Lonelyplanet.com

Lonelyplanet.com
Katmandu, Nepal Asia
February 11, 2007

The Lonely Planet Guidebook, one I use regularly, however I am going to use Roughguide for Africa this time in an attempt to find cheaper rooms has a Forum.
Lonely Planet Thorntree Forum

This is one of my choices, the FORUM, not the Lonely Planet general site, for Top Travel Sites of 2006 in the English Language, a year in review, for travelers, not tourist.

A Forum is an Internet toy, where by a person can post a question, and get an answer. The Lonely Planet forum takes some work, you need to sign up, get a password, learn how it works, etc.

Something best done at home with a free connection…

The keep bumping me out of this, as I do not get online, I do not know why I have to keep registering.

Oh, well, the bottom line for a TRAVELER, and I would almost say a tourist should not use this Forum. The problem is there are many Hotels, Travel Agents, and people hanging around in this site trying indirectly soliciting clients. They pretend they are a person posting and recommend themselves.

However, IF you wished to go to the Congo, or Iraq, or some place where the Lonely Planet paper version of the guidebook is not much value. With a lot of time, with a lot of patience and planning way ahead, you can get some answers. Not normally good answers, but a GUIDE, not an answer. Some ideas that can steer you towards the correct answers, it is your choice; I do not recommend you just trust people on this Forum, it is just help.

I have many bad answers, they told me the border or Silopi, Turkey was absolutely closed when I entered Iraq, it was not, and I did not believe and found the correct answer.

I posted here on December 26, of 2006 and it is now February 11 of 2007. I think these posts disappear over time, I am not positive.

Congo River Post

Nonetheless, this is a great way to find some ideas.
YOU NEED TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE POST!

Unless, like some people, and they get addicted, and they sit around monitoring and posting you need to subscribe to the post you wish to monitor. Then in a very good way, Lonely Planet sends you the new ideas by email, this works great.

Therefore, this is how I use this Forum, I will post and idea or find the same question.

Subscribe to the post, and then wait and hope.

Sometimes I go and clarify, or ask again in different ways, I am extremely careful, this is just somebody on the Internet that thinks they know the answer, which does not even mean they have been to the place. It is similar to the Wiki people; they go out collect answers, and then go post from other websites. Look and read, are they extremely specific, a good person will say they did this on this date, at this city, went to this hotel. The person that is honest will say both good and bad, if the whole answer is good, beware.

I want to say - Caveat Emptor, but this is NOT a purchase thing, however, if you are on the main Lonely Planet part, then this applies.

Caveat Emptor

I want to say,
- Reader Beware -
Post a comment.. please?

The Internet is full of person without a life, who spends too much time floating around trying to appear as experts. I write ideas, I post them, and I make tons of errors. I would love to know a way to tell a person and they believe me, this is just my opinions, take it or leave it.

I am writing in my online, I am not trying to be an answer to all questions; I am just giving some ideas and guides. I am sure there are better answers.

However, there is something about the written word, people believe Newspapers, and the TV, they are in my opinion becoming on par with Car Salesmen, Taxi Drivers etc.

The internet is not to be trusted, it is to be used as a guide, the world if full of unscrupulous people who will tell you anything for a buck or in a ridiculous vain to appear intelligent.

Nevertheless, if you are going to Iraq, going to the Congo, or way off the beaten path, then I recommend you get on the Lonely Planet Thorntree and post some questions. Then make your own choices, engage brain.

HoboTraveler.com has my version of a lopsided Forum, it is a way for me to keep ideas organized. We are now calling it the Help Center. The idea is you ask me a question and someday, not today, maybe tomorrow, maybe never I will answer or say, I do not know, or give you a link.

What I want is a place where very specific questions a Q and A exist on many subject, then I can go and see if my answers are there. This is Hobo attempt to stay better organized, therefore, a real traveler can find the information quicker without having to hang around and check the site. I do not want a traveler to have to get on my site daily to find answers. We have a three click policy, we want you to get to your idea in three clicks and leave. This is our hope, not what is reality now, but we hope.
http://www.hobotraveler.com/helpcenter/

Lonelyplanet.com

2007 February 11 Enter India

2007 February 11 Enter India
Kathmandu, Nepal Asia
February 11, 2007

I will leave Nepal today and enter Delhi, India. I will fly with Royal Nepal Airlines. I would give you a link, but better to buy from a Travel Agent, as not the best organized Airlines.

This is NOT the cheapest way to fly to Delhi, I purchased a package ticket in Thailand, or two destination ticket. Nepali is similar to India for buying tickets, they just try to be too clever, too many attempts to cheat. Therefore, I normally try to bypass buying any plane tickets in India or Nepal.

I do buy online airplane tickets inside of Nepal, however most Travel Agents in India need taken out back and flogged, and worst if someone else does it beside me.

I am going to apply for a Ghana Visa in Delhi, I am hoping, hoping, hoping that the Embassy is full of Ghana native workers.

2007 February 11 Enter India

12 Volt Travel Power

12 Volt Travel Power
Kathmandu, Nepal Asia
February 11, 2007

A feasible solution to not having electricity, as solar charging is not much good without a way to store the electricity, the sun does not shine all night.

Chris the worlds greatest Internet researcher surfer has found an all-in-one solution that is the same as one of my ideas, and taken to finish. It is very hard to think of something that is not already made and sold.

I want to use 12 Volt Electricity Power in my room, Nepal has been a great training country on living without electricity as the country shuts the electricity off from 3 to 10 hours per day, and can be random. Therefore, are you ready, oops, no electricity now.
http://www.hobotraveler.com/2007/02/12-volt-travel-cooking.html

If I am typing on the computer, reading a book, and worst, trying to take a shower, all the world is disrupted on a random basis. The Hot Water here is electricity, they say it is Solar, yet that does not work good, not even close to adequate, so in the night, if the hotel is good, they will turn on the electricity. But some mornings they shut off the electricity at 5:30 til 8, therefore no morning showers because the heater has been off for the time needed before my shower.

