LATEST ARTICLES

TPOL Is Ten And #MasterOfWon

Typically, on my blog anniversary, I write a post highlighting the best of years past (see Simply The Best). This time, I want to commemorate the event by looking forward. That way I will see if in ten years I have reached the goals that I have set for myself. Here is what you can look forward to in the upcoming years:
  1. Alexander The Author: I published my first book ten years ago, Everyone’s Advice Is Wrong . . . Including Mine. I am in the early stages of writing my first novel which will win an Oscar for best adapted screenplay.
  2. IQKhameleon: I had early success in developing this idea, especially during the World Cup. I have had a few setbacks, but I am not ready to give up on what will be a global sports brand.
  3. TPOL: What can you expect from TPOL as a blogger? First, you won’t see me on TikTok. That experiment, like YouTube, did not last long (see The End of Days: TPOL Joins TikTok & TPOL’s Way Out of Poverty Is Not Vlogging). Just because I won’t be dancing doesn’t mean I won’t be creating videos. Look for more drone videos to support the IQ idea (see VIDEO: SkyDio 2 Inaugural Flight: Rio Mar, Puerto Rico). Finally, you will see a new website from scratch which will be easier to navigate. I am also building in automation features which will allow me to post more frequently.
My goal is to expand my readership beyond those who are interested in points to those who are interested in Alexander Bachuwa, the #MasterOfWon. For that reason, I am spending much more time on LinkedIn promoting not only the projects above but also my other entrepreneurial pursuits. As far as travel goes, I have only been to 54% of the world for those that count UN figures (see Is Hawaii a Country?). While I still have so many places to go (see Where I’ve Been), I am going to be enjoying more residencies (see TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency? & 2024 Residencies Announced! Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town). The blog turned 10 today and I turn 42 in May. The time is now to do anything and everything.
a person in a kayak in the water
Looking forward to another 10 years.
   

This Is TPOL BREAKING NEWS: Ladyboy Fight in Bangkok

I once wrote Ladyboy, Ping Pong Show, Pad Thai? Vote Now for Bangkok. Since that time, I celebrated My Last Binge in Bangkok by moving from Sukhumvit 11 in 2016 to the Beverly Hills of Bangkok in 2023, Thong Lor (see Bangkok Residency Booked! BKK-SIN-JFK SQ Return). While I am no longer #1 in Thai Ping Pong Diplomacy, I enjoyed the peace and tranquility of being away from the filth of Nana Plaza (see One Night in Bangkok: A Marathon Party Guide). While I have found my zen in the city that swallows men whole, others have not. In the ultimate, big dick competition, “Officers were called on Monday night when more than 100 local sex workers converged on a hotel being used by sex workers from the Philippines on the city’s Sukhumvit Road, part of a sprawling area of gogo bars, street workers and massage parlours.

Footage shows how the first sex worker was dragged from the Citin Sukhumvit 11 hotel, accused of being part of a group that clashed with the locals and stole their customers the night before.

However, the local ladyboys erupted in fury when they saw their alleged attackers – sparking chaotic scenes that escalated into a mass brawl.

In the video, stilettos fly as local transgender women are seen hitting police, climbing on buildings, stamping on other girls, throwing objects, and even having their clothes torn off.

a group of women in garments outside a bar
I miss Bangkok.
Read the full article here.  

No TPOL March Madness Bracket. And No One Cares

I’m taking an indefinite break from my annual March Madness competition. First, the competition winners do not show up anyway (see Steven Wins TPOL’S March Madness Bracket!First Class Queen: Come on Down!). Second, and more importantly, who cares about March Madness? I have not watched one game this year and do not know any of these players. NIL and the transfer portal have killed college sports. Players have no allegiance to universities and go wherever money or playing time takes them. While players should be paid for their services, no one appreciates the unintended consequences of this free-for-all system. March Madness wants to expand to 72 teams, the college football playoffs want to go to 14. Tradition made college sports great. The jersey meant something to the university, the coaches, and especially the fans. Now, it means nothing. Take Colorado football as an example. It is no longer a university team. Instead, it is a group of mercenaries playing for Deion Sanders. Where he goes, they go. It’s bad enough that the NFL and NBA have turned into the WWE, but those are professional teams. While it sounds naive, the point of college sports is that amateur athletes played because they loved the game and because they wanted to represent their university. The crazed fans followed suit because they believed that the competition was based on something more than a paycheck. How else can you explain the relief and elation I felt after Michigan finally won the national championship (see Michigan Wolverines National Champions! I Can Die in Peace)? Sadly, that’s all over. The marquee match-up of the future will be Prigozhin Wagners playing the Hyped Harbaughs. I hope somewhere Kordell Stewart is saying a Hail Mary that I’m wrong.
a man standing in a parking lot with his hand up
Buck the Fuckeyes? Or will no one care?

