Riding across town in Taipei

[One Liner]

I bet the monkeys in the pet shop did it, looking for bananas from Basho's hut. Crime solved.

[DayTripper]

if it were all so simple, I would be inclined to agree. But, how many pet stores in Texas have monkeys?

And, furthermore, I distinctly remember seeing a banana tree right in front of the Futako Shinchi train station just across the river separating Tokyo and Kanagawa. How come Basho's banana tree only have lonely flowers and no bananas, but there was a full bunch of bananas on the tree in Kanagawa?

possible answers:

1. global warming has allowed for Tokyoites to grow their own bananas.
2. the type of banana plant imported to Japan in the late 1600s needed more than one tree to have fruit
3. Basho really didn't receive a banana tree at all, it was just some kind of palm tree that you might find growing at the manor this summer.


you decide...sorry the statue of godzilla can offer no further help, with or without luggage.

[Aleksandr]

There are hundreds of different varieties of bananas but there are several varieties more commonly available. Some stores offer cavendish banana, baby banana, blue java, burro banana, manzano banana, plantain banana, red banana, etc.

» A banana has a tough outer p e e l that may be yellow, red, green, or black when ripe.

» All varieties have a sweet fragrance when ripe and contain a soft creamy flesh inside that may be white, yellow or pinkish cream colored.

» Banana can be added to desserts, such as pies, cakes, bars, muffins, and breads. Bananas also go very well when mixed with yogurt, ice cream, puddings, and custards. They are added to fruit salads.

However, we can imagine that in the late 1600s, the variety of bananas available was limited, to say the least.

In fact, the National Research Institute released five new high-yielding banana varities last November. NARI says the varities are now ready for farmers in Papua New Guinea to evaluate. So, we can easily see that the varieties of availale bananas are truly growing.

Bananas are propagated by shoots that grow from the corm that develops as the base of banana pseudostem. Yes this means the 'banana tree' is actually a really strange modified leaf.

There are still plenty of banana varieties in south east asia and southern asia. However many do not have the characteristics required for international export and thus remain local. As for claims of the tropical banana are all bland, fiberous and starchy that is plain slander By comparison to some varieties, the cavandish banana can be considered tasteless and without any hints of being sweet. There are many varieties, some with a very strong taste, smell and color. Which is actually considered a marketing problem.

Please consider these issues when evaluating your own interpretation of "Basho and the case of the Stolen Luggage",

[FX1]

In so much as there is a correlation of lost or stolen luggage within the airline industry involving some relation to pet stores, I would contend that a greater threat is the introduction of toxins into the atmosphere by these airplanes. With concerns cited about banana growth available now in Tokyo due to global warming effects, we can definitely see changes affected by modern production methods.

As we know, the example of banana production in Central America and the Caribbean shows an example of such a pattern of inter-related issues that affect forest destruction. They also point out that most other commodities follow these patterns (and further examples are also discussed on this web site's section on the causes of hunger).

The further expansion of the banana industry in the late 1980s and early 1990s they hinted to, was part of the first step described above. That is, to produce for the emerging larger European market with the potential unification and large free trade zone.

This led to things like clearing rainforest for banana plantation, mass migration to work the plantations and so on.

A period of boom was followed by a bust, so more people were left unemployed, settling on marginal land or clearing small areas of rainforest to grow subsistence crops just to survive and so on.

They wrote this in 1995 and a few years later we saw the banana trade war between Europe and USA.

The United State at the request of American corporations in Central and South America were trying to destroy the Caribbean markets via complaints to the World Trade Organization of being restricted access to the European market.

The Caribbean markets were getting preferential access to European markets.

But because of the potential of a larger market there, the Caribbean region which is heavily dependent on the Banana industry and the European market to export most of its bananas, also suffered potential economic threat.

The additional banana growth in Latin America has been accompanied with social and environmental problems.

Underlying all this though, is how both the resources in Central American and the Caribbean have been largely diverted away from local needs, to exporting a few commodities in order to meet wealthier consumption "needs".

