Chai, Chi and Culture

Dubai's Scary Laws

2010-04-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a scary story about a US citizen working in Dubai who is facing criminal charges for simply e-mailing from his work e-mail account. Click here for the story.

Egypt

2010-04-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

I like Egypt.

The three most impactful things I take from my short visit in Egypt are: (1) the genuine Egyptian smiles, friendliness, and sense of community (even in Cairo); (2) infectious optimism; and (3) the triumph of ancient Egyptians’ mind over matter in building Karnak and the Great Pyramids. Oh yes, before I forget, tipping 1 Egyptian pounds when using the bathroom is customary. In fact, tipping between 1 to 5 Egyptian pounds is apparently customary for anyone that does you a favor. Our tour guide was constantly handing out tips to museum guards, the ice cream man, and those clearing traffic to allow our mini-bus through.

Cairo. Being stuck in 1.5 hours of traffic on a 250 feet bridge is frustrating, but navigating through probably the most congested streets in the world yields a special treat: experiencing an Egyptian sense of community where everyone becomes a traffic police in directing the flow of cars. Our car was stuck in a narrow street in Islamic Cairo in a 10 car pileup going every which direction when a plump and unfortunate looking woman dressed in blazing orange cloth came to give her hand in untying the traffic knot. Within 1 minute of her effort, she was trapped in a perfect triangle formed by the sides of three cars including ours. She threw her hands in the air and certainly shouted Arabic profanities as the other drivers looked on and laughed! This was a charming and unforgettable experience! The Cairo Museum is literally overflowing with ancient treasures and is a definite must-see.

Islamic Cairo provides a fascinating glimpse into Egypt’s Muslim community. The streets are cozy and rich with Islamic history. The Al Azhar mosque, founded in 970, is touted as the second oldest educational institution in the world. The mosque also serves as Egypt’s religious authority. Enter the mosque and explore the large prayer rooms and beautiful inner white marble courtyard. The Khan al-Khalili bazaar is just a quick walk over. Smaller mosques lined with beautiful Egyptian carpets and brass lamps hanging from above make this walk more than just an outdoor mall. While exploring the smaller alleys, I befriended a few people and bargained over delicately crafted wooden boxes with Islamic art inlays. Although the alleys are dusty, unpaved, and littered with trash, I felt safe at all times because residents were constantly waving, smiling, and showing what I think is the best side of Egypt!

Gingerly nestled within Old Cairo, Coptic Cairo boasts of the Roman Towers, a Mosque, the Ben Ezra Synagogue (where the pharoh’s daughter found Moses in the reeds and where Mary drew water to bathe baby Jesus), and seven Churches (including the Hanging Church and St. Sergius or Abu Serga built over a cave where Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus sought shelter after fleeing to Egpyt from King Herod of Judea’s wrath).

Luxor. With nearly 3000 years of history and over 1500 years of constant additions, the Temples of Karnak are an awesome sight. The Great Hypostyle Hall had a roof which could contain both Rome’s St. Peter’s and London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral propped up with over 134 sky bound papyrus stone pillars. Ancient Egyptians believed the papyrus surrounded a mound of earth in which life was first created. Apparently the Nile waters used to flood this hall with several feet of water with the coming of the summer floods. I suggest skipping the 9 hour overnight train for the hour flight between Cairo and Luxor. The double passenger sleeper train we took spanned the length of my leg. Early 90’s overnight sleeper trains in China and Indian trains exude luxurious qualities in contrast to the Egyptian train.

Valley of the Kings is home to King Tut’s tomb. No visit is complete without walking into the long tomb corridors lined with hieroglyphics, burial chambers, and other rooms in which post-life offerings were kept.

Valley of the Queens is home to Nefertari and at least 74 other tombs.

A sunset stroll within Luxor Temple is also an unforgettable experience as you take in the beautiful carvings, colonnades, and other ancient Egyptian art.

Alexandria. A 3 hour one-way drive to Alexandria from Cairo is somewhat worth the views of the Mediterranean, Catacombs of Kom ash-Shuqqafa, Roman amphitheater (Kom Al-Dikka). This is the only place on earth where Greco-Roman-Egyptian cultures are intertwined as one and evident throughout the city's ancient sites.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah (United Arab Emirates)

2010-04-01T11:26:00.001-07:00

Dubai shows you that you can buy just about everything if you have the money. Money, however, cannot buy a replacement for this city's history, culture, and heritage. The ruler should spend even more money on developing these truly unique and irreplaceable treasures.

In itself, Dubai as a city does not impress me. Who can be impressed with mega malls marbled from top to bottom, uncontrolled urban sprawl, out of control real estate development, and artificial everything!? The entire city seems to be teetering upon unsustainable resources from imported water to workers. What happens when Dubai can no longer afford to continue hiring from abroad and engage in outrageous spending on yet another building?

The bigger picture, however, reveals a resourceful government converting sand and nothing into incredible wealth and garnering world attention. Even license plates are for sale! Apparently the lower the license plate number, the more expensive the license plate number becomes. Thus, a license plate with the numbers 5678 could fetch nearly $80,000 USD! If Dubai can sell license plate numbers and sand in the desert, then they can sell anything! I also had no real interaction with any local Dubai residents except for the very unfriendly customs officials. Every other person in Dubai is probably an exploited workers imported abroad from every possible country in the world. Driving in a fortified 4 wheel drive SUV on a desert safari was the most memorable experience here! I loved it! We were able to drive up the walls for tall sand dunes. I also enjoyed walking in the red sand barefoot, watching the desert sunset, camel ride, belly dancing, and Arabian desert bbq. I am sure these are 110% tourist activities, but so unique so as not to miss them!

7-star scam. The Burb Al-Arab is a 7-star scam. First, no hotel in the world is 7 stars except for this self-proclaimed wonder of the modern world. We were lucky enough to visit our friend’s $2500 a night room and experience the overall lack of service. We spent $150 per person at a dinner buffet much to our chagrin. Service was flat and the food sucked. Emirates is also a 5-star airline scam. Rated as 1 out of 5 of the world’s five star airline, the only good thing about Emirates is its star constellation lighting system and comfortable cabin temperature. The service is hot and cold with none of the flight attendants truly anticipating the customer’s unconscious expectations. Thai, Singapore, and even China Airlines still rule in this department. The food service seems disorganized and rushed with the flight attendants shouting at each other and running up and down the aisles. The food falls flat, beverage selection limited, seats uncomfortable, and the 4 flights I took were all delayed by at least 1 to 2 hours. The Emirates terminal at Dubai International Airport, moreover, is a crowded mess. Every single men’s bathroom I visited had a line out the door. I ended up checking out the upper floor restaurants, health club, and hotel to use their empty bathrooms.

Visit the Dubai Museum, take a boat ride on a water taxi in Dubai Creek, visit old Dubai in Bustakiya, Burj Al Arab if not just to form your own opinion on this 7-star scam, and the Dubai souqs. Also check out the Bellagio copy-cat water fountain show at the base of the tallest building in the world, the Emirates and Dubai Malls, the largest indoor ski slope, and the mega mall aquarium.

In Abu Dhabi, drive by the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi Heritage Village, and the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Mosque.

In Sharjah, visit the Sharjah cultural museum.

Gdansk (Gdynia), Poland

2009-06-18T16:16:00.000-07:00

Twice as many Poles died in the Holocaust than Jews. Traces of WWII trauma and Polish suffering is evident everywhere--from brick ruins to worry lines on the faces of elders. Gdynia was the port town we sailed into, but we took a 30 minute train ride into Gdansk which is Poland's fourth largest city.

We visited and recommend visiting: Gdansk main town (take a walking tour of the Old Town); St. Mary's Church (the world's largest brick church...we climbed to the top of the tower); enjoy lunch at one of the many waterfront cafes and restaurants.

The entire town was celebrating either the Dragon Boat race or a soccer match:

Oslo, Norway

2009-06-18T15:54:00.000-07:00

Nestled within forests and at the end of an island-studded fjord, Oslo lays peacefully as it claims Scandinavia's oldest capital city. Oslo is clean, modern, progressive, vibrant, and terribly expensive! I confirmed the rumor that Burger King's value meal costs a whopping $20 USD (but it includes fries, burger, and a drink)! A one-way bus fare cost about $7 USD. Forget it! It reminded me of the $12 USD 6-inch subs I had in Reykjavik, Iceland. Notwithstanding the heavy price tag on just about everything, Oslo has an amazing atmosphere.

