Road to SteemFest - One post to write them all and in the blockchain bind them.

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100% rewards (via beneficiary) goes to SteemFest Travel Reimbursement Fund

thailand.jpeg
Store offer, somewhere in Golden Triangle area, Thailand

You have one week to catch up on the TEN topics, that's going to be a hell of a posting week! Let's get the Steem Fest hype full force!

A Trip down memory lane

So far, I’ve had the pleasure of attending every SteemFest.
It’s always been a different and exceptional experience.
We sailed across the channels, visited palaces, castles, and ate dinner in a salt mine.

Canals of Amsterdam, SteemFest 2016, @gandalf

- Eugene Kolodko feat. @elena-singer (Elena Kononchuk)

Monument of the Discoveries, Lisbon, SteemFest 2017 by @dobranoc

Kraków, SteemFest 2018, @gandalf

Planning, wanting, doubting

That’s easy.
Since the first SteemFest in Amsterdam, I’ve planned and wanted to attend the next SteemFest, wherever it was.
When you know that the next SteemFest is in a year and you’ve already put it on your calendar, you have a much better chance to make arrangements to be able to go.
Any doubts?
Well, there are of course more important things in life than SteemFests, and no plan is good enough to factor in unexpected events.
Other than that, I have no doubts.

Who would you like to meet in Thailand?

“I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like
and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve”

- Bilbo Baggins, The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien

I surely miss many of those I had the opportunity to meet during the SteemFests in Amsterdam, Lisbon, and Kraków. I will not list their nicks, because I would have to arrange them in some order, and how should I decide what order that should be? What if missed someone?
If anyone feels I’d like to meet him or her, this is most probably true! :)

In addition to those I would like to meet again, I would like to meet some of those who have never attended a SteemFest event.

The list of attendees is probably already set, but hey it’s a small world, and exclusive discount codes for SteemFest flights are still there for you, buckle up and surprise us!

Judging by my experience with the previous SteemFests, I know that I’m enjoying meeting people I wasn’t planning to meet.

Budgeting

Flight

This time, it’s a lot more expensive for me to attend SteemFest, because of the distance, and the cost of the flight tickets is huge part of the planned expenses.

There are no direct flights to Bangkok from the nearest airport. There’s only one direct flight option from my country, and it goes to Bangkok once a week, but it’s not only a waste of money (it’s at least twice as expensive) but also a waste of time, because in order to attend to SteemFest I’d have to be away for 16 days… and that much time is what I can’t afford.

I use the economy class, because the difference in the price of economy and business class tickets is ridiculously high, so I see no difference between being miserable in economy class and a bit less miserable in business class.
Well, I have to admit that it's slightly better to wallow in misery in First Class, but the price of STEEM is far from $100.

In order to reduce the SteemFest-related travel expenses, not only for me but also to all steemians, I spent over a month contacting dozens of people get exclusive discounts for flight tickets (up to 15% or sometimes even more depending on the situation). Unfortunately, none of those discounts applied to the route I chose, but I’ve received feedback that they’ve been helpful to many people.

I’m also supporting SteemFest Travel Reimbursement Fund with various donations, which also includes 100% income from this post (via beneficiary rewards)

Hotel

For convenience, I usually book a room in the “official hotel“ of the event, and I take advantage of early booking offers (and low prices).
No breakfast included. I can get that ad-hoc if/when needed (see “Expenses in Bangkok”).

The SteemFest ticket.

I’m not a minnow, obviously, and Ithildin tickets exist for a reason. ;-)
As I’ve already said, if you know that you’re going to SteemFest many months in advance, this helps you make all the necessary arrangements.

Expenses in Bangkok

I don’t need much to survive. Local transport is cheap. A one-hour walk is easy, good for your health, and free :-)
Food. Oh my, Thai food is awesome and cheap.
Of course, you can eat expensive Thai food, but the only difference between expensive Thai food and cheap Thai food is the price.

BE AWARE

ATMs in Thailand will have high (220 THB) fees on withdrawal.

Depends on your bank, card, amount you need it might be still better than exchange on airport.
Do your own research.

Funding

What I do for Steem I do for a living and apparently I’m not that bad at it so I can afford to pay my SteemFest expenses once a year, especially because SteemFests have been a permanent item in my calendar since 2016.
As I’ve mentioned, instead of funding my trip by posting dozens of SteemFest related posts I would rather help others by supporting @t-r-f.

The Thai life

Bangkok and Thailand in general are not new to me.

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Chian Mai, Thailand, we were still using analog camera back then

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Chiang Mai, Thailand

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Wat Phra Mahthat, Ayutayah, Thailand

This time, I will not have too much time to go sightseeing. Those who have already attended SteemFest events know that time tends to pass very quickly during SteemFest.

Speaking of which... can you tell the difference?

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Bangkok, 2007

bangkok-view-2017.jpeg
Bangkok, 2017

Yeah, I know, a boat ;-)

This time, when I’m in Bangkok I want to see what I haven’t seen there before - the SteemFest :-)

Business or Pleasure?

