Name: Sylvia
City, Country: Scotland
Sent: 9.02 AM - 4/23 2002
Hi Brian
I am still here! I am looking forward to reading Ramon's report with Steve Irwin as I think he is an amazing character. I have to go to work now, so will look in later.
Cheers everyone xx
Name: Brian
City, Country: Durban, South Africa
Sent: 6.03 AM - 4/23 2002
Hi all
Airline food? Some people collect stamps, coins, medals, glasses, shells, and lots of other interesting things. But pictures of airline food? Joan, I take it you've seen this website. Does the food look appealing, or plastic, like all other airline food?
This chap must have a lot of money to go flying about all over to take photos of airline food. I'm really curious, what is interesting there?
Oh well, different strokes, I s'pose. We should respect each other. All the best to this chap.
It's nice to see Joan and Sylvia back regularly again, you ladies have been quiet recently. Hey, does anyone know what happened to Donatella? Last I heard, there was a plane that crashed into a tall building in Milan, and I hope that Donatella was not in there.
Cheers all, for now. Ramon, keep smiling, dude!
Sala kahle
Brian
Name: Marilyn
City, Country: Noosa... Qld
Sent: 1.40 AM - 4/23 2002
Dear Ramon , Congratulations on your great trip and may it have the rewards you desire. AXES to the Sunshine Coast Daily , The word Freeloader means arriving and staying without an invitation. Quiet different from what you are doing. They have a poor knowledge,of what you are doing. Having hosted students without financial gain from all over the world,the reward is in the opportunity of being able the share a meal your home , town and country and to see the appreciation on the receivers face. Ramon you have many more fun times ahead, travel in safety and never forget the word" thankyou".
Name: James H Pemberton
City, Country: Belton, Texas USA
Sent: 10.49 PM - 4/22 2002
Ramon. You are welcome to visit me at my home in central Texas,for a day or longer if you like. I am retired, have transportation, live alone on a small acreage about 40 miles south east of Crawford (Texas White House).
Name: Sylvia
City, Country: Scotland
Sent: 9.06 PM - 4/21 2002
Hi Ramon
I can see that you are still having a great time down in Oz. I am looking forward to reading your report with Steve Irwin, who I think is absolutely brilliant. I have watched him many times on TV handling huge crocs which he usually sits on and also poisonous snakes. The guy is so fearless and entertaining.
I recently bought a new Mk 2 Renault Cliosport 172 and I was wondering if they have them down in Oz! Has anyone who reads this website got one?
Bye for now
Love Sylvia & Family xxx
Name: Patrick
City, Country: Roma, Italy
Sent: 8.55 AM - 4/21 2002
Hallo Ramon,
I must say pretty inventive of you there. I have been travelling myself aswell now the last 2 1/2 years. I am also from the Netherlands. But am doing it, the hard way as they say, working and saving to go further.
I do not know how long I will be here, but at least untill the end of July before moving on. I saw the list of invitations that you got, so if I was you...well Italy is nice but some of the invitations I would rather go to. But anyway, here is my invitation for the eternal city...
Good luck and keep up the good work.
Ciao
Patrick
Name: Christina
City, Country: Federal Way, USA
Sent: 6.57 PM - 4/20 2002
Hey Ramon! I just read about your project and I think it's pretty gutsy. But keep on going, I wish I had the courage to do what you're doing. And by the way, how did you get the name Ramon? It sounds more Latin or Spanish than German. Okay that's all for now. Take care and be safe!
Name: Margaret
City, Country: Minneapolis area, USA
Sent: 5.56 PM - 4/20 2002
Ramon, visiting your website is my new favorite thing to do first when I sit down to do anything at the computer. Your descriptions are fantastic! You give us a window into many wonderful (or at least interesting) places and people and ways of living. Your slightly wry sense of humor gives it a personal touch.
I wanted you to know that I enjoy the photos, and sometimes copy my favorite ones (usually landscapes) onto my computer to use as screensavers, etc.!
I can't wait til you get to the USA. I feel sure you'll be invited to talk on the late night talk shows, etc. If you get to Minnesota, maybe our governor (Jesse Ventura) will invite you on his radio talk show.
Anyway, keep living the good life. I agree with many others that you are NOT a freeloader; you are giving back plenty through your unique way of making a living: sharing and reporting in a most creative way. I love your maps, website links, and much more.
