In the previous SimplyLeave.com article we went over how to transport your money in such a way that it vanishes, now let’s look at three money-toting methods that encourage it’s persistence.

Creative Commons picture by infomatique.

3) Money Belt

Your crotch is pretty high on the list of “areas of your body that you instinctively protect.” Why not use your instincts to your advantage? When you carry money near your genitals, you will be surprised how fast you react to someone try to grab it.

Don’t use if:

You put ALL your money in there. It is embarrassing to have to root around in your crotch when you want to buy that candy bar in the airport. You can get arrested for that in some places.

Even beyond your pride, reach into your money belt all the time sacrifices one of it’s main advantages: that people don’t know you are keeping your money by the baby maker.

You are usually better off if you carry the things you will need frequently somewhere else.

2) Inside Your Boot (Under That Little Insert)

Inside your boot and under your foot is one of the most inaccessible non-body-cavity options you have. This inaccessibility is your shoe-safe’s biggest asset. I don’t even have to mention that you shouldn’t keep your short term money there. You just aren’t going to. Plus, imagine being a thief tasked with getting your fingers in there without the “mark” noticing. You would need an event more distracting than everyone else wearing see through clothes.

A plastic bag around your money is suggested.

Don’t use if:

You are transporting a faberge egg instead of paper money.

1) Credit

There are few things more secure than a worthless piece of plastic that provides only you with money. If someone else wants it enough to threaten you, give it to them. By US law you are only liable for $50 of unauthorized credit card charges. Many credit card companies even exceed this required level of protection and don’t hold you liable for any such charges. It does help the company if you let them know your card was stolen though.

Don’t use if:

You are headed to those remanding parts of the world that don’t accept credit. These are places like rural china and the drive in movie theater near my apartment here in the states.

Creative Commons picture by gruntzooki.

3) In An Open Purse, in Cash

A big wad of cash loosely stuck in an open purse is like a big red button with a sign that says “do not push.” Previously honest people will be tempted. Those who have spent the last few years working at a boring job will wonder if they could get away from it. Even a devout monk would get a rush of adrenaline looking at it. It is just so easy.

Extra points if:

You only hold one side of the purse, so gravity seductively pulls it open.

2) Cash Taped to Your Elbow

I have no idea how you would end up with cash taped to your elbow. But, I have a feeling that the story about why you have money taped to your elbow is worth far more than the actual money you could lose. As a result, I’m not wholly against this situation.

Extra points if:

You walk up to strangers, say numbers and expectantly wait for them to tell you if that is the amount you have taped to your elbow.

1) Ask a Stranger To Carry Some Cash For You

Truthfully this is just a somewhat mean donation. On the plus side you get to choose who gets the money. This way you can be reasonably confident that the person who gets it needs it. Unfortunately this particular donation comes with a side of guilt and a dash of shame.

Extra points if:

You tell them they have an “honest face” before you ask them to carry your money.

I have been spending my time preparing for an upcoming trip to Italy. Who knew that trying to get a debit card with low currency conversion fees could be such a pain?

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know about the upcoming abundance of Italy-related articles and probably a few more Italy-caused delays.

Ever since I first started making really good blobs of Legos, I have wanted to make a boat out of them. As a five year old I remember saying “I will create either a boat or a spaceship out of these” while triumphantly holding fistfulls of Legos in the air.

This was a dream that I later gave up. As I got older it become more and more clear to me that Legos didn’t have the strength to weight ratio needed for such an enterprise. Not to mention how difficult it would be to make a Lego-only structure that was water tight (or for a space ship air tight).

It looks like someone else did not talk themselves out of their dream.

However, even if you think “the butterfly” is a type of pastry, Beijing has a lot to offer you. In the last few thousand years it has been able to accumulate a lot more than just the uneven bars. Here are three sights you shouldn’t miss on your next visit to the city formally known as Peking.

The Forbidden City

Creative Commons picture by r_neches.

In the category of “places that display the might of an empire” the forbidden city is arguably cooler than the death star. Visitors are allowed to see about 2/5 ths of this incredible palace complex. You can marvel at the beautiful yellow roofs (the color of the emperor) and vast courtyards secure in the knowledge that Darth Vader never ordered this complex to destroy a planet.

The Temple of Heaven

Creative Commons picture by [Satbir].

Since the emperor, who was regarded as the son of heaven, gets such a cool palace it only makes sense that there should be an incredible building dedicated to heaven itself. This is that building.

As you climb the three levels of engraved marble that make up the alter of heaven you can reflect on the fact that you stand where emperors of imperial china once went to pray.

If you show up early enough, you will also be able to see locals doing their morning tai chi in the parks surrounding the temple.

