Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Recent Comments:
Is it wrong for Westerners living in poor countries to hire local "servants"? {Gadling}
Apr 16th 2008 7:38PM Here in the Philippines, it is customary for even middle class Filipinos to hire a "katulong" (help) to help with the cooking and cleaning.
When I first got here to live with them, I was uncomfortable, having grown up in the US, to have what I saw as someone cleaning up after me & having to cook for me. I was taught the usual American value of self-reliance. But my extended family here told me that it's a local custom here.
In addition to paying her, as Chris mention, my aunt has "adopted" our help's children and has helped to pay for their clothes, medical needs, & schooling into the University level. My cousins call her "tita" (aunt) and treat her kids as cousins. In effect, not only are you helping whoever who hire as help, you are helping the next generations so that they won't have to.
'Unethical' Lonely Planet author not really that unethical after all, though he wants us to think so for the sake of promoting his own book {Gadling}
Apr 14th 2008 11:27AM From the original article Gadling cited:
"They didn't pay me enough to go (to) Colombia," News Ltd newspapers reported him saying..."They don't pay enough for what they expect the authors to do."
From the Guardian article cited here:
"Lonely Planet publisher Piers Pickard told Associated Press that Kohnstamm's revelation of not having been to Colombia was "disingenuous" because he was hired to write about the country's history and not to travel there to review accommodation and restaurants. Kohnstamm later told AP: "It was expected I would never go to Colombia."
He's nothing but a self-aggrandizing shill/hack.
5 reasons to be outraged by the Lonely Planet fraud {Gadling}
Apr 14th 2008 5:11AM As a traveler to relies on such bus tables in planning out my travels, I salute your hard work & honesty. You, unlike Mr Kohnstamm realize that fellow travelers rely on what you write. You do not treat your work as a joke. Thank you for that.
Thoughts on the Lonely Planet scandal: Guidebooks are a sham {Gadling}
Apr 14th 2008 4:57AM And to paraphrase No-Doz:
Oh and one other thing: that would be Lonely Planet, not Lonly Planet (Title), another sign White's out of his depth when now borrowing from others.
Thoughts on the Lonely Planet scandal: Guidebooks are a sham {Gadling}
Apr 14th 2008 4:44AM "The guidebook views you as an idiot incapable of asking questions..."
"Guidebooks are the CliffNotes of travel writing, nothing more than a hand-holding exercise..."
I completely disagree. I use guidebooks as resources that help me plan out a trip beforehand. As an example I have used Rick Steve's ETBD series to help plan my trips to Europe. I find his information VERY helpful & VERY up to date.
I don't see this as him viewing me as an idiot. I see this as him being helpful to a fellow traveler and since his information is very helpful, I in return trust him & continue to buy his guides. Using his guidebooks in out of the way places in the Balkans & Eastern Europe has been more than helpful.
And also realize that many travelers need a little hand-holding at first. Not all of us are well seasoned back-packers with many experiences to fill a blog with, so excuse me.
5 reasons to be outraged by the Lonely Planet fraud {Gadling}
Apr 14th 2008 4:03AM I'm sure he does. Just not any LP guide with anything HE wrote.
Plane Answers: How do pilots move up to Captain? {Gadling}
Apr 4th 2008 1:30PM @Tim,
Well, considering he has mentioned (as well as his other column) that he flies out of Boston, his mentioning US Flag carriers, as well as the use of the following phrases:
"Every airline is different"
"So typically"
"There are exceptions of course"
I think that it's obvious he is speaking from his own personal experience and qualifies that experience.
Perhaps you can mention how it is done outside the US? You are either knowledgeable and holding out or are being rather snarky & smug IMO.
How a MacBook Air baffled airport security {The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)}
Mar 7th 2008 11:27PM I kind of agree with you Pat, but COME ON. If they're spending 10minutes plus wondering what the hell a MBA is, it doesn't inspire confidence that they'll find a real device when it comes across their screens.
How a MacBook Air baffled airport security {The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)}
Mar 7th 2008 3:30PM Still not as boneheaded as the crew that I saw make the NY National Guardsmen patrolling the JFK terminal I in put their M-16s, sidearms & ammo clips onto the conveyer.
I caught the glance of one of the troopers and he shot me the "Don't say anything, we have to deal with these idiots on a regular basis" look.
Sigh.
Anyone want a free Northwest Airlines WorldClub pass? {Gadling}
Mar 7th 2008 3:06AM I was in the Worldclub in Detroit last November and have some pictures from it. You want copies Grant?
I'm not a Club member. But I regularly fly NW and am a Worldperks member (Silver & Gold Elite in years past) Last Nov, I was on a long haul flight from Manila-Nagoya-Detroit-JFK and payed with Mileage & a bit extra cash so I can spend those 18hrs in the air in World Business Class (10k miles & US$100). I used the Worldclub in Manila & Detroit as well as the Skyteam Lounge in Nagoya.
And I liked using the lounge. The free food, booze, & Wifi (Wired LAN in Nagoya) were great. But in Detroit & Nagoya especially, the warm relaxed atmosphere (fireplace, quiet environs, & free cold beer) of the lounge was a marked difference from the craziness of the terminal at large. For a domestic flight I can go without, but with the DVT-inducing long-haul I was on, it was definitely worth the added expense.
