Street food is cheap. Here, in Thailand, I eat two, maybe three times per day. Each meal costs $1-$1.50, or about $3-4/day. Not bad, right? If I had similar food in restaurants, I would be paying at least twice, and more accurately three or four times as much.

Street food is in the open. Some argue that restaurant food has a certain level of food preparation or health safety built-in that street vendors can’t provide. I think those people are wrong. If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, you probably agree with me, that some shady things happen in restaurant kitchens. Street vendors put it all on display.

Street food is fun. There is a thrill in watching exotic foods prepared, especially by street vendors that have years and thousands of repetitions making the same dish. They get very, very good at what they do.

Street food provides an inexpensive opportunity to sample new foods. When a bowl of pork noodle soup costs the same as a Kit Kat bar, you’re foolish to pass on the chance to try it! If the taste is disgusting or it’s not what you expected, try another, knowing that the effort cost you very little.  

Street food can be personalized. My friends know me as a picky eater. I like simple textures and dishes. Too many vegetables and not enough meat always aggravates me. Well, when I order up some street food, I can tell the guy “spicy, no vegetables, lots of meat and garlic.” Then, as he prepares it, I can make on-the-spot inputs. Try doing that at the next restaurant you visit.

Street food vendors will remember repeat customers. Sure, restaurants have plenty of repeat customers and can be trained to know exactly what a person wants, but it takes many visits because of the large, revolving shifts of employees. Street food vendors are typically lone operators, pushing their carts and equipment home at night, then returning the next day. If I plan to stay in a city for a few days and especially enjoy a meal, I’ll tell the vendor “remember me, I return tomorrow, same same.” I return the next day and the person knows exactly what I want!

Last year, I “cheated” while traveling, eating Westernized food nearly every other day. I’d eat pizza quite often, and occasionally visit a Subway, Krispy Kreme, or other junk food restaurant when I felt a craving. This year, in the places I’e been, I’ve gotten into a groove because of good street food. I find the foods I really like, returning daily. My eating costs have definitely dropped significantly, my waistline is managed better, and I’m enjoying the local atmosphere better.

If you are afraid of try street food in a foreign country, please give it a chance!

Occasionally I am asked how I find things to do. Through travel experience, I have gotten better at this task, yet missing out on interesting activities and sights still regularly disappoints me. In any case, here are my favorite ways to find things to do:

1. Meet a local. No resource can prove as informative, helpful, and efficient as a local willing to show you around. See this post for one such experience I had in Vietnam.

2. Use a travel guide. I’ve been to countries like Mongolia and Japan, where I did not have a travel guide, and am glad I got that “raw” experience of having to figure things out for myself. That said, there is no source as readily available, as broad, and as informative as an established guide book. In SE Asia, I look for Lonely Planet books. In my opinion, no other label comes close to being as useful. In Europe, the Rick Steve’s series always proves helpful. I used to despise guide books as being for typical tourists, but let’s just say that I have been converted to their breadth and depth.

3. Ask locals. Next best to having a local show you around her city, is asking a street food vendor or convenience store clerk for his advice. If you’re interested in getting “off the beaten path,” say so! I like to ask locals to tell me something really odd or weird about their city or country. Some will be hesitant to share, not wanting to embarrass their country, but you’ll be surprised at some of the answers you’ll get if you ask enough people.

4. Use the internet. Similar to having a guide book, the internet is packed with useful information, especially for travel specialists. If you are interested in an elephant jungle trek, use Google to find out the best ways to do it, the costs involved, and reviews by customers. One of my favorite websites is tripadvisor.com because of the extensive user reviews and user-ranked lists of “stuff to do.”

5. Use old school strategies to increase your knowledge of a place. This includes watching documentaries, browsing through books at the bookstore or library, reading magazine articles, asking friends that have been there, etc.

Hopefully this gives you a new idea or two. How do you figure out what to do when you travel?

Hey Brook!

Thanks for asking me to do a guest blog on Australia!

While Jill and I have only traveled from Sydney to Cairns there’s definitely lots to tell other travelers!