Simply The Best: February 2024

My quest for automation in blogging has not gone according to schedule. It’s time to get back on track and stay true to my blogging hours (see TPOL Opens M-F at 9:07AM EST). Here are the great but limited posts from February 2024.
  1. Whale Swimming Tonga: What Was I Thinking?
    a blue ocean with waves
    Swimming with whales in Tonga is officially at the top of the list for the most reckless activity
  2. 2024 Residencies Announced! Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town
    a man standing on a platform with a city in the background
    The plan is to spend 6 weeks in each city living, eating, drinking, and enjoying my life as a local.
  3. Pho 39: Choice #2 in NYC
    a bowl of soup with meat and sprouts
    If you don’t want to go downtown because of the weather or because you dread the subway, go to Pho 39.
  4. Grayson NYC: Stay for the Revival Bedding
    a statue of a dog on a desk
    When I checked out, I had to stop by and ask the front desk where they bought their bedding. The pillows were remarkable and the comforter was much better than the one at home.
  5. Capital One Venture X Business: Send Help, I’m Approved
    a close up of a credit card
    When I saw the offer for the Capital One Business Venture X, I told myself to let it go. I don’t need to spend 20k in 3 months. I don’t need another 150k points. But then I looked at the business expenses that are coming up and rationalized that pre-paying them would not be reckless.
  6. Avianca’s LifeMiles Chat Sucks: Are You Surprised?
    a screenshot of a chat
    Instead of cyber-bullying Mia the moron, I called Lifemiles by phone.
  7. Death Penalty for Opening an Emergency Door?
    a glass of champagne on a table in a plane
    People do dumb things.

Capital One Venture X Business: Send Help, I’m Approved

This year I wrote Am I Losing the Points Game? The premise for that post was that I was spending too much on annual fees. I also will admit that I spend too much because I churn too much leaving me with minimum spends that convert want to do’s to need to do’s. I’m not buying things just to meet the mins, but I am buying them all at once to hit the mins. When I saw the offer for the Capital One Business Venture X, I told myself to let it go. I don’t need to spend 20k in 3 months. I don’t need another 150k points. But then I looked at the business expenses that are coming up and rationalized that pre-paying them would not be reckless. As far as the $395 annual fee, it will not help my desire to see the total balance decline (see 2023 What I Spent (And Received) in Annual Fees). But, the card does come with a $300 travel credit which, combined with the points, more than offsets the introductory fee. The only question is whether I will keep the personal card (see Keep vs. Cancel (Proactive Edition): Capital One Venture X).
a close up of a credit card
Send help, I’m addicted to churning.

Whale Swimming Tonga: What Was I Thinking?

