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vic commented about My Haiti Motorcycle Accident, On Sunday November 22nd, 2009 09:01:01 AM
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.
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vic commented about New York is My Country Too, On Tuesday November 3rd, 2009 07:15:04 AM
No place like home...Indiana
I met a German at a youth hostel in Belgium about 20 years ago, who spent "a fabulous summer" working on a farm in Iowa. As a teenager, I couldn't see what he was so thrilled about: 12-14 hour days under the hot summer sun, roasting in a thermos of a hay loft stacking hay, and other hard tasks. Now, I consider my days haying, and working summers with my grands,uncle, and cousins some of the best times of my life.
The smell of fresh sisal twine, as we loaded it, into the bailer. Following the bailer the whole day ,slipknotting the bails, because the bailer was an antique, or so I thought. Throwing bails on the haytruck, stacking hay into the barn, could go on until late. Finally, we could cool off with a jump into the pond, and an hour drive to the drive-in. Those were good days.
I just hope more foreigners and non-Hoosiers can enjoy our own kind of paradise.
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vic commented about Marijuana is Now Legal I think in USA, On Monday November 2nd, 2009 06:17:11 AM
NO to U.S. Government Mandated Health Care and Insurance!
I know personal responsibility is a problem for lots of people. They want to be told what to believe, what to buy, and "what is good for them."
The medical practitioners labor union AKA " the American Medical Association" and the pharmaceuticals corps. have a near monopoly on health care. I've earned an average of 14.5 annual returns since opening a Vanguard Health Fund account in 1993. It is not rocket science. From 9 percent of the economy a couple of decades ago we are pushing twenty percent of GDP goes for health care.
The majority of WE the people demand expensive health care procedures that only the government can afford, all the while they consume vast quanities of alcohol, tobacco, legal and illicit substances, and on epidemic portions of food, and consequently suffer from avoidable obesity, diabetes, and other preventable illinesses.
We, who choose moderation, are compelled to pay for risky behaviors of others under government sponsored health schemes.
As far as pot goes, Amsterdam's tourism economy will be hurt if California starts opening "coffee shops." I don't have a problem with it, as long as people are not driving under the influence, or demanding we pay for the health consequences (or benefits?) of their consumption.
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Vic commented about Glenn Beck Entitlement Mentality, On Friday October 30th, 2009 06:25:13 AM
Andy,
Lots of people work hard, but to work smart is much more effective.
I live in the lowest tax jurisdiction in the U.S. but I am surrounded by "entitled" people, who refuse to work. Not only are they entitled, but many of them have what we call out here the "crabs in the bucket mentality." When industrious fellow islanders try to escape the bucket, they are brought down by other resentful people.
Native-born Americans have often trapped themselves in the entitlement mentality. America works, when it works hard, and works smart.
I'd love for you to go to Miami and see how many of the new Hatian immigrants make it in America. Yet, they have arrived from the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. How is it in 20-25 years, did the Vietnamese "boat people" rise from nothing, to have the highest median average income? Working hard, and working smart.
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vic commented about Stock Market Crash of Oct-Nov 2009, On Wednesday October 28th, 2009 05:57:54 AM
A vote for Zimbabwe... Stock prices going up!
No cynicism below-- just sound economic principles.
Don't worry the stockmarket will GO UP, at least the DJIA. And hey, housing prices will go north too. However, it will be a mirage. The government is "printing" (creating numbers on a balance sheet really). More dollars chasing the same goods, but for most Americans, their salaries and earnings will not follow as quickly. We call this condition hyper-inflation.
Most Americans have never experienced it. And I think you do a better job analyzing the real world than most reporters, Andy. I vote for a trip to Zimbabwe, to educate readers as to the on the ground consequences of trying to print away one's problems. From a currency that was stronger than the USD, a quad-drillion can't buy a George Washington.
