Crazy Times

I caught a couple of news clippings when I was checking my emails and I have seen that there are quite a few changes going on that I just wanted to say that I am aware of.

Barak Obama was voted as the first non white US president, and I still say that the TV show 24 was in some way not so much  responsible for this but was more a king of litmus test to see how the US public would react to the notion.

The continuing credit crunch which started in the US is still rippling through the world, its effects still reducing confidence, stock markets and house prices around the world.

For the first time in I don't know how many years the UK tax VAT rate will be lowered from 17.5% to 15%, which will reduce the affordable price of many things and should encourage spending, but will also be a mini headache for every accountant, book keeper and tax employee in the country.

A number of terrorists in Indian are apparently targetting western and european travellers and businessmen in kidnappings and shootings.

Letter home

Hiya, how are you all?

I am fine here, there are a few decorations out wherever I go, but at 30 plus degrees and surrounded by palm trees and sand it is hard to image that Christmas is so close, it will not be the same this year, not unless I can find a traditional English Pub in Dominican Republic to spend it in.

I called my sister for her birthday, it was a nice surprise for her and I realised that I could have / should have called home on other birthday, but I just dont like the phone and also with the time difference it is very hard to arrange, not to mention the cost.

I am dreading what will have happened to my garden by the time that I return, and I feel in mixed sorts as a part of me loves to travel and meet new people, but I am really getting bored of bad hostels, restaurants serving things that I dont recognise or like and bedrooms that are either too hot or too cold and having to hide under thin sheets to hide from mosquito's or other flying insects.

In my house I have a quiet fan for the heat and a radiator plus blankets for the cold, but here it is almost always too hot and my bedroom fans here is so powerful that I think they stole if from a wind tunnel experiement and even with ear plugs I still have problems getting to sleep.

I won't be doing much Christmas shopping today, as the cost to send stuff back to the UK from here is astronomical, but I will be thinking of you all of course.

Please ensure that you get the most of carol singers, snow, christmas turkeys, crackers, chocolates and movies, I'd like to share them all with you so please keep me posted and send me photos as often as you can.
This trip has been one I will never forget and the people I am meeting are great and I have met a few that I would like to see more of, a lot more of, but equally I have arrived in some cities and been totally unimpressed from arrival to leaving, so its upps are even higher because of the downs.

Colombia does have a lot of history, but it does not seem to advertise its pre-columbian roots very much, so I will be looking forward to central America and Mexico, when I should be able to visit not only Chichen Itza but other stuff from the Aztecs, Mayans and Tultec cultures, which means lots more photos from me too.

I seemed to have travelled through the home sickness stage now, as I no longer suffer the nervousness, the emotional episodes or the mild panic attacks of being alone and equally now when I get lost through being all turned around or find myself in a place that I do not recognise I just see it as a waste of time and an inconvenience rather instead of a problem that needs to be overcome.

Likewise I think that I have got used to the food and the water, as I have not had a bad case of food poisoning or anything since leaving Cusco, although being fair I have lost a bit of weight since I first left the UK but this is through just not finding enough stuff to my palate, as even when I do eat I don't eat til I am full but just enough to starve off the feeling of hunger and then carry on with the day.

Without chocolate spread, strawberry jam, cornflakes or a proper fried breakfast in any of the places that I visit, I tend to find that I am skipping breakfasts more and more these days, but then I just dont like eating large rolls or giant mutated bananas first thing in the morning.

Staying in hostels means that often I am meant to be bringing my own food but as it is heavy to carry and cumbersome ( not to mention that your not allowed to fly with foods or drinks ) so this is another reason for this.

I still have not used most of the setting on my camera, although I have used it a few times as a digital camera but only really for wide panoramic shots when one photo just cannot capture it all no matter from what angle or viewpoint I chose.

I do seem to be spending a bit of time watching tv now, but part of that is to hear someone, anyone, speaking fluent english, and the rest is that I do not really know what to do with my time after 8pm when the rain starts to pour down and I am trying not to spend my money like it is water.

I guess that I could grab a taxi each night and ask me to visit either a billiard hall, a cinema, a bar or a night club but any of those would still involve spending money and I have tried many times to take photos at night and my camera is just not up to it, apart from it being more unsafe and much harder to navigate around a place, especially as I rarely have a decent map to guide me around.

Well I have to go now, I need to pack and try to find out how to get to Cartagena while the morning is still here that way I can reach my hostel while it is still light as the bus journey is meant to be abour six hours long and I still don't know where it leaves from or when just now.