Whale Swimming Tonga is part of the Bula! Fiji Hub Trip Report.
I have done my fair share of adventurous things. Some were riskier (and dumber) than others (see Wild One: TPOL’s Top Daredevil Activities). Swimming with whales in Tonga is officially at the top of the list for the most reckless activity. It almost did not happen thanks to my irresponsible way of not planning anything in advance. Booking I arrived in Tonga in style (see Fiji Airways Nadi to Tonga: The Best Business 737 Experience) with no plans on what to do while I was there. I had read somewhere that tourists could swim with whales. I started searching for it on my phone. I quickly found out that this is the main attraction in Tonga as it is one of the few places in the world where it is allowed. With only one full day remaining, anxiety took over as I tried to find a company that would take me on this excursion. Many of the websites said that they did not do single-day tours. Many said they were sold out. Many had been shut down because they had their license revoked. On TripAdvisor, I read that one company had ‘lost’ a tourist. Too busy trying to secure a reservation, I did not take the time to think about what that meant. With no leads, I went down to the front desk of my Little Italy Hotel (see Guns & Butter Travel Guide: Tonga) to see if they had any referrals. The woman called someone on the phone and despite not speaking Tongan, I could tell that the news would not be good. She hung up the call and told me that the operator was in the hospital and that he could not take me out. She then gave me a phone number for another operator called Deep Blue Tonga. Armed with only a phone number, I didn’t have much hope that I would connect with someone. Luckily, the number was connected to a WhatsApp account. Within minutes, I received a reply that there was availability for the next day but that the weather might not be ideal. The operator wrote, “Please be aware that the weather forecast is stating that the wind will be strong. Just need you to be aware as boat ride will be rough.” With no hesitation, I wrote, “I can handle it!” TPOL’s TIP: Contact Deep Blue Tonga via Instagram or WhatsApp at +676 7716268. Cost The cost was TOP550 per person ($232). I was told to be ready at 6:20 am and was told to bring a jacket and a towel. Lost Tourist With the booking complete, I now had time to do more research on the lost tourist. I was unable to find any information, but suffice it to say I don’t think the tourist went AWOL on purpose. I did not sleep comfortably that night. Disclaimer I woke up the next morning anxious about embarking on this adventure. I was not reassured when I read the disclaimer provided by the company: I, Alexander Bachuwa, hereby affirm that I have been advised and thoroughly informed of the inherent hazards of snorkeling/whale swimming. I understand that neither my instructor, Deep Blue Diving Tonga, nor any of its respective employees, officers or agents may be held liable or responsible in any way of injury, death or other damages to me or my family as a result of my participation in this activity, or as a result of the negligence of any part whether active or passive. Legal Analysis I had a similar disclaimer in my bungee jump experience in Victoria Falls (see 3,2,1 Bungee! Bungee Jumping Victoria Falls) where, incidentally, the rope did snap on a jumper (watch Woman survives terrifying bungee failure). I knew, understood, and appreciated the risks that came from jumping off a platform. I did not know, understand, or appreciate the risk that comes with swimming with whales the size of Greyhound busses in the middle of the ocean. It was also off-putting to read that the outfitter could disclaim negligence whether it be active or passive. My thoughts went back to wondering what happened to the lost tourist. Small Boat vs. Little Boat  We were supposed to go out in a small boat. Luckily, there was a change of plans and we went on a bigger one. a boat on the water A Millonaire’s Yacht Before setting off in search of whales, we were informed that we would have to make a stop at a mega yacht to pick up a few more passengers. Nothing says disposable income like a mega yacht. I asked the owner how much it costs to have a yacht such as that. He said the price of a car. He did not elaborate. I assume he didn’t mean a Toyota Yaris. a sailboat in the watera sailboat in the water Safety Instructions All aboard, we were told to pay attention to the safety briefing. We were told to avoid contact with the whales. In the past, curious whales approached swimmers and did not practice social distancing. If, for some reason, the whale came too close, we were told to get away as quickly as possible. We were also told to wave our hands in the air should we have a panic attack in the open sea. Procedure for Swimming The swims would go as follows: the spotter would yell “whale starboard” or “whale port.” The group would then jump into the water and follow the guide while trying not to splash. Whale Fact Do you know that whales can hold their breath for one hour underwater? Their calves cannot and must come up every five minutes. Keep that in mind for later. Whale Season Whale season begins in July and ends on October 31st. I was there on October 27th. I was