 Nick C - Cockle | All Comments |
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| 16th December 2009 Cockle | Dear 'Anon' - From: Ohh I do like to be beside the seaside...again..... this is exactly the point I'm trying to make! I would be the first to admit that I'm nothing special, I didn't suggest otherwise, however, the problem is that wherever I go, the large majority of backpackers I inadvertantly run into seem to think that they are special in some strange way! I don't consider myself a backpacker, I consider myself to be just an ordinary bloke trying to make his way in the world. Wherever I go I have always tried to do my best to blend in, learn the language, settle down and not act like a drunken moron every night of the week. Sometimes, I feel ashamed to be a Westerner, when I see how many 'party loving' Westerners behave! I think all I'm trying to say is that despite my attempt to try and not stand out, there are always idiots who have to try and ruin it for the rest of us. I don't know if you have ever spent a long period of time living in a country, but I can tell you from experience that it's damn hard trying to earn a degree of acceptance and respect from the local community. Many backpackers these days would do well to remember that no matter what country they travel to, they are guests of that country and what might be acceptable back home is not always going to be acceptable somewhere else. Yet the sad fact is that more and more backpackers are frequently turning their 'round the world' trips into one big drunken 18-30 party........ I wouldn't really take an interest if they were just isolated incidents, but unfortunately, this kind of behaviour seems to be on the increase! Anyway, I acknowledge your point, I have personally met many decent backpackers and I apologise if you took it personally. I suppose I was just having a vent, then again, if you had seen what I have seen and experienced what I have experienced you might share similar views to me :) Anyway, I've now amended my blog accordingly. Happy travels Anon, wherever they may be :) |
| 16th December 2009 Cockle | Greetings Andy - From: Ohh I do like to be beside the seaside...again..... Good to hear from you again :) I don't really go on Facebook now much anyway being as the Vietnamese Government have taken a dislike to it and banned it! I don't know why you don't make the move to China, you have been talking about it for ages...put that TEFL certificate to use ol' chap :D Take care and keep in touch :) |
| 16th December 2009 Andy Reid | Welcome back! - From: Ohh I do like to be beside the seaside...again..... Heyyy Nick! Really is great to hear from you via your blogs again. Sorry I don't keep up with you on Facebook - frankly I don't understand nor like that site! Been to China 3 times now, seriously considering moving there. I am really pleased that you're getting on so well - and having a great time, obviously! Merry Christmas mate, Andy (ex-coursemate) |
| 15th December 2009 Anon | Ummm - From: Ohh I do like to be beside the seaside...again..... Well Nick, After just reading your blog I felt compelled to comment, particularly on your points regarding other travellers. I appreciate your concerns regarding the influx of tourists and I too have to admit that I have a problem with places being turned into resorts to cater for people who need the comforts of home and are willing to pay a premium. On the other hand, I don't think your analysis of "backpackers" is quite right. Don't get me wrong, I have met backpackers who are downright terrible and merely visit these stellar places to drink, vomit and sleep. But there are a fair few of us out there that are not like this, and try to go about our travels taking in as much as we can culturally and socially without leaving too much of a crass footprint. I soon will be a "white face" that will venture to these places, but make no mistake, I am no different from you. You are not special, you are merely another "white face". Enjoy though mate. |
| 15th December 2009 H | Backpackers - From: Ohh I do like to be beside the seaside...again..... You used to be a backpacker lol, and your stories used to be amazing xx |
| 21st July 2009 pilnikjezerobota | brilliant - From: Strč prst skrz krk....... Just wanted to say I had such a laugh reading this blog.. flipping excellent piece of writing! Aside from wtf is a hot cat, I love how a hot dog becomes "american" when it's twice the weight of a normal hot dog! Just so you know if you're ever back in this part of the world, you can just walk across train tracks and it is the done thing, theyre not electrified nor out of bounds. Z |
| 25th January 2009 Cockle | - From: Riverboat escapades......... Hello again :) Well with so many wonderful countries around me to explore, I think it will be a while before I end up in Pokhara again :) Hope you are both keeping well :) |
| 24th January 2009 Lia | Fun, fun , fun... - From: Riverboat escapades......... Well Nick it sounds and looks to me like you are having a groovy old time in Vietnam! Do i assume that Nepal is off the menu for a while then? Cheers ! |
| 25th December 2008 mummy dearest | - From: Back on the road again...... happy xmas, hope your enjoying your holiday,just getting over your flu hope you're well now. keep safe and hope to hear from you soon. mummykins |
| 16th December 2008 Cockle | Ahhhh...... - From: Back on the road again...... Amazing ehh!!! We were separated at birth....... |
| 15th December 2008 paul | twin - From: Back on the road again...... Hi Mr C didnt know you had a twin brother! |
| 15th December 2008 Cockle | Hi thanks for reading my blog! - From: Back on the road again...... I believe the swastika was first used by the ancient Egyptians, this symbol being used to represent the sun. Its just a mixture of my sarcastic way of looking at things and an ongoing joke from my time in India, thanks for the comment though :) |
