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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 6 Jul 2007
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Question Stupid Question for my Ego

OK, lots of travellers talk about how many countries they have been to. Some even introduce themselves like "Hi, my name is Steve and I've done 37 countries and 4 continents". (You know who you are!) Here is my question for our friends from the UK. I have been to England and Wales. Does that count as two countries or have I only been to one ie. United Kingdom. :confused1: Besides upping my country count by 1, this could settle an argument I'm having with my son (who just returned from SE Asia (proud father of a traveller!!)).
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  #2  
Old 6 Jul 2007
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Originally Posted by nugentch View Post
OK, lots of travellers talk about how many countries they have been to. Some even introduce themselves like "Hi, my name is Steve and I've done 37 countries and 4 continents". (You know who you are!) Here is my question for our friends from the UK. I have been to England and Wales. Does that count as two countries or have I only been to one ie. United Kingdom. :confused1: Besides upping my country count by 1, this could settle an argument I'm having with my son (who just returned from SE Asia (proud father of a traveller!!)).
Sorry mate, you've only been to one country. Most people don't take Wales seriously.
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  #3  
Old 6 Jul 2007
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Don't listen to the English propaganda! You have been to two countries!

Matt
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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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  #4  
Old 6 Jul 2007
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Neither England nor Wales is a country .
But the United Kingdom IS a country .

But try telling that to them !
I've lived in both ,one is wetter than the other but it's hard to tell sometimes .
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Old 7 Jul 2007
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Have I stirred the pot? Maybe we need a poll!
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  #6  
Old 7 Jul 2007
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Scotland is allowed to call itself whatever it wants ,just so long as it keeps distilling scotch whisky .
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Old 7 Jul 2007
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If Wales counts as a country, then Scotland and Northern Ireland count as well (that's upped my score by 3)


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Why do people
list everything with
Wheels that they
Have ever owned at
the end of their posts?
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  #8  
Old 7 Jul 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nugentch View Post
OK, lots of travellers talk about how many countries they have been to. Some even introduce themselves like "Hi, my name is Steve and I've done 37 countries and 4 continents". (You know who you are!) Here is my question for our friends from the UK. I have been to England and Wales. Does that count as two countries or have I only been to one ie. United Kingdom. :confused1: Besides upping my country count by 1, this could settle an argument I'm having with my son (who just returned from SE Asia (proud father of a traveller!!)).
I'd offer you a drink or coffee, but that wouldn't be realistic, would it?
I've not looked through fashion magazines in quite a while.
Who are these people causing your ego to be unstable?
Did this happen early on, or is it something recent?

You could always choose the answer that makes you feel the best.....?
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  #9  
Old 7 Jul 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Holland View Post
If Wales counts as a country, then Scotland and Northern Ireland count as well (that's upped my score by 3)


Bill H




'05 F650GSPD
'00 Domi
'87 RMX250
'03 Honda Civic
'95 Fiat cinquecento
'98 Mountain Bike
'85 Skateboard
Hoop 'n Stick (age unknown)
Roller Skates
wellingtons (2 pairs)
Pogo Stick
'74 David Brown 995
Why do people
list everything with
Wheels that they
Have ever owned at
the end of their posts?
A pogo stick doesn't have wheels .
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  #10  
Old 7 Jul 2007
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Why ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Holland View Post
Why do people list everything with Wheels that they Have ever owned at the end of their posts?
I don't know why people list everything with wheels that they have ever owned but I post the bikes I own now at the end of my post to show where my interest is in biking. This is a site about bike travelling isn't it ?
By the way, if you want to know what bikes I ever owned, look at my website. The list is to long for a signature.

I am interested what bikes other people ride so other people may want to know what bike(s) I ride.
I'm not interested in what kind of underwear the wear or if they have a skateboard or bicycle.
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  #11  
Old 7 Jul 2007
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here's a test!

Go into a pub in a dark alley in glasgow, late at night and try convince everyone thay they are english.
let me know your findings.
I am sure the same applies for Wales.
But seriously..
if it has its own flag...then count it. I even count Lesotho??
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  #12  
Old 7 Jul 2007
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Wink One nation, one flag

Thats a lot of politics coming out of the cupboards - right place for it here?! If so, here goes:-

Anyway, they are definitely all separate countries with their own national sports teams (Scotland even has a cricket team nowadays), flags, national days, specific emblems on the coinage and parliaments/assemblies (except the English who do not have their own); but when it comes to taxes, the biggest population have to subsidise the smaller nations.

The UK is something else: only time will tell!!

Dave
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  #13  
Old 7 Jul 2007
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It's adding up ....

Brilliant !

I've been doing some serious international traveling, and didn't know it!

Let's see .... Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, and North Carolina in the US and Stockholms län in Sweden. That's 7 flags or seven "countries"!

Actually, I'm only half joking. As everyone knows, most US states are large enough in land, population, and economy to be considered "nations". Of course, the culture doesn't vary that much, although the barbeque can ....

I figure we should just count "nations" as areas with fully autonomous governments. So, Taiwan counts, even though it's not a member of the U.N., but I'm not sure about South Ossetia or other areas that are "de facto" independent or in open revolt.
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  #14  
Old 7 Jul 2007
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in olimpics there is only Great Britain

in football, there are Englang, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

but if you move to biking, i think that

there is only two wheels and one world. it does not matter where you go, importing thing is to be gone!!!

cheers
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  #15  
Old 7 Jul 2007
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A country is not defined by whether or not it has it's own parliament, football team, flag or whatever. Did Poland cease to be a country in 1939?

A country is defined by it's people. If they say "we are a country" and believe it to be true, then they are a country.

Matt
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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Last edited by Matt Cartney; 7 Jul 2007 at 18:11.
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