Andy HoboTraveler.Com Travel Blog Vol II

Squeeze it all in Tourist

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:35:00 +0000

Squeeze it all in Tourist
A reader explained clearly the type of tourist that annoys me, which unfortunately is about 99 percent of the tourist.

Tourist and even travelers do not just nomadically trave, full of wanderlust travel the planet, they do it by the “Squeeze it all in approach.”

This is greed, a form of lust, a gluttonous use of a person’s life.

Read the comments about Time.

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road
Sunday, July 20, 2008
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Freedom from prioritization is happiness, to not have the mind spinning over a list of needs, a continuous confusion as the keep a never ending list of dreamed up needs in their brains.

The sad part to me is I know that 99.99 percent of what people feel are needs are just wants, just gluttony in action.

Maybe a good example of this is the comment by our Mothers and Fathers,
“Clean your plate.”

I am positive, this is the last thing a child needs to learn.

Squeeze it all in Tourist

The Hotel to Transportation Time Gap

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:38:00 +0000

The Hotel to Transportation Time Gap
I am supposed to check out at 11:00 am this morning, the all night bus from Krabi, Thailand to Bangkok, Thailand leaves at 8:00 pm tonight.

What am I suppose to do with this extra time?

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Railay Beach Krabi Thailand
Friday, July 18, 2008
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The normal situation is to pay extra to the Hotel for late checkout; this is really just another way of the Hotels endless ways to make money. If the Hotel if full, they will allow the late checkout, collect the money and if someone reserved the room, they will force them to wait.

A better hotel has a free of charge storage room for bags, whereby the bags are safe, this seems to be only in the cheap hotels, too stupid to understand or think about. Why do I always get more services of real value in a cheap hotel, then an expensive hotel?

The Hotels want to say, “Your home away from home.”

The best of the best hotel would have tons of private areas around the hotel starting a Hostel or Hotel. I now realize I must, I just once in my life want to enter a Hotel that does everything right. I do admit, there is no way for a Hotel Owners to learn about Hotels, they do not live in Hotels, they just own them.where people could go and take a nap, a shower, or just live in the hotel until the time to leave arises while their bag is safe in the FREE storage.

I was dwelling on this the other day, all of these problems, I think often about starting a Hostel or Hotel. I now realize I must, I just once in my life want to enter a Hotel that does everything right. I do admit, there is no way for a Hotel Owners to learn about Hotels, they do not live in Hotels, they just own them.

A Hotel is not my home away from home, it is my home, I wonder when one of the Hotel will actually make me feel like I am at home?

The Hotel to Transportation Time Gap

Ballad of a Traveler

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:56:00 +0000

Ballad of a Traveler
This is funny, a good laugh video, a reader posted a comment on this link about my new SOTP - Standard Operating Travel Procedure of spraying down room with insect spray before entering.
Insects in Hotel Room

"This actually reminds me of a video for Hampton Inn that features a hotel guest dramatically rhyming about his worst travel experiences in hotels ... he covers roaches, rodents, stained sheets, and bad service. I thought I would share the laugh with you - Let me know what you think!"
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Railay Beach Krabi Thailand
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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A good laugh and a good well orchestrated advertisement by Hampton Inns, very well done.

I am always impressed by creativity of this sort, what do I think, even if I am not living in Hampton Inn this is good work, a creative idea.

The YouTube.com link.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=J2tgnUsj8NE

Ballad of a Traveler

Travel Inflation Prices Double Every Three Years

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:35:00 +0000

Travel Inflation Prices Double Every Three Years
The globalization of the cost to travel to tourist destinations has caused inflation at about four to six times the world averages. The consumer prices of hotels, tourist restaurants, are spiraling madly out of control.

The prices of inside the tourist bubble rooms have quadrupled in ten years, they are doubling in price ever 2-3 years now.

The economics of tourism is a bubble waiting to burst.

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Railay Beach Krabi Thailand
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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Travel is a luxury, not a need; it is something people do for fun and entertainment. There is just so long, a promoters and marketers can gouge the consumer public before they stop traveling to over-prices tourist destinations.

What is funny, the price of rooms in the center of tourist bubbles is almost the same as going to Europe on a global basis. There is almost no reason for the average Joe traveler to go to what they used to think were cheap countries, they just do not exist for the average buy a tour and go tourist.

This inflation applies only inside the tourist bubbles, where the tourist rent or buy the “you have to be stupid pricing” of promoters, travel agents, Hotels and travel industry marketing all in concert saying you have to pay this.

Travel Magazines work against the consumer, not for them...

The solution for the budget traveler is to understand what a Tourist Bubble is, and live and rent rooms outside the bubble.

I do blame the internet for about 50 percent of the tourist inflations, tantamount to the land swindles also taking place all over the world preying on naïve in love with their favorite tourist destination investors.

I just heard the British are in sell off mode in Goa, India, small indicators of the future.

I remember Jack from Canada; he purchased a Condominium in Acapulco in the 1950’s Tourist boom. He said he paid 25,000 U.S. Dollars and in the year 2000 when he told me this, it was still worth 25,000 Dollars and close to impossible to sell.

In the last three months a quick visit to Mexico, Guatemala, Peru and now back over to Thailand has made this tourist bubble inflation slapped onto my plate and served up, I cannot ignore, I can feel it.

I thought it was just me earning more cash and more willing to spend it, however all the prices of room have quadrupled in ten years, even my old favorite cheapies.

Travel Inflation Prices Double Every Three Years

Closer to Perfect Hotel Curtains

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:41:00 +0000

Closer to Perfect Hotel Curtains
Air Conditioning is the easy solution for Architects that do not wish to think, work, design, or be creative.

I found some closer to perfect curtains in a non-air-conditioned room, I am sure this was laziness, but serendipity at work.

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Railay Beach Krabi Thailand
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
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The made the curtains too long and I am happy, life is good when serendipity gives random chance it reins.

Cross through ventilation, hot air rises, window transoms, a window that allows you to lower the top, and raise the bottom, these are still needed, but Architects seem to have lost the path.

A curtain stops the sun from blaring through the window, and stops me from admiring the neighbor’s wife; unfortunately, it also stops air from entering and leaving the room.

This curtain is quite brilliant by accident, it hang out from the window because there is a shelf, actually I had to pull it of the shelf to make it do this, but that is ok. It allows the air to flow behind the curtain and into the room, yet covers the window. A very simple, cheap curtain no cut in the middle, just a long piece of easy to make curtain.