Wars, socialist programs, Wall Street "moral hazard" bailouts instead of letting firms fail for their stupidity...and the $4 trillion of other spending is going to end up sinking the dollar.
So yes, the DJIA will go up in an hyper-inflationary environment.
Diversify your wealth and sprinkle in several nations.
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vic commented about 90 Percent of Foreigners Marry Bargirls, On Sunday October 18th, 2009 06:51:51 AM
Andy,
You're on the mark. Methinks the truth hurts for those married to (former) bargirls. A leopard doesn't change its stripes.
But hey for the guys who marry these women... Don't STOP Believin'.
Based on what I've seen in Thailand and Philippines, these relationships usually end up in divorce.
A good friend married a bargirl. He was under 40, in good shape, faithful, and definitely not like the guys you usually see in the bars. He had a "White Knight Complex" I guess. He did everything for her and her Filipino-Brit son, but it wasn't enough. As soon as she got to the U.S. she stole the "living expense money," gambled most of it away, and had a "baby out of wedlock." Still my friend was too kind-hearted and couldn't put himself up to dumping her. So I bought her a one-way ticket to Manila myself, because she had wrecked my friend's finances to the point where he couldn't put food on the table much less buy a ticket. It is probably the best investment I've made for a friend in my life. The real zinger is a mutual friend told me, he was walking around Angeles City, when he heard his name being called...and guess what-- it was my friend's ex-wife still doing the "P" thing.
I haven't met any woman I'd want to date in these kinds of bars, but when you've been on the road for a while, it is nice to see some tantilizing hot bodies on stage. Just don't forget who you are dealing with, because a bargirl will have your name remembered, and your personality type analyzed. And it says as much about the guys, including myself, who stop in these places, as it does for the women who work there.
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Vic commented about Universal Adapters for 2 Dollars, On Monday October 12th, 2009 07:20:16 AM
Good tip. Hoosier can make just about anything with bailing twine and 14-gauge wire.
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Vic commented about Is Philippines in Danger of Military Coup, On Thursday October 1st, 2009 03:57:22 AM
Danger is how you live it...but don't believe the hype.
The Philippines is the most dangerous country in South East Asia for travellers, but the Northern part is often more dangerous than the South. Way more people get rolled and killed on Luzon and Cebu than down way down South. Yet, Filipinos and expats will claim it is far worse down there...despite never been south of Cebu.
Filipinos always say travel is dangerous in the Southern Philippines. Nonsense, I have spent months down there, solo, and never had a problem. However, it is not a good place to become too friendly, and let people know where you will be spending the night, because of kidnappings. This goes for almost all locations in the Philippines. And 75-90 of kidnapping were carried out by the (ex)police and military in the 90's. Besides Columbia, where I followed the same rules, the Philippines is probably the most likely country in Asia to be kidnapped.
East Timor is one of the safest places in Asia, despite the travel warnings and bad press.
Some of the best beaches are located in Sulu and Tawi2. Boracay is really over-rated in comparison. The diving down South is phenomenal too. USAID has been extending the runways in both island groups. The cynic in me says it is for the Philippine/US military to have better access down there, but if the muslims tribes would stop backbiting each other, and stop ransoming, and stop their insurgency, than perhaps they might be able to counter the bad press, and actually have a shot at tourism. The crabs-in-the-bucket mentality prevades throughout the "Bangsa Moro" lands, as it does with the rest of their Filipino countrymen, so tourism development is a long shot. Until such time, they will end up going overseas to be "enslaved" by Arabs in the gulf.
AsiaBill...Badjao are not/were not slavers but were the enslaved, you're thinking of the Tausog and Maranao who in fact had de facto slavery in the southern provinces until the early 1960's. I'd like to know the island you were referring to in your last comment? As with the other lowest ethnic group(s) the Aetas, they often end up on the streets begging. Please renovate the second floor rooms of THE Townhouse. The Orchid room was really a dive for 900+P in July--no hot water, clean sheets, and the aircon was broken.
