Fear of flying to dangerous places
You’re cashed up and fancy free, but some destinations aren’t worth the risk
WHEN you have reached an age and stage in life where you can travel more than you did as a struggling youth, and even more than you did as parents of struggling youths, you are at a fortunate point in the grand scheme of things.
So it is a great pity that the number of places you can travel to safely is diminishing rapidly each week. It is an unfortunate truth of these globally dangerous times.
My travel mate (long-time husband) and I are at the stage now in our lives where we can pretty much go anywhere we like within reasonable budgetary restraints.
We have never been fearless or overly adventurous travellers, preferring to stick to paths well-trodden.
However, there are places on our bucket list we would love to visit before our bones become too creaky to lift bags off carousels or our collective patience can no longer deal with the ever-increasing frustrations at airports, not to mention the irritating problem of our expanding bulks sitting for 20-plus hours in seats designed for supple limbs.
Our small research has revealed many places we would not dare to visit now, more is the pity, as we would love to return to Turkey or take cautious steps into Jordan, and while North Korea fascinates us in a “have-to-look-train-wreck’’ way, we would be terrified to even touch foot in that mysterious country.
However, on the bright side, our research has also shown other places that are considered safe for the likes of us … and you.
Iceland is one. According to our research, there is not much chance of an ugly uprising or messy coup there and the people are peace-loving and welcoming. However, polar bears are finding their way there and could take the opportunity to eat you. But only if they are hungry and you are foolish. (Apparently, a polar bear will eat you while you are still alive, and I pass on this gruesome but useful information to you in the spirit of one careful traveller to another.)
New Zealand is another safe place to visit. I doubt the locals will rise up dangerously there either. And there is no denying its extreme beauty and pleasing wines. But is New Zealand far away enough for us to feel overseas satisfaction? Is its culture too much like home for us to feel as though we have been on a grand adventure?
Mongolia is said to be very safe with a low crime rate, welcoming locals and fresh new adventures for most of us – if only we were certain where it was.
Bhutan seems to be flavour du jour and well worth consideration as it is highly rated on the Gross National Happiness scale. Peaceful people, extraordinary beauty, political stability and the mighty Himalayas looking down at you. Worth researching further.
But when it all boils down, practicality will rule and common sense will resolve all travel dilemmas for most of us.
For now, it is enough for me and my travel mate to consider just the places we love and love to return to: France, Spain, Greece, Italy.
And what a coincidence it is that we will be making our way to these places as this amusing little travel column goes to print.
There are villages, towns, regions, beaches, restaurants, cafes, cultural sites and foods we have yet to experience in these countries. There are new people to meet, trains to board, rivers to swim, bridges to cross. Enough adventure surely for a couple of oldies who may one day venture to Mongolia when they have studied the atlas.
Many new escapades await. I will let you know all about them over the coming weeks.