I have tried many ways to make the curtain hang away from the window and allow the air to enter or leave. I more than often put a fan in the window blowing out, and not in, so the air in the room circulates allowing me to breath.

I was so annoyed in Togo and Ghana, West Africa I was carrying a fan to counter-design the room. I placed this small fan in the window and allowed to run 24/7 to keep the hot warm air and water condensation off the concrete walls of my room.
Window Fan Blog from Africa

Here is the fan that should be in every decently designed hotel room in the tropics, sadly they only put these in room with mildew and moss growing on the walls. This room was in Ban Saen Thailand the price respected the quality of the room.

This is the fan above the door, two hundred years ago, they would have architects and homebuilders would have designed this correctly, they would have a window here to allow the hot air to leave.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transom_(architectural)

Well, one of these days I will figure out a way to keep the curtains from stopping the air from entering the room. I truly hope the architects of the world revert to prior times so I can live in rooms that are designed properly. Air Conditioned rooms are not as comfortable as a breath of fresh air.

This page has a small photo of a Transom Window from the 1920’s; I truly think architecture is taking some giant steps backwards.

Window Transom Photos and Explanation

Closer to Perfect Hotel Curtains

Pay More Get Less Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 01:29:00 +0000

Pay More Get Less Travel
There must be some theory, maybe related to the Law of Diminishing Returns, whatever the case; there is no relationship between paying more and getting better service or quality when traveling.

I keep trying to upgrade my quality of living by paying more, and it always slaps me in the face, I pay more, I get less.

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Railay Beach Krabi Thailand
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
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I was very sad, there was these bungalows up on the top of the stone rock hill called the Rapala here on Railay Beach. The first time I visited about five years ago, they were new, clean, cost 150 Baht per night, and a happy new place to live. I do not think they have done any maintenance in the last five years, they are a dilapidated pile of misery, and they wanted 350 Baht, pay more get less.

There is something backwards in Tourist areas, they try to under deliver and over-charge, it is a thorn in my butt, the longer a tourist paradise exist, the less it is paradise.

We went down the hill, got a room in what we thought was a fancy Resort, there was a special going on for 3 nights for 1000 Baht, still, pay more get less. The room is like living in a box, flush the toilet with a bowl Thailand system, no hot water, mosquito net….

“Always beware when you see a Mosquito Net, this is not a romantic thing, and it means the rooms were designed badly.”

We could go pay 2000 Baht, live in higher price misery; there is just no correlation between money and the enjoyment of a room.

I cannot return to old favorite hotels, even the best hotels I know, become a mess over time. I depend mostly on word of mouth reviews of people returning from Islands, this used to work good, now the Flashpacker bunch just pays saying,
“It is cheaper than home.”

This just continues the never-ending spiral of inflated Tourist prices where people are always happy getting less and paying more, Tourist areas inflate about five times faster than normal parts of a country.

It is tiresome to always search for a quality Hotel for the proper price; the more I pay for the Hotel, and the less the services and quality they give for the money, as they benefit and my benefits diminish. Mosquitoes and Ants in my room, you would think the world would learn how to solve this problem, however there is no need, somebody will always pay, and we have no choice.

This is the Rapala Bungalows when nice and happy for 150 Baht, now imagine them with no work for five years for 350 Baht. If you want the best Hotel, rent the rooms in the newest hotel on the beach, anything over three years becomes a risk.

Hotel would do better to get rid of all their reception people and hire only maintenance people.

The only solution find the new tourist destinations and the new Hotels, staying one step ahead of the mob. There is always a new beach, a new undiscovered paradise, and it will only exist for one brief time in your life, you cannot return.

Pay More Get Less Travel

Pranang Cave Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:34:00 +0000

Pranang Cave Beach
This is presently the most beautiful beach I know on the planet; the name is Pranang Cave Beach, located on what is part of Railay Beach near Krabi, Thailand.

We left Koh Pha Ngan before the Fool Moon Party, took the joint ticket boat and bus trip to Krabi, I am now on Railey Beach.

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Railay Beach Krabi Thailand
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
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I was surprised to find a Hotel located on this beach, I never remember there being a Hotel located in this isolated corner of the planet. I do hope they charge a lot more than Shoal Bay Beach in Anguilla, because for sure this is prettier, and I have visited both. This one actually had some nice Bikinis and not just old people. However for sure this is not the best girl watching beach on the planet, more the romantic, way too beautiful to explain beach.

What is great is you walk down this never ending small curving path past many small caves or indents into the side of the mountain, just when you are getting tired of walking, oops, you walk into the sunlight of Pranang Cave Beach. That surely was not the original name, they may have just named it, I do not know, but Cave is not a Thai word.

Nonetheless, if you just want a Wow, this is the beach.

This is not where mobs of people are presently located, however the way it looks, just a few more years and this beach will have more than it tourist share.

Pranang Cave Beach

Koh Pha Ngan

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 03:49:00 +0000

Koh Pha Ngan
I am now on the Island called Koh Pha Ngan, really Pha Ngan because the word Koh means Island.

The price of rooms, food, and services has tripled in the last five years.

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Koh Pha Ngan Thailand
Island near Koh Samui and Koh Tao Thailand
Sunday, July 13, 2008
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Had Rin beach is one of the better beaches on the planet, however to have the best quality of life, for the least amount of money on Koh Pha Ngan Island it may be better to leave the tourist area.

All over the planet, the tourist areas in the last 20 years have exploded until the flavor I want to enjoy no longer exist in the primary tourist destination. The increasing better option is to live miles from the main area, and rent a motorcycle or take a taxi to the main beaches.

Here on Koh Pha Ngan there are many resort enclaves all over the Island. A good value, motorcycles rent for 150 Baht per day, therefore I could still go live in paradise and one of the better girl watching beaches on the planet at Had Rin for the day, for less money than I can live in this present day tourist trap.

The total cost of doing this is about one-half the price, and I get a motorcycle to burn my leg on too.

I am on a GPRS cell phone internet connection with One Two Call, which cost about 500 Baht for 240 hours, and the local cost on Koh Pha Ngan is 2-3 Baht per minute or about 120-180 Baht per hour, about 5-7 USD.

