1. Why it’s so difficult to get a consistently good hotel pillow. They range from heavenly to neck-breaking. Surely this is one of the most basic necessities for a hotel to get right?
2. How hotel interior designers can create such complicated showers that are impossible to operate. Do they actually try and use them?
3. Why the world is full of fake Irish bars. Are they now even more ubiquitous than McDonald’s?
4. How customs officials around the world can vary so widely in their charm skills. Flying from New Zealand to the US surely provides the sharpest contrast in one go.
5. How hotel TVs can have over 500 channels but you’ll always find Friends in the first minute of channel surfing
6. Why food eaten at the wrong time of the day always tastes better. Try a full Chinese banquet at 6am and you’ll see what I mean.
7. How some people swear they can taste the difference in Coca-Cola depending on where they are in the world. Am I the only one who can’t?
8. How time seems to stand still when taking a night journey (“no way, it can’t be only five minutes since I last checked the time!”)
9. Why, when approached in the street by someone asking for change, giving them a few coins provides a warm glow of goodness for two minutes while walking on by results in feeling bad for a much longer time.
What have I missed here?
I love this post. Short but sweet. Funny and true. Seriously–what’s up with the pillows and the fake pubs? And for me, time also stands still during an overnight journey. In fact, it downright slows down. Coke tastes the same everywhere, but chocolate does not.
One thing I’ve always wondered about is the excessive stamping done/paperwork required in developing countries. Not just when entering the country, either. Buying a product in the pharmacy is a two-step process. Buy at one counter and get a special paper that is stamped by the other employee when you pay. Same with getting a bus ticket (maybe this has three steps/stamps).
I have never made the comparison between McDonalds and Irish pubs, but you’re totally right. Even though they’re not owned by one and the same company, “Irish Pub” did become a very strong brand.
It’s like when you’ve been eating half baked chicken and roasted insects for a week, you go to McDonalds to eat something familiar. Similarly if you get tired from drinking stuff that tastes like it comes straigt from the sewer, you go to an Irish pub.
Further,
5. So cool that you have that too. I also find Friends everywhere.
7. I don’t taste it, but it can be true. The recipe is the same but the water that is used comes from another source and therefore tastes different.
A Belgian brewery once swithed from water supplier, and they had to swich back because there were customers complaining that the beer tasted different.
I agree on Point 4. The US entry procedures have always been the most tedious and time-consuming in my experience, taking up to an hour just queuing in line in order to get my photo and fingerprints taken. On the other hand, perhaps my most pleasant border-crossing experience was entering Denmark in Copenhagen Airport. I was met by a border official who was quite middle-aged, and upon seeing my valid and expired passports stapled together, he gave me an “Oh dear!” look, flipped through them, and seeing all the visa stickers and entry stamps, gave it back to me and kindly asked me to find my Schengen visa so he can see it quickly. I did so, and after a big smile and a stamp, he let me through. No questions asked.
Am I the only one who never manages to find Friends? I miss that show. I just end up with the news in every language except English.
I don’t understand why, no matter how much stuff I dump or give away, my backpack is harder to close and heavier to carry everyday!
The Australia customs guys are my favourite so far. They even drew me a map and told me the best places to go in Sydney! I don’t think they even checked my visa but they were very friendly!
How true your insights are, my friend!
My big curiosity is about the difference between boots and shoes . . .to those pesky airport security people, that is. I have a pair of boots that have no metal in them anywhere, they barely come up to my ankles, have no metal eye holes and essentially are high top shoes. Why then do I have to take them off when I don’t have to take off my shoes???
Why, oh why, oh why?????????
I also wonder what the hotels are doing with their pillows. I just use them how they come, but my wife got her own travel pillow with her, even when backpacking.
My Coke-addict husband (I love saying that but stangely enough, it offends him) says it is not just the water but the amount of sugar and/or syrup used that differs. He absolutely can tell the difference. Then again, tap water in London makes me gag but I can drink it in Manchester.
I’m always blown away how friendly people can be to foreigners and visitors but not if you’re actively seeking friendliness or assistance at the time!!
Awesome list, and your number one (re pillows!) is my BIGGEST pet peeve about travel. Seriously, how hard is it to just get a half decent pillow instead of a rock had pancake? And it really makes allll the difference!!
#9 made me think a little bit. At home, there is a bad stereotype of those pan handling because many just want the money to drink. Abroad, it seems they really do need the money. It’s a different mindset when traveling. However, Roma (aka gypsies) give pan handlers a bad name as well.
I guess it is where you travel that helps you know whether it is good to give or not. Many people say don’t give handouts while there are those that clearly do you have a need. The question about feeling good when you do it depends on who you give it to and do they really need it.
Why airlines only provide water in thimbleful-sized glasses – if at all.
My thoughts:
1. Agreed. I think the problem is feedback. We think “they have to know these pillows are terrible”, but in the morning what do you do? Hand in your key, pay your bill, and thank them for their hospitality. I’ve never once said, “Thanks so much, but I gotta tell you your pillows suck.” Though if you wanted to look like the stereotypical ugly Westerner this might be a good place to start.
