Comments on: New Year’s Resolution http://www.joestump.net/2005/12/new-years-resolution.html Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:43:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Jonathan http://www.joestump.net/2005/12/new-years-resolution.html#comment-2801 Jonathan Mon, 26 Dec 2005 00:18:49 +0000 http://www.joestump.net/2005/12/new-years-resolution.html#comment-2801 My girlfriend received her passport a couple of months ago and it already has the RFID chip in it. Happy Holidays and enjoy the trips. My girlfriend received her passport a couple of months ago and it already has the RFID chip in it.

Happy Holidays and enjoy the trips.

]]> By: Joe Stump http://www.joestump.net/2005/12/new-years-resolution.html#comment-2800 Joe Stump Wed, 21 Dec 2005 21:12:13 +0000 http://www.joestump.net/2005/12/new-years-resolution.html#comment-2800 If you look at the map of Asia you can clearly see that Dubai is, in fact, part of Southwest Asia. The continent doesn't really have anything to do with races, countries or regions. It's more of a geographical designation. And, if I recall "Arabia" has never been a continent. As for Cologne, I've never even thought about it. I have my top places to visit and it didn't make the cut this time around. It's looking like I'll be in Europe during the World Cup as well, which means a trip to Berlin or Munich will be in order to visit some friends who are planning on being in the area as well at that time. For now it's looking like Amsterdam, Prague and Budapest. If you look at the map of Asia you can clearly see that Dubai is, in fact, part of Southwest Asia. The continent doesn’t really have anything to do with races, countries or regions. It’s more of a geographical designation. And, if I recall “Arabia” has never been a continent.

As for Cologne, I’ve never even thought about it. I have my top places to visit and it didn’t make the cut this time around. It’s looking like I’ll be in Europe during the World Cup as well, which means a trip to Berlin or Munich will be in order to visit some friends who are planning on being in the area as well at that time.

For now it’s looking like Amsterdam, Prague and Budapest.

]]> By: rw http://www.joestump.net/2005/12/new-years-resolution.html#comment-2799 rw Wed, 21 Dec 2005 21:00:54 +0000 http://www.joestump.net/2005/12/new-years-resolution.html#comment-2799 Dubai is not in Asia, it's an Arab country. Believe me, Arabs insist that they are Arabs ;) As far as your plan to travel to Europe is concerned I can tell you that hostels _are_ the way to go - at least in Amsterdam. I was there some months ago and paid about 25 € per night, which is the cheapest possibility if you just want to sleep somewhere. BTW, why don't you visit Cologne? It's beautiful! :) Dubai is not in Asia, it’s an Arab country. Believe me, Arabs insist that they are Arabs ;)
As far as your plan to travel to Europe is concerned I can tell you that hostels _are_ the way to go - at least in Amsterdam. I was there some months ago and paid about 25 € per night, which is the cheapest possibility if you just want to sleep somewhere.
BTW, why don’t you visit Cologne? It’s beautiful! :)

]]> By: Cameron Barrett http://www.joestump.net/2005/12/new-years-resolution.html#comment-2798 Cameron Barrett Wed, 21 Dec 2005 12:31:30 +0000 http://www.joestump.net/2005/12/new-years-resolution.html#comment-2798 When I traveled to Siberia, it was important to never pack anything of value in the bags you check as luggage. It's a safe bet you will never see it again. The baggage handlers are poorly-paid and most compensae their pay by selling items pilfered from luggage. This means, if you travel with a laptop, digital camera, video camera, etc. you should pack them in your carry-on and never let it out of your sight. It's a weird concept in the U.S. now, since our laws require that checked bags be unlocked -- but in Eastern bloc nations most airports have shrinkwrap stations (look for the guys with large rolls of shrinkrap and a table that rotates) where you can mummify your luggage in nearly-impenetrable shrinkwrap (like the kind they wrap large palettes of food with at grocery stores). It costs about $1-2 per bag and the shrinkwrap provides enough of a nuisance to the pilfering baggage handlers that they ignore these bags and instead pilfer from the ones that are not wrapped. If you don't want to pay for the shrinkwrap you can mummify your own bags and boxes with cheap packing tape. It'll take 1-2 rolls per bag, but it's effective as well. Lastly, make sure you get your passport before October 2006, since that is when the U.S. will start using RFID chips, which many people believe will result in privacy concerns and identity theft. Passports are good for 10 years so you'll have at least until 2016 before you have to deal with this little issue. When I traveled to Siberia, it was important to never pack anything of value in the bags you check as luggage. It’s a safe bet you will never see it again. The baggage handlers are poorly-paid and most compensae their pay by selling items pilfered from luggage. This means, if you travel with a laptop, digital camera, video camera, etc. you should pack them in your carry-on and never let it out of your sight.

It’s a weird concept in the U.S. now, since our laws require that checked bags be unlocked — but in Eastern bloc nations most airports have shrinkwrap stations (look for the guys with large rolls of shrinkrap and a table that rotates) where you can mummify your luggage in nearly-impenetrable shrinkwrap (like the kind they wrap large palettes of food with at grocery stores). It costs about $1-2 per bag and the shrinkwrap provides enough of a nuisance to the pilfering baggage handlers that they ignore these bags and instead pilfer from the ones that are not wrapped. If you don’t want to pay for the shrinkwrap you can mummify your own bags and boxes with cheap packing tape. It’ll take 1-2 rolls per bag, but it’s effective as well.

Lastly, make sure you get your passport before October 2006, since that is when the U.S. will start using RFID chips, which many people believe will result in privacy concerns and identity theft. Passports are good for 10 years so you’ll have at least until 2016 before you have to deal with this little issue.

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