Sandwiches Should NEVER Taste Like Cow Crap by Dave Lowe (published by Manta Press in 2008) is a tasty stew of stories from life on the Lowe Road.
Starting with strip searches at foreign customs, run-ins with tatami dragon ladies, rides aboard horny camels, shots fired by AK-47's, wheels breaking off taxis and more than a flightmare or two - Dave's travelogue poses a question: Are his size 13 shoes spreading mayhem and chaos with each step?
Only the Travel Gods know for sure.....
Sandwiches Should NEVER Taste Like Cow Crap's synopsis, preface, sample chapters and acclaim can be found by navigating the section below.
Dave Lowe's blog, The Lowe Road covers what's happening in travel, from zero to seven to star, hovels to hotels, donkeycarts to airlines and anything else useful that may come in handy for that future luxury resort vacation in North Korea.
Monday, April 29, 2013 at 11:53PM 
Sydney's third most popular attraction will soon see some major changes - Bondi Beach will see pblic areas spruced up and may even do away with the crowded car park that has separated the beach from Campbell Parade. Replaced with an underground car park will 'improve the panorama of the beach' according to Sally Betts, the mayor of Waverly. No timetable has been put in place for the renovations.
Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 5:55PM Sometimes the California desert turns up Wile Coyote cactus, fork tongued gila monsters, furious rattlesnakes, busy tumbleweeds and an iconic Joshua tree or two.
But at other times it reveals much more: at an aviation boneyard north of Los Angeles, what the desert coughed up was more than a cabin door or engine spinning in the wind; it was authentic Pan Am 747 economy class seat fabric that had been there since the airline went under in 1991.
Millions of travelers all over the world sat amidst the famous 'eclipse' fabric; from Karachi and Rio, San Francisco and Tokyo, New York and Moscow, the Pan Am 747 and its iconic interiors connected the world.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 5:38PM For years San Jose (SJC) airport has struggled to remain relevant as Silicon Valleys hub of flight; San Francisco International (SFO), though 60 miles to the north and an hours drive away on traffic clogged US 101 has continued to struggle with the opposite problem of delays and inability to handle its growing traffic load.
But Google Inc's recent decision to spend $80 million on a private terminal for its execs - granting them almost a private airport since SJC's flight load is a fraction of SFO's - means the fortunes of SJC have finally turned around.
With the ability to handle 757 and 737 executive models, the terminal is expected to be completed within two years.
Friday, February 15, 2013 at 11:23PM
Sri Lankan's newly launched seaplane service gives you a birds eye view of the island once called the Pearl of the Indian Ocean - landing on sea and even temple lakes within the cool, lush interior, these Twin Otter aircraft connect cities all over the island.
Scheduled flights can be reserved online, and services are a mix of scenic and chartered services, headquartered 10 kilometers from the international airport in Colombo.
Monday, February 11, 2013 at 8:16PM Lucky Number 7.
On select Air Asia X flights the first seven rows of Economy Class will ban children under 12. The move does not affect the airlines short haul service flights across Southeast Asia.
Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia's biggest competitor, banned kids from First Class cabins and all upper decks of its A380 aircraft.
Are kids the new cigarettes?
Monday, February 11, 2013 at 8:11PM A sub fleet of Hawaiian Airlines ATR 42's will connect Honolulu with the island communities of Moloka'i and Lana'i.
Ohana - which means Family in Hawaiian - will operate daily service to these destinations.
The relaunch of service has been in addition to aggressive overseas expansion in Asia and Australia, that has seen the airline add long haul Airbus planes to its fleet.
Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 8:52PM February 9th marks the 50th year the 727 took to the skies.
Though the '3 holer' is a rare visitor to airports these days, this is not so much the case in Africa, where many of them still operate as cargo or passenger planes.
Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 5:23PM Despite being situated amidst jungle and sweeping views of the South Atlantic Ocean, for years the drug violence that ruled the favelas ringing Rio's steep hillsides made them a no go zone.
As host to the next World Cup and Olympics, the Brazilian goverment has had an ongoing pacification program against the violence that has been so effective, cinderblock favela houses are being snapped up by investors eager to take advantage of some of Rio's most breathtaking views.
Boutique hotels are going up, and community activists fear favela residents could be priced out of their own neighborhoods, all because over a view. If this trend continues, it could ultimately transform where you stay on your next visit to Rio.
www.footballworldcupbrazil2014.com
Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 5:00PM The city of New York will soon be home to over 10,000 blue bikes, as CitiBike pedals in to America's largest city.
For an introductory rate of $5, the May launch will see six hundred stations spread out across Manhattan and Brooklyn, making it North America's largest bike share program.
Its not clear how locals will feel about this new transit option, or how the city's notoriously fractious drivers will handle yet another layer of complexity to the city's crowded roads. Picture the city in August with 10,000 extra tourists riding all over town, helmetless and lost, paper maps flapping over the handle bars or squinting at their smart phones, and it could be a recipe for disaster.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 12:46PM 
As the southern hemisphere summer travel season heats up, Patagonia's stark, moon-like landscape draws visitors from around the world. And what better to name a hotel than Tierra Patagonia, in honor of the breathtaking scenery that this UFO shaped hotel seems to invite though every window?