Jill and I started off in Sydney, we met up with Jill’s friend from grade school and crashed at her place in Surrey Hills for a few weeks. We had a blast in the city, we hung out with hipsters and fellow twentysomethings with the pulse on what was happening in the city. Biking seems to be a popular way to get around the city for most, it’s inexpensive and great exercise I’d even venture to say that half the guys had way better legs then half the girls! We hung out at a place called Ching-a-lings for their Sunday BBQ’s, checked out the Harbor Front, kicked it in Kings Cross, then made our way to Bondi to get “beached as”!

Bondi was a blast, definitely a more cruisey place with lots and lots of beautiful people hanging out at the beach. In case you guys haven’t heard the Lifeguards shoot a show called “Bondi Rescue” which is a reality version of Baywatch! We had the honor of interviewing Hoppo who is essentially the Hasselhoff of Bondi! We definitely recommend hiking up the path to the cliffs and chilling out at the very top! The sites are stunning and its a peaceful easy feeling to take in what Bondi has to offer!

Jill and I then headed out to Newcastle where we dined at a fabulous place called Silo Lounge where we had a gorgeous seafood platter for two and decided it would be the perfect place for a date (if we had one). After our delicious dinner we headed to Hunter Valley. Hunter Valley is PERFECT for people who want to reconnect with nature and relax on a mountain top. We had the best experience at Cottages On Mount View where we stayed with Brian and Delia in their wine region oasis! They took us on wine tours, cheese tours, olive tours and told us about the land, it’s a perfect couples destination! After a busy first day we kicked back and relaxed in our deluxe cottage complete with jacuzzi!

We had over 17 stops along the way, so I’ll just have to sum up what our absolute favorites were:

Yamba – We stayed at the YHA hostel with Shane and Melissa, we took Shane’s $15 BS tour! It was fantastic, full of laughs, amazing scenery, great weather, and cliff jumping! I can still feel the sting from the 33ft jump! But oh so worth it!

Surfers Paradise – We ended up crashing with friends here, Surfers is a backpackers dream. There’s tons of activities for people of all ages and interest types. Some suggestions would be: Mt. Tambourine, Springbrook, Adventure Park, Holden Driving Centre, surfing with Munga Barry the legend himself, Cruising the Tall Ships, take an aboriginal tour with Balunjali Kayaking Tours, or a joy ride on the Tiger Moth Joy Flights (just to name a few). Check out Adventure Tours for more information! You definitely have to sign up for the fun while you’re here!

Byron Bay – We stayed at the Dolphin Motel, it was a spacious private room, a bit pricier then a hostel but the air conditioning and peace of mind were worth it. We did a snorkel with Sundive and went to Julian Rocks, then ate at the Budda Bar which doubles as a theatre and rock haven. Then coasted up to Cape Byron for the most breathtaking sunset both of us had ever seen. It was like standing outside Heaven’s Gates.

1770/Agnus Waters – We stayed at the Mango tree motel which was steps away from the beach, friendly, clean and super spacious! While we were here we took the L.A.R.C Tour which showcased the lands that haven’t been touched since Captain James Cook first landed, we took a motorcycle ride into the sunset with Scooteroo (we got to ride our own mini cycles and choppers too), then we had a surf lesson that only cost $15 for 4hrs! Unheard of in most parts of Australia!

Airlie Beach – We stayed at the Waterfront backpackers resort, it was sorta pricey and not the greatest but it had air conditioning so we were happy! Jill and I feel in love with the Whitsundays as we cruised around the islands and took in the soul tickling surroundings. The waters are so blue you feel like you’re jumping into a photoshopped post card! We had a riot on the Camira while on board with Cruise Whitsundays. It was SO much fun, we had a snorkel on the reef, went to Whitehaven Beach for some beach sports and tanning, then hopped back on board for a massive on ship BBQ complete with fresh seafood and all the yummy fixin’s! Jill and I also treated ourselves to a night out on the town and found our way to Magnums for a sloshy night of shenanigans! You’ll have to check out our episode on Airlie Beach Nightlife to see for yourself!

Cairns – We unfortunately got rained out, but this is one of the ultimate backpackers destinations! Over 600+ tours departing daily! Basically it’s a grown-ups playland!

So hopefully this will help anyone looking to book a road trip up the coast!

