Finding a Little Genius in Everything

from has written 205 comments

Andy spills his heart.....

.....I am a man, this place is full of women, my testosterone levels are at the age of 19, this hyper activates my senses and feelings, wow what a rush.......

Me Thinks Andy got the Jungle Fever.

Hi Andy,

I had a very happy day yesterday as well, thanks to Youtube. I decided that I needed to laugh a lot more and not take life so seriously. My remedy for eliminating the negativity that was invading my space wat to put in the word Comedy in the YouTube search box. What I discovered was an amazing cornucopia of humor right at my fingertips. I spent several hours blissfully laughing. Here are three of my favorite links on Youtube that your fans might enjoy:

Nail Salon - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsWrY77o77o
Big Deck - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQ7Ue5emo6I
Whose Line... - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUZuV0xce3A

My new mantra - Choose to make Life a Laughing Matter

All the best,
Pat

Andy, I hope never to forget your quip about happiness. Quite simple really, but often that is where genius lies. Thank you again for your writing and observations. What a treat to open my reader and find a post from you. I know I'm going to enjoy something good.

A very interesting article, probably one of the best written on Africa that I have read. Your language is so good, the article makes me want to go to Africa right away. And I will too, some day for sure. "Finding a Little Genius in Everythiing" - such an inspiring line. Also let me know if you are interested in doing a guest artcle on vagobond.com. My readers would love to be enlightened. http://www.vagobond.com

Hi Andy, I've been following your travels for a couple of years now. I can tell you this, West Africa will put a spell on you, you will never be able to fully escape the spell. My first trip to West Africa was in 2005, I have returned 6 times now, and can't wait to get back to West Africa. West Africa brings you to life, a feeling of true freedom, and all the beautiful ladies will make you feel young again...not to mention the fact that they are the happiest people I have ever meet.

I will never forget my first trip to Ghana, I was repulsed at first, then gradually, I came to love the place, to the point that I didn't want to return home, but, I went home. Then came the obsession and dreaming of returning, I was consumed, I'm toast, I will not be happy until I get back to West Africa !!!!

nomadicnotes from has written 4 comments

It's a good life. Thanks.

lometogo from has written 12 comments

Andy, I followed your time in guatemala where you were living in a $150/month hotel. Not possible in Cote d'Ivoire, is it? What's it costing to live there per month?

Great posts by the way. Keep it rolling.

Gadget from has written 1,020 comments

I can live in Ivory Coast for 200-300 per month including room, if I want.

I was paying 6 Dollars per night for the first three nights in the main small city of Grand Bassam, not on the Beach.

I went with Flor and Sojo from the Internet Cafe, they showed me a room for 200, that was not available for 5 days. They showed me a room at their House for 150 a moth or 75,000 CFA. This had Air Conditioning, surround by Three Star Hotels, that was to me more of a Motel area. Not immersed in a neighborhood.

I then went to the Beach, talked with my friends Benedict and Veronica, they took me to the Hotel Las Palmas, where they lady wanted 5000 Mille per night or 10 Dollars, that equates to 300 Dollars per month.

I decided to stay on the beach for 300 inside a family community, rather than the 150 a little far from the beach.

This girl shows me here, room, "trop jolie," she is paying 20 dollars a month, and this seems perfect for me, but have not found an empty room.

Now, I am rather lazy on room searches, I just keep asking, but I am not going to spend my days looking for a room to save 100 Dollars per month.

So, I am living for about 500 per month, 300 for room and 200 for food. Generally, the food here is extremely cheap, however not so interesting. I can buy a small chicken breast for 1 dollars, and can peas or string beans for a dollar a can. I am buying tons of Dates from two Burkina Faso girls. I eat an orange or two per day for 10 cents each, the dates cost 10-20 cents. or Cien Franc.

I know I can live in 143 countries on the planet for less than 500 dollars per month, I am trying to write about this in the book I am writing. There is this 1-3 month graduated costing thing going one.

I mean, the cost the first weeks is the most, and gradually lessons every week, therefore the longer I am here, the more i understand the economy, the cheaper the room and food, but the better the quality it becomes.

Asiabill from has written 260 comments

Andy, Great piece of writing and happy to know that being in Africa has helped motivate and inspire you, Your daily journal seems to have a new breath of life now. My old friend JB whose been to 190+ countries and now visiting the few places he hasn't been yet wrote me from Madagascar and now he's in the Comorro islands north of there. I'm really TURNED ON now to visit Madagascar as it was one of the places like Sri Lanka ( where I spent 3 months ) which I dreamed of going when I was 10+ years old reading National Geographic Magazines and studying the Globe. A guy I met recently remarked on this subject of "genius" being so much more common in poorer countries referring to it as "improvisation". And it's very true when one has so little to work with to solve common daily problems it seems like the mind is stimulated to provide various hit and miss solutions. it's the same as being broke like pointed out in "Rich Dad Poor Dad" that when we have no money we are so much more creative and ambitious and mentaly inspired to see financial opportunities.