hauteboy's Guestbook

25th October 2009

re: question on bahrain dowry chests
I'd check with an antiques dealer if it's from 1940. The new ones were $200-$1000 depending on ornamentation.

From Blog: Bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bahrain

22nd October 2009

william royce
non-member comment

questian on bahraini dowry chests
A friend of mine inherited a a bahraini dowry chest which her mother purchased in 1940. Could you please provide me with an approximate value? Thanks, Bill Royce williamroyce@hotmail.com

From Blog: Bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bahrain

21st October 2009

hauteboy
jordan hargrave

Sorry I don't remember exactly what we paid for insurance (and it may have changed by now anyway). I remember it wasn't very expensive, maybe a few $$ a day. Again with traffic, Dubai has grown considerably since 2004 so I don't know the situation. At the time, traffic headed out of the city was very light but there was a huge traffic jam coming into the city from the north/Sharjah area.

From Blog: Dubai to Muscat

20th October 2009

sabrina
non-member comment

omani insurance and safety.
hi, i am hoping to visit dubai in dec, i have booked with budget to go to muscat, cant wait of course, can you advise the insurance amount for oman insurance.....we are hoping to start our journey about 6 to 7 am saturday...any advise on traffic at that time..

From Blog: Dubai to Muscat

19th October 2009

hauteboy
jordan hargrave

Depends on how fast you drive. :) Most rental cars have an annoying beep if you go >120kmh. But everyone is driving much faster, 160kmh or more. Just turn up the radio. I think you can make it in 5 hrs definitely.

From Blog: Dubai to Muscat

19th October 2009

Nurul
non-member comment

Drive to muscat
Nicely presented. I am planning to drive myself and family to Muscat. Without the stops how long would it take to reach Muscat?

From Blog: Dubai to Muscat

23rd September 2009

hauteboy
jordan hargrave

Dili Hotel address
from their website: www.hotelesplanada.com Reservation Office: Avenida da Portugal (Beach Rd) Dili East Timor Land line: +670 3313 088 Fax: +670 3313 087

From Blog: Dallying in Dili

23rd September 2009

kiron manuel
non-member comment

East Timor Postcards
Hi Jordan,I live in nearby Asia.I would like to know how to get East Timor Postcards.Would you have the address of the hotel you stayed in? Bye Kiron Manuel(kiron2002uk@yahoo.co.uk)

From Blog: Dallying in Dili

6th September 2009

Johan
non-member comment

Paraguay rocks!
We are a South African couple who fell in love with this country and it's people. It's such a pity that not more people take the trouble to get to know this wonderful place. We've been all over South America, and Asuncion is one of the most charming cities of the continent. Very few tourists ever visit the eastern suburbs with it's stunning spanish villas, modern shopping malls, and beautiful botanical gardens. Right now the whole city is pink - since wherever you look the Lapacho trees are blooming. The old city has a charm all of its own. If you take time to let it grow on you, to meet some of the friendliest people in the world, it might just seduce you completely like it did to us....and you might never want to leave....

From Blog: Viva Paraguay

5th August 2009

Massey F. Jones
non-member comment

Outstanding Service
We left for Vancouver via Jasper on VIA, several days ahead of our Rocky Mountaineer booking and would not have been home to receive the final details by mail. After a couple of emails, the Rocky Mountainer Vacation people couriered the final details to us and we were able to do a bit of planning. Some of it involved my wife, which has to use a walker, as a result of a badly twisted knee. RMV was exceptionally accomodating, including transporting her on the service elevator, from the dome to the lower level for meals etc. They also put us into the last dome car from Kamloops to Calgary and I was able to get some pretty decent photos and movies. My only complaint is that the front windows on the dome were quite streaky and it spoled a few otherwise front-looking photos. Except for that, the service and food were superb and, if I had ready moolah, I'd do the trip all over again.

From Blog: Riding the Rocky Mountain Rails

23rd June 2009

Cessna152
Jason Smart

Cheers for that. Looking forward to visiting Belarus at some time soon.

From Blog: Victory Day in Minsk

21st June 2009

hauteboy
jordan hargrave

I had been to Vilnius/Riga my first time about three years ago, I liked it very much! Also visited Trakai and Hill of Crosses then.

