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Simply The Best: October 2024

TPOL is the best in travel. And now he is the best in golf (see Breaking 90: TPOL’s Wins the Club Championship** & TPOL Finishes 3rd in Member Guest). Next up is Vlog greatness (DJI Store Barcelona: A Great Upgrade for an Unpublished Vlog). No longer humble, I present the top posts from October.
  1. Mosul, Iraq Day 1: The Best Homemade Food in the World
    a man sitting at a desk
    Mosul is fantastic. The city is alive. The people are lovely. The food is great.
  2. Looking to Avoid Prison? Read the Blog, Mr. Mayor
    a man sitting on a chair with a glass of champagne
    If you’re going to be busted over airline upgrades, make the charge worth it by flying Emirates, SQ, or Cathay
  3. Border Crossing on Foot: Spain to Gibraltar
    a road with a mountain in the background
    Many have speculated if TPOL is in the CIA.
  4. Can Paixano Barcelona: The Best Place on Earth
    a plate of food and a glass of wine
    If you don’t like this place, chances are high that I will not like you.
  5. Muay Thai Medellin: Chapter 3 of My Combat Journey
    a man standing next to another man in a gym
    Do you get sick of shit talking blog readers? Do you want to do something about it?
  6. Mont Bar Barcelona: Am I Michelin Material?
    a plate with food on it
    The cost of this foray into culture was 340 euros for two. Given the laughs, the food, and the experience, it was money well spent.
  7. Guns & Butter: Barcelona Travel Guide
    people in a pool
    Residents of Barcelona: Holster your water guns. While I will do my residency in Barcelona one day, I have no immediate plans of doing so. I prefer Madrid.

No TikTok for TPOL, How About LinkedIn?

I tried to make it on TikTok (see The End of Days: TPOL Joins TikTok). I am happy to say that I failed. To grow the brand beyond TPOL the blogger, I have started a Vlog (see Creeper Cam Is Back: Alexander Bachuwa Launches the Vlog). To showcase the multiple talents of Alexander Bachuwa, aka #masterofwon, I have launched the TPOL newsletter on LinkedIn. This is a flip-flop from my About Page where in 2013 I wrote, “Just follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, Tumblr, Reddit, MySpace, Renren (the Chinese Facebook) and this blog, to find out how. No, you won’t find me in the virtual cubicle better known as LinkedIn.” Disclaimer: This will be the second time I’ve tried to launch via LinkedIn. The first was in 2019 (Coming to LinkedIn, TPOL’s Vlog!). Perhaps it’s time to update my about page. Here’s to more social media! a man standing next to a large football ball  

TPOL Finishes 3rd in Member Guest

3rd place is part of the TPOL to LIV PGA Trip Report.
I am inching closer to my dream of representing Iraq in golf in the Olympics. Last Saturday, I finished third in my flight in the Member-Guest tournament. I almost gave it away on the second to last hole. My partner shanked his drive 48 yards. Cautious, I abandoned my full drive swing for a prudent three-quarter swing. Unfortunately or rum-misfortunately, I was aimed right at the out-of-bounds marker. And that’s where the ball went. Fortunately, my 3 wood has improved dramatically, leading to this:
a screenshot of a video game
A bogey was fine for us.
a metal plaque on a surface
I am not a big fan of net, but it’s better than my inaugural last place finish in 2018.
   

TPOL’s @? Member Guest Golf Tournament

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It goes all week. See you when I win. Until then catch up on some great Trip Reports. a cup on a table

