TDM
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[Reflection] #13: Seizing Opportunities
According to the I Ching, an ancient Chinese book, success depends on you but also on the RIGHT TIME and the RIGHT PLACE. In my case, having a scholarship to study in Australia completely changed my life. Later, my English level set me apart from other candidates and I always managed to get the job. But a year later, I would never have studied in Australia because scholarships are only given every two years. I was able to seize the opportunity at the right time. According to numerology, everyone has at least 4 major opportunities in life. But the difficulty is daring to seize them. Because sometimes, opportunities come when…
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How to recover your Google Business listing (disabled or suspended)
During my travels, I occasionally coach my favorite local businesses for free to help them get more visibility, because I’m a “Local Guide Level 7” on Google Maps and my reviews carry much more weight than others. Among my favorite businesses is an absolutely adorable jeweler who loves to learn and keeps me updated on his business’s progress. For several weeks, he hasn’t been able to add photos/videos/his phone number to his Google Maps listing. I stop by his shop, he hands me his computer, and I improve the description of his listing. We chat happily. Two minutes later, we go back to Google Maps and it says “listing suspended.”…
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Scooter rental in Koh Tao (Thailand): address & prices
Disclaimer: be careful! You’ll have no trouble renting a scooter in Koh Tao (or anywhere else in Thailand). If you don’t have a motorbike license, it’s still illegal. It can expose you to fines (very unlikely on Koh Tao), but above all: you won’t be covered by your insurance in case of an accident. Moreover, it’s easy to get overconfident on Koh Tao. It’s a little paradise; you see foreigners riding without helmets, bare-chested and barefoot… It’s quite exhilarating, that feeling of freedom. It’s still dangerous: you drive on the left, there are steep ups and downs, there can be sandy areas, and during monsoon season, you can find yourself…
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A Week in Bhutan, the Land of Happiness: Part 1/4
We’re taking advantage of being in Asia to fulfill one of our dreams: visiting Bhutan, the country whose people are said to be the happiest in the world, to understand their recipe for happiness. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Choosing the Agency Although the cost of living is very low, visiting Bhutan requires a well-stocked wallet, because you have to: Since we’re at the start of the monsoon season (late May – early June), there are few tourists (except the Indian neighbors who are on vacation), and we have a private tour for a week. The agency we chose is called Bhutan Best Inbound…
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Prepaid SIM/eSIM in Bhutan: How much does it cost? Where to buy one? (2024)
Buying an eSIM valid in Bhutan If you want to keep things simple and have a compatible phone, you can buy an eSIM valid in Bhutan. Since Bhutan is a tiny country, there don’t seem to be many options available for it. Airalo offers one at an attractive price (USD 9.50), but with little data (1 GB). So it’s not necessarily a great deal. Buying a SIM card at the airport At Paro International Airport, you’ll find two counters selling SIM cards: You can’t miss them; the airport is tiny! The offers are pretty much the same. For a week with unlimited internet, it’ll cost you 1,100 ngultrums, or about…
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[review] Le Méridien Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Golf Resort (Thailand)
Between Vietnam and Bhutan, we spend a night in Bangkok because there is no direct flight between Vietnam and Bhutan. JB chooses a hotel near the airport (20 minutes by car) that has a free shuttle to/from the airport. This is a hotel belonging to the Marriott group, so we can use our miles and can be upgraded thanks to our Gold status. Our room costs 147€ (Booking link). This hotel is absolutely gorgeous, it’s a resort with a spa (that’s typical) and a golf course (that’s less so). There is an infinity pool, a spa, a fitness center, and two restaurants. By opting for the paid breakfast, we get…
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[2024] Back to Hanoi (Vietnam): Leathercraft Class Round 2 & Foodie Adventures
After Osaka, here we are in Hanoi, Vietnam. My hometown. It’s been 2 years since we last returned to Vietnam, and this time, the city hasn’t changed much. Probably due to the economic slowdown, many people are struggling, losing their jobs, and trying to survive while waiting for better days. We spend the first few days at my parents’ house and enjoy Dad and Mom’s home cooking (spring rolls, free-range chicken, vermicelli, cốm, fruit…). Before we arrived, I placed a big order of books that my father took the time to receive, and I’m thrilled to have them all with me to either scan or read. These are books not…
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Review of our second trip to Japan
The first time we set foot in Japan was in 2018, a few weeks before the cherry blossoms bloomed. That year, the cherry trees bloomed two weeks early, and we were able to enjoy them fully, much to our pleasant surprise. Japan is a country with a high cost of living, but the yen (the Japanese currency) is in free fall. We take advantage of the opportunity to return in 2024. Thanks to the yen’s devaluation, we can afford to stay in hotels instead of necessarily looking for Airbnbs. However, to save some money, we decide to avoid the cherry blossom season and go two weeks later, in mid-April 2024.…
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A few days in Osaka (Japan)
After Kyoto, we’re spending a few days in Osaka before our trip to Vietnam. I would have loved to take a special train (the one with a mini Japanese garden), but unfortunately it’s only available on holidays and weekends. We try our best not to bother the locals with our luggage, so the shinkansen remains the best option (rather than the crowded local train). When you want to take any shinkansen, just buy a ticket at the gate for your destination station, and get on any shinkansen that allows “unreserved seats.” Generally, cars 1-2-3 are for those without assigned seats. Arriving in Osaka, we’re surprised to see young people smoking…
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We spent Golden Week in Kyoto (Japan)
After the road trip, my parents are going back to Vietnam while we still enjoy Japan (in Kansai) for about ten more days. We take a shinkansen for the first time from Tokyo, heading to Kyoto. Kyoto is a fairly expensive city, so JB chooses a hotel for us in the outskirts of Kyoto. We’re right in the middle of Golden Week, a week with lots of public holidays, when the whole of Japan goes on vacation. Our hotel in Kameoka has an onsen on site, which JB loves because he only has to go down three floors to enjoy the hot and cold baths and the sauna. There’s even…
