December 26th and 27th
Day 8 and 9
Somewhere in the Coral/Tasman Sea
Cruise stats:
Swell: 1-2m on day 8, 'Sydney to Hobart' on day 9
Weather: Overcast, 26C on day 8, rainy and 24C on day 9
Crazy golfers in the Atrium: 6
Day 8 doesn't get its own entry. Nothing really happened, except for some shopping and a magician. I bought a Pacific Jewel teddy bear and named him Bijou. The magician, James Callea, was particularly impressive.
Well, at least the ship is standing up straight again. It spent much of the morning with a quite significant Port-side lean, which meant the shower nearly flooded and made it quite an uphill struggle to get out of the cabin. They managed to straighten it in the middle of breakfast, though the rolling is still significant. It is very windy, enough so that they have closed most of the open decks.
We're currently in the Atrium in the centre of the ship, watching some mad people in a putting competition, on a moving floor across multiple levels and smooth wooden floors. Stacks of seasickness bags have begun to decorate the stairwells and hallways, which may be a sign of weather to come.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
High water
December 25th
Day 7
Isle of Pines, New Caledonia
Cruise stats:
Swell: Unpleasant
Weather: Rainy morning then clear afternoon, 28C
Internet time remaining: 80 minutes
If I ever get the crazy notion that I'd like to spend ten days on a boat again, please, someone slap me around. The days have been fun, but the nights are really getting to me. Last night I didn't get to sleep until 1am, as a result of a combination of significant boat movement and noisy drunks in the hallway outside my cabin. I'm looking forward to getting home, but I suspect the trip back is only going to get worse.
Today was our final stop, the Isle of Pines in New Caledonia. We spent the last of our Francs on history books about the island, and failed to find lunch, again. Took a lot of photos of the animals I found around the island, including a very friendly foal.
Today was Christmas day, and that meant Christmas food. The crew served up a remarkable spread. Dinner conversation was also interesting, and managed to cover both politics and religion.
Day 7
Isle of Pines, New Caledonia
Cruise stats:
Swell: Unpleasant
Weather: Rainy morning then clear afternoon, 28C
Internet time remaining: 80 minutes
If I ever get the crazy notion that I'd like to spend ten days on a boat again, please, someone slap me around. The days have been fun, but the nights are really getting to me. Last night I didn't get to sleep until 1am, as a result of a combination of significant boat movement and noisy drunks in the hallway outside my cabin. I'm looking forward to getting home, but I suspect the trip back is only going to get worse.
Today was our final stop, the Isle of Pines in New Caledonia. We spent the last of our Francs on history books about the island, and failed to find lunch, again. Took a lot of photos of the animals I found around the island, including a very friendly foal.
Today was Christmas day, and that meant Christmas food. The crew served up a remarkable spread. Dinner conversation was also interesting, and managed to cover both politics and religion.
Spiders and Jellyfish
December 24th
Day 6
Mystery Island, Vanuatu
Cruise stats:
Swell: Nauseating
Weather: Mostly sunny, 28C
Number of people in the little orange boats: 100 when used as a tender, 150 when used as a lifeboat (where they put the extra 50 is anyone's guess)
Ugh. I'm having fun during the day but the night-time rolling and bouncing of the boat is beginning to get to me. In future, I think I'll make my holidays more ground and less ocean.
Mystery Island is a pretty place... and thats about it. M went swimming, but I saw the bluebottle tentacles washed up on the shore and decided against it. He got a couple of tiny stings, but I have to wonder how many others got more than just a few red spots. I found a green coconut, but couldn't work out a way of opening it, so I just took a photograph and left it. We went for a walk around the island, saw the WW2 airstrip and the still-functioning 'airport' (all one room of it). Found the massive spiderwebs disconcerting. Left my remaining Vatu in the donation box for the local school. The neighbouring island of Aneityum, which we can see from our balcony, looks far more interesting. It is mostly pine-covered mountains with a tiny fringe of habitable beach. Might be worth coming back to another time.