Koh Pha Ngan

Hotel Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:41:00 +0000

Hotel Reviews
A thought has been playing ping-pong in my brain now for years; I wonder why Hotel Review on Hotel Sites are edited? I wonder why comments on Blogs are moderated and stop the really bad grammar and spelling?

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Friday, July 11, 2008
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I moderate to stop the trolls who wish to provoke for fun, or use profanity that causes problems for the site theme as defined by the words in the site, however most other comments I let fly.

I think there is revelation in the words a person uses, the misspellings, their name, and the way they construct a sentence. I would never ever criticize the way a China or Thailand person spells or writes in comments, this person is already 10 times better then me, I am not out and about reading Chinese Blogs, I am clueless.

However, why are Hotel Reviews edited, I almost never see a bad review on a Five Star Hotel where the site would make a higher commission, however do see them on the cheap ones. I do see this as manipulation of the audience and not reviews.

A review is to me, anything goes, providing polite, no profanity, not trying to provoke, and not the competition of the Hotel being reviewed.

Been thinking about this, maybe allow the Hotel a way for a rebuttal to the bad Hotel Reviews. I truly believe that 70 percent of Hotel Reviews of a hotel should be bad and 30 percent good if natural.

What is the saying, good news is told to 10 people while bad news is told to 20, so a Hotel Review is the same, people would naturally voice their complaints quicker then their Kudos.

Hotel Reviews

Calling Telephones Yahoo.com versus Skype.com

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:18:00 +0000

Calling Telephones Yahoo.com versus Skype.com
Skype.com is not a new idea, there were many systems before Skype.com that allowed you to call computer to computer or computer to landline, this is not new. However, Skype.com was the first effective company, and now Yahoo Voice is becoming a great alternative to Skype.com for many reasons, in a way, I think Yahoo may be better.

Yahoo Voice Rates
Skype.com Rates

Do not buy rates, buy the bundle of services you need, please do not keep changing your email address or telephone number, this is really not professional or friendly.
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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Thursday, July 10, 2008
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Yahoo.com is cheaper, it cost about one cent per minute, and Skype.com is 2 cents per minute to call a landline. The second reason is that Skype.com is blocked in some countries, while they allow Yahoo because the locals have Yahoo Mail accounts, and cannot just stop Yahoo or they will have many angry people, but Skype.com never got into the country to start.

Cheaper and more countries, part of my present email account, I am thinking maybe Yahoo Voice is better, the verdict has not came in, but Skype.com has many problems.

I have a Yahoo mail account, I chat with Boy Genius in India, I chat with a few others people, now right from the Yahoo Messenger control panel I can decide to talk with them, or I can decided to call a land line number. I just added money to the Yahoo Voice system and I am going to start to test Yahoo more, I have used in the past to call computer to computer, but I am going to try the option to call landlines.

Unfortunately, 99 percent of the people I want to call refuse to learn about computers, or make my life easy; they demand I do the work of making their lives simple. 20 percent really do not understand at any level, and this is ok, I understand, yet the other business types are just arrogantly having lack of consideration and no desire to be a professional, just plain lazy.

We test out companies on communication skills, do they reply to emails, do they have Skype.com Yahoo Messenger, Gmail Talk, do they reply from the same email all the time, or do they constantly change emails and lose contact.

Yahoo Voice is a good alternative now to Skype.com plus a the way I understand it the Voice Mail option is in your email box, and I think this is a world of benefits better than the Skype.com system. I in the end have to adapt to the people I call, they do not adapt to help me, so I have Skype.com Yahoo and Gmail.com Talk, I really do not have much of a choice. I also have a cell phone so when needed, a person can call me.

I have zero desire to get cell phone calls, do not even carry it, maybe about 10 percent of the time, I am not in the telephone answering business and my friends in the USA normally are not smart enough to call me, I must call them.

Boy Genius says, Skype.com should give numbers away for free, then we would all get hooked, or connected and not want to change numbers, I agree, they are dropping the ball by making people pay for numbers.

I suspect eventually the big Telephone Companies, like maybe called Telecoms like Verizon in the USA will decide to slow down Skype.com because in reality, Skype.com and Yahoo Voice are just resellers of Verizon and all the other Telecom Companies. However, in the end, Verizon is losing the whole competition because they refuse to allow people any freedom to use the internet and telephone services as they please, they demand the postpaid system that is being replaced on the rest of the planet by prepaid cards, no expensive contracts.

Steve a true world business traveler put together this information:
JULY 20008

Yahoo Voice,
http://voice.yahoo.com
(accessed through yahoo Messenger)
Inbound phone calls: (Phone In) number, $29.90/year or 2.99/month. Outbound Phone Calls: (Phone Out) Rates are cheaper, no connection fees.
Rates: http://voice.yahoo.com/phone_rates.php
No unlimited call fees. No call forwarding.Help Menu: http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/messenger/messenger8/billing/index.html
Call history and account info at http://voice.yahoo.com

Skype.com
www.skype.com Inbound phone calls (skypeIn number) $60 or half off w/ unlimited planOutbound phone calls (SkypeOut) charges connecton fees or VATRates:
http://www.skype.com/prices/callrates/
Unlimited calling plan w/ voicemail & Skype2Go: North America $2.95/mo; 34 countries $9.95 (http://www.skype.com/allfeatures/subscriptions/uscanadaworld/).North America or 34 country plan permits unlimited calls from anywhere to numbers in those areas.Call forwarding at normal rates

Calling Telephones Yahoo.com versus Skype.com

Airplane E-Tickets Need a Printer

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:29:00 +0000

Airline E-Tickets Need a Printer
The e-tickets are not paperless, 100 percent you need to print, I mean, whatever they say to print, you need this paper copy until the world understand this is not the goal… hehehe

You can have a printer with you and not carrry printer, a PDF printer,

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Thursday, July 10, 2008
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I was just in a strange situation; I want to go to United States Embassy in Bangkok. Therefore, I go to the webpage to check when they are open, these Embassies are worst than bankers, any reason under the sun and they close, open late, take two hours for lunch, leave early and celebrate every holiday on planet earth.

I check the site; it wants me to get an online appointment, whereby I have an appointment to stand in line. I think, Ok, so do it, at the end it says to print this page and bring with me.

No email was sent, so what do I do, carry my computer to an internet café, try to connect, this is not going to work.

I can:
1. Save As to the computer, put on Flash drive and take to internet café.

