Is there any country you would not go to even if you were paid to go there?

KevinK · 13-06-2021 10:50AM

Genre.. wrote: »

Kazbekhistan

Absolute hellhole

okay, this is the first one i agree with. Wouldn't go either.

On account of it not existing.

volchitsa · 13-06-2021 10:51AM

Genre.. wrote: »

Kazbekhistan

Absolute hellhole

Is this a joke? A mixture of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan?

If so, Almaty in Kazakhstan is well worth seeing: the name is said to mean "City of apples" because apples are thought to have originated there, and there is still a hige diversity in the region's wild apples. There are several other places in Kazakhstan that are well worth visiting, though I've not actually been to Astana (Nur Sultan) its present day capital, as we went across theborder from Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan is great too, a fantastic place to visit.

(Sorry I know the OP asked for the opposite, but I wondered what places the poster meant by the above)

Car99 · 13-06-2021 10:52AM

The Republic of Cork, very condescending county with a chip on its shoulder about being second best.

breezy1985 · 13-06-2021 10:56AM

Yurt! wrote: »

Really disliked petro-state gulf countries UAE and Qatar. Don't know how to articulate why but they just gave me the creeps, plastic societies. Enjoyed other Arab countries like Jordan and Lebanon though.

I really can't understand why any Irish person goes to Dubai/Qatar etc. for a holiday or to work. I couldn't care how much they down there the restrictive lifestyle is a disgusting and I could never live in it and for a holiday it looks like an awful soulless plastic place

barneygumble99 · 13-06-2021 10:57AM

Anywhere with snakes that can kill you after they lose in hide and seek.

dunnerc · 13-06-2021 10:58AM

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Dublin

So you have never visited Dublin ? I find that hard to believe

breezy1985 · 13-06-2021 11:00AM

dunnerc wrote: »

So you have never visited Dublin ? I find that hard to believe

Well he also thinks it's a country so it's not that hard to believe

13-06-2021 11:11AM

breezy1985 wrote: »

I really can't understand why any Irish person goes to Dubai/Qatar etc. for a holiday or to work. I couldn't care how much they down there the restrictive lifestyle is a disgusting and I could never live in it and for a holiday it looks like an awful soulless plastic place

While they are not my ideal place to go on holidays, I would imagine a great place to work!
Tax-free income, great accommodation and it's not very restrictive in Dubai, you can live the same there as here, only in better weather!
I haven't been to Qatar.

breezy1985 · 13-06-2021 11:51AM

bubblypop wrote: »

While they are not my ideal place to go on holidays, I would imagine a great place to work!
Tax-free income, great accommodation and it's not very restrictive in Dubai, you can live the same there as here, only in better weather!
I haven't been to Qatar.

I was offered a job in Doha about 10 years ago and the money benefits sounded great but I said no when I was told you have to prebook taxis between hotel compound for your night out and can't live with a woman unless you are married and have to sneak into your girlfriends house at night.

I could never look a woman in the eye and not feel ashamed if I lived in a country like that

jmreire · 13-06-2021 12:16PM

volchitsa wrote: »

Is this a joke? A mixture of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan?

If so, Almaty in Kazakhstan is well worth seeing: the name is said to mean "City of apples" because apples are thought to have originated there, and there is still a hige diversity in the region's wild apples. There are several other places in Kazakhstan that are well worth visiting, though I've not actually been to Astana (Nur Sultan) its present day capital, as we went across theborder from Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan is great too, a fantastic place to visit.

(Sorry I know the OP asked for the opposite, but I wondered what places the poster meant by the above)

You can add Tajikistan to the list as well.....another great place to visit. These places are all different to what we are used to in the west, but thats one of the attractions for me.

Yurt2 · 13-06-2021 12:20PM

volchitsa wrote: »

Is this a joke? A mixture of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan?

If so, Almaty in Kazakhstan is well worth seeing: the name is said to mean "City of apples" because apples are thought to have originated there, and there is still a hige diversity in the region's wild apples. There are several other places in Kazakhstan that are well worth visiting, though I've not actually been to Astana (Nur Sultan) its present day capital, as we went across theborder from Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan is great too, a fantastic place to visit.

(Sorry I know the OP asked for the opposite, but I wondered what places the poster meant by the above)

Don't believe the Borat hype as well, Khazak women are absolute crackers. A mix of Russian, Central Asian and East Asian features. Have seen some really beautiful creatures from that part of the world.