The dining room continues to amuse me. Each night before we go it, we try to guess who is going to be turned away for being inappropriately dressed. Most nights, we're get it right. Six days in, would've thought they would have learnt by now. Clearly not.
Day 6
Mystery Island, Vanuatu
Cruise stats:
Swell: Nauseating
Weather: Mostly sunny, 28C
Number of people in the little orange boats: 100 when used as a tender, 150 when used as a lifeboat (where they put the extra 50 is anyone's guess)
Ugh. I'm having fun during the day but the night-time rolling and bouncing of the boat is beginning to get to me. In future, I think I'll make my holidays more ground and less ocean.
Mystery Island is a pretty place... and thats about it. M went swimming, but I saw the bluebottle tentacles washed up on the shore and decided against it. He got a couple of tiny stings, but I have to wonder how many others got more than just a few red spots. I found a green coconut, but couldn't work out a way of opening it, so I just took a photograph and left it. We went for a walk around the island, saw the WW2 airstrip and the still-functioning 'airport' (all one room of it). Found the massive spiderwebs disconcerting. Left my remaining Vatu in the donation box for the local school. The neighbouring island of Aneityum, which we can see from our balcony, looks far more interesting. It is mostly pine-covered mountains with a tiny fringe of habitable beach. Might be worth coming back to another time.
The dining room continues to amuse me. Each night before we go it, we try to guess who is going to be turned away for being inappropriately dressed. Most nights, we're get it right. Six days in, would've thought they would have learnt by now. Clearly not.
Port Vila
December 23rd
Day 5
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Cruise stats:
Swell: 1m in open water, none in the harbour
Weather: Pouring rain, 28C
Bottles of duty-free booze purchased: 5
After my disappointment with Noumea, I wasn't sure what to expect out of Port Vila. The experience, however, was completely different.
Vila isn't pretending to be anything its not. It clearly doesn't have the money New Caledonia has, but no-one seems too fussed by that, and it lacks the wealth disparity so obvious in Noumea. Its openness to foreign investment produced some unexpected things, like a windfarm, and a dedication to environmental protection rarely seen in developing countries. The waters of the bay are so clean and clear that from the shore we could not only see the bottom, but school after school of fish. Not bad for a commercial harbour.
Got some bargain duty-free alcohol, the pick of which was black label OP Absolut for $22/L. Also picked up most of my gifts and souvenirs, including two very adorable little dresses for a friend who is expecting twin girls any day now. I found it surprising how many stores took Australian dollars.
Skies opened up on our way back to the ship, got drenched in under a minute. I didn't care, but my camera was foggy for a while afterwards.
The Triton Club need to buy their holiday house here instead of northern Bali. Vanuatu is definitely a place we could spend more time.
Day 5
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Cruise stats:
Swell: 1m in open water, none in the harbour
Weather: Pouring rain, 28C
Bottles of duty-free booze purchased: 5
After my disappointment with Noumea, I wasn't sure what to expect out of Port Vila. The experience, however, was completely different.
Vila isn't pretending to be anything its not. It clearly doesn't have the money New Caledonia has, but no-one seems too fussed by that, and it lacks the wealth disparity so obvious in Noumea. Its openness to foreign investment produced some unexpected things, like a windfarm, and a dedication to environmental protection rarely seen in developing countries. The waters of the bay are so clean and clear that from the shore we could not only see the bottom, but school after school of fish. Not bad for a commercial harbour.
Got some bargain duty-free alcohol, the pick of which was black label OP Absolut for $22/L. Also picked up most of my gifts and souvenirs, including two very adorable little dresses for a friend who is expecting twin girls any day now. I found it surprising how many stores took Australian dollars.
Skies opened up on our way back to the ship, got drenched in under a minute. I didn't care, but my camera was foggy for a while afterwards.
The Triton Club need to buy their holiday house here instead of northern Bali. Vanuatu is definitely a place we could spend more time.