2. Cancel the appointment, it has a spot, then go to the internet café to do this, where we have a 50/50 chance they have a printer.

3. Print a nice PDF file of the page, this PDF printer acts just like a printer, you choose it and it prints to a file, you say where to save, hope you are up to speed on this, and you have print ready file.

I think sent attached this PDF file to an email, mailed it to myself on Yahoo.com, and I will go to the Internet Café later to print it.

I normally have my compute with me in an Airport; I could if needed, or I forgot, open up the compute and show them, I have done this, before I realized the e-ticket sometimes requires paper.

I use this PDF printer.
http://www.verypdf.com/pdfcamp/pdfcamp.htm

I had the Adobe one, and it some reason just does not work, so I am using this one now.

Note, sending a PDF file to executive in suits impresses them, about the same as the PowerPoint thingy, they like these toys.

Note, Save As works good, but you sometimes get a dialog box that says it cannot be saved, you have to always check these PDF and Saved As files, or sometimes they just do not work right, check and double check.

I think this printing maybe the new job for Travel Agents.

Airplane E-Tickets Need a Printer

Sandals versus Shoes for Travel

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 01:30:00 +0000

Sandals versus Shoes for Travel
I am sure gear shops make thousands or millions of dollars selling shoes for travel, as if you walk different traveling then you do at home. There are some considerations, but generally, you should wear the shoes you like and comfortable.

I have found a new twist to save money and shoes, and I want my 35 Dollar Reeboks to last one to two years, I learn a trick.

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Thursday, July 10, 2008
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First, I only have a couple pieces of advice, do not buy new shoes and go climb a mountain, trek, or walk for over 10 kilometers of miles, do not plan big hikes with new shoes. Test your new shoes by wearing until they are part of your feet, or you throw them, think before walking and talking.

Second, you old business types, please buy shoes, you just look too silly walking around in shorts with black dress shoes, and black socks. Just ask the person at the store to sell you some running shoes and the socks, do not engage your brain, pay the money, whatever it takes to look non-silly fashionalbe.

After that, it really doe not matter which shoes, I do not know anybody personally that climbs Mount Everest, ooops, I guess I do know one guy, and maybe he does need special shoes

35 U.S. Dollars for these shoes, good for about one year of travel. I recommend my Reeboks, I think a British company that has them made in Indonesia, the ones made in Thailand the rubber stinks, you do not want stinky shoes in a one-room home. I tried to find and buy in Indonesia, but had no luck, to find the originals sold on the side, I suspect Reeboks is a good company. Note, these shoes will go good with a pair of Khaki Pants, nice, happy and bright, a bottle of white shoe polish in the hands of a small street urchin can make them nice again, those smelly, greyand brown mountain gym type shoes just look silly when you try to wear civilized clothes for that one time you get invited to anything semi-formal.

Nevertheless, this is not the tip…

Sandals or Shoes

I buy them sandals near Khao San Road for 50 Baht, about 1.5 U.S. Dollars and they last about 3-4 months, I can slip them off to be Asian, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu or any other culture who wants me to take my shoes off to enter rooms, hmm, do Philippine girls want my shoes off, not important.

People seem to like to call them slippers, some people call them shower shoes, do not buy the leather ones, it is like walking on concrete, you want padding.

The Israeli Velcro type are nice, but does not save money, just a fancy shoe and hard to take off to be Asian.

I want my 35 Dollar Reeboks to last one to two years, the bottom of my shoes, my feet, anything below my feet wears out, I have learn that it is a lot cheaper and better to wear out sandals for casual walking, which really is about 90 percent of my waking. I save or conserve the bottom of the shoes by wearing sandals whenever possible.

If you need to wear sturdy walking shoes, tough, durable, because you are going to walk for miles, you may want to ask yourself,
“Am I on vacation or at work?”

By remembering to walk in Sandals, I can make them Reeboks last for 1.5-2 years. I must return to the USA to buy those shoes, I have had little luck buying in other countries, I suppose the sell them in Europe for 70 U.S. Dollars.

By the way, thanks Shoe Carnival, my vendor or choice, send money now... you too Reeboks, I am kidding.

Sandals versus Shoes for Travel

Getting to Know Countries Better

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:52:00 +0000

Getting to Know Countries Better
A person commented on what I consider one of my funniest and culturally significant posts I have ever made.
“instead of wasting your time. you should get to know these countries better.”

Taliban Discovered in Huaquillas Ecuador

I rejected the comment, just mean spirited, however it does pose two questions.

“Can I waste my time in a country?”
“Should I get to know countries better?”

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Thursday, July 10, 2008
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I sometime say, the prime directive of travel is to enjoy yourself, I have to admit, this was one of the best half hours of funny time spent in 10 years of travel, and I laughed for days.

Waste to time? I do not have a clue what is a waste of my time, I truly am Latino with this idea of time, I continually stop the American culture part of me that tries to maximize learning and use of time, these two behaviors are contra productive to enjoying life. What makes life enjoyable is just following my nose, enjoying what is in front of me, you know, that smell the roses thing, not much learning going on, however enjoyable, learning is highly over rated as a way to enjoy life, it interferes when done as a requirment of living.

As for knowing countries better, I would say this person really wants me to not know countries better, he or she does not want me to see the real culture and country, and they want me to see what they consider special. This is definitely not knowing a country, this is be contempt before consideration, the truly prejudice mind editing the world before they give it a chance to reveal its real self.

There is a real mental and emotional problem on planet earth, a true inability to empathize. I do not want to be told what to do by you, I do not think I should tell you what to do, what do you call that, a paraphrased version of the Golden Rule I learn in Sunday school.

Now this person telling me what I should and should not do is colloquial language, more or less expressing an opinion strongly, I think the person thought I wasted his or her time. Well, I think the person needs to learn about the Mouse connected to a computer and how to stop clicking, and/or reading. I suspect the person had some guilt pains after reading the whole things, having some sexual thoughts, and was angry with him or herself, was angry because he or she read the whole post, then to double up, make a comment that was too funny.

The person was afraid of his or her own thoughts.

This is the kicker about open-minded travel, there are worlds of funky thoughts that cross the brain, and people being people are prone to accepting temptations. Temptation rules their life, I am not prone to this, however do know that I have a huge problem with the Butter Pecan Ice Cream thing, and should not be close to it. Amazing to most Alcoholic like me, I can sit next to a beer for weeks and not have the slightest desire to drink it, maybe repulsion like feeling the enemy is near, but not temptation.

