ATD Chat Thread XX

[Johnny Engine]

I've been to two Asian countries. Thailand is wonderful. So is Myanmar and I bet you didn't think that was going to be the other one.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

There are 24/7 day stores open and without any employees - you just walk in THE OPEN DOORS (no i.d. needed) any time of day and night and pick up any and all you want, then proceed to the ATM to pay, walk out the open door.

Easy peasy.

But this is South Korea, a hard-working socially-sensitive community of 50-million densely populated people who have a lot of pride (and sense of shame).

No way in hell could an open door to a store full of ice cream, cookies, sodas and other treats survive looting in any part of the Americas.

In southern Ontario, in a village around 30 min outside of Kingston, there's a family that makes butter tarts, and sells them from a small shed on their property. It's on the honour system. I wonder how many times people have stolen from them. (Since they continue doing this, maybe there's not many thieves - but there's no way that would last in Toronto, or probably even Kingston).

I'm taking my wife and kids to Japan and Korea next year. Very excited.

Enjoy! One of my friends went to Japan and loved it so much, that's the only place he ever travels to now.

My dad fled the failed 1956 Hungarian Revolution from the Soviet occupation on a plane to Toronto with a bar of soap in his pocket (given out to fend off sharks in case of mid-Atlantic crash). That journey i wouldn't want to re-do.

Have you ever visited Budapest? I'll be there in the spring.

 

[VanIslander]

In southern Ontario, in a village around 30 min outside of Kingston, there's a family that makes butter tarts, and sells them from a small shed on their property. It's on the honour system. I wonder how many times people have stolen from them. (Since they continue doing this, maybe there's not many thieves - but there's no way that would last in Toronto, or probably even Kingston).

Back in 2004 or 2005 i hiked a mountain in South Korea that had a Buddhist temple halfway up, and there was a bowl of money (about 20 to 30 Korean bills, each equivalent to about $1 U.S. (1,000 won bills) and a sign that said (in Korean) to take a bottle of ice cold drinking water from the tub in a pool in the stream and give a donation. Nobody around except us two. The Korean guy i was with put a 5000 won bill in and took out three 1000 won bills, handed me a bottle and we went on our way, he acting like this was normal.

Have you ever visited Budapest? I'll be there in the spring.

No, I haven't, but i have always thought i'd go there as part of a trip to father's home town (he has a huge family).