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

18-06-2021 9:57am

Ah it really is! Well worth a couple of days, I've had some mad nights too!!!

Ohrid is really lovely, enjoy it, I'm jealous!

cdeb · 18-06-2021 10:02am

Much and all as I love travelling around Ireland, it'll be great to get out of the country and to somewhere off the beaten track again!

Cordell · 18-06-2021 10:05am

bradolf pittler wrote: »

I visited Bangalore India a few years ago and though i had some idea of what to expect nothing prepared me for what it was like there.
The poverty,the crowds,noise,smells.....everything was an attack on the senses.
Horribly disabled and disfigured beggers outside high end shopping malls and Ferrari dealerships that were built beside shanty shacks.Truely a country of haves and have nots. I dont think i'd ever willingly go back even though the people were lovely and we were mostly shielded from the madness in the city.
We had a driver who looked after us for the 2 weeks,At the end of the trip we pooled whatever cash we had leftover for him(gonna guess around 100 euro in Rupees) and the poor guy broke down crying in the street.He still messages me on my birthday on Facebook

Same.
It was funny how we were eased in into it though

The airport is alright, I've seen worse. Then the airport carpark where we got into the pre-booked cab was a bit hectic. Then it was a nice motorway section with palm trees on the sides. Then tolling booths that looked 100 years old with a lick of paint thrown in. Then before we knew it it was chaos, rubbish, 7 lanes merging into one with no rules, cars beeping constantly, no traffic rules, bamboo scaffolding on high rises, slums with huts made of cardboard and construction waste, sewage smell. I have seen pictures, but nothing prepared me for it.
And Bangalore is a developed city.

cdeb · 18-06-2021 10:13am

I remember getting a taxi from Bangalore airport to the far side of the city in dark. Took about two hours. It was utterly exhilarating. At one stage there were speed humps in the road to indicate a junction, but nothing to indicate the speed humps. Also had a motorbike with three people on it cut in front of the taxi and behind a small lorry, which braked, and the bike was inches away from going under the lorry.

I've no idea how more people don't die on Indian roads - and the death toll is high enough as it is.

OMM 0000 · 18-06-2021 10:15am

Deleted User wrote: »

You've got to be joking. Russians are a hard outside shell, and a soft center. Pretty accurate portrayal in the movies. Dunno where or what Russians you've met, but the men tend to be very masculine, and the women very cynical/practical. These people are definitely not soft..

Fake hard shell, incredibly soft inside.

Much softer than Irish people.

OMM 0000 · 18-06-2021 10:17am

cdeb wrote: »

Most of them are just people at the end of the day; same as here. The only bad thing I'd say about Russians is that they're too friendly, and that usually means a lot of vodka!

I've spent a lot of time working and traveling in communist and former communist countries, and the people are softer. I don't know what it is. Maybe they were coddled by their government before? I don't know.

murpho999 · 18-06-2021 10:22am

whisky_galore wrote: »

No matter. Zero interest in visiting such a fake place.

Maybe you should as it's definitely a real place.

Also, there's old parts of Dubai that are well worth a visit.

18-06-2021 10:27am

OMM 0000 wrote: »

Fake hard shell, incredibly soft inside.

Much softer than Irish people.

Definitely not my experience. I'd consider Russians, on average, to be much harder and cynical/practical than Irish people. They have to be. Their own culture and national situation requires as much.

Russians present an image of being open and friendly (boisterous), but any serious effort to make friends with them, will quickly meet a reserve that needs to be satisfied before any kind of real trust or friendship occurs. Both the men and the women are much harder than Irish people, or westerners (in general).

cdeb · 18-06-2021 10:30am

I'd also have thought we're pretty soft here. Easily turned by an aul sob story.

But I think that's a bit of a digression.

18-06-2021 10:49am

Car99 wrote: »

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

Thank you for upgrading us to Country Status !

jmreire · 18-06-2021 11:33am

OMM 0000 wrote: »

I've spent a lot of time working and traveling in communist and former communist countries, and the people are softer. I don't know what it is. Maybe they were coddled by their government before? I don't know.