Muay Thai Medellin: Chapter 3 of My Combat Journey

Muay Thai Medellin is part of the Birthday Bash Trip Report.
Do you get sick of shit talking blog readers? Do you want to do something about it? Since they will never leave their basements and since assault charges are not a good idea, I recommend taking up Muay Thai. Hitting pads and sparring provide the necessary release without the legal expense. I started my Muay Thai journey accidentally as part of my Residency in Melbourne, Australia (see Muay Thai Melbourne). When I left Melbourne, I went directly to  Bangkok for Residency where I continued my Muay Thai studies (see Muay Thai Thailand Recap). Back in Puerto Rico, I tried to resume training but found no viable, cost-effective options. In Medellin for a week as part of my Sane Asylum Getaway, I went to Zona De Combate MMA for private lessons. I was impressed with the instruction but not impressed with how out of (fighting) shape I was. Unfortunately, I only had time for two lessons. Nevertheless, I learned plenty.
boxing gloves on a ledge with a city in the background
Bring your own gloves.
a building with a sign and a motorcycle parked in front of itTPOL’s Tip: Zona de Combate is located at CRA 49 #16 – 16 El Poblado, Medellín, Colombia. Follow them on IG. a boxing ring and punching bags in a gymTPOL’s Tip: 2 private lessons cost 160k pesos or $41. That’s cheaper than Bangkok! The Trainees Yours Truly  TPOL’s Tip: Buy your Urban Turban here. Overall What a great experience. a man standing next to another man in a gym
Follow my instructor Jorge MMA 12 on IG. I will be returning for more lessons in the near future.

Mosul, Iraq Day 1: The Best Homemade Food in the World

Mosul Day 1 is part of the Iraq Homecoming Trip Report.

After Samarra, the next stop on this epic adventure was Mosul. The freeway to Mosul is littered with speed bumps. ISIS strategically destroyed the road to impair the Iraqi army’s ability to advance to this northern city.
a road with tire tracks on it
We had to drive off the road.
a road with a sandy landscape
Then back onto the road.
I knew nothing about Mosul before visiting this historic city. I had only heard of it from the news. And all of the news coming out of Mosul was bad. It was ISIS ISIS ISIS, all the time. When I said I was visiting Mosul, I was told it was too dangerous. The wildest thing happened when I arrived. I went for lunch and found that people lived in Mosul, normal people who have kids, and families. Normal people who go to lunch, talk, and laugh. The only sign of ISIS was the carnage and destruction they caused while holding the people of Mosul hostage. Like Baghdad, Mosul is a victim of one-sided media coverage. Report enough bad stories with terrorism buzzwords and of course, the world will believe that Iraq still is a war zone. In this Travel Guide, I strive to portray Mosul as it is, focusing on the challenges the city faces, but more importantly, the resiliency it has shown despite being written off by the world. Checkpoint The checkpoint adventure continued but unlike the seriousness on the way to Samarra (see Navigating Iraqi Checkpoints: The Road to Samarra), the final checkpoint before arriving in Mosul was entertaining. This time a smart dressed man came loaded with questions. He heard from my tour guide that I was Iraqi American and decided to have fun asking me questions in Arabic. He rather enjoyed my limited language skills. “How old are you?” I told him 40. He quickly replied that he did not believe me. That was nice. Then he asked me where I lived. He started laughing when I told him I was a lawyer living in Puerto Rico. Finally, he let us go. But as he did, he told me in Arabic that he would cry for me no sooner than the moment I left. Lunch For lunch, there’s only one place to go, مطعم خالد للكص .كص or Khaled Al-Kass Restaurant. He is better known as the ‘Father of Shwarma.’ In our house, we call it ‘gus and tomata.’ Like the Soup Nazi episode, there’s a procedure for ordering. Step 1: Grab a bowl. Step 2: Grab a piece of bread. Step 3: Slide your tray down down. Step 4: Record a video. Step 5: Take a seat, if you can find one. a group of people sitting at tables outside a restaurant a bowl of bread on a table a man standing in a kitchen with a large meat grill a man cutting a large meat on a large machine Like pho, goodies can be added to enhance what will be the best lunch of your life. A lover of onions and cucumbers, I loaded up my plate. a plate of food on a table