From Blog: Kaliningrad

21st June 2009

hauteboy
jordan hargrave

Yes.. it was very easy to get the visa. I booked my hotel via www.select-a-room.com; they offer visa support (invitation/etc) for an extra $16. It looks like they used a local company (http://bel.vokrugsveta.by/en/) you maybe able to book hotel/visa a little cheaper. You send them your passport details, home address, and work address. A few days later got an email with scans of the tourist voucher, you will need these to checkin with the airline. Also pre-fill out a Belarus visa application (should be able to download one off an embassy page) to save some time. Then on arrival just pay the $60/50EUR and have the completed visa application + 1 passport photo .

From Blog: Victory Day in Minsk

21st June 2009

zofka
anna sofie andersen

From Zofka
Hey. Yes we have actually been in Kaliningrad at the same time! I can see that you missed Vilnius on your trip. Next time you are around Eastern Europe, you should definately stop over there. It is amazing. Enjoy your further travels and keep writing. Anna

From Blog: Kaliningrad

21st June 2009

Cessna152
Jason Smart

A fascinating account of a relatively unknown country. You mention visa on arrival at the airport - was this as painless as you make it out to be. I'm a UK national, and from what I've heard, getting a visa for Belarus is a mighty battle, involving forms and letters of invitation. Did you have any of this hassle?

From Blog: Victory Day in Minsk

10th June 2009

tina
non-member comment

I like tais Timor Leste.

From Blog: Dallying in Dili

9th June 2009

Dave
non-member comment

Ironic
I stumbled across your blog while looking up human rights atrocities in North Korea and the thousands that die every year in the mass labor camps there. Why anyone would want to give one cent of tourist money to this oppresive dictatorship is beyond me.

From Blog: The (almost) last American in Pyongyang

30th April 2009

MilesDependent
non-member comment

Memories
That photo of the girl in the army costume on the USS Pueblo... I have the exact same photo from my trip. She as a sour thing, at least to us. Good to know someone else who's been to the Hermit Kingdom!

From Blog: The (almost) last American in Pyongyang

26th January 2008

karamelgrl
non-member comment

True in every sense...
Hey, I'm from Guyana and visit every year. I was there during the World Cup cricket time. I found your description excellent and true to life. Everything you said, from the descriptions of the buildings and people and places and prices was absolutely accurate. Good job. Made me miss home all over again. I'll be there soon!

From Blog: The most dangerous city?

7th January 2008

hauteboy
jordan hargrave

I think some people have taken issue with my description of Guyana. There is not a lot of information available either in guidebooks or on the net, and we were there just a short time, so true we weren't able to get an in-depth view. I will say we did really enjoy our visit in Guyana, everyone we met was friendly and the food was very good. Also I loved the old architecture, wooden buildings, etc. The guidebooks do warn about the place, but I think that's unfounded. Regarding the seawall, the LP guide warns against going there or to the Stabroek Market, it but we went to both places anyway just to see for ourselves. While we were at the seawall someone drove by in a car and told us not to hang around there. It was a gorgeous sunny day and noone was around, so we didn't see the reason for their warning!

From Blog: The most dangerous city?

16th November 2007

rajeev
non-member comment

interesting. Jammu and Kashmir is also a nice place to visit. It is called as switzerland of India.

From Blog: The best beach in Asia

2nd October 2007

Tim
non-member comment

You met typical Paraguayans
I grew up in Paraguay and your experience with Ruben and his family isn't unusual. The people are warm and friendly and quick to share whatever it is they have.

From Blog: Viva Paraguay

25th May 2007

Nadia
non-member comment

++
Pretty good summary of what to do in Bahrain!

From Blog: Bah-bah-bah, bah-bah-bahrain

22nd December 2006

hauteboy
jordan hargrave

Yeah, it was a wasted trip for sure. Since I'll be going back sometime anyway to see more of it.

From Blog: $200 poorer and none the wiser

21st December 2006

Gus_Granada_Spain
Jose Luis Esteban

I dont know the adventages of such List, if there's any. But if someone ever asks you if you've ever been in Marocco, please answer no.