Russians ( or any of the former communist countrys) will have had a hard time. They were not coddled...quite the opposite, oppressed more like. Thats the illusion of softness.The arrival of anyone wearing a uniform will quickly quieten any crowd causing trouble. The power of the ordinary "on the beat policeman" is extraordinary. The ghost of the KGb is alive and well. ( even if its successor the FSB is more "presentable" ) They learned to trust no one they did not grow up or work with, and were ecouraged to spy and report on any wrongdoing by their neighbours or workmates. And in the Republics, ethnic Russians are not popular, even when they have lived in the same place for years, or even generations. Even today, trust does not come easy to them. Once they get to know you, they are the finest. But since the collapse of communism, and the arrival of western commercialism, they have changed and become more open. But when push comes to shove, they can be as hard as nails.

dxhound2005 · 18-06-2021 11:42am

Russia, Finland and Norway meet on the map, as do Russia, China and North Korea. Big expanse in between, and I would be suspect of anyone who thinks they know the character of "the Russian people".

There are probably places where life under the Tsars, Communism and nowadays has changed very little.

nuckeythompson · 18-06-2021 11:51am

Israel, spent time there but couldn't warm to the place or the people. A xenophobic lot and place
Incredibly difficult to do business there
I have seen some mention Iran as a bad place, not so at all and fantastic food. Admittedly not a place for a woman

whisky_galore · 18-06-2021 11:53am

murpho999 wrote: »

Maybe you should as it's definitely a real place.

Also, there's old parts of Dubai that are well worth a visit.

I already said no, you're hardly going to change my mind with your little quip.

bradolf pittler · 18-06-2021 4:58pm

cdeb wrote: »

I remember getting a taxi from Bangalore airport to the far side of the city in dark. Took about two hours. It was utterly exhilarating. At one stage there were speed humps in the road to indicate a junction, but nothing to indicate the speed humps. Also had a motorbike with three people on it cut in front of the taxi and behind a small lorry, which braked, and the bike was inches away from going under the lorry.

I've no idea how more people don't die on Indian roads - and the death toll is high enough as it is.

We came back from a restaurant in a taxi and missed the turn off to our hotel.
The driver just slammed on the breaks and reversed into the oncoming motorway traffic till we got back to the off ramp. Was like a scene from fast & furious...terrifying!!!
The tuk tuk mafia outside the hotels were something else too,All smiles and handshakes when we used them for the 1st day or so to get our bearings but when we got our driver they litterally spat at our car and rammed us as we leaving the hotel.

Donegal Overlanding · 22-06-2021 4:01am

jmreire wrote: »

The power of the ordinary "on the beat policeman" is extraordinary. The ghost of the KGb is alive and well. ( even if its successor the FSB is more "presentable" )

You should watch some episodes from the YouTube channel "Stop Xam" (Stop A Douchebag for the English translated edits) and you would be shocked at just how utterly useless and almost zero respect Muscovites have for Police. Having watched every single video they have ever uploaded, I can say I have been in a constant state of disbelief at how useless the Police are in almost every situation.

jmreire · 22-06-2021 11:43am

Donegal Overlanding wrote: »

You should watch some episodes from the YouTube channel "Stop Xam" (Stop A Douchebag for the English translated edits) and you would be shocked at just how utterly useless and almost zero respect Muscovites have for Police. Having watched every single video they have ever uploaded, I can say I have been in a constant state of disbelief at how useless the Police are in almost every situation.

Policing in Russia is "different". I lived there for several years ( Inc. Moscow) And I understand very well why Muscovites dislike their Police.... there's thousands of "Stupid Policeman " jokes around. But you wont see anyone laughing in the Police station, if you have the misfortune to be "invited" in !!! LOL:) Or if you get stopped by them, either driving or just walking along the footpath, minding your own business. They don't need "probable cause". And God help you if your documents ( or anything else ...the book of offences covered by Russian Law is massive ) are not in order....this will entail some very intensive and expensive investigative work. Instead of the "Stop Xam" videos, have a look at some of the videos showing how they handle protestors. Sure in the Stop Xam videos, the drivers are back -answering and swearing at the police, but they do what they are told.....they know well the limit.

realdanbreen · 22-06-2021 11:45am

cagefactor wrote: »

Spent some time in Ivory Coast, never again.