Here’s some helpful tips for travelers who haven’t been to Australia as well:

– If you’re backpacking try renting a van to save on accommodations – there’s a $15 camping guide book on where to stay for free and sometimes this helps to cut tons of costs. Wicked Campers is one of the cheapest places to rent from, and the van comes equipped with linens, cookwares, and everything you need for a good time. Just bring yourself, your gear, and a positive attitude and the road can be your best friend.

- Also, if you fill your tank when it’s at half you save on gas. OH! When going up hills don’t forget to shift down gears and turn the air conditioner off, you’ll freak when you can’t accelerate! (I did – maybe that’s just me).

- If you’re a chick who likes products. Buy them back home! Make-up and hygiene products are almost double here and in some cases not even available. So stock up back home!

- Keep toilet paper in your back pack or car or where ever. The stations are about an hour to two hours apart and sometimes when you drink coffee and water in the morning you just might not be able to make it to the next stop!

- If you’re traveling from North America, bring your own Mac & Cheese, and mustard. Not the same here. Just saying.

- McDonalds is everywhere, and every one of them has FREE Wi-fi access 24hrs!

- Now that we’re coming into raining season, if the sky starts to get dark and the wind starts kicking up and you notice the ants going crazy it means you have about 30mins to an hour to take cover.

- There’s always a cheaper way, just ask. People here are SO friendly and always wanting to lend a hand for nothing in return.

Seriously!

Hope this helps your viewers Brook, and we definitely can’t wait to cross actual paths when you hop the pond to Australia!

Thanks for letting me be your guest blogger!

Cheers Mate!

Stacey Prieur

http://www.jillandstaceydotheroo.com

I meet many non-American Westerners while traveling and many feel perfectly at ease discussing how the US is a “bad” country, how the US is responsible for the near-global economic collapse, how the US abuses its power, etc. For whatever reason, it has become en vogue to not only bash American foreign policy, but to completely dismiss the wonderful things the US has brought to the modern world, and to do so with a passionate, mean hatred.

What I find curiously amusing is how the very people saying such negative things about the US are at a loss to think of positive contributions. These types can often be found hating on the US while sipping on Coca Cola, wearing Nikes, and toting iPods loaded to the hilt with American music. How rich the irony is.

“My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.” —John F. Kennedy

Though our history is very complex and open to intense debate, I think it’s safe to say that the US became a “superpower” because of other global factions threatening not only our own freedom, but that of most countries. In other words, only out of necessity, as a means of survival, and through amazingly productive and innovative people, have we evolved into the world’s super power.

Other countries, and particularly the other Westernized nations, have thanklessly enjoyed the security provided by the United States. If you’re from one of these other countries, you should know that your nation’s security over the past half century and more has been largely provided by the US. If you didn’t realize that, if your schooling didn’t teach that, well now you’ve been educated.

The US military is not just the US military. It is the default military for many countries, while their organic military is merely supplemental if they’re ever in serious danger. This is the “dirty little secret” you’ll never hear your own politicians admit.

Yes, how truly convenient it must be to bash the foreign policy of the country providing your own security. It must be nice to be able to scream along with all your friends and professors how evil the United States is, all the while under an umbrella of American security.

“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.”—Winston Churchill

Look at every major world disaster and it’s easy to see what country almost always takes the lead in assistance: USA. In raw numbers, the USA consistently donates the most money, people, and supplies. Really, it’s not even close.

Ever heard of the US Peace Corps? Does your country have an equivalent?

War, war, war. “Why does the US need such a big military, or bully others with it?” This is always the most common criticism. Guess why the US military became so big and powerful? Because the USA was sneakily attacked by Japan in the Pacific, was threatened by the Nazi surge in Europe, countered a decades-long nuclear arms race, and refused to lose. That’s the one-sentence version. From World War II until only very recently, the US has had a policy in place to be able to fight and win two major wars at once—because we had to fight (and win) in two major theaters just over 60 years ago.

