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Chris commented about American Flag Patches Sewn on Backpack, On Sunday November 1st, 2009 11:34:11 AM
All good, fair and balanced points. I've only experienced directly ignorant/put down statements from Brits myself. I just mark them as uncultured and ignore it. They dont know me well enough to generalize, and it comes off to me as bad social etiquette. Coming from a supposedly educated and well traveled brits, I tend to find this both ironic and funny. But then I do cringe when I see idiot americans abroad. But then there are idiots from every nation abroad, and so its a wash. We just draw the ire, more than most, because of our cultural influence and our governments' politics.
However, I do encounter 'envy' type of negativity from other countries' citizens that have a large amount of americans as expats or tourists. When they get annoyed for even petty reasons, stuff comes out like: "You think that your american and can do as you please". There are a lot of "rejects" working/traveling abroad (many drawn into the ESL industry), and therefore maybe they have a skewed experience with an expat pool including many atypical Americans. Also, many Americans do not attempt to learn languages, even when in country for a while. I don't know why this is. Overall, I don't know how much of this generalizing is their direct experience vs a stereotype. I can only vouch for myself. Every individual should work to represent his country in the best possible way when interacting in foreign countries.
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Chris commented about Glenn Beck Entitlement Mentality, On Thursday October 29th, 2009 07:51:40 PM
I won't comment on Glenn Beck.
I will comment on craigspr.com's comment.
If you think that the reason that you could be "rich" in a country filled with poor people, is because you are willing to work hard and they are not, then you, sir, need an education. That is an arrogant and ignorant statement.
Thats not how the world works.
There are billions of poor people on this planet that are so not because of any lack of work ethic.
Most of the rich in the world are so because they had the family resources to allow them to be so. This includes everything from the education that they were afforded, to political and business connections. In most countries in the world, you would have very little/no chance of being 'middle class' or rich unless you were born into a very small circle of families.
However, for the sake of simplicity, lets take the USA as an example, where supposedly 'anyone' can make it. But I'm only going to talk about the very wealthy. How do a large portion of todays wealthy make their money? "The market". They don't provide anything of value to society (product or service) that justifies society handing value/wealth back to them, and hence them becoming rich. Instead, they skim wealth from the market, which has the end effect of making it much harder for the average real value producer (the middle class) to make money above and beyond what it takes to live. In short, the wealthy value stealer skims the profit off of the value created by everyone else. Thats a summary of the actual economics behind the mechanisms of our economy. So, if you actually produce something of value, like a product or service (to anyone other than people who make their money by stealing value) then dont feel guilty. If not, then feel guilty, as you make it more difficult for everyone else to live.
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chris commented about Obama Becomes Eunuch, On Sunday October 11th, 2009 07:20:30 PM
Lol. True, I wasnt specific on the other four presidents mentioned. First, I wasnt trying to get into a debate, but just provide perspective. The perspective that arises from common knowledge to whom the aforementioned presidents have been beholden to. That being varying corporate interests, banking interests and wall street. Going into specifics on each one would require such a long post, and the information, if nor already known, can readily be found in books, in newspaper archives (if you know where to look), and online. Believing that most of any presidents decisions are made according to what is best for the people, and country as a whole, is incredibly naive. History has repeatedly proven otherwise, especially in the latter half of the 20th century. Heck, like I said, if you didn't want to do all of that specific research even, you could research the true rate of unemployment throughout each presidency as a loose and quick gauge as to their effectiveness in raising quality of life, and therefore, how true they were to the people vs. special interests. Again, as a loose and quick, but meaningful, measure only.
Second, the Nobel Peace prize is nice enough, but doesn't behold Obama to anyone. There is no real political power behind that award, in that there is no monetary/economic or military impetus that enforces his behavior according to this award. If anything, I would think that this award will take some of the pressure of of him to have to be the worlds savior in Europes eyes, as it gives him an image that will stand in the minds of Europeans, despite his actions for the rest of the presidency. I guarantee that his decision making, as it would be for any president, will continue to be based on military/economic outcomes that are in line with his goals, whatever they truly are. Who cares if the Europeans are trying to be manipulative. If thats the only power they have, to give that award, then its expected of them to do so. But that doesn't meant that it means much to Obama, in terms of what he needs to do to accomplish his goals.
I'm not going to bite and comment on your perspectives on Afghanistan and what it means to "support the troops". Thats a well worn topic that doesn't need to be further argued, however passionate you and I might disagree. It would be interested to know what the majority of those kids over there would feel, however, if they were polled. I'm sure that most of them would choose to come home if given the chance. Its gotta be hell over there...
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Chris commented about Obama Becomes Eunuch, On Sunday October 11th, 2009 04:14:56 PM
Andy,
I know you like to stoke the fires of controversy, but honestly, what president do you know of who wasn't a houseboy to somebody?
Was Bush Jr. not a houseboy?
Was Clinton not a houseboy?
Was Bush senior not a houseboy?
Was Reagan not a houseboy?
Honestly, there is nothing new under the sun. The only thing that changes is the demographic of people that get riled up about it, depending on whether there is a democrat or republican in office. Now, it is time for you to get riled up. When Bush was in office, it was your time to defend.
The reality is that the only thing that counts is if the quality of life becomes diminished or improved for most of the people in the country during the presidency. Despite what the media tells us is the truth, or what our ideals tells us is the truth, this quality of life gauge is the only one that can somewhat accurately enlighten as to how effective, and honest, a president actually was. In other words, they can all talk the talk, but its the rare few that walk the walk. Because of this, unfortunately, it generally takes years before we can accurately criticize or laud a president.
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Chris commented about Which country do you want me to visit, On Friday September 25th, 2009 09:57:54 AM
Uhh..yeah..getting married is possibly the worst thing Andy could do, just to do something different.
Man, I just cant see an upside to it unless one is deeply, deeply in love. It can be more like a prison than a relationship if not. And if a man realizes this, than his freedom is the most precious possession in the world.
Additionally, what good are all the trappings of static life in society if you aren't going to have a wife and raise kids? That would be boring and miserable for most, and it is for many, especially once past your twenties. Go to work, come home, pay bills, buy things, eat, shit, sleep, see your friends when they aren't busy with family, and repeat. The only true advantage is seeing your parents and siblings. But they generally wouldn't want you to mold your life around them. So, as long as Andy is happy and appreciative of his situation, which it sounds like he is, than it would be foolish to change it.
Most people justify the steady job for the pension that will provide an income in the very old last 10-20 retirement years of life. However, those pensions largely dont exist anymore. And if you have cash flow systems set up, then they will substitute for the pension. Also, living your present life only for those last years of survival is ridiculous.
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Chris commented about Goodbye Baguio Have a Nice Life, On Sunday September 20th, 2009 02:09:38 PM
Hi Andy,
I was wondering when you might give Brazil another shot! Anyway,dont forget about the Florianopoils area,in Santa Catarina, either. While a tourist hotspot during certain times of the year, its a little more off the beaten path than Rio. But also very friendly and a lot of fun. You would blend in better there as well, because of the whiter population of santa catarina state. Also, less crime, better infrastructure, etc.. Isla Santa Catarina is large, and you can find cheaper places on the island to live and find a beach to meet your tastes. The island is setup to provide for tourists and travelers,but there are less popular spots that you can live cheaper. If staying for a month,you could probably negotiate for an apartment. The high season is in december through february. There is also an area just to the north of floripa, that I cant remember now, that is even less well known than floripa, but offers a popular option for beach living as well. They are in short distance of one another.
