Pet peeves while travelling in other countries...

[recycled sixtie]

Just got back from the UK to visit my birthplace namely Scarborough, Yorkshire, UK.
I never hear Richard Motion or Wayner complain about their travels but perhaps travelling solo on a motorbike you are not so dependent on a travel system.

Went from Basingstoke Hampshire to Scarborough. I buy a ticket and they don't tell me that I have to change trains twice enroute. I only find this out from talking to other passengers. Returning from Scarborough to Heathrow via London the ticket agent was more helpful. He told me where to change trains and take a later intermediate train to save money.

I go to the food and beverage section of the train and the gal selling the food ignores the fact that I gave her a ten pound note instead of a fiver. Tries to give me a reduced amount of change.

Overall it was a great holiday even though I traveled by myself. Fierce amount of people traveling on trains. It was standing room only on one train going north. They must sell more tickets than seats available. Passengers sitting on the floor etc.

I would do it again in a heartbeat. My sister is done long distance travelling by air and so is my wife. It makes me realize how good we have it in North America in terms of service, less dense population etc.

[ian c2]

I came the other way .
Uk to socal .

I’d rather have the ability to use public transport than have to drive everywhere

Commuting to la from south oc ? Forget it !!!

I worked in portland for a while a few years ago when I first came over , and that was more like it .
Walk to the Train station , then a quick hop to the city center for beer and football !!!

My old commute into Manchester City center wasn’t much fun on the train everyday , but to get anywhere else in the uk is easy if you know what to plan for .
I guess you never got the right info to do this planning , but I’ve managed a beer in 4 different countries plus a job interview all within 24 hours ...

[HardDrive]

Pet peeves while traveling in India.

"What the hell did I just step in?"

[look 171]

Lack of bathroom. Public bathroom is a mess in some of these countries and are far and few in between. my wife will hold it until she see a McDonald and rush in there to use it. So we learned that if there a Micky D, go and use the restroom.

[ian c2]

I believe it’s known as “going for a McSh@t”

India ?
Lived there too .
Just do it on the pavement ....

[look 171]

Originally Posted by ian c2

I believe it’s known as “going for a McSh@t”

India ?
Lived there too .
Just do it on the pavement ....

You tell my wife that she was complaining about that in England and France

[wildthing]

Having to look right first before crossing the street. What's that about? Why can't everybody just drive on the left?

Dealing with foreign transaction fees and exchange rates. Everybody should accept US dollars. America! Yeah!

Power outlets and voltage outputs. We need one shape and 240V everywhere. Make it universal people!

[ian c2]

Driving on the right ???

The biggest thing when I moved over here was FAR more life-threatening !!

I was used to the RED LIGHT being placed on MY side of the junction , and even in a foggy torrential downpour you knew where to stop . ( AT the red light )

I nearly killed my new American family on numerous occasions when I was first over here , traveling over 6-lanes of traffic to stop at the red light on the other side of the junction !!

[ian c2]

The good news is , you’re finally getting roundabouts !!!

I’ve not been yet , but from what I’ve heard ladera ranch is full of them !!

From what I’m lead to believe , roundabouts where originally implemented by the British government to enable the public to do late Night suspension tuning to their sports cars .

Much later in the late 60s , the transport research authority suggested “mini” roundabouts be utilized in order to tune for chicanes and hair-pin turns .

FANTASTIC !!!!

[ian c2]

Are you in a high immigrant area ?
Or is it just that people aren’t used to how roundabouts work ?

Ive driven in countries where the road onto the roundabout has right of way , and everybody on the roundabout stops for them !!!

As an aside , I’ll remember this with a smile on my face for the rest of my life :

Central Manchester college : openshaw campus .
Circa 1985 .

Drunken professor who was the subscribed to the “hairy-chested , MANS British sports car” type :

LOUDLY got into a post-lunch rant about foreigners and their bad cars and driving ..

