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I would like to see about an organized group retreat, about once a year, which may or may not include travel outside of oklahoma, the continental states, and the US.

My general advice to would be travellers is to, the very moment foreign travel is considered, get a passport, if one is not already possessed. I have a couple years left on mine, and I plan to keep it current.

I have made the decision to make travel a constant part of my life, going on at least one trip at least once a year, every year that I can. I would be thrilled to have a companion to share this with, or to join someone else on their journey.

Paul Gilmore and I have tentative plans to visit china, though things continue to be delayed. I have a growing laundry list of places to visit while I'm young enough to enjoy them, some of which are quite adventurous and off the beaten path.

First order of business here, I suppose, is to decide if we (all of us that are interested) can all go on a retreat together, and then begin planning the wheres, whens, how longs, and how muchs of it.

i would like to go back to vegas sometime.

we could snort thael's ashes from a drunk hooker's ass...

i think he would like that.

Hookers asses not withstanding, I go to vegas about once a year (pimping yourself earns extra cash!) and as people know by my migratory return to OKC, I travel whenever I have the chance. I would be all for traveling.

Its been about 18 months since i went to Vegas, I could definitely do that again. As far as other travel goes, I'm really 50/50. There are some places I really would like to go. There are others I have absolutely 0 interest in. It would all depend on the destination.

I think also the specific activities planned or anticipated are important too. I want to go to Katmandu in Nepal specifically for a chance to see the goddess Kumari with my own eyes, and pay tribute, and for no other reason.

I have often entertained the notion of traveling abroad. However, such adventures always seem to come back to needing money, of which I have very little. The bottom line for me is that traveling is expensive. There is no really great way to travel and not spend at the minimum several hundred dollars (not to mention the time away from work). I know several of you don't have these same issues, but alas I am not so fortunate. So feel free to share any hidden wisdom pertaining to cheap travel you may have. It would be cool to go places, and see things.

So, putting the big kid's disney trip in motion. I have off in June (tentatively June 18-27) and will be going to vegas. I am thinking about going Thursday or Friday (18 or 19) and staying through monday (22) anymore time and it becomes difficult to wash grime off.

Prices for hotels range from about 45 for the on strip 3 star (I'll loan you my sleaze to english dictionary if you dont know what this means) and about 100-140 for 5 star.

I would also be up for non-vegas nevada (rafting, hiking, helicopter rides) if people are interested.

I'll be here in dominica at that time, diagnosing disease and writing prescriptions. (I'm not kidding, they let students write scripts here).

July 14-18 I should be at a conference in cleveland trying to look important and impressive with my poster based research presentation, if things work out.

Otherwise, vegas would be very tempting. The guy who promised to show me a good time in vegas died, but I still want to go. Haven't been since I was 14.

For other vacations: (Mind you I am plan oriented)

Next Fall: 1 week hike across yellowstone

Next year or so: China (there is a 3 week tour that includes airfare, extreme outdoorsing, and a 3 day cruise down the yangtze river for around 3k

And dammit I will go to the/a rainforest someday. I have been wanting to do so since i was 16 and still haven't managed.

(I go to vegas like every year, and live very close, if you ever want to go, just let me know, i even know some good nudie shows)

I would like to go to vegas. that said, I want more than 3 people for the trip. Also need to see what haley can get off.

my near future plans for a trip to china have been postponed, I want to go freestyle and wander around soaking up culture and attaining fluency. Gilmore is planning to go with me.


I'm very interested in going somewhere to do something to celebrate taking my Step exam, though the precise timing of that event is unknown. I would further like to go with some friends. While the usa has a lot of neat attractions, I generally try to plan trips outside the united states. I had been toying around with the idea of attending the World Medical Association conference in New Delhi next year, but the cost of that trip (airfare from OKC to New Delhi is upwards of 1600) is near prohibitive.

I have loved san juan for over a year now, and would like to return with more time than I usually do. The food is amazing, and its weather is good year round. However, I speak fairly good spanish, and non-spanish speakers would probably have a kafka-esque experience.