Easily distracted
December 22nd
Day 4
Lifou, New Caledonia
Cruise stats:
Swell: 0.5m
Weather: Bright and sunny, 30C
Vanilla beans: AUS$5 each
This is the Pacific Islands I came to see. White sandy beaches, thick jungle, and French-infused culture. We went ashore today on the island of Lifou, at the village of Easo.
Today started in truly magical style. We were on the balcony early to watch out arrival, when it began to rain and a perfect rainbow formed right in front of us. It was only there for a few minutes, but it was the most stunning I've ever seen.
This morning was our first experience of the ships tender boats. Not exactly a smooth ride, but I suppose they are just lifeboats with engines.
Our tour this morning took us first to a vanilla plantation. We were given a vanilla bean as a souvenir, and although I know we can't take it back, it was pleasant to wander around the jungle/garden of the plantation smelling it, and our clothes will smell good for the rest of the trip.
The second stop was the village of Jokin, on top of the cliffs at the northern tip of the island. We didn't take the 200 stairs down to the bottom of the cliff, but we didn't need to. The view from the top was breathtaking, even if I did spend much of our time there chasing the clouds of butterflies.
The village of Easo itself was pretty, and we finally got out first taste of New Caledonian food, an unidentified snack which turned out to be a kind of banana pancake. Tasty.
Day 4
Lifou, New Caledonia
Cruise stats:
Swell: 0.5m
Weather: Bright and sunny, 30C
Vanilla beans: AUS$5 each
This is the Pacific Islands I came to see. White sandy beaches, thick jungle, and French-infused culture. We went ashore today on the island of Lifou, at the village of Easo.
Today started in truly magical style. We were on the balcony early to watch out arrival, when it began to rain and a perfect rainbow formed right in front of us. It was only there for a few minutes, but it was the most stunning I've ever seen.
This morning was our first experience of the ships tender boats. Not exactly a smooth ride, but I suppose they are just lifeboats with engines.
Our tour this morning took us first to a vanilla plantation. We were given a vanilla bean as a souvenir, and although I know we can't take it back, it was pleasant to wander around the jungle/garden of the plantation smelling it, and our clothes will smell good for the rest of the trip.
The second stop was the village of Jokin, on top of the cliffs at the northern tip of the island. We didn't take the 200 stairs down to the bottom of the cliff, but we didn't need to. The view from the top was breathtaking, even if I did spend much of our time there chasing the clouds of butterflies.
The village of Easo itself was pretty, and we finally got out first taste of New Caledonian food, an unidentified snack which turned out to be a kind of banana pancake. Tasty.
Noumea
December 21st
Day 3
Noumea, New Caledonia
Cruise stats:
Swell: Calm
Weather: Early fog, clearing to bright and sunny, 30C
XPF spent: ₣3060 (as well as another AUS$33)
For a place I've heard a number of people describe as 'more French than France', Noumea is not what I expected. I anticipated a city that was one part Paris, one part Tortuga – what I got was more of a mix of Denpasar and Melbourne. We got off the boat early and did a self-guided walking tour, which is essentially the one in the guidebook with some differences where we either got lost or couldn't be bothered climbing the hill.
Noumea appears to be a city which is changing, but hasn't got there yet. There is a lot of construction going on, but little is new apart from a handful of soulless apartment blocks. It is also a city of a wealth disparity I couldn't quite get my head around, with expensive jewellers next to hole-in-the-wall cafes, and brand-new BMWs parked out the front of dilapidated buildings. The tourist train looked uncomfortable and only vaguely interesting, and we also failed to find lunch. We only stayed until midday, when the cloud burned off and the heat became unbearable. The view from the balcony was good – Noumea is a city which looks better from a distance.
This evening was the first that I was well enough for anything in the evening, so we went to Pirates of the Pacific in the theatre. Cheesy, but funny.
Day 3
Noumea, New Caledonia
Cruise stats:
Swell: Calm
Weather: Early fog, clearing to bright and sunny, 30C
XPF spent: ₣3060 (as well as another AUS$33)
For a place I've heard a number of people describe as 'more French than France', Noumea is not what I expected. I anticipated a city that was one part Paris, one part Tortuga – what I got was more of a mix of Denpasar and Melbourne. We got off the boat early and did a self-guided walking tour, which is essentially the one in the guidebook with some differences where we either got lost or couldn't be bothered climbing the hill.
