[mr1303]

I finally finish my blasted chemistry degree on June 6th. Apart from the World Junior Pairs, which will put me in Slovakia for a week between 29th June-4th July or so, and Brighton, which is August 11th-21st or so, I have an entire summer during which I want to do something exciting.

So suggestions as to what I could do would be very welcome. And work is NOT considered exciting.

Mark

[jillybean]

Go to South Africa, the most exciting country in the world then nip over to nip over to Tanzania and climb Kilimanjaro.

Spend the next 5 years paying off the trip.

[sceptic]

Take a couple of hundred quid a good pair of boots and some clothes a ruck sack and get off a ferry at Dieppe or one of those French Ports (on your own) and walk, any direction, stick out your thumb and see where it takes you, plan to return in 8 weeks. It is the most fun I had and I did it twice, once with a friend and once on my own, both have pros and cons, I reckomend on your own as it makes it easier when you decide you really want to do something specific.

My mate did it in America but he come back with a wife, so beware of that one

[hrothgar]

Turkey!

Lovely country. Very reasonably priced. Very friendly to foreigners.
Some folks are working to establish some lovely long distance hiking routes down where St John used to drop shrooms...

[kenrexford]

Not a whole summer activity, but, if you get the chance, try spelunking at least once. ("Spelunking" = climbing around in caves.) My preference was the unguided variety. Find a hole, climb in. Lights are optional (try it at least once without lights, but be VERY careful.) The best holes have great cracks you can climb up. You see bats and weird blind fish and the like. You get dirty and wet and cold. But, it is great fun.

Alternatively, or in addition, spend as much time in a wet, but warm, hole as you can.

[Badmonster]

Pick a continent and travel to all the best roller coasters.

[pclayton]

I'm looking to expand my list of answers to your question.

Congrats on getting your degree!

I'm partial to the western US, and I really like the national parks. Two wonderful experiences:

1) Sitting on a lookout on the Going to the Sun Highway in Glacier National Park (Montana - oh COURSE I'm partial ).

2) Trekking up the Virgin River at Zion National Park (Utah).

I think everyone should have both of these parks on their life's list of things to see,

[keylime]

New Zealand, definitely.

2nd choice, British Columbia.

[Walddk]

Day: Lords Cricket Ground (Brit Oval in case there is no play at Lords).
Evening: St. John's Wood Bridge Club (London NW).
Night: .......................................................................

Fill in the blank yourself. Cricket is out, bridge is not. You may even want to sleep although that would be a shame when you're in London. Great place!

Roland

[Aberlour10]

I suggest a small trekking tour to the Annapurna Sanctuary in Himalaya,
a wonderful place for thinking in silence about all this "boards of life" you will play
in the future

Robert

[joshs]

My Favorite Places in The World:
1 New Zealand- Its beautiful, reasonably cheap, and the people are great. Great outdoors activities
2. Costa Rica - Lovely rainforests and beaches
3. Australia - Awesome beaches, and good food.
4. Prague + Budapest - beautiful old cities
5. New York and Paris - The two truely great cities in the world but very expensive
6. Southwesten US- Hike Zion National Park (Phil mentioned the US's greatest day /overnight hike - up the narrows of the virgin river) and the Grand Canyon

Places I am dying to go to:
1 Ecuador/Galapagos Islands
2. South Africa
3. Turkey
4. Thailand

[keylime]

Off topic post:

Beaner, where did you get your cute aviatar? And anyone know where some are at?

[Rain]

I think you should train hard in Bridge and help your country win. Fun too.

[jillybean]

keylime, on Mar 24 2006, 08:21 PM, said:

Off topic post:

Beaner, where did you get your cute aviatar? And anyone know where some are at?

Limey theres lots to be found,, google animated avatar

[mr1303]

Quote

Day: Lords Cricket Ground (Brit Oval in case there is no play at Lords).
Evening: St. John's Wood Bridge Club (London NW).
Night: .......................................................................

Fill in the blank yourself. Cricket is out, bridge is not. You may even want to sleep although that would be a shame when you're in London. Great place! 

Roland

That most definitely sounds like a plan. I've just bought myself tickets for the England-Pakistan Twenty20 international. Unfortunately both the Lords test and the Oval test have sold out (grrr) but I might well go and see Middlesex play a few games there.

[the saint]

mr1303, on Mar 25 2006, 10:08 AM, said:

Quote

Day: Lords Cricket Ground (Brit Oval in case there is no play at Lords).
Evening: St. John's Wood Bridge Club (London NW).
Night: .......................................................................

Fill in the blank yourself. Cricket is out, bridge is not. You may even want to sleep although that would be a shame when you're in London. Great place! 

Roland

That most definitely sounds like a plan. I've just bought myself tickets for the England-Pakistan Twenty20 international. Unfortunately both the Lords test and the Oval test have sold out (grrr) but I might well go and see Middlesex play a few games there.

I have a ticket for the Friday at the Oval vs Pakistan.

Helps to have a boss who is a member of Surrey!

[GeeGee]

Rain, on Mar 25 2006, 03:33 AM, said:

I think you should train hard in Bridge and help your country win. Fun too.

What us win anything? Not a chance until we reverse the totally daft decision of a few years back that it was better to have independent organisations representing England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, rather than a single Great Britain group.

[GeeGee]

But back to cricket.

At the club a month or so ago, one of our best players turned up at our table with what looked like a very impressive greeting or birthday card with him. When I asked what it was, he showed me. The card front was a painting of the Long Room at Lords, and inside were tickets for the Lords test match. He told me he had got them that day and he wasn't letting them out of his sight until he had them safely locked up at home.

[mr1303]

I'm sooo jealous.

Am I correct in believing that unless you're a member of the MCC (or some such organisation) you can't purchase tickets for test matches at Lords without entering some sort of ballot?

[jikl]

Here's another plan for you, (even though it won't be in Northern Hemisphere summer).

Take in Day 1 of the MCG Ashes test on December 26th, there should be 90-95,000 people there. Always a great atmosphere.

Sean