From there, dive in. TPOL’s Tip: One piece of bread will suffice. The locals do two but try to stick to the diet plan (see A Holiday of Healthy, Tipsy, & on Budget? Basically Impossible). The final step is to drink chai and digest. a glass cup with liquid on a plate TPOL’s Tip: The restaurant is located at Al-Mansa Street ‪‪‪Al Baladyat‬‬‬, Mosul 41016 Iraq. The Hotel I found out that there are Airbnbs in Mosul. Full houses can be rented near the old town for the price of a hotel room. Without seeing Mosul in person, I would never have believed such a thing existed. Our hotel, like Baghdad, mirrored a typical guesthouse in a SE Asian hotel. It had a dreadful shower that was not separated from the toilet. Someone explain why such a thing is still being built!
a digital sign on a wall
Still overpriced.
a black electronic display with a screen
Karaoke?
a bed with a red blanket and a picture on the wall
Honeymoon suite.
two champagne bottles on a red satin
Bring your own bubbles.
a white bathroom with a toilet and shower
Why?
No Gas in Mosul A funny thing happened when we were in Mosul. We were out of gas but there was no gas to be found. The queues at the gas stations were endless. How could it be that an Iraqi city was out of gas? This shortage showed the continuing dysfunction and corruption of the country.
a car on the road
The queue for gas.
Night Tour After a nap, we toured the old town. The first stop was a square bombed by ISIS that included a museum, café, and restaurant.
a picture on a wall
Post ISIS
a street with lights on the side
Post Post ISIS
a wall with a window and a sign on it In the museum was a replica of what Bachuwa Law’s office would have looked like had his parents stayed in Iraq (see Iraqi Homecoming: My 40th Birthday in Baghdad).
a group of men in sports uniforms posing for a picture
شباب aka the crew
a man sitting at a desk a man sitting at a desk Walking through the old town, I saw the mosque which was across from the church. Both were bombed by ISIS. Behind a wall, was another church, mostly intact. a street with cars and buildings at night a building with a clock on the side a door with a metal gate a building with a black gate a building with a gate A common erroneous belief is that Iraq is a strict Islamic nation. This was never the case. St. Thomas came to Iraq in 770 to spread the Catholic faith. Christians of different denominations have been living in Iraq for thousands of years. There were also Jews living in Iraq. Christians, Jews, and Muslims of different sects were literally worshipping side by side. Dinner At 11PM, it was time to eat. And by eat I mean feast. Mosul has the best food in Iraq because it resembles my grandma’s cooking. I could not believe it when they brought out aroog, an indescribable, unique concoction we used to consume fresh from grandma’s deep fryer. There was also Iraqi kebab and Iraqi tikka, again made in the same way as my grandma. If that was not enough, there was Mosul kubba. I have never seen it in this color, but it had the same joyous flavors as the version I enjoyed as a kid. a bowl of soup next to a bowl of sauce
a plate of meat and vegetables
Aroog
skewers being cooked on a grill
Iraqi Kebab
a plate of food with meat and vegetables
Iraqi kebab
a plate of food with tomatoes and cucumbers
Mosul kubba
Already full, I forced myself to try and eat dolma. I had never seen it made in individual portions before. During the holidays, we make it enough for ten people. Like everything else, it reminded me of grandma. a plate of food on a table a plate of food on a table
a close up of food
The onions are always the best.
Overall Mosul is fantastic. The city is alive. The people are lovely. The food is great.
a group of people around a table
Mosul, Iraq or Farmington Hills, Michigan?
a swing set in a playground
Indeed I do.