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Vic commented about X-Rays of my Femur in Philippines, On Thursday September 3rd, 2009 06:53:59 AM
Andy, you are one tough...traveler. A decade of packing that much gear, with a "screwed -up" (minus the titanium rods) femur. Respect!
Seriously, you might want to check out St. Luke's or MMC in the Metro, as La Union hospital is provincial, and most specialists probably gravitate toward Manila. Prices are about the same, with more doctors to choice from, and may be more treatments.
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vic commented about Russian Economist Predicts USA Ends, On Thursday September 3rd, 2009 06:29:24 AM
So true...I like the humor Andy. Take advice from Russian prognosticators hahaha ...they have gotten it all wrong! Kazakhstan, Belarus, Georgia, Chechnya, Baltic States et al... let us count the ways. America isn't likely to break up,. Our states will just suffer it out together.
All the "me too" economists are calling for the Chinese to continue their high growth--it won't happen. Global capitalism will see to it that only the places where there is high productivity, low wages and benefits, and minimal government intrusion will prosper.
For brevity, just remember "Japan's miracle economy," that would overtake America--and soundly didn't!
Thinking on me feet... The first shoes were made by hand, then by cobbler, then by guilds, then by factories all within a certain geographical area. .Then factories that made shoes in England... moved to the East Coast U.S in the late 1800's....then south in the 1920's... then with trade liberalization in the 1970's ..to Korea...80's to mid-90s Indonesia...then Vietnam...then China... now Cambodia... the movement of manufacturing is accelerating. I'll bet within ten years... there will be a huge footwear industry in parts of Africa.
Good news, the foreign exclusion is over $87K this year.
Have you talked with your father about medical treatments overseas? If so, the Philippines might be a good place for oncology and cancer treatments. The dilemna with advanced stage cancers is anywhere, they are really hard to treat. I think you are "right on," about sending cancer meds from Thailand or India, as they are the exact formulations from the companies, and even the Indian generics are good too. Just don't send any narcotics/pain meds and it shouldn't be a problem. DHL can have them in Indiana within 36-48 hours.
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vic commented about Damn the Pharmaceutical Companies, On Tuesday September 1st, 2009 08:41:38 AM
Stop Whining! Our country wasn't built by complainers, but by savers( for just such rainy days), investors, and hard workers.
Nobody was complaining when someone else was picking up Americans' health tab. Don't like the unfree health market of the United States now that the bill has come due? Sorry, perhaps it is time to travel to another country with a free-market medical system.
Or join the unashamed investors in the U.S. health/pharma industry.
God Gives Us Free Will to Buy, to accept so-c-called "Free Lunches," and do as we please. We find salvation or "Damn" ourselves depending on our wise choices. Live by the sweat of your own brow, not the taxful yoke on the back of others.
Just remember the averaged American was damned to an average lifespan of 47 in 1900...Thanks to "damn pharmaceutical companies" we are almost reaching 80 on average, these days.
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Vic commented about Shipping to Philippines Cheaply Travel Tip, On Thursday August 27th, 2009 06:08:01 AM
The Philippines Postal system is horrible. My friend who had a small internet company often had seemingly tangential complaints about not receiving mail from senders and receivers thinking somehow his website is the complaint department for the Philippines Post Office. The Balikbayan boxes are usually much more reliable.
B. Boxes is a big Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) cultural thing. Yes, you often see Indian, Indonesians, Sri Lankan, Thais, and other 3rd world contract "guest" workers return home with big boxes of goods, but not to such an extent of Filipinos. And I have yet to see these other nationalities send large boxes independently of the returning worker in the numbers and regularity Filipinos do.