| 14th December 2008 Adam | Swastika - From: Back on the road again...... Just thought I'd let you know the swastika is a sacred symbol in Hinduism & Buddhism... I was a little thrown off the times I saw it in India myself |
| 11th September 2008 Madhu | time it right - From: I cant see a bloody thing! I liked you style of writing. you have a sense of humour. And yes some guys have all the luck. Cynics dont!! Must visit at right time of the year. |
| 18th August 2008 anonymous | - From: A License to Thrill...well maybe only slightly... Great pics! It was quite the adventure, especially the home stay! The spider pic brought back grueling memories...I cringe just looking at the thing! Good luck upon your return into this vast, incredible world we live in! Cheers, Heather |
| 13th August 2008 Cockle | Greetings!!! - From: Financial Ruin!!! Hi Andy! Thanks for your note, its always nice to know that my blogging is appreciated :) It looks like im actually going to be heading off to Vietnam soon to work with no other person than Mark our course instructor, of course I will keep you all posted via this site. China will probably have to wait until next year now. You take care and i'll catch you soon :) |
| 12th August 2008 Andy Reid | Thanx! - From: Financial Ruin!!! Hi Nick, just to say thanx a lot for all your ongoing blogs - mega-entertaining! Can't wait to hear about your forthcoming Chinese adventures. Went there myself last year - going back in a few weeks. You'll LOVE it! Cheers, Andy (ex-coursemate) |
| 1st August 2008 Cockle | - From: Financial Ruin!!! It will take more than a hat to make me look stunning, haa haa. I pinched it off of a fellow Brit while we were in Tom and Jerry's, it didnt suit him anyway. I might start wearing it here in the UK, who knows it might start a new trend :) |
| 31st July 2008 jessica Margesson | love the hat - From: Financial Ruin!!! hey, gotta say, i love the nepalese hat in that photo. u look stunning.... :) lol |
| 19th June 2008 Diana | Hotel Name - From: Extortionate Bills and Oval Wheels Hi, you said your hotel was good so please mention it in another comment or in the post! |
| 3rd June 2008 Will Murray | - From: Things can only get better.... Hi Nick, Hope all's going well, photos look awesome. Thanks very much for the reference to the 'operation raleigh guys & gals'! Much appreciated. Great to catch up with you in Jaipur too...you weren't affected by the bombs were you? Back in the UK now, it's pants. Stay away! Best of luck, Will (on behalf of all us raleigh lot!) |
| 20th May 2008 TravellersDiary | Liked your desc - From: Tips, Bungs and Baksheesh..... Liked your travel description and the pictures. Yes, they do charge you 10 times more than the locals, and I agree that its kind of unfair. I also went to Mysore a few weeks and have blogged about it at: http://travellersdiary.wordpress.com |
| 14th April 2008 Darrell W | Thanks for the info - From: Down South! Hey There Nick C.- Thanks for your perspectives on your trip in Kerala, we like your style. My wife and I arrive in Trivandrum on Wednesday the 17th with our 21 year old son. We plan to hang out in the area for a week or two and then head north. Keep up the good work, if I see you in Kerala the Kingfishers are on me. Namaste- Darrell |
| 27th March 2008 Cockle | - From: Sun, Sun and a tropical thunderstorm Yeah of course im gutted...not.... only 33c here today ohh well ;) |
| 27th March 2008 bro | - From: Sun, Sun and a tropical thunderstorm git, git, git, git, git, git, git, git etc etc!!! mind you it was quite warm in eastwood today, and rikki and bianca are coming back to eastenders so I bet you're gutted your over there. |
| 25th March 2008 Pernille | I want a curry too :P - From: India...finally....!! Nice photos. I really want a curry. I read in a magazine that there is a beautiful place in India called Blackwaters in the state of Keralas. It's on a ''50 places you must go'' list :P It's in south-west India. Apparently you can catch rare fishes here with your hands and they have snakeboat competitions. They have got boats for turists. Boathotels. Have you heard of it? I think you should go there ;) |
| 20th March 2008 Ludo | tesco - From: Strč prst skrz krk....... Hey, great blog, I nearly fell of the chair laughing! About the cashiers and costumer services in general, its a bit problem here in Slovakia, but I hope it will get fixed in a couple of years. Good job, keep travelling! |
| 13th March 2008 Helite | We will never foget - From: Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau As an Israeli, I have been brought up knowing about the Holocaust inside and out. Nick, reading your blog, feeling your passion, your sadness, have brought tears to my eyes. Many articles have been written about Auschwitz, but they all lack the emotion that a place like this deserves. You always told me this is one place you will visit one day, but for one who knows you so well, and knows how emotional you are and how connected you feel to the Holocaust, I never believed you could do it. I admire you for having the corouge to go, I admire you for writing about it, but mostly... I admire you for making everyone feel your sadness through your words. Helite xxxx |
| 21st January 2008 Fernando | You will be missed.. - From: Independence Day! All that you have said about this fair country is true. Hopefully I can follow in your footsteps and eventually leave. The few moments I have spent at work with you and a couple of times at a pub, was my escape to the way things were for me back home. I wish you all the best. I hope that you know, that you can always count on me in any situation. God's speed mate, you will be missed. |
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