Love and hugs

My Ideal Hostel

During the last couple of months I have stayed in many places, met lots of people and resided in everything from a friends couch to a medium size hotel, and I have come to appreciate what is important and what is not important in a hostel, and I think that this is as good a time as any to write down a brief document about what I think.

First off, before you I think about what a hostel should offer I need to first identify the market that it is in, and there is a difference between those who chose to stay in a hostel against those who chose a cheap or expensive hotel, and this also varies slightly from which country the hostel is in.

Europe is the playground of other Europeans, Americans, Australians and those from the far east. Financially it is the most expensive region to visit, but flight wise it is easy to visit from just about anywhere and it is extremely easy to go from one country to the next by train, bus or car without having to worry about too many border patrols.

South America seems to be more populated by tourists from neighboring countries, Americans and the occasional European.

Since arriving in Brazil I have not met any Australians or Asians in any city except in Cusco, which was mainly for Machu Picchu.

The other travellers I have met have been all ages from early twenties to late fifities, but the majority seem to be late twenties and early thirties. Possibly because they have the most flexibility in their lives and are not yet too constricted with diets, family commitments, health issues and can always find jobs upon their return home.

Possibly because of their cheap and cheerful image, or just because of the lack of facilities, but I have not met any seriously handicapped or disabled people in any hostel that I have visited, and neither have I met any honeymoon couples, businessmen / women, retired or semi retire people, couples with new born children or stag / hen parties.

So, very broadly speaking, the type of person that I have encountered again and again are the young / semi young travellers, city tourists, sports enthusiasts and backpackers, be they single, with their significant other or ust with a group of friends.

Often I have met small groups of people that met up in other cities and decided to pool resources and ideas and travel as a bigger group, which shows time and time again the friendliness and openness of the travelling community, and the willingness to exchange ideas and cooperate.

This is one of the reasons why I think that most people should do some travelling in their youth, as it helps teach you about trust, cooperation and the ability to talk and understand people from different backgrounds rather than just your own private group of peers. It encouraged people to come out of their shell in order to maxiumise their experiences and helps to build character and confidence.

So the next thing to decide is how big to have the hostel, as too few guests will be neither profitable nor have many chances for people to meet each other but too many and you can feel that it is safer to stay by yourself or with the people you already know than try to make new friends, and for this reason I think that rooms for 16 to 20 guests is the ideal number, as that way it is confortable and still managable either half full or completely booked up.

As as a guest you want to know that you can have a lilttle quality time both alone and with someone who actually works for the hostel without having to take a number and join the back of a queue to see them.

To enable a variety of travellers with differing lodging preferences to stay in the same place at the same time I feel that the ideal size dorms are 4 bed per room complete with large lockers in the rooms, so that you can store your stuff near your bed and you can keep the place still tidy and secure. I feel that 1 or 2 x mixed dorms, 1 x all female dorm, 1 x all male dorm and a couple / few twin private rooms is the best format for maximum flexibility to cater for a variety of different groups without having to require too large a house.

If people are comfortable to stay in mixed dorms then it follows that they will probably be happy to use shared bathrooms, toilets, but I feel that the private rooms would benefit from having an en suite bathroom if the buildling can ammodate it.

Having identified that majority of people who regularly stay in hostels, it became clear that most of the guests do not spend much time in the hostel during the daytime or evenings, and few spend much time there at nights excepting if the weather is bad, as most use the hostel as just a base to leave their stuff someplace safe and go venturing forth to see the places that they really came to visit.

Thus entertainment, luxuries, sports and games are not really necessary for a hostel as very few of the guests will have the time to enjoy them, preferring to set out and visit whatever it is that the region / city is famous for rather than for just bumming around the hostel and killing time.

The busiest time of the day by far is the early morning and breakfast time, as this is when most people meet up to discuss what they are going to do that day, check in after just arriving or check out in order to move on to the next city / return home.

For this reason, and for the reason of helping people meet up and exchange ideas and plans, I think that a single large breakfast table is ideal as it means that it encourages people to sit next to each other and engage in conversation, and has proved much better for this than a few small tables where everyone is able / forced to eat seperately.

The other busy time is at night once all the tours are over and all the restaurants, bars and clubs have closed, and as many tours / activities can be physically demanding all group dorm rooms should be a place of quiet refuge with no drinking, parties or loud music allowed after 10pm.

