Hobo TRAVEL TIPS - 5 Star Hobo - I will trade beer
for room!
Issue 145 - April 1, 2004
Hobotraveler.com
A Hobo trip around the world. Year 7
Write Andy a HoboTraveler.com
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READ EASY ONLINE: Is this scramble in Outlook?
Hotmail.com... or TROUBLE opening links.
Read the letter online and open the links easily.
http://www.hobotraveler.com/newsletterhobo145insert.shtml
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
~ NEWSLETTER INFORMATION
~ HOBO TRAVEL QUOTES
How I feel today...
~ HOBO PHOTO GALLERY
This weeks pictures.
~ HOBO DAILY TRAVEL LOG a.k.a. Blog
A daily web diary of my travels.
http://www.hobotraveler.com/blogger.html
~ HOBO MAPS, NOTES AND THOUGHTS...
Map of present location and plans.
~ HOBO STEW (A Dish of Meat and Vegetables)
Location of Hobo and opinions
5 Star Hobo - Had Yai, Thailand
~ HOBO TRAVEL GEAR CORNER
A review of something in my backpack.
~ HOBOGUIDE.COM GO THIS WAY!
http://www.hoboguide.com
Missing in
Action - None this week.
~ TODAY�S TRAVEL TIP
I WILL TRADE
BEER FOR A ROOM!
~ EXTREME HOBO TRAVEL
Scott�s Bike Trip Around World
~ TODAY�S TIP FROM THE - �Peanut Gallery�
A Joke Tip that is ... hmm sarcastic
~ HOBO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Questions for Hobo Andy - Take Care.
~ HOBO GOSSIP and/or Jaded Remarks
A jaded remark on world travel.
Thank you, Lord - I'm doing fine
CONTACTING THE EDITOR a.k.a. Andy
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~ NEWSLETTER INFORMATION -
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~ SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe Here
PRIVACY STATEMENT
~ ARCHIVES 0F PAST NEWSLETTERS
http://www.hobotraveler.com/indexhobonewsletter.shtml
~ ALL TIPS BY SUBJECT
http://www.hobotraveler.com/indenewslettipsbysubject.shtml
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~ HOBO TRAVEL QUOTES -
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How I feel today, or a start down
the proverbial travelers path.
Never take a cross country trip with a kid who has just learned to whistle.
- Jean Deuel
~ BACKPACKER JARGON
- Yellow Bible
Lonely Planet Guidebook "Asia?"
I cannot be bothered to pay attention to the history of
guidebooks, but the "Lonely Planet" is probably the most widely
known and used guidebook for budget travelers in the world so
someone and probably them coined the term.
"Yellow Bible." I believe because a few editions were Yellow.
But is someone says, "The Bible" or "The Yellow Bible," to keep
you in the know of things realize they are being slangy for the
"Lonely Planet Guidebook."
I was listening to newbie traveler the other day as she started
talking about the Lonely Planet Guidebook with reverence.
I took a personal trip back in time and remembered how I learned of the
world of the backpacker and of people that wander the planet.
The Lonely Planet Guidebooks has helped forge a travelers path
and created a not so lonely world.
I am sure my Mother does not like the word "Bible."
But this is the correct word as line 4 of my dictionary states:
Bible:
a publication that is preeminent especially
in authoritativeness or wide readership. (1)
~ HOBO SLANG
Blinds
- False door at end of baggage car. Hobo riding place.
http://www.hobotraveler.com/hobo.php
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~ HOBO PHOTO GALLERY -
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top
A lot of photos - The world unedited...
KOH PHA NGAN AND A FEW BANGKOK
Khao San Road - Ferry to Koh Pha Ngan - New Restaurant at Chicken Corner -
Thailand
http://www.hobotraveler.com/145kohphangan01_01.shtml
Chicken Corner of Koh Pha Ngan - U.S. Flag Sandals Thailand
http://www.hobotraveler.com/145kohphangan01_02.shtml
Bedbugs Photos - Reading Light - Swedish Girls Thailand
http://www.hobotraveler.com/145kohphangan02_01.shtml
Island of Koh Pha Gnan Thailiand - Transportation
http://www.hobotraveler.com/145kohphangan03_01.shtml
Steve World Traveler - Koh Pha Ngan Scuba - Internet Cafe - Thailand
http://www.hobotraveler.com/145kohphangan03_02.shtml
TIBET AND MONGOLIA MONK PHOTOS
Buddhist Monks on Cell Telephone - Playing Counter Strike War Game Tibet -
Mongolia
http://www.hobotraveler.com/145monks01.shtml
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~ HOBO DAILY TRAVEL LOG -
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top
A daily web diary of my travels.
http://www.hobotraveler.com/blogger.html
To read the day to day action, reaction or boredom.