What were the results from World War II and the Cold War? How are those other nations doing, the ones we defeated and then vowed to help rebuild under the Marshall Plan? Well, Germany, and Italy are among the very most productive and wealthy countries. Likewise, the rest of Western Europe has thrived, in large part due to the Marshall Plan’s work in connecting all of Europe politically and economically. Is it possible to say that the EU is partially a biproduct of World War II fallout, of American efforts to stabilize that continent? How about the Pacific? Japan is…Japan. Seriously, do we need to discuss how that country turned around and what they mean to the world today? Korean War? South Korea is absolutely booming economically.

What about the “losers”? Russia has definitely seen better days in its failed system, and would probably be  thriving alongside the rest of Europe had they accepted help offered by the US under the Marshall Plan. Instead they bankrupted themselves in a nuclear arms race, while the rest of the world stood by watching the US maintain the balance. North Korea is a cesspool of cannibalism, starvation, and rapidly declining population.

Want to blame the United States for the recent global economic downturn? That’s fine. It’s quite clear the dollar is still the most trusted currency, and the US economy, like the US military, provides an overwhelming foundation, however shaky, for most of the rest of the world. However, consider that your own country’s economy, had it been managed better, would not have even felt the aftershocks of the recent economic fall. Australia managed just fine, as did Vietnam, and China.

Foreign policy aside, I ask you to look at other positive contributions the US has made. Look in the mirror. Odds are that some accessory you have on or nearby was invented in the US.

Use the internet much? Guess where it was invented? The US (actually as a military application).

Use Google, Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail? Ever seen a Powerpoint brief or written a paper using Microsoft Word? Guess where? Yup. The US. Many founders of the incredible products the world enjoys were foreign-born and immigrated to the USA as children, educated in the US, and integrated into the most innovative country ever. It’s probably safe to say that had they remained in their countries of birth, these products would never have come to fruition, much less been conceived.

Drink Coke or Pepsi products?

Are you a traveler that uses couchsurfing.org or travels on airplanes? Guess where?

Do you use an iPod or watch television? Do you use electricity? Do you drive an assembly line automobile? Do you listen to rock and roll, hip hop, jazz? Are the movies you watch made in America? Do you have Michael Jackson or Madonna theme parties? When you sing karaoke with friends, what music do you listen to? Ever eaten at McDonald’s, had a Starbucks? Do you wear Levis? Where was your style of clothing and hair popularized? Do you make a big to-do about Christmas, Valentine’s Day and other highly commercialized holidays (guess what country commercialized these things)? Do you use lights?

The list goes on and on and on. For every Richard Branson of the world, the US produces a half dozen or more equals. The United States is a prolific producer of entrepreneurial geniuses. If the talent aren’t born in America, they move to America, where they enjoy the security and freedom to pursue their ideas aggressively.

Look at the Olympic Games and how great the United States is at sports. No American athletes are forced to compete. None are selected by the government as young children for athletic grooming. Most American athletes start out as typical kids who, through playing, find sports at which they are very talented and love. Those who work hard develop into dominant champions. Others that have the talent and potential to be champions, but desire to do other things…do other things. American athleticism is a primary driver in advancing world athletics accomplishments.

The US has contributed substantially to literature. The US has the best university system in the world, and can boast having educated many of the world’s leaders, quite possibly some of your own. The US can claim more Nobel Prize winners than any other country, nearly tripling the next most, and advancing academic and technological progress by leaps and bounds. The US shares its new found knowledge with the rest of the world. What other global power in the history of mankind has done such a thing?

The United States is a country of individual rights. Americans believe in defending ourselves, personally and as a country, at any cost. Americans don’t believe in kings or dictators, and most Americans have a healthy dose of skepticism in any man born or violently put into positions of power. These characteristics stem from the roots of our founding, breaking away from a kingdom that forced taxes and laws without any representation.

Yes, we have some ugly parts in our history, and yes, I could write a counterargument to every single point I mentioned. The bottom line, however, is that we are, from historical necessity, a fiercely proud, independent, competitive, productive, and innovative people who are willing to fight if others challenge our security.

All I ask of non-Americans is to take a look around, try to understand your own country’s national security a little better, and realize that if you are reading this, the US has brought you a warm security blanket and amazing products. Those things come at a cost. As I asked one person disgusted with everything American: “Would you rather have Russia, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, or Communist China as the lone superpower?” We all know the answer. Do not take the US for granted.