You don't say if you're a Christian or not, but so much of what you're doing sounds a lot like the way Jesus encouraged many to live: simply, humbly, unencumbered, gratefully.
Waiting for your arrival in Minnesota whenever you get here!
Name: Addie
City, Country: GEELONG, VIC. Australia
Sent: 12.57 PM - 4/20 2002
Formerly from Holland myself, I think this is the best way to see the world. Save travelling, and hope to catch you, when you're down here. Saw an article about you and your website in the Herald Sun .Good luck!!
Name: Phaedra
City, Country: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Sent: 5.15 PM - 4/19 2002
Found out about you when I read a posting in the elevator at work! Funny how that works! What you are doing just confirms my suspicions that most of the people in the world are decent and honest. Best of luck in your travels and see you when you make it to Canada!
Name: elma van leeuwen
City, Country: the netherlands
Sent: 3.39 PM - 4/18 2002
Hi Ramon,
This is so cool what you are doing.
I wish I would have thought about it but ye.
I read every report on your site and it is nice to read your stories. I also went to australia and you see a lot things back at your pictures.
I almost get home sick.
well it is not my home bit it feels like it.
Keep on going and good luck
Name: John
City, Country: Australia
Sent: 12.21 PM - 4/18 2002
that is one smart man let me tell u i just read thru the whole site and he's brilliant especially for his ages what a concept
Name: juraine
City, Country: Laem Chabang, Chonburi, Thailand
Sent: 7.23 AM - 4/18 2002
Hi! read about your adventure on the TRAVEL section of the local English daily. what a neat idea!
hope you have a safe journey. tried to submit my invitation but something wrong with the link. anyway, if you're ever in Thailand, you're invited to some seafood here and a place for the night. i'm just about 2 hours from the capital, Bangkok, and half an hour from the famous Thai beach resort, Pattaya.
CHEERS!!!
Name: Joan
City, Country: USA
Sent: 6.27 AM - 4/18 2002
Welcome back Brian.
I have a neat word document of "emoticons" if I could figure out a way to add here.
And since we can't share email addys, how do we do that if anyone wants it? Want to post it Ramon? I'll send to you, you decide. :-) []
Cheers,
Joan
Name: Brian
City, Country: Durban, South Africa
Sent: 6.13 AM - 4/18 2002
Jeez! I go away for one day training, and when I get back, there is this plethora of information about sand mining on an Ozzie island! Thanks Joan, I'll check out those sites a little later. And, we have an "emoticon" for a hug, ---> "[]". Cool, I've never seen that one before.
Munk, I thought your one-liner was brilliant! Really funny, I can understand why you and Ramon get along so well.
Ramon, keep up the great journalism. There are lots more treasures out there, just longing to get into your reports.
Sala kahle to each of you.
Brian
Name: Daniel Schmitt
City, Country: Narita, Japan
Sent: 3.26 AM - 4/18 2002
Ramon,
I think what you're doing is great. If you get the chance to come to Japan, I live near the airport, so you are more than welcome to stay with me. I work at a high school, so if you wanted to meet the kids, I think they'd love to hear about what you're doing. The world cup will start soon, so I hope you can come. Best of luck!
Name: Joan
City, Country: USA
Sent: 2.59 AM - 4/18 2002
Hey Bret, thanks for the virtual hug, always appreciated. :-) Here's one back at ya []!
Joan
Name: Bret
City, Country: CA,USA
Sent: 10.05 PM - 4/17 2002
Joan, give yourself a hug for me. Brian asks a question, and you respond with a wealth of info. Thanks for the informative links. Now I know this doesn't satisfy Brians inquisitive mind on how the sand is shipped put on Hawaiian beaches, but given some time we'll find out through this board. By the way. To all those who are new to this message board, I consider Joan high ranking in the "Board of Supporters" at this site. Hugs again to you Joan.
Sala kahle
Bret
Name: Jeanine
City, Country: Grahamstown, South Africa
Sent: 9.59 PM - 4/17 2002
Good one Munk :-)
Name: Vanessa
City, Country: Oxford, UK
Sent: 9.32 PM - 4/17 2002
Met Etienne the other day and was totally blown away when he said he was your brother! Why build data warehouses when you can be travelling the world!
Have been addicted to this site from the start. Hope you continue to have a good time!