2. Everything is easy when you know how to do it. It’s almost the very nature of knowledge. What do you know how to do AND think is hard to do?
3. Better question: Why are they so damn expensive?
4. Flying from Athens to Amsterdam has to be a close 2nd.
5. Time to put on my Holier-than-thou attitude but I never turn on the TV when traveling – never! (And I’ve always got my 2 kids too — how’s that for hardcore?)
6. When I think about food and travel my question is: How can I eat just before I leave for my flight, arrive at the airport, check in, and then be starving. Always.
7. Coke, I can’t comment on. But a huge difference for me is the taste of fruit. It’s so fresh and flavorful when you’re traveling. If you’ve never been an eat-local advocate then travel outside the western industrial food complex, to places where the phrase “know where your food comes from” isn’t just an objective or an aspiration — it’s the norm.
8. I’m 6’6″ and have been on buses in Asia where my body wouldn’t fit into the confines of the seat if my body mass were composed of jello. Don’t get me started on never-ending journeys.
9. To make this more complicated you need to realize that you’re probably doing more harm by giving than by not. In effect you’re paying someone to beg. Imagine if a large global company — Nike, McDonalds, Microsoft — devised some twisted media campaign where they had poor people sit and beg on city streets and they paid them a few dollars a day. There’d be an uproar. It’s wrong to pay someone to be dirty, to sit on the sidewalk with their kids and look hungry and impoverished — to be hungry and impoverished! — to have to grovel and beg for their food. It’s wrong and “meaning-well” doesn’t make it right.
And I’ll add one:
10. Why do people line up (and wait, and wait) to board early for a 13 hour flight? That’s a mind bender.
Thanks for the interesting and thoughtful post.
David Robert Hogg,
Publisher of My Little Nomads
I love your observations, they are all so true!
I think with the coke thing though… it probably is said most often by people from the United States because their Coke is made with corn syrup rather than sugar. When I lived there for a while, I would always look forward to Passover even though I am not jewish, because it was the only time of year when they sell coke that does not have corn syrup (look for the yellow caps!). I don’t know if other countries use corn syrup as well, but all of the international students I met disliked the coke from the US.
Yes! What is up with the pillows? Especially the ones that start out fluffy until you put your head on it. And why, when a hotel goes through a major renovation, do they make everything in the bathroom out of glass? Where’s my privacy?
And an airplane seat that moves 2 inches is not in a reclining position.
For me the biggest difference in Coke (and sodas in general) is In the US or Not in the US. The US is one of the only places that uses corn syrup in the formula rather than sugar, and it makes a huge difference! The Coke in Fiji is delicious and made with sugar cane that is grown all over the islands; I drink coke at home in the US too, but after I got back from 6 weeks in Fiji I couldn’t stand the stuff because it was TOO sweet from the syrup. I got something at the airport in LA on arrival and had to throw it away because I couldn’t drink it.
Thank you to everyone for the many observations and comments. Enough here to write another list!
Good to hear so many different explanations for the variation in Coke taste. Water, sugar, corn syrup … I’ve learned a lot here. And agree with Lisa that chocolate tastes very different. I’m confident I could pick out UK vs US vs Aus Cadbury’s in a blind taste test.
David, many good insights here. I particularly agree with your first point that we don’t normally complain about pillows as it’s likely to be little more than an unpleasant parting shot. Yet it can make or break a good night’s sleep, as so many people have said. And so true on the people queuing for flights, but airport behaviour is another topic by itself!
Tiffany, your point on seat reclining works both ways. I agree with you that if you want a reclining seat then it should be able to recline properly. Having said that, being almost as tall as David, one of my pet peeves on a plane is someone reclining fully into my lap and cutting off all of my limited legroom without even looking round and warning me. I would personally pay a small premium to be in a section of the plane where seats don’t recline at all.
Jeremy, thanks for your comments about giving while travelling. It had me thinking and has spurred me into another post on this topic. Coming soon…
Thanks again to everyone who has contributed to a great discussion.
Number 6! Totally understand. Fried spring roll as breakfast. mmm.. who says fried food is not for breakfast?
I don’t normally stay at hotel but I know what you meant by number 5.
Another great post Andy!
Love your 9.
I’m always amazed at the way a giant hunk of steel carrying 100s of people can go from A (1000s of kms) to B like clockwork. Just flying, I know. It’s incredible to me.
I’ll never understand how my stuff can fit in my bag one day, but if I buy one small souvenir, it magically won’t zip!
#7 Ever tryed African Coca Cola? The one that comes in the classic shape glass bottle like in the 50′s? Nothing better than that!!!!
David’s no 10 is spot on. Why do people do that? It’s not like they have to fight for a good seat?
I always find McDonald’s tastes different in every country. (I have a McD’s just to prove my hypothesis!)
Perhaps it’s because I’m not a fan of Coke, but I have noticed a difference in flavor in the countries. Usually it’s pretty similar, but for some reason it tasted noticeably different in Ecuador and Mexico.
