What place(s) in the world that you've visited, has changed your life forever?

SSC forummers, I apologize for the botched thread title.

I would say Canada as a whole... growing up I used to fly out there every summer for up to a month to see family. I think all that travelling as a kid did two important things: it opened up an alternative point of view (or way of living) and gave me a real desire to explore the world. I also got used to 12-16 hour long-haul flights. :lol:

Venice, tasted my paradise.

Malaysia, tasted my freedom.

Switzerland, my walk-in screensaver.

Bangkok: where I picked up my addiction. Changed everything about my life.

Beirut...where i got interested in architecture after seeing the BCD (Beirut Central District) and Jounieh, Lebanon, the closest thing to Monte Carlo ive seen (pic below)

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/ss61/budkheir/Jouneh.jpg

New York City or Los Angeles. :D

Peru and Mexico!!

New York City, there I learned to appreciate skyscrapers. :cool:

And Berlin was probably where I spent the best days of my whole life, but I lived there for half a year, does it qualify as a destination?

New York City, there I learned to appreciate skyscrapers. :cool:

And Berlin was probably where I spent the best days of my whole life, but I lived there for half a year, does it qualify as a destination?

yes.

Melbourne define the word "livable city" for me.

New York changes my attitude about the West completely. I realized that Western city can be as much chaotic as Eastern city (like Hong Kong or Bangkok).

Probably Berlin. That was when I realized how good we have it in west Germany.

Probably Berlin. That was when I realized how good we have it in west Germany.

Ist Berlin dir so schlecht?

South Africa and its mind boggling diversity...

Maldives - it redefined the meaning of 'paradise on earth'

Varanasi: close contact with leprosy and death

I hope this one change your life as well :)

EAWeN9ITFgw

London: my first taste of metropolis, which became home

http://www.creativereview.co.uk/images/uploads/2007/10/london682007-374.jpg

Not in a very nice way - but... it was one year living in southern Sweden back in 1994.

Back then I was a youth who finally managed to escape former Soviet Union to "paradise on Earth" - developed West. But... countless illusions about developed Western society were broken - I learned how narrowminded and enclosed were people there and what is a feeling if I am treated on a daily basis as a second-class man (I was student at high school there) everywhere - in school, student parties (where Eastern European students simply were not invited), etc. At that time I took a decision - not to leave my home country anymore for living elsewhere.

^^ Wow I didn't know that even happened in Europe. But I think everyone from outside Western Europe knows that many people in those countries are like that... unfortunately. :(

Haven't had that "experience" yet in my life.

Israel and all its historical cities.

I hope this one change your life as well :)

EAWeN9ITFgw

You guys like it? :)

You guys like it? :)

I went to Dominican Republic in August, it's the best place I've ever been to!

Paris

Bangkok, Thailand

Though I was born in Bangkok, I've lived in Los Angeles since I was 5. ( 21 now )
Visiting Bangkok made me see that even though sometimes life may suck, I will always be better off than many people.

I've also learned that people can always find happiness in the little that they have.

I would say Venezuela, has changed my life for ever, I learned to be a better human and also I had the opportunity to visit beautiful places, beaches, jungles.

Saigon - tells me how post-war generations can simply forget the past and move forward.
Tokyo - tells me how money and modernity can't give you infinite happiness.
Singapore - tells me how human will never achieve what they think perfect.
Hong Kong - tells me that 'dream city' never exist in this world.
Bangkok - tells me people will do anything for their life
Manila - tells me how few people could destroy many
Jakarta - tells me humanity is way important than national pride

Hong Kong - my first trip in Asia, in a city that is now my home and the place where I found love
Varanasi - incredible contact with death, poverty, and yet spirituality and belief

Not in a very nice way - but... it was one year living in southern Sweden back in 1994.

Back then I was a youth who finally managed to escape former Soviet Union to "paradise on Earth" - developed West. But... countless illusions about developed Western society were broken - I learned how narrowminded and enclosed were people there and what is a feeling if I am treated on a daily basis as a second-class man (I was student at high school there) everywhere - in school, student parties (where Eastern European students simply were not invited), etc. At that time I took a decision - not to leave my home country anymore for living elsewhere.

I'm sorry to hear that. Where in Sweden did you live?

Ballarat, Australia. And not in a good way. There I learned the true meaning of ignorance. It's sad how some populations can be so self-absorbed and ignorant of what's happening in the outside world. :ohno: It made me appreciate Sweden (which seemed truly international in comparison) so much more. :banana:

And I have lived in China Town (aka Melbourne ;)) as well. And although people there weren't as bad they were still surprisingly ignorant of world affairs. Must be the island mentality. :dunno:

Ballarat, Australia. And not in a good way. There I learned the true meaning of ignorance. It's sad how some populations can be so self-absorbed and ignorant of what's happening in the outside world. :ohno: It made me appreciate Sweden (which seemed truly international in comparison) so much more. :banana:

And I have lived in China Town (aka Melbourne ;)) as well. And although people there weren't as bad they were still surprisingly ignorant of world affairs. Must be the island mentality. :dunno:

But doesn't it seem that people in rural areas tend to be a bit more ignorant than the people in cities in all countries around the world.

Aruba and UK...

Thailand in the 1st place, wanted to go there for ~8 years since I've seen The Beach and since then I'm addicted to Asia (been also in Malaysia and boring western Singapore), looking forward to go back there (Asia) for 1-2 years next year. Coming back from SEA was strange, everybody in buses here quiet, everywhere nobody talking with each other, everywhere typical western rude faces, soon I became one of them...

Most loved cities (can't decide which more) - Bangkok and KL

And after Thailand 2nd biggest impact was India, once again I was confirmed how good lives we live on west and how irellevant our "problems" are. I actually didn't like being there (too much chaos, dirt...), almost hated India, but will go there again, at least Pushkar and Goa are worth visit. :-)

EDIT: but 1st place which changed my life (years before TH) was just small unknown town in our country where I had to serve mandatory military service for 9 months (1st month had serious thinking about commiting suicide, watch Full Metal Jacket 1st half if you haven't been in army) - since then I appreciate freedom much more and can't stay in one place for more than 2 years

But doesn't it seem that people in rural areas tend to be a bit more ignorant than the people in cities in all countries around the world.
Sure. And Ballarat is a rural area. ;) You can take my comment as in insult to Australia if you will but the topic at hand is the location that changed your life and mine happened to be Australia. ;)

Sure. And Ballarat is a rural area. ;) You can take my comment as in insult to Australia if you will but the topic at hand is the location that changed your life and mine happened to be Australia. ;)

Fair enough. A single event can tarnish a whole experience.