Travel & Holidays Travel

Discussion in 'Living Room' started by MTR, 15th Jan, 2016.

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  1. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    How do you all get on in non English speaking countries?
     
    D.T., 18th Jan, 2016
    #101
  2. Mombius Hibachi

    Mombius Hibachi Well-Known Member

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    Speak really loudly and really slowly. Extra points for using an American accent.
     
    Mombius Hibachi, 18th Jan, 2016
    #102
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  3. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    .It always helps to learn a couple of words in the language. Hello, thank you, count a few numbers. Even if it doesn't get you far it's often really appreciated.
    .Many tourist places have English speakers, especially at crucial places like banks and (often) places to buy tickets.
    .Smartphones are really useful now, a translator app or dictionary which doesn't require SIM access is really useful. I've had a conversation where the speaker had a smartphone, he spoke into the phone in his language and showed me the translation in English.
    .When all else fails, smile and gesture. It's a part of the experience. If you're eating at a place where they don't speak your language, it's a part of the adventure.
     
    Last edited: 18th Jan, 2016
    geoffw, 18th Jan, 2016
    #103
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  4. Tranquilo

    Tranquilo Well-Known Member

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    Try for once a year but its been 3 years for this trip I'm on at the moment.
     
    Tranquilo, 18th Jan, 2016
    #104
  5. THX

    THX Well-Known Member

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    I just expect the rest of the world to speak English. :D
     
    THX, 18th Jan, 2016
    #105
  6. radson

    radson Well-Known Member

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    Well in Northern Europe, some Swedish guy or Dutch gal will invariably ask something along the lines of.... "how exactly do you use subordinating conjunctions to join independent clauses" and then question the idiosyncrasies of the split infinitive ...meanwhile you are struggling to remember the difference between a verb and a noun; subjects and objects and get then muddled with a story about dick and dora.
     
    radson, 18th Jan, 2016
    #106
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  7. Tattler

    Tattler Well-Known Member

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    Hi @radson,

    You want to visit me? Let me know when and we will meet up!

    Cheers,

    Kamchatsky
     
    Tattler, 18th Jan, 2016
    #107
  8. Tattler

    Tattler Well-Known Member

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    In terms of flights you can always lookout for low cost airlines such as AirAsia, Jetstar, Tiger, Cebu Pacific etc. Sometimes they have really good deals that can bring the cost of the holiday down. I suggest you subscribe to their newsletters.

    Also with the rise of AirBnB you don't have to spend a lot of money on hotels. I only just started looking at AirBnB option given I now have 2 kids. I can see that there are plenty of options for renting the whole house with 3 bedrooms with say 8-9 beds (and with full kitchen facilities) for prices cheaper than a hotel room for 2 people, depending on where you go. I was quite amazed by this, and when my kids grow up a bit I will most likely pursue AirBnB option, as I would need to book at least 2 hotel rooms for 4 people on certain locations.
     
    Tattler, 18th Jan, 2016
    #108
  9. Tattler

    Tattler Well-Known Member

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    I will be going to Adelaide, HK, China and Okinawa in March-April this year, then another trip to Melbourne at June.

    I normally write a trip report on other websites after my trip. If there is enough demand I may post it here as well, just not sure how appropriate given this is a property forum.
     
    Tattler, 18th Jan, 2016
    #109
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  10. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    The Airbnb option with a full house can further allow you to save by giving you facilities for preparing your own food rather than having to eat out for every meal. Sometimes it's good just being able to prepare a good breakfast at home rather than having to all get ready to go out to eat.

    I enjoy the sharing part of Airbnb as well. It's great to meet other people, especially people from the country you are visiting.
     
    geoffw, 18th Jan, 2016
    #110
  11. Gockie

    Gockie Life is good ☺️ Premium Member

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    On topic... can anybody else see the irony of this?
    My latest Airbnb booking that I took on the weekend.

    2016-01-18 12.26.57.png
     
    Gockie, 18th Jan, 2016
    #111
  12. Nemo30

    Nemo30 Well-Known Member

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    I'd never been out of Australia until my late 30's.. But have made up for it since. Have been to some pretty amazing places.
    most memorable.. Harbin in northern
    China for the snow and ice festival.
     
    Nemo30, 18th Jan, 2016
    #112
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  13. Jamie Moore

    Jamie Moore MORTGAGE BROKER - AUSTRALIA WIDE Business Member

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    Air BnB (full house option) is a thing of beauty.

    I just spent the last few nights in an Air BnB apartment in Point Piper - it was incredible. Price was probably the same as a standard hotel room but the size of this place (two bedrooms) suited us perfectly.

    We can't really go out for lunch/dinner these days (because kids like to make that difficult) - so having a kitchen, etc makes life easier (and I guess cheaper too).

    Check out this pic I took from the balcony.

    Cheers

    Jamie
     

    Attached Files:

    Jamie Moore, 18th Jan, 2016
    #113
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  14. Blacky

    Blacky Well-Known Member

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    As per earlier post... Vodka.

    Some things can be a challenge, but generally I find the languange barrier a pretty small inconvienence. As others have said, learn a few of the essential words. And before you go always ensure you know how to ask "2 cold beers please"

    Blacky
     
    Blacky, 18th Jan, 2016
    #114
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  15. Jamie Moore

    Jamie Moore MORTGAGE BROKER - AUSTRALIA WIDE Business Member

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    Lol - that's my claim to fame. I can order beers in a number of languages :)

    These days there's probably an app that helps you translate stuff.

    Cheers

    Jamie
     
    Jamie Moore, 18th Jan, 2016
    #115
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  16. ADLInvestor

    ADLInvestor Well-Known Member

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    Headed back to Bali this May for my wife + my joint 30th bday. Spending 9 days there, 3rd time we're going back, this time for pure relaxation. Went to NZ North Island October last year and campervanned for 12 days, saw a lot of the island, beautiful place! Also been to London, Manchester (Massive United fan) Nice, Monaco, Paris, Bordeaux.

    Got pretty lucky as a kid/teenager, and went to Thailand, US and most of Australia. Itching to get back to Europe, hopefully spending Christmas/NYE in Germany!
     
    ADLInvestor, 18th Jan, 2016
    #116
  17. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    Yes, there's apps.

    There's even one where you can point your phone camera at a sign or menu and it does a live translate for you. It's more gimmick than use though.

    And if you do have an app make sure it's using downloaded data, or you are otherwise not using international roaming.
     
    geoffw, 18th Jan, 2016
    #117
  18. Jamie Moore

    Jamie Moore MORTGAGE BROKER - AUSTRALIA WIDE Business Member

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    Sure beats trying to ask "where is the train station" in Mandarin. I must have butchered the language so badly because the guy I asked looked mortified. I may have said something completely different to intended.....

    Cheers

    Jamie
     
    Jamie Moore, 18th Jan, 2016
    #118
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  19. geoffw

    geoffw Moderator Staff Member

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    Many Asian languages, like Mandarin or Thai, use tones, so that the inflection can completely change the meaning of the word or sentence.

    A tone change in Thai can change "I want to buy all of those" to "I am drunk".

    Somebody asked me if I was going to Chiang Mai. What I wanted to say was "I've already been". With the wrong tone it became "I'm going to Laos".
     
    geoffw, 18th Jan, 2016
    #119
  20. D.T.

    D.T. Specialist Property Manager Business Member

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    Thanks, would order either of you a beer in exchange for some travel stories.
     
    D.T., 18th Jan, 2016
    #120
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