“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.” – George Moore

It’s been another wonderful year of my life. One of the most challenging, emotional and educational. In New Year I wish myself not to have any resolutions, no goals set up, no new heights to achieve, but to look around and start living my life with all beauty around, new inventions, universe and people. I will create more good around myself and make difference in mine and people’s life…

Happy New Year.

Egoistically yours,

VP

“Poverty is the mother of crime.”
- Marcus Aurelius

July 10, 2012

Kerobokan, Bali, Indonesia

I got back from Singapore last night where I spent good 4 days and here are my thoughts on this city/country. First of all while in Singapore, I couldn’t stop comparing it to Hong Kong. Ever since arriving to airport I saw that everything works. I mean everything. Immigration process is ifficient, lines are long but fast. All lines. Taxi, bus, MRT, shops, restaurants, etc, etc, etc. Diverse population of different races, good roads, preserved colonial and new architecture, clean streets and everything is flowing in a perfect order. I saw more Lamborginis, Ferraries, Porsches and other exotic cars in 4 days than I saw in Dubai during my 2 months stay. It really fascinated me. Especially living in Asia for the last 3 years, it looked way too clean. Too clean to be true. I was extremely pleased and excited.

On my last day of stay I went to casino. I was surprised when I had to have a passport to enter casino. Apparently foreigners may enter for free, but Singaporeans have to pay 100SD to enter. Immigration stamps were also carefully examined before entrance was allowed. The same happened during hotel check in. I also noticed ridiculous amount of  forbidden signs all over city. Penalties are high and people obey. Smoking in non designated area 1000SD, Littering 500SD etc. I started to feel less and less comfortable around. It started to look less and less appealing and more and more artificial at the same time. In Hong Kong I feel much better because amount of cultures and reasonable policing and more affordable choices than in Singapore. Singapore really reminded me one of SciFi books I read when I was a kid. A perfect order society. Society made of rules and law enforcement. Forceful comfort and harmony. I have to say that the system works, unlike in States where all policing and rules are in place it’s still in shit and barely anything works regardless of enforcement power. But I didn’t feel free at all. Safe, comfortable, chic but not free. Singapore is also more expensive than Hong Kong and it’s much harder to find cheaper alternative such as accomodation, food, hang out place. Beer Prices in restaurants around 10USD, street, 5USD and the same for any type of food. Burger king breakfast 10$. I prefer Hong Kong because of it’s unorganized dirty wet markets found in Kowloon, clean and vibrant downtown, hills, people and crowd. You may eat as cheap as a dollar or as expensive as you wish. There’s room for all. Looks like it’s real. Singapore is artificial. That said, it is definitely a great to build a business, meet new people, get things done. But be prepared to pay… everywhere…. every time.

Egoistically yours,

VP

Men do less than they ought, unless they do all they can.
Thomas Carlyle

Gorgeous, isn’t it?

I got an awesome amount of feedback for the daily pictures I posted here and on Facebook, especially my “office view“ photos. The comments were both negative and very positive. I received a bunch of questions like “What do you DO?” and comments like “What a show off” or “You’re such a douche.”

Well, with this picture I wanted to explain something.

Around 6 months ago I launched something awesome. Something that can make people happy. It wasn’t a business. It wasn’t a service. It isn’t an overnight success. I started something that helps people to talk to each other from any spot in the world to anywhere else. There are a lot of places where people don’t have Internet (go figure) or where the existing internet is so unreliable that it’s impossible to use tools like Skype and similar stuff. Through traveling and exploring, I saw this problem and created a solution. I made it my life’s mission to do something about it and 6 months ago I launched this service that helps people anywhere in the world to talk to anyone, whenever they are. I am traveling around the world on budget airlines, junk boats, tricycles, horses, and anything else that will get me to another place faster than my feet. I’m looking for people that I can actually help and make a little difference in their lives. These people can call their loved ones and say, “Hello, honey!” Get the picture?

Well, this realization comes as free bonus from not seeing one’s family for months, while working my ass off to make someone happier. Isn’t it cool when you make a difference? Isn’t it awesome to put a smile on someone’s face? Isn’t it great to make this world a little bit better? And only just a little. Isn’t it wonderful to call your father on Father’s Day, even if you are exploring the desert? Isn’t it the best thing when you call your wife, girlfriend, husband or buddy when you see the most beautiful sunset in your life? I answered these questions for myself.

So when I post an “office view”, I actually really mean it. No sarcasm or showing off. This world really has become my country and my religion evolved in my will to do good (thanks, Thomas Payne).  No vacations. No end-of-the-shift whistle bell, no juicy bank account. What do I get out of it? A smile on other people’s faces, a friendly handshake, some tears of joy and some business deals that got closed. That’s good enough for me. I made a difference.

What are you willing to do for your dream? Did you make someone happy? Are you happy?

I hope I answered your question…

GORGEOUS, isn’t it?

Egoistically yours,

VP

Founder of NotVoIP.com