Noumea appears to be a city which is changing, but hasn't got there yet. There is a lot of construction going on, but little is new apart from a handful of soulless apartment blocks. It is also a city of a wealth disparity I couldn't quite get my head around, with expensive jewellers next to hole-in-the-wall cafes, and brand-new BMWs parked out the front of dilapidated buildings. The tourist train looked uncomfortable and only vaguely interesting, and we also failed to find lunch. We only stayed until midday, when the cloud burned off and the heat became unbearable. The view from the balcony was good – Noumea is a city which looks better from a distance.
This evening was the first that I was well enough for anything in the evening, so we went to Pirates of the Pacific in the theatre. Cheesy, but funny.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
One Martini, Two Martini, Three Martini...
December 20th
Day 2
Still in the middle of the ocean
Cruise stats:
Swell: 0.5m
Weather: Overcast, clearing later, 28C
Martinis consumed: 4
Day 2
Still in the middle of the ocean
Cruise stats:
Swell: 0.5m
Weather: Overcast, clearing later, 28C
Martinis consumed: 4
Sea sickness wristbands – best invention ever. Aside from bruised wrists, I finally feel healthy, even after an unexpected number of martinis. I anticipated that the martini course to provide samples of each drink, not four entire multiple-standard-drink cocktails. And I didn't even drink the first one. Wheeee!!!
We had an unexpected event this evening, sharing a table with a man and his family for his 70th birthday. They very kindly offered cake to everyone on the table. We've had shared tables for each meal today, which has resulted in some interesting conversations. M can find people to talk telecommunications shop with ANYWHERE!
J038, Pacific Jewel
I've been keeping a blog of my cruise, but I haven't been able to post it before now. I'll be adding my entries in over the next few days.
December 18th and 19th
Day 0 and 1
Sydney to... somewhere in the Pacific Ocean
Cruise stats:
Swell: About 1m
Weather: Grey and drizzly, 20C
Cruise demographics: 10% Asian couples, 40% grey nomads, 50% cashed-up bogans
December 18th and 19th
Day 0 and 1
Sydney to... somewhere in the Pacific Ocean
Cruise stats:
Swell: About 1m
Weather: Grey and drizzly, 20C
Cruise demographics: 10% Asian couples, 40% grey nomads, 50% cashed-up bogans
I am particularly impressed with the service here, particularly the cleaning. I got plenty of time to appreciate it last night. No, I neither ate nor drank too much. No, I do not have gastro. No, I don't get seasick. I spent last night curled up on the bathroom floor with a nauseatingly bad migraine. In an environment full of reasons to lose your lunch, I found a novel one. At least this time, it isn't my imagination, the floor really IS moving.
Thankfully, I'm recovering. Choppy seas have made the boat move about a bit, usually just as you take a step or take your hand off the rail, but it isn't too bad. Our cabin has a little bit of luxury in the form of a private balcony, and the fresh air and views have been saving my stomach, not sure I'd be coping without it. M has taken quite a liking to it, although right now its raining so he thinks Fox Sports inside is a better option than reading outside.
Yesterday was a particularly long day. Up at 4am, on the plane at 6, into Sydney at 8:30, lost in Sydney until finding the ship about 10, unable to find a bloody coffee in Darling Harbour until 11, checking in at 11:30, boarding at 12:30 and finally able to collapse in the cabin around 1. Puttered about exploring and unpacking until departure at 4pm. The weather was pleasant, the water was dead calm, and the people on every other boat we went past were drunk. Took plenty of photos of the Harbour.
Migraine aside, I'm very impressed by what I've seen so far. The cabin is bigger than the last hotel room I stayed in, even though aside from the balcony its no bigger than a standard. And the food! We're avoiding the chaos of the buffet in preference for the a la carte dining room, where the food is perfect and the service is better than any restaurant I've ever been to. Given that was the main dining room, I have high hopes for the specialty restaurant we have bookings for tonight.