Have fun,
Chris
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Chris commented about I Live a Dream Life - I am Grateful, On Friday September 11th, 2009 04:56:31 PM
Fantastic Post Andy! Its inspirational that you still appreciate and enjoy your lifestyle after all of these years... Some of us, such as myself, might be cautious that the shine would dull after a while...as it does with most things idealized.
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Chris commented about Camp John Hay, On Monday August 3rd, 2009 08:43:47 AM
Yes, prime location real estate is a better investment in terms of appreciation potential. But from a international real estate buyers perspective, there are x factors which increase the risk of buying property exponentially. However, sellers can always bank on the ignorance of vacation buyers to overpay or otherwise not know what they are getting into with the local government (taxes and other extortions), building quality standards, currency fluctuations, environmental risk, and labor force. Therefore, people can always make excessive profits selling to unwitting retirement/foreign buyers. I would guess there are few truly good deals to be had for the foreign retiree who wishes to settle down. Especially when you look at the true value of the real estate as it compares to the prices available to natives for similar quality and location. I would guess that the price to build to good quality building standards, as demanded by some foreign buyers, rises way out of proportion to the actual work performed. Also, with no assurance as to the actual quality of the work.
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Chris commented about Camp John Hay, On Sunday August 2nd, 2009 08:44:40 AM
Really good post, IMO.
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Chris commented about My Thai Girlfriend Comes to Baguio Philippines, On Monday July 27th, 2009 01:03:59 PM
Andy,
True. This is your house, and I see your point. Also, I would adhere to most of the same guidelines as you have if this were my blog. However, I believe that there is one small perspective missing from your statement above, and that is without readers your blog would no longer fulfill its purpose for you, monetarily or otherwise.
Where this becomes relevant is that, to me and I expect many others, blogs without comments are much less interesting to read. One of my favorite blogs turned off its commenting system about 2 months ago, and while I would rarely post a comment there, I no longer visit the blog because instead of a discussion it is now one individual talking to many. Its not nearly as interesting. He is not a journalist, and therefore does not offer the depth of information necessary to warrant repeated visits without the ability to interact. A commenting system that is too overly moderated may as well be turned off as well. However, I realize that your blog is not quite average, it is a bit more journalistic, and therefore may not have to adhere to the same rules as other blogs who wish to keep their traffic high. This point may be supported by the fact that I rarely look at the comments on your blog, but frequently look at the comments on other blogs.
Im not saying that your way of doing things is not working, Im not trying to change your perspective, and I wish you well with your blog for as long as you choose to run it. Im just offering my perspective on what makes an average blog interesting for the reader, and therefore what draws in traffic for the blog owner.
Thanks.
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Chris commented about My Thai Girlfriend Comes to Baguio Philippines, On Sunday July 26th, 2009 11:30:15 AM
Good post, truly.
The last thing I would try to accomplish as a commenter is to try and change someones mind. That is and always will be an exercise in futility. It amazes me to see adults attempt to do this with one another on a regular basis, and become frustrated and even angry with the result. Live and let live is the name of the game, and when you understand that there are no absolutes in this world, and no perfect people, than the burden of judging others dissipates and frees your soul to live your own life. A judge cannot ever truly understand the person whom they are judging, the judge will have opinions and actions of his own that other people would feel worthy of their judgment. Everyone is generally guilty of something in someone elses eyes.
However, we certainly have the right to our opinions and to avoid behavior which we find distasteful.
However, one thing that I do not understand is that blog authors will often be overly sensitive to their commenters who are also practicing free speech. I always have viewed blogs as interactions between the reader and author, and therefore having no limitations on what can be said. If the author does not wish this to be so, then comments can be easily turned off. If I was a blog author, I would have learned not to take anything to heart shortly into the venture. And of course there are crazies who will say things that are so outrageous that they dont make any sense or are off subject. Hense, the power to delete the comment is a valuable one. But in general, as long as it is not outrageously offensive, just what constitutes writing within norm of society? Just curious.
Also, maybe a post about why you feel USA culture is the best on the planet? That would be interesting coming from someone with your experience. However, perhaps you think this is true because that is the culture into which you can participate fully due to family ties? That certainly goes a long way to endearing a culture to a person. That is, the ability to fully understand and participate in it. What do you think?
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Chris commented about Sleepless in the Philippines, On Monday July 20th, 2009 08:03:02 PM
I understand the mentality you preach, as its a common one. It is also necessary to keep going in tough times. However, I never could resolve to delude myself into always thinking that life is good. I understand that we need to find pleasure in the little things that make life good, as a way to take focus off of the bad, but I could never make the leap that we are told to take to constantly repeat the mantra that life is good. Life is sometimes good, and sometimes bad, and sometimes ridiculously good and sometimes ridiculously bad. The ridiculously good is a constant for some people and the ridiculously bad is an constant for many people. If life is good were a reality, then it would be true for everyone in the world. It is not. However, which is more real, accepting reality as a less than ideal part of our natural existence or convincing yourslef of a non-truth? Which is more sane? A necessary self help technique, definately. A measure of sanity, I would argue against. However, if you were to talk with a zen buddhist, he/she would say good is not good and bad is not bad, they just are. One cant exist without the existence of the other.
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chris commented about Philippines Travel Plans 2009, On Thursday July 9th, 2009 08:36:02 AM
Ah, yes, no perfect place in the world, is there? Who knows, maybe the place of which you speak will be the best compromise that you have found. Good luck with your condition, getting good medical care, especially for curious conditions, is difficult everywhere.
Also, given your condition, its probably good that you didnt buy that boat.
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Chris commented about Empowerment Worries Me, On Thursday June 25th, 2009 03:30:11 AM
- Dr. WHO?
Yes, I am The Doctor.
- Doctor of WHAT?
Everything.
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Chris commented about Bequia Island, On Sunday June 14th, 2009 12:55:03 PM
Got robbed bareboating, Island is full of thugs and crime is blamed on St.Vincent. I have talked to many sailors since and have heard countless stories about crime on Bequia.
I have sailed to many islands and respect the locals wherever I go. I will never go back and encourage all sailors and tourist to stay away..
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chris commented about The Future of Internet Access, On Thursday May 21st, 2009 05:28:53 PM
Your gutsy letting unknown software form Africa be installed on your laptop. Id be careful with that..
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chris commented about NEW Map of Location of Andy, On Friday May 8th, 2009 12:04:20 PM
yeah, good luck with that. I would be too paranoid to do as much...
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Chris commented about Busia Kenya, On Saturday May 2nd, 2009 04:27:10 PM
Hey,
how is it going ?Do you remember chris fron Katmandu the guy with the hostel in Canada!?
Hope you all having fun!
will go to Padagonia this winter!Catch later in some place on this planet!
Chris
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Chris commented about RSS Feeds is Being Removed, On Wednesday March 11th, 2009 08:01:00 AM
"Techie, computer saavy readers who enjoy trying to monitor, however fail to truly read."
I just can't understand this. Almost all bloggers (and their readers) I know are very well read, and truly understand how research is done. They just want to be able to do it with newer tools - which your site could easily provide if, I think, you got better advice on how to monetize.
