Iceland best place to live, Africa worst: UN

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

About the parasites, don't eat the meat.

As long as it is cooked there's no problem. I had no problem with the meat in Ethiopia. None. Again, it's gotta be cooked. Unless you're dining at the Sheraton or Hilton in Addis. There you can even enjoy a medium rare steak with your spoiled western tummy.

Now the water is a different story altogether. I had Jack on the rocks once in a regular joint. Not good.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Iceland has some stunning, and quite alien-looking landscapes. I'd love to make a trip out there.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Iceland has some stunning, and quite alien-looking landscapes. I'd love to make a trip out there.

Yeah, from what I've seen in travel reports and such, it would seem interesting.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Iceland has some stunning, and quite alien-looking landscapes. I'd love to make a trip out there.

Yeah, from what I've seen in travel reports and such, it would seem interesting.

A mixture of volcanic and arctic environments. Plus you get the northern lights and long periods of darkness during winter.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Iceland has some stunning, and quite alien-looking landscapes. I'd love to make a trip out there.

Yeah, from what I've seen in travel reports and such, it would seem interesting.

A mixture of volcanic and arctic environments. Plus you get the northern lights and long periods of darkness during winter.

Winter wouldn't be the time I'd want to visit a place this far north. I can't stand the shorter days during winter down here and those are long compared to what they have up there this time a year. I remember the winters in Germany where the sun rises around 8 in the morning and disappears around 4 in the afternoon. Not cool.

[Ta Ta 1]

Yes, I just came back from Germany and it sure got dark early ! In the whole 10 days I saw the sun for one day !

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

My sister married an Icelander. I've been there a couple times in the winter. It's beautiful but expensive. Very expensive.

[mawilson 2,133]

Iceland has some stunning, and quite alien-looking landscapes. I'd love to make a trip out there.

Yes, it's amazingly beautiful, I know - but the "best place to live"???

[Imua 0]

About the parasites, don't eat the meat.

As long as it is cooked there's no problem. I had no problem with the meat in Ethiopia. None. Again, it's gotta be cooked. Unless you're dining at the Sheraton or Hilton in Addis. There you can even enjoy a medium rare steak with your spoiled western tummy.

Now the water is a different story altogether. I had Jack on the rocks once in a regular joint. Not good.

I wish it were that simple - last year when I was still carnivorous I got food poisoning from steamed buff momos - and they were delicious too!! This past trip I was strictly veg yet I came down with Giardia - it doesn't knock you out the way, say, amoebic dysentery would(I pray I never get that), but it lingers on for a long time if not treated and takes the energy out of you. From what I understand this is the most common parasite a traveler is likely to get - you can even get it from hiking in the US or working at daycare centers - there is an interesting article about it on the Internet put out by the Sierra Club.

Hotels in Nepal - it is even cheaper than India. Rooms at the fanciest hotel in KTM(so I hear), the Yak and Yeti, go for $200/night. The slightly less upscale but more romantic and nicely located Hotel Vajra gave us a deluxe room with private terrace, full Western bath, etc. for $90 - this is where we spent our wedding night. It is somewhat out of the way but nice if you want to stay in KTM but not in the madness of the central city. During spring and fall trekking seasons it might be more difficult to score these kinds of deals but if you go during off-season like I usually do(May-June) you can definitely get a bargain.

Edited November 30, 2007 by Pattu Rani