Can’t wait to see how Miki, my travel mate, will react to this. Entering shops, placing orders in a restaurant, pretty much everywhere you get greeted by a phrase that might look like this:

“Hello (Sir), how are you doing today?”

When I first went to California, this warm and open greeting seemed kind of alienating to me. You get asked how you were doing today… In the most formal restaurant? That – to me – used to be material I talk to friends and people close to me about. Not waiters. Not staff. Until I realized that this is not supposed to be some intrusive question or anything of the kind. It’s just a way to greet someone and loosen up a bit.

You are not expected to give detailed updates to your waiter on your critical condition concerning your inflamed right pinkie toe. Just shoot back a nice “Fine thank you, and you?” and where ever you are – may it be in a café, restaurant, shop,… everywhere – the person that will be helping you for the day will appreciate it.

What Europeans get wrong very often: You are not expected to give orders to a waiter before you greet him/her accordingly. That would be considered entirely rude. “Hello, how are you?” – “Two scrambled eggs and bacon as an aside!”. You get used to that warmness very quickly and I sometimes miss this kind of dealing with people. Use phrases like “May I have another diet coke, please” instead of “My coke’s empty. REEEFILL!”… You get the idea.

What Europeans get wrong too often: Tipping accordingly.

Can’t wait to give you more updates on our upcoming trip. Just ordered the New York City guide by Lonely Planet since the Encounter version was just too superficial for a 10 days stay. Covering just the basics that I knew about already made it look like there wasn’t too much to do.

As we will see, a high-technological device like the iPhone can turn out to be quite a handy tool on the road.

First we’ll look at special settings that any reasonable traveler should activate while being abroad. Then we’ll extend our iPhone’s functionality with several apps off the App Store. 

Let’s Agree That Roaming Is Expensive

“How to avoid ‘Substantial Roaming Charges’”, you ask?  In order to avoid big surprises on your next wireless carrier invoice, we want to disable the Internet. So that we don’t accidentally download stuff off the internet getting charged three or four times the amount we would pay at home. If in- and outgoing roaming on calls is expensive, then data roaming is unaffordable. Exorbitant would be the word of it I guess: A 3,000 USD data roaming horror story.

• Go to Settings > Network > Disable Data Roaming. It is turned off by default, but make sure this is unchecked.
• Close off Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendar >Fetch New Data by setting it to Manually. If you have Push accounts, turn Push off as well.

As Apple agrees with me: “to avoid substantial roaming charges”… Your carrier may offer data plans for roaming abroad, so check with your network first. While you’re at it, consider disabling your voicemail during your visit. If someone leaves a message, you will have to pay for it. It adds up on your monthly bill, just like that.

Disable 3G and Data Roaming.

Here’s a tip for the super careful: Get all the apps that require some sort of internet connection onto the second page or slide of your home screen. No accidental tapping.

You see, your carrier, as nice as they are, will charge an arm and a leg for all sorts of  activities during your trip.

Before Take Off, Check WiFi Availability

Check your hotel, the airport or where you have the nearest Starbucks (Just checked online and saw it was 4 bucks for 2 hrs in the US) . What we’re looking out for is free WiFi throughout your trip. Just so you can send home some emails with stunning pictures that will have everyone go green of envy. Throughout the post, we’ll see that a free Wifi Spot, will help save money.

• There’s even an App for that: Wi-Fi Finder. Please note that it needs to download data from somewhere. So roaming charges will apply.

Keep Track Of Your Usage (Setting)

Reset your Usage meters on your iPhone, so you can control how much data you’ve loaded, minutes of calls you made and texts you wrote. Gives you an overview of what kind of bill awaits you at home.

• Go to Settings > General > Usage. Tap Reset.

Running Low On Batteries (Setting)

That’s the last thing we want. It may seem obvious, but bring your iPhone charger and an adequate adapter. That way you can at least assure that an empty battery can actually get recharged. To save precious battery life on your trip, I suggest disabling everything you don’t need immediately. Plan on using your iPhone as iPod and the offline functions only without any kind of service? Go for the most radical setting:

• Turn on Airplane mode, to switch off all signals.

Making Calls From Abroad (Setting, US only)

I personally store all telephone numbers with the international prefix “+ Countrycode”. There’s an international call assistant that can come in handy if you didn’t store your contacts’ details the way I did. Please mind this is available for US telephone numbers only.

Tap Settings > Phone > International Assist and turn it on.

Below you will find cheaper alternatives than – say my example – EUR 1.99 calls home from the States to an Austrian landline.

