MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > What’s the most mind blowing place you’v...

What’s the most mind blowing place you’ve ever been to?


GlenEllyn asked me to talk about some of my travels, so hear goes: -

Japan:
My wife & I spent a month touring around mostly Tokyo and Hiroshima. When people ask me what it was like, I say, ‘imagine travelling to another planet in a rocket ship, when you step out - that’s Japan’. It’s a totally crazy place (in a good way). I could talk about it for hours.

The Peace Park in Hiroshima is another story altogether. Regardless of your views on whether it was the right thing to do or not, you cannot help but be moved by what happened there.

If anyone is thinking about visiting, I’m happy to give some helpful tips.

reply

I've visited the battlefield at Bull Run (American Civli War era) in Virginia where nearly 4,700 men died and thousands were injured during the span of a day owing to poor training, over-confidence and ass-backwards leadership
The rolling hills there are covered in beautiful, tall grasses and wildflowers and it looks like the perfect spot for a family picnic
I don't believe in ghosts or anything weird but that place feels haunted even on a bright, sunny day

I went deer hunting about 30 minutes North of Kingston in upstate New York once, climbed hundreds of feet up a rough slope to scout a valley down below...the mist rising up from the rivers way down there made me feel like I was the last person left in the world...it was beautiful
I found a few deer tracks but they seemed fairly worn...days old!
Then I found bear sign (scat and clawed trees)
After an hour of poking about I located the bear den and approached...empty!
* had I found the bear and shot it in it's den that would have been against game laws...I was just curious (and young and stupid!)
So I set up a blind as quietly as I could and waited for a couple of hours...
No bear:(
On the way down the hill I encountered my hunting partner who had elected to lean up on a stump and get wasted, and I had to walk him down and out of the woods
As I was driving out of the area I passed at least a dozen big tasty looking deer on people's front lawns and driveways...I'd swear several of them were laughing or winking at me;)
Deer always seem to know where they wont get eaten lol

The first and only time I've ever seen a wild monkey, scorpion or 4 foot Iguana was in the Yucatan, Mexico
Mexico has wildlife that can scare the hell out of you
Beautiful country, the crystal clear waters make it feel like a divers paradise but the fish are bigger than you and not shy about letting you know it


reply

I once visited The Little Bighorn battlefield/memorial site. I took some great pictures only to discover later that my camera had been stolen.

These pics coincide perfectly with what I remember seeing that day: https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g60888-d145853-i153046689-Little_Bighorn_Battlefield_National_Monument-Crow_Agency_Montana.html

reply

Fantastic images
Wow! There really was very little cover on that site

reply

Yeah, the opposing forces definitely had the home field advantage.

Also, the memorial site of the Oklahoma City bombing was somber and moving. And we're coming up on that anniversary this Friday.

reply

24 years ago
Still a real stinger

McVeigh is gone and Nichols will never see the light of day again
They found a bunch of explosives hidden in
McVeigh's crawlspace after the investigation...those animals could have kept going with their sick crusade!

Without a doubt one of the worst terror attacks we ever suffered because they were home grown...this event still leaves me reeling

reply

AND TO THINK...YOU AND THE DOUCHEBAG USED TO BE SUCH GOOD PALS.🙂

reply

What?!
Everyone likes me

How could they not??

reply

Still Niagara Falls. All that water and it never stops.

reply

I've been there a couple of times. The power of all that water is absolutely amazing.

reply

I find it more compelling than all those historical sites I visited in Italy over 20 years ago. I do like natural wonders over man made.

reply

I agree about natural wonders being more interesting.

I hope this works...

https://imgur.com/DQlBUVK

Post subject to change if it doesn't. 🤔

reply

"I agree about natural wonders being more interesting."

I agree.
Niagara is my "best seen" , unless i think of another or are reminded of one in this thread.
Disapointed I never got to see the Giant Redwoods when I was in the US

reply

Sudwala Caves, South Africa. I think the whole country is amazing. Elephants are my absolute favourite animals, and seeing them there was amazing, but these caves were so huge. It was a really cool experience. I think that our experiences are what can make a place amazing.

Osa Penisula , Costa Rica. Again I had just an amazing experience there with everything I did. Hiking, diving, zip lining. It was all incredible. Corcavado National Park is so beautiful.

Half Moon Caye, Belize. There is a nature reserve on the island with red footed boobies which is neat, but the diving there was mind blowing. The blue hole is an experience, but because the marine life is protected in lighthouse reef, it was something I'll never forget. The diving off of Ambergris Caye was great as well.

reply

[deleted]

I've been a few times as my partner's kids and grandkids still live there and have road tripped through pretty much the whole country. If I were to answer honestly, I think every place that I have been has had something that blew me away. Even in Europe and North America. I think beauty can be found anywhere, and I think travelling has helped me see that. When I meet people in my travels and I hear them talk about Canada and the things that they've seen here I look around me like I'm a tourist.

reply

Niagara
Grand Canyon
The House On The Rock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_on_the_Rock

reply

Uluru in the center of Australia (formerly known as Ayres Rock). Amazing place

reply

I was there when it was raining and waterfalls were coming off it. Was pretty awesome.

reply

Not formerly known, it has two names. I still call it Ayres Rock.

reply

New York City and Cuba

reply

I visited New York City when I was an innocent child of eight. I have no desire to do it again, but I do understand those who do. It's an amazing city - just not my cup of tea. Cuba does sound interesting, though. Probably because for so many years it was off-limits. The culture of making do and preserving what they have is fascinating to someone who lives in a throwaway society.

reply

I’m not an American. So I found Cuba quite delightful . I was 22 when I went to nyc and I just did the tourists stuff but had a total blast

reply

I went with my sister (2 years older than I) and we visited the Empire State building, the Statue of Liberty, Mount Vernon, and the Atlantic Ocean (for a Midwesterner, it was a big deal). Also had to see the MONY building (Mutual of New York insurance co. that my dad worked for at the time) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1740_Broadway

Seeing the ocean for the first time and Mount Vernon stuck with me the most.

reply

I more wanted to take the train to a Yankees game and eat at delis and pizza and drink . My vacations note revolve around sports and food .

reply

I suspect it's common that trips revolve around food and sports, among other things.

reply

If you’re into that

reply

For me, it's never about the food. Sports is a nice addition, though.

reply

Parts of England. It was just kind of enchanting and, for me, probably the first time I've ever experienced both a surreal feeling of otherness AND at the same time being utterly at home - almost like I had found my way back rather than just arriving. It was like I'd been there before, but I was also seeing it all for the first time. Hard to explain.

reply

Machi Picchu! It was amazing.

Graceland! Elvis' home.

Paris! I went in summer and it was amazing.

The Great Wall of China! One of those places that you wonder whether you'll ever see and I did (ditto Christ statue in Rio, Statue of Liberty, David Statue and Empire State.)

reply

Machu Picchu also.

reply