How come?

Ash.J.Williams · 22-06-2021 1:38pm

jmreire wrote: »

Russians ( or any of the former communist countrys) will have had a hard time. They were not coddled...quite the opposite, oppressed more like. Thats the illusion of softness.The arrival of anyone wearing a uniform will quickly quieten any crowd causing trouble. The power of the ordinary "on the beat policeman" is extraordinary. The ghost of the KGb is alive and well. ( even if its successor the FSB is more "presentable" ) They learned to trust no one they did not grow up or work with, and were ecouraged to spy and report on any wrongdoing by their neighbours or workmates. And in the Republics, ethnic Russians are not popular, even when they have lived in the same place for years, or even generations. Even today, trust does not come easy to them. Once they get to know you, they are the finest. But since the collapse of communism, and the arrival of western commercialism, they have changed and become more open. But when push comes to shove, they can be as hard as nails.

interesting story!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgZxQIzoFdI

Muahahaha · 22-06-2021 5:55pm

nuckeythompson wrote: »

Israel, spent time there but couldn't warm to the place or the people. A xenophobic lot and place
Incredibly difficult to do business there
I have seen some mention Iran as a bad place, not so at all and fantastic food. Admittedly not a place for a woman

I spent about an hour in Israel a few years back to get from Jordan to Egypt and I wouldnt be in a hurry to go back. Had to endure about a 30 minute interrogation at the border post by a member of the Israell Defence Forces, they wanted every address I ever lived it, my email address, the works. Made me wait around two hours at the border before finally giving me permission to enter, Ive no doubt they used that time to snoop around my email and run me through databases as a security check.

I had a Syrian visa in my passport as well and they were less than impressed at that, I faced loads of questions about why I was in Syria as if it was crime of the century. His hatred of Syria was written all over his face. He was in a huff for me being Irish as well and made that clear too and he was in another huff that I would dare enter Israel and use it to transit the 30kms or so to Egypt without spending any time there. So yeah you couldnt pay me to go back to Israel after that experience.

Heraclius · 22-06-2021 6:03pm

I think there isn't a country I would avoid going to if I was paid enough. The money could buy security or local help in the most unstable. I reckon there's about 150 or 160 I'd at least visit without being paid to go and the rest and the semi recognised states and territories might be a bit riskier so I might need persuading to go to some of them.

I would answer very differently if I had to live long term in some of the places though. I wouldn't feel comfortable living in a place with very strong sexist or homophobic views/laws and I wouldn't feel great living in societies with massive wealth disparities.

Yurt2 · 22-06-2021 6:15pm

Muahahaha wrote: »

I spent about an hour in Israel a few years back to get from Jordan to Egypt and I wouldnt be in a hurry to go back. Had to endure about a 30 minute interrogation at the border post by a member of the Israell Defence Forces, they wanted every address I ever lived it, my email address, the works. Made me wait around two hours at the border before finally giving me permission to enter, Ive no doubt they used that time to snoop around my email and run me through databases as a security check.

I had a Syrian visa in my passport as well and they were less than impressed at that, I faced loads of questions about why I was in Syria as if it was crime of the century. His hatred of Syria was written all over his face. He was in a huff for me being Irish as well and made that clear too and he was in another huff that I would dare enter Israel and use it to transit the 30kms or so to Egypt without spending any time there. So yeah you couldnt pay me to go back to Israel after that experience.

To be fair to them, the Israelis can't afford mistakes with their security. They have determined enemies of every colour and creed.

It's a siege mentality but it's kept their country alive in a very precarious part of the world. Don't take this as an endorsement of Israeli policies, but if I were an Israeli Defence Minister I'd make sure a massive single failure point such as their lone major international entry point is guarded to bejaysus.

dxhound2005 · 22-06-2021 6:28pm

Heraclius wrote: »

I

I would answer very differently if I had to live long term in some of the places though. I wouldn't feel comfortable living in a place with very strong sexist or homophobic views/laws and I wouldn't feel great living in societies with massive wealth disparities.