Lots of love Vanessa
Name: Ann
City, Country: Sacramento, California, USA
Sent: 6.20 PM - 4/17 2002
Wow, I thought I had an adventurous youth by working on cruise ships. However, there are many places I've never seen, including Europe and Australia. If only I'd thought of this back then!
Good for you for doing something like this when you are young. You'll remember it for a lifetime. I'm glad you are getting the press too.
If you make it to my town, I'd be glad to put you up. You can learn about dull, suburban California life. :-)
Name: mark johnston
City, Country: Dublin Ireland
Sent: 4.41 PM - 4/17 2002
what a great idea and fair play to you for having the balls to pull it off! wishing you safe journey on your travells and hit me back and let me know who puts out the cat in the white house!!!
slan leat..........Mark.
Name: Alli
City, Country: Devonport,Tasmania, Australia
Sent: 1.34 PM - 4/17 2002
My sister told me about a really cool guy who was travelling around the world by thumb, & I should check out his web site. I think what you are doing is very inspiring, I'm sorry I can't offer you a place to stay, do hope you manage to get to tassie, It's one of the most beautiful places in the whole world. I think so anyway, Good Luck and safe travels.
Name: Munk
Sent: 9.22 AM - 4/17 2002
No, you don't. It's full of silly comments by persons like me.
Name: Maria Perkins
City, Country: Japan
Sent: 3.56 AM - 4/17 2002
I want to read the message board.
Name: Joan
City, Country: USA
Sent: 3.06 AM - 4/17 2002
Brian and all,
You got me wondering about this "sand mining", so I found some web sites for our continuing education as we travel the world with Ramon:
http://www.consrutile.com.au/
http://people.hws.edu/mitchell/oz/Stradbroke96.html
http://www.amcs.org.au/periodic/mbbnews/htm/1999_07Jul.htm
Very interesting stuff. Thanks again Ramon, and all your hosts and hostesses, for allowing us to share in your travels.
Best regards,
Joan
Name: Maria
City, Country: Payson, Utah USA
Sent: 10.22 PM - 4/16 2002
You told Karran, from Victoria BC, to wait on her career and travel now. I wholeheartedly agree!!! I am 37 years old, married, college educated, have three children, own a business, etc., and even though I AM happy with my life at this point, doing something like you are doing would be wonderful, but is simply not an option for me now. Life's responsibilities cannot be ignored, but if you can just put them off for a short time and create a wonderful experience for yourself while you still have the freedom to do so, THEN DO IT!! You (and Karran) are both still young...what will it hurt to spend some time seeing the world now? I think it will serve to enrich all areas of your life in the future. I think what you are doing is inspiring. Someday, I hope my husband and I can go around the way you are right now. Best of luck to you, and stay safe!
Name: Nina
City, Country: Cairo, Egypt
Sent: 6.57 PM - 4/16 2002
Why try to put me off with all the rules and patronising language? Some of us usually wanna say something nice..anyways i thinks its great that u get to travel around the world on the invitaion of others, but if my sister handnt read off a lettle column on u from B! [brit. magazine] i would never heard about u or ur website, maybe ur could advertise more, since u know so much on computers and stuff.
enjoy ur life.
Name: Coralie spencer
City, Country: England
Sent: 5.47 PM - 4/16 2002
Hi Ramon
just having a look to see how you are doing ...and WOW...very well, it seems ...Great to read of all these travels ...Keep enjoying it all ..My sister Rene, has only weeks to live , and says to tell you "ENJOY" so I have ....each day is brilliant ! You are our eyes and our learning !
loads of hugs
Coralie
Name: Brian
City, Country: Durban, South Africa
Sent: 6.51 AM - 4/16 2002
Hi Ramon
I'm back again, having just read your report about the sand from the island's mines. That story seems to be too far fetched to be true. It seems so strange, so absurd, almost impossible.
What minerals do they mine there?
There are many tones of sand on just one beach, and I'm sure Hawaii has many beaches, each requiring their tons of sand. And they fight a losing battle, as the sea continuously washes away the sand.
It must be a strange sight indeed; ships offloading sand into a truck, which then drives to the beach and just dumps it there. Or do the ships offload directly from the sea with long pipes?
Hey man, this is facinating stuff. I'm very curious to know more about this. I don't suppose they tell you this in the travel brochures for Hawaii.
Bret, you have an enquiring mind, what do you think?