To depend on the Hotel or Nepal for Hot shower, is not feasible, they are just not going to supply me with a Hot Shower.

12 Volt Travel Power

iSun BattPak 3-Way Battery Charger with 10 NiMH batteries

This product is cool, one problem. I could not find on page if I can charge with both 110 and 220 electricity. If I cannot do with 220 then not much good, better to continue on my system. On the other hand the cost of 10 rechargeable batteries is close to this, so I could buy it and dump the charger.

I do wish I could just call them and ask.

Solar energy is a great idea, however lets be real, spending 200-300 dollars to buy a charger I use for a few days a year I am without power is way to expensive. Yes, I could go hiking for a 20 day trip, and what I really want electricity for is both my computer and a reading light. Campfire do most of the normal lighting while in the brush or jungle at night.

I do not want to carry everything on the planet, I have a 40 Kilo limit.

If a person or I was in the jungle for 20 days, I would need 40 to 50 hours of battery for my computer, this is a lot of time. The problem with solar is moving, if I live in the same place for 20 days then solar become easy and very feasible, but who would stay in one place for 20 days in the jungle. I suppose I could be living on top of a mountain being the Monk thing, but still, this is probably not going to happen.

I tend to think if I was living on top of a mountain I would go for hydro power, or make a small dam, and get a couple of car alternators and charge my 12 Volt System... hehehe, just like the one here. Water flowing down a hill seems more reliable now, and I truly do believe I could make a few or many hydro chargers with parts from any junk yard in any country on the planet.

But, back to the problem, I need to store the electricity, then for me, I need to carry the batteries. Motorcycle and Car Batteries do me no good, I cannot run my Sony Camera on a Car Battery. I need AA batteries, I only buy things with AA batteries, this seems to be the best size.

The Truckers and Recreational Vehicle people are doing all the research and if I can convert my non electricity time to 12 Volt, I can I think easy handle a random 5 t0 10 days of no electricity. The problem with electricity is not a planned trip to the jungle, the problem is as here in Nepal, when they just randomly shut the electricity off for 3 days. It is the bigger problem, I have been places where they shut the electricity off for a week.

I was in Mexico and because of the corruption, the government punished the people and ME, by shutting the juice off for the week of Christmas.

No warning, no idea what is going on, there just was no electricity.

Travel is not so much planning to deal with a trip, it is planning to deal with the problems you did not plan on having.

12 Volt Travel Power

SNAFU Nepal

SNAFU Nepal
Katmandu, Nepal Asia
February 10, 2007

I will fly from Katmandu, Nepal to Delhi, India tomorrow. I cannot believe how annoyed I have become with Katmandu or Nepal in general.

I try to figure out why I am annoyed so often, I think it is because I am now wearing the same sweatshirt about 20 days in a row, it stinks. I cannot have it washed easy.

I am maybe a clean freak, compared to the other travelers, I know I shower and wash my clothes better and more often. However, in their defense, they are only on a trip for 1-3 months normally and they say to themselves.

- Not a big deal -

Then they do not wash their clothes or accept or some reasons are happy with what are sloppy or bad standards. I personally demand that poor countries give me a good value and do a great job. I think it is the only way they learn how to compete with the richer countries. Learn what is required of quality to sell products to the world.

Normally, the longer I am in a country, I find a good laundry, a good internet café, a good grocery, all the conveniences that make my Travelers Nest a happy home.

About 30 days in country of Nepal, and I am still not able to have my clothes washed at the correct price, honestly and properly. I have walked around in Thamel and tried to find a good place. The biggest problem is they are all just cheats, I know how much my clothes weight and they do not weigh 8 kilos, they weigh 3.

I doubt most travelers have washed their clothes so many times, they are almost positive of the weight before they take them to a laundry. It is cold here, or I would be doing my laundry in my room by hand.

I think the problem in Nepal is there is always one critically needed piece missing from all puzzles. If I do something, there is always one part of the trip, the idea, the need that is missing. Nothing is as good as required, this is highly unusual. I can normally find one hotel, one internet café, or one laundry that is exceptional.

I have not found exceptional persons or services in Nepal.

However, I am Pro in a way, I have purchased so many things in other countries, I and on such a regular basis, I can slice and dice my needs.

I am in a friendly hotel, I would love to recommend it, and however there are landmines all over the hotel. The one I hit today is the toilet, as normal in India and Nepal, they I think the India and Nepal people use their hand.

Southeast Asia has this water to clean system and it works. India and Nepal have this water to clean system and it does not work. I ran out of toilet paper, decided to use the water to clean method. They have the bucket, the dipper, but I have to turn on the shower nozzle to fill up the bucket. It is amazing to me, the standard systems of how to make a toilet here is not provided. I should say, the critical needs are not provide, the minimal, the absolute smallest request is always missing a critical part of the puzzle.

I do not expect to come back to Nepal for a few years, or more, I am going to skip for as long as possible. So many places are more interesting on the planet. I was doing a deal for a hotel here, and I realized, and maybe things are for a reason. I would be a hostage or prisoner in my own hotel; I would not want to leave.

The electricity just went off, SNAFU - Situation Normal, All F--cked UP.
On batteries again, as normal.

SNAFU Nepal

Skype.com

Skype.com
Katmandu Nepal Asia
February 10, 2007

Talk to people in other countries, almost free, just the cost of the internet. I can call from anywhere to the USA for two cents US per minute.
Skype.com

This is one of my choices for Top Travel Sites of 2006, a year in review for sites in the English Language. A list of needed sites for travelers, not generally for tourist, however surely encompasses their needs.