Wall to ceiling glass windows matched with wood surfaces of all states of rawness are bundled in a concept of spare luxury that makes this resort a destination in itself. Sheepskin pillows and cow hide rugs add to the earthiness of a property that with just 40 rooms brings the ever changing scenery and moodiness of Patagonia into the center of attention, where it belongs.
Monday, December 10, 2012 at 9:30PM In other visa news, China will now allow nationals from 45 countries 72 hour visa free access to Beijing. The scheme is only valid for visitors with onward tickets to third countries, and not round trips.
Shanghai has had a similar (though shorter, at 48 hours) policy allowing travelers to stay in the financial capital.
If you are able to take advantage of this policy, don't you dare leave Beijing - officials say those who leave the capital will 'face punishment' though the exact details were unclear.
(This post likely won't be visible to readers in China anyway - The Lowe Road has been banned by the Great FireWall of China for at least three years.)
Friday, December 7, 2012 at 3:21PM Australian, American and Canadian visitors to Argentina will now have to pay their reciprocal visa fee in advance, online, before arriving into the country. For US visitors this translates to $160 USD, valid for ten years, no matter if your current passport expires.
After going into effect in 2009, skint and creative travelers found all sorts of ways to get around it: flying into Uruguay and taking the ferry; flying into Chile (which has its own reciprocal visa fee) and then busing it to Mendoza or flying into Jorge Newberry airport. But now fees are required for all entry points and all types of travel; visitors must pay here in advance (see link below) print the reciept and present it to the immigration officer upon arrival:
Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 3:16PM Lufthansa (LH) will equip its entire intercontinental fleet with a Premium Economy cabin, joining the ranks of Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, Delta and Air New Zealand and more that have plugged the chasm between Economy - little changed in decades - and Business - which has been transformed into a cocoon of comfort over the last decade.
Its unclear yet as to what Lufthansa will decide upon in terms of layout and amenities. With United and Delta's product little more than extra legroom, Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand's products feature an entirely different seat, seat pitch and inflight catering.
The vastly different offerings make Premium Economy the most confusing of cabin products, and it pays to research the quality carefully before purchase.
Monday, November 19, 2012 at 1:06PM With President Obama visiting Myannmar as part of his Southeast Asian tour this week (stops includes Thailand and Cambodia) the country's tourism industry is set to glow white-hot.
After an already booming year marked with scarce hotel rooms, full flights and travelers pouring in before the Starbucks crowd shows up, its no wonder this magical nation is set to vault into the stratosphere: it is as ethnically diverse as it is geographically stunning, a country that stretches from the hills of southern China all the way down to the Andaman Sea off Thailand's coast. A distinctly spicy cuisine, vistas straight out of a tourist ministers dream and a deep Buddhist soul, Myanmar is going to take off into 2013 and beyond.
Burmese Days indeed.
Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 11:13PM Alaska Airlines has unvelied its latest logo jet, the Salmon Thirty Salmon II.
As the second version of this special livery celebrating one of Alaska's chief exports, the 737-800 will operate systemwide.
Watch the 27 day process here: AlaskaAirVids
Friday, September 28, 2012 at 2:57PM After a $10 million, nine month overhaul, the waterfront Sydney Aquarium has re opened to the public.
Under it's new name, the "SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium" has 13,000 creatures housed in 8 million liters of seawater, spread out over 70 exhibits.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at 6:31PM It may not be on a budget traveler's must stay list, but for the serious Asiaphiles, a drink in the bar of this Singapore landmark is a must; it turns 125 this year.
The Raffles was opened in 1887, and has since maintained its place as the most luxurious of Singapore hotels, after a top to bottom facelife in 1991, the hotel as continued to attract guests, most of the package tour variety. Though non guests can still sidle up to the bar for a sling.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 5:25PM The airline industry has spawned a multitude of unlikely marriages: from Singapore Airlines working alliance-wise with bitter rival Thai Airways, to British Airways cozying up to arch nemesis American Airlines, marriages, and divorces in the world of flying, are rarely dull.
The wierdness continues with the recent Qantas and Emirates tie up: the struggling Australian flag carrier, once served several European cities from its hubs in Bangkok and Singapore, but now will serve just one: London Heathrow.
In a move that shows how dominant the middle east carriers have become, Qantas will now fly to Dubai and offload passengers there onto Emirates multi-pronged Indian, European and African route networks, saving it from flying against one of the world's leanest airlines.
The deal ends a 17 year parnership with British Airways on the Kangaroo Route, paving the way for the Falcon Route, as Dubai becomes the transit point for Europe bound Qantas passengers.
Shared lounge access will be one of the perks Qantas passengers will enjoy, while the airline itself is estimated to gain $90 million a year in profit from sharing revenue on ticket sales from Australia on Emirates planes.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 5:13PM
On September 16th the W Singapore Sentosa Cove will open bringing 240 new resort themed rooms to the extreme southern end of this tropical island nation.
Its all part of the W chain's international expansion; the W Paris Opera was one of its more recent openings.
Heading to Singapore? The W Sentosa has introductory rates through the end of 2012:
