vBloga collection of my notes and thoughts…

After numerous stories about creased US notes being rejected in Cambodia, I made sure to bring mint condition US notes. You can request this from the money changer. All my notes were practically fresh out of the printer. Then, there is the question of how to keep the notes in perfectly mint condition. I end up just putting them in my folded wallet. It ‘curls’ the note, but does not crease it.

The first time I was given less than perfect notes as change, I was slightly apprehensive. The reality is, I have never had any problems with US notes being rejected. Since then, I have received and passed on US notes with creases down the middle and/or the corners without the blink of an eye.

Now, I’m not saying there isn’t any truth to those stories. I did notice some Khmers who keep their notes perfectly flat in their ‘wallet’. I also have noticed some Khmers that nonchalantly fold their notes in their pocket. My point is you shouldn’t have any issues with the notes unless it is in really bad shape, or if it’s counterfeit. Yes, there are counterfeit US notes in circulation; not that I would know the difference.

“You buy postcards? Only one dollar.”, a little boy by the side of the road pleaded.

“Magnet, sir? One dollar.”, another girl said repeatedly.

The price of a canned drink? You guessed it. One dollar!

In tourist frequented areas of Cambodia, you are bound to come across numerous items being sold for just one US dollar. It’s like one giant dollar shop. The US dollar is the predominant currency in Cambodia, for tourists at least. They don’t use US coins, so the smallest US denomination is one dollar. Anything less than one dollar will be marked up to one dollar. For a tourist, it is likely still a bargain. Having lived in New Zealand and the UK, one US dollar to me isn’t much at all. However, if I switch into my Malaysian consumer mode, one dollar is three ringgit, and that is a lot.

In Cambodia, one dollar can actually go a long way. Police officers, and textile factory workers both earn an average of two US dollars a day! Arguably, that makes for tough living, and there has recently been protests and riots to demand that the pay be doubled. You’ll quickly realise that food and drinks shouldn’t cost as much as they do. If you walk into a store that doesn’t cater primarily for tourists, you’ll find things are actually pretty cheap. I don’t see why things in Cambodia should be more expensive than in Malaysia.

This leads to a tipping conundrum. One US dollar by Malaysian standard is a lot for a tip. You’ve probably also just tipped them half their day’s pay. However, I’ve come to the conclusion that even half a dollar means a lot to the Khmers (Cambodians) and would make a difference to their lives, so just tip whatever you’re comfortable with.

I have always been fascinated with the traditional clothing worn by the Emiratis. Below is an excerpt from the guest information folder at Rosewood Abu Dhabi.

For those that find the image difficult to read:

The UAE society is proud of its heritage and culture. Emiratis typically wear the national dress in their daily life. For men, this attire consists of a traditional long robe called a kandoora which usually features a small tassel, known as a tarboosha, hanging from the neckline. The kandoora is often white, though different colors may be worn especially during winter. The national dress for men also includes a traditional headdress, called a ghutra. This triangular scarf is worn on the head with a black woven band known as an e’gaal. For women, the main piece of national dress consists of the abaya, a long flowing black robe worn over Western or local attire. The robe is styled in many different cuts and designs and is often decorated with various colors. To cover the hair, women wear a shaila, which is usually a matching black scarf. Mature women may sometimes wear a burqa, a piece of reflective mask worn on the face.

After spending hours researching numerous travel money cards, I came to the conclusion that Kiwibank’s Loaded for Travel is the best travel money card in most situations. I personally have not tried it. Instead, I got sucked in by Air New Zealand’s OneSmart promise of zero conversion fee. I expected the OneSmart conversion rate to match that of Bank of New Zealand. However, it is about 1 percent lower than what Kiwibank offers for Loaded for Travel. Nonetheless, OneSmart comes a close second behind Loaded for Travel. The main reasons I went with OneSmart are its low service fees, and support of multiple currencies that most other travel money cards do not. I find the process for loading money onto the OneSmart account convenient, and I like the flexibility of being able to convert the currencies at a time when the rate is favourable.