Tchaikovsky · 13-06-2021 12:20PM

Piriz wrote: »

great thread,

I'm very interested to read the debate especially about Iran and Belarus.
I've heard Iran is amazing and i think its most certainly been confirmed by a few great posts on this thread. I will bump Iran up the list of destinations for a family holiday.. (i wonder what its like for 3 small kids?, i'm sure its fine too).

Belarus is not a country i would have given much attention to visiting, however some of the posts have definitely heightened my curiosity about the place.

I was supposed to go to Albania last summer but Covid got in the way.. dying to go there.. i think this region has a lot to offer, Sarajevo is class, as is Croatia, and Montenegro..

I'm quite cautious of Mexico and other central American countries like Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, i'd love to go but i think i'd have difficulty relaxing there.. for fear of being robbed, or worse.. might add Brazil to that list too.

Australia - too far.. for some reason i enjoyed reading the posts that are critical of Australia...

Fascinating to read some of the posters who seem to have travelled to everywhere.. fair play.. its one of the best things to do in life..

I can confirm that Iran is indeed a great place with amazing, intelligent people.

Tchaikovsky · 13-06-2021 12:23PM

breezy1985 wrote: »

I really can't understand why any Irish person goes to Dubai/Qatar etc. for a holiday or to work. I couldn't care how much they down there the restrictive lifestyle is a disgusting and I could never live in it and for a holiday it looks like an awful soulless plastic place

It looks like one big airport lounge.

Mauritania, for me

Fandymo · 13-06-2021 12:26PM

AMKC wrote: »

Me I would not go to Turkey. I was there once and would never go again. I found the people rude and small minded as well as backwards.

Would never go to Turkey. Ever. Same with those horrible Middle East oil countries, Saudi, Qatar etc.

Fandymo · 13-06-2021 12:33PM

Dempo1 wrote: »

Surprised at that, heard it was great Orange Peeling country (in your pocket) variety

Apparently wedding bookings have skyrocketed in Cavan since they brought in the 25 guest maximum.

Aurelian · 13-06-2021 12:40PM

Tchaikovsky wrote: »

It looks like one big airport lounge.

Mauritania, for me

People casually mentioning Mauritania and Paupa New Guinea I these threads and not elaborating! I'd love to hear more about these places.

One thing that holds me back travel wise is I really struggle with long haul. Anything more than a couple of hours on a plane really puts me off. That said I will head to Asia as soon as travel looks anyway normal again.

Tchaikovsky · 13-06-2021 12:44PM

Aurelian wrote: »

People casually mentioning Mauritania and Paupa New Guinea I these threads and not elaborating! I'd love to hear more about these places.

One thing that holds me back travel wise is I really struggle with long haul. Anything more than a couple of hours on a plane really puts me off. That said I will head to Asia as soon as travel looks anyway normal again.

Check out Bald and Bankrupt's videos on his trip to Mauritania. Seems like a deserted wasteland with lads constantly telling not to film anything. He took Africa's worst railway journey there also

Genre.. · 13-06-2021 12:46PM

Papa New Guinea

Anything I read or hear about the place is bad

Pinoy adventure · 13-06-2021 12:53PM

Tajikistan is a hole of a place.even if the tickets were free I wouldn't go back.

13-06-2021 12:55PM

Cal4567 wrote: »

This thread reminded me of Turkey. Yes, it was cheap and the weather was great, by my god they are in the dark ages. The women in our party were unhappy with all the attention. I think we thought it would be more modern as internationally that is the image it has tried to present itself.

No, a very patriarchal society.

Won't be going back there.

Irish grannies seem like going there for the sausage going by the tv shows and articles that pop up now and again.

13-06-2021 01:16PM

glasso wrote: »

Irish grannies seem like going there for the sausage going by the tv shows and articles that pop up now and again.

Yep. The waiters over there are very amenable chaps. Some of them fall hopelessly in love with women 30-40 years older than them. They couldn’t possibly have ulterior motives, could they?

13-06-2021 01:21PM

breezy1985 wrote: »

I was offered a job in Doha about 10 years ago and the money benefits sounded great but I said no when I was told you have to prebook taxis between hotel compound for your night out and can't live with a woman unless you are married and have to sneak into your girlfriends house at night.