Editing temptation to taste the real world is sad, to mentally moderate, stop, cease to see or feel what real people on the planet are doing is sad to me. People are good, they are not bad, they do some crazy thing, they do not think about it much, they just do it, and there is no real harm in most things.

I get really annoyed at all the proclivities of average normal people, they do obsess on drinking and fashion, but it is my problem, I must avoid them, think continually ways to avoid them, but lets face it, this is real people, I just am tired sometimes of seeing so many real things. I would like to see a few more noble people in my day. People are pigs at the feed trough called life, the eat anything and do anything in front of their day.

I suppose there is nothing noble about going to see a Cabaret in Ecuador, but it was for sure one of them experiences that still make me chuckle, I commend these Ecuador people for having a sense of humor, while doing what people do best, and often.

Getting to Know Countries Better

Androgenous Thailand Photo the Future of the World

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:29:00 +0000

Androgenous Thailand Photo the Future of the World
Take a look at these two photos of a girl in Thailand carrying an extremely heavy load of purified water bottles into the 7-11 convenience store on Khao San Road, in Bangkok, Thailand.

What do you think? I know what I think, never understand what the world thinks anymore...
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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
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A boy set up these stacks of bottles in the truck. There was two people, this girl and another boy of equal size loading up with these bottles of purified water to carry into the 7-11 store.

This is a lot of weight, and was the equal or same amount of bottles as the other boy making trips in and out of the store. There is no gender gap here, in fact the girl is doing more work and lifting more weight than the boy in the truck setting up these bottles in stacks ready for them to carry.

What happens to me when I see this, I think, then ask myself, what do I feel?

I wanted to help the girl, and berate the boys for allowing her to carry this much weight.

I am Indiana farmer stock to the core, I have trouble with this type of behavior on the planet earth, I know I am stronger than women, and stronger than most men. I have Testosterone, the steroid hormone in by body that allows me to gain muscles faster than women, we are not the same.

I have a back that is incredibly strong from baling hay commercially for 10 years of my youth, football, and a couple or years of concrete construction, I am strong.

However, this the new world we live in, I must accept that the majority of men have no desire or aspiration to be my opinion of men. My sister used a term I had never heard when I was home,
“Metro,” or maybe “Metrosexual.”

I forgot I could go look up this term in Wikipedia,org, the definitions is close to the way my sister defined it.

Quote:
Metrosexual is a neologism generally applied to heterosexual men with a strong concern for their appearance, or whose lifestyles display attributes stereotypically seen among gay men. Metrosexualism is closely related to Dandyism. Debate surrounds the term's use as a theoretical signifier of gender deconstruction and its associations with consumerism. The word was coined as a tongue-in-cheek play on "heterosexual".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrosexual

It is an amusing world, I always say, let us promote homosexuals,
“More girls for me.”

I sense, feel or believe the average male in the world has no feeling of being different from the females. I love women, this women carrying the bottles is more like a man, not a women. This culture is like 2x4 piece of lumber, they all look the same in the lumber yard, you have to really pay attention to they are different.

I try to accept the new world, I do not want to be part of this new world, I keep trying to find a way to pass around this Androgenous part of the planet, but the plane tickets are cheap in Thailand, the quality of life is cheap, it is in the center of Asia, a gateway to this area. I do not really care who is around me, I just do my thing, and the other people, often what I feel are deviants do theirs. I know I am becoming the deviant, I am not the normal, I think that men should be men, and women should be women.

The world is very gay friendly, I keep thinking there should be a term made for hotels that are hetersexual male friendly. In a way, West Africa is the closest to being Hetersexual male friendly place on the planet I have encountered.

Maybe the music groups the Beatles were right,
“Leave the West Behind.”

Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out
They leave the west behind
And Moscow girls make me sing and shout.
- The Beatles - Back in the U.S.S.R
Hmm, I need to go to Russia.

Androgenous Thailand Photo the Future of the World

Change is good Second Opinion Please

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 01:51:00 +0000

Change is good Second Opinion Please
I am a little weak, semi-sad, nostalgic in the Dog Days of the USA summer heat, hot and hotter, even though I am in Bangkok, Thailand I feel the Dog Days of HoboTraveler.com.

HoboTraveler.com is my baby, I have nursed this for years, however today, soon, maybe I want this, however my Thai friend is rubbing it in… it is painful.

HoboHideOut.com will soon be bigger than HoboTraveler.com, I will have a new bigger one, but that does not mean I do not like the first, it my old friend, it will always be my friend, my blog, my Hobo.

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
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HoboTraveler.com has been my sweat and tears, my learning, my mentor, my constant companion now for 8 years, however a new baby has entered the family and is demanding to be heard. HoboHideOut.com will probably pass HoboTraveler.com in unique visitors today.

This is the low season for Travel Sites, the high is maybe from before Christmas to about the end of March, so when HoboTrav (our pet name) is done, not at full strength, the Hideout try to pass, go figure… Youth, they have no respect for age, just a few months ago, HoboTraveler.com was cranking about 14,000 unique visitors per day, now in the dog days of summer; she is piddling around at 6-7000, and just will not stand up and fight off HoboHideOut.com this new and hungry young lion.

All is good, I have two children to maintain, one is eight and the other is about one. There is nothing to be sad about, HoboHideOut.com was designed to be one of the largest internet pages on the internet with the starting number of 6.5 Million pages, and full realized maybe about 50 Million, a true monster compared to my old friend HoboTraveler.com.

Please, maybe just one more day of being the big dog.

HITS: How Idiots Test Success --- 4,821,513 Per month
The number of unique people, or sessions is what is important.

There is this little sitemeter.com box on the bottom of all pages, if any of you are really bored and want to figure out this non-relevant information click on it.

Change is good Second Opinion Please

Thoughts from across the pond

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:28:00 +0000

Thoughts from across the pond
Here is United States President Election advice for those of you confused.

I received and email from a friend who received an email from a bloke over in Ireland about the Presidential Election in the USA.

This type of logic is irrefutable and sound, it just holds water.

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
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Thoughts from across the pond

An email from Ireland to the brethren in the States...a point to ponder
despite your political affiliation:

'We, in Ireland, can't figure out why people are even bothering to hold an election in the United States .

