Category: travel

Get Your Baht To Thailand

On By Rick McIn economics, travelLeave a comment

We deserve the worldwide recession, in my opinion.

The developed world was living far beyond its means.

The most interesting aspect of the downturn to me are the opportunities that are opening up as economies restructure.

For example, this promotion by Air Asia and the government of Thailand:

AirAsia is offering 100,000 free tickets to Thailand under a regional marketing campaign, ‘Get Your Baht To Thailand’ (a play on Thai currency) to support its tourism industry which was battered by the recent political unrest. The sale of these free tickets commenced yesterday and will be on till tomorrow. These tickets are for travel between January 6, 2009 and March 31, 2009 and can only be purchased online at AirAsia’s website. The airline is giving tickets to Bangkok from Vietnam, Cambodia, Myammar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and China, as well as for flights within Thailand. Passengers will only have to pay airport taxes and administration fee. Also AirAsia last month abolished fuel surcharges on all its flights. …

AirAsia offers 1, 00,000 free tickets to Thailand to boost battered tourism industry

Krabi
Krabi

larger version – flickr

Grant Assenheimer in Africa

On By Rick McIn friends, travelLeave a comment

Grant Assenheimer has his new blog up-and-running on the Doctors Without Borders website.

This post documents his arrival in a small village by plane.

img_2466-co-pilot

… Before the engine had stopped, they started to sing. Kate, my Project Coordinator and new boss, was also returning to the project after a week in our headquarters for meetings and exclaimed “Look…they are singing! They are singing for you Grant!”

…and they were. Something like “Welcome, welcome, welcome, Mr. Grant…welcome to Shamwana…welcome to logistics…”. The singers were about 25 of my new staff members, a couple of fellow Expats and at least as many kids who had gathered to see just who this new Mazungo was. Incredible. The singing continued as I got out of the plane and headed towards them. Everyone, including myself, had huge smiles on our faces. Handshakes and introductions followed as I met, for the first time, a large part of my new African family. It is really something special to feel so welcome by total strangers. …

DRC – not just the Kivus! – The DRC welcomes another Mazungo

best picture – Slumdog Millionaire

On By Rick McIn movies, travel, travel IndiaLeave a comment

Of all movie recommendations for 2008, the first I downloaded was Slumdog Millionaire.

From Danny Boyle, director of Trainspotting …, comes the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

Actually, I don’t think the trailer does the film justice.

The movie does remind me of Trainspotting, Boyle using “edgy, upfront” music.

The cinematography is mostly fantastic capturing the chaos, horror, laughter and vibrancy of modern Bombay effectively. In many ways it reminds me of my favourite book, Shantaram. (The film adaptation starring Johnny Depp has been delayed, by the way.)

Bottom line, you should rent Slumdog Millionaire.

It’s an entertaining and heartwarming love story on one level. And a complex film aficionado’s triumph on another.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

On By Rick McIn travelLeave a comment

My buddy Grant Assenheimer, on assignment for Doctors without Borders, writes …

congo

… Right now I’m typing from a small-whitewashed office in Shamwana, a tiny village in the middle of Katanga, the southern province of the massive DRC. Its Sunday afternoon and my day off. A generator is buzzing in the background, the Tragically Hip are playing on my IPOD and the storm clouds of the rainy season are building after a hot and sunny afternoon.

Dinner should be good. We bought some pork ribs at the “market” this morning…there was only 1 guy with meat and, after shoeing away the flies, he used an axe to literally hack off our selection. As with pretty much EVERYTHING else around here, we had avocado flown in from Lubumbashi so I’m making guacamole as a starter. Finally, we have local maize for a version of corn on the cob and will probably add some potatoes for starch. Our cook has Sunday’s off so we have to cook ourselves. No restaurants in town, charcoal for fuel, kerosene refrigerators and definitely no corner store when you run out of milk! Its not only getting used to a new kitchen but a totally new way of cooking! …

There are no landlines in the southern DRC and we are definitely not in mobile phone territory. Shamwana is a 2 hour flight from Lubumbashi and is really is in the middle of the bush. We do have a decent HF radio network and use satellite phones at a about $1.50 a minute as backup.

Internet?

Amazing enough, we have satellite Internet so I have pretty decent access to email and the Internet. I’ll be checking my Yahoo account … regularly and won’t have problems opening attachments or looking at pictures…so email away! The connection is also fast enough for Skype …

Good on ya, Grant.

Merry Christmas.

Adventure Week 2009 in Idaho

On By Rick McIn blogs, cycling, health & fitness, kayaking, travel2 Comments

Dave Adlard, master organizer of big events, is boldly planning June 5-14th in North Idaho one of the biggest Adventure Racing events anywhere.

Our Adventure Racing Team — the Fast Farts — are part of his support team.

I’m editor of the official website:

North Idaho will play host to “adventure week 2009,” a series of “outdoor” races and events at Farragut State Park near Coeur d’Alene. (Of the famed Ironman competition.)

introducing-adventure-week1

Click through if you know anyone who might be interested in coming down for the Adventure Week 2009.

I’m recommending to Dave that he include a surprise high speed kayak challenge, like this one …

Bill and Joan in Europe AGAIN

On By Rick McIn photos, travel1 Comment

They’re just back from their most recent unfavourable currency exchange of $CAD to Euros.

Bill
Bill
Joan
Joan

more Europe photos – flickr

Right now Warren and family are in Hawaii.

more Hawaii photos – flickr

best phone for international travel

On By Rick McIn product endorsements, travelLeave a comment

The respected Gadling blog recommends (in the States) the T-Mobile Blackberry Curve:

… I’ve written about the scam that is international roaming charges in the past …

Why the curve, and not the sexy iPhone? Well, the Blackberry Curve has 2 very interesting features you won’t find with any other carrier, or any other phone. One is unique to the phone itself, and one is unique to T-mobile.

click through to read the rest of the article – The best phone for international travel?

air travel down, train travel up

On By Rick McIn travel3 Comments

Airports in the USA are hurting. The main reason is decreased number of passengers.

In contrast, Amtrak has had six consecutive years of ridership gains. (Even I took the American train last year, my first trip with them.)

Many are complaining about a $2 billion expansion of the airport in Las Vegas despite decreasing arrivals.

It’s safe to say that air travel experience will be getting worse in the States. But perhaps train travel will improve. Let’s build new high speed rail lines!

Empire Builder crosses the Continental Divide at Marias Pass, Montana
Empire Builder crosses the Continental Divide at Marias Pass, Montana

larger version – flickr – SJB4photos-away