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A Frommer's gourmet Barcelona tour, fully illustrated {Gadling}
Oct 8th 2009 8:35PM I second the recommendation of Taller de Tapas in El Born—with enthusiasm! Also, Cal Pep, yes, even though it's in all the guide books. Everyone knows about all the pickpockets in Barcelona, so beware. Especially when dining outdoors. Handbags are at serious risk no matter where you put them. See how bags are stolen right off people's laps! http://bit.ly/1pBE6C
10 Things to Eat in Singapore {Gadling}
Oct 8th 2009 12:04PM Check out the street-side snacks, too. "Bread ice cream" is a scoop between two slices of white bread, but the white bread is green! Photos: http://bit.ly/m1faO
Ten products to avoid when passing through airport security {Gadling}
Sep 29th 2009 1:27PM If you do take one of these items or one of many other "dangerous" things, you can always try to social-engineer your way past TSA, as I did here: http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/05/social-engineering-vs-security-theater/
Increasing airline baggage fees displayed in pretty colors and numbers {Gadling}
Sep 27th 2009 6:22PM Flew a one-hour domestic leg on Japan's Air Do yesterday. Between the two of us, we had just the allowable check-in luggage (by weight and number of pieces). Then they looked at our roll-ons—totally standard, we fly with them every few days—and suggested we check them. Why? They won't fit in the overhead. How small is the plane? 2-3-2 config. In Japan, a suggestion is the same as an order. We had to check our roll-ons, for which they charged over $200.
Yep, plenty of huge overhead bins on board. Nope, they never filled up. Our bags would have fit without a problem.
Thiefhunters in Paradise — thiefhunters.com
London pickpockets are giving the money back {Gadling}
Aug 26th 2009 6:34PM Technically, the "former pickpockets" should take back the money they've planted if they're caught put-pocketing. Wouldn't that be fair? ;-)
As thiefhunters who research pickpockets around the world, we often let our wallets get stolen, then we either steal it back from the thief, or ask for it back. This establishes a rapport and starts a dialog, which is what we're interested in. Example here: http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/05/naples-capital-city-of-pickpockets-part4/
Travel to Spain suffering {Gadling}
Aug 25th 2009 12:05PM No doubt this is partly due to the huge number of thefts in Barcelona, and the desire of people to go someplace where the threat of losing valuables is lower. Entire conferences are begining to relocate from this otherwise wonderful city. http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2009/02/prototype-phone-stolen-barcelona/
A brief overview of the many ways one is likely to be ripped-off in Barcelona is here: http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/05/barcelona-street-crime-today/ Still it remains one of my very favorite travel destinations.
Naples hires ex-cons as tour guides {Gadling}
Aug 6th 2009 2:26PM And check out the real Naples here: http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/05/naples-capital-city-of-pickpockets/
I visit Naples often, mostly for the purpose of researching pickpockets and other street crime, but also because I love it. The people are warm and friendly, if you give them half a chance. We usually carry a wallet containing only paper, sort of as bait. "First they steal from us, then they buy us lunch!" is what we always end up saying. We hang with the thieves and the cops, and they seem to hang with each other. I call Naples "the city of hugs and thugs." Get the full story at Thiefhunters in Paradise (link above), and search for "naples" there.
Festivals and more in Singapore {Gadling}
Jun 13th 2009 1:34AM The quality and variety of food in Singapore is incredible. Hawker centers are the best: a collection of specialists each cooking something unique—or competing with the next hawker. Food courts are almost as good, plus air conditioned. Not at all like a North American food court with bland and predictable fare.
Streetside, you can still find pushcarts selling snacks. An odd one is bread ice cream: a scoop on a slice of white sandwich bread that's green. Photos here: http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2009/03/singapore-ice-cream/
Vote for America's best bathroom {Gadling}
Jun 13th 2009 1:26AM In modern restrooms, it's more likely to be a bag lifted off the hook on the back of the stall door. Solution: remove the hooks. Thieves' solution: replace them!
Remember, you are infinitely wealthier than the pickpockets, and they can see that instantly. http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2008/11/know-it-all-victim/
Top travel destination countries? Canada is number one and Nigeria is. . .? {Gadling}
May 28th 2009 4:18PM "I can vouch for Nigeria as a worthwhile destination if you can get parachuted in and airlifted out to avoid customs. Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful."
Hah, I just wrote about an absolute nightmare experience at Lagos immigration. Hint: cockroaches were involved. http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2009/05/nigerian-nightmar/
