My mom and dad were reasonably well-off.  In their retirement they could afford to travel throughout the UK and overseas.

 

But they never did, preferring to grow old and die in the city of Leicester.

 

My 2 older brothers are both considerably richer than me. Yet they too never travel outside the UK.  No trips to sunny Spain.  No long-haul trips to the dens of sin in Bangkok.  They just stay at home and grow old.

 

Me, I'm the 'black sheep' of the family, only managing a post grad from London University, not Cambridge like my brothers 🙂

 

I've travelled to maybe 50+ countries and of course live for many years in south-east Asia.

 

Why don't people who have the finances and time to travel not do so?  What is there to look back on when on one's deathbed?

some people are very happy where they are, Me, i wnated to see the world
Blame my grandparents who gave me a lifetime subscription to national geographic when i was young

But sadly my travel days ( after 90 + countries) are slowing down, just can't deal with all the long distance rides, flights and bs associated these days with travel

did my 1st overland( New York-Amsterdam- Kathmandu ) in 1974/75

Im jealous and admiring those who can and manage to stay in one place and just be happy. 

 

After a whole life of travelling, Im tired of it, but still out diverse reasons have to, and still want to continue to do so, because Im and restless person, and need the contrasts even tho I regret sometimes I did make all this effort to go somewhere. Its in the blood. 

 

Still I wish I could just be happy being one place and I practice and do my best to make good facilities back home in Thailand to survive longer periods without the need to go somewhere. 

10 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I've travelled to maybe 50+ countries

Crikey, I'm at 40 countries, mostly work related. 

 

These 50+ countries you've visited, were they for work? 

 

 

14 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

did my 1st overland( New York-Amsterdam- Kathmandu ) in 1974/75

Itinerary please, New York to Alaska, through Russia, Kathmandu, Afghanistan, Europe, A'dam?

You cannot get to Russia without a boat trip, so not entirely Overland.

 

In my younger years I definitely loved to travel even started by travelling abroad without parents at age 15.

In my twenties, I couldn't afford it.

In my thirties and forties I travelled extensively, but much of that travel was partly about finding a port to retire abroad to as early as possible. 

After I moved to Thailand, I could afford extensive travel in Asia but no longer have much if any appetite for it. So why bother if you're not motivated?

I even find trips to Bangkok a pain in the butt and only go because of very rare needed tasks there.

I suppose It is partly or even mostly about age but it's also because I am perfectly happy being where I am. My parents were both travel junkies well past when it was prudent for them to continue to do so. 

Like some people, I have no travel bucket list.

I know I will never see Machu Picchu and I don't really care.

I didn't even bother going there when I did visit Peru.

That said, I'm happy that I had all the travel experiences that I did have previously. No regrets at all. 

5 minutes ago, Will Iam Not said:

Itinerary please, New York to Alaska, through Russia, Kathmandu, Afghanistan, Europe, A'dam?

You cannot get to Russia without a boat trip, so not entirely Overland.

 

The Behring pass on ice 😉

1 minute ago, Hummin said:

The Behring pass on ice 😉

It's the BERING STRAIT.

1 minute ago, Will Iam Not said:

It's the BERING STRAIT.

Thank you 

Starting late 1980's I traveled SE Asia and mostly PRChina.

 

I remember the day I walked in the United Airlines office Hong Kong Kowloon side and the  rep there said:

 

Hello Mr. Mahoney. Nice to see you.

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

Why don't people who have the finances and time to travel not do so?  What is there to look back on when on one's deathbed?

 

My parents divorced when I was 10. I left my mother's home when I was 20 with (the equivalent of) 5 dollars in my pocket. Somehow, I managed to go to university, paying my way by working odd jobs. I love travelling and spend most of my savings for this hobby. Have lived and worked in Asia since my early 30s, and have been to two dozen countries, mostly in the Asia-Pacific region. My favourite countries are NZ, Oz, and Japan. 

My grandfather always wanted to travel to Hawaii. He had plenty of money and could easily have afforded it. When he died, it was too late. He never did manage to see Hawaii.

 

It's a shame. I don't know why he never went.

 

I love to travel. But mostly NAmerica, Europe, Caribbean and Asia. I don't fancy Africa. And in LatAm only Brazil, Peru, Mexico and Colombia really seem of interest.

 

 

I was already tired of airports, planes, hotels, trains, and travel documents before the ever increasing digital surveillance was added to things and now seems unavoidable. And I'm comfortable where I am, on the far outskirts of western Bangkok. It's been a couple of years since I've even crossed the river onto the other side of Bangkok. Why should I want to travel away from my nice, comfortable village, where everything I need is within walking distance, except trips to see a physician? I've got palm trees, peace, ease of living, and plenty of everything I need and want. 

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Crikey, I'm at 40 countries, mostly work related. 

 

These 50+ countries you've visited, were they for work? 

 

 

Few for work, most just to visit!

 

I can understand older folk not wanting to travel, (too much hassle etc).  But if you have your health and a little money (you don't need much!), why not see the world? You might regret not traveling when you're physically unable to travel in later years...  

22 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Few for work, most just to visit!

 

I can understand older folk not wanting to travel, (too much hassle etc).  But if you have your health and a little money (you don't need much!), why not see the world? You might regret not traveling when you're physically unable to travel in later years...  

I agree. 

 

My older sister and a husband, they're in their 60s. Both retired, cashed up, they travel internationally twice a year, they enjoy it.

 

For decades I've had to jump on an international flight once a month, you soon get fed up with the travel. 

