Not so tourist friendly

After traveling around a bit, I've realized that Jamaica is not very tourist friendly even though so much of the foreign exchange comes from that sector. These are a few things that I think would improve the country's tourist friendliness:

-A large percentage of the population trained to function  in a few other languages (at least Spanish and of course proper English is compulsory)

-Maps of each town situated at several points in the towns. 

-Tourist information centers in at least the central areas of the cities 

-Public buses that go to and from the airport on time 

-Upgrade the Jamaica Tourist Board's website to include tours, prices, recommended courses, recommended sightseeing activities, etc.,.
-Cheap hostels for backpackers,
-Homestay programs


Jamaica is an island paradise with neighbours who speak English, Spanish, French and Dutch; however, Jamaicans are not forced to learn any language apart from English. That doesn't make sense from an economic and cultural point of view. If we could communicate with more of our neighbours, we would be able to get more of them to visit for tourism and investment.

In regards to the maps, a lack of town maps means that locals and tourists may get lost easily if they are not familiar with the territory. It may be a good thing to get lost sometimes and stumble upon unexpected things, but I would prefer if that didn't happen simply because there was no map to guide me. I know that country maps can be bought in bookstores and at gas stations, but I am suggesting that more detailed maps of specific towns be sold or erected in central areas of each town. (Also making maps in other languages available would also be a plus.)

Tourist information centres have helped me a lot while travelling. They are filled with brochures, maps, and personnel to assist with your inquiries.

Airport transportation. I know that there are some private companies that offer transportation services to and from the airport, but their information is not widely available and there is no central terminal for such vehicles. Now that I type, I think there are some government buses that go to and from the airport but I'm not sure.

The other things on my list are self explanatory, I think. The JTB's website should be more useful for tourists, cheap accommodation for backpackers would invite a different type of tourist to our shores and homestay programs would promote cultural exchange in a very intimate way.

Old Iphones & Old people

I have an old Iphone 4 and I've realized that it ages pretty much in the same way that human beings do.

•  It now seems very bulky, especially when it lies next to its younger relatives; 
• the picture quality has significantly deteriorated, similar to old folks losing their sight; 
• the battery has become very weak and needs to be charged several times a day, kind of like an old person with low stamina; 
• It's also become very slow at doing everything; the memory gets filled up frequently and it needs to delete new memories to make space for newer ones; 
• the body is a bit worn out; it's very difficult to find stylish cases, heck, it's hard to find any case for it. Nobody makes stylish clothes for old people. I wonder why though.

For these reasons, I think I may need a new phone, but I want one with a longer life span than an Iphone. Three years is simply not long enough for a phone to start exhibiting signs of a seventy year old man! What shall I do? Leave it as is and try to squeeze another 3 years out of it or upgrade and experience old age again in 2-3 years time?

My questions about medicine in Japan

Frustrated, the word that fits my feelings best.  I recently visited the doctor and I left feeling dissatisfied.

• Why did the orthopedist recommend that I wear high heals up and down a hill? (Even after telling him that I had knee pain.)
• Why don't Japanese pharmacies and doctors issue medicine in the labeled boxes with the proper instruction sheet that comes in the box? Instead they issue pills in little plastic bags or in strips bounded by elastic bands. 
• Is it too much to ask for the information that comes with the medicine that I'm being told to take? 
• Why do they insist on summarizing the instruction sheet that comes in the original package for the customers without giving the actual instruction sheet? 
• Sometimes they don't even want to tell you the name of the medicine that you are being given! 
• Why do some doctors issue their own medicine instead of write a prescription for me to hunt for the cheapest pharmacy? 
• Why are there no general practitioners here? 
• Why do I have to go to 10 different specialists for 10 different symptoms, when there may only be one source of my illness?
• Why do the doctors ask whether or not I would like medication? Why else would I go to the doctor?
• Why do the doctors appear so clueless?
• Why is there no discretion in health care institutions? The receptionist wants to know your illness, the nurses then talk about it loudly, so everyone in the waiting room can hear and the doctor then gives the medicine and instructions to the receptionist to announce to you in the waiting room!
• Why are the medicine dosages so low?
• Why do they treat Allegra like a dangerous drug? It's kept under lock and key at the pharmacy!

I'm sure I have more questions, but I can't remember anymore right now.

Source: WotBlog

I found a blog in which the writer wrote about getting sick in Japan.   http://emilyhoward.wordpress.com/2010/02/19/sick-and-alone/