We visited and recommend visiting: Vigeland Sculpture Park (features Gustav Vigeland's work); Viking Ship Museum (houses 3 Viking long ships dating back to 800-900 A.D.); City Hall (an ugly, but important building where the Nobel Peace prizes are given out); National Gallery (closed on Mondays so we didn't get to see Edvard Munch's Scream); Akershus Fortress and Castle.

A medieval Norwegian King, pointing at this spot, declared it the site of Oslo:

Tallinn, Estonia

2009-06-18T15:49:00.000-07:00

Tallinn, Estonia is a surprise treat! Although held hostage by Moscow for decades, Estonia maintained its Western traditions in the form of its Latin alphabet and its Protestant and Catholic faiths. Locals are stylishly dressed and the town impeccably clean! Medieval Tallinn is best explored on a walking tour.

We visited and recommend visiting: Town Hall Square (home to cafes, boutiques, and restaurants); Toompea Hill (Upper Town); Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Palace Square featuring onion domes, colorful icons, and golden crosses); St. Olaf's tower.

St. Petersburg, Russia (& Moscow)

2009-06-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

We are definitely coming back to St. Petersburg. Two days of non-stop sightseeing was not enough to take in all this city has to offer. Peter the Great, the architect of this fantasy city, was truly a visionary. He accomplished the goal of westernizing Russia by building this very European inspired city.

This city is starkly different from Moscow which is more institutional and rigid in design. In the 90s, my family and I stayed in Moscow for nearly 2 weeks for my Uncle's ballet. His ballet debuted in a small theater next to the ornate Bolshoi Theater. We stayed at the Hotel Metropol next to the Kremlin in Red Square. The subways, parks, and buildings were all very impressive!

In St. Petersburg, we visited and recommend visiting: The Hermitage (unbelievable!); Yusupov Palace (site of Rasputin's assassination); St. Isaac's Cathedral (the largest Church in St. Petersburg); Peterhof Palace (built to rival Versailles with an outstanding gravity powered fountain system); Peter & Paul Fortress (Peter the Great reclaimed this land and built St. Petersburg's first building here on May 27, 1703); Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (site of Tsar Alexander II's assassination); take a canal cruise along the Fontanka, Moika, and Neva Rivers and the Kryukov Canal.

Tip: since traffic is so bad in this city, you should utilize the Metro and public ferries. You can zip between Peterhof and downtown on a 25 minute ferry and save nearly 3.5 hours of traffic time otherwise!

Russian entertainment:

Helsinki, Finland

2009-06-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

Pursed against Russia, Helsinki is stylishly Soviet. Russians once conquered Finland between 1809 and 1917. Although lauded as an architectural jem rivaling Stockholm, there was little evidence to support this claim. The streets were dusty and the entire city felt drabby, as if Helsinki just stepped out of WWII.

We visited and recommend visiting: Senate Square; Lutheran St. Nicholas Cathedral; Market Square (rather dull); and absolutely visit Suomenlinna Island Fortress which was built to protect Helsinki from Russian attack in the 18th century. Six islands of a self-contained city are adjoined by bridges. UNESCO World Heritage Site. Get there by a public ferry which departs from Market Square.

Stockholm, Sweden

2009-06-18T13:34:00.000-07:00

Compact, clean, and historic. These words describe my overall impression with Stockholm, a lovely city with Venice-like bridges and canals. We visited and recommend visiting: the Vasa Museum (which houses the 17th century warship Vasa, the oldest fully preserved ship in the world. It was built as the pride of the Swedish navy, but capsized a few minutes in on her maiden voyage); Royal Palace and the Royal Armory (your pass lasts for 30 days and you can even witness the changing of the guards show); Gamla Stan (Stockholm's historic old town with narrow cobbled streets and buildings dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries); take a public ferry boat ride between Vasa and Gama Stan.

Here's a video of the Royal Changing of the Guards:

Copenhagen, Denmark

2009-06-18T13:01:00.001-07:00

Copenhagen is a beautiful, quaint, and extremely clean city. I am impressed with its well organized infrastructures and the friendliness of local Danes. In search of the perfect local meal, a local Dane saw our confused faces and offered to give a helping hand. I asked her if she had any favorite local restaurants. She said because eating out is too expensive, most Danes eat at home. She, therefore, was unable to suggest any restaurants. She did suggest trying the smörgåsbord, a Scandinavian open faced sandwich with capers, red onions, and pickled herring. By walking around purposefully aimlessly, we finally found a cute and rather inexpensive Danish restaurant. I had the open face herring sandwich and it was delightful!

Our local friend was right, everything was expensive in the city because of the 25% value added tax. Living costs are high and income taxes, as I learned from another local friend, varied between 40-60% of your income (this particular friend failed to accurately calculate her tax and was therefore charged the maximum 60%). The benefit, of course, was that everyone receives universal health care and an excellent education!

We stayed at the stylish Adina Hotel Apartments which was within 15 minute walking distance to the city center. It is about a 5 minute walk from the train stop (which links directly to the airport). Alternatively, bus #26 passed right by the hotel which can take you just about anywhere within the city for about $4 USD. We saved literally $100 in public transportation costs by purchasing a 1 day unlimited travel pass for about $30.

We visited and recommend visiting: The Little Mermaid; Kastellet Fortress (adjacent to Copenhagen harbor, near the Little Mermaid); Tivoli Gardens (pleasure gardens which was actually too expensive to go in); National Museum of Denmark (The only thing that is free and worth it in Denmark!); city center (with wide pedestrian only streets...its fun to people watch and window shop); City Town Hall (where public weddings take place and where you can climb up the clock towers--tours given once a day at noon); Rosenborg Castle (beautiful crown jewels); Kronborg Castle (site of Shakespeare's Elsinore Castle in Hamlet); Helsingor (the cute town just north of Copenhagen in which Kronborg is situated).

Emerald Princess

2009-06-18T12:18:00.000-07:00

In the late 90s, my family and I enjoyed a huge family reunion cruise on board a Princess liner. We sailed through Alaska and the coast off of British Columbia. We floated pass glaciers, swimming pods of dolphins and whales, and enjoyed the fjords. After making landfall in Vancouver, a chartered tour bus zipped us from Vancouver to Calgary and back. We drove through the amazing Canadian Rocky Mountains and visited Banff. Memories from this trip were very pleasant, until I got violently ill after splashing my face with the crystal clear waters in a mountainous lake up in Banff!

I had fond memories of the Princess: a well groomed professional staff, pleasant fellow passengers, excellent food, creative fruit carvings, and minimal peddling. These were the memories which influenced our decision to try another Princess cruise for a mini-family reunion trip through the Baltic.

We sailed the Emerald Princess on the Baltic Sea between May 16 and May 26, 2009. We embarked from Copenhagen and made stops at Stockholm (Sweden), Helsinki (Finland), St. Petersburg (Russia), Tallinn (Estonia), Gdynia (Poland), and Oslo (Norway).

There was a noticeable difference between the quality and service on this most recent Princess experience. First, the food was awful (i.e., tasteless meats, over salted soups, minimal buffet selections). The entire ship was crowded with loud, arrogant, and angry Americans. Except for the brief moments ashore, I felt we were trapped on a floating American colony. Some days we had to take food back to our cabin and eat it on our beds because the dining rooms were filled to the brim with people.

Staff members were ok, not exceptional. Our cabin toilet smelled really bad and overall air quality on board was debilitating. Then came all the excessive peddling from staff to purchase exorbitantly priced "treasures" (i.e., by the end of the trip, you probably had over 100 "professional" photos taken of you). We were held hostage on 2 sea days where staff increased the peddling of photos, gifts, and bingo games. We were attacked from all directions. Even when the on board professor lectured, he would find moments to solicit sales of various sorts. There was hardly enough time to truly enjoy each city.

There were two advantages. First, we were able to cut down on travel costs. Second, we were able to cut down the annoyances of the pack-and-go traveler (when you cannot fully unpack because you're moving from hotel to hotel). At the end, the quick tour of each port city allowed us an opportunity to sample what cities we'd likely return to. The experience is analogous to enjoying a sampler appetizer plate.

Personally, I will not be traveling on board Princess anytime soon...or any cruise ship for that matter. I'm more of a land animal. I like to be on shore looking out far at a distant cruise ship imagining all the things I'm not missing.

