Travel to a country far away

@maximax8 (31046)
United Kingdom
February 5, 2011 5:43am CST
I have just come back home from my trip. I didn't tell many people which country I was going to because the first friend I told screamed! I went to Colombia and it was a save place to visit. I went with my three year disabled son and 20 month old daughter. We flew from London to Cartagena De Indias via Madrid and Bogota. We stayed in Cartagena and Santa Marta. It was amazing to see all the historical buildings. We did day trips out to other places like Playa Blanca, a lovely beach and Grand Bay a superb place for snorkeling. We found the local people really friendly. Getting back to London we got chatting to another traveler when we said where we had been he said that was dangerous. No I had told him, similar to Cape Town it was not dangerous. Would you like to visit a far away country? Have you ever had comments about your choice of destination?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
6 Feb 11
First..Congrats on your trip. I am glad that things went well for you and you enjoyed it. We can't base our lives on fear or we will never live. I had a few comments when I went to Japan. It was during the SARS epidemic. At the time, it was mainly in China though. It was a little uncomfortable when I noticed people were wearing masks like a surgeon but everything worked out ok and my trip was great.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
7 Feb 11
I am really pleased to hear that you were safe on your trip to China and Japan. It was scary at the time of the SARS epidemic. I think people wearing a mask like a surgeon look a bit strange. We had foot and mouth disease in my home country at the time I went on my trip to the USA, the islands of the South Pacific and New Zealand. When I arrived in New Zealand they cleaned my shoes due to my home country. I wondered why because I had been to some many other countries on the way down there.
• Philippines
6 Feb 11
I have always been dreaming of going out of the country and travel to world famous places. In fact, i have applied for jobs abroad so it could open doors for the opportunity to travel in other places, but it didn't happen for some reasons. I would dream of going to countries of south America just like Columbia for example.I think it's a cool place and have beautiful people. My country had been influenced by Latin countries so there are some similarities with the culture and i love that thing. Until now i am hoping just someday i would experience the other side of the world. To meet and greet people and enjoy the pleasure of traveling.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
7 Feb 11
Good luck with getting an overseas job because that is the best way you will be able to travel. When living in the Netherlands as a student for 4 months I was able to pop over to Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg. In order to get to Belize cheaply I got a cheap flight to Cancun in Mexico then traveled by bus. It is excellent that your home country has some similarities with South America.
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
6 Feb 11
Recently, a friend visited Colombia and her photos looked very peaceful... it didn't look dangerous at all. How do you manage to travel with you young kids by yourself? I would love to visit a far away country.
@marguicha (222167)
• Chile
5 Feb 11
I am SO glad you finally made it to Cartagena de Indias. It is awesome! I know what you mean by people thinking that every place is dangerous. I think it depends on how you travel though. I could not go downtown at the city I was born in with my hands full of gold rings and jewell everywhere. I will not get drunk or be by myself at bars into the night. Not here, not anywhere. It is asking for trouble. Many american people have told me that Aruba is dangerous because of something terrible that happened yesrs ago to an ameican girl. But she went to drink with the wrong kind of people all by herself. I am sure that Southamerica is not more dangerous than any other country of the world, unless you go to the slums (there are slums in EVERY country in the world too). I am glad you had a lovely time, in stipe of your problems during the trip.
@vinabee (85)
• China
5 Feb 11
Most of people have a dream of traveling to a country far away. However, i have never been to any other countries. I feel quite regretful of it, but taking vihecle, for me ,is a fearful thing. And i have not enough money to afford a trip. So, it is only a nice dream hitherto.
@naija4real (1291)
6 Feb 11
Visiting another country especially a far distance one is a good way to relax and refresh oneself for optimum performance. You also learn about other peoples culture. You said confirmed this in your discussion about the cultural experience you have had. It is good for you and your kids. However, the world is going through some challenging period with crimes rate rising higher each day. As a traveler it would not be ideal to just travel to any country just for fun and pleasure. You still need to make some details inquiries about your personal safety and security. To answer, your question, I will say that I will travel to another country but my personal security is of fundamental values than what I stand to benefit from such trip.
• Turkey
5 Feb 11
I have never been to Columbia so i can not comment on how it is there, but I am a Sotuh African citizen and have first hand knowledge of my country's status on this regard. I would never tell a tourist that this is a safe country to visit because it just isn't the truth. Cape Town being as dangerous as the rest of it. Quoted from an article in The Mirro recently - "A Bristish woman on holiday with her husband in South Africa was raped and mugged by two men on 16 January 2011. Police say the woman, who is in her 50's and from Lancashire, was "overpowered" in an inner-city nature reserve.She was raped by both men who thenstole her mobile phone and 300 rand (30 pounds) in cash."-unquoted In another incident in November 2010 a British newly-wed on her honeymoon was brutally murdered in Cape Town after her end her husband's car got hijacked by a few men. These are just two of the numerous victims in South Africa recently being attacked, raped and murdered in some cases. Most of them British tourists it seems and a few other countries like Germany are also targets. So I would not suggest any female or even couple to visit South Africa for a holiday.