-Generate income! This is very important unless I want to start living a Huckleberry Finn lifestyle.

-When in the USA, do NOT pay for water. Water for sale has got to be one of the most brilliant scams going. I buy the bigger 1.5 Litre bottles, and have a tough time finding them for less than $2. While traveling in some sketchy places, I have to buy bottled water to feel safe. In the US, however, it’s downright unnecessary and I will avoid it as best I can from now on.

-Avoid sports and news. I spend more time and energy following local, national, and global politics…In the end, I am more knowledgeable of the world, more disgusted by politicians and others in positions of responsibility, and more drained of energy tracking things over which I have zero influence. What’s the use?

-Use internet every other day. I left my laptop at home this trip to cut down significantly on my internet time. I love surfing the web. It is an amazing tool for travel planning, and for following the news, but it becomes addictive. While on the road, I will attempt to use the internet every other day, focusing on my correspondence with others, and struggling to avoid the news.

-Consolidate all my previous resolutions and start chipping away at one or two of the big projects.

That’s it! My list is short and simple for a reason: I want to be successful! In previous years, I have made lengthy lists of difficult items. I was lucky to achieve one or two of them.

What do you think of resolution lists? Are they even worth writing? Should we wait until the new year to start?

Good night
Sleep tight
Don’t let the
Bed bugs bite

And if they do
Take your shoe
Beat them till
They’re black and blue.

I’ve been in denial for many months. Only in the past couple weeks have I confronted the reality that the large, welt-like clusters that have been popping up on my body after sleeping in various hotels while traveling , are not mosquito bites, but bed bug bites. Yes, bed bugs are back, and are in a bed near you.

I get bitten often by mosquitoes. I’ve been planning to write an article about them and how my blood must have a special quality that attracts mosquitoes since I meet so many people who never get bitten. I was going to write about how the mosquitoes in SE Asia are particularly violent, leaving big, long lasting bumps on me. A couple times over the months, the thought that some of the bites could be bedbugs had crossed my mind, but I soundly rejected the idea. Why? I’ve never seen a bedbug, and figured they be no more real than goblins under the bed. I was wrong.

Two weeks ago, in Singapore, I mentioned to a friend that mosquitoes there are particularly nasty. I showed her some of the THIRTY bites I had on my body. I showed her a group of 5 or 6 on my upper back, that were so big and hardened they looked like large marbles had been inserted under the skin. She said “they are probably bed bugs.”

I immediately countered with “No. They’re definitely mosquitoes.”

“Hmm, no, those don’t look like mosquito bites. They are bed bugs.”

“I don’t think so,” I stubbornly insisted.

I immediately went to the best and fastest source of all answers: Google. Sure enough, I found out that my symptoms were identical to many others with bed bug bites. Whereas mosquito bites itch and swell immediately, then dissipate over one to three days, bed bug bites can last a week and the reaction gets increasingly bigger over two or three days. Bed bug bites tend to be hard, like welts or knots, while mosquito bites are softer, almost tender. I couldn’t believe it—I had been in denial for so long. I had refused to believe that I could be a victim of bed bugs, but there, right on the internet, were hundreds of websites with hundreds of testimonials describing exactly what I had.

I learned some other interesting things about bed bugs along the way:

-Bed bugs can live for years without food. They stay dormant and awaken if they sense carbon dioxide (which basically mean they wake up when they sense a warm blooded animal).

-When bed bugs feed, they probe the skin wit two tubes. One tube is like a straw, sucking blood out, while the other tube is used to insert anaesthetic saliva to keep the victim from waking. This saliva can cause severe reactions.

-About half the victims of bed bug bites have no idea they were bitten. The other half have symptoms ranging from itchiness to death. At least one source said that those of us with reactions might have more drastic reactions with each subsequent “attack.” My own reactions have gotten worse. In fact, after having another bed bug episode in Bangkok a few days ago, one of my arms swelled up enormously. I’ve never had a reaction like it. It looked like someone hit my arm with a baseball bat. The swelling peaked about 24-48 hours after the attack, and has nearly returned to normal today, 72 hours from the attack.

-Some reactions don’t show up until a day after the bite, unlike most mosquito bites which itch immediately.

