Great Expecations

M: My brother gave me a book for Christmas called “The Art of Travel” by Alain de Botton. It’s a very neat book with his own view of travel but also views of Baudelaire, Edward Hopper, Flaubert, Van Gogh…very cool. But his first chapter of the book is called “Expectations.” So dangerous, aren’t they Pip? I know I have expecations about this trip. Even when I [...]

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Thai Tax

Departure Tax – 700 Baht for international flights. The tax must be paid before you check in. This feels just like the toll booth at the IL/WI border. Before you get onto the well-maintained free roads of WI lets just pinch a little more from your purse.

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A Little Horng Nahm Humor

John: A couple of years ago I moved into an apartment very subtly covered in foreign words, Italian to be exact. Tiny tiny stickers with 9pt black type. The door said porta, the fridge said frigorifero and so on. I’m stealing that trick for myself. It makes me think of my favorite David Ogilvy quote – The best ideas come as jokes.

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