Uniquely Odd American Tourist Attractions

2009-05-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

Roadsideamerica.com is a great website showcasing unique and odd American tourist attractions. Create and plan your own road trips under "My Sights." http://www.roadsideamerica.com/

Free London!

2009-04-06T17:54:00.001-07:00

Free London activities.

`Iolani Palace (Honolulu, Hawaii)

2009-01-05T01:41:00.001-08:00

Any visit to Honolulu must include a mandatory stop at `Iolani Palace, the only royal residence in the United States.

The palace once symbolized Hawaiian sovereignty, power, and progress. Today, the palace reminds us of the grandeur of the Kingdom of Hawaii while juxtaposing the violent relationship between American businessmen and the vulnerable monarchy.

Interestingly, King Kalakaua installed electricity in the palace even before electricity was introduced into the White House. Additionally, he installed other high tech gadgetry such as flushing toilets, bath tubs, and 200 gallon hot water tanks. At the time, Honolulu also had the most telephones per capita than any other city in the world! Queen Liliuokalani (last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii) was also imprisoned within these palace walls--her own home--during the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

As a kama`aina, you'll get in FREE usually on the first Sunday of each month. We spent about 3.5 hours here first enjoying a 45 minute docent guided tour of the palace, then marveling at a wonderful collection of artwork, jewelery, and other royal paraphernalia in the basement gallery.

Coronation Pavilion (used in 1893 for the coronation of King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani)

`Iolani Barracks (top/bottom)

Obama's Hawaii

2008-11-25T13:16:00.000-08:00

Obama's Hawaii highlights some of Obama's favorite places to visit and eat while in Honolulu.

A new interisland airline is in town: Mokulele Airlines

2008-11-21T11:12:00.000-08:00

Check out Mokulele Airlines and their new interisland service with Brazilian made Embraer jets...my new favorite type of aircrafts because of its improved fuel efficiency, large windows, greater leg room, no middle seats, and aesthetically pleasing lines and interior cabin space.

Deltalina on Ellen

2008-10-18T11:00:00.001-07:00

A Ellen's response to the new Delta safety video. The new safety video marketing is BRILLIANT!

Delta's New In-flight Safety Video

2008-10-18T01:00:00.001-07:00

AWESOME video. Unique visuals.

Hilarious Safety Demo!

2008-10-17T00:18:00.001-07:00

Flying should be this FUN!

Chicago ROCKS!

2008-09-23T15:52:00.000-07:00

We spent this past weekend in Nick's hometown of Chicago for his b-day! This is my third visit to Chicago . . . reconfirming just how this city ROCKS!

Here's me, Nick, Lizzie (Chicago 2016 Olympic Committee Official), and Jamie (Nick's sis and, officially, my best friend).

We took an awesome architectural boat tour, walked along the lake shore, visited mummies in the Field museum, and hung out at purple loving Northwestern. I LOVED IT ALL!

Mr. and Mrs. Chi enjoying a breath of fresh air in the Windy City.

There's one more in the gang...but he's reclusive.

Sears Tower! Notice the 4 stars on the Chicago flag. A fifth star will be added if Chicago wins its Olympic bid. Also notice the baby . . . there's always a baby around Nick.

RT SFO-HNL Holiday Tix for $354!

2008-09-23T15:28:00.001-07:00

I just purchased my flights home to Hawaii for $354.74 round trip (requires a Kona layover). The average fare to Hawaii is around $800-1000+! YIKES! I was determined to find something cheaper and I did.

Airlines are over pricing their flights thereby lowering demand and increasing supply. So some airlines are reducing their fares. The best time to buy airfare is Monday morning through Thursday. Follow the steps below and I'll see you back home (12/17-1/6).

(1) Sign up at Mr.Rebates.com through the following link: http://www.mrrebates.com/?refid=122948

(2) In your Mr.Rebates.com account, search for Expedia.com to get a 2% rebate on your Expedia purchase.

(3) On Expedia.com, put in your travel dates, hit search, and then look in the "Flexible Dates" window.

(4) The deal out of SFO was on US Airways but operated by UAL...with a stop over in Kona (or Lihue). You should be able to find similar deals.

(5) Click on the Expedia credit card offer. Sign up for the free credit card and you'll receive a $50 statement credit (don't sign up for the other credit card which gives you a $100 statement credit but charges a $75 annual fee).
(6) Once approved, you'll get your credit card info instantly. I had trouble checking out with the credit card info (the expiration date was screwed up--try 12/2009)...but just call Citicard if there are any problems.

(7) Continue on and purchase your ticket with your new credit card!

So here's the break down of my fare:
(a) Gross Cost (incl. all taxes and fees): $413
(b) Mr.Rebates.com 2% rebate: -$8.26
(c) Expedia Citibank credit card statement credit: -$50
(d) Net Total: $354.74

Let me know if it works!

Airline Route Maps, Frequent Flyer & Baggage Fee Charts

2008-09-18T10:03:00.001-07:00

Here are some useful travel tools, maps and charts to help you plan your trip. Use Airline Route Maps to find cheaper alternative destinations and secondary cities. Calculate Frequent Flyer Fees using this chart. Baggage fees suck so plan smart with the Baggage Fees chart.

Holiday Airfare Travel Tips

2008-09-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

Holiday Airfare Travel Tips

Google Translate!!

2008-09-16T15:14:00.001-07:00

Google Translate is the perfect travel tool to help you directly translate languages. All you'll need is an internet connection and some quick typing! Some languages translate better than others. For instance, I had to grammatically correct the English to Mandarin translation. According to my sources, however, the English to Spanish and English to Italian translations are better but in formal tone.

Italy for $399 (all inclusive)!

2008-09-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

Eurofly flies between only NY and Italy and has a special all inclusive roundtrip deal to Italy for $399! Book by 9/12/08 and fly by October!

My Position Paper on Increasing SFO's Capacity

2008-09-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

Here's a short position paper I wrote for SFO on increasing SFO's load capacity and improving operational efficiency.

I. Introduction

The Airport Commission’s current approaches to maximize airport efficiency may not necessarily keep pace with meeting the airport’s long-term capacity needs. According to the FAA’s 2007 Capacity Needs report, SFO will fall short of needed capacity by 2025 even after planned improvements are implemented.[1] Several factors constraining airport capacity include the financial and environmental costs associated with increasing SFO’s physical size.[2] The issue, therefore, is how to significantly increase SFO’s capacity without physically increasing the airport size.

This paper explores several methods to increase SFO’s capacity based on technologically, financially, and logistically grounded solutions.

II. Technology Based Solutions

The implementation of new aviation technology to maximize both air and ground traffic efficiency will increase overall airport capacity. The on-going advances in aviation technology, such as FAA’s next-generation air transportation system (“NextGen”), has the potential of maximizing air-side capacity by “reduc[ing] the separation between aircraft and permit more efficient routing of planes.”[3] For example, a wake turbulence management system reduces the in-trail and vertical spacing between aircrafts to increase overall air-side capacity while ensuring safety from wake turbulence. Studies have shown that a one mile reduction of aircraft spacing can boost runway capacity by 20 percent.[4] Wake turbulence management will also allow SFO to more efficiently use its parallel runways.

Technology can also be harnessed to maximize ground traffic efficiency. The Surface Area Movement Management system (“SAMM”) increases land-side efficiency and air-side capacity by coordinating ground traffic “to minimize distances, hold times, and separation between aircraft.”[5] The Total Airport Management system (“TAMS”), which is currently used at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, increases operational efficiency by connecting ground support, aircraft suppliers, and air traffic control through an integrated computer system.[6] The free flow of electronic information and instant communication between various airport facilities increases overall capacity through operational efficiency.[7]

A combination of NextGen, a wake turbulence management system, SAMM and TAMS has the potential to optimally increase SFO’s overall air-side and land-side capacity.

III. Financially Based Solutions

To complement SFO’s current practice of congestion pricing, the Airport commission should also consider discounting landing and departure fees for off-peak hours. Offering discounted landing and departure fees during off-peak hours may further induce some aircraft operators, such as operators of cargo and private planes, to use SFO during off-peak hours. A combination of congestion and discount pricing, therefore, has the potential to increase SFO’s operational capacity in two ways.