When it comes to travel money cards, the devil is in the service fees. Most cards charge a currency conversion fee of 1 percent of the amount exchanged. Although OneSmart promises zero conversion fee, its rates are lower than what most banks offer, effectively putting it at par with most cards in this particular regard. The other major service fee is ATM withdrawal fee. OneSmart is the only card that does not charge an ATM withdrawal fee. Most cards also charge an inactivity fee, which will slowly eat away at any money you leave on the card.

There are a few things you can do to minimise on service fees.

• If you are converting large sums of money, avoid cards that charge a percentage conversion fee. Instead, opt for a card such as Loaded For Travel that charges a capped, fixed conversion fee.
• Paying for items in cash is a good way to avoid credit card surcharges that some retailers impose. When withdrawing cash, do it in large sums to minimise on ATM withdrawal fee.
• Air New Zealand charges a membership fee for its Airpoints programme, which you will need in order to take advantage of the OneSmart feature. Google search for Airpoints promo code to save on the membership fee.
• With OneSmart, do not leave money in the New Zealand Dollar wallet to avoid paying inactivity fee.

After checking out suitcases for the past few weekends, this is what I’ve learnt. There are primarily three different types of material used in producing most suitcases—nylon, ABS, and polycarbonate.

• Nylon

  Nylon is cheap and light. It is commonly used in making soft suitcases. There are special weaves of nylon, which are designed to increase durability and to prevent rips.

• ABS

  ABS is a strong and durable plastic. It is commonly used in making hard suitcases. Hard suitcases tend to be heavier than soft suitcases.

• Polycarbonate

  Polycarbonate is a plastic that’s even stronger and more durable than ABS. It is prone to scratching, but is very hard to break. It is commonly found in high-end hard suitcases. Expect to pay more for these suitcases.

If you’re packing fragile items, then you need a hard suitcase. If you travel often, you will benefit from the durability of polycarbonate. Hard suitcases, unlike soft suitcases, don’t have any give, which means it might have difficulty fitting all those souvenirs you purchased on the trip. Some soft suitcases feature an expandable section for this exact reason.

As for me, my primary requirements are weight and price. I need something light so that I can pack more belongings, and I want something cheap as I don’t expect to use the suitcase that often. I ended up getting the Flylite Microlite II from Strandbags.

One thing to pay particular attention to when choosing a trolley suitcase is the quality of the wheels. The last thing you want on a trip, is a fully loaded luggage that doesn’t wheel properly.

These photos are from my very first trip to Australia back in 2009. The following are a few of the more memorable shots of the Australian Outback.

The Outback is quite different from what I originally imagined. The temperature is scorching hot, and the sand is as red as in the photos; but it is not just a massive sandy desert. There are trees and plants in most places I passed through. Towns are few and far between; but enough to ensure you can stop for a break and refuel with some careful planning. The highways are long, straight, and well maintained; affording speeds up to 130 km/h. Traffic is light and sometimes you could drive between towns without passing more than a dozen other drivers. Road trains, which are basically extra long trailer trucks, are common sight along the highways.

Both the natural, and man-made landscapes are sights to behold. Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) are best seen during the twilight hours, when the rocks are glowing red. As you drive along the highway, you may see little hills of whites. These are the result of the opal mining activity.

You haven’t really seen Australia until you have seen the Outback. It is full of culture, art, and history that is core to Australia.

We found that out when we started planning our trip. Bali is actually an Indonesian island, lying between Java and Lombok. I’m so looking forward to the one week in Bali. Slightly less than a year ago, I visited Vietnam. Slightly less than a year away, I’m planning to visit Canada. Life is good.

Most of our flights and accommodation have been sorted out. We haven’t really planned what to do while we are there but it’ll definitely involve chilling out and food.

I’ve just bought more souvenirs for when we go back to our hometowns. We’ve got food, health products, and beauty products. I’m still not convinced New Zealand chocolates will survive the trip. Anyway, weird shaped chocolates will still taste just as sweet.