Tourist because of only going on two to four week vacations normally do not have needs, more wants. The return ticket guarantees they are programmed and hard coded in their thinking.

Skype.com
Not a new idea, however finally one that works, seems to earn money and I hope stays in business. Now, they have competition from companies like yahoo.com, and the prices shall drop.

Talking to people from internet connection to internet connection is not a new idea.

Calling a person from the internet is not a new idea, there has been many. I sent what I labeled a Hot Tip.

ISSUE: 012b
DATE: July 17, 2000
TITLE: Andy's Travel Tips HOT TIP
http://www.hobotraveler.com/newsletterhobo012b.php

There were two sites where I could call the USA and a landline free.
Dialpad.com USA
Hottelephone.com Europe, and USA

I clicked on Dialpad.com and it looks like yahoo.com purchased the site:
Yahoo.com

It also appears that Yahoo.com is cheaper than Skype.com.

Why I like Skype.com is because of a few reason, however the big reason is because they have made the words,
- Skype.com - well know, the internet cafes, the managers know these words.

They can point at a machine that has the program downloaded, and IF I am lucky it works. Skype.com requires many configurations, and everything needs to work perfect. There is no guarantee.

I would guess in ANY internet café, it would work about 10 percent of the time or less when the internet café are NOT offering Skype.com.

For the internet cafés that are offering Skype, I would say you have about a 50 - 50 chance, and better if you call in the early morning, not at 7:00 at night when every other person in the country is on the internet.

There are many problems, however this is a great service, and I can call the USA for 2 cents per minute.

I could talk all day about how to use Skype.com. I will write a tip about this in my newsletter eventually. I am leaning towards the idea of just the warnings.

Example:
Log off, or another person can call and you pay!

Yahoo.com has a good system, I am sure it would work, however the Skype.com is the trendy and regularly known system. On the internet the bigger the better is my method of choosing sites. I like big sites, that stay in business, function and I can somewhat depend on.

I remember, Dialpad.com stopped the free calls.

I hope that the computer-to-computer for free call or internet to internet will remain free. I hope, however the propensity for companies to offer dreams on the internet, then take them back is almost a standard. I almost never believe in free anymore.

Skype.com

Anna Nicole Smith

Anna Nicole Smith
Pokhara Nepal Asia
February 9, 2007

Anna Nicole Smith dies, and I am proud to say, I had no idea who or what she was, and I am annoyed this made world news. The world is just one big soap opera, and the rabble reads what the rabble wants to read, and the journalist are also doing it for money, they are reporting on one of their own.

Like kind, care about like kind.

I suppose the world is in great shape, when the big news is a topless dancer diea and they call it a war when 2 persons died.

Anna Nicole Smith

Annapurna Nepal

Annapurna Nepal
Pokhara, Nepal Asia
February 9, 2007

There is something called a - Massif of Annapūrna.

Quote from Encyclopedia Encarta:

“Annapūrna, massif of the Himalayan mountain system, north central Nepal, one of the highest massifs in the world. The massif is 56 km (35 mi) long, culminating in two peaks, Annapūrna 1 (8,091 m/26,545 ft above sea level) and Annapūrna 2 (7937 m/26,041 ft). The summit of Annapūrna 1 was reached for the first time on June 3, 1950, by an expedition under the leadership of the French mountaineer Maurice Herzog.”



This set of mountain as is starts about 20 miles away from Pokhara, as a line of site, however probably much longer by bus or taxi.

I have lived in Pokjara for six days, and finally as a good bye gesture the mountains revealed themselves last night. For the first time I understood clearly, why people come to this too-much-tourist city of Pokhara, Nepal, it is the mountains.

I think on a clear day the feeling of being on top of the world would be a clear thought in my mind. I do get a feeling when in Nepal, that I am on top of the world.

A big cloud has sit on the city for the last week and made it quiet, the weather has made all the travelers and tourist feel as if they wasted their money. I really do not care, I was living in Pokhara for a week, and next week I will live somewhere else. However, to the once in a lifetime dream trip people, this is it, they need good weather, or they think they do.

I guess I live the dream, and they want to purchase the dream.



This is good idea of how far away or the general set up of the mountains.

I need to hurry as standard situation or normalcy in February of 2007, there is no electrify, I will run out of battery soon on my computer.

There is this idea that what you see in life is obvious, and when you travel the wonder of what you will see is obvious. Everyone sits around assuming that everyone understands this set of mountains. I personally despise reading guidebooks, so I do not read them. I do read the encyclopedia daily, however only after I become curious.

Finally, I was curious, there is never an obvious moment of clarity in India or Nepal, the whole culture is a big question mark. It is not important to learn about all these ideas or facts, or why I am here, it is important I enjoy the day. I know there is not going to be a test, and I am forever aware nobody cares if I can name the mountains. However, if they decide to tell me all the names, I do need to listen attentively. I suppose the idea is to listen to the world and to its people. It is not important I understand, I will not live long enough to understand the world.

My battery will run out on the computer one day, and it will be the end. I think curiosity for all things is needed, I am not sure it is important, I learn or remember though.

Annapurna Nepal

Pokhara Nepal

Pokhara Nepal
Pokhara Nepal Asia
February 8, 2007

The city of Pokhara is on a lake; as best I can discern the name of the lake is Phewa, maybe Fewa, but is could also be a manmade lake as there is a Dam on the lake.

What is real and not real is hard to say in Nepal, I have seen at least 50 signs saying they will wash my clothes by machine, and I have yet to find one machine. The owners of the hotel called it the - Lakeside Liars. -



The Hotels of Pokhara though are not really, on the lake, there is many Rice Paddies on the lake. I do believe when sunny and green, this would be beautiful with all the water buffalos walking around.

