Suggestion: tell us where you're from

[phil_t]

Martin, wherever you go, just dont go to the Dome (or have they actually got around to knocking it down yet??)

Erm.....Tower of London......One of the Museums, if you are into that sort of thing, the Natural History Museum and Museum of London (History Museum) are both excellent, and the Science Museum is very good too. Might i suggest a cruise down the Thames if you can fit it in, its a very good way to see lots of landmarks (i did a similar cruise through Paris and it was a great way to see the city)

Phil

Edit: PS: Ell, ive just read through your recent reads on your website - are you planning a trip to the Pacific by any chance? Or just interested in the area? By the way - i'd be interested to know if you think the Krakatoa book was worth reading, as its sitting unread on my shelf!

 

[Ell]

phil, I recently took a cruise to Fr. Polynesia and the Cook Islands, hence the South Pacific travel books. But I've always been fascinated with the area. It feels like 'home' - must have had a previous life there.

We also go to Hawaii regularly - leaving in less than 2 weeks, actually

 

[phil_t]

Always wanted to go to Hawaii with my family, but we never did get there - had to settle for seeing most of mainland America instead I'd like to take a holiday there at some point - mebbe in a few years when i could actually afford it!!

Phil

 

[blackstar]

Originally posted by Ell

We also go to Hawaii regularly - leaving in less than 2 weeks, actually

Ell how often do you go to Hawaii, it just sounds amazing, in my head it's almost paradise-like! Especially as it seems such a long way away. Was it how you imagined it to be when you first went?

 

[Ell]

We generally go once a year for about 2 wks. We've been doing this since 1979 when we bought into a timeshare (pre-kids and more disposable income). Being on the west coast of Canada, it's much closer than going to Europe (which I mean to do someday).

Was it how you imagined it to be when you first went?

Absolutely! I remember stepping off the plane and smelling the different fragrance in the air. And if you believe in past lives, that's what it felt like to me. It was like returning to a long-forgotten favourite place and feeling completely at home.

 

[Martin]

Kaz originally posted:
Martin, go to London Eye!! I went there last couple of months ago. It was fantasic and you can see everywhere in London when you are top of the London Eye!!
Also it would be nice to go to Portbello Road where the markets sells all sort of old antiques.
Of course you can go to Oxford St to spend on books!!

phil_t originally posted:
Erm.....Tower of London......One of the Museums, if you are into that sort of thing, the Natural History Museum and Museum of London (History Museum) are both excellent, and the Science Museum is very good too. Might i suggest a cruise down the Thames if you can fit it in, its a very good way to see lots of landmarks (i did a similar cruise through Paris and it was a great way to see the city)

Thanks you guys!! I'll try to go see everything you recommended, especially the London Eye, Oxford Street (yeah, books) and that trip on the Thames (if my budget allows it). Again, thanks for all the tips!

Idun originally posted:
Nice avatar, Martin!

Ell originally posted:
I was going to say the same thing. Very cute, Martin.

Thanks! Made it myself!

*Sits here being awfully proud of himself*

Cheers, Martin

 

[Ell]

Phil said
i'd be interested to know if you think the Krakatoa book was worth reading, as its sitting unread on my shelf!

I found it interesting, but not riveting (like "Into Thin Air", for example). I also found the maps in the book hard to read and had to get an atlas out to orient myself properly. There's a fair bit of detail about the geology and what people observed at the time of the eruption - also some obscure facts - eg. there's an imaginary line that runs through the region that separates animals found only in parts of Asia and those found to the southeast and Australia.

Not a bad book, but if you've got a big TBR pile, you can probably find something better. Save it for a rainy day or as a "between books" book.

 

[phil_t]

Thanks Ell, im reading about three books at the moment anyway so im not going to get to it soon!!

I remember stepping off the plane and smelling the different fragrance in the air

It was like that when i went to the Caribbean, you can just feel the difference in the air than from living in an industrialised country, it fresher (Not to mention a heck of a lot hotter! )

Phil

 

[TMC]

I'm from Alabama, in the United States. Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and other southern states are regarded by the rest of the nation as backwards, full of hicks, uneducated, et cetera. I have a question for those living outside of the US: do you have regions in your country that are regarded as redneck-y?

 

[Martin]

We do, as a matter of fact. Holland is a small country, but we have a redneckish area. It's called the Achterhoek, and, roughly translated, that means 'The Corner In The Back' (or 'Backcorner'). It's a thinly populated area, with many grasslands, forests, and every now and again a small town consisting of a few farms, a supermarket and a church. The people living there have their own dialect, and are generally considered of less intelligence than the rest of the country. However, a very close friend of mine lives there, and he is an extremely intelligent, well educated and funny person.

So much for stereotyping, right?!

Cheers, Martin

 

[phil_t]

Yeah we do here in the UK, generally in regard to south-west counties like Dorset and Somerset - and occasionally up north country as well!! Then again, im from the South-East, so we all think like that

Phil

 

[Ell]

OT - Happy Birthday, Phil!

 

[Kaz]

Happy Birthday Phil, have fun today!!! What do you get birthday presents? Lot of books???

 

[phil_t]

Thanks Guys!! Well, i finally am allowed to read the Matthew Reilly book that i bought two weeks ago!! Apart from that, the only other book i got was on maritime archaeology (a particular favorite subject) and the DVD of the Indiana Jones Trilogy (fantastic! is anyone picking up a theme here? ) Not many pressies actually, i can never think of stuff to ask people for so i normally just get money

Phil