since I’ve flown a domestic long-haul flight. Or even longer since I’ve flown outta OAK. Here’s why I will NEVER do that again!
My flight to IAD departed OAK at 0720. In order to get out there, I had to endure the following:
A 40 minute MUNI bus ride (4 miles) to BART.
A 20 minute BART ride (25 miles) to the OAK/Coliseum Station
A 5 minute wait followed by a 20 minute “scenic” tour of Oakland before finally getting to the Terminal.
In order to make my flight, I woke up at 0350! That’s usually bedtime!
It was foggy, cold and DARK DARK DARK outside! Please keep in mind that it took me close to 90 minutes to get to OAK on “public transit”. A journey that takes me 35 minutes to DRIVE! That’s a big transit gap, lah! And ppl ask “why do you drive”?
Then, once I got onto the plane, I discovered (again because I dun usually fly domestic long haul) that there are: No magazines (but a bible in 1st Class instead; none in steerage) and no food (used to be that long haul got food but not anymore). Thankfully, I was just knackered so on goes the iPod and fitful sleep until we arrived at IAD with an impressively smooth landing…
Early tomorrow
The things we do to save money…
I get to leave my house (that contains my bed!) at 0430 tomorrow. Yes, that’s frackin’ early!
I have to take public transit (ugh) to OAK, where my flight to IAD leaves from. Now, if you’ve read this blog in the past, you will find that I’m an avid fan of transit, PROVIDED IT’S DONE RIGHT! Like it is in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Paris, New York City, etc etc. It ain’t done right here. Period!
Here’s why I’m whining (even though the ticket was US$218, a good deal). I have to wake up and grab the bus. That’s a 30 minute bus ride to go a bit less than 4 miles. BLEAGH! Then I have to transfer to the BART train which gets me to the Coliseum station in about another 30 minutes. That’s about 20 odd miles or so. THEN, I have to wait for an “AirBart” shuttle that may (or may not) show up for another 20 minute (2 mile) ride to OAK so I can check in at least an hour early for my flight that leaves at 0740.
Keep in mind that driving takes 40 minutes or so (with traffic), but since I’m going to be on the East Coast for a week, it’s not cost effective to park the car at the airport. That would basically negate the “deal” I got on the ticket because flights from SFO are US$80-90 more to IAD.
Urban planners call the distance between your house (or destination) and the train station/stop the “transit gap”. Tomorrow, I’m going to be spanning a lotta gaps!
And the worst thing is that this is a domestic flight so that means no food! Yup, cut food and raise the fares. That’s a gRRRRREeat business model. And since this is OAK, there’s no food in the airport either! No McDonald’s in the terminal. Nada. No food! Nothing!
Grrrrr. A Sausage McMuffin on the plane ain’t a bad breakfast!!! It’s pretty good!
Bender is two
My Powerbook is two years old.
Still looking spiffy, it’s been all over the world, like my Ixus. And me.
But Bender (that’s its name) has a bum battery. It’s been charged 383 times over two years and has lost over 3/4 of its ability to hold a charge. And yes, my iPod is named “Dr. Zoidberg”. Futurama reference anybody?
Those of y’all that have a laptop understand my pain here. Because a new battery is US$150!!!
That’s a lotta chump change!
Urgggggg…
Swoooosh!
This weekend was Fleet Week here in San Francisco.
That means a parade of ships and the Blue Angels buzzing the City. Fun fun fun!
Today, I went to check out the amphibious assault ship, the USS Boxer.
Here’s the well deck, where hovercraft and ground vehicles are loaded and unloaded. It’s wood for traction since this part of the ship can take on water.
The flight deck is over 2 acres big! Here’s some artsy fartsy pix of the deck.
And one not so artsy-fartsy. Just a big deck.
And of course, the Blue Angels flying overhead!
The day was nice. Hope DC and NY are as nice as I’m going there this week!
Hankering for pho, bia doi and ka fe
Hmmm.
I’ve got miles (remember, miles dun accrue interest!) and some time…
Anyone out there got advice about visiting Hanoi?
Chinese Culture and Cakes
The Autumn Moon Festival has come and gone. It’s a big deal because it’s a reason to get friends and family together and eat EAT EAT!
You also get to eat mooncakes as part of the tradition. But I would not advise to eat a whole one. Lots o’ sugar and lard in that.
If you’re in Asia, you naturally get the best selection of moon cakes and alternative moon cakes. Even companies such as Mrs. Field’s and Coffee Bean issue moon cakes that are unique to their products.
Here’s a review of Coffee Bean’s mooncakes from Kenny Sia in Malaysia.
But do OUR Coffee Bean shops carry these? NooooOOOOOOOOOoooooooo!
BJ Traffic?!?
I have a buddy in BJ who lives downtown near the main drag.
Get yer frakkin’ minds out of the gutter, BJ = Beijing!
Anyhoo, he sees a lotta stuff. How about a BJ traffic jam?
I mean, look at this!!! It’s a four-way intersection and it doesn’t look like it’s closed off for any reason! It looks almost like traffic in San Francisco…
Bribe
I received a coupon in the Inbox for 10% off a UA flight.
That could take a big chunk off of an “Asia Trip” ticket.
A wise man once said: “You kanna buy my vote, but you can rent it”. I think UA may have just rented my patronage for this trip…
Doh!
So it was a beeeyoutiful day today in SF. The sun was out (waaaaaaaah!) and it wasn’t too oppressively hot. I ran errands on my motorbike and afterwards, arrived at my gym to burn my 700 calories on the eliptical.
I checked in and prepared to change into my workout clothes. I’ve got my shorts, t-shirt, iPod, noise-cancelling headphones, water…
where are my running shoes?
When I went riding today, I forgot my running shoes at home.
*smacks forehead* DOH!!!
How Exciting!
Woooooooooah!
A fren fell into some 49ers tickets for today’s game against the Dallas Cowgirls, erm, cowboys.
Woooooooooha!
Although the 49ers are supposed to suck this season, falling into tickets is a rare occurance indeed. The last time I went to the Stick was the last time the 49ers played the LA (Anaheim) Rams!! A long time ago, indeed.
Mah Trojans made Peking Duck in Corvallis yesterday, maybe the 49ers can pull off da upset today.
It’s all football for me. After all, I am a “one sport” guy! =P
Here’s the view from the seats in Lower Reserved Section 10, Row 14!
The game was fun. Except for the end. The 49ers lost. =\
C’est la guerre…