I have been trying to see the Annapurna Mountains, I can see some big hills, but not much of snow capped mountains, the clouds are sitting on the city presently for the last week.

I do not like to Trek, however I have been doing some one-two hour people Treks around the city, or cultural Treks. Somehow, the Trekker have guides, porters, and all sorts of things. The now have to pay a 2000 Trekker fee, then about 1000 for a Taxi somewhere, then I guess 500 for the guide per day, this is not a cheap walk on the side of a mountain.

I think, or feel there is probably a very nice small village closer to the mountains that would not have the tourist and be a much better location to see the mountains than the city of Pokhara. I see Pokhara as just another in a long list of tourist cities and nothing unique about it however, it is 10-50 times better than Kathmandu, Nepal.

Nice to have the beeping of the horns stop or less here, they really should now allow India or Nepal people to touch a horn, they just have to blow it every five seconds.

I like Pokhara, I will leave tomorrow for Katmandu, and then fly to Delhi, a place that make Katmandu feel quiet and clean.

I am ready for Africa where life is quiet, there is no tourist, and travel is easier and more refreshing. I think most of the information about Africa is crazy, it is a great place, easy to travel for the most part, or West Africa is, nothing close to what the media portrays.

Pokhara Nepal

Cell Phone Roaming Cost

Cell Phone Roaming Cost
Pokjara, Nepal Asia
February 7, 2007

I have been to Iraq, I have walked down the ghetto streets of the USA, I have met many a big dog, but the cost of Cell Phone Roaming scares me.

It is like throwing money up in the air.

Quote from an explanation about Cell Phone Roaming:
- International roaming is probably the service feature that has the greatest value for international users of mobile telecommunications. -

Translation by me:
- We make more money off this feature than any other service we offer, so buy this idea, hook, line and sinker, and remember, there is no way out of your contract, you will pay! -

I believe a satellite phone is cheaper.

Cell Phone Roaming Cost

Conserve Electricity Dip Shower

Conserve Electricity Dip Shower
Pokjara, Nepal Asia
February 7, 2207

I have never thought of myself as a person that conserves energy unless I was trying to save money. I am more than willing to use extreme amounts of Electricity for my personal pleasure.

I am a practical person though, common sense, and just good old Indiana Horse sense. I look for the obviously good solution to problems.

I am lazy in a way, I think a good invention or idea needs a bit of laziness to empathize with the normal person, who is often more lazy than me.

I want my Travelers Nest, I want my room design, my creature comforts, my personal list of needs fulfilled anywhere on the planet, so as time has passed I have learned, invented, found, created work arounds for solutions to problems.



Heating water in Benin, Africa with an immersion electric water heater, this takes about 15-30 minutes. I purchased in Bolivia this thingy, and I think thingy is a word, however you can buy an on the edge of tank type in most countries on planet.

This is my system to heat water; it is my way of guaranteeing the greed of the Hotel owner does not stop me from taking a Hot Shower. Sometimes it is just plain stupidity on the part of the Hotel owner that stops me from getting a hot shower.

The reasons why a person cannot get a hot water shower are so numerous it is a never-ending list.

The normal reason and the present reason here in Nepal are because the owner does not turn on the electric heater. The want you to believe the Solar system works on cloudy days. I was laughing in Bolivia one time, there was three switches that needed turned on to use the nozzle head type heater in the shower.

(Note, a solar shower is normally on good in the late afternoon.)

Other reasons:
- Their system is broken
- There is no hot water handle
- The electricity is off
- The have one 40 gallon hot water tank for 50 people
- The hotel has no hot water ever
- They ran out of propane gas
- They have solar heating, yet they have no sun
- The solar heated system means they have the water tank on the roof, as does most of the world.

However, I realized I am conserving electricity here in Nepal, and water. The other night two Brit girls requested the owner turn on the electricity so the water tank would heat. I thought, you have 15 minutes before lights out because of some crazy Nepal Electricity saving program called - Low Setting - or - Load Shading - or Load Shedding, - nonetheless they shut the lights off at 6-9 PM some days and in a random way, not way of knowing for sure.

15 Minutes is not enough time to hear 100 gallons of water.

However… I was thinking, they wanted the man to turn on the electricity for a tank of water on the roof that is about 100-200 gallons of water. This is a lot of water, and then they need to heat the water for about three floors of pipes leading to the bottom floor. The amount of water needed to take a shower was in excess of 100 gallons, then I have tested, it take 10 gallons of water running through the pipes before the hot water reaches the first floor from the top floor.

In the above system, I take a dip shower, it require from two gallons to about 4.5 gallons when I really want a great shower. With 4.5 gallons heated with the immersion water heater, I can even put conditioner on my hair and have enough water to rinse. I also use less soap, so I have less soap to rinse out of my hair.

Therefore, in my desire to have a hot water shower in my Travelers Nest, I have discovered I am saving water and electricity. Now, I do not feel so impelled to hide all these toys from the Hotel owner.

I purchased what was a large 5-gallon juice container in Cotonou, Benin and cut it off, after my plastic gas can from Thailand seams broke when I was trying to cook canned vegetables in hot water, a failed idea, in two ways. The normal NEW gas or petrol as the Brits say plastic 5 gallon can work good cut off and put in bag. Put duct tape on the edges or they will cut the material of the bag.

I buy abroad, because I can pay 50 cents US to have them cut this very durable plastic.

Note, there is nothing new about this sytem for me, I have been doing for about 4 - 6 years, not sure...

