Things you see traveling you wish they had in your country (cost, hotel)
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It's interesting that better transportation is a common theme.
I too wish they had better public transportation around where I live, and not the nasty, slow arse buses that take forever to get somewhere and are filled with nasty, smelly, hostile people who you never know might attack you out of the blue. Like Europe and Asia for example.
Other things I wish they had more of was clean, cheap street food. I know many places have street food in the U.S. but nothing like parts of Asia where they have cheap stalls all over the place, and it's cheaper to actually eat out than buy and cook food.
Chip trucks like they have in Ontario. In summer, there are chip trucks everywhere that sell freshly made french fries made of real potatoes that are hand-cut and fried right there in the truck. They also sell other things like hot dogs or peameal and cheese sandwiches, but the idea that you can get real homemade french fries everywhere is amazing. I mean, you'd think this would be a standard thing in NY or NJ, which have food trucks all over the place but not any specializing in french fries.
Good God yes, I once even made accidental eye contact with someone sitting in a stall through the door crack at an airport in USA. What on earth possessed them to have a three centimeter gap there?
Haha, I make a conscious effort not to look, though I occasionally see someone's cell phone screen. Regarding the thing I wish were available where I live, I'd say a certain ice cream in China I used to eat. It's a vanilla/chocolate combination on a stick in the shape of a happy face. I'd always eat as much as I could when I visited. It tastes lighter than the usual ice cream available in the stores here.
*** PLEASE let's try to keep this thread away from abstract (possibly hot button political) topics like healthcare, gun rights, etc. ***
1. Noodle bowls and hot water. In Asia many train stations, bus stations, airports, and even the trains themselves have hot water dispensers that can be used with the cup-o-noodle type products sold by vendors. Cheap hot meal, fast, hits the spot, and avoids the usual way overpriced options.
2. ???
This is actually a really good idea!
1. Food is dehydrated, no need to worry about liquid spilling or leaking while food is being stored or transported.
2. Hot water being dispensed on site can provide a hot meal anywhere, and is preferable, at least to me, over a shared microwave (the ODORS of a break room microwave). Even if 99/100 people are considerate. The ONE will ruin the work of many.
3. Disposable packaging means you don't have to carry empty, used tupperware around with you.
Some really good ideas here from previous posters. My favorites were:
1. Night Markets (Heeeelll yeah)
2. High speed rail / better public transit (Duh)
3. Bidets / better public restrooms (Loved this in Asia)
4. Manual transmission rental cars (sometimes I just need a fix)
For mine, I would say Ciclovia. I found this when I was in Mexico City. Every Sunday from 8am-2pm, they close down most of Paseo de la Reforma for miles and open it up to anyone on foot or wheels, and it's a tremendous community event.
It really adds a lot to the community, local fare (street food!), and exercise. I was also able to take unique shots of architecture downtown I have rarely been able to see from the middle of a street.
In the Netherlands they have a single card which can be used on all public transportation - buses, intra-city trains and trams, and inter-city trains. You touch the card to a reader on the bus or train, and it automatically deducts the price of the trip. Locals can refill the card online from their bank account; tourists can do it at a number of convenient offices. It makes getting around really simple and easy! I wish we had something like that.
The San Francisco metro has the Clipper card, which can be used on pretty much any mode of public transportation, eg buses, trains, cable cars, even ferries.
As for the thread topic, here's my wish list so far, in no particular order:
1) Japan's vending machines, which can be found in some of the most random places (ie middle of nowhere), such as this one.
2) airport amenities like karaoke booths (Beijing) and movie theaters (Singapore)
3) potato chips with interesting flavors -- masala, chicken, lamb etc.
4) Christmas markets
5) blankets provided by restaurants when dining alfresco in the evening (Denmark)
I also like some of the ones already mentioned here, such as pedestrianized streets, an extensive rail network and bathroom stalls that offer better privacy.
The San Francisco metro has the Clipper card, which can be used on pretty much any mode of public transportation, eg buses, trains, cable cars, even ferries.
As for the thread topic, here's my wish list so far, in no particular order:
1) Japan's vending machines, which can be found in some of the most random places (ie middle of nowhere), such as this one.
2) airport amenities like karaoke booths (Beijing) and movie theaters (Singapore)
3) potato chips with interesting flavors -- masala, chicken, lamb etc.
4) Christmas markets
5) blankets provided by restaurants when dining alfresco in the evening (Denmark)
I also like some of the ones already mentioned here, such as pedestrianized streets, an extensive rail network and bathroom stalls that offer better privacy.
There's a movie theater in Singapore's airport? I'll have to check that out next time I go there.
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