First, such market-based landing and departure fees, as determined by demand and other market forces, are more effective than weight-based fees because it offers aircraft operators a financial incentive to increase load capacity to maximize per passenger revenue during peak hour usage.[8] Second, the financial incentive will also induce aircraft operators to favor airport use during off-peak hours. Thus, aircraft operators may want to shift some or all of their operations to off-peak hours. Perhaps the long-term goal is to make each hour at SFO a peak hour of operation in terms of optimal load capacity and maximized frequency of arrivals and landings. This goal will allow SFO to achieve optimal capacity.

IV. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

The coordination of technologically and financially based solutions across Bay Area airports will ultimately increase SFO’s capacity through the following recommendations. First, integrating advanced aviation technology throughout Bay Area airports will optimize shared airspace and thereby increase air-side and land-side efficiency at each airport. Second, Bay Area airports should coordinate and standardize congestion and discount pricing in order to maximize pricing utility.[9] For example, if only SFO implemented congestion then aircraft operators would simply divert their operations to SJC and OAK. However, congestion in the shared airspace will remain. A unified pricing system throughout the Bay Area airports will maximize the current and proposed pricing options.

A final consideration is to link SFO and OAK with a non-stop express BART on the existing rail system. This proposal requires connecting OAK’s terminal to BART. The system trims regional and smaller aircraft service into SFO by redirecting those passengers into OAK. This allows SFO to focus on higher capacity aircraft which directly increases SFO’s capacity.

V. CONCLUSION

A combination of technologically, financially, and logistically based solutions across the Bay Area airports will ultimately increase SFO’s air-side and land-side capacity.

References:
[1] The Mitre Corporation, Capacity Needs in the National Airspace System, 2007-2025 (Washington, D.C.: Federal Aviation Administration, May 2007).
[2] Marisa Lagos, A place to land: FAA study says Bay Area airports must expand to meet demand, S.F. Chron., May 16, 2007, available at http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/16/BUGVAPRFU31.DTL&%20hw=San+Francisco+International+Airport+expansion&sn=001&sc=1000.
[3] Viggo Butler, Increasing Airport Capacity without Increasing Airport Size, p. 2 (Reason Foundation, Policy Study 368, 2008), available at http://www.reason.org/ps368.pdf.
[4] Butler, p. 16-17.
[5] Id. at p. 14.
[6] Kuala Lumpur International Airport, http://www.klia.com.my/index.php?WebsiteId= 13&ch=1&pg=23&ac=9 (last visited April 20, 2008).
[7] Dr. Henning Harmann, Final Report of Preliminary Study Total Airport Management, p.21-22 (Institute of Flight Guidance, Nov. 2001) available at: http://www.eurocontrol.int/care-innov/public/standard_page/studies 2001_dlr.html.
[8] See Robert W. Poole, Jr. and Ben Dachis, New York Airport Pricing: Frequently Asked Questions, (Reason Foundation, Policy Study 266, 2008).
[9] Id. at p. 1.

Bid for JetBlue flights on eBay!

2008-09-09T12:17:00.000-07:00

JetBlue is on eBay! JetBlue has put up last minute deals with no reserve auction on their eBay store.

Santiago, Chile

2008-09-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

Overall Impression: Super Catholic and conservative (divorce law only passed in 2004) produces a city of awkwardly shy people who enjoy strange public displays of affection everywhere to an uncomfortable degree. Apparently the kids don’t live on their own until they get married, so the only alternative for them to explore is out on city streets and behind bushes in the parks. I called out a few with some “woohoos” and “oh yea!”

I think Chileans are confident people especially with their strong economy backed by China, their largest trading partner. Thus, the customs officials were not too polite with us Americans and we even had to pay a ridiculous US $131 reciprocity fee upon arrival. It’s not a visa, but a penalty tax because the US charges a visa fee for visiting Chileans. The city itself is beautifully nestled within the Andes.

I think all the sights worth visiting in this topographically diverse country is outside the city and in the rural and natural areas (Patagonia, Easter Island, and the deserts up North). The subway system is clean, cheap and fast! People not so friendly.

Cheap v.s. Crack Cheap:
Again, it’s not crack cheap and slightly more expensive than Buenos Aires.

Hotels were expensive. We stayed at the Sheraton Santiago Hotel and Convention Center which was right on the freeway and near everything, but it was too loud! Avoid at all cost. Our initial hotel room (US $173/night) was cramped and overheated and the staff unresponsive. Alas, I pushed our way to a free upgrade to their suite and a refund of one night so the stay redeemed itself. Apparently the Santiago Ritz Carlton is the cheapest Ritz Carlton in the world at US $345/night. Stay there instead!!

Exchange Rate: Divide by 500 (or remove both the single and double digits and divide by 5 = US $1).

Gastronomy: I read a great article about how Chilean food is subtle because Chile never had slaves like Peru or Mexico—where the food is more expressive with dashes of chili and the Afro-cultures. That seems like a plausible hypothesis. In translation, this means that the food is less salty and plainer than what you’d expect from an exciting Peruvian chicken stew dish!

Interestingly, there are different layers of what can be considered Chilean food. There’s the street food in which hot dogs are slathered in guacamole, the international hybrid food developed in hotel restaurants, the everyday home cooked meals, and the indigenous foods away from the city. These are at once all Chilean. In short, if you’re looking for a distinct Chilean dish, you’ll have to look beyond set courses and indulge yourself in the non-identity of a Chilean dish.

Check out the café with legs! A Hooter's and Starbucks crossover!

Neighborhoods & Culture Spots:
We hit up most of the museums and parks including the neoclassical Palacio de Bellas Artes, Museum of Precolombian Civilization and the National History Museum (next to the beautiful post office in Plaza De Armas.

The Presidential Palace (Palacio De La Moneda) is pretty and was once a mint and you can walk through the courtyard. It’s opened from 10-6 p.m. on the weekends so bring your passport.

We also walked through the Barrio Brasil filled with younger people, but avoid Barrio Bellavista a major and expensive tourist trap.

Take a ride up the Funicular and the Cable Cars to catch stunning views of the Virgin Mary looking down on the city of Santiago and the Andes. You can actually hear the roar of the city of a couple million! Another fun sight is a hill with beautiful views somewhere in the city (can’t remember the name). Skip the fish market Mercado Central, but check out the National Library (no books to be found)!

Uruguay

2008-09-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

Cities Visited: Montevideo, Carmelo, and Colonial Del Sacramento

Overall Impression: Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, is rated as the best city to live in South America by some poll. I wonder, however, who was interviewed and how much they got paid. A 3 hour boat ride away, Montevideo is a smaller and quieter version of Buenos Aires. Many beautiful buildings are dilapidated and it seems as if the city just survived WWII. I still prefer Phnom Penh, Cambodia over Montevideo.

Look for school children dressed in little lab coats--school uniforms that symbolize intelligence and education. Old folks here are also really well dressed. Bravo!

Cheap v.s. Crack Cheap:
Again, not crack cheap; only slightly cheaper for hotels and snacks than in the U.S. I’ve experienced better meal deals in SF, NYC and Chicago! I think eating out is still a luxury so they charge more. There’s also the irritating meal linen fee (usually US $2-3 to pay for the linens and dish use).

A crack cheap deal is staying at the Four Seasons Resort in Carmelo, Uruguay. Think of it as a destination in itself since when can you stay at a Four Seasons for only US $190 (that’s about $100 per person per night)! Within one night we made friends with half the staff including Claudia, her husband, Norm, Mike, Sally, Bob, Pedro, and Steve. The bungalows are huge with an outdoor shower! Yes, I took an outdoor shower! You can also tour their Estancion for free.

We took a mate lesson (the national drink of Uruguay) before learning about the various birds and veggies that grow on the ranch. Later on that night, I ate Uruguay’s national bird, the nandu. It was spicy and delicious! Look for the rack rate on their website valid for stays between Sunday-Thursday. Carmelo is a town about 4 hours north from Montevideo by bus. Since the resort is rurally located, the hotel makes its money by gauging you at their restaurants. We also took in some spa services and rode horses through eucalyptus forests and along the Rio Del La Plata.

Exchange Rate: Take away the single digit numerator and divide the remainder by 2.

Gastronomy:
A total miss. The national dish of Uruguay is called the Chivitas which is steak and eggs on a bed of salad and fries.

Neighborhoods, Towns & Culture Spots:
The highlight here was biking along the riverfront and hitting up all the beaches. We rented bikes from Bicileteria Sur located at Aquiles Lanza 1100 (tel: 901-07-92) for about US $1-2 an hour. Visit the Old town, adjacent to a bad part of town, for some cobblestone roads and boutique gift stores.