Conserve Electricity Dip Shower

Water Pasteurization

Water Pasteurization
Pokjara, Nepal Asia
February 6, 2007

I learned a term form the FOST Solar guy in Kathmandu, Nepa, the term is Water Pasteurization, and the idea is to boil water until it safe.

I knew this, just did not know the term of the day, however with this device and my 12 Volt cooky thingy, I could also so this, in addition to cooking peas, corn, or hot water for coffee and tea.



12-Volt Beverage Heater Immersible

I am very excited, I am stopping at home to visit, I can buy many toys! The USA is just a convenient place.

Water Pasteurization

Nepal Plowing Field

Nepal Plowing Field
Pokjara, Nepal Asia
February 5, 2007

I want some of the good ole boys from Indina to come to Nepal and learn how to plow. I believe this has wooden plow points.



Oxen pulling a plow in Pokjara, Nepal.

Nepal Plowing Field

Embassypages.com

Embassypages.com
Pokjara, Nepal Asia
Monday, February 5, 2007

Embassypages.com

This is one of my Top 10 Travel Sites of 2006 pages, not sure of the priority or number. I am sussing out the criteria better this year and realized when I said, this list of for the true travelers and not for tourist; I knew this page must be included.

I think there are at least 312 x 312 needed pages to cover the Visa, Passport, Entry Visa, and Tourist Card and in the end, the question is, what do I need to do to get permission to enter a country.

97,344 combinations with a guess of 312 countries, enclaves, islands and autonomous regions.

Therefore, if you are from Ethiopia and you want to go to Chile, which is one combination question. The answers would change by the minute.

Now, Embassypages.com does not give that specific of help, but I think it is as close as I have seen on any site. It will tell you

Embassies in the country, as an example, maybe the USA, England, and Germany have an Embassy, Consulate, or something that issues visas, maybe in the country.

Embassies abroad or where does the USA have Embassies, which countries does Ethiopia have Embassies in?

This person that made the site, I think from Denmark, has an extreme capacity for detail and organization, just a remarkable collection of information.

A little hard to find, but nonetheless a true guru type site, a bookmark, write down, never forget the link address when you travel site.

Knowing all the rules of entering a country is not easy, a rule of thumb, if they let you on the plane, you probably have a good chance of entering… hehehe

At the border, as Stellan my Swede friend riding a bike around Africa said, if you wait long enough, they will let you in, change of shift, etc.

Contrary to anything you think, most countries want you to enter, and will find a way to allow you to enter.

I do encourage this person to make a PDA version of this or computer version so I can download and use when I do not have internet access.

As a note, most Travel Agents has some computer way to show you whether you can enter a country, but beware, travel agents have to me a 50/50 success rate. Either they lie, or they do not know how to use, so you need to get collaboration.

Three down, seven to go.

Embassypages.com

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

Arranged Marriage

Arranged Marriage
Pokhara Nepal Asia
February 5, 2007

Hindu people as I understand sometimes have arranged marriages, not always, but sometimes. They say or are separating the types here, one is a love marriage and other is arranged.

A group of three Nepali women was having a big chat session in the hotel yesterday; I was joking and asking the man owner if they were all his wife. I sat around and joked for a while, they did the interview, are you married, what do you do for work, etc. The one proceeded to pointedly ask, do you want to get married to Nepali girl? Now, not polite to just say no, hard to answer so they understand, so I tried to say,
- Yes, if I loved here and wanted to marry her. -

This is the same answer for any country in a way, however the woman said, something that she has a sister with a 23-year-old daughter and she will return the next day with her at 5:00 PM to meet me.

I cannot believe it, she came at 4:30, early, and they can actually be on time for something here.

So tomorrow was or is now last night or yesterday.

They sat me down, interviewed me again, I unfortunately passed with flying colors. She now has asked me, both the younger girl and the older woman to think about it, do I want to marry the girl?

I met this girl with three other women, she speaks ok, rather bleak English, however she is nice, pretty, polite and so on and so forth, and likes to laugh.

Now today, I think I am supposed to give an answer yes or no. For me the answer is no, I am not going to marry anyone that was arranged for me, the arrangement for an introduction was ok, but I truly did not believe they was going to ask the same day.

It is interesting how the younger girl respects the advice of the older woman; the older woman has given me the USDA seal of approval, as has all the women hanging around in this household.

I learned that two of her cousins have married foreigners, this seems to be a trend, if you find a family where one has married a foreigner then the other girls are primed.

I have also noticed that women who color their hair from black to reddish are extra friendly.

I think I am involved in a one-side arranged marriage, I am glad my mother has not met this girl, or I would be in a pressure cooker, as the girl is nice.

I do not know why they are not keying in the two young men here, yes, I think they are irresponsible boys, but they maybe have the correct passports. I have a USA passport; this often is too good of passport for families. The woman said, she wanted an American or Canadian, or German.

Strange as it sounds this is probably a great opportunity for some man older than 30 who wishes to get married. Quick, easy, and more or less permanent as I understand Hindus women only get married one time, you would have to bring the girl back one time a year to enforce this idea. I do believe marriages work when both sides agree it should work.

They or she the girl I could marry is Brahmin Caste, I think the word should be Brahmin Ethnic group or Brahmin Tribe, the word caste is too strong. The language of the Brahmin Caste is different from the Sherpa Caste; to me this is more tribal. Tribes often many not intermarry and will be very judgmental, one being lower or higher.

I am USA upper caste in a way or could be thought of in a way of thinking.

I am wondering how I got myself into this situation, I think it was simple, I said hello to all the workers and people in the Hotel. All the other residents of the hotel more or less ignore the staff and persons working, only making request. I am thinking the world needs to take treks to meet people, and not mountains. However, to meet a mountain is safe and free from commitments. I have made a commitment to be these people friend. People in Hotels are people, I know they tend to act like animals, only wanting money, but they are people, and not authority figures.