Citi Credit Limit, Limited: But Why?

Citi makes no sense. Over a year ago, Citi approved me for the Citi Thank You card, now the Strata card. At that time, I had a 2k limit (see Citi’s Pointless 2k Limit Thank You, No Thank You Card). Over a year later, I still have a 2k limit. Every attempt to increase my credit line has been denied. In the interim, I have applied and was approved for the Citi AA Exec Card (Approved! AA Citi Exec 100k). That had a higher limit than my Citi TY card. When the annual fee on that card came due, I attempted to transfer the credit line to my Strata card. Citi claimed that this could not be done because the cards were in different families. I then asked if I could transfer some of my 30k+ credit line from my Citi+ card. Here’s how that worked out: a screenshot of a credit card As you can see, my credit line was adjusted. Why Citi, why?

Breaking 90: TPOL’s Wins the Club Championship**

Disclaimer: I may receive a commission if you click and buy a product listed.
TPOL’s Wins the Club Championship** is part of the TPOL to LIV PGA Trip Report (read the Introduction Inspiration).
Let’s start with the asterisks. * I played in the ‘Malanga’ Flight, a euphemism for the worst players in the club i.e., players with 20+ handicaps. A club champion can only come from the Championship Flight which is played from the gold tees. ** I only finished first on the first day. I shot a 96. The tournament was two days long.
a screen with a screen on it
Day 1 Celebration
But if you overlook those to trivial points, you can call TPOL the club champion. I beat out 15 other players on day 1 and came in 4th after day 2, shooting a terrible 105. The real reason I am writing this post is to continue to document my ascent from worst to first. Next year, regardless of my handicap, I will play in the championship flight. It is open to anyone who wants to tee off from the tips. If you have not played from the golds, I suggest trying it. Here’s why: when people see you on the tee box, they will automatically assume you are a good golfer. That will give you the confidence to swing freely. If you do hit a bad shot, those observers will just assume you hit an errant shot. That confidence will allow you to take the next shot with ease. Another reason I will play in the championship flight is because this year there were only five competitors. Worst case, I finish sixth. Then I can write I finished 6th in the club championship. Those who only pay attention to headlines will be impressed.
a trophy on a table
I will win the club championship and quit golf thereafter.
Historical Note: This tournament took place on October 12th and 13th, 2024.

Holiday Inn Express Gibraltar: World’s Best for the Memories

Holiday Inn Express Gibraltar is part of the Gold Medal Trip Report.
After stopping to smell the flowers, I made the fifteen-minute walk to the Holiday Inn Express.
a flower bed with yellow flowers
The Brits making the sidewalks pretty.
Location There are no taxis in Gibraltar roaming the streets at night. Fortunately, the Holiday Inn Express is within walking distance from the Spanish border (see Border Crossing on Foot: Spain to Gibraltar).a building with a sign on the side of it Hotel Itself The decor is not from the typical Holiday Inn Express. a glass railing in a room a room with a couch and chairs Staff I was welcomed by the nice staff and was told I had been upgraded. I was also offered a welcome beverage of my choosing. Critically, the front desk helped arrange a taxi for my trek up the rock (see The Guide to Climbing Gibraltar).a counter in a room Room The room was funky.a room with a bed and a tv an orange chair in a corner Bathroom The bathroom was adequate, though I’m not a fan of Dove soap. a bathroom with a sink and mirror a shower with a shower head and a shower head a group of soap dispensers on a shelf View  The view was unbeatable.a city next to a rocky mountain a mountain with buildings and trees Breakfast The breakfast was English.a tray of donuts and chocolates
a pot of beans in a pot
How is this appetizing?
a glass of orange juice on a blue tray
Very bad OJ
a plate of breakfast food and drinks on a tray Price Gibraltar is not cheap. The Holiday Inn Express goes for $200 a night. I used 38,000 IHG points instead (see Bus-Ted: Gold Medal Trip Report Points & Cash Summary). Overall This is the best Holiday Inn Express because of the staff, the unique location, and because it will forever be associated with my stay in this unique overseas territory.

Border Crossing on Foot: Spain to Gibraltar

Border Crossing Spain Gibraltar is part of the Gold Medal Trip Report.
Many have speculated if TPOL is in the CIA. Why does he speak 7 languages (see TPOL The Polyglot: A Better Way to Learn Multiple Languages)? Why has he been to the most random of places (see Where I’ve Been)? Why does he walk around with surveillance equipment (Creeper Cam Is Back: Alexander Bachuwa Launches the Vlog)? I cannot confirm or deny such reports. I can say that I feel like an undercover agent whenever I have the opportunity to cross a border on foot. There’s a special thrill to it. One second I am under the laws and regulations of one country, the next second I’m in no man’s land, and in the third instance, assuming I am not detained, I am in a new country. The crossing from Spain to Gibraltar was especially memorable. One second, I am speaking Spanish, the next I am transported through an English portal. It’s similar to when I try to go to ESPN in Puerto Rico and am redirected to ESPN Deportes, but in reverse order.a road sign on the side of a road The reminder that I was no longer in Kansas, Spain anymore was exemplified by the iconic British phone booth.a red telephone booth in front of a stone wall a pay phone on a wall a person standing in a red telephone bootha blue sign with a person walking on it The fun continued as I found myself walking across an active runway, something I would experience more vividly upon my return (see What a Shot! Crossing the Airstrip Gibraltar) en route to the Holiday Inn Express. How can it get more fun than this?a road with a city in the background a road with a mountain in the background a street with signs and a gate TPOL’s Tip: If you’re arriving at night and are looking for a taxi, you will not find one. The Holiday Inn Express is only a fifteen minute walk.