John Debbins is Alive

John Debbins is Alive
Lome, Togo West Africa
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Andy of HoboTraveler.com

A good man is safe after a plane crash in Malawi over the weekend. I have mentioned or referred to John in newsletters. I hope all is good.

I do hope I have the correct photo, I have not seen John in about 5-6 years, I met him shortly in Brazil, a person your remember, a unique and happy person He is from the USA, who at the time worked teaching English in Paraguay, and has written emails occasionally every since, Andrea Debbins, his sister wrote me:

QUOTE:

Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2007 11:37 AM

Subject: john debbins is alive and okay

Johnny called this morning to say he is okay.

The plane owned by the Nyika Safari company crashed on friday June 15th, 2007. The pilot, Christian, and 5 british tourists were killed in the crash. Christian is a good friend of Johnny's. Johnny called this morning to say he is okay but initial news reports he is the pilot because the Nyika Safari website has not been updated and lists him as the pilot.

Please spread the news that Johnny is okay and please pray for Christian and the other tourists.

If you google Nyika and John Debbins you can see the news reports.

Johnny and Lotte are going to the Netherlands this friday. I told him to call us when he arrives.

STOP QUOTE
QUOTE:
The names of the five British tourists killed in a plane crash in Malawi over the weekend were released yesterday as reports indicated they belonged to a larger group of sporting fans who were holidaying in the region.

The six-seater Cessna took off from the capital Lilongwe early Saturday afternoon and headed towards the Nkiya National Park in the north of the country but crashed shortly after 2pm. An investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched but early indications suggest bad weather may have been to blame.
STOP QUOTE
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/africa/article2675730.ece

I do not know, however small planes seem more dangerous than the larger passenger jets.

John Debbins is Alive

Low Cost Carriers

Low Cost Carriers
Atakpame, Togo West Africa
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
by Andy of HoboTraveler.com

LCC - Cheapest Tickets on the Internet, maybe I have a search tool.

Low Cost Carriers or the LCC are a windfall for me and the world of travelers, or a curse if used wrong.

A LCC is a cheap airplane fare, not sold by a travel Agent, normally only sold on the internet, and purchased online using a Credit Card or Debit Card to pay, then you are issued an E-ticket.

The Tickets sold by Travel Agent are more expensive, however can sell combination and other constructed tickets easier. Plus you get advice on Visas, etc, and told many fun lies.

What would be nice is to search for LCC Low Cost Carriers from one city to another. I do not know how, presently go to this page of Wiki and find the country, and then spend a lot of time clicking.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_low-cost_airlines

Maybe this works, not sure yet, this needs a Beta Check by the Hobos.

Some person Rudy, profile on Blogger.com now shown, posted and off topic comment, then did not make a functional link, so I refused. However, the idea is novel and if it is true, is a great idea.

Search for a LCC from one city, then find where they fly?
http://www.momondo.com/City.aspx

http://www.momondo.com

I think it works, just did Bangkok, and all seem a go, a great tool. Craig of Travelvice.com in Bangkok now, could figure out how to escape Bangkok cheaper.
http://www.travelvice.com

Africa is dominated by expensive carriers, and seems to have a lock on the idea of making Air Tickets expensive; however, Europe and Asia are perfect places for LCC Flights.

WARNING: Check the weight, I purchased a ticket with Ryanair.com for 4 pounds in the UK, and ended up paying 120 pound because of all the extra weight and other problems. Also, include the cost of getting to the LCC airport, the cost of a train from central London to Stansted was 15 pound.

The LCC will get you on the weight of your bags.

The link to the left should explain how to make a link function or clickable.

Low Cost Carriers, Airplane, Airfares, LCC, Togo,

Low Cost Carriers

McFlight.de

McFlight.de
Pokhara, Nepal Asia
February 4, 2007

Airfare Booking Site
(Note, I have never purchased a ticket on this site, but I use all the time.)

I am again trying to get a complete thought, I have just stumbled time after time on the idea of what is the Top Travel Sites of 2006 in the English language, and now I have added for Travelers, not Tourist

I am working on criteria, but I will get this done this week.

Ok, McFlight.de is a German site, however also in English, you can buy a ticket and Airplane ticket in English. However, you need to click on the small English link.



One of my criteria is easy to remember, and McFlight.de is easy, the de on the end stands for Deutschland the real name of Germany, in the German Language, I have no idea how or why they change names.

I want a guide, I want to know more or less, what a good price to pay for a plane ticket is, and then I can either buy from an agent, or hopefully go directly to the site recommended.

It is amazing the extreme difference between McFlight.de and the normal run of the mill USA search for plane tickets sites. One very large difference is you have two choices, you can search for available tickets or seats available, or you can search for just what prices are available.

Therefore, you need to learn both ways, what is available, and which flights have seats. I then do a search on the air carrier and try to buy direct online.

Example:
This is real; I want to buy a one-way air ticket from Delhi, India to Accra, Ghana on February 27, 2007. Note, a one-way ticket for half the price of a normal ticket is normally available anywhere in the world and the travel agents lie.

I did all these searches on the same day, and from Nepal, sometimes airlines block ticket purchases from some countries…!