also told that since it was so late in the whale season that most outfitters had closed up shop for the year. Those guides typically only go out a few miles from shore to spot whales, finding it cost-inefficient to spend money on fuel to venture further. In addition to the legal disclaimer, I was also informed that it was not guaranteed that we would see whales. This reminded me of the great white shark experience in Cape Town (see Ripoff Alert! Great White Cage Diving in South Africa with SharkLady Adventures). Egocentric TPOL We were out at sea for hours. I was losing hope that we would encounter whales, and I was growing bored. I started to think that the universe was against me. First the great whites in Cape Town, the rabbit in Malta (see Guns & Butter: Malta Travel Guide), and now the humpbacks in Tonga! As we sailed on, I wondered why they didn’t rely on technology like the dude from Ace Ventura. You see those blips? That’s a Norwegian whaling fleet. I’m sending them new directional coordinates. They’ll find Jimmy Hoffa…before they find any whales. Then I recalled how my guides in Kenya were able to spot animals with nothing more than their bare eyes, something that I would struggle to do in a gym (see Maasai Mara: Day 1 of SafariAmboseli National Park: My Second Beautiful Safari). As we drifted further and further away from land, I began to accept that we may not see whales today.
a group of men on a boat
The captain and lookout crew.
Group 1 Ready! All of a sudden, the guide yelled “Group 1 Ready! Starboard!” Group 1, of course, were the millionaires. They scrambled to the back of the boat with their fancy snorkels and fancy wet suits and prepared to disembark.
people on a boat with people on the water
Group 1
I went to the starboard side and took a photo of the gigantic whale. I have seen humpbacks in Maui but never this close. Words, photos, and videos cannot describe these creatures.
a blue ocean with waves
Can you see her?
Group 2 Ready! The guide then said, “Group 2 Get Ready!” As I was rushing to the back of the boat, I was told to hold off. The whales had disappeared again. Gloom took over once again.a whale swimming in the ocean Group 2 Ready! (Again) The whales were spotted again and once again we were told to get ready. I jumped in the water. It was shockingly ice cold. I began to follow my guide. The other members of group 2 were hastily doing the same. I was kicked in the head by a flipper and was struggling to keep up with the guide. I was out of breath and exhausted. Meanwhile, waves were crashing down on top of me filling my snorkel with water. It was at that moment I came close to removing my snorkel, coming to the surf, and waving my hands in desperation. It was at that moment that it dawned on me that I was in the middle of the freezing cold ocean with relentless unyielding waves attacking me from all angles. And it was at that moment that I questioned why none of us were wearing life jackets. Instead of continuing to hyperventilate through my snorkel, I removed it from my mouth, reminded myself that I knew how to swim, and ignored how out of control this situation was. a person swimming in the water I got about fifty-feet out and then suddenly the great beast appeared before me. I tell ya he was ten stories high if he was a foot. As if sensing my presence he gave out a big bellow. I said, “Easy big fella!” . . .  I could see directly into the eye of the great fish! [interruption] Mammal. Whatever. Greyhound Bus While I was no longer scared of becoming the next lost tourist, it did occur to me that this animal the size of a Greyhound bus was going to have to come up for air soon. It was probably not the best idea to hover much longer. My guide then ushered everyone back to the boat. It was quite a sight to see a bunch of humans fluttering around trying to get back on the boat while nature had its way with us.people swimming in the oceana person swimming in the oceana person swimming in the ocean The Adventure Continues We went out a few more times after that. Each time the waves seemed bigger and bigger and the danger ever more clear and present. Within that chaos, I found calm, focusing only on getting more quality time with the humpbacks. a group of people in scuba gear in the water Time to Head Back We were supposed to take one more swim with the whales but the guide said the water was too rough. You can imagine how bad it must be if, in my opinion, the waters were already treacherous. I asked the guide how far out we went. She said 30 miles.a boat with waves in the water Videos Our guide had a GoPro and captured videos of the adventure. I also purchased videos that she had taken in what I presume were more calm times. Versus my swim: Overall When I wrote, Wild One: TPOL’s Top Daredevil Activities, I was looking for thrills that were not artificial, manufactured, or man-made. This was it. Nothing will compare to this experience. It was everything wrapped into one: thrilling, death-defying, stupid, holistic, sadistic, and, dare I say, optimistic. Can you believe that these whales come back every year to Tonga to have their calves? Nature is still in business. Swimming with whales was incredible, even if it meant putting myself in harm’s way.
a man sitting on a boat
Happy to be alive.
 

