I’ve been living in Batam for nearly 9 years. During that period I live in 7 different places. The first 2 were company’s houses. The rest I’ve been renting a room in 5 different places.
I lived in the 1st company’s houses for more than 4 years. The first time I lived there I had 3 [...]
On day three, after crossing a long stretch of wilderness we encountered our first Zanskari people, nomads at the base of the incredible, monolithic Gonbo Rangjon. Awkwardly approaching at first, a tiny girl ran out to study us. She bounced and bobbed around us staring in curiosity and then led us back to her family’s [...]
This tag is one of the two that are pending and I am attempting this one first only because the questions appear easier to answer than those in the other one.Last movie seen in a theatre?RVWhat book are you reading?NoneFavourite board game?ScrabbleFavourite Magazine(s):Reader's Digest, India TodayFavourite Smells:Lime, CocoaFavourite Sound:The exhaust note of my motorcycle, guitar riffs accompanied by drumsWorst Feeling In The World:The burning sensation that follows having found out that something I would never have wanted to happen has happened and when I can not seem to either laugh or cry.What Is The First Thing You Think Of When You Wake Up?Is it morning or is it afternoon?Favourite Fast Food Place:McDonald's and the most likely purchases there include Chicken McGrill, Cold Coffee, Va
Check these guys out - The Nomads. I just picked up their cd - Nomadic Dementia: The Best Of The First 25 Years. Its gotta be one of the best cd's I've picked up in a long time. out Monomen too. Another awesome band I just started listening to.
Recently, Starbucks launched an innovative social networking tool called My Starbucks Idea, where coffee lovers can take advantage of a virtual suggestion box. Customers use the site to offer new ideas for the company, vote on ideas and then discuss the ideas. One of the most popular suggestions on the site has been an outcry for free WiFi Internet at all Starbucks locations.As of writing this post, the free WiFi suggestion has received 37,260 votes from the public. It is one of many popular ideas that are now under review by the company. Amazingly, My Starbucks Idea is less than a month old. That's right, a major corporation is actually listening to its consumers and responding in a timely manner.According to Kevin Shawver, who works on the WiFi program at Starbucks, free Internet is alre
Architects Korteknie Stuhlmacher and Rotterdam based artists BikvanderPol created the amazing House No 19, a mobile studio for artists.
Via: Shedworking, Judit Bellostes and Beyond Utrecht
(Archived in: Mobility Nomad Resources Telephony)There are some free online productivity tools that fit in nicely with Google Grand Central. Two in beta right now that will be detailed in more complete reviews by Digital Nomads are Jott and RTM (Remember The Milk). These are not exclusive for use with Google Grand Central, and both look like good Get Things Done tools that you can customize and plug in where you like. Do consider these for your Digital Nomad bag of tips and tricks for mobility, ease of use, and time management.These are quick screenshots of capabilities for each free service. Briefly, Jott is for dictating your thoughts (or reminders) with 30 second voice messages when you are not near a computer. Via phone, your messages are transcribed (note: Jott currently uses a combination of machine and human transcription) and sent as email messages or text messages back to you, your friends, family, clients, employees, or other groups that you create and are recognized by voi
(Archive in: Digitalnomads Social Design)The staggering growth of IT applications and integration of network communications along the Digital Highway, will continue to have enormous social consequences. Current and future trends will indicate some of the consequences society will have to take into account.New Forms of OrganizationDigital Nomads on the Digital Highway will be the foundation for a new infrastructure connecting networks of companies and private individuals. This facilitates the development of new forms of organization and new ways of working. These are the freelancers of technology.Entire networks will emerge of companies that jointly produce, operate, and deliver. Each interorganization in itself forms what we currently mostly know as one company that operates independently. The co-operation is entered into for limited periods of time and with certain objectives.The temporary organization aims for the execution of one particular project.Specialists will acquire assignmen
