Travel - nolanhergert/notes GitHub Wiki

Italy

Cinque Terre? North west beaches.

Florence

Reserve a spot in the Uffizi museum (David, etc) to skip all the lines.

Naxos, Greece

Mom heard about this island. Just writing this place down: https://en.spitogatos.gr/property/2111593860

Destinations

  • San Jose, Costa Rica. There's an Intel campus there too. Sankar liked it.
  • San Juan islands.
  • Rome, Bangkok?
  • Bali is apparently a cheap and nice place to hang out. Relaxing

Oregon

  • Visit Mcspaddens Haskells in .... central oregon somewhere.
  • Tamanawas Falls on east side of Mt Hood

Alaska

Uncle Marty recommends. Alaska, deadhorse, Mile Post walmart. Everything is bigger up there. Go in the summer, plenty of sun. Katmai national Park. Cabin on plane landing on glacier in Katmai park in Alaska. 500 normally the flight, but what is hut price?

US

Several people I've talked to say they were most impressed with Utah's outdoor sites the most. Moab Utah (town to stay in), arches and Bryce canyon.

Japan/China?/India Trip Fall 2023

  • One-way tickets are the same price and easier to book rather than multi-city. Also allows flexible dates easier
  • Book with USBank Connect card? 4X travel points

Checklist

  • Register for trade show in Shenzhen. DONE!
  • Solder grabber things for oscilloscope probe
  • Bring along electronics tools, including soldering iron and hot air gun, programmer, extra bits and bobs, small section of track

Japan

  • Get cash from post offices (no fee)
  • Do I want to go to Fuji? It's on the way if I take shinkansen from airport? Maybe go while season is still going! Also go to Fuji instead of Fuji-Yoshida for a different perspective? I don't need to do roller coasters I think...
    • Buses open until sept 10 (Sunday). Leave Fujinomiya Station at 8:15AM (next one is 12:55PM, not enough time), and last bus down from Fuji Subaru station is 6:40PM. Leave every hour. Bus schedule https://www.japan-guide.com/bus/fuji_season.html
  • Deer area? (Nara, 30 minute train ride from Kyoto, sweet!)
  • Bike rental near Kyoto Univ. 3500y / month! https://emusica-dmcy.com/en/
  • Long term share house! Nice! Entrepreneurs sorta. Sorta far from touristy stuff, but close to interesting people though and it sounds like they do group activities, nice! https://apartments.gaijinpot.com/en/rent/view/348304. Fespa Kyoto
  • Nama/Royce chocolate
  • Baseball game?

Shenzhen and Guangzhou

Hong Kong

Contact the IP lawyer Albert in Whatsapp (check email) if needed

  • https://www.globalsources.com/trade-fair/hongkongshow
  • Might want to spend two weeks so you can quickly iterate on ideas.
  • Microspheres for diffusion
  • Electronics market
  • Manufacturing line somewhere?
  • Read Hacker Trip To China: https://httc.miraheze.org/wiki/HTTC2021 (plus older one for notes). Can't swing the vacation days at this time, but maybe another time.
  • Need to bring verification tool if you want to buy components. (randomly test them)
  • M0.2 gears and steppers? How cheap can you get the whole package with micro steppers? Look into other gear types like worm? https://khkgears.net/new/gear_knowledge/introduction_to_gears/types_of_gears.html. Maybe just buy a bulk variety pack for a small diameter axle.
    • While you're there, buy some axles too.
  • It seems more practical over there. Inventing manufacturing machines as opposed to picking favorite color. Like SNL "iPhone" sketch
  • What are factory's incentives? Probably get exclusive manufacturing rights. What about others ripping them off and selling for less?
  • Someone told me once that the folks he talked with were really good at making something as cheaply as possible while still being good enough. Optimizing the design. Is that a more universal trait of folks in Shenzhen? Designers? I mean...I do it too!
  • Try out some switches? Especially SKPMAME010
  • Macro lens for smartphone? Test them
  • Try out $10 smartwatch with phone, gps, and "blood glucose monitoring"? Android
  • More key retractors
  • Grip pad, but rougher. Might be better than sandpaper for project, but probably not
  • Check aliexpress cart. Volcano nozzle + CHT copper insert?
  • Suppliers for LCD adjustable sunglasses? What does supplier want? They source subcomponents from other people? What about testing/certification? Aren't they worried about others ripping them off? Race to the bottom, etc.
  • How much effort will get put into redoing all the tooling and test bed and validation, etc? Clearly the quality is good enough for most Amazon random products for decent reviews. Do any manufacturers riff on a design?
  • How much does it really cost Ronbo or others to do a sample? $200 likely not...Is it amortized? Don't they want committed 3000 order first? Do they do the setup in a test lab so it's cheaper?
  • How does AliExpress work on the manufacturer side? They are all distributors, right? Do they take care of ePacket shipping easier? How are they combined in LAX?!
  • Lightweight hat, long sleeve shirt for India? Why do they wear pants in india? Not wanting to buy sunscreen?
  • QC15 replacement cable and head cover thing? Try it out...
  • Replacement temple grips? , specifically for puma computer glasses

JLCPCB

  • How do they trim all the individual boards down to a good looking edge? That's a lot of work! Vacuum table.
  • How do factories ship? Can they do ePacket?
  • What are some things that you aren't allowed to film? The secret sauce I guess? I don't even know what that would be...
  • Are you subsidized at all? How do you break even on pricing?!
  • What would you say you are proud of?

