Expanding Horizons

[jkspatty]

If you could do one something or somethings out of the ordinary what would it be? It is so easy to become complacent in our lives and forget there are many other cultures, lifestyles, belief systems, etc.. out there just waiting to be explored. IMO exposure to others/beliefs different from our own is a good thing. I would a) spend a week at a nudist camp. b) join the peace corps for a month.


Share your picks and reasons why please.

[TheKing]

www.mongolrally.com

[EricStratton]

I'd love to get my Women's Beach Volleyball Referee Certification:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/joserouse/Sports-Other/BeachVolleyball.jpg

[hendrixfreak70]

If you could do one something or somethings out of the ordinary what would it be? It is so easy to become complacent in our lives and forget there are many other cultures, lifestyles, belief systems, etc.. out there just waiting to be explored. IMO exposure to others/beliefs different from our own is a good thing. I would a) spend a week at a nudist camp. b) join the peace corps for a month.


Share your picks and reasons why please.


When? Where? :laugh: Just playing.

[hendrixfreak70]

I would have went ahead and played professional soccer. I would also jump out of a plane for no reason other than to say I did.

[Natural Sunshine]

Hmmmmm.....so many things I can't put my finger on just one or two....

[Engelbert Humperdinck]

www.mongolrally.com (http://www.mongolrally.com)

I've kicked the idea around about doing the Rally, but I can't get anyone really interested. It'll be easier to get someone to do the Ruta del Sol.

[fuzzis]

I'd go to the DR with TaTa

[chaz]

www.mongolrally.com (http://www.mongolrally.com)

Yes, that is awesome. Been in the very far back reaches of my mind.

[TheKing]

I've kicked the idea around about doing the Rally, but I can't get anyone really interested. It'll be easier to get someone to do the Ruta del Sol.

dude i tried for 2 years to get people to go with me... heres how it normally plays out after i tell them about the rally..

"oh man that sounds sooo awesome... i would totally do that."

"Really? awesome... you want to do it?"

"Yeah absolutely... when is it?"

"Next july. We have 10 months to save up roughly 15k for a safe journey there, to buy the car, pay the fees and charity money, pay for the trip itself and the bribes, then get home."

"Awesome... I can do that."

"Great......"

few months trickle by

"Hey man, hwo much money you got saved up? I am about to get all the stuff together for us to do this."

"Ohh man... I'm not gonna be able to do it... **Insert stupid lame reason to hide their fear here**"

that happened to me FOUR TIMES!

[TheKing]

I demand that dink, stratton, fishbait and myself do the Ruta Del Sol

[DeanWormer]

I demand that dink, stratton, fishbait and myself do the Ruta Del Sol

Sounds cool....what is it?

[Fish-Bait]

Sounds cool....what is it?


hmm....yeah....sounds cool. What is it?

[TheKing]

basically.... you make your way to ecuador... you find a shitty VW bug... you get in it and drive to rio in brazil...

there are no routes... no hotel rooms... no plans... just you and a few buddies trying to get from point a to point b and theres a TON of crap in the way

[JimmyJam]

I wish I could head to the Amazon and float the rivers, especially the Rio Negro, in a jon boat with a fishing pole...

[Desert Donkey]

Ride my bicycle across America.

Drink Turkish coffee at dawn on top of the Ziggurat at Ur.

Spend three months in a Buddhist temple.

[EricStratton]

basically.... you make your way to ecuador... you find a shitty VW bug... you get in it and drive to rio in brazil...

there are no routes... no hotel rooms... no plans... just you and a few buddies trying to get from point a to point b and theres a TON of crap in the way

Cool...I'm in for next year...although I'll probably drop out sometime in the near future.....

That does sound fun though....how much does it cost again?

[TheKing]

hey EH and ES, heres the old thread

http://www.myhattiesburg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18051

Cool...I'm in for next year...although I'll probably drop out sometime in the near future.....

That does sound fun though....how much does it cost again?

The chart below gives an estimate of some of the costs involved. It is NOT an accurate costing. It is always worth having back-up cash.

However, these costs can easily be covered by your defty ability to fundraise. As explained on the charity page you need to raise £500 per car (that's a measly £250 per person). Above and beyond that money you blag through sponsorship can be put towards your costs, as long as you make it very clear to your sponsors where the money is going. This means that with a bit of effort the Ruta del Sol could cost you nothing!

BUYING THE BUG
Señor Pablo's Used Car Shop is open for the teams on the Ruta. The cars taking part in the 2008 Ruta range from £860 to £1200 but if there's lots more teams next year Señor Pablo should be able to get a fat discount for you and he will also help you sell the car at the other end. Depending on how much jungley abuse you give your Beetle you will be able to get your money back when it sells.

ENTRY FEE (2008 Ruta)
£200
This is per team. As this is a new adventure it's not going to have the mahusive parties like with other events. There are still a load of costs involved for us like phone calls etc and paying our homies in-country that need to be acounted for. Click here to find out what your money goes on.

VISAS
Depends on your route
This is easy for South America because you only need visas for a few countries.

PETROL
£Depends on route and state of your Beetle
As the 2008 Ruta is very first one ever, we're going to ask the Pioneering teams taking part to keep a rough track on how much this costs them and what the average prices are per litre so you can do some sums for 2009 or beyond...

Other expenses to consider

FOOD
£100+
Food is pretty cheap unless you want to lord it up. Or save money and hunt for it all.

ACCOMMODATION
Sleep in the car and stop being a pansy.

REPAIRS
This will depend on your mechanical know-how and how many spares you carry. There could come a point beyond all repair where you need to buy a camel to carry on. At current market prices the going rate for camels is about 1/8 of a wife.