On one side, you have a pants wearing lawyer, married to a lawyer who can't keep his pants on, who just lost a long and heated primary against a lawyer who goes to the wrong church who is married to yet another lawyer who doesn't even like the country her husband wants to run.

Now...On the other side, you have a nice old war hero whose name starts with the appropriate Mc terminology married to a good looking younger woman who owns a beer distributorship.

What in Lords name are ye lads thinking over there in the colonies??

Thoughts from across the pond

Taking a Moment to Prioritize my Life

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:08:00 +0000

Taking a Moment to Prioritize my Life
I have been taking a moment, a pause, a full stop in my life, maybe I will have insight, you know, that epiphany thing, that sudden change from being bored to an enlightened being. I know, this does not happen, I just bore my friends more talking about it.

I worry about becoming hard, I try to remember to listen to Wade,
"Walk Slow."
I would add, avoid the people who walk fast, and people who say they are too busy, they are not busy, but their brain like an old rerun on television, you have already watched before, so change channels.

There is this excellent song, maybe a video, whatever, watch it, it can help to clear the mind, I know the secret to happiness lies in where you hang your hat, and who you choose to listen too.

I think this quote is excellent advice:
"Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.
Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
Travel."
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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
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June 1, 1997 The Chicago Tribune
by Mary Schmich

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

End

Note, I do not wear sunscreen, and would call myself a sun worshipper, careful, do not become to soft, the problems is your brain, you think too much.

Taking a Moment to Prioritize my Life

Tricky Crap

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:56:00 +0000

Tricky Crap
Boy Genius is here in Bangkok, he plans to visit Singapore and a few other countries in Southeast Asia. He has not traveled that much, even though a part owner of one of the worlds largest Travel Room sites, this will be one of the first time to try to use other Hotel Sites in real life.

Yesterday, he was excited that he found a private room in Singapore for 22 Dollars, and chatted me on Yahoo Messenger the link.

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Sunday, July 6, 2008
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Boy Genius - 22$ USD on this one
Boy Genius - Singapore …. http://www….

(LINK IS REMOVED, MOST HOTEL SITES ARE THE SAME)

I looked at the link, instantly recognized that they was advertising the single person rate for a two person room, which then went on to say you needed to rent both beds. I then chatted and asked,

Andy - Do you need to have two people in room?
Boy Genius - 22 is not shared
Andy - sure?
Boy Genius - Oops
Boy Genius - hmm
Boy Genius - Tricky
Andy - yes
Boy Genius - This is crap
Andy - The reason for Hideout.

This is one of them great moments for me, when a point is poignantly made to another person, whereby they understand the nature of this travel industry beast.

I have been having fun listening to stories about airplane booking sites also…
“Yes, the ticket is 100 dollars and the tax, fee, and surcharges is 300 dollars.”

When I rent a room, I want to know the all-inclusive price, I want Wireless WIFI Internet access in my room. I almost always have to call and ask, I cannot trust their website.
“Is the Internet Free?”
“Is it in the room, or just in the hotel reception area?”

I have only reserved about five rooms in ten years of travel, the reason is simple, I do not want to learn to hate Hotel, this is where I live, these places are my home. I cannot afford the mental and emotional stress of feeling cheated.

This is trick crap as Boy Genius said, I do not understand why there is so much fine print and why the world makes is so difficult. I do not trust a hotel that does this, and I think to myself, it they will be deceptive with prices, will they be deceptive and steal my computer.

I may be different than the average person, however for me, I want to know exactly how much it cost to rent a room, I want to know exactly how much to fly in airplane. I am quick enough to decipher this maze of tricky crap, I do it daily, I have tons of experience. What about old people, are these site just preying on the older or naïve people of the planet, I feel the answer is yes.

Are people so cynical they do not believe they cannot just be honest and rent their rooms, or sell their plane tickets?

Tricky Crap

You Are Having a Bad Hair Day

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 13:01:00 +0000

You Are Having a Bad Hair Day
Boy Genius from India made a truly revealing comment, I said something like,
“It is difficult to say anything nice to women, they all seem like they have a cob up their butt.”

He said,
“An insult it the only thing they listen too now.”

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Saturday, July 5, 2008
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If you like a girl, find her attractive, you want to just flirt, maybe it time to forget all that noise. There is no credible reason to be nice to the women of the planet. If you like a girl, it is more effective and efficient to insult them, the girl will pay attention and with this great dysfunctional hook, your chances improve.

We have been walking around thinking of great insults for all occasions.

You Are Having a Bad Hair Day

Travel Versus Mountain Backpack

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:08:00 +0000

Travel Versus Mountain Backpack
I have traveled non-stop for over 10 years and 77 countries, I am positive I know about Backpacks, I live with my Backpack.

There is a pivotal difference between a Travel Backpack and a Mountain, Hiking, Trekking or Climbing Backpack.

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Saturday, July 5, 2008
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The most important thing to remember is that a Travel Backpack is touch by baggage handlers. The abuse will be doled out by the planes, trains, buses, and by the taxi drivers, even when your arrive at the hotel someone wants to touch your bag, nobody will leave that bag alone, everyone will get their chance to break that travel backpack.

A trekking bag is not touched, it is babied around, nobody gets to touch it, only the owner who cares about the bag and does not want to break the bag. Maybe a tree or bush will touch it, but the human animal, the most dangerous on the planet does not.

Would you tie a tent on the bottom of bag that is being checked at the airport? Yes, you can do it, and if you are lucky it will make it to the destination, but let us be real, inside the bag is better.

A Travel Bag is meant to keep people out, the mountain bag is meant to allow the person into the bag quickly.

The Travel Bag should have the pockets on the inside of the bag, and the mountain bag has the pockets on the outside.

A travel bag will make a way for you to lock the bag, a mountain does not, because there are too many pockets on the outside.

A travel bag should be smooth, there should be nothing lose to catch on the bus door, to get trapped in the baggage carousal at the airport, anything lose will be broken, I 100 percent guarantee it.

A baggage handler will grab anything he or she can reach quick and fast, and pick up that bag, those clips just were not meant for this abuse.

Hehehe, you do not buy things up on the mountain, you do not come home with more then when you left, and a travel bag needs to expand so it can hold all those souvenirs.

