this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2024
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Consider me a weeb but I like Japan, it has some truly beautiful nature and cuisines to try across the country.

Yes, there is a bit of that anime or gaming side to it, they've birthed many favourite nostalgic franchises of mine like Crash Bandicoot or Pokemon.

I also really like their architecture with their traditional houses and castles, the whole thing just seems really peaceful and tranquil given it it is a "quiet and polite" country.

Their country might be set in their ways but that is what I think makes the country special, keeping its traditions, beliefs and culture for many, many years.

My bro likes Spain because of their food and hot sunny weather 😎

What about you? What country do you like and why?

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[–] [email protected] 35 points 2 months ago (2 children)

antarctica:

  • no bad politics
  • no wars so far
  • people there are mainly interested in science
  • no economic abuse or exploitation
  • pinguins!
  • no air conditioning needed to survive the summer.
  • winter is offline time, visitors won't arrive or leave then.
  • last place to stay cool during boomers heritage "heat death of our planet"

well sure, it has downsides too. Next Rollercoaster park is -tbh- unreachable, internet connection is sloo.oo..oow (or did they already finish the submarine fibre cable?) and sunbathing basically only brings you frost bites (if you're lucky).

However i am not planning to migrate there.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago
[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

You beat me to it

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Call me chauvinistic but France is absolutely special in many ways. The diversity of landscapes for a country this size is absolutely mad, not even considering the Outre Mer. The history is insanely rich, the culture is definitely worthwhile, and I'm not even talking about the food and its sheer diversity.

The problem is us, Frenchies, we've definitely lost our spark and are getting propaganded to hell. It's a very sad state of affairs.

Less chauvinistically, I really like Norway and the Nordics in general.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Exact same, holy shit are we lucky to be here. I can't see anything that could make me go live elsewhere honestly.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Netherlands seems to have it's head screwed on

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago

Just as many crazies. Just a different political system that doesn't give them power.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If it wasn't for the shitty European weather I'd be seriously considering moving there, tbh. Have become fully orange-pilled over the last few years.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

Honestly I quite like it here. It's obviously not perfect but when I compare it to other countries we do rather well.

Honestly my biggest complaint is that it's so full. I recently visited Norway and the vast forests and just untamed nature is gorgeous and the air quality is great. But then again nothing is really far away in the Netherlands so ups and downs.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)
[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I haven't seen much of the world yet. My dad was set on Germany and later Austria for holiday destinations. When I started going myself I visited Spain, Switzerland, Italy and Portugal. I've also been to Budapest (Hungary), Prague (Czech) and Krákow (Poland). I've been to England a couple of times because of family.

But lately I've been to Portugal a couple of times. I like the Portuguese people, the food, the wine, the environment in general, the ocean... I've taken to learning the language as well.

I prefer southern Europe because a) it's Europe so still familiar but the climate is better, as are the views. But there is still so much to see...

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Portuguese wine is no fucking joke - the home of both vinho verte and port along with excellent standard table wines.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

The Italians don't do a shabby job either. By and large I prefer wine south of France.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Sou brasileiro, e apoio muito o estudo do português. É uma língua rica, complexa e linda. Para mim, não há obras literárias iguais aos clássicos brasileiros e portugueses, especialmente quanto ao belíssimo uso da língua portuguesa.

Amo Machado de Assis e recomendo muito as suas obras que, além de mostrarem a beleza do português, continuam intrigantes e divertidas. Também recomendo as obras de Fernando Pessoa, caso opte por um escritor português.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Obrigado para as recomendancões! Eu tenho tentar de entender sua resposta sem tradução. Minha Português não já é muito bem, mas eu tento.

A lingua está muita linda é eu vou continuar de a estudar!

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago

Just vacationed in Belize. Tiny place near Guatemala and Mexico on the Caribbean. It's the only English speaking country in South America; founded by English pirates who wanted to steal Spanish gold. Great food, friendly people, and interesting history.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I'm from Sweden so I'm biased, but I cherish the leadership style in Swedish companies and it's an important part of why I want to stay here. Honesty is valued, you don't get punished for telling the boss like it is. The CEO doesn't act like they're better than you, and if you have opinions you can talk to them directly. I earn more than my boss because I'm more valued in the job market, and he's fine with that. The net effect is that leadership won't go around living in a fairytale and be surprised when a high stakes project fails. Risks are known and can be mitigated early on, and people feel empowered. I haven't seen this in any other country except maybe Norway to some extent.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

Fucking love Mexico. I'm not Mexican, but do speak Spanish... Hot dang it's a parade down the street literally every day, everyone is super out-of-their-way friendly, and the things they make are amazing: furniture, glass, textiles.

I would love to live there but the cartel violence is terrifying, as is the lack of water. Also... They don't want me!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

Scotland, hands down. I feel so lucky to be living here. I was only going to stay three years & then go back to New Zealand and settle down. Thirty-five years later I'm still here. I fell in love with the hills - and the freedom to walk on them - the lochs, the ancient ruins. But most of all I fell in love with the people. Their craic, their warmth and craziness, their generosity, their music. I love that you can talk to anyone and you'll often hear an amazing life story.

I love things like this: https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/anti-deportations-group-issues-guide-24107754

I love the cultural richness that's come from successive waves of immigration, from Italy, India & Pakistan, China, Poland and more.

I love the food. I love haggis and Arbroath smokies and Aberdeen butteries and shortbread and oatcakes and Tunnocks caramel wafers.

And least I forget, yes, I love the weather.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

It entirely depends on the context.

The simple answer is that my favorite country is where my employment and loved ones are, the USA.

For travel, Probably Spain. I've always felt that the mix of relaxation and adventure is perfect there. I've always loved southern Chile, but it's a bit too rural to feel entirely comfortable. There's always this awareness of how much trouble I'd be in if I screwed anything up.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Italy. The people, the style, the food, the scenery, the architecture the art, the music, the history, the culture, the language.

