Well, here I am in the SFO Domestic Red Carpet Club waiting for my flight to JFK where I will connect to LHR.
It’s exciting. I packed for most of last night because on this trip, I had to bring a sleeping bag (crashing in friend’s studio in London) and because of the awful exchange rate, I thought it prudent to bring what I need. Unlike my trips to Asia, I can’t just buy what I forgot out of forgetfulness because, unlike Asia, stuff in Europe is hella pricey.
And that exchange rate thingie too.
Some of my friends have asked why I’m obsessive with mileage points. One of the perks of Premier Exec is that you can use any Star Alliance lounge if you have an international ticket.
That means mediocre coffee, snacks and sodas free, a place to set up the PowerBook and wi-fi. Some people may not agree, but this helps me relax. The international Red Carpet Clubs also have showers, a godsend after flying overseas.
Well, next entry comes when I’m on the other side of the pond…
Goin soon
So that “good chance” I wrote about down below became a done deal as I’m off on Sunday to Europe for two weeks.
My first trip there.
I’m usually nervous when I click “purchase” to buy the outrageously expensive ticket from UA. But to be fair, they were the cheapest for this trip.
Then as the departure date gets closer, the anticipation builds up. It’s an adventure! And when I’m finally on the plane, I’m thinking “are we there yet?” as I while away time in steerage-plus.
But all the important things are done. Lodging in London and Paris has been arranged, I bought my Eurostar ticket and I tracked down the Citibank branches for money once I land.
Since this is Euroland, where the US greenback has taken a beating, it’s hella important more than my Asia travel to make sure to bring everything I need with me because unlike Asia, stuff in Europe is hella expensive.
And you need to buy close to $200 worth of goods in one place to get a VAT refund. Bloody socialists…
London Calling!
Well, I’ve been stuck in San Francisco for the past few months, hence the lack of new interesting posts.
But there’s a good chance that I will be heading off to London and other places for a couple of weeks. The fares are decent (even if the Euro isn’t) and I’ve arranged a place to stay there.
Maybe stuck on UAL though. The other Star Alliance airlines either cost too much or it just won’t work schedule wise….
…just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!!!…
Singilish Reference
Bemoaning the fact that I’ve not been to SIN since November of last year, here’s a handy page with a glossary to that hybrid language called “Singilish”.
U wont’ be as blur since u read lah?
OK, I’ll stop now.
Scary Road Trip
What do you get when you combine a Nuclear Scientist, a fast motorcycle and the remains of a nuclear power plant?
World’s scariest road trip!
Nihongo lesson..
or Yamanote stops and what’s for lunch?
“Bacon egg double-burger”?
“takanobaba”? “shin-BASH!”
In either case, someone PLEASE translate this…
I like how the instructor thinks in kanji and hiragana while the class responds in katakana…
heh heh heh
A chu-hi toast to Yamanote 29 for today’s nihongo lesson.
More JR stuff
Continuing this week’s theme of “random rail silliness”, here’s an NPR ditty on the Tunes of the JR in Tokyo.
If you’ve been to Tokyo and miss the place, this is for you!
Neato!
To compensate for the lack of new pix since I’ve not been traveling lately, I bring you….
100 Secrets of the Yamanote!
Wah!
Everything you’ve wanted to know about the long green train to amaze your friends…
I’m waiting for a list of secrets about the Chuo Line. That’s the big orange train.
Union Station, Los Angeles
Famous for movies, TV shows and oh yeah, Amtrak and the Metroliner stop here too.
I’ve been away
The traffic has really gotten bad in LA. Almost as bad as San Francisco, except on a larger scale. How you ask? Well…
The traffic crawls or just doesn’t move on major east/west arteries. Ever try to drive on Geary during the PM commute? It’s like the 10 except the 10 is much bigger.
The commute begins earlier in the day for both morning and evening (again, why do they call it “rush” hour?). People trying to leave earlier to beat the rush, along with everyone else.
From 1997-2001, I made regular trips to LA to stay with friends and to hang out. I did a LOT of driving. It wasn’t THIS bad back then.
Did all of this congestion increase just in the past three years?
On the other hand, my friend in South Pasadena lives three blocks from a Gold Line stop. Very convenient if you destination is also near a Metro station.
Mission Station, South Pasadena on the Gold line
I wanted to take a blurry late night pic like I did with the Yamanote when I was in Japan, but they don’t go that fast when they pull in.
Gold Line light rail
They go walking speed. The cars were nice and shiny and clean though.