My online diary will drive you crazy.
~ SUBSCRIBE to blog. Receive by E-mail.
Send blank e-mail to:
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~ HOBO
MAPS, NOTES AND THOUGHTS...
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Thailand NOTES:
http://www.hobotraveler.com/ma_countrythailand.shtml
RUSSIA NOTES:
http://www.hobotraveler.com/ma_countryrussia.shtml
MONGOLIA NOTES:
http://www.hobotraveler.com/ma_countrymongolia.shtml
TIBET CHINA NOTES:
http://www.hobotraveler.com/notestibet.shtml
NEPAL NOTES:
http://www.hobotraveler.com/ma_countrynepal.shtml
India NOTES
http://www.hobotraveler.com/ma_countryIndia.shtml
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~ HOBO STEW (A Dish of Meat and Vegetables)
- Back
to top
5 STAR HOBO - GO FIGURE?
Had Yai, Thailand
I am sharing my room with a friend and she demanded �Air Con�
as they say here in Thailand, probably because the word �Conditioning�
is hard to say for the Thai people so they just abbreviated the word
to make life easier. This is normal world culture, if they can short
you, then they do, great service is not normal in the world and
either are long explanations.
But I am staying in one of the nicest rooms of my seven plus
years of travel. I would say the name, but why would I want to
put a reader in harms way by recommending a hotel where
I feel insecure all the time.
I am in a room with Air Conditioning, Color Television, Fox News
Station, Carpet, Hot Water, and a huge bath tub for
420 Baht per night or 10 Dollars U.S.
(Note if the rooms in Iraq were 4 Star, this has to be 5 Star.)
But there is NO way for me to put my own lock on the door.
This is one thing I really despise about going up the price chain
of hotels. I must sacrifice security for comfort. Almost all cheap
hotels allow me to use my own padlock in the world, but just
as soon as you pay for the 5 Star room, you have to worry about the
management or cleaning people stealing your valuables because they
have the fancy locks, plastic cards, and elaborate ways to steal, oops
I mean type of door key systems.
100 PERCENT SURE
I am not 99 percent sure, I am 100 percent sure that theft happens by
management and cleaning people in all hotels in the world. There is no
way to control every living person on the planet. But there are still hotels
that will lie and say, �We have never had a theft.� This is the first sign of
a Hotel that has thieves, when the manager is a liar.
But they do have a sign that says they are not liable for theft, so
�Therefore� thefts exist, or the reason for the sign would not exist.
My new backpack specifically made to allow me to live in this type
of hotel and not worry. Thefts in hotels are crimes of convenience
or temptation, so all you have to do is make it difficult. I locked my
valuables in the bag and chained it to the desk.
PHOTO OF BACKPACK LOCKED TO DESK
http://www.hobotraveler.com/146hadyai01_01.shtml
With this new bag I will now be tempted by TV to upgrade to the nicer
room. I am not really tempted by Air Con, but I do like to watch CNN,
BBC or FOX or any other acronym available, plus a good movie
channel will guarantee I am happy.
I do not know much about Had Yai and I am not sure I carry. I do know
they advertise on every wall about �Sexy Shows,� and such, as they
cater to the Malaysia and the Singapore Tourist. I would say that
Had Yai is a good buying city or a great place for me to re-stock
my backpack with the staples of travel, Shampoo, coffee, etc.
I have not heard of any �Must Sees.� yet so maybe I will escape out
of Had Yai without must seeing anything. (I can only hope.) I want to
live happy, more than I wish to see everything. I am very happy with
a week of Fox News and Air Con hiding in my room.
The discounted real Thai world, or cheaper price of living is probably
paying for my room. Kow Pat Gai a.k.a. Chicken Fried Rice is
50 percent cheaper here than on Khao San Road or any moderate
tourist place. I am paying 30 Baht or 75 Cents U.S. for the real thing
and not some westernized, white rice, not really fried, make money
by selling crap, in the tourist areas versions.
TESTING
Test you Hotel honesty? Put 10 coins somewhere in the open.
Count them daily. Soon one or two will be missing. Not all
of them because that would be obvious.
My question?
How do they rate a hotel? Who decides, or how
do they decide what is a 3-4-5 Star Hotel?
I cannot find a good set of standards. If you know?
Click Here and write me! Please.
http://www.hobotraveler.com/formlettereditor1.php
Today's go this way and
Missing in Action - None this week.
Today�s tip
I WILL TRADE BEER FOR A ROOM
Just another day in Paradise!
