Fractal coastlines Hi Daniel, You're right in that coastlines can't be accurately measured as they contain fractal like properties. Each method used to measure a coastline should give different measurements....Can you magine trying to measure in centimetres or less? The smaller the measurement method, the greater the length of the coastline, go figure! I believe that any given coastline is typically measured in miles (or more recently for metric countries - kilometres). But theoretically this is not 100% accurate. I'm sure someone who has a better understanding of mathematics would explain it better, but I have had this discussion before and the Lonely Planet guide is just stating measurements probably in miles to give you an idea of how long it would take to travel around the country, assuming you are circumnavigating the country.
Go the media Hi Daniel, I think you should Google a picture of a media pass used by the UN, print it out at the next Internet cafe, and hang it from a shoelace (or string if you have any) around your neck. It should get you into all sorts of place (or trouble) and will make a good blog topic! Hope the leg gets better - you'll notice a vast number of people in SE Asia have scars on their legs in the same place as yours - all from similar bike accidents. You're now almost a local!
Eat the Dog! Hi Daniel, a lot of people make these decisions (whether an animal is ok to eat) based on whether it is an animal farmed for food or used as a pet. In Australia 99.99999% of people or more wouldn't eat a dog as they are almost exclusively pets. But you're not in Australia so these rules don't apply. If you're hungry and this is socially acceptable behavior (and not against your high ethical standards, or confusing such as you're in Peru and eating farmed guinea pigs that are also pets!) then eat the dog!
Take care!
Hi Jason,
Thanks for the comment, not sure I'll get to try hot dog here anyway, and AFAIK it's not on the menu in the other parts of Indonesia that I'm going to.
With the photo thing, if you get 20 kids clamouring around you going "Foto!! Hey Mister, FOTO!!" it's pretty obvious. You can probably see that in the photos I put up in yesterday's blog.
With adults if they call "Hey, Foto?" and smile scarily, or gesture and point shyly to the camera, you can pretty much tell. Of course, you raise the camera slowly and and watch their reaction just as confirmation.
So far having a digital SLR has been fun. I think in Timor people assumed I was a journalist. It's the only place a taxi driver has ever asked me "Ah, Australian - so are you military or civilian".
Cheers,
Daniel
Same as with everyone Daniel, love reading your blog first thing in the morning :-) There seem to be a lot of people wanting you take their photo. Just out of interest, how do you know they want you to take their photo if there is a language barrier?
PS> I'm going to go against the majority and say don't eat Lassie!!
fascinating reading An absolutely super blog, Daniel. I follow it with great interest, and can't wait to read about your next adventure! Tough luck about your leg; I really hope it'll heal up quickly ... Airing it is good.
As for eating dog? If you don't try it you'll never be able tell poor Jo what she was missing in China!!
Eat Dog Hi Dan, after seeing the picture of that pig on your blog, I think you should give up pork and eat dog. Glad to hear that you were not badly hurt. hows your leg now?
Drink the water AND eat the food I say when in Rome do as the Roman's do. Or, what happen's on a solo Asain back packing tour, stays on the solo Asain backpacking tour. Just apply either cliche if you feel the need to justify your acions.
to dog or not to dog Hey Daniel,
I'm amused that you are going to make an ethical decision based on a blog consensus.
That said, definitely eat a Daschund. You should be able to eat an entire miniature one.
b
go on... i reckon you should eat dog. I wanted to when i was in china but we didn't go to any places that served it :(. So do it and tell me what it tastes like.
A vote... Much as I like dogs (in an owner/pet kind of way) you can't possibly pass up the opportunity to try it if it's on the menu... I've heard the meat isn't that nice though.
Glad you survived your accident and nice work on the blog!
Travel safe...
too much stuff If you're backpacking, I'd say everywhere you go you'll find people who are flying home and need to get rid of junk. So you might be able to buy the stuff you need cheaply.
UPDATE (April 2013)
This site was the blog I kept for my long-term travels, mainly through Asia, in 2009-2010. I'm not maintaining it any more. I've done numerous trips since then but haven't kept them on this blog. I did run my own blog for a year but unfortunately lost that data.
END UPDATE
For those who're not familiar with blogs, note that this part is only my profile, the blog entries are linked from the bottom of this page (or subscribe, so you'll always know when I have a new one)
Having always dreamed about travel, previously mainly done it as three-week or four-week sort... full info
Dirk
non-member comment
Fractal coastlines
Hi Daniel, You're right in that coastlines can't be accurately measured as they contain fractal like properties. Each method used to measure a coastline should give different measurements....Can you magine trying to measure in centimetres or less? The smaller the measurement method, the greater the length of the coastline, go figure! I believe that any given coastline is typically measured in miles (or more recently for metric countries - kilometres). But theoretically this is not 100% accurate. I'm sure someone who has a better understanding of mathematics would explain it better, but I have had this discussion before and the Lonely Planet guide is just stating measurements probably in miles to give you an idea of how long it would take to travel around the country, assuming you are circumnavigating the country.