Destination Sections?

[bonniejoy03]

What is your opinion on the destination sections on LL? I tend to like to use it but do not see much activity. Any other feedback?

[kyshel]

Hi, Bonnie.
I frequently use the Asia and Africa pages and have started spending more time perusing the South/Central America, looking for new properties. I tend to ignore the ones I don't plan on visiting in the near future, but that won't help me if a mystery auction comes up and I can't identify the location! If you're referring just to the discussion boards, I think new people see old info and wonder if anyone will answer their questions or will others see their opinion? Maybe the new member betsyv might not have gotten advice or bought so many LL pkgs if she hadn't posted in the general Q/A section? She originally posted on the Africa board.
(Your question got more interesting as I responded.)
Maybe something that cites new info/posts--like a teaser.Doesn't have to dramatic, like "desperately seeking safari help" or a flasher with "ck Africa boards" or [I don't know what else].
Goodness knows, the garbage junk ads that are still in the community boards should be removed and cleared out--so obnoxious, yes? They stand out like a sore thumb all by themselves!

Message Edited by kyshel on 08-07-2008 07:56 AM

[omegaet]

bonniejoy03 and kyshel...we like using the Destination sections and have exchanged a number of messages and PMs with individuals who have specific questions (concerning areas or properties with which we are familiar or have some experience or interests).



Unfortunately, this section may be an under utilized resource, as and many of the posting aresomewhat outdated.



If there isregion in which we have no interest or no experience, we just stay out of it. In that respect, we feel like we save time when we visit the community.

[bonniejoy03]

Hi K and Hi O. I was specifically talking about the activity on the Destinations boards. Doesn't seem like a lot of feedback. I have posted and never heard back under some discussions. I have also looked at others postings and don't see any activity or extremely little activity. Just hoping that this area is utilized. I personally like to review this section or post questions.

[Mountie]

I seldom visit the Destination boards mainly because there is so little activity.

[travel2fun]

OK, mountie, you qualify for another opportunity to answer the question. Do you supposed everyone else is suffering from the same mentality? Apparently almost everyone else doesn't visit the Destination boards or at least do many posts and therefore, there is little activity!

[obrienkf]

Dear BonnieJoy03



i frequently look at the destinations sections (italy, africa and asia / pacific, as i am now based in the pacific, and travel frequently to South Pacific Islands for work and play).



I agree that they appear 'tired' from time to time. There was lots of activity a year or two ago, and many of the old threads are full of good info and thots from contributors. And yes, sometimes I take time to respond to a question, and the originator does not reply to even 'acknowlegde' the feedback, but that doesnt bother me.



with my own hectic travel schedule, i am often 'off line' , and as a result the destination pages are valuable for me ... new members of the community often post destination specific questions to the general pages, and most of us seem to redirect them to the destinations pages, where that subject was covered extensively.



its a web community....and therefore like herding cats. and it has one time or infrequent visitors, who post for a quick response, and it seems that we all respond to those questions, no matter where they are posted.



kind regards... (next trip is to Papua New Guinea in September ... i dont know if there is much interest in that location... it is very much off the beaten track)

[bonniejoy03]

H OBr! Thanks for the insight. I do view the destination sections but feel so lonely out there. I haven't seen a lot of activity. Didn't know if there was a better solution. Was also wondering if new LL users know about this valuable piece of the community.



Lucky for you going to Papua...business or pleasure? How are your connections to get there? What ideas do you have for your visit? I don't know too much about the area but I bet it will be wonderful. I am heading to Virgin Gorda at the end of the month...WEO!

[obrienkf]

BonnieJoy03



For me, travel is always a mix of business and pleasure if i can arrange it.PNG is relatively simple to get to, a direct flight fm Brisbane, Australia on a Qantas affiliate (Air NuiGuini), to Pt Moresby. Daily. It is a malaria zone, has lots of local challenges, can be an expensive place to visit, typical of developing world, occasional outbreak of highliand violence / tribal disagreement, also typical of developing world, some risks in terms of local random violence in the capital, but that is something that is not unique to developing countries... as we all know, many first world capitals have 'very difficult' moments of violence too if you go where you should not go.



I am hoping to find the time and opportunity to dive on the North East side of the country (in the Madang area), as the reefs are exotic and pristine, and full of WWII momentos --- am struggling with organizing that now, as the email to and from the dive centre is an on again / off again experience, but it will work out fine in the end.If i had the time, and I likely do not, I would enjoy a multi day river ride (small canoes) down or up the Sepik River. Vast regions are still undisturbed by the MP3 and other advances of modern technology, which makes these travels attractive to me.Maybe next time ...



as for the destinations sections on LL... sometimes there is not much activity as there is not much interest... the Australia / Oceania destinations page is pretty grim in terms of activity. it is just not the destination that draws attention. I do look at it regularly though, incase someone has posted a question, and I could help them out.



enjoy your upcoming vacation. if i can figure out how to 'clip' photos onto LL, i will try to do a little blog on PNG when I return ...(of course that is dependent on me taking some quality photos, which is a stretch at the best of times)



kind regards

[bonniejoy03]

Happy travels to you. I can direct you how to post photos when you return. You will have to use another photo place like www.photobucket.comto put your photos and then you take them from there to LL. Not hard.



Have a great time diving!