BRIBES
It is very unlikely that you will get to the end without being asked to oil the palms of the odd Policemen. It's often possible to get away without paying by being sneaky or shrugging your shoulders a lot.

FLIGHTS
Once again it depends on the choices you make. The cost of flying back from Rio will depend on whether you're brave enough to book in advance or you bag a seat once you arrive. Where you fly to will obviously dictate how much it will cost and all this is easily discovered on one of the four million flight search engines online. You could try and find a boat heading back across the pond, or stay in Brazil forever, which would be free.

CHARITY DONATION
Although this is the largest chunk of cash at £500 pounds per car there is no need to pay this yourself. Put in a bit of work with fundraising and you'll have the cash in no time.

[EricStratton]

How many of us are in a car?

So this is like Cannonball run except there's a possiblity you could be captured by rebel guerilla forces?

[LipsofanAngel]

I'd backpack through Europe without a set itinerary. I'm not spontaneous at all, and lack of planning freaks me out. I think it'd be good for me. Stay in some hostiles. Get out of my comfort zone.

[TheKing]

well... i say 4 of us to a beetle.... make it fun

[hendrixfreak70]

Can you imagine the smell that would come from that?

[EricStratton]

well... i say 4 of us to a beetle.... make it fun

Is drinking in the back seat frowned upon in South America?

[TheKing]

Is drinking in the back seat frowned upon in South America?

i doubt it... theres so much la cocaina down there, the last thing theyre worreid about is back seat drunk americans

at least i think... though that probably varies from country to country

[EricStratton]

I think I'm liking this idea.....

If we need a fourth can I bring fotno_?

[hendrixfreak70]

... once he is freed, yes.

[EricStratton]

Back on-topic:

I always thought it'd be cool to move to Europe and open a hostel for young American girls, backpacking across Europe....

[TheKing]

heres what google maps has to say about finding a route from quito to rio

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=en&geocode=&saddr=Quito,+ecuador&daddr=Rio+de+Janeiro,+Brazil&sll=-0.229339,-78.524094&sspn=0.462107,0.601501&ie=UTF8&z=11

edit: i feel reasonably certain that as long as we stay out of colombia, we will be fine.

[TheKing]

FYI: 1 way tickets from nawlins to quito is between 500 and 700 bucks.

[chaz]

Back on-topic:

I always thought it'd be cool to move to Europe and open a hostile for young American girls, backpacking across Europe....

Open one here for French girls... in a lot better shape and they do shave... more than the granola girls who backpack in Europe

[TheStereoGuy]

I am thinking of giving sea crab fishing in Alaska a try for 10 days ( $30,000 garaunteed income for those 10 days ). Just have to survive and hopefully not be injured too badly.

[TheKing]

I am thinking of giving sea crab fishing in Alaska a try for 10 days ( $30,000 garaunteed income for those 10 days ). Just have to survive and hopefully not be injured too badly.

i hear since 'the deadliest catch'... those jobs are few and far between.

[TheStereoGuy]

i hear since 'the deadliest catch'... those jobs are few and far between.

Yeah. Between the $39k garaunteed for the 10 days, PLUS a commission on top of it ( a percentage of whatever the captain makes on the haul ) I have heard of some of the people on those boats pulling in over $100k for less than 2 weeks, and the capains getting over $400k. That is after he pays for his gas for the trip and all expenses and what not. That amount of money will attract people.

Also the urge to feel macho by saying "Yeah, I worked the most dangerous job on the planet for 10 days and lived to talk about it" to your grandkids one day probably has attracted some guys as well.

[marion]

Okay, here's my list but I'm honestly trying to do them all in my lifetime. I've seriously looked into every one of them and at least a couple of them should become a reality.

1. Serve a couple years in the Peace Corps
2. Spend time doing research in Europe
3. Solve a major historical mystery (can't tell ya which one but it would be MAJOR news if it happened)
4. Be an assistant on Cities of the Underworld (or any history channel show)
5. Take a couple months to tour the US.
6. Become a detective and solve a few cold cases

I know there have to be more than that, just can't think of them at the moment. I usually dream big, but I'll do everything I can to make it happen.

After graduation, my dad told someone he's waiting to find out what I'm gonna spring on him with next. It seriously probably keeps him up at night.

[Echo Four Bravo]

I'd backpack through Europe without a set itinerary. I'm not spontaneous at all, and lack of planning freaks me out. I think it'd be good for me. Stay in some hostiles. Get out of my comfort zone.

Not to discourage you, but have you seen the movie: Hostel?

[LipsofanAngel]

Open one here for French girls... in a lot better shape and they do shave... more than the granola girls who backpack in Europe
hey now! I just said I wanted to do it... I'm not a granola girl, and I do consider myself in shape.

Not to discourage you, but have you seen the movie: Hostel?
yepp! which is why I would likely never do it :ohnoes:

I do know a girl who stayed in several hostels... and yeah, she had a few weird experiences!

[EricStratton]

I do know a girl who stayed in several hostels... and yeah, she had a few weird experiences!

I promise you...At my cozy, little hostel, you would have nothing to be afraid of.....

[pollyanna]

Learn to Scuba Dive. I have a fear of the water being over my head, and even more so of suffocation. If I could learn to scuba dive, I would be able to overcome that . . . that is if I don't have a heart attack trying.

[EricStratton]

Learn to Scuba Dive. I have a fear of the water being over my head, and even more so of suffocation. If I could learn to scuba dive, I would be able to overcome that . . . that is if I don't have a heart attack trying.

I've always been scared to Scuba Dive because of some of the same fear, especially the fear of losing oxygen at the bottom of the Ocean.....however, I think I'm gonna try to get certified next year.....I went snorkeling in Key West this summer...that was my first time, and I almost backed out of it....but I had the time of my life....I was with a big group, and I was the last one back on the boat....