Travel: Places you're going, places you've been.

[Giles]

Still Morocco....

[alexxedge]

The countdown has begun. Starting to get my packing organized for Japan. Started with the important stuff. Film inventory. I’ve also been watching the Iron Heart, Hinoya, Fullcount, and Samurai IG accounts for stock updates.

[mhussy]

I am planning to Visit Agra, The famous Taj Mahal, Delhi and Ladakh in India during Christmas. I read this article about India https://gowithguide.com/blog/tourism-in-india-statistics-2024-the-ultimate-guide-5493 Got my hopes up.

[Denman John]

@mhussy @Mister_Brue My wife and I spent a couple of months travelling around India a couple of years ago (Dec-Jan). If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. You should definitely put Varanasi on your list of places to visit while there!

I’ll be close by as I’ll be flying to Nepal in early December.

[Mizmazzle]

@mhussy That sounds incredible. I spent a month in Trivandrum in the south of India a few years ago. I found it quite nice. Lots to see and not as crowded as the central and northern regions from what I understand.

[Giles]

So far since leaving home, we have spent a night on a plane, a night in a hotel, and tonight it’ll be a night on a ferry. But then we will be where we are meant to be…..Romblon Island…

[Matt]

Looks cozy. Who gets the top bunk?

[Giles]

Me

[Giles]

Batangas is like any large ferry port serving a load of offshore Islands....

And, at about 03:00 this morning we arrived at Romblon Island, just the 1 hour or so in our chariot to go....

[Ikeaparty]

@Giles love the Philippines and especially the people!! If you hear a guy yelling taho in the morning try and grab some and maybe you'll get he fabled Batangas strawberry taho!

[Giles]

Ooh, something to look out for. Thanks...

[mhussy]

Started my first adventure of the month here in the beautiful Andes Mountains of Chile! The views are breathtaking, and the weather was just right — clear skies, sunshine, and a nice cool breeze made it ideal for trekking. Really enjoyed hiking through the rocky paths today. Huge thanks to my local guide from https://gowithguide.com/chile for being such a helpful and friendly companion along the way!

[motojobobo]

Any Turkey experts here?
Tomorrow I’ll be flying out for a two week trip in Turkey. Meeting up with a few college buddies. General plan is to slowly drive out to Trabzon in northwest Turkey along the Black Sea and up the mountains with stops along the way at: Safranbolu, Sinop, Kumbet Koyu, Rize.
We’ll fly back to Istanbul by the 24th.
Happy to get suggestions from the forum on things like: sites, architecture marvels, food/restaurants, presents for family…
Thankyou!

[motojobobo]

Just returned from a 10 day roadtrip to Paraguay, my first visit there.

Primary reason was to watch a WRC race where a friend’s son was taking part,


On the 2nd day he hit the inside of a curve and damaged a tie rod end, lost more than 20 minutes and lost all chance of a podium.

Then we headed for a technical visit to Itaipu dam

Control center here. Mostly still analogue technology. Built in the 70s, bit dated now, Are about to renovate all control systems to digital.

The Brazil turbines were putting out about 4 kMwatts that day; very similar amount for the Paraguay turbines.

One of the rotors in the altogether 20 turbines.

Inside and at the very bottom of the dam. 140 meters below the reservoir water level.

Back at the top. Itaipu is now 3rd largest dam by energy output, behind two chinese larger ones.

[tody]

@motojobobo great pictures!

[endo]

Wonderful! Thanks for posting, @motojobobo . I really need to travel around South America a lot more, too. Colombia is on the agenda for next year, at least.

[motojobobo]

Glad I entertained you with them @tody !!

@endo picking Colombia as your first S. America trip is an ace choice! My favorite country around here. Many beautiful things to see there (mountains, beaches, museums, food, …), but the highlight there is people. Colombians from any walk of life are interesting, informative, friendly and fun to talk to. Polish up on your spanish and your salsa/merengue moves, that’ll get you far in Colombia.

[endo]

@motojobobo I'll try with my Spanish, but I'm not sure about my dance moves 🫣. But thanks, buddy. Great words, make us looking forward even more.

By the way, I’ve actually been to South America once before—to Ecuador to climb a few mountains—but back then I failed on Cotopaxi and ended up cancelling the Chimborazo climb. I was totally frustrated, so I decided to focus on my love of travel rather than my limited mountaineering skills; I rented a motorcycle and rode into the cloud forests. It was absolutely amazing!

[profhanley]

. . . back from Mexico City, my home away from home . . .

[Aetas]

@motojobobo The inside and at the very bottom of the dam is breathtaking!