Rambo's World Adventure - Page 16

Dude, I don't know WHICH sites you're looking at but there's no such thing as "standardized pricing" even stateside. Every shop has a widely different package and PADI doesn't determine what a shop charges.

Might want to just try "(xyz country) dive school" instead. I did a quick search of places down here and none had published rates, making me wonder if they weren't negotiable.

They are. When I did my cert on Ko Tao I just went to a a few and picked the one with the best price, cleanest shop, and the cutest dive masters.

 

lefty

Finally, a voice of reason.

I thought that they would be tired of guys passing through and sexing them up, but I was wrong.

 

lefty

LOL.

Why else would someone choose to work in the tourism industry?

After I was burnt out from work I spent a few months laying on the beaches of Thailand: diving, drinking, sleeping, screwing. There was a never-ending line of european women showing up country-by-country. These two weeks in July, the Italians; the next week, the Swedes; the week after, the French. I left when the Brits showed up.

 

lefty

Rambo,

I would pass on any Caribbean place - it's so damn close why waste any time on this trip? Secondly, I would echo a thousand times over to travel light. I backpacked for a couple of months and this A-hole with us was lugging tons of gear with him constantly, falling behind, and just generally feeling miserable. Fortunately, we lost him on a ferry in Venice (this did not go over well).

I would also suggest not being overly ambitious. Travel is a whole different monster once you're out there - and regardless if you can take it, the trip will most likely benefit from some editing.

You don't want to look back on pin dots on a map.

P.S. Sent you a PM.

I'm glad we were able to share a drink at some point. I value your choice of humor.

good call

I've never seen people use up a holiday as quickly as the Brits.

 

They would land, hit the beach and start power drinking. That night they'd end up at a bar frequented by Muay Thai fighters who loved to kick the shit out of drunk stupid white guys.  (Word of advice, Rambo, if you end up in Thailand don't fuck with the local boys.) 

 

I tried to advise one particularly loud yob that maybe he should just relax instead of dancing like a fucking idiot and harassing the young Thai girls, but he wouldn't listen. A few hours later his friends carried him out bleeding from a brutally hard kick to the face. Later that night, he was kicked out of the bungalow for arguing with a ladyboy about price.

 

I'm sure it was the best holiday of his life.

 

lefty

 

 

Haha, did this imply not fking around with the ladyboys as well?.. If so, SFer Eason might be disappointed to read.


I always hear packing light mentioned, what is a good rule of thumb if trying to put some numbers on light enough?

In my mind I picture carry-on size or smaller and <30 lbs. or lighter is a good goal for the backpack... Anyone caret to share their thoughts?

I think it depends on the person, whether they're more concerned with functionality than looks. Personally, while I do like traveling and I do like backpacking I couldn't combine the two and walk around Europe strapped with something that screamed "over here!" I ended up finding a backpack that could be carried around like a soft suitcase and had separate small bottom compartment for shoes, dirty clothes, etc. It was probably around 30-40 lbs.

I think globetrotter already mentioned his list of packing "light" and it was about what I'd recommend. Just enough so that you can go 4-7 days without doing laundry. I hate laundry while traveling so much that I tend to pack more just so that it sucks less.