The dining room has amused me. Its full silver service, with all the cutlery and all the courses. This appears to either intimidate or confuse many of my fellow travellers. I find it refreshingly civilised. My background is working class, but I'm perfectly comfortable with expensive elegance. Watching everyone else try to understand it has been hilarious.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Fear of Flying
I learnt something on my trip -- I'm afraid of flying.
How this came about I have no idea. I grew up around aircraft enthusists, and since my first flight at the age of twelve have flown in everything from a Cessna to a 747. I know what every whirr and thump means, realise that aricraft can pass through washing-machine-style turbulence unscathed, and understand the physics that allows them to get off the ground. But I can't get rid of the niggling little bit of my mind which screams of how unnatural this is and OMG WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
The most confusing part of this is that I was never like this before. I know its possible to overcome fear of flying, but is it possible to develop it when you never had it before?
I just joined a frequent flyer program too, knowing I was going to do enough flying in the next few years to make it worthwhile. Hopefully its just that I'm out of practice, otherwise any future travels could prove interesting.
On the plus side, I can give a bit of a review for Virgin Blue's Adelaide to Melbourne run.
Price: Mid-range. Cheaper than Qantas but more expensive than Jetstar or Tiger.
Schedule: If you absolutely have to be there on time, fly Qantas. Virgin were experiencing significant delays across their schedules on both days. If you don't mind being half an hour late though, the savings on Virgin are significant (and unlike Jetstar, they don't just cancel flights and abandon you).
Aircraft: Virgin Blue fly four different aircraft -- Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Embraer 170, and Embraer 190. We had a 190 on the way over, and a 737-700 on the way back. The 737s have seat-back entertainment systems (for a fee), but the seats on the smaller Embraer are much wider and more comfortable. I didn't pay for the entertainment system, but it runs for free from boarding until the seatbelt sign turns off, which was helpful as take-off is the part of the flight I need the most distraction. Exit row seats cost more, but the unnaturally tall M agrees they were well worth it.
Entertainment: Embraers have no entertainment provided. 737s have seat-back screens as described above.
How this came about I have no idea. I grew up around aircraft enthusists, and since my first flight at the age of twelve have flown in everything from a Cessna to a 747. I know what every whirr and thump means, realise that aricraft can pass through washing-machine-style turbulence unscathed, and understand the physics that allows them to get off the ground. But I can't get rid of the niggling little bit of my mind which screams of how unnatural this is and OMG WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
The most confusing part of this is that I was never like this before. I know its possible to overcome fear of flying, but is it possible to develop it when you never had it before?
I just joined a frequent flyer program too, knowing I was going to do enough flying in the next few years to make it worthwhile. Hopefully its just that I'm out of practice, otherwise any future travels could prove interesting.
On the plus side, I can give a bit of a review for Virgin Blue's Adelaide to Melbourne run.
Price: Mid-range. Cheaper than Qantas but more expensive than Jetstar or Tiger.
Schedule: If you absolutely have to be there on time, fly Qantas. Virgin were experiencing significant delays across their schedules on both days. If you don't mind being half an hour late though, the savings on Virgin are significant (and unlike Jetstar, they don't just cancel flights and abandon you).
Aircraft: Virgin Blue fly four different aircraft -- Boeing 737-700, Boeing 737-800, Embraer 170, and Embraer 190. We had a 190 on the way over, and a 737-700 on the way back. The 737s have seat-back entertainment systems (for a fee), but the seats on the smaller Embraer are much wider and more comfortable. I didn't pay for the entertainment system, but it runs for free from boarding until the seatbelt sign turns off, which was helpful as take-off is the part of the flight I need the most distraction. Exit row seats cost more, but the unnaturally tall M agrees they were well worth it.
Entertainment: Embraers have no entertainment provided. 737s have seat-back screens as described above.
Friday, February 12, 2010
9 to 5 Traveler goes to Melbourne!