PLAN YOUR ESCAPE...
Be a Hobo, and leave your mark.
X
Hobotraveler.com was HERE!
Life is good.
The Hobotraveler.com
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Article written by Andy the Hobotraveler.com
On year 7 of Hobo trip around the world.
Budget Travel, Jobs, and Adventure, etc
Subscribe to Free Newsletter at:
http://www.hobotraveler.com
You may publish this article for Free
on the internet If this box stays attached.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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~ HOBO ECONOMICS 101 -
Back to
top
My daily cost is about $15
Hey? I just gave you 20 Minutes of entertainment
at my expense. How about a buck? A Dollar?
A Euro? A Pound?
This letter is free, but I need your help. I have run
away from home! I be Hobo.
TRAVEL INSURANCE - Insure And Go!
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~ HOBO TRAVEL GEAR CORNER
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to top
Let's talk about the gear, clothing, equipment, and other
fun toys and paraphernalia for Hobo Travel.
What I carry? - Reading Light
Why? - 95 percent of rooms do not have good lighting.
I like to read a good book, and most countries of the world
are really in the dark ages when it comes to lighting.
Rules of thumb:
- Hotels do not have adequate lights.
- If you do not have electricity you do not have sufficient lighting.
- A plastic clip system will not work.
http://www.hobotraveler.com/forsalereadinglights01.shtml
Thanks - I BE HOBO
I would never sacrifice all the pleasures of life and
consider this required gear for my home on my back.
ADVERTISE HERE:
http://www.hobotraveler.com/advertiseinsert.html
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Hoboguide.com GO THIS WAY! -
Back to
top
Missing in Action - None this
week.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Article written by Andy the Hobotraveler.com
On year 7 of Hobo trip around the world.
Budget Travel, Jobs, and Adventure, etc
Subscribe to Free Newsletter at:
http://www.hobotraveler.com
You may publish this article for Free
on the internet If this box stays attached.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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~ TODAY�S TRAVEL TIPS -
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top
I WILL TRADE BEER FOR A ROOM
Are you a backpacker?
Do you live in the cheap rooms?
Do you want to stay in the Air Conditioned, TV, too
nice to believe rooms once in awhile?
Here is how...? Go on Vacation!
TRADE BEER FOR ROOM
TRADE FOOD FOR ROOM
I am making a joke or being too much to be better understood
I hope. You cannot really trade beer, or food for a room, but you
can trade the beer, food, restaurants, that rented motorcycle, or
other so-called necessities for a better room.
I am always amazed at beer money. A person will pay 10 dollars
a day for beer, and live in a room for 2 dollars.
This is a simple tip.
1. Stop drinking beer for one week.
2. Stop drinking Coca Cola and go for water.
3. Stop going to the restaurant 3 times a day and go only once.
Go on a diet fatty.
4. Just stop buying for a day.
Itemize your daily cost. Keep a log of your daily expenses and you
can probably pay for the nice room. You will have to say no to
temptation and this may be possible for a couple of days,
before you go back to the beer bash.
Just another day in Paradise!
PLAN YOUR ESCAPE...
Be a Hobo, and leave your mark.
X
Hobotraveler.com was HERE!
Life is good.
The Hobotraveler.com
As always, these are suggestions. Please realize I am
giving guidance, and there are always other opinions.
�One mans paradise, is another mans hell�
This way we do not all go to the same place.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Article written by Andy the Hobotraveler.com
On year 7 of Hobo trip around the world.
Budget Travel, Jobs, and Adventure, etc
Subscribe to Free Newsletter at:
http://www.hobotraveler.com
You may publish this article for Free
on the internet If this box stays attached.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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~ EXTREME HOBO TRAVEL -
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SCOTTS BIKE TRIP AROUND THE WORLD
Archives of Scotts Story
x`
Note: Send recommendations for next
"Extreme Hobo Traveler" for newsletter to follow.
Write Andy a HoboTraveler.com
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TODAY�S TIP FROM THE
�Peanut Gallery� -
Back to
top
Fun tips - Here's a little tip from me, to you,
as an experienced traveler.
If you go five days without seeing another tourist...
You maybe in the "Real Country," or home again.
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~ HOBO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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COMMENT OR QUESTION:
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Dear Andy,
I want to buy that money belt/pocket combo but Paypal
(Andy added this link -
is not formulated to allow a foreign address to be entered!
I'm in Thailand, any suggestions?
Thanks,
Steve
ANSWER:
Hello,
Thank you for the what�s up or notification of glitches in the system.
I am not happy with the "MONEY BELT" situation or belt I am selling.
