran down the stairs, shaking and went straighth to the bartender and ordered 2 shots and still can't believe the experience we had!!!