It's a far cry from Prague, I know, but itchy-feet agitation has got the better of me. In order to prevent myself climbing the walls in frustration, I've booked M and I a weekend in Melbourne for a few weeks time.
M has never been to Melbourne, so it should be a bit of adventure for him. I on the other hand have been there half a dozen times and know it reasonably well. I once took a friend there for a suprise daytrip, telling her only that I would pick her up at 5am and that she needed good walking shoes, her drivers licence, and $6 in change. There's nothing like a mysterious semi-abduction in the name of fun.
Whilst Sydney might have better boutique and brand-name shopping, Melbourne is known for its bargains. Markets and factory outlets abound, and the weekend shopping trip there is a time-honoured tradition for Adelaide women. M and I are not looking for shoes and hairdryders like most of the shopping hordes though -- I'm looking for fabrics, and he wants a sword. We participate in a medieval reenactment group (for lack of a better way of describing it), and the search for materials used in that sometimes gets a bit... extreme.
Buying swords in Melbourne is no easy feat. The entire state of Victoria has stricter weapons laws than most airports. Most members of our group, when travelling between Sydney and Adelaide, will add an extra hour ot two to their trip rather than pass through Victoria carrying so much as an eating knife. So, where is the main seller of historical fencing swords? Melbourne, of course.
All will be reviewed upon our return.
M has never been to Melbourne, so it should be a bit of adventure for him. I on the other hand have been there half a dozen times and know it reasonably well. I once took a friend there for a suprise daytrip, telling her only that I would pick her up at 5am and that she needed good walking shoes, her drivers licence, and $6 in change. There's nothing like a mysterious semi-abduction in the name of fun.
Whilst Sydney might have better boutique and brand-name shopping, Melbourne is known for its bargains. Markets and factory outlets abound, and the weekend shopping trip there is a time-honoured tradition for Adelaide women. M and I are not looking for shoes and hairdryders like most of the shopping hordes though -- I'm looking for fabrics, and he wants a sword. We participate in a medieval reenactment group (for lack of a better way of describing it), and the search for materials used in that sometimes gets a bit... extreme.
Buying swords in Melbourne is no easy feat. The entire state of Victoria has stricter weapons laws than most airports. Most members of our group, when travelling between Sydney and Adelaide, will add an extra hour ot two to their trip rather than pass through Victoria carrying so much as an eating knife. So, where is the main seller of historical fencing swords? Melbourne, of course.
All will be reviewed upon our return.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Sailing away
Cruises are for old people, aren't they?
The more I research this idea, the more I like it. I, like many people, had previously held the idea that cruises were all about food, gambling, and elderly couples waltzing on the dancefloor to the music of a fairly average band.
Food, yes. Everything else, not really.
Gambling doesn't interest me, so whilst the ship has a casino I think we can avoid it altogether. I'd rather spend my money on massages at the health spa. Shore trips and wine appreciation lessons aside, I can see the trip being sessions of activity, such as the gym or circus classes, broken up with sessions of eating. M and I are foodies in a big way.
M is however somewhat disappointed at the prospect of formal nights. Not because he dislikes dressing up (he loves it), but because he'd developed the notion that we would only need one suitcase between the two of us and this killed it. He was even less impressed by the idea of theme nights. Again, we're both medieval reenactors so it's not due to any dislike of costumes, but both of us cringe at the thought of a night of cowboy hats and line dancing.
Both of us value our space and privacy, things which may be hard to come by on a ship carrying 2000 people. For this reason, M has chosen a cabin with a balcony. They're not much more expensive than a standard cabin but much cheaper than a suite, and will allow us to have a private outside area to get away from it all when we need to.
Sounds like fun to me.
The more I research this idea, the more I like it. I, like many people, had previously held the idea that cruises were all about food, gambling, and elderly couples waltzing on the dancefloor to the music of a fairly average band.
Food, yes. Everything else, not really.
Gambling doesn't interest me, so whilst the ship has a casino I think we can avoid it altogether. I'd rather spend my money on massages at the health spa. Shore trips and wine appreciation lessons aside, I can see the trip being sessions of activity, such as the gym or circus classes, broken up with sessions of eating. M and I are foodies in a big way.