-Bed bugs eat blood and excrete blood. If your sheets have little spots of blood, you might have been attacked.

-Bed bugs have six legs and are visible to the human eye when adults. I’ve never seen one, even though I’ve had horrible nights this month where I’ve kept the lights on to avoid being bitten. I was that afraid.

-They mate by “traumatic insemination.”

-Bed bugs were essentially eliminated in the US for several decades, due to DDT. Only in the past 5-10 years has there been massive population growth, mainly because DDT is no longer allowed and the modern pesticides are quite simply ineffective against bed bugs. Now these little vampires can be found in hotels of all varieties, homes, even seats. They are transported by people traveling. The bugs might stick to clothing or  a suitcase and end up on a bedspread in a different state or country.

-Bed bugs like the dark. They hide under the bed during the day and at night they come out of hiding to eat.

-Bed bugs usually eat a few meals from a few spots. I’ve seen people refer to this as “Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner,” because many of the bites will be in groups of three, sometimes even in a straight line. Researchers aren’t sure why they eat from a few locations, rather than just one.

Have you ever had bed bug bites? Are you sure or are you in denial? If you stay at a hotel and wake up with unusual bites, or a “rash,” consider that it might be bed bugs, especially if they are hard bumps in clusters, and stick around several days.

I first learned about couchsurfing when I lived in Europe about 5 years ago. Instead of taking a chance by trying it, I stuck to traditional vacation accommodations, i.e. over-priced hotels. Last year, when I set out to travel the world, I knew I had to keep a tight reign on my expenses to maximize my travel time and minimize damage to my pocketbook. In that vein, I took a leap and couchsurfed in Hawaii last year!

Before dismissing couchsurfing as “weird,” or “unsafe,” consider a few things:

-Odds are high that you have “couchsurfed” before, when you crashed on a friend’s futon after a night of partying; when your Aunt Edna’s childhood friend hosted you for a couple nights on your Spring Break to Miami; when you stayed on the couch at the house of a friend of a friend during your job interview in a different state.

-Couchsurfing.org is a social networking website, much like Facebook and Myspace. Users have personal profiles complete with pictures and testimonials. These people aren’t really “total strangers.”

-Nobody is obligated to host anybody else. Willing hosts pick and choose who they want, based on whatever criteria suits them.

-Nobody is obligated to couchsurf. The couchsurfing.org website lets me, as a traveler, search for potential hosts based on age, gender, location, and many other factors. In other words, I can narrow my options to a very specific demographic. Then, I can read the profiles and testimonials to find the particular hosts that I think will be the funnest and most enjoyable. After that, I write a personalized message to the few remaining and hope one is available and finds me equally as interesting.

-Not all people on couchsurfing.org are there to host or find accommodations. Many people will meet for drinks or take part in group events. As a traveler, you could keep your eye open for fun couchsurfing events or interesting locals to talk with over coffee, while still staying in the comforts of a hotel.

-Couchsurfing is safe. Users get “vouched” if they prove their mailing address to the couchsurfing organization. As a traveler, I can screen potential hosts based on testimonials from others.

-People that offer up their homes, I’ve found, are incredibly generous, outgoing, tolerant, and excited to meet new friends.

Why would anybody allow a stranger into her house? Because it adds some spice to life! Couchsurfing is an opportunity for people from different cultures or backgrounds to make friends and learn a lot. Plus, how great is it to know that you have friends in every corner of the world?!

Hosts can travel to many places, knowing they have friends and accommodations there. Every person that has hosted me or met with me from couchsurfing.org has a place to stay wherever I am (whenever I settle down), and whenever they want. I am grateful for their generosity and will happily host them.

I also feel a certain obligation to “pay it forward” by hosting others as graciously as I’ve been treated.

Why do I think couchsurfing is so cool? Because every single couchsurfing experience I’ve had, now over a dozen, has been fun and very, very interesting.