Vegas....is it's own little planet now, isn't it. A trip to vegas is certainly an entertaining prospect. I dislike gambling, but the shows are supposed to be good and vegas sports some amazing restaurants and other experiences that are difficult to match.

Jarrod and I have discussed, briefly, a trip to Berlin. Roundtrip airfare is in the 800 neighborhood, and hotel accomodations run the gamut from 40 to 200 per night. Jarrod and I speak german (he more than I) and are interested in germany, and it seems that the probable timing of that trip would exclude a number of potentially interested people on a financial basis.

I have a long list of 'must see' cities and countries, most of which are very expensive, many solely due to airfare costs.

So here's what I want to do. Lets put our heads and budgets together. Having gone to OCU and Ross, I now have an extensive network of friends from almost everywhere, so no matter out destination, I can get the inside line. I want to go somewhere with some of the lostknights, but I don't want anyone to bankrupt themselves if they go. So, the first question is, aside from the 85 dollars or so for your passport, if you don't have one, what is the budget for the trip? Second is probable times of availability. I don't have to take step until I'm ready, and I'm likely to push that time until perhaps as late as february, or later. I'll have definite time off afterwards.

Ideally, the trip would last about a week, require at most a passport but not a visa in advance, and would be loads of fun. I happen to like daring expeditions, but I don't have to go somewhere that has had war inside the cities within the last couple years. (Beirut is on my list).

OKC to san juan is about 400 or so, depending on times, and hotels run upwards of 80. My usual hotel is about 100 after taxes, per night, and includes breakfast. Condado Avenue, the street my hotel is on, features the restaurants at which I have had the best food in my life.

Toronto (aka T-Dot) is, by the admission of a number of my friends, an awesome city. I can't ballpark a plane ticket cost off of the top of my head for it, but with all the friends I have there I might get a good line on a cheap but good hotel, and people to show us around or at least tips on what to do.

Havana...hehehe, more spanish speaking places. A number of my friends here are cubano, and my research indicates that it's a really inspiring city with lots of amazing things to do...like visit the bar at which the Mojito was invented. This place offers me some cool stuff, but for most people it would just be a creepier version of san juan.

Guadeloupe, Martinique, Les Saintes
The french islands of the caribbean. I've been before, they're really nice, and have some awesome things, like a tourism company on martinique has a submarine. But now we're talking the 1000 plane ticket range and euros in the 100 range for accomodations, so the low budget north america neighborhood travel scheme is no longer in effect.

quick note, OKC to Beirut roundtrip is under a thousand, and staying there is cheaper than hell. Anyone thinking of an adventurous as hell vacation in the 1500 price range let me know, if I go by myself I might wind up in all kinds of trouble.

OKC to toronto is about 500

and...wtf...OKC to London is around 500...so...eurotrip is sounding better to anyone?

If nobody or too few people want to go overseas on a trip, or nobody can work the money, then I"d be fairly cool with vegas. Since I generally don't gamble and enjoy it, I'd be going for the shows. I more or less plan to explode after step, so maybe that's a good idea.

Anyway, Ideas anyone?

jason and steven and paul all have more money than me, so I am only talking for me.

I can't do air plane prices, especially international prices. It sucks, but that's just the way it is. Haley can't either. We make too little, and I'm not going to spend loan money on that when I need it to live on.

Also consider: flights in the continental U.S. are $300ish/person, while driving to most places is under $100... for me, this is a huge difference. Take Vegas for example... 16 hour drive, 4-5 people in the car, comes up to about $50/person after food. Compare to $250-$300/person on a plain and you only save 8 hours by flying. And I like road trips, b/c you get to hang out w/people. Finally, that $200 I just saved means I get to go see 2-3 shows while in Vegas.

Other places I would be willing to go: NYC, SanFran, someplace with a beach (Florida?), and... i'm sure there's something else, but I can't think of anything right now.

I am willing to go out of country, by flight even, if where we are going is super cheap. I know several resorts in Mexico are very low rates for excellent service. Lay on the beach, relax, eat good cheap mexican food... would be nice.

Anyway, sorry to be a downer. Those with money may want to plan things w/out me.