I want to do something good next summer

Ripper

Ripper

Ripper

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With any luck on June 12th 2009 I'll have finished my PGCE and be a qualified teacher. This leaves me with over two months to kill before I start a job (if I manage to get one).

Recently I've been thinking that I havn't seen enough of the world, and I want to remedy this starting next summer. Money isn't an issue (within reason), I just want to go and see/do things i've never seen/done before. I've only ever been to Spain or the UK on holiday.

I'm recently single (this has spurred me on a little), and my friends all pretty much have relationships going on so I'd be lucky to get anyone to agree to do something extravagant, so I guess it'd need to be something active which doesn't involve me sitting about by myself preferably!

So, what can I do that will be enjoyable and a life experience? I'd love to go to Australia or somewhere like that, I'd even be happy to go and work somewhere for a while if it was enjoyable. I'd be looking at 2 weeks minimum, 4 weeks max I guess depending on what it was.

Any ideas guys? I'm useless with things like this as I don't know enough about the world.
 
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A mate of mine went to Germany on his own, said it was one of the best places he's ever been to, probably in terms of things to do and see. Iirc he went to see the old war camps, or maybe some holocaust related stuff....Can't remember exactly.

Not much more ideas though, unfortunately.
 
DO you drive? If so, a camping trip to the Nurburgring. Make it more exciting by buying a £500 sports car to do it in! Stop of at Spa on the way back.
 
Thats a good site Repta, cheers. Some interesting Australia options on there :)

I do drive yes, I wouldn't class a £500 sports car as exciting though :confused:
 
Ripper said:
Thats a good site Repta, cheers. Some interesting Australia options on there :)

I do drive yes, I wouldn't class a £500 sports car as exciting though :confused:
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you can get a mk1 mr2 or 205gti for about £500 but i suppose it depends what you consider exciting lol
 
Do Thailand please. I did it this summer along with Sumatra and Java, of Indonesia, and parts of Malaysia. With out a doubt the best experience of my life and can't wait to go back.

Also did my padi open water in indonesia at a cost of about 180 quid.

Go to thailand, it is without a doubt the most beautiful place I have been on earth, and you can live like a king for a relatively small amount of money.
 
Also i remember paying around, £1 a night to stay in the most beautiful places i've ever been to, in indonesia. Would wake up in the moring and go snorkelling, then have breakfast. Then go diving for the rest of the day.. bliss, no worries about aything. This is honestly the life.

some pictures to whet your appetite.

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swimming under that waterfall was one of the most refreshing things i have ever done. honestly out there you can really live the life, and forget about everything back home. Have the time of your life.
 
That looks beautiful! I guess I really need to take a gap year out and get to grips with the world before going back into education :p 2 more years of 6th form!
 
Thailand will also be full with 18 year old pre uni kids doing something befor they start uni in september. I would recomend cambodia and vietnam though, Thailand is just the playing fields for the publc school kids in the summer months.
 
I would strongly recommend Central America-I did Costa Rica and Panama on my gap year and they are stunning countries.

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Playa Cocles in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

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Volcan Arenal, Costa Rica

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Bocas del Toros, Panama
 
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You could do a tour through Thailand.... good thing is that if you fancy some company wherever you are there are likely to be a few other english speaking people. Especially in Bangkok..just rock up to a bar somewhere and make some friends. Bangkok is good for shopping, sightseeing (beautiful temples), soaking up the culture, nightlife. Its a fun place to be and when you go further south it really is beautiful.. depending on what you want though find out which areas are party towns (e.g. full moon party) or which areas are more relaxed. You probably dont want a bunch of students out of their heads on shrooms harassing you :P The south and the islands are gorgeous (think that film the beach that was filmed out there) and are good for diving, hiking and general watery associated shizzle. Alternatively, with your brand new shiny PGCE have you thought about teaching in africa? There are sites on the Internet that can connect you with villages that need teachers. I just googled teach in africa and got loads of results. That would be fulfilling and look good on your CV...then you would pop over to the nearby seychelles or Mauritius for some pampering, watersports and partytiiiiiiime ;)
 
whatleytom said:
Go to thailand, it is without a doubt the most beautiful place I have been on earth, and you can live like a king for a relatively small amount of money.
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This man speaketh the truth...

They also do a pretty good massage for £20 ;) ;)


You can't do Oz in less than 4 weeks IMO, there is just too much too see.

Definitely recommend a structured time away doing something like scuba diving though, great experience and a hobby to take home with you...
Not to mention it's probably the most awe inspiring place on the planet we, as humans, have yet to mess with too much... Underwater is where it's at... :D
 
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Ripper said:
Thats a good site Repta, cheers. Some interesting Australia options on there :)

I do drive yes, I wouldn't class a £500 sports car as exciting though :confused:
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Went around the 'ring and the local area in a mk1mr2 18 months back and unless you have serious motorsport experience, it was plenty exciting! Just seeing the stunning metal that parks up there and there are people who'll take you roubd for free in something truly trouser-filling.
 
Go scuba diving somewhere - it's totally amazing and pretty incomparable to basically anything else. I'd spend my entire life underwater if I could.

However, don't underestimate the amount of work you're going to have to be doing in the school and at home in preparation before you start teaching. My sister is in her NQT year at the moment and the amount of planning and things you need to be getting on with is insane.
 
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