I’ve stayed with doctors and students and retired folks.  I’ve slept on a floor, a futon, a couch, and several beds. I’ve stayed in a 5-star hotel in an expensive Asian city and a rooftop-access apartment (penthouse?) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. I’ve treated a couple hosts to dinner and had a couple hosts treat me to dinner (some insist on it, as they are being  hosts). I’ve setup a Taiwan food tasting event with area couchsurfers and had tea with the daughter of a Viet Cong soldier (she even planned out my entire 30-day Vietnam itinerary). I’ve gone to concerts and experienced things that I would never have known about without a local to guide me. One host taught me how to ride her motorcycle on the crazy streets, something I might not have ever tried on my own (I’ve since rented about 30 days worth of motorcycles in Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand).

There are many other incredible things I’ve experienced as a result of couchsurfing.

Couchsurfing is incredible. It adds extra adventure to traveling. Couchsurfing is traveling on steroids.

Have you tried couchsurfing? Would you consider it after reading this?

What I’ve found in negotiating is that there is no greater leverage a buyer can have than simply not wanting something. Therein lies the rub. If you do NOT want something, why would you negotiate for it in the first place? If you do want something, you will show it in your voice, behavior, eyes, tone, etc. It is impossible for even a fine actor to hide so many very subtle subconscious clues like pupil dilation. Part of your negotiating power inevitably dies as you unwittingly give away these clues.

Today I had a little experience that prompted me to write this blog. I’m in Thailand and, always interested in prices as a general curiosity, asked a woman how much a pair of sunglasses cost. Mind you, I was wearing sunglasses at the time. The conversation went something like this:

Me: How much are they? (asked generally about the dozens of different styles she had displayed)

Her: Which ones?

Me: Ummm, these ones I guess. (pointing to some Elvis Presley style shades)

Her: 250 Baht ($7.50).

Me: Wow, ok. (said softly to not be overly obnoxious)

Her (noticing me looking around, realizing I wouldn’t pay that price): I can give you special deal. 200 Baht ($6).

Me: I’m not really interested in buying anything, just wondering.

Her: Okay I sell for 180 baht.

Me (laughing a little): No, really, I already have a pair, but might buy a new set if mine break or get lost…just wondering what they cost.

Her: Ok, 150 Baht ($4.50), how much you want them for?

Me (pulling my sunglasses up, onto my forehead, so she can see my eyes): I don’t really need any unless these break. I was just wondering what they cost.

At that point, I thanked her and walked away. For all I know she would have taken 100 Baht if I asked, though I suspect her final stated price was near her limit. This is how many of my pricing questions go, because most of the items about which I enquire, I simply do not want. I have zero desire to add a second pair of sunglasses to my backpack.

Here are some techniques to try next time you travel overseas and are negotiating for souvenirs:

-Never pay sticker/asking price. For Westerners, this takes some practice, since we naturally assume the seller is giving us a fair price, when actually it might be a 100% or more markup.

-Use local currency. In many places the US Dollar still reigns supreme, but you’re almost always better off withdrawing local currency form a nearby ATM for your purchases. Plus, it helps demonstrate that you’re not a freshly arrived, dumb tourist.

-Realize that you don’t need to buy anything. Without a doubt in my mind, the strongest negotiating tool we can ever have is not wanting. If you really, really want that hand-crafted figurine or a special pair of shorts, do your best acting job. Like I said before, it’s impossible to hide all our subtle clues, but you can hide some, making yourself appear ambiguous. You can take your acting to a whole other level by convincing yourself that you don’t want what you really do. Hey, it works for lie detector tests, spies, criminals, and politicians.

-Let the seller lower the price. Just like my sunglassess negotiation, if you really don’t want something, you wouldn’t be haggling over price. Let the seller SELL, while you remain an uninterested buyer.

-Do a test negotiation. No deal is final until money changes hands. Every one of these seasoned street vendors knows that very well. It’s okay to test out the market price from one vendor and then go to another vendor armed with that knowledge. Other ways to gauge the market price are to listen to other customers trying to buy similar products, or have a friend go in first.

-If or when you do start serious haggling, put in a low-ball bid, maybe half of what the original asking price was. Often the sellers will laugh or even act offended, but will then throw out another price somewhere in the middle. They want to move merchandise. If you present what you consider a low-ball bid and the seller immediately accepts, you can feel fairly certain that you were nowhere near the seller’s lowest acceptable price.

-Know that no vendor will sell you anything at a loss. They are not stupid. They all have bottom prices that include a certain acceptable profit margin. Your goal as a buyer is to get as near that price as possible.