“ PEOPLE SAY THE TRAFFIC IN PARIS IS BAD !!
HAVE ANY OF YOU BOYS EVER BEEN TO PARIS ?
ITS NOT BAD AT ALL , JUST FULL OF IDIOTS !!!
IVE DRIVEN THROUGH PARIS AT TREMENDOUS SPEEDS IN MY TR6 !! “

[look 171]

Yeah, we got em' down here in the city and in pasadena area as well. They are small, not like the ones I see in pics in Europe. Not only there are stop signs before entry, people usually wait for the driver to get completely to the other side before proceeding. What a waste of time. We just don't know how to drive them. I for one rather not have them as they slow down traffic too damn much.

[look 171]

The one I frequent often (not by choice) enter with one lane and as soon as youare in the roundabout, then it opens into two lanes going the same direction. As soon as you exit it on the other side, it narrows down into one lane again. Its a huge bottle neck. So freaking stupid, not to mention the stupid art work in the middle of this roundabout. There used to be a light there with side street and no congestion.

[ian c2]

That sounds like the old British design to enable oversteer testing

It’s a safety feature so you don’t “arse-swipe” cars coming in the oppposite direction ...

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by wildthing

Having to look right first before crossing the street. What's that about? Why can't everybody just drive on the left?

Dealing with foreign transaction fees and exchange rates. Everybody should accept US dollars. America! Yeah!

Power outlets and voltage outputs. We need one shape and 240V everywhere. Make it universal people!

And lots of people not speaking English! Especially in England.

[Jolly Amaranto]

Used to be the toilet paper. When I attended university in the UK back in the early 70s some of us colonials got the student center book store to order "soft" TP. Word got out and the locals were buying up the supply. Had to get a tip when a new shipment was in so you could hoard some. Now days the farther east you go on the continent, the stiffer the TP. The Russian stuff may as well be sand paper.

[cairns]

Rotherhithe Tunnel. Every f'n day. Jamaicans smashing windshields. Every f'n night.

SE London and East St. Louis have a lot in common.

[HardDrive]

Nothing worse than being in a foreign country, and seeing people from your homeland acting like jerks. I've seen a few Americans acting boorish, but I think the Aussies have us beat. Aussies + alcohol = bad juju.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by peteremsley

I was born in Scarborough too. Every Yorkshire man will try and take you for a fiver

Public transport is tough over there. Crowded like you say, but fairly efficient. Price does vary with time of the day. Travel with a family and renting a car becomes cost effective, while maybe slower and more painful. My mum lives in the middle of nowhere, so a car is pretty well essential.

We normally rent a 6' Peugot or something.

PM sent.

[LakeCleElum]

A few days ago, I get on the ferry in Tangier, Morocco to head back to Tanifa, Spain and retrieve my hire car. They cancel the 11 AM Ferry and tell no one...Said it's mechanical issue. (Same bull**** the airline tells you when the commuter flight is empty).

The 1 PM ferry is 45 minutes late leaving due to the "Call for Prayer". All the crew get their prayer mats out and the boat remains tied up.

I'm supposed to make the 2 hour drive to Malaga that afternoon to meet a friend who has arranged a 3 bedroom condo for 2 nights a block from the beach for $45 Euro/night. Now I'm on the road and hauling freight.

Speed limit is 120, I've spend most of 2 weeks at 140 or so. No drama......Now I have a guy ahead of me in the left lane that won't go over 130 and won't move over.

Custom is to not pass on the right, but now I'm gonna do it. Takes forever to find the spot in traffic......It's a curve to the left with a little dip at the apex.....I just have room if I use the whole shoulder and right lane.....I'll use all my suspension on the dip and strafe his right front fender on the apex at 155-160 KPH.....

Just as he starts his lazy lane change into me.....I change my line, drift right and Miss Daisy isn't too happy with me......By 6 PM, I'm drinking beer at a little beach cafe and life is good again......

[Yorkie]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Nothing worse than being in a foreign country, and seeing people from your homeland acting like jerks. I've seen a few Americans acting boorish, but I think the Aussies have us beat. Aussies + alcohol = bad juju.

I think we Brits can top the Aussies. The drunken behavior of the British abroad is nothing short of shocking. Incredibly violent people when they get off their little island and have a few drinks. At least the Aussies can be fun and the Irish are even better.