I want to know two things, what are possible good prices and then second if a ticket is available. A ticket possible, and I can get on a waiting list, however the normal site does not tell you this, they only tell the high priced available, not what price is possible.



Travelocity.com Nothing


Cheaptickets.com Nothing



Orbitz.com Nothing



Kayak.com HAS, very good, however for 1338 US dollars, nice they gave in dollars. A good site, maybe ok in the USA.
Kayak.com - I gave the link because maybe a contender in ways.



Mcflight.de, about 500 Euros or 750 US dollars.



Ok, now the available seats are with Ethiopia Airlines, I could book, however I do not. I go to Ethiopia direct and see what is up.

I find in the end, I can fly with Ethiopia Airlines from Mumbai to Accra for about 450 US Dollars. Ethiopia Airlines.
Flyethiopian.com

I find I can use a Low Cost Carrier from Delhi to Mumbai for about 59 dollars.
Goindigo.in

I find I could have flown with an Agent Ticket from Chicago to Accra for 750 US dollars.
(If you know the good price, then an Agent purchased ticket is better, they will warn you hopefully about Visas, need of onward tickets, military coups and other fun things, we HOPE.)

I am getting a ticket for around 550 US, could have purchased on Mcflight.de for about 750 US, but need to check many times, as seats come available.

However, I like Mcflight, it give me a fair and target price to pay. I can then go to a travel agent, or online and keep trying. It is a great site; however, E Tickets are not always possible.

It does not search the Low Cost Carriers.

I use it all the time, and is in my Top Ten Sites of 2006, what position I am not sure. I am sort of dwelling on what is necessary. Is knowing about the location with Wikipedia.org more important, than buying a plane ticket?

To choose this site, I had to overcome my prejudices, thinking it is in German first, and not mainstream, and second how I use is complicated. I am saying to myself too difficult and the normal public is not smart enough. However, when it comes to the bottom line, I use this site, and forget what I think, the - What I use - test is more important than what I think or feel, or prejudge.

I try to post all my idea on this page:
Around The World Airfares

McFlight.de

Bangkok Airport Greenhouse and Sauna

Bangkok Airport Greenhouse and Sauna
Bangkok Thailand, Southeast Asia, Bangkok Airport
January 5, 2007

I am presently in the Bangkok Airport, my Royal Nepal flight from Bangkok to Kathmandu, Nepal has been delayed for two hours.

Therefore, I appears to get to enjoy fours hours total of the Bangkok Sauna. For some reason the Thailand Bangkok Airport people have built this new greenhouse and sauna here in the tropics. It is the perfect design for a greenhouse, the sun seems to enter, and the interior heats up to supply all the travelers with a communal sauna.



This is the Mouse Trap area, you enter down the steps and enter your gate area, and there is nothing to do, but to stare at steal walls and the sides of the sauna. The former airport allowed you to buy food, watch tv, and to move about freely. This Airport seems to be designed by one of the lady boys on Khao San Road, or one of the girls in tow in the Sukhumvit area, with a way too old of man.


Levels, multiple levels, there are three levels, I was laughing as the people that retrieve cars were trying to push them up one of the inclines, I said,
- Great airport design! -
So make the fat tourist go up and down in the mouse trap, various levels does not make an airport good.


Stark, white, and who can hide from the Sun, in this airport I went to the Dairy Queen to have a Blizzard, and get into the shade, avoid getting a tan while waiting for a plane.... hmm, maybe I should just go lay out.

Note, stark white tile, does not make for a warm and cuddly world. There does not seem to be any tv stations in English, I tried them all, a couple of blue screen, that could be the holders...hehehe

Bangkok Airport Greenhouse and Sauna

Koh Pha Ngan to Bangkok Flight

Koh Pha Ngan to Bangkok Flight

2400 Baht from Koh Samu to Bangkok Thailand
300 Baht Airport Fee
150 Baht for Boat from Koh Pha Ngan to Samui
50 Baht for Taxi Truck from Samui Dock to Airport

I am flying with Bangkok Airlines.
http://www.bangkokair.com

I could have gotten an AirAsia.com from Suratani to Bangkok for about 1500 Baht, then paid about 650 for boat, but the boat is 4 hours and I got motion sick 5 times on the boat coming here because the wave are big now, for some reason...
http://www.airasia.com/

I suppose a saving of about 1000 baht or more.

The bus trip from Khao San Road Bangkok all the way to Koh Pha Ngan Island complete with boat was 450 Baht one-way. It took from 5;45 PM in the afternoon to almost noon the next day to get to the island, you can get cheap.

I am leaving from Samui at about 10:00 at night and got my first reservation ever in Thailand, because it is Christmas and I am hope it works. Note, I did not have to use a credit card or anything to reserve the room, go figure, I am going to show up, but I know travelers, they jsut do not care, they will stiff the hotel. I arrive at 12 midnight, no way to rent the room after that time, unless to a lady boy and guest.

Koh Pha Ngan to Bangkok Flight

Hotwire.com Newsletter Problem

Hotwire.com Newsletter Problem

I have been subscribed to a newsletter by Hotwire.com for years, I never read it, decided to un-subscribe in my big push to clean my inbox of unwanted emails.