You can also visit the underground tomb of some war hero in the Independence Plaza. Located nearby is a building which was once the tallest in all of South America! On the day we decided to hit up some museums, there was a national strike. We ended up visiting the Gurvich Museum showcasing the work of famed Lithuanian-Uruguayan artist Jose Gurvich. http://www.museogurvich.org/.
A quick ride away from Buenos Aires on the Buquebus is the small town of Colonial Del Sacramento. I visited this place twice, once with Nick when it was rainy and once with Jamie when it was sunny. The weather makes all the difference, so make sure you go when it’s sunny. Although touristy, this small historic town was once built by the Portuguese and then taken over by the Spaniards so a lot of history remains.

One day museums pass costs US $2 and can get you in to whatever museums they decide to open. The museums are lacking, but can give you a brief introduction to the history. Climb up to the lighthouse tower and eat at all the cute, but expensive cafes and restaurants!

Buenos Aires, Argentina

2008-09-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

Overall Impression:
Coated with air pollution and saturated with noise pollution, Buenos Aires is just like any other large metropolitan city in the world. Despite omnipresent dog poop and the incessantly loud sounds of a large city, one can still admire the rich architectural gems and cultural spots that keep this city afloat.

I was disappointed in the lack of indigenous cultural experiences. The political history is also not as exciting and complicated as in Southeast Asia or even Cuba. Furthermore, don’t expect too much in terms of gastronomical delights here! Apparently only Peru and Brazil are known for their food in South America.

If you have more time, check out rural tourism where you can live on farms or ranches called Estancions and enjoy horseback riding and traditional meals! The people are friendly!

Cheap v.s. Crack Cheap:
If you’re thinking you’ll get a real good deal like you’re used to in Thailand or India, forget it! It’s a better deal than what you’ll find in Europe, but that’s about it! I found better lunch deals in SF than here!

Hotels are where you’ll save money. We stayed at the Moreno Hotel for about $100 a night for a huge and beautiful room. It has a rooftop terrace, free internet, and complimentary breakfast. It’s in San Telmo near the Presidential Palace, new financial district, and the metro so walking to places is a breeze! A very good deal! http://www.morenobuenosaires.com.

For the first few days, we stayed at Rooney’s Boutique Hotel in downtown. Beautifully appointed with antiques and rather cheap (we got the 3 nights for the price of 2 at around $100 a night), it comes with better breakfast than Moreno, but no sleep! The insulation is poor and the nightlife is out of control. We had earplugs in but were still awaken by the banging of pots, pans, and street signs. There was even a protest! The female employees were great, the male employees (both of them—Jose and Scar Face) were incompetent. Avoid at all cost: http://www.rooneysboutiquehotel.com/ingles/hotel.html.

Exchange Rate:
Divide everything by 3. So Food is about 1/3 the cost you’ll find in the States.

Gastronomy:
Argentines eat dinner between 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Restaurants are often packed between this time so plan accordingly. Clubbing begins closer to 2 a.m. and then people skip breakfast just in time to go back to work or eat a later lunch at 1:30 p.m. There are no siestas (as there are in Spain) so stores are still open in the afternoon to evening hours. Empanadas are the national snack and are similar in design to the American “hot pocket.” Empanadas, however, taste much better and are filled with a variety of cheeses, meats, and veggies.

Casa SaltShaker is just one of the latest home-restaurant crazes to hit Buenos Aires. Here’s the story: I was in the middle of a remote town in Uruguay and an old Georgetown classmate heard my voice. She immediately pinpointed me and shouted my name! Later that evening back in Buenos Aires, I joined her and a few others at a dinner party. This New York sommelier left the big apple for Buenos Aires where he started this home restaurant. Available only during the weekends, he cooks up dishes around a theme for the weekend usually celebrating some holiday or historic figure. The night we dined, we enjoyed Romanian food in celebration of Romania’s independence.

The food was okay and I even got a little indigestion, but the wine pairing made up for it. The owner, Dan (mini-me look alike), was also reserved, distant, cold and his behavior made for some uncomfortable silences. The guests made up for what was lacking. http://www.casasaltshaker.com/indexen.htm. Newspaper articles from around the country (including Lonely Planet’s review): http://www.casasaltshaker.com/press.htm.

Defensa al Sur is a cute upscale restaurant in San Telmo serving up fine Argentine dishes with attention to presentation and detail. I had a chili smeared baked chicken dish that was out of this world. Along with a bottle of Malbec, two salads, two entrees, and tip, the total cost was US $50. www.defensaalsur.com.ar. Located on Defensa 1338 just before Ave. 25 De Mayo.

For great Northwestern Argentine cuisine which consists of more stews, visit La Carreteria. The décor is bright and refreshing and they serve up a variety of delicious homemade empanadas. We also ate guiso huashchalocro and milanesa . . . a corn dish and a stew. Also try the lentejas (stew) and locro (soup). Along with a pitcher of vino la casa (house wine served in a pinguino—the national penguin shaped wine pitcher), two salads, two entrees, several empanadas, and tip, the total cost was US $35. They have a lunch special for US $10 which includes an entrée, drink, and café. Located at 656 Brasil between Chacabuco and Peru in San Telmo.

If you’ve worked up an appetite from a day out in the city, pig out at La Bistecca, an Argentine buffet located on the water in Puerto Madero. Located on Ave. Alicia Moreu De Justo between Carlos Calvo and Humberto Iro at the southeastern end of Puerto Madero.

For an Argentine spin on classic French dishes check out Petanque located in San Telmo on Defensa 596 and Mexico. www.brasseriepetanque.com.

Neighborhoods & Culture Spots:
San Telmo hosts the famous Sunday flea markets where Ave. Defensa is blocked off for nearly a mile and where antique vendors, tango dancers, and other interesting arts and crafts are displayed for your viewing and shopping pleasure. I stayed in the Moreno Hotel located just one block from the start of the market so I was able to really learn about San Telmo.

The restaurants are also amazing and the streets cleaner and quieter than in the central districts. The must see El Zanjon is a happy discovery made by Nick and me here in San Telmo. The owners planned to build a restaurant here until they discovered historical ruins under a 19th century building. This living museum consists of tunnels, old walls, water wells, sewage pits, and other artifacts in what many historians consider the site of the first settlement of Buenos Aires in 1536! Located at Defensa 755. Check out the Old Drugstore between Pichincha and Moreno.

Argentina’s White House is actually pink. Go visit the Presidential Palace and the adjoining Presidential Palace Museum (bring an ID). There's a lowering of the flag show in the afternoon. Security is again very loose. The nearby Cathedral and other buildings are beautiful!

Recoleta seems to be the talk of the town with its amazing historic streets and shopping. But the only site I found truly impressive here was the Recoleta Cemetery where we visited Eva Peron’s grave. The cemetery consists of beautiful mausoleums built out of marble and adorned with gold and other jewels. Jamie and I broke into an unlocked grave and accidentally broke the door frame!! You can see coffins on the main floor, and family members are buried in lower floors as well. Fascinating!

Visit the National Fine Arts Museum (Bella Artes) nearby. Some impressive pieces of European and Latin American art, although one can imagine how easily it would to steal the Picasso hanging just a few feet from the entrance with hardly any security!

La Boca is the Waikiki of Buenos Aires, but worth hitting up at least once. We walked there which is not suggested because we crossed over some of the most dangerous streets in the city!! Enjoy tango dances while sipping your café con leche, and take in all the colorfully painted metal shacks.

Puerto Madero is where you’ll find fresh new buildings and a dozen upscale restaurants. A visit here will put you back somewhere in the U.S. so you may want to keep it short. However, a night stroll along the waterfront is refreshing after a hectic and polluted day in the city.

We happily discovered Embassy Row near Palermo and the zoo. The streets were wide and the homes beautiful! This neighborhood reminds me of a smaller version of DC’s embassy row. Not sure of the cross streets, but it’s where the Embassies of Portugal, Uruguay, and Greece and a few others have their residences. Near the Malba Museum (of Modern Art) on the way towards Jardin Japones (Japanese Garden) which was not so peaceful since a noisy domestic airport was located just a few feet away!

Centro has the widest street in the world, Avenue 9 De Julio and an obelisk along with a variety of shopping and people watching on Florida and Lavalle.