M is however somewhat disappointed at the prospect of formal nights. Not because he dislikes dressing up (he loves it), but because he'd developed the notion that we would only need one suitcase between the two of us and this killed it. He was even less impressed by the idea of theme nights. Again, we're both medieval reenactors so it's not due to any dislike of costumes, but both of us cringe at the thought of a night of cowboy hats and line dancing.
Both of us value our space and privacy, things which may be hard to come by on a ship carrying 2000 people. For this reason, M has chosen a cabin with a balcony. They're not much more expensive than a standard cabin but much cheaper than a suite, and will allow us to have a private outside area to get away from it all when we need to.
Sounds like fun to me.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Meet Stitch
We'd like to introduce you to Stitch, the newest member of our family. He came with the name, but so far he's proving very quiet and non-destructive, at least as much as a puppy can be. The animal shelter tells us he's a 4-month-old mastiff cross. We accept the four months old bit but we think he's the least likely mastiff we've ever seen. There's definitely some Jack Russell in there, but for the rest we really don't know.
He's very affectionate, and loves his Sheepie toy (it goes "baaa" when squeezed). He is also exceptionally intelligent, and is making really good progress with training for a dog who has been with us only 2 days. The downside of this is that he has magical powers of opening the back door, even when it's locked.
That reminds me, must ask Nan if she can house-sit when we go away. She's been making quite a business of it recently, should be fine if we book her and her elderly kelpie far enough in advance.
He's very affectionate, and loves his Sheepie toy (it goes "baaa" when squeezed). He is also exceptionally intelligent, and is making really good progress with training for a dog who has been with us only 2 days. The downside of this is that he has magical powers of opening the back door, even when it's locked.
That reminds me, must ask Nan if she can house-sit when we go away. She's been making quite a business of it recently, should be fine if we book her and her elderly kelpie far enough in advance.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Change #2
The planning shifts direction once again...
It seems my budgeting went astray in my last lot of plans. I had anticipated that flights near Christmas would cost extra. I hand't anticipated how much extra. I was thinking maybe $500 per person, but Emirates have started releasing December fares, and the moment December 1st rolls in, they go up by $2000/person. And that's not even for the ones near Christmas!
Europe for Christmas -- no longer achievable :(.
This leaves us with two options -- travel at a different time, or go somewhere else. Since I'm still into the idea of going away in December, this leaves us with the somewhere else option.
This in turn led me to remember plans my mother and I had a few years back, in the messy aftermath of my parent's divorce when anything family was all a bit too awkward. We saw a Christmas cruise of the Pacific islands and decided that was definitely the way to go. All the food and cheer of the holiday season, without the cooking and cleaning. We never ended up going (she took me to Bali for my 21st instead, an equally unpopular move with the rest of my family, but it was what I wanted) but the idea stuck in my mind.
So when Europe became impractical, I suggested the cruise to M. He loves the idea.
It is a very different kind of holiday, both from what we were planning and from what we're used to. I'm accustomed to ambitious, planning-heavy adventures, where this is something that requires virtually no independent input from the traveller. We tell them what we want, and they do the rest. It seems quite a novelty, but I think at the end of what is already shaping up as an eventful year, it will be just what we need.
It seems my budgeting went astray in my last lot of plans. I had anticipated that flights near Christmas would cost extra. I hand't anticipated how much extra. I was thinking maybe $500 per person, but Emirates have started releasing December fares, and the moment December 1st rolls in, they go up by $2000/person. And that's not even for the ones near Christmas!
Europe for Christmas -- no longer achievable :(.
This leaves us with two options -- travel at a different time, or go somewhere else. Since I'm still into the idea of going away in December, this leaves us with the somewhere else option.
This in turn led me to remember plans my mother and I had a few years back, in the messy aftermath of my parent's divorce when anything family was all a bit too awkward. We saw a Christmas cruise of the Pacific islands and decided that was definitely the way to go. All the food and cheer of the holiday season, without the cooking and cleaning. We never ended up going (she took me to Bali for my 21st instead, an equally unpopular move with the rest of my family, but it was what I wanted) but the idea stuck in my mind.
