Travel – Page 18 – Whatsittwoya

Part One

Well, of course I didn’t get it all done.

What did you expect? I managed to get the two inspections done, but that was about it.

I was down at PTH, the Panamanian authority that determines that your car has not been stolen or something. This was an office with two dingy, beat up chairs that you sank to the floor in, a TV to keep you entertained while you wait, and one person running a very busy place. He was equipped with carbon paper, packing tape, the oldest type-writer I have ever seen, and a long pinky nail. You do the math.

They actually rub the carbon paper on your VIN # and lift it with the packing tape, just like a finger print. |-| Hey, whatever works. I actually had the papers done at 10:30 or so, but had to wait until 2 PM to come back…because…he had to wait for the boss to come and put his John Doe on the form. This he told us only after waiting for an hour after the papers were done. Read more “Part One” →

Travel

As if that wasn’t enough

Just found a brown backed scorpion in the house. Cool. 8| The last place I saw one of those was in Belize at the ruins of Caracol.

There are two main types that I know of. There are ones with a tan back, and ones with a dark brown back. The darker ones have a sting that can send you to the hospital if you are small. For me, it would just hurt like hell.

*lost pic*

I know it’s a bad picture, but was I really going to let it loose again for a better shot? I don’t think so.

I didn’t know they were even here, but now my shoes are all turned over.

Oh, yeah, and there is a rather large grass fire just at the top of the hill. You can hear it crackling away and the sky around here is orange right now, but no one seems concerned. Hell, there is a big pool right out the door.

Travel

Car Problems

Thursday.

Today I was supposed to go down to David and get the insurance for my car. Well, as with everything else Central American, it didn’t turn out like I planned. Only this time I was prepared for it and didn’t let it get to me.

It turns out there is a specific order you have to go do things here, and getting insurance is dead last. This now, is a little bit different than back home.

It seems you have to take the car to a place where they check to make sure that it isn’t stolen or something. They give you a paper.:|

Then you have to go get a mechanical inspection from a certified place, and they give you papers.:-/

Then you go get copies of all your papers>:(, including your passport and importation forms. Once you have that, you go to the place where you get your registration and they take all your papers, create a file for you, and give you a code #. Read more “Car Problems” →

Trip '07

Settling in

Well, this was just a lazy day. I found out that Panama is actually two hours ahead of Alberta, which might help to explain why I have been falling asleep at close to 4 in the morning some nights. It gives me a chance to do what I am doing now.

It was a nice day to watch the rise in the price of gold, a commodity near and dear to my heart. The remainder of this month should prove to be a launch-pad towards $680/oz. and then onto $750 later this year. Thank the Bush administration and their tactile idiocy.

China, with its test of their anti-satellite weaponry, has officially put the world on notice that they will be the next super-power. It is just a matter of time as their middle class begins to bolster their own economy, thus reducing their reliance on the US as a driver.

Just part of things to come. Read more “Settling in” →

Travel

The Next Chapter

With much anticipation and reverence, I am adding to the old blog with my next trip. I wonder if it will be as interesting the second time around.

This is going back a few days. We’ll start with the worst it could get.

Just at the beginning of this year, while travelling up to Yellowknife to visit family, my flight was delayed somewhat. Due to foggy conditions my plane was diverted to Hay River. Just until the fog lifted. This is fine enough. I have never been to Hay River. Now I have. ‘Nuff said about that place, but the better part of the story is how it was decided to take the majority of the passengers on the plane, most of which were teachers returning from Christmas holidays, to their destination of Cambridge Bay. Read more “The Next Chapter” →