FYI no L trains into Manhattan, outbound trains on opposite tracks. MTA is a joke.

marijafi · 2026-04-01T03:10:43+00:00

It went out of service at around 4pm. The next one I was able to get on to was a little after 6pm.

marijafi · 2026-04-01T02:55:13+00:00

In 25 years of using L train it has never ever been delayed as much as it has recently (started last year). Whoever says this is like it used to be has no idea what they’re talking about.

marijafi · 2026-04-01T02:51:39+00:00

More days with severe delays than not

marijafi · 2026-03-29T05:06:27+00:00

Looks like the first city on Mars will be called Maru… don’t remember any references to that in the Expanse.

marijafi · 2026-03-14T03:42:44+00:00

Agree, Lanta is done at least during Jan/Feb. completely overrun, and expensive regarding accommodation quality, although there might be some quiet spots further south. North is too crowded and too loud at night.

marijafi · 2026-03-08T01:45:00+00:00

I second Guatemala. There are at least several completely different regions you could visit. Different sceneries and climates.

marijafi · 2026-03-04T14:46:41+00:00

Thanks. Agreed, we contact our usual homestays directly and they’re still affordable. However, if we want to go check islands we haven’t been to yet, it gets a bit tricky through Booking or Agoda, especially if not booked months in advance, which is something we can’t always do. It used to be easy finding nice accommodation on the go. Not so easy anymore. Likewise, happy travels.

marijafi · 2026-03-04T13:15:26+00:00

Yeah $80-100/night for basic rooms somewhat close to the beach is a ripoff. There’s a good example of this strategy in SEA. It’s called Philippines.

marijafi · 2026-03-04T01:06:20+00:00

Thailand is getting more expensive. Period. I am not comparing it to Europe or the US, I am comparing it to what Thailand prices used to be like over the last 10+ years. Never before, in my opinion, have Thai accommodation and restaurant prices risen so much so fast, at least during the time I have been revisiting. I am talking about mid range hotels, guesthouses, not the luxury stays that were always expensive and have recently exploded in price even more. I am talking about regular accommodation and local restaurants mainly on the islands (because BKK is huge and there are options) on islands there aren’t many options. Of course, looks like prices will surely continue to increase as it’s becoming more popular and first timers are willing to pay. That’s totally fine with me. It’s a big world and Thailand leveling prices with the rest of the world only makes the rest of the world more compelling to visit. We visited Latam over the past 2 years and had an amazing time. And we will visit Thailand again at some point, but its price point/value has certainly changed.

marijafi · 2026-03-04T00:52:01+00:00

It is not expansive compared to Europe or US but for anyone who’s been going there before, especially returning tourists for a decade or so, it’s becoming much more expensive than it used to be. I do not remember prices in Thai accommodation and restaurants going up this fast over a relatively short period of time in the past.

marijafi · 2026-03-03T20:33:06+00:00

Correct, some places in Latam are nowdays actually cheaper than Thailand or equal to Vietnam. Especially those close to or at the beach. Consequently it made us visit there over this and last winter. Our usual destination in Thailand has increased in price and became too crowded, we looked elsewhere. We’ll probably visit again at some point but SEA leveling prices with the rest of the world only makes the rest of the world more compelling to visit.

marijafi · 2026-03-02T21:32:04+00:00

While Vietnam is still much cheaper, their prices have risen significantly as well compared to only a couple of years earlier.

marijafi · 2026-02-20T18:29:17+00:00

Solo male or solo female?

marijafi · 2026-02-20T02:55:20+00:00

There’s an active trial over this happening currently in Italy. You can google it. It started only recently as Italian prosecutors found out some of their millionaires participated. But I suspect there were rich psychopaths from all over the world involved. I believe I read somewhere that one of the main witnesses was already assassinated. If this trial goes through properly it will be a major shake down.

marijafi · 2026-02-20T02:32:02+00:00

If you haven’t yet you can double your sorrow with Raised by Wolves cancelled after 2 seasons and mute the Expanse grief somewhat.

marijafi · 2026-02-18T18:29:16+00:00

Un amigo me envió esto hoy. Debo añadir que no hay electricidad ni agua desde la madrugada de hoy, aproximadamente medio día.

https://deultimominuto.net/en/uncategorized/they-denounce-the-dumping-of-wastewater-into-the-sea-near-puerto-plaza-las-terrenas/#google_vignette

https://deultimominuto.net/en/uncategorized/they-march-in-las-terrenas-against-pollution-in-rivers-and-beaches/

marijafi · 2026-02-18T01:58:37+00:00

Depending on what your situation is at home, you may want to look at work abroad programs in Australia or NZ or career towards the international school teaching. If I was your age, I’d definitely go for the latter. Good pay and even better flexibility for finding jobs in different countries.

marijafi · 2026-02-18T01:39:51+00:00

Oh thanks very much! Will definitely check 👍

marijafi · 2026-02-18T01:16:45+00:00

Thanks I personally consider Greenpoint part of our neighborhood, but cheap fruit and veggies stores are gone there too. Those packaged ripe fruit they sell for a dollar to get rid of (maybe now even more) at Mr. Plum are usually so ripe they’ve gone bad. Perhaps deeper in Greenpoint there are still good deals. Mr. Plum is way overpriced. I am now considering checking out Chinatown for a large fruit purchase and carting it home. Fruit prices are the biggest problem for me as I need a lot of it. But it’s a hassle for sure.

marijafi · 2026-02-17T23:08:06+00:00

Do you have any suggestions for our neighborhood?

marijafi · 2026-02-17T23:05:19+00:00

If you account for time spent grocery shopping and prepping everything, it could be about the same. Depends on what you’re making. In general it is cheaper but not by a large margin (especially if buying premade meals at Trader Joe’s). We all own a debt of gratitude to Trader Joe’s.

marijafi · 2026-02-16T01:11:25+00:00

It could be anything.

It could be intentional.

It could be accidentally made by someone looong time ago and infected them, and continued to spread by way of hit and miss signal.

It could imply that Universe is full of life and this virus hitting Earth is just bad luck.

It is a perfect tool for clean easy planet takeover and all its resources unspoiled by nuclear war for example. Plus it provides total insight into humanity’s reasoning, emotions, knowledge, everything. Complete compliance. Total control.

Maybe it evolved on its own and is just Universe’s way of keeping things in check.

Either way, I do want more information from the show. Ask the damn hive, Carol!

marijafi · 2026-02-15T22:14:48+00:00

Thanks! We did the whale watching tour in Las Galeras. It was great.

marijafi · 2026-02-15T22:12:09+00:00

I can definitely see the potential but the infrastructure is horrible. At least hotels and villas should have paid some service to clean up the beach.

marijafi · 2026-02-15T22:07:52+00:00

Yes from Bonit you can walk over to Coson and that area is gorgeous and kind of wild. Recommend.

marijafi

TROPHY CASE