Quote:
Originally Posted by CRussel
Now here, I'm definitely with you, Stitchawl. I remember we were planning our trip to East Africa, and my wife asked me "So, should we do the balloon ride in the Masai mara? They want [some ridiculous amount of $$] for it." My answer? "We're spending 50 times that much to make this trip to Africa, and we may never be able to do it again.
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Having lived and worked in a very touristy area in northern Thailand, I often ran into people having just that same discussion. Oddly enough, I found that it was the 'discount travelers,' or backpack travelers, those who opted to stay in the $3 a night guest houses, who actually participated in FAR MORE expensive activities than the people who were staying at the Hilton, Sheraton, etc., 3-4 star hotels. The better the hotel, it seemed, the more the people were reluctant to spend money on the rest of their experience in Thailand! And yet, inside these fancy hotels the experience was just about the same as found in New York, Paris, London, or Hong Kong! Step inside and you need to look at a postcard to tell you what country you are in!
I don't go traveling to save money. I can do that at home. I want to experience every facet of the new culture I'm visiting, no matter the cost, no matter the danger, no matter the comforts.
"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue
mission within a yard of hell."
Stitchawl