It may be true that other markets outside of so-called first world countries are not "RSS ready" - but keep in mind that many advertisers using Google Adwords target based on region. Not sure how many of these markets are targeted by advertisers? The online ad market is actually shrinking at the moment.
Research concepts such as "freemium" - relying solely on advertising revenue through google adwords may not be sustainable in a year or so.
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Chris commented about RSS Feeds is Being Removed, On Monday March 9th, 2009 07:56:00 AM
You are crazy - readers like me will instead just read other blogs. In fact, you shouldn't even call it a blog anymore - it's now an email newsletter.
You have competition, and ignoring how new technology should be used is closed-minded. Stating that RSS is a technology devised to take good money from nice people indicates that you don't fully understand how to monetize your web site - and are stuck in 5-8 year old thinking.
These kinds of decisions are the same as what the studios and record labels do. Instead - understand, embrace, and extend.
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Chris commented about RSS Real Sucky System, On Saturday March 7th, 2009 08:35:00 AM
I'd have to disagree - but it's *how* you use the internet, RSS, etc.
It looks like you aren't getting good advice on how to monetize your knowledge and experience. Reverting to bookmarking your website and an email newsletter will not be a good idea.
You should think along the lines of "freemium" (some content free, other paid) or using RSS to actually get people to *click* to come to your site.
On the freemium - I can say that it is hard to search your archives and get valid information out. Let's say I'm going to thailand and want to see what your experiences were - it's very hard to find. You have this massive database of knowledge - you could leverage that to make money too.
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Chris commented about Verizon Blackberry Storm Interview Tomorrow, On Thursday February 19th, 2009 09:17:00 AM
From my experience, the Storm has a lot of bugs. Most people I know returned it and got the Bold or a Curve - both excellent phones. The Bold is probably the best smartphone available.
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Chris commented about Photos are Gone Computer Crash, On Friday November 9th, 2007 11:32:00 PM
Just wanted to say that I feel your pain, right when I read your post. Similar thing happened to me just a month ago. A first in my 15+ years I deal with Computers.
Thankfully most of the things were backed up, but had to change all the passwords for the couple of dozen websites, portals, services I use. Quite a royal pain.
Up to date, there is no real solution for the problem with the growing amount of data (pictures, documents, etc.), especially for long-term travelers. :-(
In the link of my name is my trouble report, if someone is interested in more details.
Cheers from Bali,
Chris
nomad4ever
Life is what you make it!
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Chris commented about Swiming The Amazon, On Sunday April 8th, 2007 07:12:00 AM
He started his swim in Atalaya, Peru - first swimming 1,112 km to Iquitos. Besides piranhas, which he managed by swimming farther out in the main channel than where the congregate ("they swim mostly by the shore"). He also smeared his wetsuit with gasoline and cremes to mask his scent and his boat support crew threw raw meat and blood on the opposite side of the boat to draw them away. Apparently locals told his about piranha killing a 2 yr. old girl a couple of years earlier who was near the shore. Actually though, he wrote in the diary he kept for BBCMundo was more worried he wrote about being attacked by the "Blood Sucking Toothpick Fish":
"There are other concerns to consider as well, however. A real risk is the toothpick fish."
BBC Mundo swim diary:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/6389845.stm
Swimmer's Diary in Spanish:
http://news8.thdo.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/forums/blogs/newsid_6434000/6434635.stm
They can enter the body by swimming up the penis and can only be removed by surgery."
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Chris commented about Losing The Plot, On Saturday April 7th, 2007 07:36:00 AM
Heartfelt condolences on the death of your friend in Manila. You've blogged about knowing him during stays of yours in the P.R. and though we share some familiarity, this was surely bad news for you. One would wish for long life, yet sometimes it must be said that the Spirit moves faster outside the body.
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Chris commented about Making Photo Exposé of Hotel, On Wednesday March 28th, 2007 04:58:00 AM
Could add to the list ambient sound level (in decibels), nearest Internet or Bank/ATM, etc. Looks like you've got alot of things to keep track of.
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Chris commented about Andy Stay Pure, On Sunday December 24th, 2006 07:51:00 PM
"Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home." Carol Nelson
Best to You Andy. Merry Christmas!
- Idaho Chris after dancing with his snow shovel and feeding the deer
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Chris commented about Exercising and Travel, On Tuesday December 19th, 2006 08:30:00 AM
You've always got a Gym Membership wherever there's a floor -- just do daily situps (suggest bent-knee "Crunches" alternating side-to-side with hands behind head), pushups and stretches and you'll really look and feel great. You can add other exercises that look suspiciously like bicycles, stairways or swims. Or whatever. It's the active lifestyle. Satisfaction Guaranteed! Can't beat the price. Ever!
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Chris commented about Sound Level Meters, On Monday December 4th, 2006 01:53:00 AM
Andy,
Next time you're in the USA drop by a Radio Shack store ("Ratty Shark"). They've sell a great moderately priced
sound meter. Highly recommended by all who have used it.
- Chris
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Chris commented about Benin Smog Pollution, On Thursday September 28th, 2006 10:16:00 AM
It appears to be fuel for 2-stroke engines which African-Asian motorcycles most often are apparently. Gasoline-motor oil mixture for fuel. 2-strokes have "smoggier" emmisions than 4-strokes, which is why they have being phased out in the U.S.A rencently. An advantage of a 2-stroke is greater engine power for a given engine displacement and cheaper cost...but there are are environmental bills to pay for shortcuts.
The solution would be to convert these to ethanol operation in my opinion. Exhaust would be mainly carbon dioxide and water then. Good work is being done in India, Brazil and the United States and Canada to make this a reality. The Internet Biofuels and Biomass Stoves lists are places to find ethanol fuel researchers. Very interesting.
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Chris commented about Togo Water Research, On Monday September 11th, 2006 06:42:00 PM
Short-term flu-like symptoms can be experienced after eating or drinking some components of plastics. I believe TFOE's are the likely culprits, as backpacker's find after eating scorched or overheated food cooked in pans with plastic stick-free coatings (Teflon) that's been subjected to heats over 500 degrees Farenheit whereupon some "morphing" takes place. Not generally harmful, though it is usually avoided by stirring with wood or soft plastic utensils and not scraping stick-free pot coatings with metal -- or using non-coated pots. Aluminum pots are lighter than steel to carry and the new hard anodized variety of aluminum pots conduct heat better than steel or titanium and hard anodizing prevents aluminum from leaching out into food, a concern in itself. Titanium (Ti) is very light, but tends to scorch easily - it is also available with non-stick coatings for easy cleanup. IMO, the newer hard anodized aluminum pot sets are cheap, hard and durable as steel, clean easy and are very nearly as light as the spendy upper-end Ti pots.
My guess is that your bad-tasting water bags were made with a non-food grade plastic that's leaching chemicals into the water. Yeech...followed by Sick. I think maybe springing for a portable water filter and refilling your own bottle is the lesser of two evils. You mileage may vary...
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Chris commented about Ghana Computer Problems, On Saturday August 26th, 2006 12:10:00 AM
Portable Apps is a set of free Internet applications specifically designed to reside within RAM on a flash drive. They are generally Mozilla based (Firefox Browser, etc.) because that's become favored for security reasons within the Windows OS. Among the software available as free downloads are equivalent programs for Photoshop (GIMP) as well as for Chat, ftp, email (Thunderbird), antivirus (ClamAV), audio/video players, ZIP file compression and website editing (NVU). New applications are optomized for flash drives all the time. Worth a look!