-Be willing to walk away. You won’t hurt any body’s feelings if you turn around and walk. Try it sometime just to prove to yourself that you can. It’s not uncommon for a seller to cut a price in half as soon as he knows you’re walking away for good. It’s his desperate final attempt at making a sale that is as good as lost when you leave.

-Remind yourself regularly that all things are negotiable: taxis, hotels, food, souvenirs.

Many books have been written by lawyers, politicians, and sports agents on how to negotiate settlements, compromise with opponents, and create “win/win” scenarios. In all those cases, they are representing other people and money not their own. Hopefully my tips prove more practical on a personal level.

What techniques do you have for negotiating? Have you an interesting bargaining story?

Everyday I spent hours reading the news online—cnn.com, foxnews.com, msn.com, yahoo.com, etc. I read “intellectual” and pop culture articles from aldaily.com. If a newspaper is near, I’ll skim it cover to cover, reading at least the headlines and a paragraph or two. If I’m in a waiting room, I look through magazines in search of the most compelling articles. I often go to book stores and spend a couple hours, browsing through several chapters of several books. Economics, sports, traveling, personal finance, biographies, hobbies, history, science—nothing is off limits. It’s all brain food and I crave it, but much of the information, namely current events, simply ticks me off.

Every injustice making the news, every instance of corruption, and every game-changing officiating error makes me want to track the violators down and kick them in the shins. Hard. Unfortunately, that is illegal and impractical. Thus, I am mired in this situation of believing that I know how to fix so much of what is wrong with the world, yet powerless to change anything significantly. In other words, I’m like almost everybody else out there.

Well, I’m finally doing something about it. Since there are two parts of the equation—news and powerlessness—I have to alter one or both. There is no way I’m going to be in a position of power anytime soon, so the powerlessness will have to remain unchanged. Only one option is left: Eliminate (or significantly reduce) my interest in news. That’s exactly what I’ve done in the past two and a half weeks.

I put my laptop in storage (last year I traveled with it), am deliberately avoiding reading or watching news, slashed and burned my facebook/social media activity, and have been reading a lot. It feels great. Instead of tracking the horrendous decisions of federal judges, analyzing the lies of politicians, and following the world’s most recent tragic events, all of which I am powerless to affect, I worry only about my immediate surroundings.

I’ve nearly isolated myself into an awareness bubble of things that directly impact me, or over which I have some level of influence. Amazingly, I feel more energetic and carefree. My little personal experiment is still in the early stages, so the results are definitely inconclusive. I’ll continue ignoring the rest of the world as best I can (I admit, I find myself subconsciously typing in news websites still) and see if this is worth making a permanent change.

Maybe those happy, yet self-centered people we all know—you know, the ones who haven’t the slightest clue about global current events, are onto something beneficial to healthy living? Maybe the impoverished, who lack the means to follow news, are unknowingly avoiding an information vortex that sucks their energy and drive for them to act locally? Maybe ignorant bliss is better than informed frustration?

Reading has to be the best leisure activity for travelers and is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of mainstream living which, after all, is why we travel and take vacations in the first place.

In about three weeks, I’ve consumed 8 books, averaging 50-100 pages daily. I haven’t read at such a pace except for brief periods in high school and college, where I was obligated to read and analyze one after another (i.e. the task was stressful and unpleasurable). Reading now, with no assignments, no penalties for not memorizing names of all the characters, and no nonsensical deconstruction, opens the door to parts of the mind closed by rigid academia.

I’m reading books that are considered the best novels ever written and am deliberately staying away from anything new, any sensational trash writing (pulp fiction), and anything that takes too much effort. About half of my read list so far were books I read in high school. Now, reading them again, it’s amazing how differently I interpret things about 15 years (and loads of life experience) later.

Here are the reading lists I’m using to choose my next book:

http://www.thebest100lists.com/best100novels/ (favorite books of regular people)

http://www.newsweek.com/id/204478 (a metalist of other lists)

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics/index.cfm (because any book that is so hated as to be banned, has got to be good!)

What do you do to pass the time while on the road or at home? Are you a reader, a gamer, a web surfer? What are your book suggestions?