Your choice would be very limited.

As of 2021, same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized in 29 countries (nationwide or in some jurisdictions):

In contrast, 33 countries (as of 2021) have gendered definitions of marriage in their constitutions that prevent same-sex marriage.

Muahahaha · 22-06-2021 6:56pm

Yurt! wrote: »

To be fair to them, the Israelis can't afford mistakes with their security. They have determined enemies of every colour and creed.

It's a siege mentality but it's kept their country alive in a very precarious part of the world. Don't take this as an endorsement of Israeli policies, but if I were an Israeli Defence Minister I'd make sure a massive single failure point such as their lone major international entry point is guarded to bejaysus.

ah yeah I know what youre saying and I had no problems at all being security vetted in order to gain entry. It was more so the attitude of the member of the IDF that rubbed me up the wrong way. He could have done his job by treating people with respect but thats not the culture of the IDF, literally everyone is an enemy to them and they treat outsiders with hostility and disdain. When he was questioning me on Syria the strong innuendo was by going there I must be a supporter of the Syrian government and therefore an enemy of Israel, they literally try to paint you with their own prejudices.

To be fair I knew what I was heading into as Id spoken to other backpackers in Jordan who experienced the exact same hostility from them, one German lad told me he was made feel like he needed to apoligise for Germanys actions in WW2 such was the hostility. He said his interrogator was throwing his arms up in the air and shouting the question 'what does a German want to come to Israel for?' over and over again. They go out of their way to try to wind people up in the hope they react and then they have an excuse not to let them in.

22-06-2021 7:43pm

Muahahaha wrote: »

ah yeah I know what youre saying and I had no problems at all being security vetted in order to gain entry. It was more so the attitude of the member of the IDF that rubbed me up the wrong way. He could have done his job by treating people with respect but thats not the culture of the IDF, literally everyone is an enemy to them and they treat outsiders with hostility and disdain.

To be fair, that's not the culture of the IDF. It's the culture of most security forces. I've had similar experiences with the more heavily armed police in France and Spain. And I can't really fault them. They're involved in very dangerous work, and everyone is a potential threat to them and those around them.

They go out of their way to try to wind people up in the hope they react and then they have an excuse not to let them in.

Whereas I know many people who have had no problems with getting into Israel regardless of where they'd been previously. I think there's a certain luck factor to those 'westerners' who are interrogated and those who aren't. I wasn't beyond a few basic questions (and I'd been in Iran and Egypt before going to Israel), but at the hotel bar, I was part of a conversation of a group of foreigners some of whom were put out by their experiences, while others couldn't see what the fuss was about. A wide range of experiences, so I suspect some IDF/officials are dicks and while others aren't.

jmreire · 23-06-2021 12:27am

And on the other hand, just try presenting your passport at the borders of some of the surrounding Arab Countrys with an Israeli stamp in it.....:rolleyes:

Heraclius · 23-06-2021 12:29am

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Your choice would be very limited.

As of 2021, same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized in 29 countries (nationwide or in some jurisdictions):

In contrast, 33 countries (as of 2021) have gendered definitions of marriage in their constitutions that prevent same-sex marriage.

I don't really mean countries that have same sex marriage necessarily, I think that's an unreasonable threshold considering Ireland in 2014 was ok to live in (but 2021 is better). I'm fine with countries where gay men are not persecuted. If I'm to live somewhere I'd like it to be somewhere somewhat tolerant or at least becoming more tolerant.

vicwatson · 23-06-2021 12:29am

Israel

Heraclius · 23-06-2021 12:30am

vicwatson wrote: »

Israel

I'd actually love to see Jerusalem.

Donegal Overlanding · 23-06-2021 1:17am

Heraclius wrote: »

I'd actually love to see Jerusalem obliterated.

oh!

