The totally off-topic thread

[anat0l]

*sigh* Western backpackers in South-East Asia shamelessly begging for travel money

THEY’VE been dubbed “beg-packers” — shameless Western backpackers begging for travel money in the streets of South-East Asia......
In one photo, shared on Twitter, a couple can be seen using an expensive DSLR camera to prop up a sign reading: “Support our trip”.

Probably could split a new thread on this.

Lucky to see that some locals are not buying the whole ruse.

Note that in some countries (or states in those countries), begging is illegal.

 

[JohnK]

Actually this is not a good diet - it should have more vegetables and legumes in it and more protein (cutting down on the processed ham). In the absence of more protein for breakfast and lunch, the one bread roll is not providing a sufficient energy intake to maintain an adult male, especially if you are undertaking physical activity.

Are you a dietician?

I don't do any physical activity other than walking and golf.

I try to have 6-7 meals a day and the best way to do that is to try and keep calories down for each meal. The only way I can lose weight is to have <1600 calories/day. If I have 1800 calories/day I don't lose any weight. If I have 2000+ calories/day then I put on weight. Obvioudly the best weight loss occurs at around 1100-1200 calories/day and I try to have 2 of these days/week.

I try to keep it very simple as I have no time to prepare meals.

I try to eat what I enjoy eating instead of forcing myself to eat things I don't like. Not into grains or cereals.

And importantly 3 dieticians have seen my spreadsheet with what I eat for the week and all 3 have commented that I am doing the right thing.

Should I be looking to see another dietician?

 

[Pushka]

Does anyone go to Christmas Island for Kangaroos do you think?

We've been many times to KI. We call it Dead kangaroo Island. Road kill.

 

[Denali]

We've been many times to KI. We call it Dead kangaroo Island. Road kill.

Was just reading "do not drive at night". Apparently some car hire places do not allow night driving, which makes sunrise photos difficult.

 

[straitman]

Yes, excellent. Can't understand why people give Facebook control over their lives and data.

... or AFF, or FT or the internet in general.

 

[JohnK]

... or AFF, or FT or the internet in general.

Loneliness? Boredom? Just saying....

 

[Princess Fiona]

Dad had a small incident in a car park a few weeks back where he was reversing and hit a Lexus causing some damage to the Lexus but none to our car.

The lady involved called me straight away as dad had given her my number and I asked her to get a quote to fix the damage and I will either pay the quote if less than my excess or put in a claim to my insurance. I gave her my email address.

Today we receive a letter from Lexus Insurance and a claim form. No quote. Good to see the need to fix her car was greater than the desire not to destress an older man for no reason.

Perhaps Lexus didn't give her an option to get a quote. A courtesy SMS or email would have been nice? "Sorry but Lexus won't give me a quote so I have to proceed with a claim!"....

My car had a small accident and the damage to my car was around 2k. The other party didn't want to do insurance I wanted to because my car is then cover for lifetime warranty on repairs and also get the hire car and taxi fares and there is a small unknown with the repair to my car and didn't want them to then argue about that part of the job.

Yep, if someone hits my car it's going through the insurance every single time.
The distress caused to me is just as important as the distress caused to the third party.

 

[drron]

Have done my grandfatherly duties today cycling the grandkids twice around Centennial Park.
My Gluteus maximi are saying we are for sitting on not doing these stupid exercise thingys.

 

[TheRealTMA]

... or AFF, or FT or the internet in general.

That's one if the reasons I rail against the anti-addblock background scripts used by AFF. Without addblock we cannot stop AFF partners intruding on our browsing habits and privacy. AFF have no idea who they link into to grab info from our browsers.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

*sigh* Western backpackers in South-East Asia shamelessly begging for travel money

THEY’VE been dubbed “beg-packers” — shameless Western backpackers begging for travel money in the streets of South-East Asia......
In one photo, shared on Twitter, a couple can be seen using an expensive DSLR camera to prop up a sign reading: “Support our trip”.

Should be a straight-forward case of immigration being able to deport these folks for lack of funds to support themselves in country.

 

[Cossie]

The boss says she saw two westerners begging in Luang Prabang near the night market. Next they'll be getting a dog to sit with them so we can all feel sorry for the dog. Cynical, me?

The link posted above also pointed to this person that seems to have become a bit of a figure of ridicule.

I guess for some sponging off others is a "smart" thing to do.

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/re...d/news-story/5e50ee762ac80bd156dda897f33f1590

Why do people buy and drink evian? To me it tastes very ordinary, I'd rather have Adelaide tap water.