The banana example, therefore, touches many different issues, including labor exploitation (as Chiquita, one of the main corporations involved have been even accused of killing workers), environmental degradation, poverty, economic issues, development and so on.


The literature of Basho and stories related to the banana hut all reflect the need to concern ourselves with minimizing banana transportation, growth and consumption. This may be the actual link to imposing higher fees on luggage check-in practices.

Just another viewpoint on this most critical matter facing us.

[knut]

So, if I am following this discussion properly, it seems that Basho's popularity and resulting awareness of banana plants may have actually encouraged increased interest in Bananas back in old Edo, now Tokyo. Thus, the interest in exporting and delivering bananas throughout Asia may have directly been linked to the increases in global warming due to deforestation of the rain forests that are now sometimes used to satisfy the ever increasing demand for sweet and delicious bananase. In that vein of thought, would the monkeys at the Pet store in Texas also be fed by the increased bananas now available being delivered from the very same airport in which they stole 68 pieces of luggage? And, now we have to pay extra fees to oversee security of luggage to make sure that there are no shenanigans going on????

I wonder if we should all Just Say No! to bananas and be done with all of these high prices with travel.

Is anyone with me on this one????

[NittyB]

"He who would travel happily must travel light.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery


When you travel, do you want to be as light as possible?

Let me offer some advice that I have picked up along the way. In the spirit of keeping it light, I try not to carry even these recommendations with me. Maybe these approaches can help you curb your cravings for bananas, lighten the load on those tropical forests, and allow our earth to heal.

Many of us have had the nightmare experience of lugging around too much luggage, waiting in the baggage claims area, trying to cram too many activities into each day, and generally being so stressed that we need a vacation when we get home.

Instead, simplify your travel.

A few days ago, I asked the readers of this blog for tips for keeping travel as simple as possible. The result was an amazing _ of useful information, in the comments and via email!

I’ve compiled some of the best tips, combining some of them or choosing tips that were representative of a lot of comments. There are dozens more, so if you’re looking for the full list, see the comments in the original post.

I’m definitely going to be following some of the tips. Although there are a lot of great suggestions about useful items, my biggest aim is to pack as lightly as possible and to keep my itinerary loose and light. Here’s my packing list for my small backpack right now:

Travel docs (passport, credit card, ID)
deodorant
2 pairs of shorts
2 T-shirts
2 pairs underwear
swim trunks
1 book
journal and pen
camera, charger
Anything else I need, I’ll buy in Thailand.

“I travel light; as light, that is, as a man can travel who will still carry his body around because of its sentimental value.” - Christopher Fry

What to Pack
Many of the tips were about packing: how to pack light and what items are essential or useful. What follows are some of the best, but be aware that there may be contradictory tips — choose the ones that will work best for you.