Palermo, including Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Viejo do not live up to their reputations. What’s all the hype about it being like NY’s SOHO? It’s dirty, predictable, and no where near SOHO or even SF’s SOMA for that matter. Where are all the restaurants that serve Argentine food? Where are the art and craft stores?

There’s a paper store here called Papelera that sells sheets of homemade paper for US $10. Toilet paper is worth more than stepping into this hidden mine trap! I am disappointed in all the guidebooks that tell you this is a go to place to take in the cobblestone roads, etc . . . Have these authors been to Georgetown? Skip it even if you have the time!

Other Spots:
Visit these other sites that we couldn’t visit: Palace of Running Water (1950 Cordoba Ave); Palacio Paz which was the biggest private residence in town. Guided tours in English Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Ave. Santa Fe 750. Here's a picture of the National Congress.

Viva La Boca Dancing!

Bombs Away! Indian babies thrown off tower for good luck

2008-05-11T20:15:00.001-07:00

This is hilarious! Babies are thrown off a tower in India for good luck, but is it good luck for the baby?

Thai Airways Safety Video--one of the best

2008-05-11T20:11:00.001-07:00

For many passengers, an airline's safety video is their first exposure to the airline's corporate culture. A safety video must convey more than just safety instructions, but it should also convey an airline's dedication to professionalism and service. If there's such a thing as a "best airline safety video," then I think Thai Airways wins that spot. Thai's safety video is soothing, succinct, professional, and incredibly cultural--a great mood setter for an excellent flight to come!

Suggested East Asian Destinations

2008-05-11T02:54:00.000-07:00

East Asia

China
(1) Beijing is China's political and cultural power house. I hope you love pollution and have iron lungs. Wear a ultra grade air filter mask (3M makes some good ones I used during SARS) and check out the Forbidden Palace, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall of China, underground arts scene. To see counterfeiting in progress, visit Hong Qiao, the fake goods market (if it still exists). Don't even bother bringing back pirated DVDs since fines start at $10K per DVD if you're caught (stick w/ Netflix)! Just FYI, there are three qualities of fake goods: A, B and C "huo," (huo = stock). "A-hou" offers the best quality and may actually be the real thing. "C-hou" will obviously look fake with misspellings like "Kalvin Cline" or "Dorlex." In general, practice aggressive bargain shopping. Exercise the "walk away" where you state your bottom line price and walk away; the vendor will panic, grumble, complement your bargaining skills, and then accept your price. Note: This walk away technique does not work in Vietnam. I tried it but the vendor just let me walk away! Recommended stay: 4-5 days.

(2) Shanghai is mainland China's economic power house. Check out the Bund, China Communist Party's first office, Korea's interim government, Sun Yat Sen's house, and visit other cultural and art museums. Experience the Maglev bullet train if you're flying into Pudong Int'l Airport (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_levitation_train). Recommended stay: 3-5 days.

Hong Kong
(1) Perhaps the most beautiful skyline in the world! Take a boat ride, check out the mountain top visitor's center, and experience The Peninsula hotel! Recommended stay: 2 days.

Japan
(1) Tokyo is a must for any first time visitor! Visit Shinjuko, Shibuya (electronic city), Roppongi Hills (http://www.roppongihills.com/en/), temples, markets, and Yokohama!

(2) Hakone stop by for an amazing hot springs bath!

(3) Kyoto and her temples are inspiring. The Golden Temple is a must see. Get there: experience Japan's bullet train, the Shinkansen (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html)!

Taiwan
(1) Taipei is cheap, fun and cheerful! Check out the museums, Taipei 101, and night markets. I think they have the best night markets in all of Asia!! Try chou tofu--stinky tofu--it's like eating Dorian . . . mmmm! Recommended stay: 3-5 days.

Suggested South Asian Destinations

2008-05-11T02:52:00.000-07:00

South Asia

Nepal:
(1) Kathmandu. Check out the Buddha stupa, Nepal's holiest site and a World Heritage Site. Stay at the Hyatt Kathmandu, known for their crazy specials. I stayed in a a deluxe room for only $80 and the buffet is only $10! Recommended stay: 2-3 days. Get there: fly in from BKK or Lhasa, or over land from Tibet.

India
(1) Delhi. I loved it! Check out their capitol buildings. Don't miss AGRA (take a train) to see the Taj Mahal!

Tibet
(1) Definitely start from Lhasa otherwise you risk dying from the altitude as we did. Acclimate in Lhasa for at least 2-3 days. We entered from Nepal which was a very bad idea since we went from zero to 4000 meters in a few hours! Altitude sickness sucks!

(2) Check out the Potala Palace in Lhasa (Dalai Lama's summer palace), check out one of the largest and highest fresh water lakes in the world west of Lhasa; pilgrims spend days praying while circling it. Try a Yak Burger!Stay at the Mt. Everst base camp if possible. I've never seen so many stars in my life before! We rented a land rover, driver and guide for 6 days for $2500 for (including hotel) which is quite expensive.

(3) Recommended stay: 3-6 full days depending if you want to drive out west. Get there: YOU SHOULD start from Lhasa, fly in or take the new train in from China.

Delta's New Economy Class "Cozy Suite" Cocoons

2008-04-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

Highlights:

Increases leg room by 2 inches

Standard economy class 32" pitch

Includes padded side section to lean against

Installations on Delta's 767s and 777s to be completed by 2010

The OZ and Kiwi Review: Two Reports from Down Under

2008-04-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

Land of Oz (written August 11, 2007)

Australia has been amazing! Sydney is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I even enjoyed the "Figaro" opera at the Sydney Opera House! In the last few days we drove up the Gold Coast and visited Surfers Paradise and Brisbane as well. Although the view was pretty, I don't suggest driving up the Gold Coast. Instead, fly Virgin Blue with their cheap fares and extensive network. Yes, yes . . . I drove from the right side of the car, but drove on the left side of the road.

We also held koalas at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (the world's largest koala sanctuary) and fed several kangaroos too! We flew into Cairns last night and spent all day today snorkeling around the Great Barrier Reef--one of our most memorable experiences! Sightings include a 7 foot shark, sting ray and a pod of squids! I tried to make the squid squirt ink but it changed multiple colors instead . . . truly amazing.

We're headed to Kuranda, a World Heritage certified national rain forest tomorrow. Then we'll press onward to New Zealand (both North and South islands). The Australians we've met have been quite friendly and blunt about their distrust of the Aboriginal people. One even said that "those people are untrainable!" Now how is that for racism.

Land of Kiwis (written August 15, 2007)
The food tastes much better here than in Australia and our exchange rate works favorably for our US dollars! New Zealand is BEAUTIFUL! We were up in the North Island for a few days and just flew down to Queenstown in the South Island. Stark contrast in scenery. We spent a night exploring Auckland and then drove down to Waitomo where we ventured out in a wetsuit to go blackwater rafting 210 feet underground. Blackwater rafting is tube-water rafting in underground caves. We jumped off of underground waterfalls and went water caving--crawling upside down to fit between the water and the rocks. Glowworms unique only to New Zealand lit up the cave ceilings.

I also enjoyed an outdoor thermal hot spa in Rotorua, where geo-thermal activity is evident everywhere. Rotorua's city streets even had pools of bubbling mud and the entire town smelled like a rotting egg! We toured Wai-to-pu, a geo-thermal park with bubbling colored mud.

Tonight we arrived in Queenstown, a ski resort town with every activity imaginable. I want to sky dive and bungee jump, but I'm pressed for time so I probably won't make it. Tomorrow we're headed out on a tour of Milford Sound which includes a nice cruise along the coast of New Zealand.

Final Review

I talked with dozens of people about their Australian and Kiwi experiences before I visited. The consensus? Most folks thought Australia was boring, expensive, and not worth it--and one acquaintance said the only good thing about going to Australia is to say that you did. New Zealand, however, received rave reviews. At the end, I've discovered that my expectations were so asymmetrically skewed that I ended up really enjoying Australia, but some what disappointed in New Zealand. In other words, I was pleasantly surprised by Australia where my highlights include Sydney Harbour and its surrounding gardens, the zoo, the Great Barrier Reef, and the people! I'm headed for Melbourne and Ayers Rock the next time I return!

