Recent Comments on Travel Blog - Regular Not deleted

No dying allowed! If you die then I don't get to travel vicariously! JK, I am glad you are ok.

Comment About My Haiti Motorcycle Accident

I know you are doing exactly what your name means in Thai language. Chuck WOW.........

Chuck WoW does not need to "Chuck WOW" unless of course of course he is in the USA. safer than chewing your arm off to get away.

Comment About Losing Interest in Haiti Fast

agree wholeheartedly with you andy.

maybe a little proof reading expertise would help.

geoff

Comment About Time for Lonely Planet to Change Their Name

I just spent 17 days in West Africa (Senegal, Mali, Ghana,Togo, Benin, Nigeria) and I must say that Lonely Planet Guide was WAY OFF at least 70 of the time. That being said, A guide book like this is a must, BUT should be UP-DATED at least annualy.

Comment About Time for Lonely Planet to Change Their Name

That *room* on the warf is most likely an outhouse. I have seen and used outhouses much like that, everything dumps in the water.

Comment About Map to Petit Goave Haiti Hotel

Glad you're not hurt! Like the picture showing your shadow, very cool.

Haiti sounds boring but dangerous. Not really a good combo.

Comment About My Haiti Motorcycle Accident

So glad to hear you came out of what could have been serious with just minor scrapes!

Comment About My Haiti Motorcycle Accident

Traveling? Got Passport? Apply Online Now.

Comment About Second Passport

Andy, I remember reading some e from Evel Knievel... and I am paraphrasing because I couldn't find it online... Some people... about 20-30 hope I'll crash, and get hurt.

So ya, I'm sure 20-30 people were happy you went to Haiti, and others will have scheudfreude and be happy that you hit the pavement. Dust yourself off and get to where you need to go.

Comment About My Haiti Motorcycle Accident

I saw sacks and sacks of this on my trip to India in the markets.

Comment About Cinnamon in Haiti

Not all countries are the same. There are different writers.
As best I can tell all the guidebooks are targeting flashpackers.

I believe the number of books sold would double in Haiti.
If the guide included 2 hotels per city under 10-15 dollars.

Tourism evolves, first the backpackers come.
They tell their parents, andy they come and turn backpacker places into tourist traps. hehehe

Comment About Time for Lonely Planet to Change Their Name

Hi, Hobo traveler, I wanted to start by thanking you for this sight (which is a true inspiration as I am a future hobo traveler myself.) and this article in particular.

You seem to suggest that lonely planet has changed through the years and give the "cheapsakates getting the bus (goa-goa) as an example. Do you feel the whole guide book series has changed? Or just the current Dominican guide? I know you mentioned rough guide etc. is there one you'd suggest?

Comment About Time for Lonely Planet to Change Their Name

nice commentary

mike

Comment About Time for Lonely Planet to Change Their Name

I am thinking, what is the challenge to Port-au-Prince? Or Haiti?
It is,
1. Not Danger
2. Not transportation, extremely easy.
3. Not internet, this is everywhere but slow.

THE CHALLENGE IS:
1. Find a room for under 700 good. LP cheapest is 1500.
2. Find a room in P.A.P. center, not in the suberbs like the LP.

Those two I can do easy.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE
1. Walking 10 miles with my backpack.
2. Trying to not get angry with the greedy Haitian owners of Hotels.
--- These owners are the rich get richer, and the poor get poore bunch.
This type of person would rape his mother for a buck.

I am trying my best to not critisize the Lonely Planet, it is making money by giving what the core buyers of books want. Zookeeper rooms that are nothing like Haiti, but lie all business hotels.

A person can go to any country if the will pay the Hotel fee.

To go to a country a have rooms for a good value in comparison to the local economy is the challenge.

Chuck, I am trying to be serious, even though I know you are doing exactly what your name neans in Thai language. Chuck WOW.

What do I owe? Nothing. What would I like to do. I would like to fine on reasonable price room in Port-au-Prince so backpackers would maybe come at backpaker prices.

The world of people seems to spend most trying to misrepresent the truth.
Or maneuver people for sadistic pleasure. Chuck... think about this I know you are smart.

I spend too much time trying to avoid annoying petty problems.