 

[TheRealTMA]

The boss says she saw two westerners begging in Luang Prabang near the night market. Next they'll be getting a dog to sit with them so we can all feel sorry for the dog. Cynical, me?

If I ask nicely, is there any chance of a separate dieting "thread"?

Why do people buy and drink evian? To me it tastes very ordinary, I'd rather have Adelaide tap water.

Obviously they are begging to buy Evian since they don't have access to ATW.

Only one I'll ever buy is Badoit! But, if you want to send back some of our water concentrate that reaches Adelaide from Qld, I'll find a dog to wash.

 

[JohnK]

Yep, if someone hits my car it's going through the insurance every single time.
The distress caused to me is just as important as the distress caused to the third party.

She had said ok. I wasn't offering my own repairer. She wanted it repaired at Lexus. I wasn't disagreeing. If she had changed her mind all she had to do was send text or email of her intentions. That's not a lot to expect.

Anyway not to worry now she has gone through her insurance and I have asked her insurance to send us the quote. I will decide later what I will do. But something tells me the quote is now going to ge higher but so be it.

And by the way I would have helped out if someone had asked me they didn't want to go through insurance. That what makes me different.

 

[anat0l]

Should be a straight-forward case of immigration being able to deport these folks for lack of funds to support themselves in country.

Those primary checks only really happen at the border. Not while you're in the country, unless you look suspicious or are reported.

For example, if you beg in Australia, and you aren't a citizen, can you be reported to the police and subsequently deported, assuming you arrived and passed through the border successfully and legitimately? Not saying you're wrong, but curious to know the answer.

Why do people buy and drink evian? To me it tastes very ordinary, I'd rather have Adelaide tap water.

At least closer to the source, Evian tends to be almost the same price as supermarket bottled water. It doesn't taste better, but if you do end up finding yourself having to buy bottled water, it's one of the cheaper ones on the shelf, and a potential option if you don't want to purchase water in 2L containers.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Those primary checks only really happen at the border. Not while you're in the country, unless you look suspicious or are reported.

For example, if you beg in Australia, and you aren't a citizen, can you be reported to the police and subsequently deported, assuming you arrived and passed through the border successfully and legitimately? Not saying you're wrong, but curious to know the answer.

It would be grounds to revoke your visa. Part of you being here is that you can support yourself. If you have to resort to begging the implication is that you lied to immigration on entry to the country. At the very least they could pick you up and question you. (I'd just send them home for good measure!)

Appreciate the primary checks happen at the border, but if this is becoming a problem, a patrol by the police with immigration could solve it pretty quick.


(Evian is my preferred bottled water. It has a distinct taste which I like.)

 

[TheRealTMA]

She had said ok. I wasn't offering my own repairer. She wanted it repaired at Lexus. I wasn't disagreeing. If she had changed her mind all she had to do was send text or email of her intentions. That's not a lot to expect.

Anyway not to worry now she has gone through her insurance and I have asked her insurance to send us the quote. I will decide later what I will do. But something tells me the quote is now going to ge higher but so be it.

And by the way I would have helped out if someone had asked me they didn't want to go through insurance. That what makes me different.

Ok. I don't want to go through insurance.

But you definitely should.

 

[Cossie]

I do prefer frizzante or sparkling if I have to buy water, but that isn't a viable option here in Siem Reap. So far the nicest still water has been a filtered one in Laos, so basically tasteless. One of the few things I miss about Canberra when I'm not there is the tap water.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I do prefer frizzante or sparkling if I have to buy water, but that isn't a viable option here in Siem Reap. So far the nicest still water has been a filtered one in Laos, so basically tasteless. One of the few things I miss about Canberra when I'm not there is the tap water.

Try Badoit!

The best we've ever tasted was the house bottled frizzante water at Badia di Coltibuono in Chianti. Free! Comes out of the wall in their garden. Exquisite (and free). We drank 2-3 litres, plus wine.

 

[amaroo]

*sigh* Western backpackers in South-East Asia shamelessly begging for travel money

THEY’VE been dubbed “beg-packers” — shameless Western backpackers begging for travel money in the streets of South-East Asia......
In one photo, shared on Twitter, a couple can be seen using an expensive DSLR camera to prop up a sign reading: “Support our trip”.

The really smart ones set up a gofundme before departing.

 

[JohnK]

Does anyone know the cheapest way for 2 adults and 7 month to get in to Sydney Easter Show? Any discounts around?