I so agree with #8, too. Does seem to move more slowly during nighttime travel.
I’ve been pretty lucky with Customs in most countries. The ones in the US seem to be more friendly than many, but the process is so much more involved. Peru looked so intensely bored, they could barely speak to me. Although I did like their take on random searches: Push a big button. If you get a green light, you get to exit. If it turns red, your luggage gets searched. Although, I was also body screened in that airport when I was switching from arrivals to the domestic flight section of the airport. Philippines seemed to mostly go through the formality, but we were in a large group doing a medical mission, so we probably had different treatment than the average traveler. In France he never spoke a word or smiled, but after stamping my passport, I just kept walking. No inspection or anything, which I appreciated. Ecuador only examined the luggage of the young, college-aged women in our group (they were all male), but at least they were more friendly.
1. Most hotel pillows in Greece seem to have been on a looooong diet, unless you stay at a really good hotel.
2. My (and most Europeans’ I think) related question on the matter: What is that Americans find so hard in using a shower with a cord-line? And -vice versa- how do Americans manage to shower (in the US) without getting their hair wet?
3. Good one. Hadn’t thought about it. The beer has probably clouded my judgement.
7. Coke is quite sweeter in Greece than in the US. That I know for a fact. And more expensive as well.
9. People asking for change in Athens are only drug addicts or professional beggars. Sad but true. “Regular” Greeks would feel too ashamed to ask strangers for money. There are phones everywhere you can use to call whoever you need or you may just get into any store and ask to make a call. But asking for money? No, no!
I can taste the difference in Doritos around the world. God I love Doritos. Even food between Canada and the US tastes different because of the manufacturing being in different areas etc.
As per the pillow issue… try putting a little clothes under your pillow for some umph. But don’t forget to grab your clothes when you leave, I’ve lost a lot of clothes that way haha. But might have been worth the better sleep
Haha, a lot of these are true, though I am surprised you cannot taste the difference of the Coke!
It is my understanding that Coke is usually produced locally, with local water, thus tasting different around the world. I mean, this cannot be a all encompassing rule, but it must be true to some extent.
Why is it I will watch the TV for hours even though there is not even one English word spoken? Am I that addicted? Or just want the noise? I, too, am flabbergasted as to why people line up to be first on the plane…I try to spend as little time as possible in that flying tube! Cheers!
Great article Andy, I would add to the pillows, hotel towels. How hotels can find water repellent towels is beyond me. I also echo the customs officials in NZ v. USA, just returned in January. If it is possible custom agents in Honolulu are tad more friendly than in Philly. When arriving Honolulu its always good to ask how the Rainbow Warriors are doing, the University of Hawaii american football team. Locals are rabid about their ‘Bows’.
Aloha
love it! #1 #1 #1!!! can never seem to please me. can people’s taste in pillows really be that different?! wonder if it’s culture bound too. hmmm. #9 is such food for thought. can totally relate and not just while traveling. unfortunately in the bay area, lots of opportunities to pass folks by
Funny post! I never drink coke besides the occasional coke in a bottle while traveling and I have to say it tastes better in a bottle rather than a can, but other than that I can’t taste the difference. Love #6!
This is a great fun post! #7 made me chuckle. I think everything tastes better where ever I am! Beer, sauerkraut, moules, chocolate, fondue, salad, wine. . . everything! LOL
Showers are my beef, too!
Why do they print instructions on them I can’t read without my glasses … and who wears glasses in the shower?
And, Irish pubs! All you have to do is a) decorate the place in green b) dress all your staff in green, and tell them to say ‘faith and bejayzus’ a lot and c) Serve Guinness.
I’ve lost count of the times I’ve said if I want to drink in an Irish pub, I’ll go to Ireland … but I’ll say it again, anyway!
Keith, thankfully I don’t need glasses in the shower (yet) but why should you need instructions for something so simple? It beats me why hotels choose to buy these unnecessarily complex designs…
Hello Andy
I’ve only just started to follow you, great avid tweeting and blogging btw….
Why do I always feel safer in a foreign city and happily walk down dark streets late at night in relatively suspect areas, as if covered by H Potter’s magic cloak? It almost feels like you’re in a movie and not really there, so I’m fearless
Whereas back home, I drive everywhere at night and feel unsafe walking anywhere quiet in London once it gets dark. Almost as if I have a neon sign above my head saying Muggers and an arrow pointing downwards…
bw
Frances
Great to hear from you Frances!
I agree that there are many cities in which I feel more comfortable walking around at night than London (although many more that I find more dangerous). That invisibility cloak sounds like an excellent idea though
Ahh customs/immigrations not only their atitude to compare but their restrictions. Our 2.5 ounce bottle of Ben’s Mozzie spray traveled a lot, more than many people I know… to/from Australia, to/from Guatemala/Belize, to/from Barbados, to/from China, and all over the U.S. However when it traveled to Panama it was not allowed on the plane to go home!
Different rules and guidelines? Or did someone just need some?