India

  • Visit Jayaraj?
  • Visit Agrawals. The next door neighbors, the Han family, says hi!

LA Trip

Itinerary

Foo Bar
Monday Six Flags MM, maybe stop by Griffith Park on way back?
Tuesday Disneyland day 1
Wednesday Disneyland day 2
Thursday/Friday * K1 Speed on birthday? ($25 for one race, get 2nd free)
* Hike Modjeska/Santiago Peak? Holy Jim is closed, but other route is not
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/us/california/modjeska-peak-via-joplin-truck-trail?mobileMap=false&ref=sidebar-static-map
* Dinner with Al?
* Black Star Canyon w/ Falls https://goo.gl/maps/5fqZuVQGkTTvsDuE7
Hiking poles and 3L water bladder, food/lunch
Friday Drop dead is ... 4pm for leaving for LAX? Not sure. Maybe do something on that side of town to be sure. Beverly Hills?

Car Rental

Probably want to go with Hertz & Gold Membership. Reviews especially for Hertz Gold make it fast check out and fast check in.

  • Aaaand Intel discount brings it to $234, the same as the cheap places! DONE!

Every car rental spot is a shuttle away.

Bring car insurance (GEICO proof), and book with Fidelity card as it now has rental car coverage! Otherwise Bank of America card, not sure about wells fargo.

Slow Travel

Van Life

Seems preferable on the surface to staying in motels. Shower at Crunch Fitness / 24 hour fitness, stay overnight at Walmart if needed. Lets you go to Disneyland / California Adventure / etc. for N days! Take it slower and cheaper.

Probably want a van over a small car for room for sink and heating instruments.

While working

I've tried working remotely before, and my brain takes a few days to settle down. I think if I know I can spend a month in the same place, then it might work! Walk/jog a new route every evening.

  • Comfortable and varied seating
  • Good internet
    • Not always needed, but sometimes need to remote into a system
    • Wifi can be unreliable or not allowed. Getting a data plan is a game changer here though, and fairly cheap for 25GB of data or whatever. For $30/mo with cancellation!
    • Might want a high gain usb antenna just in case. But if you're in an apartment complex, maybe direct routed is better?
  • Good-ish monitor and good chair. Work at a university or local library and plug in.
  • Food. Rent out an apartment for a month+, comes with fridge and laundry machine, food prep, utensils, etc. Knife and cutting board? Maybe just ask
  • Visit the apartments before signing.
  • Not need a car to travel. Bonus points for close to train, rentable bicycles, close to grocery store.
  • VISA
  • It will be a lot more difficult with children (or a different job!)
  • Would like to hang out with someone from Japan. Kiyoko :)
  • What is theft like at that apartment? Don't want to have work laptop stolen.

Off-Grid Communication

  • I found these earlier, radacat. Bluetooth + ???? adapters for your phone. The only benefit for these over walkie talkies is that if the person falls / can't communicate, it is always sending out a GPS fix. However, just have a tie for the walkie talkie around the person and you should be fine.
    • Continuous GPS transmit seems like it'll drain the battery faster.

See Mark Ocker's email with you about walkie talkies. I prefer them...

Gorge Trails

  • Christopher G. liked Munra Point

Destinations

Checklist

  • Book flight, car, hotel, using Intel travel codes. Search on Money Matters for Prout posting "the whole website for all the various codes", or maybe on circuit for "travel rewards". Not providing link because IT. https://circuit.intel.com/content/hr/mobility/travel/travel-rewards.html

  • One bag checklist: https://www.onebag.com/list.html, maybe Doomsday Prepping for less crazy folk: http://lcamtuf.coredump.cx/prep/, doomsday_prepping_for_less_crazy_folk.pdf

  • Get immunizations done, NOW

  • Update STEP, NOW: https://travelregistration.state.gov/STEP/Index.aspx

  • International Driver's Permit (if necessary), passport, driver's license (REAL ID necessary by May 2023) in safe place, plus picture backups of all of them. Is that it?

  • Grab/Uber preinstalled with CC information just in case

  • Put lastpass on phone?

  • Laptop plus charger plus mouse

  • Make sure messages.google.com continues to work on phone staying at home plugged in while the screen is off for a good period of time

  • Set up beneficiaries for … who?

  • Make physical copies of passport and important papers (visas), and have a picture for good measure. Save on phone/Dropbox.

  • Earbuds w/ microphone for calls. Make sure that it sounds good, especially compared to laptop microphone. Bring a backup.

  • Are the flight dates right

  • Tell credit cards / debit cards you are traveling.

  • Pack debit card that you can easily withdraw from. First Tech credit union?

  • Use Wells Fargo Autograph card, 3% on everything travel and covers rental car, no foreign transaction fee. Use sofi card as backup, 2% on everything else?

    • Bring car insurance (GEICO proof), and book with Fidelity card as it now has rental car coverage and no foreign transaction fees! Otherwise Bank of America card is another option.

  • Vaccine card, passport, minimal credit cards, Oregon ID, photos of everything. Emergency 4-5 days of money in case you need to transfer money from U.S. and the debit card doesn't work. 1% transaction fee. Store in middle of backpack. Ask at hostel to borrow a lock or keep in safe.

  • Lock for hostel or ask if you can borrow one.

  • String / floss with hole in shorts or something similar? https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/88235/are-there-types-of-fasteners-that-are-more-pick-pocket-resistant

  • Earmuffs so you can listen to things in peace, but also earplugs for sleeping at night comfortably (muffs are bulky).

  • 1 athletic shorts, 1 non athletic shorts.

  • Hurley nice shirt, 2 nicer one-layer shirt. Buying a reversible shirt would be good too, 2 styles in one! Maybe buy one or two there if styles are different? Like that spanish guy at CMU.

  • Wow, he recommends long sleeve linen or equivalent light-colored shirt, more than t-shirts and shorts. See what is at a goodwill in Poland or something. See what it's like in Poland…

  • Deodorant, brushing toiletries. Less toothpaste, more shampoo.

  • Package or two of fancy detergent to remove smells easier, as often not included with washing machine. Extra ziploc bags for anything.

  • House slippers if in Asia?

  • Belt

  • Robust pair of decathlon sandals (my personal preference). 5. NH100, Arpenaz 50.

  • Sunscreen

  • 3 pairs of (polyester/etc?) underwear, 2 pairs of socks

  • Utensils: Chipotle plasticware! Free, good looking, and robust. Not: Metal (airport security), Spork (too annoying for me to use),

  • Remove lighter from camping bag. Sweet, TSA is ok with them.

  • Target sealable plastic container with spork/knife, just in case nothing is at dorms. But, you can just buy/borrow it when you're there too.

  • Otherwise shopping bags for carrying food is just fine. No fine cuisine here…

  • Pre-load laptop or phone with some reading / videos / programming / thoughts. OpenCV camera shake tracking thing?

  • No contacts (just glasses) in 3rd world countries? Might want to get a slightly better prescription before leaving

  • Waterproof your backpack by lining with garbage bag?

  • Velcro on pockets w/ important things in them so you can hear pickpockets opening them.

  • Jerky/bars for plane ride and first hiking. Need predictable food and water at first.

  • Crampons for potential snow on hikes.

  • Insulating gloves.

  • More toilet paper than normal in case bidet isn't available.

  • Remove pocketknife from orange bag. Keep lighter though.

  • On normal phone:

    • Forward SMS messages
    • Cancel Parental Control on router for that device
    • Turn off alarms

  • Appropriate winter/summer clothes if necessary, ideally worn on plane.

  • Carry-on weight and quantity is underneath flight limit. 1 bag, 8kg/18lb is worst case I think.

  • Contacts / glasses

  • Travel adapter + 3 outlet harbor freight splitter if needed

  • Mask

  • Make sure credit card used for rental car has collision coverage. Fidelity card doesn't have it anymore!

  • Dashcam if needed.

  • Medication / pills / vitamins

  • Hat / bandana, pants, long sleeve shirt for hiking. Sunscreen.

  • Offline dance-ish music for driving? Or turn on radio?

  • Check hiking checklist (hiking bag mostly)

  • Priority Pass, travel card (Clipper card for SF)

  • Fan, seat cushion for easier working. Try out, do I need keyboard / mouse?

  • Q-tips, ibuprofen, iron tablets

  • Quick dry towel? check if hostel / hotel provides one

  • Elastic wash line for drying?

  • Bag for dirty laundry?

  • Low cost competitor to Google Fi?

    • Airalo is $9 for 30 days of 3GB. Good deal for short <3 month trips
    • Surfroam is $25 for one year of access for ~1.25GB and $.02 per MB. So good for very intermittent.

  • Dawn dish soap as clothing detergent? Dollar tree carry on size, doubles as plate and hand soap

  • AAA batteries for Bose headset, or just buy more as you go

  • USB C to headset adapter + backup?

  • USB SD card adapter

  • Make sure athletic and gaff tape are full. Some small zip ties, just in case?

  • Plastic utensils, bowl just in case for hotel?

  • Mens grooming devices (hair trimmer, nose/ear trimmer?)

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