Digital Travel Guides (App)

While I prefer a travel guide printed on paper sold as a book, there are various offline Travel guides for cities around the world varying in quality. Lonely Planet has covered some cities so far. Tripwolf uses the power of the Web 2.0. and allows to download travel guides avoiding nasty roaming charges.

I’m considering getting the New York City Lonely Planet version, since I only got the smaller, thinner New York Encounter. The offline guide books cost about EUR 13. I read online that there were minor troubles with getting the right location off the GPS signal with the Data Roaming set to off, but this issue is to be resolved quickly.

Also this is a work around this nasty fact: The Maps app that comes with the iPhone cannot download street maps and store them for later offline viewing. Lonely Planet has street maps, as far as I know.

Update: “OffMaps let’s you take your maps offline. [...] access maps when travelling abroad (and avoid data roaming charges) [...] fast access to maps at all times.” Download at the App Store. Currently on sale for USD 1.99 or EUR 1.59. For that you get quite a powerful tool: Download at home, set bookmarks, GPS location spotting and more. See this demo video.

Pack Up & To Dos Before Take Off

I love drafting up to do lists for things to pack up before going on a trip. Use this little app called To Do Lists 2. It feels very Applesque and is quite a nice To Do list app. USD 0.99 or EUR 0.79.

Get Tips Done Properly (App)

Spare yourself the time and fuss created by calculating the right amount of tip for your waiter. Set the amount of money spent on food, add a certain percentage and – if necessary – split the bill. This is a real time saver. And it’s pretty. Feels really smooth and does its job very satisfactory. See my entry for Tips in the US.

Get my favorite app for this simple task called Tipulator. USD 1.99 or EUR 1.59.

Convert Into Your Currency (App)

Can you afford the heaps of money your spending? Convert the amount into a currency you are familiar with. Doing the maths in a foreign currency can be tricky. Don’t know about you, but I don’t like rough calculations on my credit card balances. Find Currency app in the App Store. For free. With advertisements on the bottom.

Know Your Balance (App)

Every time you spend some money on that Golden Visa or Mastercard of yours, add the amount spent on a list in the Notes app that comes with the iPhone. Or go for the fancy Balance app (free) where you can set an opening deposit and it automatically corrects the balance once you spend money. Password protected, of course. Simple cash budget app.

Free Calls Home With Skype (App)

With Skype on your iPhone and a free Wifi spots – remember, I promised some reward for Wifi spot research in advance – you can make free calls to any other Skype user. Before you leave, set up Skype on your (grand) parents computer, so you can easily stay in tough. With Skype Credit you can place cheaper international calls.

• Find the Skype App for your iPhone in the App Store.
• Download it on your computer and install it. The Skype pages are really helpful, even if you have never heard of Skype. Unlikely, I know.
• Plan on making international calls to landline or cellphones? Get Skype Credit.

Send Your Own Postcard (App, US service only)

If you want to send your own postcard with your individual text, image and note, get the GoPostal app. On their website you will find more information how this works.

As of now, you can submit cards from anywhere in the world. However, mailing the cards is only available within the United States.

Document Your Trip

With a free and very sleek service like Tumblr, documenting your trip is really easy. Via Wifi (we sure like it to be free) we can upload all sorts of content like pictures, OHs (overheards – they seem to be very funny in foreign countries), videos. Everybody loves a travel blog.

For you this archive is material for later spacing out in the office, for your friends at home a way to check up on your latest travel activities.

• Before downloading the app from the App Store (free), sign up for a free account on tumblr.com

Other App Candy

I don’t necessarily believe it’s essential to bring along these little apps on your iPhone, but maybe you can think of a use that will be able to enrich your days away:

While I don’t believe I will ever seriously use my iPhone camera for panoramas, I’ll still have a look at the Pano App. For USD 2.99.

Remember your Room number. Most hotels use those magnetic swipe cards. I always remember room numbers and that kind of stuff. Our hotel room during our stay in Rome back in 2006? 702. See? Won’t need that one, even though it’s free.

Get around the city with public transport. Get the AllSubway app (for USD 1.99 or EUR 1.59) to check subway maps on the go. No internet required.

For security reasons you might want to lock your iPhone. To do that set up a Passcode Lock in the General settings.

What kind of technology do you bring along on trips? What app do you love most in terms of traveling functionality? Any other recommendations?

Other resources

• New York Times iPhone Travel Apps Guide.
• Apple’s travel apps recommendations.

