nomad4ever

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

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

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

Drug Use or Possession are serious offences in Indonesia and Bali as well. There are usually harsh penalties handed down to those involved in drug cases with Marihuana, Heroin or Cocaine, as Schapelle Corby (4.2 kg of Marihuana were found in her luggage), the Bali Nine, model Michelle Leslie and others experienced in the last couple of years.

On the other hand more common drugs like alcohol, kretek cigarettes or even magic mushrooms are widely available and freely and openly advertised.

written by Chris

Monday morning, 8am. Diiiiiiinnng! Is that your alarm? Wouldn’t it be nice to not having to go to work today? How about traveling in Guatemala, Mexico or Asia instead? Here is the news: You can! Just follow nomad4ever’s essential tips for self-sustainable permanent travel.

For permanent sustainable travel and living at a young age, you basically have to work on 2 sides of the book:

• Income in hard currency (Dollar, Euro, Swiss Franc, …)
• Expenses in soft currencies (Rupiah, Baht, Peso, …- this almost excludes Europe, the US, Japan or other high cost-of-living countries)

written by Chris

When traveling or living in foreign countries there always comes a time, when you go home. Be it for a while or for a longer visit, or simply to get back to your life or to start a new chapter of it.

Most people feel homesick after a while in foreign countries and cultures, others simply enjoy it and don’t even think about their home country anymore. Out of sight – out of mind.

written by Chris

A Digital Nomad is a person who needs mobile technology to conduct business while on the road which could be within a city, between cities or from other countries. Nomads are not location dependent except through personal choice and could be employed by a business or be freelancers.

This is a growing trend with the uncertainties of long term employment with a single company and rapid changes in emerging technologies, and there is a different mindset required to be successful.

So the guys over at Digital Nomads are trying to figure out what people who seem to live that kind of lifestyle are like and they came up with a meme about it.

written by Chris

Different regions different habits. Different tastes too. The Italians are practically brought up on Pizza, Pasta and Lasagna only while for Americans the equivalents are Big Macs, Whoppers, Marshmallows, Steaks and for Californians and Mexicans maybe Nachos, Tacos, Salads, Red Beans and Burritos.

How do I know?

There are strange tastes out there as well.

Everyone knows that the Chinese love to eat Cats, Dogs and even Sea Cucumber. The French eat Frogs. Some Germans eat Beef Stomaches, the Bavarians (some special kind of Germans) live on ‘Brezeln and Weissbier’ only. Japanese love to gamble their lives and indulge in poisonous raw fish besides digesting tons of whale meat, shark fins or turtles.

written by Chris