Vacation Planning

[Matt]

I was thinking New Zealand this year but I'm being tempted...

A friend found some classes at Sichuan University where I can learn Sichuan cooking (they have interpreters)

And on the tibetean plateau, kind of in the opposite direction from where I went last time, there's what the chinese consider to be the most beautiful place in the world. We call it Shangri-La. It's in Yunan. Have to get there by bus.
http://image.baidu.com/i?tn=baiduimage& ... 0%AD#pn=15

Still looking around... open to ideas.

[hobkyl]

While I certainly love your photos and experiences from China...I think NZ would be an awesome experience.

Others would include (taking my aspirations in to condiseration)...

Alaska, Iceland, and Chile to name a few.

Depends on what your goals are I suppose.

[Matt]

Coworkers invited me to Venezuela, but I want to avoid being kidnapped.

[cbobcat49]

I vote New Zealand!
...or Norway, which is almost the same geographically except on the opposite side of the world.
NZ may be cheaper based on what I hear about cost of living in Norway. (I went to college with someone who currently lives there)

[Matt]

on the lookout for NZ travel friends now... just ordered a few books about the natural sights to see.


another things... and this depends on how the american dollar does this year against the Yen, is Japan, which i have always wanted to go to (I know more about Japanese culture and speak more of the language than Chinese).

In China I had a very peaceful time photographing temples shrines and religious gardens. I think that is my new thing. Outside of tibet, Kyoto is the place for that.

And this may be a bit morbid, but the Aokigahara Suicide Forest has to be one of the creepiest places on earth. Having no fear, I want to make some creepy pictures (no dead bodies)
this forest is at the base of Mt Fuji.

Then there's just heading to Yosemite for a couple of weeks on my own.

Anyone else taking a trip this year?

[hobkyl]

...maybe to the Adirondacks...

[cbobcat49]

Our next semi-long distance trip is either going to be the Michigan upper peninsula or Acadia in Maine. Its a tie. I've got time to decide since I probably won't get a full week off in a row until next year. (recently switched jobs)

[americanhero]

I'm traveling to Utah again this summer when the semester ends. Like every year.
4 weeks backpacking, hiking and camping in some really remote areas.

And hopefully a few camping trips here in Western New York. At least one long weekend to the Adirondacks.