So here’s a warm hello to new friends I made over the last year. I hope I get to spend some of the upcoming years together with you. It was interesting to see many different characters (some more enjoyable than others *cough* *cough* – Nah, I’m just kidding) mixed up in one cage fighting for a common goal. Like hamsters taking turns in running the wheel. Whether that was Barcelona or several exam weeks. We did a good job and we sure can be proud of accomplishments.

Have a great summer, peeps. Stay safe, healthy and tuned. Want to see you return to Vienna in late summer/earily fall as I saw you waving good byes yesterday.

I really soon realized that this kind of lifestyle is something really special. Not having to work, worrying too much about bills, enjoying parental support. It’s as great as can be. I now see why there are people who decided to go for the “eternal student” way of life. But that’s not what I want. With the right speed and love for detail – now that’s a euphemism right there – I’m positive to see success in the near future.

The first “Studienabschnitt” (first term of studies; generally 2 semester) I will be able to finish in nearly minimum time and with very satisfying results. Since I haven’t been at a business school before for high school, I sure had some deficits in understanding right at the beginning, but the more time passes, the greater the overall comprehension. This is a good sign. And I really enjoy this. Starting from scratch does not have to be a pain in the throat. No it does not.

In the next term, I will be given the choice to opt in for SBWLS (special business administration classes). More on that in a future post. In essence, your splendid overall average, a rather good looking performance in acceptance procedures (exams, evaluations, etc) and mastering interviews are the prerequisite in order to get into one of those special classes. There is one Management class that is top notch and very well regarded throughout Austria and beyond that and thus hard to get into. And still interesting. A course taught all in English focusing on International MGMT and one dealing with Sale and Marketing. I also liked the Human Resources presentation. Have to pick two out of many. Chances to get in vary of course. Some are more popular, some less.

As to going abroad for a semester, I will be figuring out the nasty details on that matter over the summer. It’s not as easy as one would want it to be. But that’s university. Gotta fight yourself thru all the red tape and exams, sign ups and student parties. Latter is much more of a choice than an obligatory thing to tick off your list of annoying to-dos.

* Of course there is the upper class snobesque “I golf on Fridays only and sail my parents yacht Sunday morning in order to get some rest from classes during the week” crowd. But there are people like you and me out there signed up for classes at WU and we sure couldn’t help but have more personality and uniqueness than that. Don’t be scared away, though.

The iPhone costs on a 24 mo plan laid out for you...

The T-Mobile plans that seem affordable to John and Jane Sample. I didn’t consider the “Call” plans because they lack of a data flat. You can purchase that extra via the Web n Walk packages, but I don’t believe it’s worth it – for example 500 MB for 10/mo.

Call & Surf Austria

This plan includes 1000 outgoing minutes in Austria, 1000 minutes to T-Mobile cellphones and your voice mail box, 1000 text messages to Austrian cellphones and a 1 GB data flat.

Price for the iPhone: EUR 149.00

Initial cost of registration: EUR 49.90

Monthly charge: EUR 39.00 (after 24 months EUR 936 EUR in total)

Web Shop bonus: EUR -40.00

A total of EUR 1,070 (average of EUR 44.83/mo)

Classic (for the iPhone 3G)

This plan includes 1000 outgoing minutes in Austria, text messages for 25 cent each and a 3 GB data flat. It says it is a plan especially for the iPhone 3GS but they offer it for the updated version as well. (You get 1000 texts for free if you’re aged 27 or below)

Price for the iPhone: EUR 149.00

Initial cost of registration: EUR 49.90

Monthly charge: EUR 35.00 (after 24 months EUR 840 EUR in total)

Web Shop bonus: EUR -40.00

A total of EUR 980 (average of EUR 40.83/mo)

In a nutshell.

T-Mobile tends to charge you more. The only advantage I see at the moment is, that it offers an EDGE network, that Orange unfortunately lacks. The Price of iPhone 3GS Pleasure Pt 1.

Ocean Road · matt.hintsa (found via flickr.com)

I miss this. I miss the ocean. This is the Austrian speaking.

Drink responsibly.

As seen on Twitter by lukeayresryan.

All in one: Even though we believe in those traditional values, we are “dissatisfied on a higher level”. Go figure. Austrians like complaining, nagging and chewing on their Schnitzel for Sunday lunch.

This survey? Not surprising. (I translated this chart as it is seen on diepresse.com)

Die Presse · Print-edition, June 15, 2009

Now, as virtually nothing is free of charge, the price tag for some iPhone Pleasure in Austria is quite astonishing and requires some calculations before you jump on the 24 months cellphone plan bandwagon.

The iPhone 3GS? You want it? See the costs involved, after the jump.