Terrible Targeted Offer: AA Gold for 200k Points

I have no airline status. The closest I have to anything resembling status is Spirit Saver$ Club (see Why I Joined Spirit Saver$ Club). And that’s not status. That’s a discount program. Today, I received this offer from AA: a screenshot of a credit card Who would sign up for such a lousy offer? What benefit would I receive from being gold? For 80k miles, I was able to book a flight from Saudi Arabia to Puerto Rico (see How to Book the Best Itinerary: AA, Avios, Aeroplan, Miles & Smiles, Flying Blue, LifeMiles, Capital One). I’m not going to burn 199k miles in the hopes that I receive an upgrade from Detroit to Chicago. Please comment on why I’m making such a terrible mistake by not signing up. And then send me $2,000.  

Grayson NYC: Stay for the Revival Bedding

Grayson Hotel Review NYC is part of TPOL in NYC.
Getting There: The best way to get there if you’re coming from EWR is to take NJT to Grand Central and then walk.
Introduction  When I came to NYC for work, I used to stay in Long Island City (see Hyatt Place Long Island City Hotel Review: It Was the Best Deal in NY). The points deal is over (see Long Island City: No Longer a Secret Thanks to Amazon). Points ‘middle class,’ I opt for convenience over frugality. For me, burning more points to stay in Midtown during winter and being within walking distance of my meeting were better than saving a few thousand points and enduring the subway. And since I was going to overpay on points, I decided to try out a new hotel: The Grayson.a building with glass doors and a signa entrance to a hotela tree with pink flowers in a lobby Location The Grayson is located at 39th and 6th Avenue, steps away from my second pho restaurant (see Pho 39: Choice #2 in NYC). More importantly, I was within walking distance to my meeting in Midtown, something I did not want to do on the cold, slushy, freezing day. The alternative was a $50 Uber that would have taken much longer. a statue of a man in a park Room While the room wasn’t big, it was well-appointed.a room with a bed and a desk a bed with a wood paneled headboard and a desk a room with a bed and a desk and a tv a room with a tv and a desk View Got one window facing a brick wall. While it wasn’t facing a brick wall, there was not a view. I enjoyed the snugness of the enclosure. I also find something romantic about fire escapes.a room with a tv and a painting on the ceilinga building with a pipe going through it The Bedding  When I checked out, I had to stop by and ask the front desk where they bought their bedding. The pillows were remarkable and the comforter was much better than the one at home. All of it comes from Revival New York. I went to order bedding from them but like all great items, they are not available to ship to my home in Puerto Rico. a bed with a desk and a picture on the wall Bathroom Jerry’s got nothing. Newman’s got nothing. You’re the only one I know who’s got the good stuff, and I need it bad, baby, cause I feel like I got bugs crawling up my skin. Now you gotta help me out.  I couldn’t live in New York with this weak water pressure. Other than that, I liked the gold touches of the bathroom.a bathroom with a sink and mirror a sink with gold faucet a group of small bottles of hair wash a shower with a gold faucet and a white towel on a racka window blinds in a room Notable Item  The notable item in this room was the dog. I wonder how many go missing and how much guests are charged when they do.a statue of a dog on a desk Bar Absent a complimentary drink, TPOL does not drink or dine at a hotel bar. It is too bad I’m too frugal as this one was quite nice.a room with tables and chairs and trees Overall Compared to the nightly rate of $400, 18k is a steal. Compared to the prices of other points hotels, 18k is a bargain. If it wasn’t the dead of winter, I would probably have saved my points and stayed in LIC as 18k is better used for vacation destinations, not work meetings. a front of a hotel

Death Penalty for Opening an Emergency Door?

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People do dumb things. Here’s the latest:

A Canadian man has been arrested in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai after he allegedly opened the door on a commercial plane and triggered the evacuation slide prior to takeoff (read full story here).

The article goes on to say that he faces the following penalty: If found guilty he could face the death penalty, imprisonment of up to 20 years, and/or a 600,000-800,000 baht ($16,700-$22,300) fine.

I’m going to guess that he gets fined and banned from returning to Thailand.

I’ve done some dumb things when I’ve traveled (see TPOL’s Travel Lessons), but I have yet to be arrested. How about you? What’s the dumbest thing you have done? So I, like my readers do to me when I share such stories, can call you stupid too.

a glass of champagne on a table in a plane
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight.

Avianca’s LifeMiles Chat Sucks: Are You Surprised?

Avianca Chat is part of the Buenos Aires, Cape Town Residency. Read Vote for Where TPOL Will Move Next And… and TPOL in Madrid: Why A Second Residency? to understand this innovative residency phenomenon.
The first step in my Buenos Aires Residency was to book a flight from my full-time residence, Puerto Rico. In theory, this should be very easy. I found the business class flight on lifemiles.com for 40k points and hit ‘submit.’ I received an error that my reservation could not be completed and that an agent would assist me. I waited for a live person to come on the chat but the only one to show up was Mia, an ironic but fitting name. Mia didn’t understand anything. After repeated attempts to communicate with Mia, she gave me these options: a screenshot of a phone I selected the second one and thought progress was being made. I was wrong. a screenshot of a chat I clicked the option again and again but Mia’s brain continued to be unavailable. Instead of cyber-bullying Mia the moron, I called Lifemiles by phone. Now, I am waiting for them to send me the payment link which could take up to 72 hours.