(Archived in: Digitalnomads Mobility) Digital Nomads was unaware of the EarthRoamer prior to a comment to the first post about Digital Nomads Wheeling Around with the RV Travel Crowd. These vehicle are probably some of the more spectacular for get-up-and-go mobility and creature comforts combined.They also have an interesting story, having been designed by trial and error over a period of years by an outdoor enthusiast and avid travel photographer that was unable to find a suitable RV camper to meet his personal standards.You could say the EarthRoamer Xpedition XV-LT model pictured here is the result of a journey to create the ultimate expedition camper. These come with a full kitchen and full bath and go places a Class A recreational vehicle cannot go, because of size. The EarthRoamer may be a little tight for full-time living, but like they say "strap a Wi-Fi antenna on top and you're good to go!" There also is a lighter version named the XV-JP build around a Jeep Wrangler.If you ar
(Archived in: Nomad Resources Telephony)UPDATE: The Digital Nomad likes free services, and the availability of free "Bandit Phone Numbers" come and go. The definition of a bandit phone number is a disposable number that you can use when filling out any paper forms, or online applications that may require a verifiable phone number, but mask your actual home, business, or cell phone number to provide privacy, prevent fraud, and profiling by cross-referencing of data bases (similar to using postal boxes for mail privacy). A bandit number is a working telephone number that will be answered by an automated voice mail system, and the message forwarded to be retrieved usually via email.The ultimate free service right now is Google Grand Central. Unfortunately, GC numbers are hard to come by, and they probably won't always be free. Most free bandit numbers are a voice mail service, sometimes packaged with a fax-to-email service to promote an upgrade to premium paid services. NetZero PrivateP
(Archived in: Digitalnomads Extreme Computing)Here is some good advice in the form of a blog shoutout and reference to a post titled "Planning for a Digital Nomad". This article details many good ideas about using nascent technologies for a virtual mobile office that should be useful to those with designs on being digital nomads.The list in this article is a good start and practicing digital nomads (or wannabes) anywhere could add to it, either for themselves or as a group effort by leaving your ideas in a post comment at Chris Brogan Dot Com, or here on this blog.Read Brogan's entire post and then compare his list below with the comments from The Digital Nomads blog in red. Such a list will have to be updated constantly due the nature of portable wireless technology and the resilience of Mr. Moore's Law.1. Get a Smartphone - Make sure it's a quad GSM network. Also, future handheld devices or UMPCs could replace laptops and mobile phones sooner than you think.2. Move Applications On
(Archived in: Mobility Nomad Resources)One of the most popular post topics for The Digital Nomads Blog has been the Google Grand Central One Number Service. There have been many posts and updates, but the question most asked in comments is on how to go about getting a Grand Central beta invitation.First, let's firmly endorse that the Google Grand Central concept is great for digital nomads, and anyone else that wants to organize their landlines and wireless telephone numbers together in an easy to use network (including bandit numbers and SkypeIn numbers) that consolidates communications with a virtual pbx suite using a one number access feature.This short YouTube video demonstrates the power of the Google GC suite of telephony tools.Now back to a tip for getting that elusive beta invitation from the Google Grand Central team. This from Jonathan B who wrote back in an email the steps he recently took and met with success."I went to their site and it offered a "Save a Number for Me" se
(Archived in: Digitalnomads Mobility)Digital Nomads and RV enthusiasts are much the same breed. Some RVers are just Digital Nomads with wheels. The recreational vehicle gig is something I have been reading about and it may evolve into a series of posts on the subject.It looks like an interesting alternative lifestyle. Given all the websites and informational links for taking your home with you, it would appear that others find the RV life of interest as well. It's a refreshing idea from having everything engineered for travel with not much more than a backpack.Romantic daydreams may conjure up visions of Digital Nomads roaming in far off places, hiking in Europe, living on the cheap in exotic cities, or sleeping on beaches in an island paradise. This also is usually how it is portrayed by the the well know tech travelers that get good press and write for the travel publications and popular travel sites.It is estimated that over a million people in the US alone (including a new wave of