New Zealand, however, was overrated. I saw many of the same sights done bigger and better in Canada! For example, the Canadian Rocky Mountains and the sounds of British Columbia are larger and more spectacular than NZ's Milford Sound and Mount Cook/Aoraki (both Lord of the Rings and The Last Samuari were filmed here). Thus, it may be much cheaper to fly to Canada and experience similar, if not better, sights. A ferry ride between Vancouver and Victoria Island in British Columbia offers better views than Milford Sound. Skip Mt. Cook all together. The two hotels there are exorbitantly priced and awful. We ventured into one of the older hotels and it reminded us of The Shining.

Despite New Zealand's small size, I'm impressed with the variety of topography it boasts: from its snow capped mountains and pristine beaches, to its conspicuous geothermal activity. Highlights include blackwater rafting, riding the luge in Queenstown, boat tour of Auckland, visiting the Auckland War Memorial Museum, eating, and driving. I may return to New Zealand to visit more of the Northern Island, but only if there's a good deal.

World's Scariest Runways

2008-04-27T22:50:00.000-07:00

This picture of the Matekane Air Strip in Lesotho just makes me laugh. The functionality is questionable--a plane taking off does not become airborne until after dropping off of the 2,000 foot cliff at the end of the runway. Don't think about landing into one of these other airports either! Read the article.

8 Quintessential Travel Planning Sites

2008-04-27T18:59:00.000-07:00

These are my quintessential travel planning sites. I use each and everyone every time I plan a trip . . . which is often. Here's an 8 step process to ensure you're snagging up the best deals at the best cost!

http://www.smartertravel.com/. Start here to capture a broad overview of latest deals and choice destinations.
http://www.farecompare.com/. Then use this site to narrow down the cheapest airfare. You can track changes in fares and sign up for an e-mail update once a fare reaches your target price.
http://www.kayak.com/. Double check your FareCompare price with Kayak.
http://www.studentuniverse.com/. Triple check your fares here. You must be a student or in the education industry to take advantage of their prices. May not necessarily be cheaper.
Once you have triple checked your fares, go straight to the individual airline websites to see if they can offer you an even better deal! A real hit or miss!
http://www.seatguru.com/. Before you book your airline seat, make sure you visit the SeatGuru to get the best tips on where to sit!
http://www.traveladvisor.com/. Start your hotel search here by checking on-line reviews. Use the "top rated" hotel option at your destination to see reviewers' preferred hotels.
Then go to individual hotel websites for the best deals or try http://www.priceline.com/ (I'm a fan)!

Suggested South East Asian Destinations

2008-04-27T05:12:00.000-07:00

South East Asia

Burma--As the 2nd most authoritarian regime in the world, the Burmese military junta has created a paradox: a visit to Burma is both delightful and frightening. The culture and food are inspired by its cross-roads location: its an eclectic mix of Thai, Indian, and Chinese.

(1) Rangoon. Relatively untouched by tourism and development, Rangoon offers amazing cultural and gastronomical delights. The street stalls of Rangoon offers some of the cheapest and tastiest foods in the world! I spent my first day here walking and eating samosas, lemon grass noodles, fresh fruits, curry, and other spicy dishes. Evident everywhere are sights of old British rule, from buildings to an old man I talked with who spoke perfect British English and who longed for those British days. Check out the Golden Pagoda, the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Recommended stay: 2-3 full days. Get there: cheap and safe flight on Bangkok Airways from BKK.

(2) Bagan is the land of 3000 pagodas and a World Heritage site. Rent a bike and bike around. Take a tour of a lacquer ware factory (Burma is famous for lacquer ware). Head into town for a dinner puppet show. Recommended stay: 2 full days. Get there on a 15 hr bus ride from Rangoon.

(3) Inle Lake is appropriately dubbed "Venice" of S.E. Asia. Stay at one of the bungalow hotels, but make sure you don't stay at a government owned enterprise! I paid $35 for an amazing floating suite. You'll need a boat taxi to get around so I suggest renting one all day ($20). Take a tour to the floating markets and temples, and visit a silk spinner. Recommended stay: 2 full days. Get there: on a seven hour bus ride from Bagan to Inle Lake.

Cambodia--my favorite S.E. Asian country because of its people and their culture. Relatively unknown to Americans, Pol Pot (aka Saloth Sar) and his Khmer Rouge destroyed this once great nation.

(1) Siam Reap (Angkor Wat) offers delightful moss covered temples. Rent a bike and bike around the ruins--watch for landmines! You can also hire a tour guide and car for about $50/day (probably more now). Our private guide took us to the Citadel temple and secret waterfalls. Skip the floating village, it's a tourist trap. Recommended: stay for 2 full days. Get there: by plane or cross the border by land straight from Bangkok.

(2) Phnom Penh (capital) still retains its uniquely French-Khmer charms in its architecture and life style. Enjoy iced teas and people watching along the waterfront. 1 hr, $3 massage at "Seeing Hands," a non-profit empowering the blind through free skills & language training. Checkout the Royal Palace, art museum, Killing Fields, S-21 interrogation center, Documentation Center of Cambodia, and the Central Market (an converted from an elegant train station; Cambodia had the most efficient and extensive railroad system in S.E. Asia before the Khmer Rouge). Recommended stay: 2-3 full days. Get there: fly from BKK or take speed boat from Siam Reap.

(3) Getting around: take motorcycles. Waive your hand and a mob of drivers will pull over. Agree on a price before you board; a one-way ride should cost 2000-2500 Riels ($1 US = 4000 Riels). More or less for longer destinations and for rising fuel costs.

Kuala Lumpur
(1) KL is is to Malaysia, as BKK is to Thailand. Arrive early to check out the Petronas Towers. Take the sky metro for a cheap way to tour the city! Recommended stay: 2 days. Get there: by bus from Singapore or by plane. The KL Int'l Airport is a destination on its own!

Singapore
(1) Singapore has its charms. Another good place to base yourself, though more expensive than BKK. Check out the Orchid Gardens, Chinatown, India Town, museums, Raffles Hotel (get the original Singapore Sling here), malls, and the financial district. I enjoyed staying in boutique hotels such as the Peacock Inn and the Hotel 1979 in Chinatown (converted from brothels). Recommended stay: 2-3 days.

Thailand
(1) Bangkok is worth a visit and a smart destination to base your S.E. Asian travels. As a major hub for air travel, you'll find cheaper air deals into BKK and cheap, quality hotels. Checkout the temples, Royal Palace, Kaosan Road (touristy area . . . but you can check into a $3 hotel room for the first few nights & book all your local and int'l travels), Potpong night markets. Get a spa massage for $3-4, take a boat ride on the river, visit little India and Chinatown. Eat at Cabbages & Condoms, a non-profit restaurant where proceeds help fun sex education: http://www.pda.or.th/restaurant/. On the same street down from the Cabbage Condom is a cheap and wonderful spa! Take the SKYtrain (metro) all around BKK to acclimate and for cheap sightseeing. Recommended stay: 2-3 full days.

(2) Koh Phi Phi is an amazing island down south hit hard by the tsunami, but remains Thailand's national treasure. The surrounding water is awful, but hire a wooden fishing boat to island hop all day for clearer and more beautiful waters. Go rock climbing. You can easily get a hotel once you're on the island. Recommended stay: 2-3 days. Get there: on an 18 hr bus/boat ride from BKK.

Vietnam
(1) Saigon is hustling and bustling, so stay out if you're weary of sights of a big city. Check out the American War Museum, the waterfront, City Hall, and the old Saigon Capital. Recommended stay: 2 full days. Get there: cross by land from Phnom Penh, or fly from BKK.

Planning a trip to Asia? Must read tips.

2008-04-27T04:06:00.000-07:00

AIR

Air Passes sometimes offer a good deal.
Cathay Pacific Air Pass: http://www.cathayusa.com/offers/AllAsiaPass/pricing.asp (Subscribe to their online news letter for an additional $200 discount)
For a one-stop-shop for air passes visit: http://www.airtimetable.com/airpass_asia.htm. Read each offer and see if it pertains to your needs. There's a 50% discount on Air China within China if you fly on an Air China internationally.

