Experience the Strange and Twisted World of Internet CafesWritten by Jesse S. Somer
Being a novice of Internet and realms of technology in general, idea of hanging out in an Internet café scared me about as much as it used to when I first sat in front a computer trying to figure out how to turn thing on. Pictures of super-obese, nerdy, snotty-nosed tech-heads filled my head as well as visions of stagnant, sterile rooms crammed with blue screens flashing latest comic heroes and teen idols. Well, I just went on a trip to several countries around world and I ventured into this unknown sector, as I wanted to keep in touch with people back home. Although I admittedly didn’t visit many of these cafes (I needed a break from computer worlds of school and work), few I did see were quite different from what I expected.First stop was a café in Prague, Czech Republic. This was hidden down an alley but was next to restaurant so it seemed safe enough. I paid equivalent of just over $1.00 U.S. for a half hour on machine-not too bad eh? Now I don’t know if I was attacked by an evil spirit or just had something with my brain that day, but for some reason it took 25 minutes to just get into my hotmail! First of all, keyboard was different, and in weird ways I tell you. If you hit Y key it came out as a Z and vice versa. I was surprised later in London that their keyboard was also different from ones’ back home. I thought keyboards were universally same around planet! I finally got into my hotmail, sent a one sentence email and left. Looking around me as I departed I saw that most of people using computers were so-called normal folks like myself, mainly backpackers and tourists, but also businessmen etc. If I had more patience that day it probably would have been a nice atmosphere to be part of, I saw that they served coffee and tea, but as I was in a beautiful foreign place I needed to get out under Sun amidst real action. My other main experience in public Internet world was to be in North of London in a suburb called Neesdon or ‘Sneezdon’ as Aussie mates I met up with liked to call it. Here, Café was totally different from previous one and I assume –I don’t like to assume-that like people, each café is an individual entity with both positive and negative traits as well as bonuses and letdowns. This ‘café’ was in back of a mobile (cellular) phone shop and was just a tiny room with a handful of computers that no one else seemed to be interested in, everyone looked more focused on phones, but I have a weird feeling they might have been dealing something else ‘under counter’ that was sparking hot interest.
| | Playa del Carmen, Mexico: Beyond the All-inclusive ResortsWritten by J.P.
Mexico's Caribbean Coast has become a top vacation destination over past few years.What attracts most visitors to area is many mega-resort properties that line Highway 307 from Cancun to Tulum, also referred to as Riviera Maya. People are lured by miles of beaches, clear turquoise sea, and ability to leave their wallets in hotel safe for a week for an all-inclusive Caribbean holiday. Unfortunately, if you never leave resort, you miss out on experiencing culture and beauty of Mexican Coast. Playa del Carmen, once touted as a tiny fishing village where backpackers and hippies pitched their tents on beach, has now grown into a thriving, developed town. Playa, as locals call it, still retains a charm that can't be found in Cancun's high-rise hotel zone. About 40 miles south of Cancun, Playa del Carmen's location makes it a prime spot to set up base while exploring rest of Mayan Riviera. Local bus service runs from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen. Busses are modern, with televisions, reclining seats, luggage racks, bathrooms, seatbelts and air-conditioning. The bus station in Playa is on edge of 5th Avenue, downtown's main pedestrian walkway. Lined with outdoor cafes, bars, restaurants, shops, and hotels-this is where both locals and tourists gather to enjoy a meal while traditional Mexican strolling mariachi bands stop to play along street. Due to large influx of foreign business owners relocating to area, you will find Asian, Thai, Italian, Argentininan, and French cuisine along with traditional Mexican and Mayan restaurants. To experience some of best and most authentic Mexican food, take a short walk off of 5th Avenue, along Juarez or 10th Avenue. Local vendors around town square sell fresh fruit and home made tamales and sweets.
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