Muppet Man · 23-06-2021 1:29am

For personal safety fears, I would say Syria. It’s been an absolute **** show since 2011, and I read somewhere recently it is technically the most dangerous place on earth.

sheepondrugs · 23-06-2021 1:35am

Heraclius wrote: »

I'd actually love to see Jerusalem.

I have no affiliation to Israel i was there on a brief work trip. But regardless of religious beliefs or your stance on Palestinian/Israeli affairs Jerusalem is a very interesting and absorbing city to visit imo.
Personally I liked the country , the northern part around the Sea of Galilee is very serene which I found unexpected given its proximity to the nearby Golan heights and the Dead Sea /Negev Desert area was amazing.

HalloweenJack · 23-06-2021 8:47am

I would have something of a moral dilemma going to places with strongman leaders. However, it's just temporary and centuries of history and culture shouldn't be undone and denied just because the current leader is a dick.

That said, Israel is a country I'd struggle to justify visiting. I'm not that fussed about going to England any time soon, though I have friends and family that make it very likely.

starkid · 23-06-2021 8:54am

Dubai with its veneer of respectability and hypocrisy. Built on slave labour and kingship that would make the worst royalists blush.

jmreire · 23-06-2021 6:04pm

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

interesting story!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgZxQIzoFdI

When you see how we reacted here in Ireland when the lockdown strings were loosened and we got the fine weather...now imagine how the Russians reacted when the wall fell, and took communism with it? They had been controlled all of their lives under communism.....watching and listening to 8 track videos that had to be smuggled in as there was no internet back then.And no place to buy them either, the so called supermarkets, ( which bore absolutely no resemblence to their western counterparts ) called "GUM" stores. short for "Governmental Universal Magazine",would have had several assistant's standing behind counters but with very little to sell. So no surprise then when they had the opportunity to attend a live free concert with some famous names playing. That would have been a holiday atmosphere like they had never experienced before, not even the Police..usually their experience with crowds would definitely not be on the peacefull side...

spacetweek · 24-06-2021 2:52pm

whomitconcerns wrote: »

I would go to North Korea if allowed also. Even as bad as it is. People make do...

I've been to North Korea on a supervised tour from China. We spent 4 days there. Fascinating place, deeply grim at times. It has George Orwell levels of propaganda. Like how I imagine the Soviet Union was in the 1970s.

I'm really glad I went as it was a unique experience but I'd never go back.

realdanbreen · 24-06-2021 3:26pm

Hamsterchops wrote: »

Cannibals aren't they, or do they shrink heads or some sh|t like that?
Little fellas with rubber bands on their willies. Lucky to get out of there with your life.

Your mixing it up with Clare, or maybe South Tipp!

realdanbreen · 24-06-2021 3:34pm

Deleted User wrote: »

A neighbour of mine has a daughter in Australia and he went to visit her for three weeks a while back.

He pulled back into the driveway 8 days later.

Forgot his Passport?

realdanbreen · 24-06-2021 4:49pm

SupaCat95 wrote: »

e and the priest was sacrificing chickens as part of the "mass". TIA.

Probably something they could try here because they aint attracting too many under 50's with the current set up!

Mad_maxx · 24-06-2021 7:06pm

starkid wrote: »

Dubai with its veneer of respectability and hypocrisy. Built on slave labour and kingship that would make the worst royalists blush.

its a client state of Saudi Arabia in many ways and in truth not much different to Saudi , it just has a better PR image

jmreire · 24-06-2021 7:27pm

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Russia, Finland and Norway meet on the map, as do Russia, China and North Korea. Big expanse in between, and I would be suspect of anyone who thinks they know the character of "the Russian people".

There are probably places where life under the Tsars, Communism and nowadays has changed very little.[/QUOT
Has some one claimed to know the character of the Russian people? Short of a book by James A Mitchener ( or his modern equivalent ) I would be suspicious too of anyone claiming to define the Russian character.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 24-06-2021 8:44pm

I was very briefly in Venezuela in 2016 and given that experience and how much worse it's gotten, you'd have to pay me quite a bit to go there again.

