Travel 01 (May 08 - Jun 11)

[LenaHuat]

It should read : "Where the Heaven is Matt"
Love this. Thanks a million, BC

[kennynah]

this is interesting.

I think I saw your reflection in the photo.

MM : that's a spectacular view...

and i case, you are wondering about 802's comment... it is possible with a little photoshop magic, to accentuate the photo pixels to extract your physical features out from this picture you posted...

[millionairemind]

wah K, you are talking about the technologies they have in CIA liao..

[kennynah]

no CIA technology.... i have seen how photoshop, in the hands of a skilled person, is able show up details of blurred images that were once not visible in plain sight... no joke... this is mainly becos digital cameras actually capture very fine details which may not show up in images until they are coxed by photoshop software....

[b0rderc0llie]

The Yukon Song

My tiger friend has got the sled,
And I have packed a snack.
We're all set for the trip ahead.
We're never coming back!

We're abandoing this life we've led!
So long, Mom and Pop!
We're sick of doing what you've said,
And now it's going to stop!

We're going where it snows all year,
Where life can have real meaning.
A place where we wont have to hear,
"Your room could stand some cleaning."

The Yukon is the place for us!
That's where we want to live.
Up there we'll get to yell and cuss
And act real primitive.

We'll never have to go to school,
Forced into submission,
By monst, crabby teachers who'll
Make us learn addition.

We'll never have to clean a plate,
Of veggie glops and goos.
Messily we'll masticate,
Using any fork we choose! The timber wolves will be our friends.
Well stay up late and howl,
At the moon, till nightmare ends,
Before going on the prowl.

Oh, what a life! we cannot wait,
To be in that arctic land,
Where we'll be masters of our fate,
And lead a life that's grand!

No more of parental rules!
We're heading for some snow!
Good riddance to those grown-up-ghouls!
We're leaving! Yukon Ho!

From: Yukon Ho!
by Bill Watterson

[winston]

Not sure I like it. I have a very sensitive nose and can smell a lot of stuff that a normal person cannot

Human "bed-warmers" at Holiday Inn


LONDON (Reuters) - International hotel chain Holiday Inn is offering a trial human bed-warming service at three hotels in Britain this month.

If requested, a willing staff-member at two of the chain's London hotels and one in the northern English city of Manchester will dress in an all-in-one fleece sleeper suit before slipping between the sheets.

"The new Holiday Inn bed warmers service is a bit like having a giant hot water bottle in your bed," Holiday Inn spokeswoman Jane Bednall said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

The bed-warmer is equipped with a thermometer to measure the bed's required temperature of 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit).

Holiday Inn said the warmer would be fully dressed and leave the bed before the guest occupied it. They could not confirm if the warmer would shower first, but said hair would be covered.

Florence Eavis, Holiday Inn spokeswoman told Reuters that the "innovative" bed-warming method was a response to Britain's recent cold weather and marked the launch of 3,200 new Holiday Inns worldwide.

She could not explain why the beds were not being warmed by hot water bottles or electric-blankets, but admitted the human method was quirky.

Holiday Inn are promoting the service with the help of sleep-expert Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Center, who said the idea could help people sleep.

"There's plenty of scientific evidence to show that sleep starts at the beginning of the night when body temperature starts to drop," he said. "A warm bed - approximately 20 to 24 Celsius - is a good way to start this process whereas a cold bed would inhibit sleep."

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6 ... ddlyenough

[iam802]

Just sharing ...The importance of travel insurance.

A friend of mine just got married in US.

Her family joined her on the happy occasion and flew over for her wedding. Among them was her mom.

Unfortunately, when they reached US, her mom suffered a heart attack (likely due to the stress of flying long distance) and was sent to the hospital for emergency treatment (probably a couple of days before the wedding).

The hospital bill comes up to US$352k +++

My friend do not have that kind of money. Consultation with lawyers suggest that she must be prepared to file for bankruptcy.

I did not ask if she had bought travel insurance for her mom (or for any family members). I wonder what will be the outcome if they have just bought the travel insurance.

For now, she continues to find seek help from various bodies....

What would you have done?

[millionairemind]

Sorry to hear about your friend's ordeal. Your friend might want to have a "discussion" with the hospital. They might be able to reduce it if they know she will have to declare bankruptcy (in that case, they don't get anything at all).

When I travel for corporate previously, I was covered by the corporate travel policy.

Now that I no longer work for corporate, I always buy travel insurance if I am traveling to places further than Malaysia. I brought the family to Australia in Dec. The travel insurance only came up to $100 for the whole family. A very small price to pay in case of emergencies.

Insurance is just that. You don't need it most of the time, but if you do, you better make sure you have enough to cover yourself

[kennynah]

802 : dont know what she can do for her mother... but treatment must continue one way or another...

i'm not certain if travel insurance will be effective, but i am not as familiar with such policy details.. i believe that travel insurance usually covers for loss baggages and disabilities/death pay out...

however, you must have heard of medical and hospitalisation insurance, whereby a significantly portion of the medical/hospitalisation bill will be borne by the insurance company.... in singapore, it is rather easy to get such an insurance and we can use our medisave to pay for it...

i know that prudential and great eastern both have a category that pays up to S$500K annually for hospitalisation and relevant treatment.. however, i was told before that it is only for very selected cases that they will pay out when insured party gets hospitalised and treated overseas.... although, they seemed to imply that only "emergency" hospitalisation is covered, but still that pay out sum will be assessed by the insurance company based on what would have been the likely cost if the treatment and hospital was in singapore...

[iam802]

Thanks MM, K.

I met her mom. And the fortunate thing is she is doing fine now.

Lots of things are dependent on external factors now.
- whether hospitals want to negotiate
- external fundings
- etc

I can only tell her to hang in there..and take one day at a time.