Originally Posted by
rankourabu
I'd like to think I've been to some exotic places.
If you only stay at the hotel, and never leave the grounds (a guided coach excursion doesnt count), does it matter where you are?, whether it be Maldives or Florida.
I like to think of exotic as far off without many tourists. Maldives. Fiji, Bali, etc I did not find exotic at all.
New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Paraguay, Turkmenistan, Iran - a bit more exotic to me.
Myanmar used to be "exotic" - now its "trendy"
I agree with your observations. We went to myanmar 10 years ago when it was exotic eg different because there was no Starbucks McDonald's or chain hotels. I want to see and experience something different than I can at home. Thats harder to do as brands have become ubiquitous. I enjoyed monasteries in Tibet and yunnan province, phnom penh, the drive from Cochin to Madurai in southern India stopping for an overnight in the tea plantations of munnar. Observing the local way of life and activities that haven't changed for generations is exotic compared to home.