Our two options are either T-Mobile Austria (see Part 2 for a price analysis) or Orange. While T-Mobile won’t tell me what the prices are yet (Update: They did, yesterday), here are my calculations for an Orange plan that would be affordable and reasonably priced.

Notes: 24 months contracts only. Considering the pricing for the iPhone 3GS 16 GB ordered from the webshop.

Team Orange 39

This plan includes 1000 outgoing minutes in Austria, 400 outgoing minutes in Europe*, 1000 text messages to Austrian or European cellphones and a 3 GB data flat.

Price for the iPhone: EUR 299.00

Initial cost of registration: EUR 49.90

Monthly charge: EUR 19.50 (after 24 months EUR 468.00 in total) – AFTER July 25: EUR 39.00

Web Shop bonus: EUR -40.00

A total of EUR 776.9 (average of EUR 32.37/mo) - AFTER July 25: EUR 1,245 (average of EUR 52/mo)

* Europe here: members of the European Union including Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Team Orange 25 & iPhone Package

This combo of two plans includes: 1000 outgoing minutes in Austria, 100 outgoing minutes in Europe*, 100 text messages to Austrian cellphones and a 3 GB data flat.

Price for the iPhone: EUR 199.00

Initial cost of registration: EUR 49.90

Monthly charge: EUR 12.50 for Team Orange + EUR 14 iPhone Package = EUR 26.50 (after 24 months EUR 468.00 in total) - AFTER July 25: EUR 39.00 (after 24 mo 936 in total)

Web Shop bonus: EUR -40.00

A total of EUR 944.90 (average of EUR 39.37/mo) - AFTER July 25: EUR 1145.00 (average of EUR 52/mo)

In A Nutshell

Attention: July 25 is the deadline for a 50% reduced monthly charge

If you want to go for the iPhone 3GS go on the Team Orange 39 Plan, it’s the cheapest Orange has to offer for now. Attention: The reduced monthly charge (-50% for the whole 24 months and beyond that point) is a special treat offered until July 25 only. After that point it’s 39/mo for the first one and 25/mo plus the iPhone Package 14/mo. You see that the Team Orange 39 is the better choice. More service for the same money (a total of 1244.9 – considering all these costs that’s an average of 52/mo). So hurry up. Available on June 26. Preorder on orange.at.

Of course, the 299.00 in the beginning hurts everybody’s budget, but hey, you want it or not?

Once T-Mobile goes public with their pricing, expect an update. I’m not ordering until I know what my current provider has to offer. Stay tuned and swing by every once in a while or have it fed to you by delicious RSS.

Update: T-Mobile announced its pricing and should be the cheaper way to go after July 25. With less service. You need to make the decision. I ordered my iPhone on an Orange plan already. The figures show it’s 1,145 on Orange vs 1,070 on T-Mobile. After July 25.

Indiana Robert · Hope · painted aluminium 2009

(via swissmiss)

Click onto the image to get to the actual grid that gives you even more insight on the item displayed.

The only constant is change.

Starting from the 50s to the 60s to the 70s… You get the idea, don’t you?

The changing face of everyday design by The Guardian Art and Design

[inspired by amyhoy's tweet who by the way thinks the 80s sucked]

High Line Opening Day · Michael Surtees (found via flickr.com)

Adding this to the things I ought to see when I hit the streets of NYC. Those lounge chairs, to me, seem very inviting. Great views over the city. Let’s hope it’s not packed with tons of annoying tourists.

The High Line in New York city just opened for the public.

Relaxation guaranteed. High Line Opening Day · Michael Surtees (found via flickr.com)

San Francisco viewed from Port View Park, Oakland, Summer 2002 · //ichael Patric|{ (found via flickr.com)

I wouldn’t mind going on a sailing trip in the San Francisco Bay. Especially on a sunny day like that. That’s when reality hits me, reminding me of the fact that I’m trapped in Vienna with lousy weather. Come on it’s June. We need sun rays to retain sanity.

Please note that Phil’s Blogging has been rebranded into this new, spicy and much better phonetically sounding Philafication. Experts agreed after short discussion that the correct pronunciation of this trend-word should be  ”Phil -uh/eh – fication”. Depending on your accent and personal preference.

Update your bookmarks or in case of severe tech-savviness your RSS feeds.

Visual changes are to follow during the summer months.

I really hope that we all end up saying “Yay, I’ve found that thing!” What do we need to get to the Hooray-moment? 

• Knowing our ABILITIES and the lack thereof.
• A sparkling VISION and clarity on what we want to do with live.
• A MARKET that can provide for a living.

Please proceed to the diagram attached.

Where are you in this picture?

(via swissmiss)