I will think carefully and try to understand or explain why I cannot marry the woman. It is rather easy, I just tell the truth, my culture does not marry this quick, I would need to know her, and I leave in 4 days, honesty is 99 percent of the time the best answers.

If a group of men come up and ask you if a girl is pretty, I think maybe best to say yes, even if dog ugly.

Arranged Marriage

Pokjara Nepal Hot Water Solar

Pokjara Nepal Hot Water Solar
Pokjara Nepal Asia
February 4, 2007

I went up on the roof of my hotel, trying to see the lake, the clouds have it covered, however I got a good look at their solar hot water system, that serves up cold water... hehehe



I am presently at one level above, there are two large water tanks where I am standing to take this photo. They pump the water up to the holding tanks, then gravity allows it to flow through this hot water solar device below.

On the left of a the tank is a heating element, and I guess in a very inefficient way it heat the water when there is no sun. (It is not plugged in, ergo the reason for no hot water.)

There appears to be no insulation on the tank, I think so the sun can warm the tank. This is made of galvanized steel, and would reflect most of the sun, however would get warm. I do not understand why they did not just use the big cheap and common black plastic tanks. There are electric hot water heaters you can hang in the water.

It goes through this and I think straight to the rooms, I will look, but I do think there is an insulated holding area.

Notheless, I heated up water with my one-cup cooker and took a shower, so I am good to go, I will nose around and see if the other guests take showers.

The man said this cost about 60,000 Rupees, or about 900 US dollars for this, I think there is about 200 dollars in materials max.

Nothing is complicated about this set up.

Pokjara Nepal Hot Water Solar

Pokjara Trekking

Pokjara Trekking
Pokjara Nepal Asia
February 4, 2007

Everyone in Pokhara is a trekking, I have not seen many very fit and healthy types, and therefore I would assume there are many easy treks. I think more city types out on a romp in the woods.

I got up this morning, took off on a long hike, I trekked all around the smallish city of Pokjara. This is a delight compared to Katmandu, everything is organized and pleasant, on the other hand, all the guesthouse are empty, and therefore if they were full, it may be another point of view.

I do not know where they go trekking and I really cannot be bothered. I tried to trek to the older part of Pokjara, however seemed to avoid it somehow; I do believe there must be an older historical part. My presently location is 90 percent made for tourist, and not much of interest. I am staying in what they call the lakeside part of Pokjara.

I one day hope to find a full on professional mountain climbing area or shop, all I have seen are tourist shops.

I think something like eight of the ten highest mountains in the world are in Nepal, therefore must be some serious mountain climbers somewhere.



This is the view of the lake, there is a dam on the lake, so maybe a manmade, I do not know the name. Most of the hotels are not on the lake, there is road between the lake and the hotels and I am not sure you can get a good view. I am going to try to find a hotel on the lake with a good view, I am sure there is, however not obvious.

Pokjara Trekking

Sheep on Nepal Bus

Sheep on Nepal Bus
Pokhara Nepal Asia
January 4, 2007

I am thinking, I have seen many things on top of buses, humans are normal, I am not sure about sheep. Coming from Kathmandu, to Pokhara, a long 8 hour trip to go 85 miles.



The men at the bus stop in Kahtmandu, tried to extort a baggage fee out of me for heavy bags. Always another scam to deal with, this is a baggge scam. The bag they put up was very light, Normal type of behavior in Kat, but what can you do. I ask him if he was a girl.

I wonder if they had to pay extra to get the sheep on top, the Nepali people in Kathmandu are over the top on trying to grab money, any chance they get, they try to take. Nice to be in Pokjara, less people trying to sell smoke, hash, or any other annoyance.

Sheep on Nepal Bus

Skype Not on Machines

Skype Not on Machines
Pokhara, Nepal Asia
February 4, 2007

I am trying to chat, not telephone with my friend in Brazil. I am on an Internet connection in Nepal that goes through my cell phone. It is not strong enough to call, but I can chat. Skype is not on the machines or downloaded onto machines, I would say about 90 percent of the time when I wish to chat with him.

Yahoo Messenger seems to be the best system to chat, or even call with presently in the world, the calling is free from yahoo to yahoo. Now, if I could get my friend in Boston to log in...

And DUMP that crazy, ridiculous and troublesome, and pay to have email Verizon.net account, He must like to change emails every year or two.

Yahoo Mail and Gmail.com are the two best Emails presently, in my opinion.

They techies all understand how to do anything, I am wondering if the world will ever figure a way to allow the non-technical minded person how to do the same. I think 85 percent of the population will come into the fold if they can every get a voice command operated computer to function easy.

I see the Internet only being truly available to 10-15 percent of the modern world presently. I would say less than 1-3 percent of the planet actually can function and use the Internet.

I wonder why or if Skype.com has email, it would be a natural progression.

Skype Not on Machines

Pokhara Nepal Hotel

Pokhara Nepal Hotel
Pokhara Nepal Asia
January 3, 2007

I am now in Pokhara, Nepal a city about 85 miles to the West of Kathmandu, yet takes about 7-8 hours to travel to in a bus. The trip is beautiful, sit on the right going to Pokhara, and sit on the left returning and you will have a good view. I did not know I had a reserved seat, or I would have tried to choose.

I am thinking
Hotel Pokhara Annoyme

They have the normal litany of names, Karma, Nirvana, Peace, Traveler, and other names, I am amiss to say where to stay, I have not seen anyone, except the people on the bus. There are tons of Koreans and Japanese, and I as trying to figure out where the Japs were staying, but no success.

The place seems deserted, yet it is a lot warmer here and nicer in a way, yet today has big cloud sitting on the city.