These are boxes are especially popular at Christmas, but throughout the year many people send monthly boxes of stuff. Often times, even soba/ramen "cup-a-noodle," and corned-beef is sent in these $90 boxes. The economic decision-making often seems to make little economic sense . Why not just give the person $90-120 extra in remittance to buy these things? However, my friends did tell me of their wives being harped on to send boxes instead of remittance, as the fathers had spent the money at the cock derby or hit the San Miguel gin bottle and pulutan for him and his friends. And Filipinas are often manipulated with mind games by their families to send stuff, along with remitted money. Andy, this won’t be your problem, so the high value items might be sent to you from the States. You will need 4 weeks to 6 weeks to receive a package, so you have to plan where you will be to receive your door-to-door. And timing can be imprecise…21 days to 70 days for some boxes.
Yes, you can send Balikbayan boxes from the Philippines to the U.S. for about 50 more than going from RP to U.S. about $150+.
Philippines money matters…
FYI for those travelers who want to decrease the payouts to financial institutions--thus keeping more of your cash in your pocket. Remittance (of money) to the Philippines is usually much cheaper than an International wire transfer ($50-75), or cash advance with ATM fees. The best part is you don’t need to go to a bank or ATM. The money is delivered in hand to you. Usually the frictional charges on the exchange rate are much better too. And even out in the boondocks (bonduc) you will get your money paid in cash without having to go to a bank to pick it up , in even the wildest corners of Mindanao for only $6-12 and about 1 Peso commission. The traveler may see the obvious advantages of not having to find an ATM or Bank, or even go into town at all, especially if that ATM or town is a 2 hour each way bone-rattling jeep/trike away. Have your money come to you. I have money delivered to myself for only 1.25 to 3 this way . If accepted, Credit cards often charge 2-3 on the American side plus cash advance fee of 2-3 and sometimes dubious exchange rates and fees by Philippine banks. My friend was complaining this month that the hotel charged him 12 or 13 more to use his credit card to pay his Bacolod city hotel bill--on top of the 3 his American bank charged him!
Subic Bay often has duty-free (no import taxes paid) products that you can’t find elsewhere in the RP, and at good prices...Heinz ketchup, Ritz Crackers...eh Marshmellow Fluff. Check out the department stores on the former Subic Base, and maybe they have that at Clark Base Proper too because they are both so-called “Freeports.”
Hope this helps budget minded RP travelers.
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Vic commented about Gear Negligence by Andy HoboTraveler.com, On Wednesday August 26th, 2009 06:51:19 AM
Andy returns with baling twine and practicality.
Since you're solo, how do you deal with doors that have no deadbolts or latches when you put down for the night? I'm wondering if there is other security measures besides objects balanced against the door, and door stoppers, to keep myself and belongings from disappearing?
I have employed an electronic 90dB alarm that I picked up at a "ha-ku yen" (100yen =1.12USD) store in Japan. I have been surprised, and woke up the guesthouse when a worker tried to "clean up" at 2 or 3 a.m. in Indonesia.
You mentioned this Solo door knob product before, and the inability to locate it. Any way you could manufacture more? With an added feature to accomodate both door handles and knobs, while still covering the door lock face? This seems like it could be a homerun product for lots of travellers, residents at home, dorms, the office worker, or anyone else who has to deal with thieves and Noisy Parkers with a key. Never seen one in Mexico, IN, or the country , nor the five continents I've been to. Seems like a great gadget.
Good to see the utilities of travel again.
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Vic commented about Disabled American Veterans in Philippines, On Monday August 24th, 2009 05:02:17 AM
“I think I am physically disabled, if I was an American Vet maybe I would qualify for free money.[*] The Philippines is a great place for disabled American Veterans.I tend to think the goal of many disabled American Vets is to increase the percentage from say 30-80, or 80 to 100 and thereby increase their monthly pay. ”
It’s your blog, but that seemed like a real callous comment.
Patriots don’t have to tell us they are patriots in their blogs or their family "buys American." The biggest “patriots” I’ve met don’t have to pronounce or utter their patriotism. The DAV plate speaks loads for many of them.
