Latest issue of Conde Nast Traveler has a thought provoking article on people's perceptions of various travel risks versus the actual probabilities. A survey showed people's three greatest fears when traveling abroad are being pickpocketed, losing a passport and food poisoning. Also surveyed people about places they avoid traveling to even if they won a free trip. 56% would avoid Bali, 22% Thailand, only 1% picked NYC, even though way more terrorist deaths occured there in one day than Bali and Thailand put together.

A column called Reality Check compares probabilities of death by various means for the "average American" (this qualification likely rules it irrelevant for anyone posting on this board!) A few surprising items on the list:

Odds of death by HIV: 1 in 19,400
by car accident: 1 in 18,800
terrorist attack: 1 in 9,470,000
gunshot wound: 1 in 9,450
heart disease: 1 in 300 (this one shocked me)

Does this mean that we should be at least as concerned about our cholesterol intake when eating the pizza at Meia Pataca as we are about remembering the condom before getting the BJ at Luomo? (grin)

The readers of Conde Nast Traveler ought to worry more about being kidnapped. I like to look at their pictures but could never afford the places they list. Can you believe that there are people who don't bat an eye about paying hundreds and hundreds of $ a day for a room? Or who's idea of a moderately priced diner for two is around $50?

That's one of the reasons that I really enjoy reading Godfather's posts about BA and Rio. Besides obviously having a great time with everyone he interacts with he also spends money freely. After so many posts from guys who brag about $20 over nighters in BKK or Angeles City it's kind of fun to hear about another side of the equation.