Anybody traveled and stayed in hostile places?

[raccoon]

Think "Easy Rider." Or some horror movie where someone is travelling and runs into monsters of some sort or other.


edited for grammar

[Taverner]

1. How about Cambodia during a civil war

That hostile enough for ya?

[raccoon]

2. Yes, I'd say that definitely qualifies. Late 1970's, I take it? nt

[Taverner]

5. Early 90's actually

FUNCINIPEC period - the KR was killing tourists who got off the beaten path and would beat them to death with guns to save on bullets.

[lazyriver]

3. I slept in O'Hare Airport a couple of times due to cancellations.

Although I'm sure Cambodia during a civil war was more hostile, at times, maybe not by much.:P

[Rhiannon12866]

4. I've spent time in what was Soviet Georgia, same as John McCain...

When he brought it up during the debate, I wondered if we'd gone to any of the same places...:evilgrin:

[Flaxbee]

8. when were you there?

what was your experience?

I know several Georgians -- and my husband spent a fair amount of time in the FSU... just wondering what qualified it as hostile or uncomfortable when you were there.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. I was there just before the USSR fell, as part of a peace group.

I went with my grandmother, whose small town in NC had a sister town in Russia, a comparable little town way up in the Caucasus Mountains. It was 15 senior citizens and me, LOL.:D

When my grandmother first asked me to come (they needed a certain number to make the trip), I thought she was insane, since I grew up believing that the Russians hated us. But I went, for my grandmother, and nothing could have been further than the truth. It really was the experience of a lifetime. :-)

Our main reason for going was to visit Krasnaya Polyana, our sister town, but we also spent time in Moscow, the resort of Sochi, on the Black Sea, since it was close to Krasnaya Polyana, (what was then) Leningrad, and were fortunate to also spend time in Soviet Georgia, which was then still part of the USSR.

And I encountered absolutely no hostility at all. People couldn't have been nicer, were all excited to meet Americans and wanted to chat. The high point, of course, was the day that we spent in our sister town, but Tbilisi was unique, since the culture is more Middle Eastern than Russian. It was a last minute decision that we were going to Georgia, since I think we had to get approval more than the other places. It was fascinating, since everything is so old and historic, something we're not used to in this country. It's not unusual to see an ancient building right next to a modern one...:o

The difference I found in Georgia was not that the people were less friendly, because they were. I went on a walking tour of Tbilisi with one of my best friends in the group, a retired minister-college president-head of the YMCA, who was more energetic than I was, even though he was pushing 90. We met a grandfather and grandson who were excited to meet us. I took my friend's picture with them. :-)

But, as a young female, I was warned not to meet the eyes of any man that I met on the street in Georgia, since it would be considered "an invitation..." But I never had any encounters, LOL, except for a waiter who touched my hand when he was serving dinner... :D

But Georgia has changed, as has the rest of what was the USSR. I wasn't anxious at anytime I was there, something that I couldn't say in NYC. But I'm told that al Quaeda has moved into Georgia, and I'd be anxious about visiting there now.:-(

There's been a lot of violence there since I visited, and I'd love to go back someday, just not now... ;(

My reference was to John McCain's remarks about Georgia, since he appears to be clueless on so many things...:shrug:

Rhiannon :hi:

[Flaxbee]

21. how neat - glad you had a good experience!

I currently live in a small town in (western) NC ..

Anyway - I've been to Russia many times, my husband has worked there (and throughout the FSU) since the 1980s... I love the Russian people, some of the nicest in the world, it seems.

And Georgian food is incredible. I haven't been outside of Russia, but went to an authentic Georgian restaurant in Moscow a few years ago and it was probably the best meal I've ever had.

Not sure about the al Qaeda claims - our Georgian friends don't seem to think so, and they were just there (in the middle of the recent clashes, as a matter of fact).

