How much of the world have you seen?

Manny2023

I've been to many countries so far -- but what does this really mean?
Whenever I see people "declare" the number of countries they've been to (usually on Instagram), I wonder whether they've REALLY seen/experienced those countries.. for example, if you've been to Beijing (but nowhere else in China), that doesn't mean you've seen/experienced China.

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 21

black tea

19

Original post by Manny2023

I've been to many countries so far -- but what does this really mean?
Whenever I see people "declare" the number of countries they've been to (usually on Instagram), I wonder whether they've REALLY seen/experienced those countries.. for example, if you've been to Beijing (but nowhere else in China), that doesn't mean you've seen/experienced China.

But you have still seen a lifestyle and culture that's different to your own.

Reply 22

Manny2023

11

Original post by black tea

But you have still seen a lifestyle and culture that's different to your own.

Yes, true in the case of Beijing.. but would I have REALLY seen/experienced “China”, which is a huge and diverse country? Worse is when some people go to a holiday destination that’s full of Western tourists and fellow British people and think they’ve actually seen/experienced another country’s lifestyle and culture.

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 23

Manny2023

11

Okay okay I’ll play along.

I’ve been to all the continents except Antarctica.

Reply 24

ageshallnot

21

Original post by Manny2023

Yes, true in the case of Beijing.. but would I have REALLY seen/experienced “China”, which is a huge and diverse country? Worse is when some people go to a holiday destination that’s full of Western tourists and fellow British people and think they’ve actually seen/experienced another country’s lifestyle and culture.

There's a lot of truth in that. For example, I've been to China twice, for about a month each trip - the first to Shanghai, Beijing and X'ian, the second to Guilin, Chengdu, Lijiang and Kunming.

However, the most informative part of either was an overnight train trip between the latter two destinations. I was put in a 4-berth compartment with 3 Chinese engineers who all spoke English to varying degrees. I learned more about what it was like to be Chinese (especially male, young, educated) than in the rest of my time there put together.

Reply 25

Kallisto

Entertainment Forum Helper

22

Original post by Manny2023

Okay okay I’ll play along.

I’ve been to all the continents except Antarctica.

Also all the countries on the continents? If so, your next goal for the holidays has to be to visit the penguins. :biggrin:

Reply 26

Manny2023

11

Original post by Kallisto

Also all the countries on the continents? If so, your next goal for the holidays has to be to visit the penguins. :biggrin:

Haha if you read my comments before that one, you would notice my sarcasm in that one..
I've been to all those continents, but not to all the countries within all those continents.
There's so much more to see/experience in this world.. and it's NOT about the number of countries or number of continents.

Reply 27

username5955039

21

Original post by Avreil

2 countries

Netherlands

Reply 28

Kallisto

Entertainment Forum Helper

22

Original post by Manny2023

Yes, true in the case of Beijing.. but would I have REALLY seen/experienced “China”, which is a huge and diverse country? Worse is when some people go to a holiday destination that’s full of Western tourists and fellow British people and think they’ve actually seen/experienced another country’s lifestyle and culture.

Did you mena that comment, @Manny2023? I understand your point. Being in a country for years and living there is a huge difference to spend some weeks there as a tourist. No one learns a country's lifestyle and culture by being there in holidays. All the more if they are just going to tourist spots. That is a narrow-minded view, I am right here with you.

Reply 29

Manny2023

11

Original post by Kallisto

Did you mean that comment, @Manny2023? I understand your point. Being in a country for years and living there is a huge difference to spend some weeks there as a tourist. No one learns a country's lifestyle and culture by being there in holidays. All the more if they are just going to tourist spots. That is a narrow-minded view, I am right here with you.

Cool.

Oh BTW I meant the earlier comment where I said:
"I've been to many countries so far -- but what does this really mean? Whenever I see people declare the number of countries they've been to (usually on Instagram), I wonder whether they've REALLY seen/experienced those countries.."

Then after that, I said "I’ve been to all the continents except Antarctica" -- because I was trying to be sarcastic (but making fun of myself). Yes I've been to all the continents except Antarctica, but that does not mean I have seen/experienced every community in the continents that I've set foot on.

(edited 10 months ago)

Reply 30

smellyfeet112233

10

Original post by Manny2023

I've been to many countries so far -- but what does this really mean?
Whenever I see people "declare" the number of countries they've been to (usually on Instagram), I wonder whether they've REALLY seen/experienced those countries.. for example, if you've been to Beijing (but nowhere else in China), that doesn't mean you've seen/experienced China.

I hate people like that who try to show off that they have been to x amount of countries. It's actually really quite pathetic and sad to see people boasting about. Such shallow minds

Reply 31

Laam's corner

7

I've been to
Singapore twice
Taiwan twice (Taipei and Taichung)
Hong Kong (since born)
UK

Reply 32

lilGem

20

I'm quite fortunate in the last 3 months my job has taken me to:
USA (Georgia, California, Texas, Illinois, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Louisiana)
Israel
Jordan
Jersey
Scotland
Italy
Switzerland
Sweden
Algeria
Spain
Greece
Hungary
Portugal
India

Reply 33

helloimdavid

5

Original post by Laam's corner