All rooms should also be fairly well sound proofed from outside revellers / traffic, have adequate blinds / curtains for a good nights sleep and also heating or air conditioning depending on where the hostel is located.

Allowing friends and locals of guests into the rooms is often frowned upon as there is always the grey area of trying to prevent drugs / theft or prostitution going on in the hostel, and thus non paying guests should also be restricted in their movements and times when they are allowed to enter / remain in the hostel while still giving guests the option of meeting / entertaining friends in the hostel for a short time at least.

Security is always an issue that is preferred but not essential, so some form of intercom, gate or front reception open 24 hours a day that can allow entrance to guests quickly yet with a measure of control is the best option.

So now with the layout and most frequent guest identified, and their needs assessed, it just now requires me to give a list from most to least important of many of the features that I would think a good hostel wants / needs in order to be a success and good business venture.
:-
Free breakfast and coffee, tea and milk throughout the day

Free linen and bedding

Bilingual staff that are happy, willing and eager to help and assist you in even the most bizarre request and are familar with the local transport, cinemas, musuems and shopping complexes

Free wifi access in reception area and private rooms at least, if not all rooms

Use of communial computers, with a time limit of 30 minutes to one hour per guest. Webcam and headphones are a luxury and thus is not necessary, but might be a nice touch

Location in a safe area that is near at least one method of public transport if at all possible

Location near the end of a road or near a clearly visible landmark, as often you will be arriving early or late at night and the last thing you want to do is have trouble finding the place

Similarly a large sign or post that is on the outside of the building to guide you in from a distance

Maps and tour information of the city / surrounding area, including the best times to visit and how to get there

Lots of plug sockets in all rooms, as several guests are likely to want to charge their camera, phone, ipod and / or laptop at the same time

Additionally International plug adapters for use / sale would be a nice touch in case a guest has lost theirs or was unaware that they would need one / which one they would need

A good website with local maps, travel information, accurate and easy directions of how to reach the hostel and the ability to make online reservation bookings

Notice board with details of local events, up to date travel information, local tour guides, great places to eat, drink or dance and nearby cities hostels

Satalite / Cable TV in a communial tv room away from the breakfast room, complete with a DVD player and a variety of movies that can be borrowed, viewed

Use of kitchen and fridge by guests during the daytime and fliers / adverts of local restaurants that will delivery to the hostel

Information on language courses and volunteer / paid working options for travellers who decide to extend their stay beyond a long weekend / week stay

Vending machine / bar where juices, fizzy drinks, beers, chocolates and crisps can be bought cheaply and easily

Depending on the local weather / insects, etc, a variety of umbrellas, rain boots, sun cream, towels, insect repellent and other similar items should be either on offer to buy, or be near a shop where such items are possible to purchase

A storage room where people that are checking out but not leaving the city til later on during the day can leave their stuff while they go visiting during the dayday

Investment in Colombia

Having been through Cali and speaking to Mikkel, and then arriving here in Manizales and talking to Christina in the hostel here, and a couple of the tourists who have friends over here and been speaking to other European who have married and moved over here, now is the perfect time to invest in Colombia.

Ten years ago the attitude and image of Colombia was considered one of the worst in the world, but having been there last year and again this year I would say that the reality has changed very much and the image is now out of date and in drastic need of catching up.

I have found that while Colombia maybe one of the more expensive places in South America, but overall it has better housing, shopping centres, cinemas, roads and public transport systems than the rest of the continent.

For US $50,000 an American bought a entire coffee plantation, complete with buildings, house, staff, fruit and the land itself was so huge that they are not even sure where it ends of what other fruits are on the plantation, and when you think about it, that is not a lot of money for an entire business that is already established, running and turning a small profit and if with western investment, ideas, advertising and personal trade links back into Europe it is almost worth a punt and if it all goes down then it is not the end of the world.

Of course, non nationals cannot buy the land directly themselves, just like in many other parts of the world, but if you are able to marry into the country or find a trustworthy local that can be a reliable business partner then it would be a viable opportunity and right now I would prefer to risk losing £25K on a business over here than starting up another in the UK.

Travelling Recap

Well so far I am about a quarter of the way through, having made just under 2 1/2 months out of a planned 9 months, so I thought that this would be a good place to do a recap for myself as much as anyone else.

Currently I am in Cali, south Colombia and this is my last country in South America before I travel to Central America and go up through it, finally reaching North America for a few weeks before I start coming back down again through the Pacific.

