My mind is thinking of Hamvention at Dayton Ohio which begins on 12th May 2010. A trip to huge countries like US or China is not the same as going to small places. Each part has it's own culture and tradition. We used to see the Westerners, watch their movies and do not find them strange. On the other hand there are millions of Westerners who have not seen us especially our brown skin and the structure of our skulls. These people could find us as a threatening specie. If you are in area of Mexican American our facial structure would be almost the same.

I have been to the United States for at least 15 times, stopping in Hawaii about 4 times. I traveled a lot in 1982/1983 when my wife was there with me. I went to school for 1 1/2 years at Bloomington, Indiana. Bloomington is not far from Dayton. Ohio and Indiana are known as the Mid-Western States. Because we were good to the local car rental company we can rent a car without any collateral, not even a passport. Jack, the owner, was a Spanish American. During the Hari Raya Festival we would send Malaysian delicacies to Jack. His wife was a little stern and business like strict woman. Somehow she also trust us.

We traveled to New York, the Canadian Border, Chicago, Illinois and Florida. Most of the time my wife was the driver. We would carry map book and a compass. There was no GPS yet then. We also had a book on camp ground. There were occasion when we slept in the car when we could NOT find the campsite at night. We never stayed in expensive lodging. The camp ground was about US7 - US12 a night. We set up a tent, cooked, went to toilet and took our bath. Our camp site neighbor came from all over including nice people from Israel.

There were expensive motel about USD100-USD400 and cheap lodging about USD15-USD30. The cheap ones are usually a bit hidden. Yet some are along the highway. In year 2002 we still could find the budget motel. Rooms were cheaper in the southern states than in the north. One more thing we can find that the room's price depend on the demand and supply. When the demand is high the price would be high. And hotel near the theme park is more expensive than the distant ones. So in Orlando Florida we started from Disneyworld and moved out looking for cheap hotels. Finally we got the cheap one and stayed there for 7 days. The distant to the theme park was not 5 or 10 miles but about 30 to 40 miles.

I used the same format when I traveled with my neighbor. That was a real long trip. From Los Angeles we went to Las Vegas, to Grand Canyon and proceeded to Texas. From Texas we moved to Florida, passing several states, and put at least a night in each state and finally arrived at Orlando and stayed there for a week.

Those were my younger days. We did not drive along the main road all the time. We entered the area where there were no road and fuel station and before dark we quickly search for the way out into the highway and then moved either into a motel or a camp ground. With my neighbor we did not sleep in the car.

In the coming trip if I were to go alone, I would have to sleep in the car at the camp ground. That will save some money. If I were to stay in a motel, I would stay about 30 to 40 miles away. The usual venue is around a stadium, O Hara stadium. I am sure with the navigation apparatus moving around would be easier. I plan to buy a US map for my GPS in March.

The car rental for two  weeks would be about USD378 but I must have a credit card which I don't. Last year my application was rejected. I will be going to the bank again to request for one, at least valid for one year. Credit card is a must to rent a car. No amount of cash would be accepted. No one would trust us at the airport. If I fail in getting a card my dream will have to be squashed.

A couple of days ago, half way of this short article, 9M2RB called me telling he might join me to Dayton but he need to look into several things first. If Rusli can confirm then it will solve all the problems. We will be using his credit card. But to be fair I am going to put RM8k into his account for the plane fare and all other vital expenditure in the United States. Prior payment is better than the post expenditure because the charge would be in Malaysian ringgit.

Going with Rusli means I have to scrap the planning to stay in the camp ground. But we need to economize the lodging expenditure. And I have to discuss with Rusli the places he likes to visit. My only visit after the  Dayton Hamfest will be Bloomington and then I will have to follow where Rusli wants to go. I can suggest Corning, Ithaca, Space Museum  or ARRL. As far as USA is concerned I have been to almost all the states except Alaska.

Today there are many Halal food and Muslim restaurants in USA. I have yet to look in the internet and need to put it in the USA maps of the GPS.

There are the multiplicity of races in USA and the number is not small for each of the ethnic group. The Vietnamese, the Koreans, the Chinese and the Arabs are concentrated in separate areas. In New York the Muslims are concentrated in the Queen area. That's where you can enjoy the Briyani and the Asian exotic foods. Of course you can find the Chinese in almost every small town running a restaurant.

