nomad4ever

If you stay a bit longer in Bali – longer than just a few days that is – and plan driving a vehicle like a Scooter or Car here, it’s almost unavoidable that you will be stopped by the police once in a while. If you are wearing your helmet how it should be or are correctly buckled up in your car – that has usually only one reason -> to extort money from you – the “wealthy” foreigner or tourist.

written by Chris

It’s astonishing how western multinational companies invested their time and money around the globe to build their brands as easily recognisable as they are today. Nobody says Cola anymore but Coke and you are used to dine at Mc Donald’s or Burger King and know that your Big Mac or Whopper will taste the same in Addis Ababa or New York or Capetown (even though that isn’t completely true).

Global brand power…

Companies like Starbucks or Pizza Hut gain their strength for expansion from their easily recognisable Logos, colours and symbols, which make a good part of a successful franchise.

written by Chris

Things are not the same they used to be. There was a time you had Seers, Wise Men, Gurus or Oracles who could predict the future or at least give you some outlook and hints on how to live your life the righteous way.

Nowadays we have DIY guides for that. Guides for Dummies. Just check Amazon.com.

These days it seems, everyone is caught in a race of Consumerism, Materialism and a run after the big great lie – mammon.

written by Chris

Since my recent review of private Internet Access Options in Bali from January 2007, things have changed quite a bit. Telkom Speedy (a DSL variant) is heavily promoted everywhere for land lines with analogue connections. And a few months ago, a few operators started to roll out 3G, that is 3rd Generation for Mobile Networks.

3G or UMTS, as it’s widely called, is basically an extension to regular GSM mobile networks, allowing them for higher bandwidth (throughput) and lower latency (less delay) for Data and Voice Connections.

written by Chris

10. Money can buy a bed, but it cannot buy sleep.

9. Money can buy books, but it cannot by brains.

8. Money can buy food, but not appetite.

7. Money can buy finery, but not beauty.

6. Money can buy a house, but not a home.

5. Money can buy medicine, but not health.

4. Money can buy luxuries, but not culture.

3. Money can buy amusement, but not happiness.

2. Money can buy companions, but not friends.

1. Money can buy flattery, but not respect.

Sometimes it’s good to remember, right?

written by Chris

Coming back from Ubud just to eat some roasted pork on rice over there, I must say, Anthony Bourdain, the famous author, culinary in-your-face adventurer and self-proclaimed hedonist is right. You really have the best Babi Guling (which is ‘Spanferkel’ or Roasted Suckling Baby Pig) in Ubud/Bali!

Just ask anyone in Ubud for Warung Ibu Oka’s (Auntie Oka’s Stall), which was featured in his show ‘No reservations’ (running on cable on the Travel & Living Channel or Discovery Channel). Actually that’s not right, you have to ask for her house – because Ibu Oka had to move her stall recently after Anthony Bourdain visited her Warung.

written by Chris

Found this picture in a local newspaper: These days with Windows Vista around you never know what can happen when you plugin a new gadget into your laptop! Some crashes just can’t be avoided…

I guess we all heard a story about that guy who brought a jumbo down, because he had to use his phone during flight. Maybe it’s just an Urban Legend after all?

With Bluetooth, Infrared, WiFi, 3G and other wireless technologies popping up faster than you can say ‘turbulence’ its no wonder that there might be still some surprises ahead for the savvy traveler.

written by Chris

Things happen for a reason in Indonesia. While I didn’t trust my eyes, when reading about Jusuf Kalla’s recent statements regarding Marihuana in food; the EU’s ban of Indonesian airlines flying into Europe didn’t come as a surprise at all.

After all the recent incidents surrounding Garuda Airlines, Adam Air and others, the EU probably wanted to show a strong hand – even though currently there isn’t a single Indonesian Airlines flying into Europe. Garuda was planning to take up again their Jakarta-Amsterdam route (which they suspended after the Asian Crisis) sometime in 2008, which would be a welcome competition for the current high-price trip serviced only by foreign airlines. Currently – prepare to pay anything above Euro 750 plus taxes, if you are planning to fly return from Europe to Jakarta or Bali for instance. No budget airlines in sight for long-haul.

written by Chris