Comment About Losing Interest in Haiti Fast

Andy says...

" if someone wants me to live in Port-au-Prince a few days, I guess they need to Donate $ 200 Dollars, I am not going to pay to live in a zoo in a cage."


BIg A ,

I think you missed the whole point of the voting to send you somewhere. I think the voters wanted to see if you could survive Port-au-Price because you so successfully navigated Afghanistan and Iraq and now your copping out of down-town Capital of Haiti because of your duty to pay less than 10 dollars for a room ?...trust me there are rooms for 15-20 dollars easy
and you broke this rule a hundred times.

you just got to make friends with the Zoo keeper...

Comment About Losing Interest in Haiti Fast

Andy,

With few conversations and relatively high prices, I guess I can understand you loosing interest.
From other travelers I've heard that places in the north like Gonaives, Cap-Haitien and Labadie don't offer much reprieve from your current experience on both counts.

Perhaps you could slip across the border to the Dominican Republic since your on the island already. I've been told about places around Sosua near the beach that are nice and well under $20. At least you could use your Spanish to spark things up.

From DR, there are several places to fly out of Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Santiago, Santo Domingo etc.

Eric

Comment About Losing Interest in Haiti Fast

There is no free clothing, doantions to Goodwill and the DAV have to sorted, cleaned, sized etc. They sell it in there stores to fund food give aways and other social programs in the US, the unsaleable clothing is sold to defray operating costs in the US. There are other costs on these clotthes as they work there way to Thailand, Hati, and other 3rd world countries such as bundeling, shipping and distribution, not to for get paying people for there time and effort fro doing this.
Of course its a business, this is reality, not a dream world

Comment About Used Clothing Imported to Haiti

I have farming, construction, and mechanical experience. Lots

i make choices that are optimal, not to live difficult. The water is the optimal option available.

Comment About Bags of Water Travel Tips

reverse osmosis is bad for you, i want to travel like you dude, i love camping , and have always slept on the floor even when i could sleep in a bed......is it hard to find work in all these places? do you have like construction skills or something? farming? thanks for inspiring

Comment About Bags of Water Travel Tips

The 10 dollar man violated first priority of choosing a room.
1. I need to trust for my safety and possesions.

Safety is also better in numbers, to be in a Hotel alone allows people to do isolated actions. People who want to cause problems do not want watching eyes.

Comment About Map to Petit Goave Haiti Hotel

Andy,

Great fun hearing about your hotel sweep.
Wondering why you didn't go back to the 10 dollar guy in the truly nice building?
After all, your negotiating the price down with all of them, right?

Was it too far from the market action?

Eric

Comment About Map to Petit Goave Haiti Hotel

Star Anise....................one more time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_anise

Good Job Andy....be safe and keep those email gems coming.

Comment About Cinnamon in Haiti

I cant say less than Thank you and congratulations for all your photos and reportage. It's simple fascinating and revealing.

Cant wait to read /see more.

www.theworldinabag.blogspot.com

Comment About Miragoane Haiti

star anis.great for making chai

Comment About Cinnamon in Haiti

cinnamon en français - cannelle

Comment About Cinnamon in Haiti

In French cannelle is the word for cinnamon, but your photo is of star anise which is la badiane chinoise or anis étoilé in French.

Comment About Cinnamon in Haiti

It's a beautiful piece of wood. Reminds me of a starfish.

Comment About Cinnamon in Haiti

star anise

Comment About Cinnamon in Haiti

Star anise.

Comment About Cinnamon in Haiti

Note in Pats comment "clothes they can't sell in their shops". Goodwill also sells the clothes and items you donate it covers their operating costs. Makes sense to sell the non-movers to some one. In turn, the sellers in Haiti probably don't charge much as Haitians couldn't afford much. However, I agree that if you donate with the understanding that the recipients will get it for free and, instead, they have to pay it is fraud.

Andy, I also noticed some time ago you had a missive about vast quantity use of cooking oil in Africa. In the picture accompanying it, note the cans of oil are labeled "USAID not for commercial sale." An excellent graphic example of the diversion of aid for pecuniary gain.

Comment About Used Clothing Imported to Haiti