Conans Top 3 International Holiday Destinations

Travel exands your mind, your outlook and your opportunities, it can also cause a paradigm shift which can cause you to view life in a completely different way.

It builds tolerance and understanding between cultures and benefits those who come into contact with the other culture in many other personal ways, new friends, new recipres, interesting experiences, the list goes on.

Here are a few more of my thoughts and a list of countries that I have visited and still want to visit plus my top 3 International holiday destinations... 

Having been a bodybuilder (non-competing) all my adult life chicken and rice has been a major part of my life, now having travelled through Asia I am a very good cook of this previously very boring dish. I an also whip up a few other reasonable Thai recipes as well as some recipes particular to areas of Europe, like Slovakia for instance.

I now have friends I keep in contact with from around the globe - interesting people who do not have 9 to 5 jobs abd sit in an office all day. Just for an example here is a short list of some of my frineds occupations:

• Stuntmen
• Arms Dealer
• Jewelry Manufacturer
• European National Skiing and Snowboarding Champion
  
• World Champion Skydiver and Professional Abseiling
  
• Movie producers
• European National Body Fitness Champion
  
• Porn Webmasters
• International Catwalk Models
• Professional MMA fighters
• Ex-WWE Professional Wrestlers
• Computer Security Specialists
• Ski Instructor on hte French Alps
  
• Special Forces Soldiers
• Playboy and Penthouse magazine centerfolds
  
• International Property Developers

Just a small sample of the people I spend time with that I would never have met if I had stayed 'home' in Newcastle, Australia.  

On top of that I have seen how a large percentage of the world's population lives and can appreciate how well off the Western countries are - despite how much their inhabitants complain.

I have also felt the effects of blatant racism and the unintelligent hatred that accompanies it, I have had to stand up against it and prove to some individuals that though they may hate me more than I care about them they still have shut the F up and show me some respect as I am still capable of beating their asses black and blue. this gets very annoying when you are going to be abused (physically, verbally and financially) and walked over on a daily basis.

I also see how great a country Australia is and I really do appreciate how much work went into building it into the nation it is today, not  to mention the natural beauty and riches.

I also now have to option and capability to move to a new culture and a new location to find a place that better suits me and the lifestyle that I want. Why live in a place that makes you miserable. Find new people whos company you enjoy, find a religion that gives you freedom, leave an overtly oppressive "Big Brother'" government and find freedom in a lawless 3rd world nation where you are free as long as you leave those in power alone.

Become what you want.

I would never have been able to rocket my acting career like I have in Asia, there just is not enough work in Australia and many of the Sydney based agents have thier noses so far up their own backsides as to be appalling.

The personal experiences I have had in my travels and the difficulties I have had to overcome have been comical and laughable at times, dangerous and life threatening at others. But every day is an adventure, going down the road in the morning for milk for your breakfast can be a trial. 

Countries Conan Has Visited

1. Australia (bit hard to avoid this as I was born there)
2. New Zealand
3. Thailand
4. United States of America
5. India
   
6. France
7. Belgium
   
8. Netherlands
9. Spain
10. Hungary
11. Czech Republic
12. Poland
13. Lithuania
14. Latvia
15. Estonia
16. Slovakia
17. Austria
18. Malaysia
19. Laos
20. Cambodia
21. Myanmar (Burma)

Other Countries I Have Travelled Through

1. Singapore
2. Dubai
   
3. Germany
4. Hong Kong
5. China

Conans Top 3 Holiday Countries

• Cambodia - the place has an absolutely horrific history but the people are generally nice, the girls are excotic, and the ex-pat scene seems quiet small and friendly. I am looking forward to explore the country more in future, including the beach 'resort' of Sihanoukville and some of the outlaying towns whic still have bandit problems.
• Burma - the nicest people I have yet met in my travels, this place is going to explode once economic change (or political change) happens. I just hope the people can keep their culture and their disposition intact during this change.
  
• Lithuania - very friendly people, as in most of Eastern Europe, more so here. I had to verbally fight with local guys to buy my round of drinks on more than one occassion. I found the capital to be more like a country town - or as I explained to one friend it is like Hugh Hefner is having a casual dress party on every street corner.