60s to 2004 hows it changed???

Canada Paul

Nick, I'm very sorry to hear that about the young people in rural town and villages. You did jog my memory about the boredom factor of growing up in a small town with nothing to do. Kids will usually find something to do and its not always good stuff, especially if drugs and alcohol are readily available.

But, to change the subject, or, getting back to the "hows it changed???" question...Many of us thought that the safest place for a passport was in a pouch, on a string, around the neck. It was a convenient place while going overland and crossing borders. Many hotels along the way asked to see a passport when we checked in. Banks asked to see it sometimes when we went to change money. We didn't have ATM's or credit cards, but a lot of people had traveller's checks, at least at the beginning of the road trip. The passport was our most valuable possesion, sometimes. It was really a show stopper if it was lost or stolen. Very bad. You could not afford to let out of your sight even for a minute. So we wore our passports around our necks. It could not be pick pocketed and it was under your total control at all times.

How about now? I'm sure that the passport is still a very important document, but where is it usually kept these days? In the pocket? In the lady's purse? Is it still the thief's favorite prize? Is the Black Market passport trade still as big as it once was or are passports even worth talking about any more?

Replies? Comments?

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Canada Paul

wonderwomanusa

When on a train, all my valuables (passport, TCs, US$ cash, etc) are in a money belt beneath my clothing.

For walking around town, it depends on where I am. Sometimes in one of those neck pouches (with a string long enough to tuck the pouch itself into my salwar waistband), on in that same moneybelt.

"Walking around money" goes in a cloth purse in my pocket, which closes with Velcro.

Joph

Besides my passport, there is my financial card I have stress on (and fligttickets which are sometimes still on real paper).
I every day make up my mind again if yes or no I will take the sensible stuff with me, or leave it in the room. If my room (and padlock) feels save enough, I might leave the papers inside.
I don't feel happy and free if I'm wearing my moneybelt. It attracks peoples attention, and I feel I'm being the richman. Having this sensitive stuff with me on the beach is a other issue to me.
If I go swimming I put that in a little back, but always have 1 eye from the water to this back. (but this I have at home on the beach too, in case ofcourse if I'm not with other people who can look after each other properties.)
This year I used my own heavy padlock (bought in India). So I was sure nobody else could enter my room. Made it easier to leave passport and money inside, but ofcourse I should not loose that key of the padlock. ;-)

wonderwomanusa

I always bring a Master padlock from the US; then I KNOW nobody else has a key.

all-one-heart

Does any one remember the outhouses in Kalungut? I remember the first time I went to one. Couldn't quite figure out why it was open near the ground at the back... Untill a great burly oinker came racing under to eat what I just had dumped! EEEEK!!!
My friends and I always wondered if they got stoned on it?

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all-one-heart

all-one-heart

Quote originally Posted by anonymous
"(in Goa)...toilet in the bushes somewhere and use of toilet paper frowned on..."

Does any one remember the outhouses in Kalungut?
I remember the first time I went to one.
Couldn't quite figure out why it was open near the ground at the back... Untill a great burly oinker came racing under to eat what I just had dumped! EEEEK!!!
My friends and I always wondered if they got stoned on it?

wonderwomanusa

Yes, the piggy toilets are fondly remembered by some around here.

When were you last in Goa?

all-one-heart

I was last there in 1995.

My partner and I arrived in Kalangut with almost no more money, but with lots of nice cloth from Sanganeer, our Elna "Lotus" sewing machine and our patterns. We earned our living selling the clothes we made. Sewed 'em up in our room, put 'em in a basket on our heads to walk and sold them on the beach. Any article cost the price of a thola of ....shit!

We had some really lovely clients. An Italian couple that bought an entire collection. They even had us for dinner in their lovely rented house, had realy great spagetti and olive oil! A real luxury at that time,in Kalangut. He was a well-known concert pianist. Both were drying out... Hope they made it.

A very sweet american couple also, they even lent us some money when our earnings got stolen, untill we could get ourselves going again. We made them everything from special traveling bags to bathing shorts, as well as skirts, jackets, pants... untill they were entirely paid back. They were great people, so suportive.

freenote

Quote all-one-heart "Any article cost the price of a thola of ....shit! "

That's a term i haven't heard in ages ,whats it nowadays "a bit of grass "an eighth of gear" , " hash" ,stuff ,puff ,blow,mary jane ,ganja ,bhang . Howe time and words change .Just reminiscing over my glass off Merlot

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eyes ,eyes that have seen all , come back to the white chrysanthemum (Basho)

machadinha

What was that thread title? Something about 60s to 2004 how's it changed?

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