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Chris commented about Caolin Pregnancy Stone, On Saturday August 12th, 2006 05:26:00 AM
Kaolin = clay.
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Chris commented about Ironing Clothes with Charcoal, On Saturday August 12th, 2006 04:52:00 AM
Charcoal has pluses and minuses -- fully 2/3 of it's energy is lost burning wood to make charcoal fuel and it's more expensive to buy than wood. On the other hand it's lighter to carry and is more compact than wood. Indoor air pollution from chimney-less wood burning is directly attributable to very high 3rd World infant mortality, cancer and emphysema rates. Charcoal DOES have low particulate and smoke emmissivity in comparison to wood, even taking less cleanup work and sooting pots less. However charcoal can have (almost always does) dangerously high carbon monoxide (CO) levels, often lethal indoors. This is because of the absense of live flame above typical charcoal fires, unlike wood fires. Cooking atop a short chimney (pipe or tube section) placed atop a charcoal fire creates much more draft and allows flame combustion of CO or smoke. Directly measured decreases of charcoal CO with better drafting are in the order of 8,000-9,000%! If you have the bandwidth to view this a fine video illustrates this problem and solution using an African Jiko stove:
Charcoal Burning Rocket Stove
CO and smoke can be largely combusted in open wood or stove fires when properly drafted and not over-choked with fuel. Obviously, usually this is not the case.
___________
Some pre-electric irons are hollowed for coals heating like your photo shows (nice example) while others are just solid iron and are placed atop a metal stove top or griddle to heat. I've seen more of the solid type myself.
Love this blog post (more Stove shots please) - I was just cooking over a wood fired Rocket Stove of my own making while packing my wonderful old smokeless WoodGas Cookstove (I'm getting a new one!) to give to a friend that could use it. Good stuff.
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Chris commented about Liberia Isekiri Tribe Face Tattoo, On Saturday August 5th, 2006 06:08:00 PM
Scarification or Cicatrization (from the French). A Cicatrix shows up better than a tattoo on dark skinned people. Sometimes signifying the readiness of a woman to bear children. From the
Scarification Wiki
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Chris commented about Learning French in West Africa, On Saturday July 29th, 2006 06:47:00 PM
Piscine Plage Jeux -
"I think this translates to Pool - Beach - Play"
Google agrees with your translation Andy.
Google language tools
Piscine Plage Jeux = Swimming pool Beach Plays
Your idea of searching for Online French instruction (with sound files) sounded interesting, so I have started by registering with ...
French Assistant
Using machine language translation I wish to say:
Bien, m'excuser maintenant, je dois trouver un maillot de bain et descendre la colline au d'Alene de Coeur de lac pour un bain!
Google language tools
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Chris commented about Healthy Hot Water, On Tuesday July 25th, 2006 03:56:00 AM
What do you think of lugging one of these around then?
Zodi Extreme Hot Shower
Without Zodi's propane stove it can sit atop a hotplate or other portable stove to heat water quick.
Firefighters use these during fire season in the forest. Should fit in a Duffle. A dirty guy's best friend.
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Chris commented about GREAT My First Ignorant American Email, On Friday July 21st, 2006 02:23:00 AM
Spirit: Fresh Garbage
"Look beneath your lid some morning,
See those things you didn't quite consume—
Your fresh garbage..."
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Chris commented about Arrived in Delhi, On Monday July 17th, 2006 10:31:00 AM
Another Tsunami just washed ashore onto Indonesian Java. No other countries were affected.
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Chris commented about Dark Star Safari, On Thursday July 13th, 2006 07:51:00 AM
I checked the nice local college library (@ "Tanning U" - College with a Beach) for Robert Theroux and 'lo and behold' there were 25! Dark Star Safari was there but I decided to read a more recent book of his, "Fresh Air Fiend" and it begins with his experiences among basically uncontacted Tribes! He is pretty much as anti-technology as the Unibomber and hates telephones, email, TV and such. Credits his Luddite approach to his success as a writer and to his credit doesn't cover resorts, hotels or cruise ships, just documents his experiences and those of others he lives among. Think you'd like his writing.
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Chris commented about What do you know about Ivory Coast, On Thursday July 6th, 2006 08:09:00 PM
The CIA World Factbook:
A destination with a fairly recent history of coups and civil war (1999-2003). After the accord in 2004 nine French Peacekeepers were killed by government troops and the sparsely populated northern part of the country is still in rebel hands. There are 4,000 French Troops still quartered there to keep the sides apart. Most of the population lives along the coast and the Embassies are in the port city Abidjan.
Cocoa and coffee both!
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Chris commented about Refuse the Plastic Bag, On Saturday July 1st, 2006 08:15:00 PM
Ironic an anti-plastic bag blog generates plastic bag Google ads.
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Chris commented about Continually Crazy in the Philippines, On Sunday June 25th, 2006 04:10:00 PM
"...By the livin' Gawd that made you,
You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!"
- hotspringfreak
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Chris commented about Good and Bad in the World, On Friday June 23rd, 2006 02:12:00 AM
The
Yuen Family blog (above - in this string of Comments) is HOT! Very enjoyable. Thanks Mr. Yuen!
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Chris commented about Bataan Death March, On Sunday June 18th, 2006 12:32:00 PM
A very interesting trip. Thanks for sharing.
Happy trails (to the end of the road),
- Idaho Chris
Comment About Bataan Death March
Chris commented about Map of Indonesia, On Monday May 29th, 2006 12:04:00 PM
Ten Bird Flu death's in Indonesia during the last week (careful with that Chicken Fried Rice).
400,000 - 500,000 dead so far from the undersea earthquake just offshore Yogyakarta (think Tsunami while at the beach there).
A preeminently eruptive volcano (point of interest, Mt. St. Helens' pyroclastic flows killed people up to 18 miles away).
... you sure know how to have fun!
Comment About Map of Indonesia
Chris commented about Kevin Sites in Nepal, On Friday May 26th, 2006 07:23:00 PM
Kevin Sites website says he is using a Hughes R-BGAN Satellite Modem. This from his
Kevin's Gear
webpage.
Comment About Kevin Sites in Nepal
Chris commented about 220 110 Room Heater for Nepal, On Tuesday May 23rd, 2006 12:39:00 AM
Can we have a picture of this Gizmo -- all set up running past your hotplate? Not familiar with this variable output computer cable you've mentioned ... USB, eh?
Thanks.
- Chris
Comment About 220 110 Room Heater for Nepal
Chris commented about Where Will You Send Me, On Saturday April 15th, 2006 12:03:00 PM
I say do something like hooking up with a Gulf Hurricane devastation zone Habitat For Humanity home build. There's a screamin' need, a build lasts about a WEEK and pays dividends as you pick up some homebuilder's skills. That could come in handy as a force multiplier - for passing on skills to others elsewhere or just for building (say subcontracting) your own home build to save you big bucks. If you live in it for a year a two and sell it you'll make some good money. Repeat that and as they say the 3rd home you build is free.
Comment About Where Will You Send Me
Chris commented about I am a Grateful Traveler, On Thursday April 13th, 2006 10:15:00 PM
Happy Trails Buckeroo.