[Rhiannon12866]

22. Yes, it was a wonderful experience. You can probably tell, since I love to talk about it.

The sister town association had been going on for awhile, but my group was the first one to visit, so it was really special.:D

I have a friend who teaches third grade who asks me to come in and talk to the kids when they study Russia. They love it, since I bring souvenirs and coins that they can touch and their favorite part is asking questions (meaning: try to stump me, LOL.). I could use a couple more hours just to answer all their questions... It's a good age.:D

One thing that I try to put across is that the Russian people are just like us, which I sure didn't know when I was their age and was expected to "duck and cover..." x(

I tell them that the Russian people want the same things that we do and that they even do some things better, like starting language courses early in school. It's almost impossible to find a person who was born after WWII who doesn't speak fluent English. Remarkable. I ask the kids how many languages that we speak and, of course, they learn a few words in Russian which is fun for them. I also try to convey how old this country is, the fact that The Kremlin was built in 1492, for example, and by Italian artisians... :-)

And the food in Georgia was very good, though highly seasoned. They serve a lot of lamb, as they do in the Middle East, which I don't care for, but we were never lacking for anything to eat. I usually was full after the appetizers. They gave us way too much and we ate way too often, IMHO... :-)

The main course where the waiter touched my hand was chicken, which I had to try even though I was already full. It was a huge bowl of chicken with a kind of gravy and lots of white dots throughout the dish. I discovered that this was garlic...:o

And Georgia seems to have had a very difficult history, even in my lifetime. One thing that I learned that I felt bad about was that Russian was then their official language even though it isn't their native language, Georgian is... :-(

Where are you in Western NC? That's where my grandmother's small town is, Black Mountain, not far from Asheville. I've spent a lot of time there and it's beautiful country and the people there are pretty nice, too...:hi:

[hobbit709]

6. Shamrock Texas

My wife's father died in 1990 and we had to go up there. It was like the edge of the known universe. We had to go to the local diner to get the keys to his house from his girlfriend. When we walked in forks stopped halfway to their mouths as everyone turned to look at us. Every motel had a big "AMERICAN OWNED" sign in front and EVERY one of them when you walked into the office had a Hindu woman working there. We stayed at a motel that had a combination swimming pool and bomb shelter. The three days and the truck rental cost $900. Never in my life have I spent so much money to have so little fun. We were glad to leave and cheered when we saw it disappear in our rearview mirror.

[Droopy]

7. I stayed in Cleveland once.

[mcctatas]

10. I stayed at my MIL's once...

I have the scars to prove it!

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. A friend of mine visited the Hindu Kush region of Pakistan, pre 9-11

His group did a lot of hiking while they were there. AT one point, some of them wanted to go into a village to pick up some supplies, and their guides insisted on being their armed guards. He said it was a pretty eye-opening experience. This was in the late 1990s.

[Crazy Dave]

12. I live in Florida which is right next door to Cuba

How's that for foreign policy experience? :rofl:

[nytemare]

25. Just keep yer eye on 'em.

In case they rear their heads.

[raccoon]

29. Get started, man. Run for Governor of Florida! nt

[Chan790]

13. Visted fundy relatives in Jacksonville, FL when I was 13.

I hated them so I locked myself in a back bedroom and listened to White Zombie loudly for hours on end for three straight days. When I came out to eat, they made me say grace.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

14. My dad and my sister have both traveled to Cuba.

They say its something of a time capsule back to the 1950s in terms of architecture and technology, but all in all people were generally friendly to them.

[Jamastiene]

15. I'm one of those people who cannot win. EVERYWHERE HAS BEEN HOSTILE TO ME.

I'm an atheist lesbian who lives in the south and listen to punk rock. There is no worse fit than that or than maybe Saudi Arabia...

BUT...
On many of my trips above the Mason Dixon line, guess what I get? "You southerners are ignorant hicks. We hate you." My reply: "Uhm, bother to talk to me first, asshole. Otherwise, you are the same bigot you are claiming I am based solely on my accent. Geez. End of discussion."

Don't even get me started about some of the people I have dealt with out west, especially in the San Diego area. I used to dream of going to the San Diego zoo, but not if it means ever possibly meeting up with more of the same phony bigoted rich snobby asswipes I have met from there again.

