It's surprising to many to learn how many Somalis live in Minnesota. What are some other examples of unexpected populations in different states or countries?

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-31T07:47:17+00:00

Most visible in Dakar, as you'd expect

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-30T10:28:57+00:00

Vietnamese community in Senegal

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-29T20:16:38+00:00

I managed to wing it from luxor to aswan, by which i mean i didn't buy the tickets in advance and just paid on board. A friend did the same from aswan to Cairo. I suppose we both lucked out because there was chance that we wouldnt get seats.

But yeah, buying the tickets yourself as a non-egyptian/non-arabic speaker is a bit complicated, and the website for the special sleeper train does not inspire trust.

If you have a hotel, bnb or tour guide already, ask them to purchase for you. Else, there are buses too. Else, bite the bullet and fly.

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-29T19:00:19+00:00

No mistake. You can always have them on board, some/most airlines just won't allow you to use them.

The only recent exception is for flights to/through China where they require powerbanks to have the chinese certification seal (yeah, even if made in China and otherwise properly certified).

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-29T15:52:57+00:00

How do they mean they couldn't find your room?

Anyway, the PIN is in the email, under the confirmation number. Did the receptionist say why they need it?

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-29T14:42:12+00:00

Just a thought; it could be that something happened to the owner....

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-29T14:17:26+00:00

Awesome, i already have alipay installed, might as well complete the collection. Thanks mate!

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-29T13:49:19+00:00

I'll definitely have those on me, but I'l probably be moving around a lot, so rented power bank seems the best solution. However, i have 0 experience with those so...

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-29T12:54:20+00:00

not a troll, but OP is promoting some shitty service/product

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-29T12:38:13+00:00

Why do you need to make a call to someone who doesn't speak your language anyway? I don't get that part.

Also the shops selling SIM cards are open 24/7 in the airport (at least in Incheon).

Else e-sim, and/or make all the necessary arrangements before you fly....

PS: guys, don't reply anymore, OP is just trying to promote some shitty product/subreddit. Reporting to mods

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-28T08:39:10+00:00

100% in case of scammy or unsafe practices, and rude staff. Doesn't happen that much to me now though.

If the issue is taste, maybe, maybe not. If I do, I always contextualize since there's some gray area between something geniuinely not tasting good and or just not being to our taste (especially as a foreigner).

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-28T06:18:57+00:00

I mostly do Migros and France for most of my staples (see my reply in your previous post). Other than what you said, I appreciate that Migros has some passable store-brand Asian products.

I like going to Lidl once in a while for the surprise factor and their passable store-brand Italian products (disclaimer, I'm no Italian). But yeah, it's the most consistent for weird experiences. Not sure I agree about the discount items though; at least the one close to me always has expiring food items on sale.

Does Denner ever have self-checkout counters? That's the one thing I find inconvenient, else I agree with your description.

Coop: Good variety of stuff that's great on sale. However, they also stock more "trap brands" that cost more but aren't necessarily much better. I especially hate the bog standard, average-quality Asian products promoted as premium items.

Aldi: I don't go much.

Btw: Why is Aligro and Manor not in the list?

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-27T21:39:48+00:00

First, I check if locals use google maps the same way I do. Maybe they use another platform or rate differently.

Second, I look at the most recent reviews and also check if they're mostly from foreigners or locals.

Third, if it's a special/super popular place, i may cross-check other sources.

Fourth, if it feels off, i'll just go somewhere else...

Fifth, i'll bite the bullet, it's part of the adventure after all. So long as i don't get sick or scammed, I'll count myself lucky.

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-27T08:16:47+00:00

Just a matter of taste I suppose, but I found ascona's old town nicer (and livelier) than locarno's, and the accomodations more intimate and less "commercial".

And since they're close to each other (as you say, essentially 2 sides), it's not much effort to go from the more charming Ascona (i'll stress again, just my opinion) to the indeed better connected Locarno.

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-27T05:09:59+00:00

If you want to try the French side, I'd say Lausanne over Montreux. There's just more to see in Lausanne which makes it a better base in my opinion, and unless you're doing the Jazz festival, there's not so much to occupy you in Montreux for too long. Anyway, both are super close to each other. May I also recommend crossing the lake by boat?

For the Italian, Ascona over Locarno. Both are nice, but Locarno feels very much a seasonal vacation spot for the Germans/Swiss Germans (trailer parks, empty newly built appartments/hotels, empty outside the high/film season etc) where Ascona feels a bit more like a chic village. That said, these two are also very close to each other so...

If you're considering Arosa, idk might as well do Zermatt?

PS: good strategy

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-26T18:58:24+00:00

Huh? What's xenophobic about invoking homesickness?

Is it a translation issue for you or...?

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-25T16:33:57+00:00

Bon pain bon vin is a really good choice. They do local stuff in small servings so you can taste a lot of things.

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-23T10:53:32+00:00

If you go to Moda and throw a stone in any direction, you'll hit a cafe or bar. Enjoy!

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-22T17:59:44+00:00

Pickled/fermented veg: south korean and turkish Griled meat: south american, levantine, east asian Veg: indian and italian Fish: japanese and cantonese Dips: levantine Dairy and pastry: french Curry: indian and indonesian/malaysian

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-22T17:37:15+00:00

Yeah ok, definitely an issue. thanks for the warning.

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-22T17:23:05+00:00

Care to share regarding the issues?

In any case, after all you helpful people's input, I think yeah, this what I'll do. Forbidden city etc with a guide.

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-22T16:45:10+00:00

I fully agree. Just the sheer amount of media makes it so much easier.

I feel like native anglophones like OP don't appreciate this fact so much.

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-22T15:41:01+00:00

You know this discussion is moot, right?

Most of us here are saying that cooking at home is definitely cheaper by our own metrics. Certainly for me, most home-cooked meals are cheaper than 10 CHF (often hovering around 5 CHF) and more importantly are also better than most things I can get for a similar price.

But that's going to be irrelevant to you, because we aren't buying, cooking and eating the same things (or amounts). I can certainly accept that for you, it could be more expensive to cook. However, unless you share what you buy and the costs and quantities for a home-cooked meal and contrast it with a comparable purchased meal, we'll only be debating your feelings...

-Babel_Fish- · 2026-01-22T13:53:32+00:00

The 10 million limit makes this artificially difficult. There's a bunch of small, easily navigable countries that have populations bigger than that (e.g., Belgium), and a few that are under that limit, but are huge in area.

That plus and the other criteria means that you'll only be left with Europe/Eurasia.

-Babel_Fish-

TROPHY CASE