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As an expat, you will often be living in certain places where your presence alone may attract uncalled attention from a variety of unwanted elements. Jealous locals, fake business partners, women that want to take advantage of you, prejudiced people who do not like your race or nationality, corrupt police looking for bribes, etc. One has to be on guard at all times as one is not at home and may not know the ropes in a foreign land.

I am by nature a very gregarious, open and friendly person; and I like having many people around me, host noisy parties, have a whole bunch of guys and gals hanging out my house all the time- all these things make me happy. However, after having lived in places where people were of a different race, different culture and different values and modes of behavior, I have learned to appreciate the value of privacy, discretion, low profile and introversion.

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I just picked up a Sony VAIO VGN-UX280P UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) from a buddy of mine that gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Well, he didn’t have to try that hard – if someone is selling a gadget around me I am sure to buy it.

The Sony VAIO VGN-UX280P is one of the smallest UMPC’s around, you can fit it in a case and wear it on your belt, or even shove it into the leg pocket of a pair of cargo pants.

An ultra portable PC like this could potentially be the ultimate “laptop” for Independent Travelers, it is only one pound and the size of four packs of playing cards 5.9 x 3.75 x 1.5 inches (WxHxD)

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The Q Bar in Bangkok is Probably the longest running and most popular night club in Thailand. Q Bar is a modern nightclub (the first Q Bar was in Saigon, Vietnam) that usually has kick-ass music and DJ’s. This spot is popular with Bangkok’s upper class (yuppies) and Western Expats and is always filled with beautiful local and expat girls and guys. If you like to dance, drink and socialize this is the place to go.

Their are two floors, main floor is a long bar with booths (people tend to gather around the entrance) a terrace upstairs. I used to go there pretty regularly a couple years ago and it was my favorite non-sleazy place to hang out in Bangkok. Their is a 500 B (13USD, 10 Euro, 7GBP) cover charge that will get you 2 drinks, the cover is mostly to keep out the “common folk” and bottom barrel working gals.
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When you Fly into Jakarta and hop off the plane you will first go down a clove cigarette smelling hallway, the visa on arrival booths will be on your right and left (they sort of look like money exchange booths). Try to get off the airplane as fast as possible otherwise you could end up waiting in line for a wile.

You will first pay the visa fee then slide down to the next teller for the actual visa, the visa itself is a sticker that will take up an entire page in your passport. People tend to cut line and shove a bit so stand your ground but keep your cool.

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Travel medical insurance is what you’ll need if you’ll be traveling around a lot. If you are going to become an expatriate and live overseas permanently, then you’ll need some type of permanent insurance.

In many countries, you’ll be able to receive medical services for just a little money, but you will still want to have an option to see the physician of your choice. If you are going into a developing country where the medical science might not be that great, then a medical insurance plan will airlift you to a better hospital in the event of an emergency.

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Oh the irony! A short time ago I had posted online some photos from a trip I’d taken to Peru and Mr. Grey proceeded into chiding me about my Maxpedition Jumbo Versapack that I had slung on me. I weathered his slings and arrows knowing in my heart that despite what he said, owning one did make me a *tough guy* and it wasn’t the other way around!

Being the upright guy that he is, his decision the have me write a brief review of the “Jumbo Versapack” is the right thing to do for all you professional adventurers.

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This is a good article on Cheap Airlines in Southeast Asia from National Geographic Traveler

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