Comments on: Curious Travel: 8 Questions to Ask in Every New Place http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/ The Travelzine for Today's Vagabond Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:10:03 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Djong Tan http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/comment-page-1/#comment-6961 Djong Tan Tue, 13 May 2008 03:55:37 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/#comment-6961 i love this article! :) whenever i travel, i really want to know as much about the place as i can, but i don't know what questions to ask. and i especially love question #2. when i'm showing people around in my city, i make it a point to let them try our weird food (balut, chicken innards, and other delicacies). i love this article! :) whenever i travel, i really want to know as much about the place as i can, but i don’t know what questions to ask.

and i especially love question #2. when i’m showing people around in my city, i make it a point to let them try our weird food (balut, chicken innards, and other delicacies).

]]> By: Marilyn Terrell http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/comment-page-1/#comment-6140 Marilyn Terrell Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:00:20 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/#comment-6140 These are excellent questions! I've had great luck asking #3 and #5. In Taiwan I asked about Taipei 101 (still the tallest occupied building in the world), and learned that despite the official explanation of how its architectural features relate to Chinese zodiac symbols, some Taipei residents affectionately refer to it as the Chinese takeout container building. You can see the resemblance here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dans180/188859143/in/set-371883/ And in Zadar, Croatia, I gained an insight about life in Croatia by asking high school kids how the school system works: http://intelligenttravel.typepad.com/it/2006/10/cravable_croati.html These are excellent questions! I’ve had great luck asking #3 and #5. In Taiwan I asked about Taipei 101 (still the tallest occupied building in the world), and learned that despite the official explanation of how its architectural features relate to Chinese zodiac symbols, some Taipei residents affectionately refer to it as the Chinese takeout container building. You can see the resemblance here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/d.....et-371883/
And in Zadar, Croatia, I gained an insight about life in Croatia by asking high school kids how the school system works:
http://intelligenttravel.typep.....roati.html

]]> By: Amanda http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/comment-page-1/#comment-6117 Amanda Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:41:14 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/#comment-6117 Yes, Yellow Tail (unlike Fosters) is drinkable in Australia! I really like seeing that Aussie wines are spreading their way around the world. The frustrating thing is they're cheaper outside Australia - nobody can explain why to me, but when I lived in Germany I could pick up great Australian wine for at least a third less than in Australia, where it's made. Crazy. Maybe the US should try exporting some well-preserved PB&J sandwiches and then the rest of us might not be so repelled by the idea :) Yes, Yellow Tail (unlike Fosters) is drinkable in Australia! I really like seeing that Aussie wines are spreading their way around the world. The frustrating thing is they’re cheaper outside Australia – nobody can explain why to me, but when I lived in Germany I could pick up great Australian wine for at least a third less than in Australia, where it’s made. Crazy.

Maybe the US should try exporting some well-preserved PB&J sandwiches and then the rest of us might not be so repelled by the idea :)

]]> By: Tony P http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/comment-page-1/#comment-6111 Tony P Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:48:31 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/#comment-6111 Yeah, they have branded Foster's pretty hard over here, in the US. I assume they are the Bud Light of OZ. I'm definitely into good microbrew's and what the locals eat and drink. I must say that OZ is churning out some good red wines. I don''t know if Yellow Tail has a good name there, but they provide a good quality inexpensive option here if you're in the mood for a tasty Cab, Shiraz, or Merlot=) Yeah, they have branded Foster’s pretty hard over here, in the US. I assume they are the Bud Light of OZ. I’m definitely into good microbrew’s and what the locals eat and drink.
I must say that OZ is churning out some good red wines. I don”t know if Yellow Tail has a good name there, but they provide a good quality inexpensive option here if you’re in the mood for a tasty Cab, Shiraz, or Merlot=)

]]> By: Amanda http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/comment-page-1/#comment-6089 Amanda Thu, 06 Mar 2008 07:58:19 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/#comment-6089 Tony, yes, asking about typical foods is great. And drinks, too: just today I was in a pub here in Australia with a bunch of my foreign students, and a Swiss guy asked me why there was no Fosters beer at the bar. I laughed, because everybody thinks Australians drink Fosters, but actually nobody does. We just send it abroad. So I educated him about "real" Australian beers. Mike, you're right, and I have learned my lesson about PB&J! Tony, yes, asking about typical foods is great. And drinks, too: just today I was in a pub here in Australia with a bunch of my foreign students, and a Swiss guy asked me why there was no Fosters beer at the bar. I laughed, because everybody thinks Australians drink Fosters, but actually nobody does. We just send it abroad. So I educated him about “real” Australian beers.