Comment About I am a Grateful Traveler
Chris commented about A Volunteer Idea, On Sunday April 9th, 2006 03:47:00 PM
You've got a big heart Andy, you did some good, this project went from your head, out your pocket all of your own free will and the world's a little better. Sweet! Nice when a plan comes together like that. There's a lesson in this for all of us. Get involved, see what needs doing and "Hazlo" ("Just Do It", like the Nike Ad says).
Go Indianans!
Comment About A Volunteer Idea
Chris commented about Fava or Haba Bean, On Monday March 27th, 2006 07:06:00 PM
"I ate his liver with a nice Chianti and some Fava beans."
Sir Anthony Hopkins portrayal of fictional serial killer Hannibal Lector in the film "The Silence Of The Lambs".
Comment About Fava or Haba Bean
Chris commented about OPEN WIFI FINDERS, On Saturday March 25th, 2006 11:42:00 AM
These devices have evolved in functionality over time. Some will detect Bluetooth as well as rule out microwave ovens, for instrance. To my mind, the best WiFi Finder is the Canary Wireless Digital Hotspotter (HS10) which cost’s about $50 USD and shows either if a hotspot is Opened or Closed (encrypted), what channel it’s on and it’s Network Name (SSID). No other WiFi Finder reveals encryption/unencryption status. It’s pricier and a little thicker feel than others (though it’s still light), but it has a digital display. However, it won’t detect some routers because they broadcast their Network prescence at too high a speed, but those are not that prevalent.
There are pro’s and con’s among the different models and these are discussed in an online article comparing various current models:
http://www.handtops.com/show/news/68
- Chris
Comment About OPEN WIFI FINDERS
Chris commented about Mobile Office Internet Speed Antigua Guatemala, On Tuesday March 21st, 2006 11:17:00 PM
Most Wireless routers have Ethernet ports on the backside -- if your router has an unused RJ-45 Ethernet port you can increase your bandwidth further, perhaps up to 100 mbps by attaching your travel cable from there to your laptop.
Guatemala's sounds like a cool desto - but tell me, what's behind going to Budapest next?
Comment About Mobile Office Internet Speed Antigua Guatemala
Chris commented about Micro Hydro Electricity Generator, On Thursday March 16th, 2006 07:39:00 PM
I think TEG's (thermoelectric generators) are interesting. A Russian company called Thermocluster offers a few varieties of these for generating remote power (see the drop-down "Products" links)
http://www.thermocluster.ru/indexeng.html
I contacted them in Russia once and a propane powered unit that could electrify a small cottage or cabin was selling for $650 direct, but was substantially marked up from UK or US resellers. There is available a couple sizes of fire or stove heat TEG's available through them, but I guess the larger kettle size would be too large to backpack.
I have also looked into a small Finnish system but it was a bit pricey and was more geared to charging cell-phones, small lights and battery chargers, radios and such:
http://www.teenergy.fi/engl/pl_8.htm
- Chris
Comment About Micro Hydro Electricity Generator
Chris commented about Union Island St Vincent and Grenadines, On Monday February 20th, 2006 08:49:00 AM
I's Carnival time in Rio, isn't it?
Wild, but maybe expensive this time of year.
The Rolling Stones just gave a free concert in Rio at Copacabana beach. Over a million attended but most couldn't see, it was so big. The crowd left 200 metric tonnes of trash and cleanup continues. There were several murders (knifings) and quite a few robberies reported at the event. Late at night and the crowd drew opportunistic "ladrones de calle" (street thieves) as you'd expect. Big write up in the international press yesterday. Mick Jagger has a Brazilian child and ad lib'ed to the crowd in Portuguese between songs to loud approval. Mick referred to the popular pro-labor Brazilian President "Lula", who he praised. Coincidentally (but of a small matter)I'm reading a book now about daily life in Brazil that chronicles Lula's life and rise to prominence, called "A Death in Brazil", by Peter Robb, a 1950's Gold Medal Olympic Swimmer and expatriate.
Comment About Union Island St Vincent and Grenadines
Chris commented about Recommend SEO and earn 25 Dollars, On Saturday January 14th, 2006 03:28:00 PM
I've started reading ProBlogger.
http://www.problogger.net/
"Helping Bloggers Earn Money"
In all, a blog about blogs...what works in monetizing blogs, tips, tools and topical articles. In all, things of interest to bloggers, but not written for average blog readers. Revenue streams, afiliations, page design and such. Here's the SEO page: and as such not an SEO strategy in of itself but a Meta-SEO portal of sorts.
http://www.problogger.net/archives/category/search-engine-optimization/
Hope this to be of interest in your SEO optimization quest. Information IS free.
Comment About Recommend SEO and earn 25 Dollars
Chris commented about GPS Magellan eXplorist 100 RAVES, On Tuesday January 3rd, 2006 10:43:00 PM
Hooray! GPS!
Reminds me of Tik-Tok the Croc who ate the Alarm Clock...2 side effects were that he was always had the right time and Peter Pan always knew his location. Tik-Tok-Tik-Tok.
A regular Swiss Army Knife.
Comment About GPS Magellan eXplorist 100 RAVES
Chris commented about What are they doing on the other side of the planet, On Saturday December 24th, 2005 02:07:00 PM
Merry Christmas Hobo! Enjoy the snow during your short stay before encountering your next sunny 10 Beach somewhere. Wishing the best to your family in Orland, Indiana. Extending a Happy New Year's from all your readers.
Cheers!
Comment About What are they doing on the other side of the planet
Chris commented about My Search of Mom and Pop Hostels in Palawan, On Tuesday December 6th, 2005 03:57:00 AM
Hi Andy (Moderate this),
Found some budget press about places in and around El Nido in North Palawan:
Budget Accommodation in El Nido
El Nido dining/ photo El Nido
At the northern edge of town you’ll find the Lally & Abet Beach Cottages. These are the pick of the bunch, with various accommodation choices— fan or air-con, beachfront or back-terraced rooms. Prices range from P530 all the way up to P1,950. A little open restaurant serves adequate fare.
There are some 32 rooms in all and this place is by far the most organised along the beach. Contact Cely (tel: [63-919] 583-9110), Danny (tel: [63-919] 310-5180) or call Manila telephone [63-2] 715-3890.
All the other accommodations are simple family-run affairs with small plots of land catering for serious beach slumming from out-at-elbow to marginally better.
Seriously Slumming
El Nido Big Lagoon/ photo El Nido
The 5 Rosanas Cottages offer simple, rustic huts on the beach at P500 a piece run by Mrs R Gallardo (tel: [63-920] 605-4631). The Tandikan Cottages are currently being redeveloped. The Dara Fernandez Cottages are a very simple alternative at P350 (tel: [63-919] 322-1416). Marina Garden Cottages only accept walk-in guests at P500 a shot (Pacita Ordonez at tel: [63-919] 377-7128). Nearby, the Blue Karot on the beachfront doubles as a bar and restaurant.
Budget offerings continue at Gloria's Beach Cottages which has rooms from P350-P500. A walk-in rate here would be P600. The evocatively-named Og's Place is up some concrete stairs where Og himself will be found together with his wife, with four fan-cooled rooms and one air-con room. These are clean and tidy and cozy indeed and the Og’s, despite their Ogre-ish name, are friendly to a fault (tel: [63-1098] 349-0988). The Marber’s Beach restaurant is downstairs.
