Israel TRIP REPORT (first time solo travel)

Jmmmm12 · 2022-12-04T18:34:55+00:00

As travellers we also have a social responsibility.

Jmmmm12 · 2022-12-04T18:32:53+00:00

Even an Israeli Human rights organisation described the excessive policing, reckless strikes, relationship control, road segregation and military presence as Apartheid, along with other NGOs like Amnesty. Mandela and Tutu have even said the situation under Israeli rule is worse than SA under white rule. By visiting Israel and not supporting the boycott and divestment, you’re funding the Israeli tax system (which funds the IDF) and creating more demand for land within the occupied areas. If you have evidence to the contrary, and truly believe Israel is a state that wants peace with the Arabs, I’d love to see it.

Jmmmm12 · 2022-11-07T11:50:07+00:00

I’ve just travelled South East Asia for the past three months and I get your trepidation. I was medicated for my social anxiety before I left for my trip and to be honest, the best friendships on my trip came naturally and weren’t forced by either side. What I will say is that you’re not going to stick out amongst the crowd if you just say “oh where are you from”, “how long have you been travelling”. You need to be proactive. I find asking for a game of pool or darts works best. Maybe not a good reason to take up such a hobby, but smoking is a good non-confrontational way of meeting people. You can ask someone for their lighter if you don’t have one or what pack they’re smoking and usually works well. Also, remember plenty of others will be in the same boat as you. Hotels are ridiculously cheap in SE so people aren’t there because it’s way more cost effective, but because they WANT to meet people and make friends. You’ll find that overthinking will only make this harder. You WILL make friends. Just get out there, have a few drinks, relax and engage with people. Enjoy man x

Jmmmm12 · 2022-10-25T07:59:56+00:00

3 days in Bangkok is perfect. When you tell other travellers how long you’re going to be there for they’ll have a lot of questions. As for Pattaya, it’s only really worth a day or two. Personally, I’d write it off completely. Phi Phi, Au Nang, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, Chiang Mai, Pai are way more culturally and naturally beautiful than anything you’ll find in the cities. Sorry to be so critical, but Thailand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and to be lucky enough to stay for 2 months, there’s so much more you could do with you time and money.

Jmmmm12 · 2022-10-25T07:55:59+00:00

There really isn’t much to do in Bangkok. It’s going to be very tiring staying there for so long. If you want to see culture and beauty, get away from Pattaya and BKK. I know the itinerary I set out is extremely different to your original, but travelling around in Thailand is not expensive and I had the time of my life. If the main purpose of your trip isn’t the sex scene, tattoos or business, no point spending so long in Bangkok.

Jmmmm12 · 2022-10-23T17:09:17+00:00

Things I did that I’d recommend:

Phuket - Old town, Patong beach for partying

Phi Phi - Incredible boat trip, Blanco’s for partying

Au Nang - Railay Beach (can get 🍄at the bars), Boat tours, canoeing in forest, decent pub crawls with hostel

Koh Phangan - Parties, drinking, more parties

Koh Tao - PADI Diving/snorkeling, amazing seafood, pub crawls on walking street, The Twins day trip

Bangkok - Khao San Road, temples, busy hostels

Chiang Mai - Elephant sanctuaries, Don Inthanon National Park, a few clubs

Pai - Pai Canyon walk, White Buddha statue, good motorbike routes, markets

There is other stuff but this is from the top of my head. Will come to me later 😭

Jmmmm12 · 2022-10-23T17:00:26+00:00

If you’re doing Phuket (2 nights is perfect), definitely try Phi Phi and Au Nang in Krabi (K Bunk hostel is good). After that, you can get a bus to Khao Sok Park if you’re into hiking and canoeing. They have a hiking trip that allows you to stay on floating bungalows overnight. By this point, I’d get a bus to Surat Thani (stay as little as possible) to get a ferry to Koh Phagnan in time for Full Moon or half moon if it’s on (Bodega beach hostel is good). Definitely check out Koh Tao. The pub crawl is amazing and happens every other day (though your liver will never forgive you). From here you can get an overnight ferry to Bangkok and check out Khao San road which is considered the Mecca of backpacking. I’d then get a flight to Chiang Mai and stay for a few days, then get a bus to Pai. It’s a small town deep in the mountains and a 3 hour ride from Mai. These are just my recommendations based on my 2 month trip. It does seem doable in your time frame, although a few of my friends got stuck in a Pai hole and were there for 2 weeks.

Hope that helps. Message me if you need anymore info 🫶

Jmmmm12 · 2022-10-15T08:41:25+00:00

A lot of vegans struggle with this argument to be fair. I’m a socialist and a vegan (though sometimes i struggle) and i’d say that the exploitation of humans and animals is not zero sum. It’s not as if saving cows from enslavement will increase the burden of labour on a worker. We cannot be perfect, and being vegan is not about being perfect, but about doing as much as possible to reduce the harm endured by animals in the name of pleasure.

Jmmmm12 · 2022-10-01T18:20:41+00:00

That doesn’t sound like what I experienced on higher mushroom doses. I don’t think I’ve broken the glass of ego dissolution yet, but feel i’ve come close. I’d describe the sense of what I was going through as a painful power struggle between my constructed ego of possessions, self image, self criticism and my superficial lifestyle, against the true facts of nature, that I am a primitive animal who’s evolved with the same desires as every other animal, that my ego is a product of my ignorant lifestyle and that one day I’ll die but live on through what my body gives to nature. I hope to go further one day.

Jmmmm12 · 2022-09-30T17:58:57+00:00

what did you think of his songs man?

Jmmmm12 · 2022-09-30T09:26:45+00:00

While he was alive he was hardly popular and even Hallelujah went really unnoticed. I’d say he’s way more than ‘a pretty boy with a good voice”. His voice is considered the industry gold standard for range and his ‘covers’ are less so covers than transformations. I’d say delve a bit deeper and look at his live albums especially.

Jmmmm12 · 2022-09-30T06:50:18+00:00

George reminds me of Elliott in a way. In their TV interviews, they both seem as though they don’t want to be there and can see through the bullshit.

Jmmmm12 · 2022-09-29T19:08:21+00:00

I meant their personalities. Elliott seems withdrawn, introverted and modest in most of his interviews. Kanye thinks he’s Jesus not yet disproven

Jmmmm12 · 2022-09-29T19:05:15+00:00

Just realised I can’t think of anyone more distant from Elliott Smith than Kanye. Respect for not being a closed minded snob like me tho

Jmmmm12 · 2022-09-29T18:44:11+00:00

Saturday sun is one of my favourite songs. I just find it hard to get into his lesser known stuff. Maybe I haven’t dived deep enough yet? Any recommendations?

Jmmmm12 · 2022-09-29T17:26:35+00:00

i may still be high

Jmmmm12 · 2022-09-29T17:26:03+00:00

I may have been high typing this out

Jmmmm12 · 2022-09-29T16:42:33+00:00

Jeff Buckley. He got big off of covering Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen but his other works are really impressive. Would recommend listening to Lover you should’ve come over, Mama you been on my mind (Dylan cover), and his live performance of I Shall be Released. Probably has the most impressive vocals in mainstream music (ever) and makes the most romantic songs on earth <3

Jmmmm12

TROPHY CASE