The length of time on the mountain or out will decide how much weight you need to carry. A person climbs the mountain or goes to the jungle for less than one month, a Backpacker or Travel goes for normally 3-6 months. Climbing or Hiking is something your do for a vacation or enjoyment, while travelers live with their bag, it is their home, it is a lifestyle, not a vacation.

I tend to laugh at the Traveler walking around on Khao San Road with mountain climbing gear and think, too stupid for word, they went to a gear shop and the salesperson sold them 100 percent the wrong gear. The more pockets the outside, the more I know they know nothing about traveling the world.

Travel Versus Mountain Backpack

Boy Genius from India in Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:48:00 +0000

Boy Genius from India in Thailand
Boy Genius from India has arrived in Bangkok, Thailand so we can improve the HoboHideOut.com site quicker.

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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Boy Genius has now worked for the HoboTraveler.com site and associated sites for a few years. I have given him a percentage of the HoboHideOut.com site, wherby he has a stake in his 6.5 million page site.

We are very proud of the HoboHideOut.com site, and hope to it thrives.

Boy Genius is planning to travel around Southeast Asia for a few months, and this is an excellent decision. I feel that by traveling the planet he will learn to empathize with all the situation and problems of travelers and tourists. Moreover, by living in hotels, he will have a hand on experience that allows our sites to be extremely relevant to users.

We hope as we add additional PHP coders, Graphics, Writers and other specialty needs these people also will travel the planet. It would be really a wonderful thing to have a site made by traveler for travelers. It is one thing to make a Travel site; it is another thing to say you have traveled for 10 year inside the world of travel and understand.

This is really a global website and workers will be from all the countries on the planet.

HoboHideOut.com

Boy Genius from India in Thailand

You're Not a Deliberate Man

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:11:00 +0000

You're Not a Deliberate Man
Two girls were trying to cross the street yesterday, they kept stepping, then stopping, started, then looking both ways, and I walked up, passed by them and cross the street.

I thought about Wyatt Earp saying
“You're Not a Deliberate Man”

What is wrong with people, you make a decision, then follow the decisions path, crossing the street is the easy challenge of travel.

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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I was laying my bed somewhere on the other side of the planet, watching a movie with Kevin Costner where he plays Wyatt Earp in a Cowboy Western Movie saying,
"You're not a deliberate man, Ed," Wyatt says in a monotone to his reasonable deputy, Ed Masterson (Bill Pullman). "I don't sense that about you. You're too affable."

Ed Masterson later gets himself killed because he did not take control of the situation and dominate another Cowboy with a gun.

I saw the two girls, passively crossing the street, not demanding the cars stop, also confusing the cars that are not going to stop or slow down unless they have too. However, there was a wide gap, we were jaywalking which is probably safer than walking across at crosswalk where the cars speed up to reach the light.
You're Not a Deliberate Man

A deliberate person is not passive, a deliberate person does not hesitate, if you hesitate, you have trouble.(Top Gun) This line in the movie resurfaces into my consciousness often; I try to understand the difference between a deliberate person and people who are affable.

Affable:
easygoing: good-natured, friendly, and easy to talk to

Deliberate:
1. intentional: carefully thought out and done intentionally
2. careful: slow, careful, and methodical
(My Windmill Backpack)

Nonetheless, I write in a propositional way, I propose questions and ideas, it is passive tone, not active, I can make a deliberate harsh comment, however I can also be very wishy washy in my opinions. I read other writers and I think to myself,
“They write like they know the truth.”

I think they write like this trying to convince themselves they know something because deep down in real life, they do not.
You're Not a Deliberate Man

This type of writing often annoys me, I think readers need to engage their brains, I do not think I should write the answers or solutions that would solve your problems finally. I can think of a couple types of travel gear that I think are 90 percent junk.

1. The camelbak water bag.
2. The pacsafe wire bag security system.

However, they are 10 percent good ideas, and strangely, to me, the USA Military has a water bag with a tube system they use in some of their equipment. I am hard pressed to not admit their may be times when this bag has reasonable uses. I also know the pacsafe would be better than my dog chain system when riding a train in India and worried that someone would pick up the bag and run off with it when sleeping on the bunk. The pacsafe protects the whole bag better, however easy to steal any one thing in the bag without a problem.

I still think these two types of gear are marketing jokes.
You're Not a Deliberate Man

An active person, a deliberate person versus an affable, friends with everyone, never rocks the boat and avoids confrontation person.

I not sure how the tone of my writing portrays me, however for sure I am an argumentative person, I have strong opinions and liberals suffer when near me, I do not listen to their crap, you want to tell me what to do, better to think about it first.

I do not like tourist, do not like most backpackers, I see them as infants in diapers, needing a big tit to suck to be safe. I think they are clueless and weak, I see them as people who need to follow a guidebook or a person with a big sign on a stick, the tour leader.

I do not need the tour leader, I do not need the guidebook, I use them as tools for information to augment my decision making process, when there is not a guidebook, I make it as I go.

I know I have many affable readers, who live a good Mel Gibson, Tom Cruise, John Wayne action packed movie and look up to these hero figures wanting to be like them, but they are not, but they can be...

We all want to be the hero of our own lives, however that position is held normally by someone else, I think the dreamy part of travel, the illusional, spiritual, wanderlust, chasing the dream concept of travel is opposite of what it takes for long-term travel across all cultures.
(Most long term travelers can be very intolerant of certain type of behavior, yet not feel hassled to the point of returning home, then are not tolerant, they are not affable.)

I am thinking of the normal long-term India Travelers, they hang out in cheap places, smoke dope until the drop, spout of spiritual crap, and think they are somebody. They are not going to go to Africa; it does not even float across their minds.

Somewhere in this idea of being a deliberate man is the different between trying to do something and person that does something. I think people dream of doing something, the inspiration you need to do this is by grabbing the bull by the horns and doing it, well thought out, but burn the bridges, get it done, succeeding is the only option.

Traveler versus Tourist, this is one of my popular dilemmas and clarifications I strive for understanding the difference. Are you a passive person on vacation following a tour leader, relaxing and enjoying the ride, or are you a person who explores the planet?

The label is not necessary, however to have the moment of introspection where you become the hero is needed. People can escape their follow the leader mindset and become a deliberate man. (Women also, but sounds better when I use Man.)

A friend of mine when to the Philippines, found a girl friend, had many choices, the girls made him feel like a wanted man, alive and able to make decisions. I was very happy for him, I said,
“Remember this; you will never take crap from another American woman for the rest of your life.”

