Often humorous, sometimes
serious, and occasionally scathing, these Ramblings are neither
date nor country-specific. In some cases, the Ramblings cover
aspects of our trip preparation, such as in "Chinese
Needle Torture." In other cases, they represent ideas
and observations that link our travel experiences in various
countries, such as "The Sunset Scheme." We hope
you enjoy them - any feedback
much appreciated.
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september 6 -> Tip-Top and Rock-Bottom Experiences
"What was your favorite country?" is the most common
question we are asked, and also the most difficult
question to answer. We liked many countries, but for different reasons. Rather than compile a list of the "Top Ten" countries, we sat down in Honduras and put
together several lists: the best and worst experiences, adventures, food and accommodations on our trip. We hope this gets your travel juices
flowing!... MORE
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may 30 -> the free enterprise theme
- Sung to the tune of “The Gilligan's Island Theme”
- Click here to listen to Scott sing the theme song. MORE
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april 1 -> what really counts in travel?
Robert Major was obsessed with the number of countries that he had visited. On the bus ride from Bonito to Iguazu Falls, we had gotten into a spirited, but light-hearted discussion about what countries “counted” and which countries didn't. (Initially impressed by our total, he later expressed skepticism at some of our inclusions... MORE
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November 30 -> sunrise scam
I am going to let you in on one of the biggest scams in the travel industry. Not hidden commissions, or overbooked flights, or rigged taxi meters. I am talking about The Sunrise Scam... MORE
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November 11 -> Bucha-no-rest
Some people think that our 2-year trip is like one really long vacation. Take a week in Hawaii or the Caribbean, multiply that by 104, and you've got the general idea. Sure, we are not working, and that counts for a lot, but I can guarantee you that long-term travel is nothing like the holidays we used to take when we were working. For one thing, we rarely get a good night's sleep... MORE __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
july 10 -> dumb things backpackers say part 1
In the past year, Nori and I have had the displeasure to meet many silly backpackers. Below, we list the ten most annoying things that they say:... MORE __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
july 10 -> dumb things backpackers say part 2
5. "I hate globalization."
Travelers tend to be a very liberal lot, which is ironic considering their elitist tendencies. The first thing you discover is that most people can't explain what it is that they abhor. Is it that Chinese laborers are being paid very little... MORE
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july 10 -> dumb things backpackers say part 3
9. “I always eat local food.”
This is another budget-related issue. The traveler always eats local food, in large part, because it is cheap. Another nice thing about always eating local food is that it gives the traveler an opportunity to brag about... MORE
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November 8 ->
The Best and Worst of the
First Six Months
After six months on the road, we decided it
was time to make some lists. What follows documents the best
and the worst of the trip so far, as well as the
funniest/most bizarre moments and the most valuable equipment
by country... MORE
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October 25 -> The
turkish driver's guide
I drove over 5000 kilometers
in three weeks in Turkey, and can authoritatively say that
Turkish drivers are some of the worst in the world. They are
so bad that it got me thinking that they must be operating
from a different driver's manual. Sure enough, they are. I
had a friend translate the most important rules from the official
Turkish Driver's Guide...more
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september 4 -> The
Travel Diet
Traveling on a budget is a great way to lose weight,
for three simple reasons:
1. Eating less,
2. Exercising more, and
3. Diarrhea
MORE
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MAY 24 -> "The
Kokoda Song"
"Kokoda"
- Written by Scott Brixen while on location
- Sung to the tune of "Kokomo" by the Beach Boys
MORE
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April 15 -> A
Guide to Kiwi Pronunciation
Planning a trip to New Zealand?
In that case, please consult this primer on Kiwi pronunciation.
Soon you will be ordering 'fush and chups' with ease!
MORE
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Feb 24 -> Chinese
Needle Torture
Travel can be very tough on the
body, and we wanted to do everything we could to look after
our health. This led us to the Travel Doctor, a Sydney clinic
whose sole business is the protection of travelers from all
manners of afflictions - from diarrhea to Japanese encephalitis.
The large number of Australian backpackers and backpackers
visiting Australia ensures a steady stream of business...
More
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