I was talking with my poker playing friend James last night at 4am while scarfing down some enchiladas at Sun Rise tacos in central tourist Bangkok area. Man, if there is one thing I miss about being away from America the most, its the Mexican food, how ironic is that? Rachel’s mom made the best enchiladas!
In the midst of our discussion about non poker playing business ideas, he had mentioned how he wanted to make a lot of money without having to do much. I sarcastically responded with my most serious face about how I didn’t agree. I wanted to work very hard and barely make any money.
While I was joking, a part of me realized that I do enjoy working hard. Of course, I want a ton of money like everyone else. I feel that in recent years I’ve found ways to make a good amount of money without having to work very hard, while that was nice, it feel like its never quite appreciated and without a purpose.
What does having a lot of money without a purpose lead to? Ask Charlie Sheen.
So where does that leave me with my thought of the day? I want to work really hard at something I love and reap great rewards. Pretty simple I imagine, but what will it be?
Researching ideas for making money online or from home on the internet is like trying to find an honest Thai girl in a sea of hookers. There is way too much spam out there to even know where to begin. I did find one site that I played around on for a while called Smarta.com which is a a website which offers businesses advice. While I haven’t found my personal legendary great idea yet… I did find some motivation when seeing some of the people on the site who create what I would feel as basic unoriginal business ideas.
To sum it all up?
A great idea doesn’t have to be ground breaking new technology.
I stayed in an apartment near Kacerof metro station which was about 20 minutes from the center of the city. It was a small 3 bedroom place that I shared with Andy Bergland, another american, and Natlie who was from Czech and played on the Softball team.
Currency :
Czech Koruna. 16 crowns = $1.
Beer Factor :
The basic beers in Czech were outstanding. The typical price for a pint of draft beer was about 30 crowns or ($2.00). Pilsner Urquel was probably my favorite and they had it just about everywhere. Gambrinus was my least favorite although it wasn’t bad.
Food Factor :
I have to say that I wasn’t too impressed with the overall food options in Prague. They had different pasta dishes, dumplings, goolash, pizza, sausage, bread and while nothing was horrible, there wasn’t anything that stood out. The price to eat out at a non tourist place was about 150 czech crowns ($8) for an average meal. My favorite thing to eat was KFC spicy chicken strips, which were actually better than in the states, white meat, very juicy, I was surprised, best strips I’ve ever had. 109 czech crowns for an 8 piece basket.
Female Factor :
There were some hot girls in Prague, not doubt, but compared to other countries I’ve been to this wasn’t one I would rank on the top 10 easiest to get laid in. English wasn’t well spoken and most of the time I got action was with tourists visiting Prague. Now there were a couple of girls that were from Czech that I did enjoy my time with and their English was good, which I am grateful for. But I found myself many times in loud bars having painful conversations with broken English girls that just wasn’t worth my time. I guess I’ve been lucky enough over the years where I don’t care how hot a girl is, I’m not going through boring painful conversation just to get laid by some chick that in reality can’t be any hotter than most of my ex’s.
Most Overrated :
Women in Prague. Before I go any further, I want to say that there are hot girls in Prague and I did meet quite a few. My point is, I hear people talking about how hot the women are in Prague and mention it over several other countries. I spent 5 months in there and I have to say this just isn’t true. Maybe I ran bad? I don’t know.. but I can say that I’ve seen much hotter girls with a much higher ratio of them in lots of other cities and I wouldn’t mention Prague as being in the top of any list.
100′s of Photo uploaded soon! (just lazy now, they are all in separate folders and stuff)
Personal Trip Summary :
Prague is a great place to visit for a week or two, however anytime longer than that it can be a little boring. The main things that contributed to my boredom was a combination of living just far enough away from the center to make it a hassle to go to and not having any good food options nearby. Just wasn’t convenient enough for me for such a long period of time. I’ve only been gone for a few days and what I will say that I will miss is the good draft beer everywhere and the friends that I made there, especially everyone on the Eagles Baseball Team who I spent so much time with practicing, playing and drinking at the club.
On Aug. 30th, 2011 Westboro Baptist Church called for a picket of the Foo Fighters show in Kansas City. They are infamous for hatred and daily protesting.
But like all good things, eventually… they come to an END…
You will be missed…
Late September 2010 – The Cops had had enough….
We had to move out
Teaming up with Roommates Ryan Parker and Jonas Dick, we went to Los Angeles for a few days
October 2nd 2010… Everything I now owned was in 2 suitcase..
Getting HAMMERED at the Airport
Good Bye America! Boarding the plane highly Intoxicated.
I do not remember this...
22 hours later, with a massive Hangover, I arrived in Bangkok, Thailand.
Spent 3 days in Bangkok
Temporary stay in Bangkok, then caught a Flight to Phuket.
The Island of Phuket
Phuket “Pooh-Ket” was another world…
1st Night Kata Beach with Ryan & Jonas
Beautiful Beaches all over Island. Kata Beach only a 5 minute walk.
The Island of Phuket (October 5th- December 26th 2010)
Found a hotel for $15 (500 baht) a night and partied it up for all of October.
Me, Ryan, Rudy and Thai Girls.
Rudy (yellow shirt) a fellow poker player and poster on twoplustwo, has been living in Phuket for many years and really helped us adjust to the new life in this strange land.
Beach House, November and December 2010.
Moved into a Beach House where I lived for 2 months with some fellow poker players
Partying in Patong Beach, Phuket.
Flipping for Shots with new poker player friends who now called Phuket home.
And as the life of a poker player goes, the ups and downs come with them. In late December 2010 had a bad run on the tables and had to give up the luxurious beach house and move to a different.
October-December 2010 Results
Instead of paying $900 rent for a beach house room, I got my own place for $250 a month in Chiang Mai
Phuket to Chiang Mai 2 hour flight.
Ryan had arrived a few days earlier and we celebrated New Years Eve
I love Belgium Beer!
My sister Courtney came to visit for 6 weeks and loved Chiang Mai
Chang Beer Tower only $7
April 2011 Song Kran!!
Song Kran is the Craziest Holiday EVER!
What is Song Kran?? Its a giant water fight for between everyone in the entire country for 5 whole days! Yes, 5 whole days. Not lets stop and think about what this means exactly. Yes, its hot, yes, everyone has water guns, water hoses, huge water buckets in back of trucks and no one is safe. The 1st couple days were fun, but when I just wanted to go to grab something next door I would get drenched by someone. Yes, 5 days! But I loved it!!
I loved Chiang Mai, $4 1 hour massages and this …
Popp'n Bottles for $10
Played some softball with the local college team, Payap University.
I'm a FOOT taller than EVERYONE
Next Stop Philippines for 2 weeks
Manila in May 2011
After living in Thailand for a while, I didn’t care much for the Philippines. Everything seems over priced and EVERYONE tried to ripped you off, hustle you, and bother you. We had repeated horrible experience with cab drivers, over charging, having faster meters, one drop us a few miles in the wrong direction to run up the meter, making us 10 minutes late. Manila was dirty, over crowded and a headache.
White Beach, Phillipines
Went to White Beach, Philippines for a few days and it was better than Manila, but still not a place I would recommend vacationing too. Plus I found out the next day that the hot girl I was making out with all night was a lady boy. Yeah, don’t go to Philippines.
May 2011 off to Prague!
After that, flew to Prague to spend the summer drinking and playing baseball for the Praha Eagles. Now its the end of August and that concludes what happened over the last 12 months.
