Well, what do we do about beggars? It’s a tough question, but the most common reactions are either “Just ignore her, they’re all professionals and you’ll only encourage them” or “How can you be so heartless?”. These opposing viewpoints (often within the same marriage) lead to lively debates on sidewalks all over the world, but don’t really help clarify the issue.
Change is good — but only if it’s needed. Not because a few years have gone by, or because you’re bored, or because your competition has something new and shiny and you want it too.
The Constant Companion and I are familiar with several countries which are supposedly communist, or previously communist…In some of them you’ll frequently find yourself ankle-deep in begging children…But during three weeks here in Cuba, we haven’t seen a single child begging.
It’s clear the hotel has put a lot of effort into an offering which no one wants, and the restaurant can’t possibly deliver. The waiters’ manners are impeccable, their grooming immaculate. One can only hope they don’t realise just how embarrassing and unsuccessful their menu is…
..in this part of the world, most people’s monthly pay amounts to what we spent on dinner last night, and upward mobility isn’t even a concept. If you’re born into an affluent and privileged family you can assume you’ll get a good education, and eventually a good job (which may or may not involve any actual work).
And if not, not.
Geoffrey Bawa was a genius. But even geniuses make mistakes…and Geoffrey overlooked the monkeys. These monkeys have no fear of people. Also, they quite like our stuff. If you venture outside, particularly onto the roof garden, they may leap onto you from behind just to see if they can shake something loose.
For readers who don’t speak Spanish: coño has exactly the same meaning as a certain four-letter English word which also begins with “c”.
…the world is full of tourists who blunder along, texting in cathedrals, snapping masterpieces on their phones, and giggling in graveyards. We wonder why they travel…and wish they wouldn’t.
How do you tell the good, authentic local restaurants from the tourist traps? It’s not always easy…but first, be sure authenticity is what you’re really after. Give yourself a break: there are times when even the most experienced traveller just needs comfort food — a sandwich, a burger, a bowl of soup. And frankly, there are places where the local food is just plain awful.
The driver said that his kids simply couldn’t grasp what life had been like when he was young. “My village,” he said, “was where Changi Airport is now. Right on Runway Two.”