There are many touts and none of them tell the truth, I got in a taxi and went to one hotel, the taxi driver was demanding I go and visit the hotel of his wishes. I met a man who was supposely representing the Viewpoint, he waited, and after I looked at the deserted Damside area, I went with him to see the Viewpoint. He does NOT take me to the Viewpoint, itwas recommended by the hotel I was in while in Kathmandu. I cannot believe it, he was talking for about 10 minutes, and finally when I say yes, he takes me another hotel, I just got out and started walking.

I found a quiet one for 200 Rupees, and it is good, the door lock is a big India style bolt, so I am happy as I love to use my own lock. I can walk around without my backpack and see if I can find a room with anybody to talk too. Nepal girls are out of bounds, travelers chics are in etherland, I need to go to Africa.

Oh well, my Mero GPRS connection is working good, so I can surf the net and plan Africa.

Pokhara Nepal Hotel

Writing Books

Writing Books
Katmandu, Nepal Asia
January 1, 2007

I saw a very mediocre book on travel in Amazon.com about 5 times, it kept recommending it to me, a very annoying experience. Simple format, easy to write, just annoying book, however, the worst part, and I tried to read the book, it is just a bunch of crap.

I will not say the name, as the book is harmless, as are most travel books, they are just fantasy writers and normally should be thought of as fiction, about like CNN and BBC, however for sure as I read the travel writers, I see about an 80 percent fantasy.

However, this is it, I watched a show about Stephen King writing 1500 words a day, I can easily do this, however my skills sucks to say the least. But, I am more an idea man, and someone else can fix the writing.

Just me dwelling on whether to write a book or not write a book or books. Just thoughts, however it is obviously another way to add to my money. I want a pile of money, then I can travel easier into the Heart of Darkness... they always seem to say this when talking about Africa. Nonetheless, DOLLARS, is the only true protection when being a traveler. I can dollar my way out of most danger. Sometimes, it is just so expensive to buy the knowledge I need to travel safely.

Example, I could find a perfect map of Africa, WHILE I am in Africa. I want this, I need a good road map of East and West Africa. They normally suck, so if I had a PILE, I could buy them all and have them all sent to me, then carry the one that is good and dump the rest.

My ideal map of Africa would be in both French and English at the same time, and have every little small road on the map, and come in a few PDF files for my computer, and accompanied by a paper version.

The research, the shipping, the ideas I just said would cost close to 400 dollars, and I would need a person at home that would ship it to me, probably the bigger problem.

Well, on writing a book, there are too many, however maybes someday I can find someone who is a proficient traveler, hopefully a woman, and they can travel along while we pump out some books for fun. Note, I see most writers going home to write books, the bottom line is this is not going to happen. I like to travel more than I like to write.

Writing Books

Crichton Travel

Crichton Travel
Kathmandu Nepal Asia
February 1, 2007

Discovered a new backpacker term, and now I want to see if Michael Crichton deserves this usage of his name. Brad and Megan commented on a blog, then I looked at the their profile, then I looked at their blog, then I read the quote. Note, I can almost never do this, I really love have a GPRS internet connection in my Hotel room!

Now, I am helping Brad and Megan to coin the term: Crichton Travel
Knapp Adventure Blog

I would sometime think it could be James Michener Travel or I guess Michener Travel as I am also a fan of James Michener and amazed at his trips.

I will be in the USA from February 14 to the 22, therefore I am arranging my best to have UPS drop off all my dreams. I got on Amazon.com and purchased the book by Michael Crichton called TRAVELS a book by Michael Crichton.

QUOTE by Brad and Megan

In Travels, Crichton describes trips so remote and inaccessible that it created an entirely new baseline for adventure in my mind. His trips to Hunza and New Guinea remain far off dreams for me--heck, Hunza, as such, does not even exist anymore. He trotted around the globe on journeys that had to be outrageous logistical nightmares, code for excellent, unspoiled fun. After Clayton and I had finished the book, we had a new phrase for serious travel: "Crichton travel." After visiting Africa, I would call Crichton travel a modern version of traveling like David Livingstone except that Crichton travel, because his trips were so recent, teases us with the thought that a journey like that might still be possible.

END QUOTE

Crichton Travel
Now, the only problem with this is, I can never remember how to spell his last name, I have to copy and paste it to be close to correct. -Crichton -

I will read the book, I would say I normally like anything Michael writes. I do have one problem here, I can only carry so much weight, about 70-100 pounds, then I have to start make love choices. Do I love this more than this, or do I heave this item, do I need this, or is it just a want, can I buy in Africa or do I need to carry.

I cannot buy all the books I want to read, I really like the PDF file books, I am also cheap, I am not going to pay more than about 4 dollars max for a used book, or for digital.

I made an angry purchase, as I was so disappointed in the Lonely Planet West Africa last time, the recommendations for hotels were written for persons driving a car. Therefore, I left my normal guidebook path and purchased the -The Rough Guide to West Africa 4 - and will see if they can help me save money, or also recommend the most expensive.

To break Africa open, there needs to be backpacker rooms for less than 8 dollars or lower.

Crichton Travel

Ghana to Ethiopia or Ethiopia to Ghana

Ghana to Ethiopia or Ethiopia to Ghana
Katmandu, Nepal Asia
January 31, 2007

I have had a difficult decision to make, I finally have found a good reason to travel from Ghana to Ethiopia or from West to East, and not from Ethiopia to Ghana.

I am making a land trip of about 4500 miles across the center of Africa. This trip could be dangerous, or as normal, it could just be hard on my butt. This is a lot of sitting on my butt time, I think maybe I averaged about 25 miles per hour the last time in West Africa; therefore I have about 180 hours of butt time. This is not bad, just about 7.5 days of travel.

