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Was flying from Tokyo to Dubai – my plane stopped in Hong Kong and didn’t leave again for three days a there was a typhoon approaching. The airline put me up in a hotel, and with the very little money i had managed to get around hong kong and see some of the sights. Great views of Causeway Bay from high up can be seen from the Tiger Balm Gardens

Ate some wonderful cheap street food, walked around and shot lots of photos. Would love to go back on purpose now.

I went to Moscow when it was still part of the Soviet Union. Everyone was saying – “Oh – the russians are evil! Brainwashed! Unfriendly!” and when we got there i found people to be very friendly, inquisitive and engaging.

there is so much to see. the amazing metro stations alone could take you forever to see. of course red square and the kremlin. and some amazing churches. and kajillion cool museums.

St Petersburg (it was Leningrad when i was there) was beautiful – lots of green space – trees – parks – and was a nice contrast to Moscow. I’ll never forget the night we spent in the Komsomol (Junior Communist League) disco – everyone was so nice – and this was at the height of Reagan era ‘evil empire” hysteria.

Another of the many “Now that i’m older i’d like to return” entries. All my time was spent in BAngkok, which was great, but i’d like to get out and see some of the rest of Thailand next time.

a friend of mine’s mom is from Laos and he recently went to Laos with her and that made me investigate a bit and now this is on my list for whenever i get back to asia again.

Kenya is amazing.

So much to see and do there – and it will probably change your life. Zoos were ruined for me once i saw all those animals frollicking around out in the wild, as well as seeing them kill or be killed by other animals. It is a great antidote for disneyfied anthropomorphic “cuteness”.

and so may amazing places there to see – including Lake Nakuru, which looks like it has a pink shoreline due to the millions of flamingoes that nest there.

Go!

Like many of the places i visited as a teen – i’d go back to egypt in a second. Cairo – another of the worlds overpopulated cities (which is why they have “The Cities of The Dead” – a vast area of burial tombs that has been taken over by the living) is simply amazing. Of course there is all the Pharoh-related history (Pyramids – Sphinx etc), but there are also islamic and coptic contributions to the city’s culture and architecture.

and then you leave Cairo for the Luxor and the Valley of the Kings/Queens. It is really pretty amazing to walk down into some of these thousans-of-years old burial sites

I went to Tokyo years ago – it was basically a long layover en route to Dubai. I was interested, and enjoyed my stay, but didn’t really know much about Japan, Japanese history, etc. Now that i’m older and a bit more aware of things i’m much more fascinated by amazing culture and blend of cultures that make up modern Japan. Plus food is great – love the films – and i still don’t really understand the culture. I’ll be back for sure.

I lived in Athens for three years and it was great. The city can get a little polluted at times, but there is still lots of great old architecture, great food and just a great place to walk around and explore in general. The subway can take you from the sea (Piraeus) to the hills (Kifissia) in no time at all.

and when the city starts to get to you it is easy to hop on a boat in Piraeus and head out for a quick trip to the islands.

I’ve been to Mexico City a few times now – and have vowed not to go back – until I have a whole month to spend. There is simply too much to do, the city goes on and on and on. I’m always tired for a day or two (high altitude and pollution) and then after i spend a few days traipsing around the city it is time to leave and i always feel like i’m just getting started, just scratching the surface (The Anthropology Museum alone could take you days).

If you are uncomfortable with pollution and poverty this may not be the best place for you – but if you are interested in visiting an old new world city with all the benefits and drawbacks of an urban megalopolis – you have to go to Mexico City.