Mike, you’re right, and I have learned my lesson about PB&J!

]]> By: Mike http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/comment-page-1/#comment-6081 Mike Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:50:47 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/#comment-6081 I guess we here in the U.S. take PB&J more seriously than I thought! I guess we here in the U.S. take PB&J more seriously than I thought!

]]> By: Amanda http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/comment-page-1/#comment-6074 Amanda Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:43:23 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/#comment-6074 Sorry, I wish I'd never mentioned peanut butter and jelly :-) I'm curious to know what the weird foods are in ET Barton's home town though. You reminded me of something - when I traveled around Japan I always asked the local about their ice cream specialty (every place has one) - I saw squid ice cream, black sesame ice cream, crab ice cream ... but I wasn't brave enough to try all of them. Sorry, I wish I’d never mentioned peanut butter and jelly :-) I’m curious to know what the weird foods are in ET Barton’s home town though.

You reminded me of something – when I traveled around Japan I always asked the local about their ice cream specialty (every place has one) – I saw squid ice cream, black sesame ice cream, crab ice cream … but I wasn’t brave enough to try all of them.

]]> By: Tony P http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/comment-page-1/#comment-6069 Tony P Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:02:56 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/#comment-6069 Nice article, Amanda. I agree with the wierdest food (Hey, "when in Rome"...right?!), but I usually ask "what's the typical food that they eat here? And where do the locals go to eat it?" In Madrid, I wanted paella, but my friends in Madrid said "that's tourist food." So off we went to restaurants that tourists didn't go to and ate really good food that the locals ate." Nice article, Amanda. I agree with the wierdest food (Hey, “when in Rome”…right?!), but I usually ask “what’s the typical food that they eat here? And where do the locals go to eat it?” In Madrid, I wanted paella, but my friends in Madrid said “that’s tourist food.” So off we went to restaurants that tourists didn’t go to and ate really good food that the locals ate.”

]]> By: ET Barton http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/comment-page-1/#comment-6062 ET Barton Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:58:31 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/#comment-6062 Great article. I have to agree with Stacy. What's wrong with peanut butter and jelly? However, I also really like your suggestion of asking the locals what's the weirdest food to eat here. I think that could turn up some interesting suggestions even in my own home town. However, I will hopefully never have to eat anything like what's in your picture. Great article. I have to agree with Stacy. What’s wrong with peanut butter and jelly?

However, I also really like your suggestion of asking the locals what’s the weirdest food to eat here. I think that could turn up some interesting suggestions even in my own home town. However, I will hopefully never have to eat anything like what’s in your picture.

]]> By: Amanda http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/comment-page-1/#comment-6031 Amanda Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:10:20 +0000 http://www.vagabondish.com/getting-curious-on-your-travels-8-questions-to-ask-in-a-new-place/#comment-6031 OK, let me make a separate question #9 to ask in a new place: What's the weirdest thing people spread on bread around here? (which reminds me of those little packets of colorful, sugary sprinkles that you get in B&Bs in the Netherlands at breakfast time.) Just for the record, a few weeks ago I had a stomach virus and my doctor recommended Vegemite as the first thing to eat when I started feeling better. It's that good! But I've rarely met a non-Australian who feels that way. OK, let me make a separate question #9 to ask in a new place: What’s the weirdest thing people spread on bread around here? (which reminds me of those little packets of colorful, sugary sprinkles that you get in B&Bs in the Netherlands at breakfast time.)

Just for the record, a few weeks ago I had a stomach virus and my doctor recommended Vegemite as the first thing to eat when I started feeling better. It’s that good! But I’ve rarely met a non-Australian who feels that way.

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