In fact I am going to stop selling it as a money belt.
The secret pockets are good.
I really do not want to sell you the money belt combination.
I am going to remove or separate them out and sell them as just "Fanny Belts."
or hip belts or whatever they should be called. They can be worn inside or
outside.
I am not happy at all with the "money belt world." The more I study the
Money Belt and how people use them, the more I am sure that these money
belts help people to lose money and not protect money. I am about to come
out with an opinion that money belts should not be used. Fanny belts are
dangerous also, but according to the country.
Any bag a person carries can be nabbed. But money belts have a special problem:
They are uncomfortable and because people can remove them....
"The remove them."
So what happens is they sit down in a restaurant. Then the feel the
uncomfortable money belt in their pants. It is hot or sticky and they take
the money belt out of their pants and put it on the table or in their bag.
NOW - The money belt becomes a liability and not an asset.
People see them do this and they steal the belt or grab it.
But probably more likely is they leave it on the table and walk out.
I know of a girl in La Paz, Bolivia that this happened to and she was
quite distressed with herself. I am sure that way too many travelers or
tourist have their money belts stolen or lost.
The secret pockets are so much better because you cannot remove them.
It removes the temptation. I suppose secret pockets sown in a persons
pant are sort of a pain for a 2-week tourist, but not for a 6-month traveler.
There are so many people that get robbed it is ridiculous. People do not
advertise...
"I was robbed."
It is like saving face, they do not want to admit they were stupid or they lost
the money belt. I would say about 75 percent of the "robbed" were really,
"I forgot it" and not "I was robbed."
I am the absent-minded professor. I am sure that I would leave any
bag if I do not have it tied to me. I have this little red bag I carry now
that I can clip to my belt loop when I am sitting down in a restaurant
or more likely the Internet cafe. It has funky items like a book to read,
my floppy disk, or other miscellaneous things.
So because I cannot remember what I am doing, I must not have
a money belt that I can remove. The one time I was robbed in 7 years
was because I took off my neck money pouch and put in the top of my
bag. I now do not use the neck pouch. I use it by putting in a special
pocket of my travel pants.
I wrote a tip on the travel pants. They are the military ones that I modified.
NOTE: My rule or way of looking at problems.
"If I have two choices, one that has a possibility of happening, and the
second that has no possibility of happening. I use the conservative or the
option with no possibility. This is tough logic for people to get their brain
around for some reason, but it keeps me safe."
I suppose people think they are the exceptional person.
When it comes to having accidents or forgetting things, no one
is exceptional, but I can make decisions that minimize my forgetfulness
or accidents.
With the money belt I can take it off and leave it.
With the secret pockets I cannot. It is sown into the pants.
PHOTOS:
http://www.hobotraveler.com/forsale0001secretpocket5x5.shtml
But for the solution to your pockets you want to buy.
Send me your address. I am in Thailand and I will send you a bunch for Free.
Oops.
Paypal.com solution.
I will try to see if I can make sure there is a �Comments� area includes
in the payment. Paypal.com has some real problems, and it is made
for people that have only one address. The really do not address the
people that live all over the world or the expatriates.
There are so many glitches in selling a product worldwide that I
cannot count that high. I have learned a lot of them, and will soon
add more and more products I design to sell, in fact that is one
reason I am going to Vietnam to see about some backpacks.
I will think about the paypal.com problem and see if I can come up
with a system that is very easy for people. I hate to ask them to fill
out a separate form that sends me their present address.
Andy HoboTraveler.com in Had Yai
Click on REPLY to write with questions.
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~ HOBO GOSSIP and/or Jaded Remarks
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Murphy's Law
If anything can go wrong it will go wrong.
This is over developed in the under-developed countries.
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HELP ANDY'S TRAVEL!
My wish list of things to help me travel.
I want to buy this travel gear.
http://www.hobotraveler.com/helpandy.shtml
HELP Andy's Grammar
http://www.hobotraveler.com/helpandygrammar.shtml
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"Thank you, Lord, for thinkin'
'bout me. I'm alive and doin' fine."
I�m alive and doing fine.�
Song by: Five Man Electrical Band
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MY APOLOGY - If I do not reply quickly or
forget. I am sorry. Please write again. I do reply
to all well mannered e-mails. I try my best and
do want to talk.
CONTACTING THE EDITOR a.k.a. Andy
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Write HoboTraveler.com or send to:
http://www.hobotraveler.com/formlettereditor1.php
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NOTICE: Letters to Andy are considered public.
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property of Andy and could be published in
entirety to the internet.
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TRAVEL INSURANCE - Insure And Go!