|
Travis commented about Port Salut Haiti by Tap Tap, On Tuesday November 10th, 2009 02:31:36 AM
Andy, I am enjoying your Haiti blog!
With all the stuff that you carry, how is it that you can take motorcycle taxis? Do you have him put one of your packs in front of him?
I have done it a few times with my fully loaded backpack (maybe 15 kg) on my back, and it was not really very safe (more because of balance issues than the weight). And I think you are carrying a lot more than that nowadays.
Travis
Comment About Port Salut Haiti by Tap Tap
Travis commented about Skype.com Calling Rules Tip, On Friday October 2nd, 2009 10:28:28 PM
Andy, I use the exact same setup, although only when am in a timezone closer to the USA. I have included some useful Skype information below.
When the call is forwarded to your cell and someone leaves a voicemail, the voicemail is left on the cell voicemail, not Skype voicemail (lots of people have asked me this question). It can be confusing for them when they hear a prompt to leave a message in a different language.
I actually get caller ID of the forwarded Skype Call, not bad, so I can tell exactly who called.
You can set up your Skype account to show your caller ID (your USA number) when you call a phone from your Skype account.
In Thailand, if they call me on the cell I will answer. Then I will call them back using my italk calling card which costs less than 1 baht per minute to call from my cell to the USA. I much prefer calling from my cell than calling from my computer -- I don't have to have my computer, a solid WiFi connection, my earphones and mic, I can move around while talking, etc.
I link my Skype account to my paypal account so that it is recharged on the go. If I am on a call and my balance gets low, it is recharged while I am talking and the call will not end.
Another rule when the call is forwarded to a cell is to give each other time to talk. The latency seems to increase. With some people who don't pause often enough, it can be hard to get a word in edgewise and you end up talking over each other.
Travis
Comment About Skype.com Calling Rules Tip
Travis commented about Medical Tourism Hospitals in Big Cities, On Thursday September 17th, 2009 02:02:36 AM
Andy, I think at this point you are wasting your time in the smaller hospitals. I would go to St. Lukes or Makati Medical Center. Makati Medical Center is probably cheaper. These are the top tier in Manila, I am not sure of the difference between them but I think St. Lukes is more oriented toward medical tourism.
I would say that one of these hospitals is probably one of the better places on the planet for medical tourism, prices are within reach, quality very high, and English is spoken by all. It is probably cheaper than Bumrungrad, in Bangkok.
In fact, if I were to pick one hospital on the planet for a cash payer confronting a difficult medical problem considering value, quality, and language, I would probably pick St. Lukes. Bumrungrad is probably higher quality but probably more expensive.
Also, you will be off to a running start there. You can show them the data you have collected, intelligently inform them about your case, and so that gives them a big head start.
You are already in the best place, no need to fly halfway across the planet.
Travis (from Colombia)
Comment About Medical Tourism Hospitals in Big Cities
Travis commented about Yahoo Mail Problem 2009, On Friday August 14th, 2009 03:58:40 PM
Andy, this problem is not as bad in the last day. I think my Firefox was automatically updated on my machine yesterday, and that is probably the difference. Now, it is like a one half second delay instead of 10 seconds. I checked both my Yahoo accounts, and it was drastically improved in both.
Have you been using Firefox? I think my upgrade to 3.0.13 fixed this (or else Yahoo coincidentally changed something at the same time). I have not tried anything in Internet Explorer.
Travis
Comment About Yahoo Mail Problem 2009
Travis commented about Yahoo Mail Problem 2009, On Friday August 14th, 2009 12:12:28 PM
Andy, I have also recently had this problem with Yahoo Mail (loading) when I press the check mail button -- it takes about 10 seconds of doing nothing to get past that point. I am not sure if it is only since I came to Colombia and used Yahoo Mail here but, in any case, the problem only started recently. Until you posted this, I assumed it had something to do with Flash and the fact that I am using a netbook which runs Flash slowly combined with recent changes in the Yahoo mail presentation page.
Travis
Comment About Yahoo Mail Problem 2009
travis commented about Baguio to Vigan Philippines Bus, On Tuesday August 4th, 2009 11:53:20 PM
The other thing I didnt like about the buses I took in the Philippines is it is the only country in which I have traveled where they store nothing in the bus compartment below the bus. When I was backpacking through the Philippines, I had to bring my big backpack onto the bus itself (there is no room on the tiny overhead compartments). Sometimes there is room for it by the driver. But sometimes I just had to stick it in the aisle.
So my tip is that when you get on one of these buses, if storage under the bus is not offered, to immediately check up front by the driver and see if you can stick your luggage/backpack there. Also, when it is up front, you can see it.
Travis
Comment About Baguio to Vigan Philippines Bus
Travis commented about My Thai Girlfriend Comes to Baguio Philippines, On Tuesday July 28th, 2009 03:03:23 PM
I met Andys girlfriend 1.5 years ago when we all went out for dinner together in Bangkok. She is great and I vouch for her. Saludos!