I meant i flew ny to amsterdam than continued overland

started travelling across the us into mexico at 17, 1st trip to europe and north africa at 20, overland at 24
1982; Thailand, India, Nepal, Sri lanka, Malaysia, indonesia , Australia & Tahiti  by bicycle and flights, a fantastic 18 months

Now am content traveling around the village here in Kamala by bicycle and viewing the sea

BUT still have a few trips planned  🙂

traveling is an addition as much as junk

I used to be an avid traveller, but as I have gotten older the charm has seriously worn off, especially when you consider mass tourism, and the degradation of the travel experience (air travel, hotels, restaurant food quality, etc.).

 

But the main point I would like to make is that if you look at travel as an "experience" which helps you grow and expand your horizons, I have come to the conclusion that travel is often the lazy man's fix to gain experience and a sense of leading a fulfilling life. There are many other more mentally and spiritually energetic ways to "travel" than hopping on a plane that are oftentimes as, if not more, rewarding.

 

Take someone who just hops on a plane to Paris, goes to the Louvre, looks at the Mona Lisa, eats at a nouvelle cuisine restaurant and returns home. Then compare that person's experience with someone who studies French, reads French literature, history, or culinary techniques but never visits the country. Which person had the more enriching experience? For me, increasingly, it's the latter person.

 

Although I hasten to add that @simon43 's globetrotting adventures have been a source of inspiration on many occasions over the years.

37 minutes ago, John Drake said:

I was already tired of airports, planes, hotels, trains, and travel documents before the ever increasing digital surveillance was added to things and now seems unavoidable. And I'm comfortable where I am, on the far outskirts of western Bangkok. It's been a couple of years since I've even crossed the river onto the other side of Bangkok. Why should I want to travel away from my nice, comfortable village, where everything I need is within walking distance, except trips to see a physician? I've got palm trees, peace, ease of living, and plenty of everything I need and want. 

Same for me, I've been at home in sunny MaeJo since COVID.

1999, three of us flew over to the USA to do the HOTROD Magazine POWER TOUR, a 10-day trip from Cal to Nashville, then when that finished went to pay Elvis a visit in Memphis, that trip was a blast, but sadly we were not in our UK based Hotrods...............

 

 https://www.hotrod.com/news/hrdp-9902-1999-power-tour-west-dates-and-schedules

15 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Same for me, I've been at home in sunny MaeJo since COVID.

 

There are a lot of people that fight through airports to get on airplanes to travel 18 hours to go through immigration, and fix up a ride through Thailand just to get where we already are.

40 minutes ago, transam said:

1999, three of us flew over to the USA to do the HOTROD Magazine POWER TOUR, a 10-day trip from Cal to Nashville, then when that finished went to pay Elvis a visit in Memphis, that trip was a blast, but sadly we were not in our UK based Hotrods...............

 

 https://www.hotrod.com/news/hrdp-9902-1999-power-tour-west-dates-and-schedules

What on earth is a UK hot rod?  An MG or Triumph TR4 with Amal carburetors?

 

No competition for the mid 1960’s to early 1970’s USA muscle cars.

Son of a USAF Father as an AF Brat traveled early in life and became a USAF/Civilian Pilot, so it in my Blood and I enjoy it.  "‘One man’s food is another man’s poison." Happy Travels.

For me it started when I was thirteen, had my 14 birthday in Switzerland, school trip 1pound a week for about 6 months, then at 15 to Yugoslavia, I have seen most of the UK, some as a tourist some driving trucks, fast forward, when around 27 Spain down to Morocco for Christmas, then the north of India, Nepal, twice and on to Thailand where I travelled from the north and overland down to Singapore, flew to OZ drove from Sidney to Cape Tribulation, across to 3ways and down to Melbourne back to Sidney to New Zealand both Islands, to Hong Kong across to China 1988 up to Beijing, trans Siberian to Moscow, then down to West Berlin, and back to Blighty (Bristol) a 2 year trip in all, then moved to OZ worked on a remote cattle station (mechanic) got my citizenship after 2 years, worked near Perth for about 3 years, had a work related accident, and was lucky I didn't die, took a payout, paid off my house, came back to Thailand aged 55 in a wheel chair (broken pelvis) and have basically lived here ever since, I ain't going nowhere at 74yrs old.....

1 minute ago, Rocky Sullivan said:

What on earth is a UK hot rod?  An MG or Triumph TR4 with Amal carburetors?

 

No competition for the mid 1960’s to early 1970’s USA muscle cars.

I think you are out of your depth with this one..................😒

 

At the time between us in the UK, we had a 1971 6.5ltr Vauxhall Firenza, 1955 Chevy 6.5ltr, 1973 5.8ltr 'blown' Camaro and a 1976 6.8ltr Pontiac TA.

Anything else I can help you with......?   

1 minute ago, transam said:

I think you are out of your depth with this one..................😒

 

At the time between us in the UK, we had a 1971 6.5ltr Vauxhall Firenza, 1955 Chevy 6.5ltr, 1973 5.8ltr 'blown' Camaro and a 1976 6.8ltr Pontiac TA.

Anything else I can help you with......?   

A direct answer!  Impressive!

 

All except one, American.  So much for British loyalty.

Just now, Rocky Sullivan said:

A direct answer!  Impressive!

 

All except one, American.  So much for British loyalty.

Eh....?  

1 minute ago, transam said:

Eh....?  

Not one British car in your list.

2 minutes ago, Rocky Sullivan said:

A direct answer!  Impressive!

 

All except one, American.  So much for British loyalty.

And I thought you Americans mostly drove Japanese stuff........🤣...................

Just now, Rocky Sullivan said:

Not one British car in your list.

As I said, this is not for you, as there is a British car on the list................🤣

Just now, transam said:

And I thought you Americans mostly drove Japanese stuff........🤣...................

Assuming again.  I’ve had both.