Tchaikovsky · 25-06-2021 10:37am

There's a Dispatches documentary currently on All4 about Eritrea and how messed up it is. Galling when you see those Britain First arseholes hassling Eritrean refugees in England given what they went through in their homeland.

spacetweek · 25-06-2021 9:33pm

4Ad wrote: »

Russia..

This. Only country I've been to where I got mugged by the police.

4Ad · 25-06-2021 10:41pm

spacetweek wrote: »

This. Only country I've been to where I got mugged by the police.

Didn't Pakie Bonner's father get mugged by the Police also while over at an Irish game ??

25-06-2021 11:18pm

spacetweek wrote: »

This. Only country I've been to where I got mugged by the police.

For me, that was Thailand .

Didn't stop me from returning though.

jmreire · 26-06-2021 12:14am

Deleted User wrote: »

For me, that was Thailand .

Didn't stop me from returning though.

I cant speak about Thailand, but in Russia its the national pastime...,I got stopped in a rural area, outside of Moscow,by two policemen. One played the good cop, the other bad cop.
Good cop taps his neck with his forefinger, and says to me " Alcohol"??? Me Nyet. Bad cop stands very near my face, sniffing. Alcohol...DA. So indicates I should follow him into the police car. Once both of us are seated, he looks around the car, and picks up a square of paper off the floor, and and folds it into a Twist ( same as shopkeepers used to do years ago when giving sweets to kids) He then blows into it, and gives it a good shake, in the interests of hygiene, and asks me to blow into it, which I do, but he's not happy. Again he indicates, so I blow again. He takes a long hard sniff and gives his verdict. Alcohol, DA!!! We go back to the car, and the good cop, who agrees with the DA verdict, and they indicate to get in my car and follow them. Might seem strange that they allow someone who has tested positive for alcohol, but thats the way it seems in Russia. Anyway we eventually arrive in what seems like a private residence, but inside there's a nurse who hooks me up to some kind of a machine that rattles and squeaks when its switched on, hands me a mouthpiece and tells me to blow...and blow...and blow. And so I do to the point where I run out of breath. She looks at the readout, and sighs.....again. So off we go again, round two. And again, when I'm on my last gasp. she holds up her hand..stop. So I do, gasping for breath. She examines the readout again, and I'm on tenterhooks waiting...but she smles and says Nyet Alcohol. And suddenly we are all best buddies,,,even bad cop, who shrugs his shoulders, and shakes my hand, we leave the clinic in a cloud of new found friendship, and go for a drink.:D

26-06-2021 1:31am

jmreire wrote: »

I cant speak about Thailand, but in Russia its the national pastime...,I got stopped in a rural area, outside of Moscow,by two policemen. One played the good cop, the other bad cop.

Well.. with my first trip to Moscow, I was followed from Red Square to the bar I was going to, whereupon the two police officers sat down and joined me for a drink. They wanted to practice their English with me, and the second officer wanted to introduce his sister to me. Go figure. Turned out to be a rather fun evening with their broken English. His sister wanted a foreign husband, alas/luckily.. I was far too poor for her.

I've encountered many types of Police abroad, although TBH I've been rather lucky, in that most of the responded well to a bit of respect and kowtowing. Discretion is the better part of valor when it comes to cops in police states. Still, I've had a few try to blackmail me, or get me into dodgy situations. Not many though, all things considered.

Mister Vain · 26-06-2021 11:08am

Deleted User wrote: »

Well.. with my first trip to Moscow, I was followed from Red Square to the bar I was going to, whereupon the two police officers sat down and joined me for a drink. They wanted to practice their English with me, and the second officer wanted to introduce his sister to me. Go figure. Turned out to be a rather fun evening with their broken English. His sister wanted a foreign husband, alas/luckily.. I was far too poor for her.

Sounds like a scene from a hostel movie. Was the sister hot?

26-06-2021 11:25am

Mister Vain wrote: »

Sounds like a scene from a hostel movie. Was the sister hot?

Pretty, rather than hot, and nothing much happened. Plenty of drinks and flirting, but I left that bar alone.

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

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