Yes ;-)

Are you going to Bangkok because, like me, expect to find a crypto babe wealthy as hell and win her heart?

No.

So you want to attend Steem Fest 4 because you need funding for one of your projects?

No.

Do you want to go to Thailand so you can meet a whale who can get you out of anonymity?

No.

Is this trip your opportunity to go to a new country and explore its touristic spots and get to know the local culture?

No.

For a witness it’s a way to stay in touch with what’s going on around the Steem Platform.
Who are our users, developres, and investors? What are their problems, needs, and expectations?
A chance to talk about technical challenges related to Steem and blockchain technologies in general.

For a steemian, it’s a lot of fun and the pleasure of meeting old and new friends.

The actual road

I’ll be travelling to Bangkok via two cities that have already hosted Steem Fests - Kraków (SteemFest 2018) and Amsterdam (SteemFest 2016).
I hope to reach Bangkok in 22 hours, which means that I will be travelling at an average speed of 472km/h, but the last several kilometers will be a bit slower due to the traffic jams in Bangkok ;-)

Three truths and one lie

  • I know how to draw, I was really good at drawing, I think I still am, even though I practice less frequently nowadays. Unfortunately I can’t really monetize that on Steem.
  • I’m a terrible singer.
Video unrelated.
  • I’ve never had a single Bitcoin (or more)
  • I know Dan Larimer’s password.
  • I don’t lie.
  • Fears

    Fear of the unexpected.

    During such a long journey there are a lot of things that are beyond my control and may affect my plans:
    Delayed transport to the airport.
    Delayed flights.
    Cancelled flights.
    Delayed baggage.
    Damaged baggage.
    Lost baggage.
    Strikes.
    Civil unrest.
    Weather.

    Nonetheless.. See you soon! :-)


    100% rewards (via beneficiary) goes to SteemFest Travel Reimbursement Fund



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    To listen to the audio version of this article click on the play image.

    Brought to you by @tts. If you find it useful please consider upvoting this reply.

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    Damaged baggage.
    Lost baggage.
    Strikes.
    Civil unrest.
    Weather.

    AND..
    stroke, arrests, stomach upset, other surprises
    BUT ALSO:
    adventures in trains 😎, nice postcards 😍, and of course unique memories 💙

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    I prefer not to have adventures on trains. :-)

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    I know, I know.
    but what you don’t do -for wild memories and nice frame in the picture 😎

    just kidding.
    have a great time! (jealousy 🙃)

    Posted using Partiko iOS

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    I don’t lie.
    is a lie? ^^

    Funny is I never worry about unexpected situations such as delays, baggages, etc. My worry is more plane and boat will crash.

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    I don’t lie.

    is a lie? ^^

    No. :-)

    I can swim but when it comes to flying.... I don't think I can call for eagles if something happens with plane.

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    Ohhh, come on. I am sure you can call eagles if you will have enough time for it, but the problem is I do not expect that they will arrive ;-P.

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    The difference is that 2017 is a colored version :)

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    I'll say hello this time, last year I did see you but didn't.

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    See you soon! :-)

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    Congratulations @gandalf! You have completed the following achievement on the Steem blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :

    You received more than 250 upvotes. Your next target is to reach 500 upvotes.

    You can view your badges on your Steem Board and compare to others on the Steem Ranking
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    Vote for @Steemitboard as a witness to get one more award and increased upvotes!
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    (Edited)

    Wow! All topics in one post!! I love the picture from Ayutayah with Buddha in the tree!! Makes me wanna go there! Last time we just went through the city hitchhiking to Sukkothai. Im glad you are not afraid of the Poker game ;) Gives me faith haha. See you soon!! - Monday I am on my way. PS: I am sure you are an awesome Singer!

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    See you again my friend.

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    Have a great trip. I won't be there this time, but it was cool to meet you in Krakow and I'll try to get to other events.

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    The 22-hour flight is very long, but I look forward to seeing you:D

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    Congratulations @gandalf! You received a personal award!

    Did you downvote Steemit's posts because its owner converted it into a sockpuppets factory? OK, you deserve that badge!

    You can view your badges on your Steem Board and compare to others on the Steem Ranking

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    Congratulations @gandalf! You received a personal award!

    Ned is definitely not your friend anymore. Did you really downvote him?

    You can view your badges on your Steem Board and compare to others on the Steem Ranking

    Do not miss the last post from @steemitboard:

    Downvote challenge - Add up to 3 funny badges to your board
    Use your witness votes and get the Community Badge
    Vote for @Steemitboard as a witness to get one more award and increased upvotes!
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    hahahaha i didn't have a new post to comment on or anything! LOL
    so.... just saying hi here LOLOL

    thanks for the invite into that silly game! hahaha

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    :-) I rarely post using @gandalf account, the idea was to keep it for more social stuff, but reality is that I'm not that social ;-)
    It was fun, "see you" next time :-)

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    Congratulations @gandalf! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)

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