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/

Alone

Maya Angelou wrote a poem titled 'alone' that I fell in love with upon hearing it in the movie 'Poetic Justice'. It reminded me of a fundamental fact of life, we are all alone. Most of the people around us can't penetrate our cores to get to the point of attaching themselves to us. This leads to all kinds of decisions based on a need to belong and escape loneliness. Maya stated that nobody can make it alone. That emphasizes the need human beings have for companionship, but it's not the easiest state to accomplish. Loneliness is a lot easier than making real friends. Making friends, working, maintaining a family, maintaining a hobby, among other things are all things that we have to do on a daily basis. Sometimes it's a bit overwhelming.

With this in mind, it's quite easy to understand suicide victims. Sometimes the burden gets too heavy to bear all by oneself and we need the lonely walk of life to simply stop being so difficult now. 

Some people are lucky. They never think about the hard questions in life. They simply go through life being ignorant and happy, never searching for deeper meaning, never wanting more than they're able to get at the moment. I used to think they were pitiful but these days I've revised my opinion about them. They're lucky and blessed. Today I came across an English proverb, 'a life in search of happiness is a sure way to misery'. 

There are a few days out of every year when I feel like those people. I enjoy freedom from my mental condominium for a short while then i have to return to my life as it was meant to be. On the days when it gets overwhelming, of course I wish I were different, but on regular days, I am fine with the burden I bear of thinking about questions that have no answers in this life.

Lying, thinking
Last night
How to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty
And bread loaf is not stone
I came up with one thing
And I don't believe I'm wrong
That nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

There are some millionaires
With money they can't use
Their wives run round like banshees
Their children sing the blues
They've got expensive doctors
To cure their hearts of stone.
But nobody
No, nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Now if you listen closely
I'll tell you what I know
Storm clouds are gathering
The wind is gonna blow
The race of man is suffering
And I can hear the moan,
'Cause nobody,
But nobody
Can make it out here alone.

Alone, all alone
Nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone. 

Maya Angelou

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/alone-6/