I do this very complicated un-subscribe thing and it says,

This is the idea, however not correct words, but close...
Our TOS - Terms of Service or the privacy policy has given us the right to continue to send you emails and advertisements.

I could not believe a big company would do this.

NOW, I need to click them now as a SPAM or Spammer when I receive spam from them.

This too complicated to believe un-subscribe stuff is annoying, there are many big companies that have no ethics whatsoever.

I go around and around with my techie on the need to have an easy un-subscribe, there is a problem with one-click types as some people accidentally click and ooops, however it should be easy, not hard to un-subscribe.

I will not do business with companies like this, it is annoying to think. Well, I never did, hotwire.com is like expedia, not good deals.

Hotwire.com Newsletter Problem

Fake Onward Tickets

Fake Onward Tickets

Many countries require an onward ticket to enter, I was just nicked in the Singapore Airport when flying to the Philippines. This is a requirement for visas, entry, etc, and I think a windfall of profits for a travel agent.

There are many reasons to require and onward ticket and none are very good.

1. Force you to buy a ticket from that company on the spot.
2. Keep out the trash... hehehe
3. Help a travel agent to make more money.

I probably could go on and on, however the new system that has evolved is to fake tickets, with the invention of the e-ticket it has become easier.

Many travel agents will assist... if you travel agent does not know how to do so, they are either stupid or dishonest. They should say, I know how to, but I will not do so, it they do not know how to do so, then for sure you need a better agent.

There are these small pouches that travel agents put their tickets inside of, it you snag a few of them, you can make a good fake ticket.

I do not like to encourage people to fake tickets, nonetheless the reasons to have an onward ticket are pretty bad, I feel in many ways the travel agents have conspired for this idea.

Note congratulations Craig with Travelvice.com
I did a search in Google.com and your post was number one, the first time I have connected with your site on number one. I searched for,

Fake "onward ticket"

http://travelvice.com/archive/2006/03/faux-onward-tickets.php

Fake Onward Tickets

Wood Architecture of Philippines

Wood Architecture of Philippines
Tupi Philippines Southeast Asia
Sunday, December 10, 2006

The neighborhoods here are laid out in quadrants, blocks, and very organized. There are older wood building scattered around the area, mostly along the river or streams.



This building has a protruding top area, which is covered by bamboo slats; the building is made of wood. 90 percent or more of the building in this area are of concrete or concrete block with a splattering of cement on the block to make smooth.

The bottom has a beveled area and protrudes out.

The bamboo slat are not for mosquitoes, I wonder if for animals, or why, it is a window, yet not able to open, or I cannot see how. Many times a window is opened and people will hang clothes outside, however not here.

Wood Architecture of Philippines

Carry On Rules

Carry On Rules



I have been trying to learn what is ok and what is not ok to carry-on an airplane, I have seen everything carried onto the plane from Golf Clubs to extremely large bags. There is this this tube boxy thingy that is

22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches more or less, depending on the airlines, however that is a good standard.

However, I believe less than half the bags would fit, however if they got the trolley look, like this captain they will be allowed, or overlooked. This is a little ridiculous; however, we must follow his lead. IF you have a lot of small what appear to be personal bags, similar to a Computer bag, you can carry many.

I think if you are an executive, you can carry more.

Golf Clubs get a life, yes, sometimes

What you have to do is hide the bag, and just carry them one, you got about an 80 percent chance of getting on the plane with zero problems.

I put my light stuff in the 18x22x9 inch backpack I made, and pull out the computer bag, which is loaded with rocks, figuratively speaking, my heaviest thingies, note a computer bag will usually fly.



I purchased a 12X zoom Sony Camera and was testing it on this bum, can I get close enough to take his photo however not be seen. YES, more or less, this is a bad photo, and now I am working on positioning and light.

In the Center of Bogotá Colombia, a Colombian Bum.



Micro Financing.
This girl is from the Netherlands and is working on her own made project to extend Micro financing to people who want to start businesses in Colombia.

A big APPLAUDS!

This is probably as best I can decide today, maybe not next week, however for today, the best way to save the planet from what we perceive to be poverty.

Micro-Financing is more or less giving very small loans to start a business, she said from 10 to 300 dollars to start, however I believe she would mean 300 dollars. I want her to have the Netherlands person monitor and reward the loans, however I think she is teaming up or trying to partner up with the Colombians. I think it normal muddles down into a pile of nothing happening when they do this. The problem to me is a need to keep it very personal and away from anyone that needs money, except for the person how is wanting to start a business. Greed and bureaucracy eat about 95 percent of monies in my opinions in these types of project.

- What in it for me - problem



I have moved into an Annex part of the Platypus Bogotá Hostel, I am cracking up at the sign, and obvious prejudice against the hippy dippy types and the dreads, I did not do this, it was somebody else, I would never do this, they might beat me, I am over the age of being able to get way with criticizing the hippy dippy youths blatantly.

No Che Guerrera Shirts
No Lose Women
No Dreads
No Hippy Clothes

I think some of the travelers have had enough of the travelers that have left home and started to dress and act like clowns. I second the motion.