Ramon, please ask a bit more about this, I'm sure that others are also keen to know more.
Hamba kahle
Brian
Name: Janet
City, Country: Westwood, USA
Sent: 10.17 PM - 4/15 2002
Howdy: Read about you in the Boston Sunday
Globe yesterday. It being April 15th
what do you do about filing your taxes?
Have fun.
RAMON:Jane, I don't have to fill them out. Someway they are probably in my mailbox at home, but how can I fill them out?
Name: sherina
City, Country: kl, malaysia
Sent: 2.35 PM - 4/15 2002
just a note to david from brisbane, australia and anyone who would like to get a journal going on their website while travelling - there's some fairly simple scripts that you can install and whenever you're at any computer with an internet connection can update your website with easily. i've seen many people doing that already. blogger, anyone? ;-)
also, if you bring along a digital camera on your travels, don't forget the driver installation disc, and perhaps a few blank cds. most places would allow you to install your driver and hey also burn your pics onto your cd. if you're lucky they might already have a memory card ready and you'd be more than set to go.
best of luck! ;-)
Name: Etienne
City, Country: The Hague, Netherlands
Sent: 8.16 AM - 4/15 2002
Hi little bother,
I received your foto's from Stratbroke Island. Awesome ! I think I better plan my holidays in one of those cottages with a sea-view ! (By the way , you should wash your feet more often ,hahaha)
See Yah !
Name: Leonard Stephen Ondu Majakil
City, Country: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Sent: 8.09 AM - 4/15 2002
Dear Sir Ramon Stoppelenburg,
Indeed, the best thing in life is FREE or FREEDOM. I would spend my last night in any White House if it makes the HOME PLANET a safe peaceful EARTH. Yes, I wish inviting you to your White House would send a very positive message. You deserve the best Ramon. You know exactly that you are not a freeloader. I hope we are in the same track but of different modes. Time and Space will tell. Bye now.
A weak mind and a weak heart? Never.
LSOM.
Name: Bret
City, Country: CA,USA
Sent: 6.32 AM - 4/15 2002
Well Brian I have to thank you for that last post. Your too kind. But let's not mislead everyone. We all know you have some of the best posts, with valued information and insight.
Nancy if you happen to visit the "Board" again, I'd like to know what California paper you read about Ramon. I need to get a copy.
Ramon, since your mailing list went who knows where, I went back to your main page to see what I missed. You updated to a great picture of you sitting having a drink. I really like that shot. Just says it like it is. "I'm a nice guy traveling around the world on peoples generosity". It works for me. So, who took the pic?
Hamba kahle
Bret
Name: Brian
City, Country: Durban, South Africa
Sent: 6.08 AM - 4/15 2002
Hi all
Well, Nancy must be new here. There is someone from California that posts messages here. It is Bret. And not just any messages, but some of the most positive and inspiring messages that we will find.
Nancy, visit Ramon's messageboard more often,and you will "meet" some of the world's best people, Bret included. He and I, along with people all over the world, are the unofficial (well, Ramon didn't say no...) Board of Supporters for lms4ad.
Sala kahle
Brian
Name: melissa
City, Country: New zealand
Sent: 4.30 AM - 4/15 2002
What a cool idea
Name: Nancy
City, Country: California,
Sent: 1.08 AM - 4/15 2002
I have not seen many people write to you from sunny California. Sounds like a great trip. I read about you today in the paper. Good luck to you.
Name: June
City, Country: Vancouver,Canada
Sent: 12.09 AM - 4/15 2002
What a great adventure!!! I just saw and article about you in our local paper and hope you can visit Canada soon. Have fun!!!!
Name: mary
City, Country: Thunder Bay, Ont Canada
Sent: 8.43 PM - 4/13 2002
Just read about your travels in the local newspaper and had to check out your website. Congratulations - you are doing things that everybody else just thinks of doing. It takes guts - good for you - have fun!!
Name: Nick Koster
City, Country: Hatzic, British Columbia, Canada
Sent: 8.41 PM - 4/13 2002
As a fellow Dutchman, (albeit somewhat older) I had the traveling bug and traveled to my native Holland (and the rest of Europe, Greece, italy, Spain)4 times in my younger days. I already e-mailed you our invitation to stay at our place. Have a great, long, happy and healthy trip. Hope to see you sometime. I haven't read through your entire website, yet, but will do so. It looks very good so far.
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