Pack as light as possible. Ask the simple question: “Do I want it or do I need it and if I need it am I will to cart it around?” There is little you really need when you travel.
Travel with a light backpack. If you are moving between places, backpacks leave your hands free to hold their hands.
Pack just a few clothes with only a couple complimentary, solid colors — no patterns. Black is a good idea if you need to be able to dress up and be casual.
Pack only what you can carry on to the flight.
Put everything you want to bring in a pile and slowly strip away things that aren’t necessary.
Leave the laptop behind, as well as blackberry and any other tech gadget. For computer addicts, being away from the internet’s constant flow of data for a few days recharges and relaxes you in ways that you never experience at home.
Bring along a small, foldable umbrella to protect against the UV rays of sunlight and possible rain.
Most toiletries can be found easily in your destination country.
If it’s something you think you can buy there more cheaply than at home, then don’t bring it (especially if it’s something you don’t already have).
Bring one book, and when you’re done, find a book-exchange and trade it for a new one.
In Asia, sarongs are a traveler’s best friend! A sarong works as a towel, a skirt, a makeshift bag, a scarf, a sheet. They’re especially good to have if you’re traveling low-budget, staying in hostels or guesthouses, which often don’t offer towels or even top sheets. The best thing is that they dry really, really quickly, even when it’s humid. A wet towel can take all day to dry in the tropics, and if you have to stuff it in your bag before it’s dry it can get all dank and midewy, and so can all your stuff.
Get one of those totes or bags that fold up into a small package to slip into your backpack. You can use this to collect your souvenirs. Alternatively, mail your purchases home as you go. This reduces what you must carry around with you, what you have to list for customs.
Bring old clothes and undergarments and dispose of them each day leaving more room for momentos to bring home if you choose. It also cuts down on items that need frequent washing while away.
Take baby wipes. And lots of Ziploc bags.
Don’t travel with anything in your pockets except your passport and wallet. You won’t have to dig everything out of your pockets every time you go through security. Sitting in the plane is a lot more comfortable as well. Make sure your wallet is in your front jeans pocket. Sitting on your wallet for long periods of time will put your back out of alignment.
Photocopies of sections of guidebooks so at the end of a leg of trip the copy goes in the trash.
Take a photocopy of all your credit cards, passport and any other valuable document you have. Write down the emergency phone number for each credit card beside its photocopy. Leave this with a neighbour or family member along with your itinerary. Should you have your wallet and bags stolen and be only allowed to make one phone call, call this contact person who would be able to cancel your credit cards etc. for you. Alternatively, instead of photocopying your important documents consider scanning them and mailing them to yourself. That way you can always access these documents. Another reader suggested that you should encrypt documents if you email them to yourself.
Pack only high-tech fabrics, the kind that dry quickly so that you can do a wash in the sink. You can get away with 2 pairs of socks for a 2 week trip by rinsing out the dirty pair at night. High tech fabric means it’s dry by the next morning. Cotton will stay soggy for days.
Tilley makes underwear you can wash in the evening, and it will be dry by morning. You only need two pair, or even one if you are sure of finding somewhere to wash it!
Tip for quick drying: roll a towel over wet fabric,and squeeze tightly.
Bring a small amount of foreign currency to cover incidental expenses upon arrival, then change the rest in your destination country, as exchange rates are usually more favorable.
On Planning and Doing
Aside from what to pack, there were some great tips submitted about what to do when you get to your destination (along with some tips en route to the destination):

Don’t overplan your trip. Keep your travel itinerary fluid, so that you can soak up the atmosphere in each place. Leave room for the serendipitous and when plans don’t work out, treat it as an opportunity!
Arrive earlier than you think is necessary — for domestic travel, try to arrive at least 2 hours before flight time; on international, make it three. This reduces the stress of waiting in a long security line as the time of your departure inches ever closer, and those desperate rushes to your boarding area. Besides, a relaxing drink at one of the restaurants is a lovely way to start a vacation!
Take time for naps. Seriously.
Smile a lot and talk to the locals.
Eat, eat, eat and savour the flavors.
Don’t get caught up with sights. Plan some must-dos and leave the rest to chance.
Wander around at night and stay open to the crazier elements of the culture.
Get lots of _.
Prepare for security check in: Wear slip-on shoes; don’t wear a belt with metal; put the jacket or sweater in your carry-on before you get to security; have your electronics on the top of your carry-on along with the plastic zip-lock bag with your liquids so you don’t have to search through your bag to find them (and then repack after you go through security).
Split your cash and financial assets up. Credit card in one pocket. Some cash in another. Some in a hidden backpack pocket. Some in your shoe(s). Some in a money belt. Go to the bathroom and enter a stall before taking out cash from any of these places.