I could never look a woman in the eye and not feel ashamed if I lived in a country like that

It's not all like that, I haven't been to Doha, so I can't comment, but in Dubai they say you cannot live together if you're not married, in reality it happens.

whomadewho · 13-06-2021 01:32PM

breezy1985 wrote: »

I really can't understand why any Irish person goes to Dubai/Qatar etc. for a holiday or to work. I couldn't care how much they down there the restrictive lifestyle is a disgusting and I could never live in it and for a holiday it looks like an awful soulless plastic place

I agree, I used to stop over ever time in Dubai to visit a friend who worked there while on going my holidays to Asia. 4 times in all, I've never felt more uncomfortable in a City. It's a City with no culture. Just too much bling. Since my friend has moved back home I would never go back again.

13-06-2021 01:36PM

bubblypop wrote: »

It's not all like that, I haven't been to Doha, so I can't comment, but in Dubai they say you cannot live together if you're not married, in reality it happens.

Qatar would be quite the step up from Dubai where the "western lifestyle" is "tolerated" once you're not taking the piss and riding on the beach (as noted from previous arrests etc)

Also alcohol is much more tightly controlled in Qatar compared to Dubai

Dubai is still a crappy place - all it is hotels and shops really

even the sea is pretty minging - just a stagnant pool

it's also way too hot in the Summer

If you're purely into the consumer lifestyle it would suit

tdf7187 · 13-06-2021 01:40PM

England.

13-06-2021 01:44PM

glasso wrote: »

Qatar would be quite the step up from Dubai where the "western lifestyle" is "tolerated" once you're not taking the piss and riding on the beach (as noted from previous arrests etc)

Also alcohol is much more tightly controlled in Qatar compared to Dubai

Dubai is still a crappy place - all it is hotels and shops really

even the sea is pretty minging - just a stagnant pool

it's also way too hot in the Summer

If you're purely into the consumer lifestyle it would suit

Dubai is definitely not an interesting holiday destination for me, but for a few years working, it's a good spot!

JupiterKid · 13-06-2021 01:44PM

As a gay man, I have to also be mindful of deeply anti-gay and homophobic countries where I and my OH could be arrested and jailed for sharing a hotel bedroom etc.

So that rules out most of Africa and practically all of the Middle East. No way am I going to give these countries my hard-earned money just to facilitate them persecuting and oppressing their own women and sexual minorities.

john123470 · 13-06-2021 01:44PM

breezy1985 wrote: »

I was offered a job in Doha about 10 years ago and the money benefits sounded great but I said no when I was told you have to prebook taxis between hotel compound for your night out and can't live with a woman unless you are married and have to sneak into your girlfriends house at night.

I could never look a woman in the eye and not feel ashamed if I lived in a country like that

Why not ? Would add to the craic surely. Knock the doorman out with a cup of strong cafe and have your way with the girl upstairs .. then sneak away by moonlight .. runners in hand.

In reality, if you don't call attention to yourself - eg drunken parties, you are fine. You get a liquor licence monthly - if you want to drink. You are free to basically do what you like. Just be discreet.

Folk go there to earn money. There is a great water sports community if you're into that.
Yes, the rest is soul-less desert. But there are folk who like camping in the desert at wkends.

Its not for everyone but Afghanistan it is not

13-06-2021 01:58PM

bubblypop wrote: »

Dubai is definitely not an interesting holiday destination for me, but for a few years working, it's a good spot!

yes could make sense for working

there are also something like 30,000 Emirates air hostesses based there (assuming the air industry comes back) so not bad for a single lad!

I've been there for short work projects (couple or 3 weeks each time) but I don't get people who would go there on holiday personally - excepting the "cocktail instagram shot from the pool type" really

john123470 · 13-06-2021 02:02PM

JupiterKid wrote: »

As a gay man, I have to also be mindful of deeply anti-gay and homophobic countries where I and my OH could be arrested and jailed for sharing a hotel bedroom etc.

So that rules out most of Africa and practically all of the Middle East.

From my time in M /east, Saudi, Qatar etc, I met lots of active gay people - even moreso because womens' freedom to mingle was so restricted in these places. Homosexuality was rife. Again, discretion is key

It was not evident in public obviously but exist, it sure did.

Interesting observation - in Saudi there are no actual laws criminalizing homosexual acts but that does not prevent a prosecution if found in the act

Saudis consider the 'receiver' of the homosexual act to be gay and culpable, not the 'giver'.

Is there any country you would not go to even if you were paid to go there?

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