Rent a Bike and Wander The More Traditional Areas

Creative Commons picture by j.fisher.

Aside from the grandeur of monuments like the temple of heaven and the forbidden city the homes of the grassroots citizens of Beijing are also worthy of a look. Built around central courtyards, many of these siheyuan houses are still in use today.

Creative Commons picture by gadl.

If you plan on camping in an area with bears, or other almost-as-tough-as-chuck-norris animals, pepper spray can be a nice “just in case” tool. It can also be used for self defense when you don’t trust all the humans around you. That said, it is illegal in places like Canada, Belgum, Hong Kong, an many others. Even in locales where it is legal, it can be a bad travel companion.

The solution: flashlights. Airport security usually doesn’t care about them and they can be bright enough to temporarily disorient an assailant. If things get really bad and the bear just keeps coming, you could always use a big flashlight like a battery powered club.

As normal light bulbs have become more energy efficient our ability to make really bright bulbs has also increased. Some flashlights are so bright they advise people to keep them out of the reach of children. Running off of just a few batteries these flashlights can do there job so well that they are self-defeating. They can light up the path in front of you to the point of making it difficult to look at. Luckily, most flashlights with this sort of capability have lower settings.

Check out this video demonstration of one such flashlights. Even when the camera adjusts to the brightness it still can’t record the image from the center of the beam.

Here is another video that compares various flashlights.

1 - The Weather

Creative Commons picture by extranoise.

As blasé as it may sound, talking about the weather actually works. The weather is something that we all experience, are all influenced by, and usually don’t blamed on strangers. A quick “I’m glad it is such a nice day” or “wow, I wasn’t expecting that rain” is a nice non-aggressive opener.  It is so good at starting conversations that I sometimes wonder if all of human society would fall apart without such a topic.

Disadvantage

You can get trapped in a conversation doldrum. Once the ice is broken you are still miles from other topics.

2 - Use Props

Creative Commons picture by Richard Moross.

Photos of my family and home town are not only surprisingly interesting to strangers, but usually lead people to talk about their own family and town. On that long train trip this can start a very interesting conversation about various cultures. It also has the advantage of introducing you as a person with a mother and a father, someone who is more than just a nationality. That is the type of person people can identify with.

Disadvantage

Like a good boyscout you have to be prepared. The props have to actually be on you when you want to start the conversation. Since I sometimes have trouble remembering my pants, this is a lot to ask.

3 - Ask Advice

You are trying to learn from these people right? You could always just ask them. Perhaps they know some good restaurants or fun sights in the town you are headed to. If you are daring enough to mention where you plan to sleep, they could even save you quite a few bed-bug bites.

Disadvantage

If you start with something big, this can come across as a bit to forward. Who really trusts a stranger’s opinion about which graduate school they should go to?

There are also times when you can’t get out of your reservations. In these cases knowing that you are trapped in a bad situation can just make things worse.

Finally, don’t discount the chance that people can lead you astray. Some people really like hookah bars others are asthmatic.

Once The Ice Is Broken

Once you start talking one of the best ways to bring the conversation to another level is to volunteer a story about yourself. That story where you mistakenly ate a frog can cause people to laugh and even offer a similar story about themselves. The ideal story for such a situation is probably a little embarrassing. That way people don’t feel threatened or challenged to a “which one of us is cooler” contest.

When to Stop Talking

If you show people a picture of your dog Stinker, but they don’t make eye contact and reply in grunts, they don’t want to talk. In these situations continued attempts to start conversations will just piss them off. It is probably best to just sit there.

Creative Commons picture by *Solar ikon*.

Starting a conversation with a stranger in a distant land can certainly be intimidating. However, it is worth it. Advice from a local can help make your trip far more comfortable. That conversation could even become one of your fondest memories of the trip.

Check out the reflection in his visor. It is of the astronaut who took this picture.

I can see the desolation, extreme isolation, and unfiltered bombardment of solar radiation…but that reflection. It strikes a cord in me that results in both amazement and a touch of fear.

A Rate of Climb Comparison

The building of such a tall structure in Taiwan demonstrates a certain amount of moxy on the part of…well…almost everyone involved. Taiwan is a seismically active area that has a history of getting pummeled by typhoons. It has the natural disaster downsides of both Florida and California. This is where they decided to build a huge skyscraper.

During the building’s construction the area was even hit by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake. Some cranes were knocked off the nascent structure, however, even in such an incomplete form the structure didn’t flinch. When the next typhoon hits, the building is designed to handle that too. Taipei 101 can sustain winds of up to 137 miles per hour.

Creative Commons picture by Wm Jas.