Don’t bring all your cash/credit cards etc. on you when you go out. Leave some in a safe at the hotel, and leave the extra credit cards back home.
Keep a card on you _ your embassy’s #, some local friends’ numbers.
Get up early. In hot climates, this will help you avoid the heat of the day; in any climate, it will help you avoid the crowds and get more out of your day at a more leisurely pace. Equally, do the thing you really want to do first, as often plans go awry as the day goes on.
You shouldn’t try and see everything in a given place. In fact, you’ll probably have a better time if you focus on meeting great people (instead of going to great places): visits to great places will naturally following if you meet the right people _ your travels.
Try to stay away from big tourist spots (unless there’s something you REALLY want to see). meeting locals, doing the things they do, and eating the things they eat always makes for a better stay. If you have any friends there, ask if you can stay with them for a short while; that would give you a true local experience.
And a couple of poems
A couple of readers submitted short and sweet poems that summarized simple traveling so well I had to reproduce them here:

From Elise:
Open your heart and mind to everything
Accept everything and everyone
Forget your own background, habits and norms
Follow your heart (or nose)
Reinvent yourself moment by moment

Light Haiku for Trips
by Maggie Marie Dougherty

Pack light and remain
open to light in people
who bless you with smiles.

[Blobkruisceal]

yes, I agree, encryption is the way to email things

here's a few passwords that I've generated with maximum entroy settings:

CBE49111DD34655A73A725417F54278CACE160B64955AC01504D188067B62485
05E5C6DF2B7BDC7855B4956950CB9D800A86ED4609BDECE0E4942F6D2EC47F1C

and

417C1EFE1E8C5086FE6CAA44544EB4D94CD3FB9BE053958F2986E8F3E4229872

travel light, experience heavy. NittyB offers sound advice from an experienced (heavy) traveller. thenks for the tips!

and before I head off to pick some fruit at my next travel destination "Carribean Island Tropical Algorithm Conference" here is a "travel tanka" by A. Fielden

this warm autumn
the flowers are confused
I'm told
as my camera admires
their indiscreet blooming

[Vishnu]

just back from Mumbai and the Punjab!

what a spicy curry!

I have some baggage information for those willing to read:

Customers purchasing any domestic Economy ticket and who do not have premium status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for $25.00. Customers who have attained Premier Associate status or higher in Mileage Plus or Silver status and above with a Star Alliance partner are exempt from this policy change. This new policy applies to tickets purchased on or after February 4, 1981 for travel on or after May 5, 1995.

and if you have a card from a blood relative, then perhaps you are blessed by the Buddha with this:

• Premier Spirit
• Premier Associate Avatar
• Star Alliance Jeweled Silver
• All fares or Award tickets _______________ 2 bags free
• or if you live in the Taj Mahal - the plane is yours for free

if not, then may you be born into better circumstances in your next lifetime.

Namaste!

[puppyluver]

Thank you so much for clarifying all of the changes and charges related to luggage handling with travel. But, I must admit that I am even more confused now than before with all this chat about bananas, luggage, travel, and other sundries. With the dates being in the last century, I feel that I may have missed something and am experiencing a _, timeshifted warp of today's or yesteryear's world.

Is there someone out there than can put into perspective this whole discussion?

[DayTripper]

Anyone out there in New York to access IX? just wondering if there is a difference between Taipei and the Big Apple?

[One Liner]

i was in NYC yeserday, drove on the midtown tunnel, across town on 39th st, got on the lincoln tunnel, and then I was outa town....GPS didn't work well in the tunnels, so IX access is probably limited in the tunnels of NYC

I am now in Pennsylvania, where IX reception (and shifted viewing) is working fine.

Good to be back on east coast time

[pastryShop]

Glad to hear that your travels from NYC thru to PA went well.

Thanks for testing access to IX thru the tunnels. We all probably expected limited access, but it is best to know in case any of us were planning to be caught in a traffic jam when a future American Idol show was being aired.

Hope the trip goes well.

[Hollywood]

whether its santa monia blvd or pittsfield rd, its all the same. dance, dance, dance, dance, and, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, and, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, and, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, and, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, and, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, and, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, and, dance, and then fly somewhere, and

dance, dance, dance, dance, and, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, and, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, and, dance,

and then fly back.

Good luck with the internet connection on the train. what a great idea!

[NoxBlox]

Great to hear that you are into dance now. I guess with the American Idol competition being over, there isn't much out there except the So You Think You Can Dance competition on TV now. I guess you are hooked.

Are you dancing to any American Idol music by chance