nomad4ever

Living in Asia the past 6 years, I regularly try to stay up-to-date with Immunizations and precautions. As a pampered and spoiled European you naturally don’t have the immune system or the antibodies to fight diseases like Hepatitis, Typhoid, Polio, Malaria or Dengue.

Not that it’s recommended you do that at all.

But while you can’t take Malaria prophylaxis like Lariam, Malarone or Doxycycline over all the years you want to live here (some mosquitos anyway develop a resistance to it and it’s better to use precautions not to be bitten at all), you can do something about diseases like Hepatitis.

written by Chris

Setting up home in Goa the past 8 days, it’s about time to post some first observations. With a rented scooter it’s a pleasure to explore the beaches, towns and hinterlands to get a first feel for the place.

Traffic is surprisingly moderate, I was expecting more mayhem, but then it’s not high season yet. Some things are similar to Bali, like the tourist area vendors; others are completely different. For instance does it seem impossible for foreigners to buy and register a vehicle in your name.

Everywhere where is light there is shadow – here are 11 more impressions:

written by Chris

Flying from Singapore into Chennai, India, we took Tiger Airways, one of Asia’s most successful Budget Airlines. Operating out of Singapore you should be able to bank on its efficiency and service quality.

It seems with Tiger Airways efficiency is going sometimes a bit too far, up to the point when you as the passenger feel harassed or bullied and more of a necessary hassle for the airline than a human being.

I want to introduce one example of an Airline, from whom Tiger Airways could learn a great deal about Courtesy, Professionalism and Service Quality.

written by Chris

I’m currently in my 2nd home country, my home away from home – Singapore! Bali lies now behind and being back one day is definitely on the list of things to do – but for now there are other destinations to explore.

And yep, Singapore is more or less only the stepping stone, as it’s an important airline hub and I can get here as well the required Visa to the real destination.

Some of you guessed right already, so you will be able to find me at least for the next 6-12 months not in Singapore, but in Goa, India:

written by Chris

Living the last 2 years in Bali were surprisingly smooth sailing. Originally we wanted to stay here 6 months only – now I almost can’t believe, how quickly time passed on this lovely island.

Coming from Phuket, the first impressions were quite mixed. What stroke me most initially, was the chaotic traffic and the colder ocean temperatures.

Now it’s time to move on again to new shores. Time for a Wrap-up of good and annoying things you can experience, when you live here as a long-term traveler, Nomad or Expat.

Here we go; the Best, the Good, the Ugly of Bali:

written by Chris

If you have been reading any Indonesian newspaper or internet website lately, chances are that you have heard about the new Pornography Bill.

This is an initiative, which could come into law in October to ‘protect’ Indonesia from decadent western influences like pornography and overly sexual displays in public. It shall ensure and uphold public morality. Even TIME magazine had a lengthy article recently.

written by Chris

Around 2 years ago I was raving about the so-called Dreamland Beach in Bali, situated at the west coast of the Bali Bukit, the dry hilly area south of the airport.

It’s one of the closest candidates for a Dream Beach, which Bali unfortunately doesn’t have in the abundance of let’s say Thailand or the Philippines. The only other natural white beach, west of the Padang Bai lagoon is currently developed into a 5-star Hotel resort for a Japanese company with restricted access for the average traveler.

Tough luck I hear you say, but for Surfers and Expats there was always Dreamland Beach – up until now:

written by Chris

With all the ‘Dark Knight‘ propaganda these days, it’s refreshing to see another Knight coming along. Yesterday another step was taken to soon bring tourists into space. Not in a galaxy far far away, but here on our planet Earth.

Does that sound like Science Fiction to you? Jule Vernes anyone?

I would rather say so, if it wasn’t for entrepreneur Richard Branson behind it. He proved already during all his life, that one can fulfill his dreams, if you simply pursue them with enough determination. You can circumvent the globe in an Hot Air Balloon if you feel like it – right?

written by Chris