I do not want to promote macho behavior, I do however want to promote the idea that each one of us the inherent right to be ourselves, we do not need to listen or tolerate opinions of every person around. Yes, I have trusted friend that I give more consideration to than others, however the people who just pass through my life are affable, nice, have too many opinions are noise.

They read it on the internet.
They watch it on television.
They repeat what the another person said,

Did you say the opinion, did you make the decision, or are you repeating what everyone else is saying?
You're Not a Deliberate Man

You're Not a Deliberate Man

Traditional Music of Thailand Video

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:09:00 +0000

Traditional Music of Thailand Video
There is a park on the river near Khao San Road where they have Aerobics and various other events. Normally in the cool of the evening before sunset in a surrealistic lack of reality push, people go down to the park to try to be different, normally they all look the same, but different.

However, the other night a different treat, there was a group of musicians playing traditional Thailand Music in the grass. Notice the Jugglers in the background, this one was good, I am sure he escaped from a European Circus.
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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
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VIDEO BELOW
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Download Video
28 Meg Follow-Mom
Traditional Music of Thailand Video

IF no video here, you need to read on the blog, and not by email or RSS feed, click here: Travel Blog
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VIDEO ABOVE
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Quote:
Thailand music reflects it geographic position at the intersection of China, India, Indonesia and Cambodia, and reflects trade routes that have historically included Persia, Africa, Greece and Rome. Thai musical instruments are varied and reflect ancient influence from far afield - including the Klong Thap and Khim (Persian origin) Jakae (Indian origin), Klong Jin (Chinese origin) and Klong Kaek (Indonesian origin).

Though Thailand was never colonized by Western powers, pop music and other forms of European and American music have become extremely influential. The two most popular styles of traditional Thai music are luk thung and mor lam; the latter in particular has close affinities with the Music of Laos.
Stop Quote
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Thailand

Note, if you are a fire juggler, maybe a bongo player, what to try to be different, try to pick up a dread Farang tattoo girls that look anemic. Or a Farang Chic that wants to get naked with Thailand style boy hippies, this is the park to meet them. This is the counter culture, looking like everyone on Khao San Road, but has Juggling and Bongo skills, get in touch with the grass they are sitting on group and call it love.

Traditional Music of Thailand Video

YouTube.com Thailand

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:57:00 +0000

YouTube.com Thailand
I have been trying now for two days to upload a video I took of Traditional Thailand Music played in the river park close to Khao San Road.

Is Thailand censoring YouTube.com videos again, stopping people from uploading videos?

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
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YouTube.com Thailand is a problem child for the Thailand country, the YouTube.com has many girl videos and these type of photos or videos are blocked in Thailand.

It is a humorous situation, in a country where the Boom Boom Girl tourist business thrives, is encouraged and organized as probably their number one tourist attraction. They do allow this to be advertised, not that I care, but a mixed cultural bag.

Freedom of speech, a luxury on the planet, not common, in fact is rare.

YouTube.com Thailand

Best Backpack Design and Quality

noreply@blogger.com (Andy HoboTraveler.com) — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:53:00 +0000

Best Backpack Design and Quality
I have been obsessing on quality of design and workmanship of backpacks. I believe the more time I invest in Research and Development the better the Windmill Backpack can be. I am searching for smart people.

I am lucky; I see thousands of backpack from all over the planet, so I do get to see good design ideas.

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Bangkok, Thailand Khao San Road Area
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Blog of Andy HoboTraveler.com --- Add a Hotel --- Backpack Design Survey
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I truly believe I see more backpack designs than about anybody on the planet. I see people from German, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, France, England, Australia, and the USA, I see about every country on the planets best of the best. I truly enjoy the Japanese and Korea Backpacks, they do think different.

I talked the other day with a lady in the USA on Skype.com, what impressed me is she was ready to leave work, yet she took great care to explain to me about here products. I learned more in minutes about backpack fabrics than I have learned in hours of talking with the man in Philippines who was helping and more or less gave up in the pursuit of quality.

The last few days I have been plowing away learning about something called Seam Tape. When there is a seam in a backpack, you can apply Seam Tape to the joint or seam. As best I understand, this tape is to reinforce the seam, stop water in some instances, and to create a stronger seam then just threads.

Zippers are probably the biggest problem with Backpack, when they break there is a problem. Clips, Buckles, Snaps and other plastic and metal hardware break constantly; to buy the best quality and to install on the bags properly is the solution. Then to have extras to replace when they are broken or fall off, there needs to be replacement parts. No buckle will survive being run over with by a car, but I can hope.

The seams of backpack should not split easy, the sewing cannot break, there needs to be enough thread to make the seam stronger than the fabric.

Ok, so I find a person that sews, that does not mean they know about Seam Tape, I know how they do it in Nepal, and for sure, that is inadequate for a great bag. I am thinking to myself, I need to find at least three people on this planet that are experts in sewing backpacks.

Time is an interesting aspect of designing something, patience is the related to time, without patience a person cannot do perfection work. I am extremely patient and take the time, yet I am very intolerant of poor work, I do not obsess on getting a design perfect the first time, therefore this is the reason I have made over 11 sample bags in my research to discover the best bag designs.

I want to put wheels on the bag, removable, and strong, able to withstand a lot of punishment, wide enough so the bag does not tip over, yet able to enter and leave rooms, or be pulled down the aisle of an airplane by a fat old woman.

I need a machine shop and some experts to do this work, I have never seen wheels on luggage that work, this aspect needs some invention to make sufficient.

I have a bundle of benefits list, which in the bundle of benefits is also the list of problems these benefits solve. There is a need to design a benefit that also does not annoy.

For example, I would like a pocket on the side of the bag to carry a water bottle, however in the airport this pocket needs to disappear so the bas is small enough to be a carryon if a person wishes. The problem is the size, yet there is a benefit to a side pocket.

I get on hundreds of Backpack sites; they continually talk about their trips and do not explain their backpack in specific details.

I have been surfing around trying to find a page that explains how to use seam tape, how to sew the tape on, do they glue it, or iron it on also, do they burn the edges of the fabric to seal, how man thread per inch, what patters of thread are used, it is truly a difficult task to find answers.

I guess my friend Gary is correct, I must accept I am too dumb to quit.

Best Backpack Design and Quality