El Nido town and fishing village
The New Bayview Inn has fan-cooled rooms in a concrete block at P250 or P500 with the luxury of air-conditioning. It only accepts walk-in guests.
Diving, island-hopping, hiking, swimming and snorkelling are the main activities in the El Nido area. There are a few restaurants and eateries in town and even a disco — but they pull the plug on the electricity at 1am, usually in the middle of the best song!
Arrival by plane is by far the easiest option flying in on Seair and Ten Knots. From here the road journey to Puerto Pincesa is an arduous and dusty 12 to 14 hours by jeepney, the more colourful than comfortable public transport mainstay.
Comment About My Search of Mom and Pop Hostels in Palawan
Chris commented about Scanning Travel Guidebooks, On Saturday December 3rd, 2005 02:00:00 AM
OK, last one:
Amazon.com has 3221 eBooks categorized under Digital & Travel:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/002-4261868-3132067?url=index%3Dstripbooks%3Arelevance-above%26field-binding%3Ddigital&field-keywords=Travel&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go
Comment About Scanning Travel Guidebooks
Chris commented about Scanning Travel Guidebooks, On Saturday December 3rd, 2005 01:48:00 AM
Oh yeah - Rough Guide Travel eBooks:
http://ebooks.roughguides.com/products/index.aspx
Comment About Scanning Travel Guidebooks
Chris commented about Scanning Travel Guidebooks, On Saturday December 3rd, 2005 01:27:00 AM
Andy - just got back from a Hobotraveler inspired 2 weeks in Costa Rica -- Thanks! Been reading your blog again:
Using the Google search field code you've embedded in your Blog I've noted some Travel eBooks at about 10 a title:
* Hadami.com A dedicated Travel eBook Store
http://www.hadami.com/
---------------------------------------------------
* eBook Mall has a number of Caribbean basin Travel eBooks, like this one for the Grenadines and St. Vincent:
http://www.ebookmall.com/ebooks/adventure-guide-to-grenada-st-vincent-26-the-grenadines-kilgore-moore-ebooks.htm
For Belize
http://www.ebookmall.com/ebooks/adventure-guide-to-belize--5th-ed-lougheed-ebooks.htm
For Guatemala
http://www.ebookmall.com/ebooks/adventure-guide-to-guatemala-mcnally-ebooks.htm
For Anguilla, Antigua, St. Barts, St. Kitts & St. Martin, Barbuda & Nevis
http://www.ebookmall.com/ebooks/anguilla--antigua-st-barts-st-kitts-26-st-martin-barbuda-26-nevis-adventure-guide-permenter-ebooks.htm
Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevis
http://www.ebookmall.com/ebooks/antiguAntigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts & Nevisa-barbuda-st-kitts-26-nevis-alive-permenter-bigley-ebooks.htm
Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao
http://www.ebookmall.com/ebooks/aruba-bonaire-and-curacao-adventure-guide-sullivan-ebooks.htm
Background Notes: Caribbean, January 2004 eBook by U.S. Department of State
http://www.ebookmall.com/ebooks/background-notes--caribbean-january-2004-us-department-of-state-ebooks.htm
---------------------------------------------------
So Andy & gang: post some desto's and let's all see what travel ebooks we can turn up for the Hobo, OK?
Pura Vida,
Idaho Chris
Comment About Scanning Travel Guidebooks
Chris commented about What is Germany Doing, On Sunday November 13th, 2005 11:54:00 AM
Speaking of Fujimora, who fled Peru under what politely might be called "a Cloud" (when his ex-Cuban intel Goon was arested in his stead) and given Sanctuary in seemingly Old Imperial Japan...well he slipped back into Peru about a week ago and was apprehended soon thereafter. The timing of his return, one month before elections has been a bigger story than the upcoming vote counts. As he likely intended?
Comment About What is Germany Doing
Chris commented about Newsletter sent from Hong Kong, On Thursday November 10th, 2005 06:58:00 AM
Hobotraveler on the fantasy stockmarket:
http://blogshares.com/blogs.php?blog=http://www.hobotraveler.com%2Fblogger.html
Comment About Newsletter sent from Hong Kong
Chris commented about Newsletter sent from Hong Kong, On Thursday November 10th, 2005 06:57:00 AM
If Andy's blog was traded on the stock market:
http://blogshares.com/blogs.php?blog=http://www.hobotraveler.com%2Fblogger.html
Comment About Newsletter sent from Hong Kong
Chris commented about Cell Phone Cards in Hong Kong, On Wednesday November 9th, 2005 06:29:00 AM
OK, somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I think single country SIM cards allow cheaper in-country calls (calls in-area for it), but for the convenience of using a multi-country SIM card, you pay more/per minute, though you keep your phone number set as a plus. I read an explaination of this on the Telestial website. The link for it was left in a previous poster's comment and referred to in Andy's Blog.
Comment About Cell Phone Cards in Hong Kong
Chris commented about World Cell Phone Access, On Wednesday November 2nd, 2005 06:07:00 AM
Here's a Googled Quad-Band Cell phone (with "prettygood" price) and URL:
New NEC 525 GSM Unlocked Quad-Band Camera Cell Phone $109.99
http://www.wirelessauctions.net/ProductInfo.aspx?id=377247
Don't know if it will take SIM cards or has GPRS capability.
Comment About World Cell Phone Access
Chris commented about Manila to Macau, On Tuesday November 1st, 2005 04:08:00 AM
The Ultimate Travel Laptop
A way to "have your cake and eat it too" is the expensive ($2,000-$5,000 USD new) laptop solution for the global traveler is the Panasonic Toughbook -- newer models have expanded numbers of ways with which it can connect itself to the Internet, including in-computer cell phone circuitry that takes SIM cards...it features a special vertical telescoping radio aerial and is both waterproof (actually proof to submergence) and is rated to withstand at least 30 five foot drops and can also be run over by a car. It has a briefcase-like handle (no case required) and a magnesium metal case. Standard equpment include built-in WiFi, Ethernet, modem and Infrared, plus optionally can sport a Touchscreen clearly viewed in full daylight and remote control access within a certain radius from a separate keypad (certain models). Military and police love these. Actress Angelina Jolie used two of these top-end laptops in her recent action-adventure espionage movie, "The Smith's".
I've found cheaper clean refurb'ed EBAY sources (sometimes under $500 USD) for Toughbooks, esp. older models featuring Pentium 3 CPU's in the 800 MHZ -1.0x GHz clockspeed range. One eBay merchant I check regularly that frequently sells good used older Toughbooks such as the model CF-72 is 'bayliquidations' (6783). An example of a pre-owned one for bid to view:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PANASONIC-TOUGHBOOK-CF-72-CD-ROM-NICE-CLEAN-LOADED-CF72_W0QQitemZ6816900829QQcategoryZ42205QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Another example, a new fully ruggedized Panasonic Pentium 4 model Toughbook-29 lists for $3625 USD (and up with more options) and is shown at the Panasonic site:
http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ModelDetail?displayTab=O&storeId=11201&catalogId=13051&itemId=68953&catGroupId=12871&modelNo=Toughbook-29&surfModel=Toughbook-29
Well, if I ever win the lottery...
Comment About Manila to Macau
Chris commented about Manila to Macau, On Tuesday November 1st, 2005 03:07:00 AM
Puerto Galera: How To Get There
"The most convenient way is to avail of a Si-kat bus-and-ferry package from Centerpoint Hotel (formerly Sundowner Hotel). The package offers passengers the convenience of having a "connecting" bus and ferry trip.