The Blacks found that they were displaced by the Asians especially in Los Angeles area. Asian American work hard and are better off then the Blacks. I find that in Chicago that parks and rest area were covered with broken glasses all over. Those were in Black areas. Jobless Black youths would go wild at night. So we have to try staying away from those areas though the motel may be very cheap. Psychologically we tend to feel safer in Chinese American or the Korean area.

I used to put up in a motel in the state of Arizona. There were many Red Indians around that area. I paid cash on registering into the hotel and the next day they still asked me to pay the bill saying it was not paid yet. So a receipt  must be asked immediately after the payment. I thought the Americans are honest. They are all human. Black or White can cheat you. Arizona is a stone desert country before. Nevada was once a desert country with nothing. The land was just 50 cents per square foot, but today most parts became a concrete jungles with plenty of housing estates.

Dayton and other Mid Western towns are just normal, not too many traffics as we would find in New York, Kuala Lumpur or even Sungai Petani. There are no fences between houses and the compound are well kept. You feel safe at the city and out of it.

There were always many lucky draw at the Hamvention. There would be expensive and cheap transceivers for giving away. There are numerous of them. If you are lucky the reward would offset your trip expenditure. Most of all we don't go for the lucky draw but for fun. The last time we were there there were some Malay students who came to approach us because we were talking in Malay, especially me using the loud Kedah slang. They were selling computers. I am sure they won't be there anymore.

It would be economical if there are 4 persons in a group but the wave length must be almost similar. I talked to a few lady teachers who always travel together. They told me the same thing. Easy and comfortable traveling is following the organized trip. The tour could be cheaper but the time is theirs. At time the bus pass the famous ham radio shop and you can't ask the driver to stop for you. It will take you to their places without your control. You got a good food and a fine lodging.

At home I am not patient man. But at a foreign and a strange land I have always been very cool. Somewhere in year 2001 I landed at Newark airport on the way to Ithaca. I went around asking where I could take a bus to Ithaca. Different people gave me different instruction. One airport worker pointed out the bus station at the and of the building. It was not near. I got to pull  my luggage for almost 20 minutes and when I reached the place, I saw a bus stop. No people. No bus. I could have been panicked. I continued to the bus stop, took a seat. There was bus even after 20 minutes later. And no other people. I was cool. I took off my shirt, get my small towel and clean my body. I changed my shirt. After some time I saw a bus. There was nobody on the bus except for the driver. I went up and told the driver that I wanted to go to Ithaca. I paid him USD4.00.

The bus stopped at another bus station. I recognized it was the Greyhound Bus Station. I purchased a ticket to Ithaca and waited for the bus. When a bus came the worker ushered me to take the bus. I went to sleep because I was very tired. Some time later I heard noises. People began to leave the bus. I followed suit. And found it was not Ithaca. It was in New York. The bus station was huge and there were thousands of people. I asked someone about what I should do. He told me to go to the gate where the bus will go to Ithaca. The gate was somewhere else. When I finally reached the gate it was written there that the bus had just left. I had to wait for 3 more hours for the next bus. I stretched myself and slept on the floor.

I had no regret. But that scenario is observed even at our airport when you see foreigners slept in their sleeping begs. Was that self punishing ? NO. It is a common experience of a normal budget traveler. Of course I could have cut the problem by just spend a little bit more by renting a car or taking a plane to Ithaca. 9M2FL, Chen Kok Hoon, told me that he went to Hong Kong with a million air and stayed in a cheap hotel. I said the man was stingy. Chen said that man was not stingy and had given him expensive and valuable gifts he bought in Hong Kong. He just enjoyed the experience.

If you decide o join the group, you must start now. Applying for US Visa would take time and cost money. Te Visa costs us at least RM300 but there is no  guarantee you can get it. The Americans is scared that you are going there for good and to ensure of 100% security. The Malaysians are not in the good records, may be due to the believe the Muslims are of different specie. But during the interview they would be able to detect your real identity. If you want to go and you are just a normal person without political bias, I think you can start now.

It is estimated the total expenditure of 10K. Even the normal tour will mount to more than 10K after further addition of plus and plus. May is just a nice weather. T or no-T shirt will do. The customs won't allow plants, fruits, beef and beef product. Don't ever think of smuggling anything. Honesty is the best policy.