I'm not saying that all people in San Diego or above the Mason Dixon line are ALL total fucking presumptuous bigoted assholes...not at all. I'm just saying there are shitty hateful people all over this shitty hateful country and no matter where I am, they fucking find me, FIRST THING. I hate them back now, tell them in no uncertain terms that they are not what I left home to find(I could have stayed in my hometown if I wanted bigotry and small mindedness), and I go look for good people when I travel in the different areas. That, so far, has been THE BEST STRATEGY I have ever used. I find the good people that way. It actually works. :thumbsup:

[Jamastiene]

16. I'm one of those people who cannot win. EVERYWHERE HAS BEEN HOSTILE TO ME.

I'm an atheist lesbian who lives in the south and listen to punk rock. There is no worse fit than that or than maybe Saudi Arabia...

BUT...
On many of my trips above the Mason Dixon line, guess what I get? "You southerners are ignorant hicks. We hate you." My reply: "Uhm, bother to talk to me first, asshole. Otherwise, you are the same bigot you are claiming I am based solely on my accent. Geez. End of discussion."

Don't even get me started about some of the people I have dealt with out west, especially in the San Diego area. I used to dream of going to the San Diego zoo, but not if it means ever possibly meeting up with more of the same phony bigoted rich snobby asswipes I have met from there again.

I'm not saying that all people in San Diego or above the Mason Dixon line are ALL total fucking presumptuous bigoted assholes...not at all. I'm just saying there are shitty hateful people all over this shitty hateful country and no matter where I am, they fucking find me, FIRST THING. I hate them back now, tell them in no uncertain terms that they are not what I left home to find(I could have stayed in my hometown if I wanted bigotry and small mindedness), and I go look for good people when I travel in the different areas. That, so far, has been THE BEST STRATEGY I have ever used. I find the good people that way. It actually works. :thumbsup:

[LeftyMom]

17. I've posted in GD:P.

[Sabriel]

18. I've stayed in hostel places. Does that count? n/t

[AirmensMom]

19. Yeah.

I posted in GD.



Oh ... that's not what you meant? :hide:

[two gun sid]

20. El Salvador and Guatemala during civil wars...

Argentina after the Malvinas War was very hostile toward Americans when I was there. I was in Karachi, Pakistan when Abu Nidol's group hijacked a plane and held a bunch of Europeans hostage at the airport in September of '86. You could have cut the tension in the air with a knife. Grenada during the invasion. The Shia section of Manama, Bahrain during the Iran-Iraq War wasn't very welcoming either.

[raccoon]

30. Geez, you sound like a character out of a Robert Ludlum novel. nt

[two gun sid]

31. LOL. I just happened to join the military at the wrong time....

Ronald Reagan was criminally insane and so were his foreign policies. In some ways it was a great experience, in others...well, not so much. I got to know a lot about the world and how it really worked at a very young age. But I also felt like a 72 year old man mentally when I was 26 and most of my hair had gone white.

Thanks for the laugh about being out of a Ludlum novel. I'm far from being anything like that. I'm actually a big goddamn chicken.

Peace.

[bikebloke]

23. Israel during the 1982 invasion of Lebanon.

Of course you could say my whole four year tenure there was during hostilities, since they're always on alert.

In Dahkar, Bangladsh, I saw a bomb explode in the street (luckily just noise and smoke, so no one was hurt). Shop keepers slammed their fronts closed, while everyone ran away. It seems when something like that happens, the police round up anyone around to rot in jail.

[charlie and algernon]

24. four days in Belfast Northern Ireland

Granted the civil war is pretty much over, but the professor made clear that we not wear any green, orange or yellow colors and pointed out the streets we not walk down lest we be killed. Then there are the murals of guys in ski masks holding automatic weapons.

[Generic Brad]

26. I went home for Christmas once

But luckily I survived - barely. Liberals are not welcome in my family.

[Xipe Totec]

27. Van Horn Texas

On a truck with Mexican license plates.

[Pierre.Suave]

28. I was in the Marines

I have been to Hostile places.