The fare is more expensive than in other buses (Php 350 one-way and Php 600 roundtrip/open-sted, but the coaches are more spacious and the trip is much shorter since there are no stopovers. Unfortunately, there's only one schedule per day for either way (see ferry schedule)."
http://www.philtravelcenter.com/philippines/travelinfo/puertogalera-gettingthere.html
I read this same re-copied description (below) on multiple sites, but it's claim is that it's the cheapest way from Manila to Puerto Galera. Kind of vague on how to first get to the bus stations:
"More economical are the commercial buses of BLTB, JAM and TRITRAN. Bus terminals can be found in Cubao, and in Buendia in Pasay City. Schedules of these buses are quite erratic, but the earliest bus usually leaves at 6AM and every hour from then on (depending on the volume of passengers). Fare on these buses range from Php 80 to 100 depending on whether it is a regular or an air-con bus."
I have read you can cell phone blog from places like Puerto Galera's quiet non-touristy Hotel Encenada, where there is no Internet available. I believe you are right on with your assessment about needing a camera phone blog capability. Internet access lags behind wider global Cell phone coverage.
Comment About Manila to Macau
Chris commented about Puerto Galera, On Thursday October 27th, 2005 10:55:00 PM
Puerto Galera Island: Getting There
http://www.puerto-galera-resorts.com/Getting_There_of_Puerto_Galera.html
Comment About Puerto Galera
Chris commented about Manila Philippines, On Friday October 21st, 2005 01:52:00 PM
You flew to the Philippines to eat a sandwich!!! Hehe. Lucky there's a lot of streetside Shawarma stalls and you'll find other restaurants specializing in this popular Arab finger-food. Might try:
Uncle Saddam's Shawarma Grill
M. Adriatico St.
Malate
Manila
I'm sure you can find plenty. Popular with students because of their low cost and large size. So, you might check around the University also.
- Chris Smth
Comment About Manila Philippines
Chris commented about Blog by Email, On Thursday October 20th, 2005 03:06:00 AM
You can blog by phone -- you can even use a camera phone to blog with and send on it's photos.
Comment About Blog by Email
Chris commented about HoboTraveler.com Passed Two and One Half GIG Disk Space, On Saturday October 15th, 2005 04:47:00 AM
Interesting that free Gmail accounts now have over 2.5 GB storage. There are free programs online that convert this into a virtual hard drive. "You can Google it."
Comment About HoboTraveler.com Passed Two and One Half GIG Disk Space
Chris commented about Most Common Culture, On Tuesday September 27th, 2005 01:01:00 AM
Alzheimer's? Forget about it.
Comment About Most Common Culture
Chris commented about Mumbai Hotel, On Tuesday September 27th, 2005 12:49:00 AM
Might like to check out alternatives to Yahoo Messenger: Skype, Gizmo Project and Google Talk all come to mind for computer softphones. A headset/mic or a USB phone handset are used to make better quality calls. Each can be found for about $20. I recently sourced another cool VOIP IT toy - a $167 USD wireless pocket Internet phone that works directly within WiFi Hotspots (has a signal strength meter to locate a Hotspot and looks like a Cell phone) to make cheap worldwide calls at local rates. No computer required. Almost as handy as a satellite phone, but cheaper to use.
Comment About Mumbai Hotel
Chris commented about One Possible Mal-Nutrition Food for Niger, On Monday September 26th, 2005 03:51:00 AM
All about Okra! - It's story in human history and other relevant factoids, including recipes:
"If you would like to add more fiber to your diet, a mere 1/2 cup of cooked okra supplies 2 grams, while that same quantity raw offers 1.3 grams. It offers 1.5 grams of protein for that same quantity cooked, with raw providing 1 gram. Okra has abundant vitamin A, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, and folacin. Its other nutritional attributes include impressive potassium content, providing 257 mg. and calcium content supplying 50 mg. for 1/2 cup cooked."
http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch28.html
Comment About One Possible Mal-Nutrition Food for Niger
Chris commented about I am Tired, On Saturday September 24th, 2005 10:40:00 AM
I am tired, too! So this will be short.
Gmail has a feature called "Pop Access" that lets you download email from Google's mail servers to any POP mail client, like Outlook Express and Eudora.
IMAP email clients are not supported.
Open you Gmail webmail window in your browser and you'll find instructions under "Settings".
Now to bed!
- Chris
Comment About I am Tired
Chris commented about One Possible Mal-Nutrition Food for Niger, On Saturday September 24th, 2005 10:16:00 AM
OKRA! Google "OKRA" and select "Images" above the search field to corroborate this. Google experts would have charged you 5 bucks. Do I win a prize? Gumbo!
Comment About One Possible Mal-Nutrition Food for Niger
Chris commented about I am Tired, On Friday September 23rd, 2005 04:10:00 PM
Mostly I use Google Gmail. It's free - you need an invitatation sent from a Gmail user to get it (I have 50 invitations, BTW), has massive storage, filters out spam and email conversations are grouped together. I believe that's a feature you needed. Very easy to use.
- Chris
hotspringfreak AT gmail.com
Comment About I am Tired
Chris commented about Optimism in Niger, On Monday September 19th, 2005 04:52:00 AM
Niger: I like "lo-tek" gear and probably this is better than just throwing money at a problem, so in that spirit
Niger: Guns for Radios
"Thousands of guns have been exchanged for Freeplay radios as part of ground breaking initiative..."
Dramatic pictures with the rest of text.
http://www.freeplayenergy.com/index.php?section=humanitarian&subsection=projects#conflict
Comment About Optimism in Niger
Chris commented about Failure to Thrive, On Wednesday September 14th, 2005 10:37:00 AM
How about fine ground pepper or powdered chili powder (Tabasco sauce?)...confuses their scent trails and they trend off. Show me an ant that likes Tabasco sauce and I'm going somewhere else!
Comment About Failure to Thrive
Chris commented about No Photos of BBC in Niger by HoboTraveler.com, On Sunday September 11th, 2005 06:17:00 AM
Want to write today, that September 11, 2005 is the 4th anniversity of the horrific attack on the civilians in New York's World Trade Center Twin Towers, United Flt 93 in Pennsylvania and the Pentagon military command center. Please give pause in thought for those and the heroic first responders that joined them at all costs.
Thank you.
Comment About No Photos of BBC in Niger by HoboTraveler.com
Chris commented about Cultural Testing, On Sunday September 11th, 2005 06:02:00 AM
The "Lambs" movie? Silence of the Lambs: Sir Anthony Hopkins.
That one?
Comment About Cultural Testing
Chris commented about Niamey to Maradi Niger Bus Trip, On Friday September 9th, 2005 02:15:00 AM
"Mil" ... I believe that's Milo Maize (or just "Milo"), an animal feedstock. In the corn family of cereal grains. We fed it to cattle amd pigs.
Comment About Niamey to Maradi Niger Bus Trip
Chris commented about Niger NGO, On Sunday September 4th, 2005 04:40:00 AM
Japanese: Toyota Land Cruiser.
British: Land Rover.
Comment About Niger NGO
Chris commented about When does the Sunset in Cairo Egypt, On Saturday August 27th, 2005 05:44:00 PM
"...and now for something totally different".