Travis
Comment About My Thai Girlfriend Comes to Baguio Philippines
Travis commented about Learn Tagalog in Baguio Philippines, On Tuesday July 28th, 2009 02:55:35 PM
Unfortunately, reaching fluency in Tagalog takes about twice as long as reaching fluency in a Romance language for a native English speaker. See:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Language_Learning_Difficulty_for_English_Speakers
Of course, there is way more English spoken in the Philippines than most places (and more tourists and expats), so pure English or Taglish often suffice.
But I did use this chart to help with my country navigations. At one point, I considered teaching English in Taiwan. I realized that one big negative was that I was not going to just pick up Mandarin (which is about 4x harder than learning a Romance language), not to mention that there are many dialects of Mandarin and they mostly dont understand one another (for instance, Taiwanese version and Cantonese has 9 tones compared to official Mandarins 4 tones).
I speak Spanish at an advanced level (and I am a solid beginner in Thai) and I worked so hard to get to where I am at that I view having to learn new languages as a major barrier. I think the majority of people, who speak one language, dont realize just how hard it is to reach fluency in another language. It is way harder than I ever imagined.
Travis
Comment About Learn Tagalog in Baguio Philippines
Travis commented about Baguio Philippines Local Market, On Tuesday July 28th, 2009 02:43:29 PM
Andy, crime in Guatemala has recently skyrocketed. Someone who was just there recently told me that it is having an effect on tourists and that locals are saying it as dangerous for them now as during the long civil war that ended in 1996. In the first four months of 2009, Guatemala had approximately the same number of murders as Mexico, although Mexico has about 7 times more people. Cuiacutedate.
Comment About Baguio Philippines Local Market
travis commented about Baguio Philippines Local Market, On Tuesday July 28th, 2009 02:40:39 PM
Hello Andy!, I could recommend Medelliacuten, Colombia which is at 1500 meters. I am living here in a beautiful part of town in a room in a shared apartment for $300 per month, including all utilities, wi-fi, laundry, change sheets, all modern stuff, security, etc. My room is 18 square meters with a window overlooking the park. The going rate for a more normal place in a decent neighborhood is $300 per month, including food and Wi-fi, cable. But you have to speak Spanish here (not good for the girlfriend). It is a city of 3 million with lots to do. Tourism is taking off here although it is still small compared to Phils and Thailand. It is not cheap for regular things like Thailand, more like the Phils, maybe even more. It does not seem too polluted here like Quito, for instance, and it is a basically safe place (but again, not as safe as Thailand).
My understanding is that Baguio is freezing in the winter! Is Cebu city too hot for you? I like it and it rains less there. The temperatures in Medelliacuten are close to constant year around (average high of 29/84, low of 17/63). But it does get 60 inches (150 cm) of rain per year.
One can basically stay here in Colombia for 180 days per year on tourist visa without preapplying for anything (not as good as the Phils which is very generous with tourist visas, but better than Thailand).
Comment About Baguio Philippines Local Market
Travis commented about Americans on Khao San Road, On Saturday January 12th, 2008 10:23:00 AM
"I told my friend, please earmark this conversation, I want to hear you repeat it to me three years from now, after you have traveled the planet. I want you to say to me again,
- I have a list of books to read. -"
Andy, consider this conversation bookmarked! It was so interesting meeting you in person after reading your blog for years -- you have great advice. Travis anotheryearoff.blogspot.com
Comment About Americans on Khao San Road
Travis commented about The Six Languages to Learn, On Friday July 6th, 2007 01:17:00 PM
That's a good point about Europeans drawing support from Muslim nations. I wholeheartedly agree.
While Europe has much to offer, some of the unfounded criticism of the US takes us a step in the wrong direction, I feel. But it's all good for developing stronger dialogue I suppose.
Thanks for visiting the site..you can pretty much count on me being a regular around here now. I hope you'll come back
Travis
http://www.tcthompson.blogspot.com
Comment About The Six Languages to Learn
Travis commented about The Six Languages to Learn, On Friday July 6th, 2007 11:51:00 AM
Hi Andy,
Just wanted to say I love the blog. I'm new to this myself, but I enjoy reading your analysis.
Although population-wise German might not be a useful language, the business climate is ripe in that area of central Europe. Switzerland, Austria and Germany all have bustling economies--but I'm biased I guess.
I want to learn so many languages. I guess French is up next for me.
Anyways, keep up the good work. Check out my adventures in Germany if you ever get bored.
Travis
http://www.tcthompson.blogspot.com
Comment About The Six Languages to Learn
Travis commented about Cell Phone Anywhere on Planet, On Sunday November 6th, 2005 03:26:00 AM
Andy, For a true hobo cell solution try installing skype software on a handheld pocket PC device with 802.11 connectivity capability. Then, whenever you have wireless internet access, you can make and receive calls from this handheld device. Skype also has voice mail -- so people will always be able to leave you a message at a certain number. You can call other skype users for free. YOu can call any landline/cellphone in the world for 1.7 euro cents per minute. YOu can access the same account on your laptop, but the handheld is easier to carry around. YOu will also be able to surf the web on the handheld and email, etc., so it is easier than carrying the laptop to certain places. And now that wireless internet is becoming more common in hostels, etc., you will have connectivity a lot of the time -- no sim cards, no country-specific issues, etc. to worry about.
Comment About Cell Phone Anywhere on Planet
|
