nomad4ever

Awhile ago we were discussing, if it’s a wise or safe decision to fly a Budget Carrier long-haul. However your opinion is about that subject – luckily time didn’t stop and some of the usual suspects seem to follow through with the idea.

Even if you don’t like the idea to fly long-distance or intercontinental flights with a no-frills airline; it surely would mean more competition and hopefully lower prices for all of us.

So what’s the news?

It seems that there is some movement in the sector, Asian Aviation pioneer Tony Fernandes looks like he’s teaming up with creative aviation individualist Richard Branson, to really make cheaper long-distance flights possible for everyone.

written by Chris

In Singapore or Hong Kong, traffic follows designated laws and common sense rules, issuing driving licenses requires that you learn driving and prove your skills first and pass a driving test afterwards. The rules are enforced by a proper funded and highly motivated Police Force as well.

So far so good.

Unfortunately, this rosy picture isn’t the case in most other places in Asia, even cities like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila or Denpasar are pure Chaos during Rush Hour and still near-battle zones during any other time. Get out to the country-side and it even gets better, as you can run into Ox Carts, 5 people riding 1 bike or trucks loaded up to the horizon with whatever grows on the fields or got killed along the way.

written by Chris

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

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

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

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