Why travel from Ghana to Ethiopia?
If I start in Ghana or Togo, I can have two months of French practice before I enter the Congo.



I learned that the Congo uses the language of French as their business language. My travel French is about a 2 and I need to get it up to a 5 or 6 on a 10-point scale. Therefore, if I travel in Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Gabon and miscellaneous countries before I enter the more dangerous Congo, I can hope to get my French language skills up to a 5 or 6 and it will be safer. I will need less dependence on my instincts and maybe talking with the Frenchies along the way to suss out the situation. The majority of the French Expats I met on the Trip from Cote d-Ivoire to Niger by land last time only spoke about a 1 or less in English, therefore I was not able to discuss anything with them. I did meet ONE German and ONE Swede who spoke English well enough to explain some of the ins and outs of Africa, however generally I was on my own. The Peace Corps person did have an idea about the country they were in, but had little cross Africa travel.

Just what every Mother wants to hear, her son wants to travel across the Congo by land or river. I only live or die once.

Ghana to Ethiopia or Ethiopia to Ghana

India Music Videos

India Music Videos
Kathmandu, Nepal Asia
January 31, 2007

India has some of the most beautiful girls on the planet. I can sit here in my room and watch music videos and dream of a world of beautiful Indian women.

I spent four months in India and never saw anything close to the video culture, and have come to believe it is dangerous for Indian women to even talk with a foreigner.

Therefore, I am always in amazement of the movies and music videos, as it portrays some form of modern and open culture that to me does not exist. I see and felt a very closed culture.

India Music Videos

Feelings Seeing Hearing Thinking

Hearing Sight Smell Taste Touch
Kathmandu, Nepal Asia
Tuesday, January 30, 2007

A friend requested I think about posting my top 10 photos of 2006.

- I have very little interest in the beauty of the photo, so if I were to make a page of my 10 favorite photos, it would be boring and difficult job, something I would avoid. -

My first thought was a thought of revulsion, as I do not like to look at photos. I am annoyed looking at my own, and super annoyed looking at other peoples photos.

I use photos to think, and to remember, not for a physical feeling rush. My sense of sight is not my favorite sense organ.

Hearing
Sight
Smell
Taste
Touch

I went on a journey of curiosity and delved into a bigger list of senses.

This one has 32:
http://www.this-magic-sea.com/PERCEP32.HTM

This list has 53:
http://www.ecopsych.com/insight53senses.html

I was observing and thinking the other day, that Nepali people have very little awareness of other people. I can use this list to evaluate a culture.

I would put this as number 16 in the list of 53.
- 16. Space or proximity sense. -

As a funny quip or common terms, I would say about Nepali people.
- Most likely to just stop in front of you.
- Most likely to spit in front of you.

I could assess they may have little
- 8. Sense of motion. Body movement sensations and sense of mobility. -

As almost standard in the poorer countries, they have little sense of time.

I could classify countries into categories of what they are good or not good and use these lists to evaluate countries, cultures and groups of person on the planet. However, sadly, in a political correct world, we can only compliment, we cannot say or talk about what a country needs to work on in an blunt terms. We must just diplomatically say or allude to a problem. This may be the biggest obstacle to human development.

We cannot say,
- The love to lie around and do nothing, like a dog -
Some cultures love the feeling of maybe comradeship and lack of sensory stimulation, others are addicted to movement.

The India people chew this Betel Nut and spit it all over the place; they could be accessed to love the sense of taste. I see travelers that demand to taste all the foods, or as happened the other day, a man was demeaning my drinking of instant coffee, and said I should drink the special coffees sold. I sort of thought he had little awareness of differences in people, the likes and dislikes of a person, especially the ones that do not affect others, like drinking coffee is not a problem in life for many. Unless, for some silly reason I force a person to drink instant coffee.

I would say these two lists are insightful and should be read closely by people. If I can or they could truthfully discover what makes them happy, they could go in search of this.

The bottom line, I do not like to take photos for the beauty of the photo, I like to take photos more for a taxonomy sense.

TAXONOMY:
principles of classification: the practice or principles of classification.

I have very little interest in the beauty of the photo, so if I were to make a page of my 10 favorite photos, it would be boring and difficult job, something I would avoid.

However, blogger.com has now given me an ability to label my post, this is an extreme rush for me, I love this, and I could sit around and label or classify thoughts for a long time. I love databases, I love the ability to sort, categorize, sub-categorize and classify.

In the end, I like ideas more than music, and pictures.

I do think if a person would see what they do, not what they think they want to do, but take a list and check off what they like to feel or sense. The difficult part is many persons wish to be famous as being smart or intellectual. The constantly try to read the intellectual book, never read them, however when they have any chance, they go out with their friends and listen to very loud music.

What we want to be, and what we do is the gap that keeps us from understanding ourselves.

Hearing Sight Smell Taste Touch

TIME The Best Photos of the Year 2006

TIME The Best Photos of the Year 2006
Katmandu Nepal Asia

Put the wrong year up.. Time 2006

I suppose I should recommend you also take many photos.



This one shows the man smoking a cigarette. Note, when a country is poorer, often the smoking disappears.

TIME The Best Photos of the Year 2006

TIME The Best Photos of the Year 2005

TIME The Best Photos of the Year 2005
Katmandu Nepal Asia
January 28, 2007

Time Magazine

I was looking at Time Magazine, there was a copy in a hotel in the Philippines. I noticed that the photos they deemed worthy, often had either smoke, fog, or blurred because of the direct sunlight into the lens.

My lesson learned, is when there is smoke, fog, or the sun is causing problems, maybe I should take the photo, just for the surreal feel.



The photo was taken near Thamel area in Katmandu, around seven in the morning. The question I have is, did this man sleep in the rickshaw?

TIME The Best Photos of the Year 2005