Frequent Flier Miles
Book early and be flexible by choosing alternative cities.
TIP: Get more bang out of your miles by using the free stop over option allowing you to fly to more cities for the same number of miles. For instance, I used United miles to fly from SFO-Shanghai (spent a few days there), then Shanghai-Singapore (where I spent another few days), then from Singapore-SFO. I got the extra flight from Shanghai to Singapore using the stop over option.
You also get more bang for the buck by using miles to upgrade to business class with the purchase of a full priced economy ticket.
Check airline websites for airline specific promotions:
AirAsia: http://www.airasia.com/. Although I've never flew AirAsia, my friend flies it often and is very satisfied with their prices and service.
Bangkok Airways: http://www.bangkokair.com/. Boutique discount airline based out of Thailand. As a safety nut, I usually fly Bangkok Airways in S.E. Asia because of their safe flying record and use of newer planes.
Malaysian Airlines: http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/main_US.aspx. Terrific service, great safety record, and frequent on-line deals. Check out their Discover Asia pass.
Silk Airlines: http://www.silkair.net/. Singapore Airline's discount carrier with an extensive network. Some good deals.
Singapore Airlines: http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/index.jsp. With service even other airlines talk about, I've seen excellent deals on their website.
Thai Airways: http://www.thaiair.com/. Flying Thai is an experience in itself. The flights attendants change their uniforms several times in-flight and upon arrival--quite a fashion show. I'm waiting for Skytrax to rate Thai 5 stars.
Tiger Airways: http://www.tigerairways.com/home/index.php. Never flew Tiger but it's apparently cheap and safe.

My only other suggestion for flights is to stay away from Garuda Indonesia and RyanAir at all costs. Both are Indonesian airlines with dismal safety records.

HOTELS

Bid for hotel rooms on http://www.priceline.com/. Select 5 star hotels & check the "recent winning bids" page on their website to improve your chances of bidding success. I've won some ridiculously low bids at amazing hotels. For example, I won a $55/night bid at the 5 star Intercontinetal Hotel in Bangkok.
Stay in the Boddhi Tree/Del Gusto while in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: http://www.boddhitree.com/guesthouses.html. I lived in the Del Gusto, a restored 1935 French colonial mansion in Phnom Penh, for almost 3 months. The Boddhi Tree is directly across the Toul Sleng S-21 interrogation center used by Pol Pot during the Khmer Rouge. A room cost only $5/night back in 2004, but now it's nearly $12-50/night. While I was a guest, Wynonna Judd stopped by the restaurant during her world AIDS tour--not that I'm a fan or anything . . . I'm not! Both properties are owned by a Spaniard who offers his employees additional skills and language training.

Tahiti for 30K AA Advantage Miles!

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Fly rt from NYC to Bora Bora on Air Tahiti Nui for only 30K AA miles! Book soon and travel by May 31!
http://www.aa.com/apps/netSAAver/ViewPromotionsDetail.jhtml?repositoryId=16067736&repositoryName=PromotionContentRepository&itemDescriptor=PromotionContent

"Must-do Oahu" Guide

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*This is a must-do, Chi certified list of favorite eateries and selected fun on Oahu
**Use this check list even if you have 1-3 days on Oahu.

Hungry & Thirsty?

Yama's Fish Market: 2332 Young Street, Honolulu, HI 96826; (808) 941-9994; http://www.yamasfishmarket.com/. The VERY VERY VERY BEST Hawaiian mixed plate including lau lau, haupia, poi, & poke (go for the spicy ahi limu ["seaweed"] poke). With HUGE portions & at $8.75, it's pretty much the best god-dang deal in Hawaii.

Kona Brewing Company in Koko Marina (East Honolulu): 7192 Kalaniana'ole Highway Honolulu, HI 9682; (808) 394-5662; http://www.konabrewingco.com/ourpubs. My favorite place for a sunset dinner on the marina. I LOVE THIS PLACE!

Indigo's Eurasian Cuisine: 1121 Nuuanu Avenue Suite 105, Honolulu, HI 96817 (In Chinatown); (808) 521-2900; http://www.indigo-hawaii.com/. Go between 4-7 pm (Tues-Fri) for $2.75-3 happy hour martinis and free buffet! Try their lychee martini & then stay for dinner.

Mai Tai's in Ala Moana Shopping Center is another excellent cheap drinks bar (about $2.75-3 until 10 pm) Try their Mai Tais! It's upstairs by CPK.

Gordon Bierch at the Aloha Tower Marketplace. My friends and I love Gordon's during sunset. You can sip drinks and eat garlic fries while listening to live music by the Pier. SOOO FUN! Try Wednesday afternoons when they play contemporary Hawaiian music.

Make sure you hit the North Shore Shrimp Trucks between Discovery Bay and Sunset Beach

On your way to the North Shore, stop by the Dole Plantation for pineapple ice cream! http://www.dole-plantation.com/

Sam Choy's is best for lunch, since it's less fancy. There's one on Nimitz Highway near the airport at 580 N. Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, HI 96817; (808) 545-7979; http://www.samchoy.com/about_brewmaster.html.

Alan Wong's Pineapple Room on the 3rd flr. at the Ala Moana Macy's store.

Roy's: 6600 Kalanianaole Hwy, Honolulu, HI 96825; (808) 396-7697; http://www.roysrestaurant.com/roy.asp. This is Roy’s first original location. Splurge on the wine-paired sampling menu! Make reservations & go around 6:00-6:30 to catch the sunset.

Attractions, Beaches, & Drives

Drive & Eat: On your drive to Lanikai (voted the best beach in America), stop by Keneke's Plate Lunch in Waimanalo. 41-857 Kalanianaole, Waimanalo, HI 96795; (808) 259-9800. You can't miss it if you drive east from Waikiki towards Hanauma Bay on Kalanianaole Hwy. This is the coastal drive featured in Drew Barrymore's Fifty-First Dates--shockingly beautiful!

Pit stop: Makapu'u Lighthouse Hike, located right after the Hawaii Kai Golf Course. Go early in the morning and you might catch a glimpse of Humpback Whales (whale season runs b/w Nov-May). Hike down to the secret tide pools right after the Whale Sign on the top of the hike. You won't be able to spot a trail down on first glance--it's all rocks & huge fall down! But just go along the path and you'll be safe (white arrows direct you back up). The tide pools below are at least 15 feet deep and filled with fish (bring snorkel gear), but be weary of crashing waves and a huge blowhole to the left of the tide pools. A college friend and I saw several pods of whales and calves doing back flips and pec slaps about 100 yards away from us!

Drive through Diamond Head on Kahala Avenue (drive straight from Waikiki) to experience one of the most expensive and beautiful neighborhoods in Hawaii! It's a fun drive with huge boulevards and amazing views! You can also stop by Cromwell's (my favorite beach in town) across from Diamond Head Triangle Park.

Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC): http://www.polynesia.com/. Nestled in Laie, Oahu's Mormon town, this one-stop Polynesian "Disney World" features the life styles of several Polynesian cultures (e.g., Maori, Samoan, Tahitian, Tongan, Fijian, etc...). Plan to stay the afternoon and catch the luau dinner and night show! If you have only 2 hours, then you MUST see the night time fire show!!

Hike Stairway to Heaven and Maunawili Falls (hike up the falls for more tide pools and even a mossy water slide)!

Drive on H3 for amazing mountain views!

North Shore:

On your way to PCC, stop by the old surfing/plantation town of Haleiwa & go for shave ice at Matsumotos (also try Koko Nuts Shave Ice in Koko Marina in East Honolulu, or Waiolas on at either their Kapahulu or Waiola Street locations!

You should also have a burger from the original Kua Aina's in Haleiwa. SOO GOOD and it’s world famous!

Continue driving towards Waimea and Pipeline at Sunset Beach. Winter visitors will see HUGE 40-50 foot waves. Summer visitors, however, must spend at least an afternoon snorkeling, swimming, and rock diving at Waimea beach (my favorite beach in the world...no kidding!). Skip the crowded Waimea beach parking lot and park in the church parking lot located on the Northern end of the beach (which is also the less crowded end). You can jump off Alii Rock (and swim in the underwater tunnels--I enjoyed it but it's quite dangerous), spot sea turtles, and swim with a variety of tropical fish!

Pearl Harbor is a must see. Go early in the morning when it's cooler and less crowded.

Other Considerations

In general, stay away from Waikiki beaches . . . don't waste your time there unless you guys want to learn how to surf from the beach boys.

If you crave the beaches and must go somewhere, hit up Ala Moana Beach Park or Kaimana by Diamond Head. Both are less crowded and less touristy. I'd suggest tanning yourself at Lanikai in Kailua or Cromwell's at Diamond Head if possible.

Let's chai and chat!

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Welcome to my first blog where I share thoughts, experiences, and ideas on travel!