Lots of them don’t even have a voice. Homeless vets are to some degree invisible, or in the case of those in Thailand, and the Philippines forced to live outside their homeland on a pittance. They can’t afford a decent place in American society.
For a homeless friend of mine, in Honolulu, the adjustment of a 10 disability to a 30 and then a 70 disability was the difference from living in a tent on a hillside, and having an apartment to call home. The paperwork is huge, the denials and appeals process was monumental.
These are the guys who a long time ago, when they were young, were led into battle in wars politicians started. When the price came to be paid, the injuries did not generate “free money.”
Some of us would wish, Andy, would get back to the baling wire and ingenuity travel advice posts of yore.
*Read the fine print at the bottom of a DAV’s FREE MONEY disability payments and you will find the word--SACRAFICE… often for ungrateful fellow Americans!
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Vic commented about Doctors Mom Mike and Chris, On Wednesday August 19th, 2009 06:04:40 AM
Bill,
You remember what happened the last time Howard Stern spoke about the Philippines. hahahaha
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Vic commented about Diagnosing Sciatica in Philippines, On Sunday August 16th, 2009 05:29:54 AM
Need a Second opinion?
St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City, just outside of Manila has treated me well for years.
Last year, while surfing off of Samar Island, I went over-the-falls and came down hard on my back and lower neck. The reef rash was pretty bad, but the tingling and numbness in my arms was what I was worried about. I got on a plane to Manila, and was at St. Luke’s six hours later. A neurologist ordered an MRI and other tests, and two other neurologists also evaluated the results. The cost was either $209 or $219 in pesos, including overnight.
Considering just signing your John Hancock on an ER admission form at Clarian or Community in Indianapolis will be $500+ …before any other treatment is done, I feel fortunate to have had such terrific healthcare without waiting for hours in an ER like some places I have been in IN over the years, and at an affordable price.
There are at least eight neurologists on the campus, and others associated with St. Luke’s. You might want to consult them.
While Bumrungrad may be a better option for someone who has a loved one who is a Thai clinical pharmacologist. I found the doctor who treated me there to have very poor English skills. I had a moderate Staph infection on my knee. His antibiotic regime seemed to be reasonable to me, but I would have liked to have a better discussion with him about other treatment options, and aftercare. Also I find their pricing structure is higher at Bumrungrad than either St. Luke’s or MMC.
Perhaps the horse has already left the barn, but maybe wearing a back brace or support might help prevent further damage and antagonism on you CNS? What about putting your gear on rollers?
Best health,
Vic
P.S. There are quite a few DAVs and retirees around Subic/Angeles, check out the VFWs and RAOs for spinal treatment options with guys who live there.
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Vic commented about Learn Tagalog in Baguio Philippines, On Tuesday July 28th, 2009 03:24:17 AM
Couple of ideas for readers:
Why waste time on any bus? Have locals input txt msgs for various phrases into your phone. Most of them are bored to death too. It saves a traveler the annoying same old questions and chit-chat, while gleaning information that can be used later. The txt msgs imply youre local with appropriate abbreviations et. c. For example, Magkano? = How much?
The beauty of knowing a few Tagalog words and phrases is that you can throw in a few Tagalog words and phrases with English words in the same darn sentence and people can easily be mislead by their prejudices and intuition on the phone and in msging. Once the they txt the price, and other details, you will have them at their word. There are at least 15 language/ethnic groupings with more than 1/2 mil speakers, all with different accents, so it is very plausible and probable that the person on the other end of the phone will believe its a bayani (fellow country man).
In SE Asia, I have found this also works in Malaysia, Brunei, and to a lesser extent Singapore but generally speaking, the local price in those countries is generally, more in line with what an Amerikano would pay.
In the Philippines, Joe, the Kano, is usually exploited to the hilt. They are the easiest marks, besides the Japanese, who are still (over)paying for the last time they invaded the Philippines.
Keep the travel hints coming.
It is always knee high in July, if we keep our eyes open and share our experiences with other travelers.
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