I'm British so descended from a large mix, but a significant part is Italian. I've been a few times and find it so wonderful it's almost overwhelming.

It's no doubt a romanticised view that a few years living there would surely dampen. Maybe I'll get to find out.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

have you ever worked for a japanese company? i don't think you can know a country simply by visiting it.

my impressions of vietnam at 1 year and at 5 years with a family and a business are completely different.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

It depends, each country has something to offer. I really like to go somewhere where you just don't expect something/you have completely wrong picture about it. Just nice surprise every time you travel there. Also for travel it has to have the "I want to go there" factor, when I say to someone that USA is for me no go country because of this they usually don't understand.

I would like to travel across the Europe, each country is interesting, even Russia (but visit Russia before Russia visits you and I just don't want to go there now).

From Asia there are few interesting countries, Taiwan and South Korea.

On Africa I just don't know, certainly I would like to go to Morocco, but some other countries there are on the list.

Australia and New Zealand are also high on the "I want to go there" index.

America's - Canada, Mexico and Argentina

For living I just don't know.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Azerbaijan

I don't know anything about the country. I just like to say the name.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

I'm the same way with Kazakhstan and Saskatchewan

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

New Zealand. The wife & I spent 3 weeks there earlier this year. The people were all very friendly, and the range of things to do & see is just amazing if you’re into the outdoors at all.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Probably Iceland. No one bothers them and they don't bother anyone. Doesn't get hot, fjords and geysers to look at, puffins, bubble hotels, cool metal scene.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

I second Iceland. Every time we've gone through or visited, though, the volcano near grindavik gifted us with a solo and a light show.

Like, it's cool to be appreciated, but I wanna try out that posh blue spa thing. I've saved my money!

The people seem happy; even the cab drivers. Everywhere we went people seemed to be happy and helpful and nice. Either they all have their tourist game tight or they're really just great people.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Don't mean to be a dick but Crash Bandicoot was created and developed by Naughty Dog, a US company. It was published by Sony for the first several years, though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Probably the UK, mainly due to the history. You've got archaeology going back to the bronze age and before, well-preserved ruins from throughout the medieval era, and a very well-documented pre-modern history record.

They had a fairly unique path through global history, from the darkness of the colonial and imperial era, to being the bastion against Napoleon and then European fascism, to the seat of the voluntary and cooperative Commonwealth nations today. They're one of the best examples of just how much a society can evolve, and are still one of a handful of European nations where the far right is struggling the most to gain a foothold. I admire that greatly.

Oh, and I never did quite grow out of my longbows-are-cool phase. And ships. Ships are cool too. And British humour is entertaining. And they like to insert a random letter U here and there for no discernable reason.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Just because you said medieval ruins, I'm much more impressed with the medieval buildings that aren't ruins. Definitely worth looking into some of these less well know places if you ever plan a trip, or just want to look up some cool pictures.

For US people, the thing thats most impressive, is that all of these were built before Christopher Columbus even started his voyage to the americas in 1492.

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, Nottingham - Established around 1189, makes it approximately 835 years old. The pub is partially built into the sandstone caves beneath Nottingham Castle. Still a great looking and fully functioning pub today, I want to go there.

Anne Hathaways Cottage, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire - Dates back to about 1463, which makes it around 560 years old. A very British medieval farmhouse and the childhood home of William Shakespeare's wife.

Stokesay Castle, Shropshire - Was built in the late 13th century, around 1291, which makes it over 730 years old. It's one of the best preserved fortified manor houses in England.

Monnow Bridge, Monmouth, Wales - Was built in the late 13th century, around 1272-1297, making it about 725 years old. It’s the only remaining fortified river bridge in Britain with its gate tower intact.

St. Ives Bridge, Cambridgeshire - Built in the 1400s, making it around 600 years old. The bridge has a full chapel in the middle.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

None. Norway might be close but they still participate in whaling and their Nordic model is not as social anymore as it used to be, I've heard. Which is a shame, as I think more countries would benefit greatly from a Nordic model as a stepping block to a freer and more peaceful world.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

I'm an urban type of person so I'm a fan of megacities where everything you need is a short walk/ride/drive away. For Asia, it would be Singapore and Japan. I haven't been around Europe much, but I loved Czechia. I haven't been to the Scandinavian countries so I can't say, but they are definitely interesting to me from an outsider's perspective.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Japan. practically everything I really enjoy comes from there.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

I think in the spirit of things I will answer with my favourite country that I do not have any connection to and have never visited: Finland. Finns seem to just go hard at everything. The music that comes out of their country is awesome. Their motorsports culture feels like they actually figured out how to prioritise fun over everything else. The language inspired Tolkien's elvish. Sahti is delicious. The pizza Berlusconi is hilarious, and as a haggis-loving Scot the idea of making a derided local cuisine into high-class excellence out of spite appeals to me. Somehow Finland maintained an incredibly unique culture despite being the battleground of two bigger neighbours for 700 years, and I am so glad that we all get to enjoy the things that they bring to the world

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Top of the list of countries that I haven't been to and just admire from afar: Peru. Now I'm sure someone is going to come in here and ruin it for me.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

I like Germany. I've never been and never a German but I really admire their architecture, design and culture towards building and design. They have so many cool festivals with music and food. I'm also jealous that Europeans can just scoot over to other countries so easily.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Controversial take.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago

Ive been a fan of australia for a long time despite mad maxand dundees attempts to change it

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago

China, it's pretty much the only country where meaningful progress is happening right now.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 months ago

New Zealand, it has all the good and none of the bad. Never been there but have lived in areas responsible for giving me its accent.