Google "Hobotraveler" and click the "Images" link to find an enormous photo collection of Andy Graham, the Hobotraveler. Page 37 caught my eye. Kkeep on traveling Andy. Thanks!
Comment About When does the Sunset in Cairo Egypt
Chris commented about When does the Sunset in Cairo Egypt, On Saturday August 27th, 2005 03:55:00 AM
OK, here's the Sunrise-Sunset info (+ weather forecast) for Cairo, Egypt:
http://www.myforecast.com/bin/astronomy.m?city=60268&metric=false
Comment About When does the Sunset in Cairo Egypt
Chris commented about Trying to get Visa to Niger in Cairo, On Tuesday August 23rd, 2005 05:52:00 AM
Telling the Niger Counsulate that you want to help with famine relief may not get you far. Niger's President recently went on record denying that there is any famine in his country. The diplomatic staff workers answer to him. Maybe you should continue to play the tourism card. Or cozy up to the UN aid workers if you want to declare yourself this way. The UN's famine relief workers disagree and have accelerated their famine-relief work. Drought has reduced forage for herders and feeding them now is great but does nothing to feed them down the road, because all their livestock will be decimated. That's what they really rely on, so it's all in helping the whole food chain or those at the top will topple.
dos centavos en la vida loco,
- Chris
Comment About Trying to get Visa to Niger in Cairo
Chris commented about World Wide Satellite Internet Access, On Saturday August 13th, 2005 05:21:00 AM
GSM = Global System for Mobil Communications.
Comment About World Wide Satellite Internet Access
Chris commented about Map of Liechtenstein, On Wednesday July 27th, 2005 11:02:00 PM
Hobo Andy,
You might want to look at Flickr to upload photo's to your Blog. Very popular with bloggers and it's free image hosting. I've used it (can be a little slow) and they advertise it works great with blogs made with Blogger, Moveable Type, SquareSpace, etc:
http://www.flickr.com
Of course, Blogger has their Picassa2 download that looks to be good & free image management software for Windows users (no Linux version so I can't critique it).
Seeing a lot of cuckoo clocks? How's the chocolate?
- Chris
http://hotspringfreak.squarespace.com
Comment About Map of Liechtenstein
Chris commented about Signs of Alcohol Use, On Wednesday June 29th, 2005 06:49:00 PM
Two Finns decided to go to a remote cabin so that they could do some serious drinking. After several days of drinking, one said to the other, "Do you think maybe we should get something to eat?". The other one said, "Did we come here to talk or to drink?"
- joke heard on Public Radio, told by the Prime Minister of Finland.
Comment About Signs of Alcohol Use
Chris commented about Travel Writing, On Tuesday June 28th, 2005 01:46:00 PM
Andy!
I read you mainly for the typos, the alternative spelling, top of the head observations, opinions, rants, flames and SHOUTING. I suffer re-hashes of group thought...that's what's oppressive, then YOU take time for an original thought and SHARE it? Thank you! No Hobo??? I expect I would be spoon-fed travel pap until screen freeze and reset bomb might trip my accidental mind. Your style makes me think and exposes some 3-D World that's out there, not shut-in and considered.
Subtle, funny...your performance art might feature walk-on ensemble guest writers on the carrier-wave of the blogoshere. SNAP! The sound of one hand clapping is the synaptic neighborhood of a finger popping blogger.
- Chris Smith
Comment About Travel Writing
Chris commented about Motor Home, On Saturday June 4th, 2005 05:06:00 PM
At least in the USA (probably esewhere) there are a great many previously owned RV's (Caravans) to choose from wherever retirees congregate for the winter. For whatever reason they may not leave in their rigs. Maybe because of a decision to stay in the winter haven once reached, or needing cash, the death of an elderly traveling companion or spouse... These places have many, many RV's sales outlets. Used RV lots line the roads like weeds. One such place for these are the adjoining towns Palm Springs/Desert Hotsprings, California. South Padre Island, Branson and orlando are other likely places to shop.
You can always sell it for traveling on funds after your trip.
Comment About Motor Home
Chris commented about CAMPO PERU, On Saturday April 23rd, 2005 01:25:00 PM
How many wives can you have in Peru?
- Chris
Comment About CAMPO PERU
Chris commented about OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE, On Wednesday April 13th, 2005 05:16:00 AM
Magnum Opus obliterans...rampaged idyll'ed senses -- read like prose.
Author!
Comment About OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE
Chris commented about TAM MILITARY AIRLINES BOLIVIA, On Tuesday April 5th, 2005 01:06:00 PM
As I see you now know, I was unable to find a webpage for Bolivian TAM -- although there are unrelated Brazilian and Paraguyan TAM sites. Bolivian TAM has something like 117 aircraft, including old DC-3's and various seized smuggler's aircraft.
More accessible are crash statistics for Bolivian TAM:
ASN Aviation Safety Database - TAM (click on incident/accident links for more info).
http://aviation-safety.net/database/dblist.php?sorteer=datekey_desc&kind=%&cat=%&page=1&field=Operatorkey&var=4759
LAB (LLoyd Aero Boliviano, S.A.), the oldest Bolivian airline (1925) - 13 Boeing 727/737/767 class jets and 1 Fokker
F-27 turboprop aircraft:
http://www.labairlines.com/index_eng.asp
Lab flies both within and outside of Bolivia. LAB route map:
http://www.labairlines.com/viaje/mv_Destinos_eng_l.as
AeroSur (primarily Bolivian in-country flights) - they have an aircraft inventory of seven 727/737's and 1 "nostalgia flights" DC-3. Their AeroSur Pass is lets you fly to 4 Bolivian cities in 45 days for USD $250:
http://www.aerosur.com/us/index.asp
AeroSur destinations map:
http://www.aerosur.com/us/destination.asp
Líneas Aéreas Canedo (LAC), a small (1 DC-3 and one newer 4 passenger 680S Aerocommander) Bolivian in-country airline:
http://www.lineasaereascanedo.com/
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Chris commented about KOH MAK PHOTOS, On Friday January 7th, 2005 09:17:00 PM
Is that the your "Siam Hammock" on your hut's porch? My Hennessy hammock went to Iraq with a National Guardsman, called up on an open-ended tour. I figured it would come in handy when it gets 130 degrees there this summer.
- Chris
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Chris commented about I CLAIM BLOG IGNORANCE.... HEHEHE, On Wednesday November 10th, 2004 08:59:00 AM
Andy,
People usually express frank awe that you've been traveling for 8 yrs and ask where you've gone or are going now. You are not some Trust Fund kiddie or a Corporate embezzler. "But how does he do it??? -- I must know the secret!!!" By going outside of his comfort zone to meet new and unusual people in strangely amazing places and opening a Window for people to look over his shoulder. But his real secret?
They will have to subcribe and read his Blog...
I have been sworn to secrecy. But I can read.
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Chris commented about MAOIST STRIKE IN KATMANDU NEPAL, On Wednesday September 29th, 2004 02:36:00 PM
Andy, good stuff...I like the tell-it-like-it-is vibe... and the redesign.
I was laughing about your last post about having an American flag on your backpack. I guess when Americans do it it's probably considered nationalistic flag-waving.
Do you notice any difference with the flag... conversation starter/attention-getter (?), better treatment or worse, or does it vary based on location, or no difference?
Comment About MAOIST STRIKE IN KATMANDU NEPAL
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