So far I have travelled through over 25 cities in 12 countries and covered about 20,000 kilometers, crossed the Equator twice, the furthest north was my starting point in London of 51 32 North and the furthest south was in Rio de Janeiro at 22 57 South.

To reach new cities I have taken 1 x Ferry, 14 x Flights, 18 x Trains and 8 x Autobus's ( including mutiple flights and multiple train connections).

I have slept on a plane, on a boat, on a train, on an autobus, at an airport, on couches, in hotels, in hostels and in friends spare rooms.

I have made some friends, luckily no enemies ( that I know of ) and have managed to avoid the attention of the police, pickpockets and guerrilla soldiers.

I have spend about £5,000 if you include only the flights used so far and not the total booked in advance ( more than half in Europe in the first month, but I am slowly regaining my original estimate of costs as life in South America has been good to me ) and thankfully as far as I am aware I have not lost more than 3 socks, one modem extention cable and a small black padlock.

I have travelled from sea level to above 4,000 feet above sea level on more than one occasion, and I have been through rain, snow, hailstones, thunder, lightening, cloud, fog and blistering heat.

I have tried many local delicacies and traditional meals, though most I cannot pronounce the name of and so far the food has been good but not outstanding, but then that might be my fault of not choosing the right places to eat.

Thankfully I have only suffered two bouts of home sickness, had no episodes of Altitude / Travel / Flight or sea sickness, only had to suffer one attack of food poisoning and only experienced one week of being eaten alive by more mosquitos than I could count.

Approximately I have taken over 3,000 photos and wrote around 100,000 words on my blog.

I have visited Beaches, Bars, Museums, Discotecks, Night Clubs, a Casino, Cinemas ( including an Imax ), Restaurants, a Volcano, Red Light Districts, Rivers, Mountains, Lakes, Temples, Castles and two of the seven new wonders of the world - being Manchu Picchu and Christ Redeemer.

( The complete list of 7 is as follows :- Manchu Picchu - Peru, Petra - Jordan, Taj Mahal - India, Chichen Itza - Mexico, Christ Redeemer - Brazil, Colossium - Italy, Great Wall of China

The following were the other finalists that somehow didn't get enough votes, as these were all voted on instead of being dictated by a panel of experts.

The Acropolis - Greece, Alhambra - Spain, Angkor Wat - Cambodia, Statues on Easter Island - Chile, Eiffle Tower - France, Hague Sophia - Turkey, Kiyomizu Temple - Japan, Kremlin / St Basil - Russia, Neuschweinstein Castle - Germany, Pyramids of Giza - Egypt, Statue of Liberty - USA, Stonehenge - UK, Sydney Opera House - Australia and Timbuktu - Mali.

Of the other finalists I have already visited 4 in my life, and of the actual seven modern wonders on previous trips I have been to the Great Wall in China, though it is impressive enough for me to want to visit it a second time.

For more details of the new 7 wonders and the runners up visit this site - http://www.new7wonders.com/classic/en/n7w/results/ )

News Updates

Channel flicking in my room before I fell asleep for the last time in October was weird.

There were the usual films either half way through or in Spanish, the obligatory games of football ( it seems that Brazil isn't the only country madly in love with the beautiful game ) and regretably enough coverage of the US presidential elections to bore me to tears, but it was the other news articles that caught my attention.

Despite being in the end of 2008, and supposedly in a more peaceful and civilized world, there were bombings in India, naval battled between the Sri Lankan goverment and the Tamil Tigers, a holding temporal ceasefire in the Republic of Congo, ongoing battles in Iraq and the Indonesian government was preparing for a backlash following the imminent execution of two convicted terrorists of the 2002 Bali bombings.

There was also a story about a high ranking Japanese official who is having to resign after publicing an article stating that he felt Japan was not an aggresive participant in WW II, which of course has greatly angered China, both North and South Korea and a number of Pacific Island nations.

This is a bit like some German professors stating that the Holocaust never happened and is all a huge Western post war conspiracy made to damage the Germany's public image.

But the article that put a smile on my face was about the fact that the guiness book of records has just had another of its records broken by the recent successful additon of the worlds largest pair of jeans.

It is so large that it requiring a construction crane to lift up one end, and a pair of large inflatable tubing pipes running down each of its legs, and judging from the look I would say that it is of average proportion and not a drainpipe or flairs style.

It is sad to think that there is still so very much aggression and violence in todays society and it's the main reason why I chose not to watch too much news coverage these days as its always so depressing.