(Archived in: Related Miscellany Weblogs and Business)Yes Virginia, there are Digital Nomads in China...and they need and want the help of fellow bloggers around the world. I continue to try to recenter and focus on writing specifically about digital nomads, issues related to nomads, technology and information useful to nomads, and more importantly ways to become a digital nomad.It's a tough niche. I keep reaching out, but true nomads are an odd lot. Sometimes hard to figure out if they are just introverts and unwilling to share, or just busy making their way through life.This entry continues a general search on nomads. It's about free speech and government censorship. Given the state of world politics, issues that may be coming to a country near you."CNBlog.org just released a new project called "Digital Nomads"， a non-profit service supporting Chinese people (but not limited) to set up their independent blogs. The project, also supported by Social Brain Foundation, is especially
(Archived in: Extreme Computing Technology in Plain English)If you do not know the name Asus, get ready for it to become a household brand, just like Apple and Dell. I have written before about parent company, Asustek, and the fact that they manufacture computers for the likes of Dell and Apple (Mostly Taiwan-China-India/also Worldwide).Asustek is making a major push to brand their own products, and they are starting by introducing the Eee PC Laptop from $199-$300 and up, depending on the market and features. The whole education and third world genre of computers is coming of age (something else I post about around the blogosphere).As prices drop with large scale production, these things will sell like hotcakes. The kicker is these computers are also designed to be semi-rugged.I expect these lappies to start showing up in backpacks of school kids and extreme Road Warriors as soon as they are available (just in time for the Holidays), and considered as a backup at first by other Digital
(Archived in: Social Design Technology in Plain English)Guest Post with Peter Haslam I recently received an email from Peter Haslam about "Digital Nomads" and decided to answer in a post and a meme with Peter as a guest poster. We are seeking information on how you define what it means to be a digital nomad. Our definition of the term is a person who needs mobile technology to conduct business while on the road which could be within a city, between cities or from other countries. Nomads are not location dependent except through personal choice and could be employed by a business or be freelancers. This is a growing trend with the uncertainties of long term employment with a single company and rapid changes in emerging technologies, and there is a different mindset required to be successful. If you are as interested in this lifestyle, we would like to ask you 3 questions and then, if you would, forward this on to some people on your contact list at your discretion. Thank you and we ap
(Archived in: Online Usability Technology in Plain English)Both good news and bad news for Digital Nomads that rely on WiFi. The good news is that Intel is testing a directional antenna that boosts the range of WiFi signals up to 60 miles (Most current WiFi only transmits a couple hundred feet).The bad news is that this technology has been designed for developing countries and it will not be available anytime soon in the US and Europe.A recent article at CNET reveals that the technology is similar to WiMax, but without the need for government licensing for radio spectrum. Another big difference is that WiMax towers cost about twenty times more than the expected cost of the new long range WiFi towers on the drawing board.At least we know that the technology is on its way. This again shows a move towards more wireless capability and accessibility for mobile Interweb users, and at a low cost of service (probably free when used from a WiFi hotspot).Making Money Ideas for The Online Entrepr
(Archived in: Online Usability Related Miscellany)Digital Nomads has been updated with a handy new translator widget. Click on any of the flags to the right in the side bar and this blog will be translated into the language that you choose.The blog can now be translated with this Google Tools Widget that has been installed for different languages including: French, Italian, English, Spanish, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Portuguese, and Chinese.You should also be able to bookmark posts in different languages, and read the post comments in different languages, which will allow others to read your comments in their native language.This widget is still in Beta testing, so please let me know what you think of it, and if you encounter any problems using this new utility. Thank YouStrategies for Making Money When You Want from Where You Want
(Archived in: Online Usability Related Miscellany Social Design)I just made a post on The Sovereign Journey related to my post here about the growing number of people going global with their online business concepts, living and working around the globe.I did not want to make a double post, so check it out at New Resourses post.Strategies for Making Money When You Want from Where You Want