So when Europe became impractical, I suggested the cruise to M. He loves the idea.
It is a very different kind of holiday, both from what we were planning and from what we're used to. I'm accustomed to ambitious, planning-heavy adventures, where this is something that requires virtually no independent input from the traveller. We tell them what we want, and they do the rest. It seems quite a novelty, but I think at the end of what is already shaping up as an eventful year, it will be just what we need.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Travel writer
I'm feeling very proud -- I've now officially been paid for travel writing.
For a few years now I've written articles for a stock content website, Helium. A few days ago, I received an email from them informing me that someone had purchased one of my articles on Airport Security. This is the first article I've ever sold, and to have sold a travel piece feels particularly good.
I got $5 for it, but it's a start.
For a few years now I've written articles for a stock content website, Helium. A few days ago, I received an email from them informing me that someone had purchased one of my articles on Airport Security. This is the first article I've ever sold, and to have sold a travel piece feels particularly good.
I got $5 for it, but it's a start.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Gadget Geek
The holiday season has been and gone, and with it comes new toys. I used a bit of my christmas money to buy two new travel trinkets:
Credit Card Swiss Army Knife
These brilliantly compact devices have all the functionality of a basic swiss army knife (except the corkscrew), but are much lighter and easier to carry, being the same size as and only slightly thicker than a credit card. I had one of these a few yers ago, and in addition to being tremendously useful, they're worth it purely for the shocked looks you get when you pluck a knife out of your purse. I don't know why the swiss army knife has such as reputation as a man's tool though. Really, when you think about it, it's just a modern-day chatelaine. No handbag should be complete without one.
The only downside they have is that they can be a little too well-concealed. I lost my last one when I attempted to board a plane without realising it was still in my wallet. I may not have seen it, but an x-ray machine certainly did. Put these in your checked luggage instead.
USB Wristband
Looks like one of those rubber bracelets all the kids seem to be wearing nowdays, except...
... it conceals a USB drive.
Not that I'd advocate trying to hide anything on it, of course. I just like to keep my data close.
A USB drive can be useful thing to have with you. They can carry photos you want to want to show to friends overseas, store information you wrote or downloaded on a shared computer, and keep backup scans of your important documents. They can also be used to view pictures and documents on the personal screens in some aircraft, although I'm unsure on the exact functionality offered. Finally, they make for good backup space if you're travelling with a laptop computer, which always carries a risk of being lost/stolen/destroyed.
Plenty more travel gadgets to come.
Credit Card Swiss Army Knife
These brilliantly compact devices have all the functionality of a basic swiss army knife (except the corkscrew), but are much lighter and easier to carry, being the same size as and only slightly thicker than a credit card. I had one of these a few yers ago, and in addition to being tremendously useful, they're worth it purely for the shocked looks you get when you pluck a knife out of your purse. I don't know why the swiss army knife has such as reputation as a man's tool though. Really, when you think about it, it's just a modern-day chatelaine. No handbag should be complete without one.
The only downside they have is that they can be a little too well-concealed. I lost my last one when I attempted to board a plane without realising it was still in my wallet. I may not have seen it, but an x-ray machine certainly did. Put these in your checked luggage instead.
USB Wristband
Looks like one of those rubber bracelets all the kids seem to be wearing nowdays, except...
... it conceals a USB drive.
Not that I'd advocate trying to hide anything on it, of course. I just like to keep my data close.
A USB drive can be useful thing to have with you. They can carry photos you want to want to show to friends overseas, store information you wrote or downloaded on a shared computer, and keep backup scans of your important documents. They can also be used to view pictures and documents on the personal screens in some aircraft, although I'm unsure on the exact functionality offered. Finally, they make for good backup space if you're travelling with a laptop computer, which always carries a risk of being lost/stolen/destroyed.
Plenty more travel gadgets to come.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
