Saturday, October 4, 2008
Back on the saddle
Ok. Almost got thrown out of the tent. Hit my four liters. Barfed in the cab and prayed most of the night. I'm on my 3rd half liter today. We'll see how long this lasts.....
Friday, October 3, 2008
9:00 am
Oktoberfest is here. Walking to the subway to begin the gauntlet. Amie, jesse, gay todd, swollen knee jim and I are heading to the tents now. Liter count and updates to follow.
Davr
Davr
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Munich
Testing remote blog update. On train from Varrona to munich. Meeting Jesse tonight to chill out before going for gold tomorrow afternoon. Laura and tried the 4x100 medley beer relay. Tomorrow I'm going for my everest. 4 liters of the dunkel at the fest.
Dave
Dave
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Olympics......Finally
Sunday we finally headed to the Olympic villiage in search of Gold. After the driver decided to take us on a circle of Beijing before we got him headed to the right place. Dropped off in front of the birds nest we anxiosly made our way inside.
Security was tight and it was early so we walked around taking it all in. Much to our pleasure guess what we found at the snack booths? Beer! Deciding now that Laura and I going for gold our selves in the 4X10 Beer Meadly Relay we had to get started. We had a good showing in the forbidden city where shortly after noon we had a beer in the sacred garden. The next day we followed up a strong performance on the great wall with beers on the wall, 9:00 am. This was a hair of the dog effort so extra points. Today we broke the seal with a 8:45 AM performance in the middle of the village. For some reason there is no shame in this since it is late evening in the states and the Chinese don't judge. We will ramp up our efforts since in the Olympic village beers are 5 yuan (eighty five cents). Walked the village and went into "The Cube" early to watch swimming warm ups. We hope to complete our beerlympics with a strong final showing in the events tomorrow.
Saw Phelps and the others in the practice pool. Dara was actually getting stretched out in the main hall so I snuck in behind her for a picture. If you don't know who she is she is the 4 time Olympian who took Silver in a single event and helped the women take gold in the relay all at age 41!
Then came the history breaking moment. 4x100 mens medley relay. You saw it on tv so I won't elaborate but Team USA with Phelps took the gold handing Phelps his 8th and final Gold in Beijing!
After the race I caught a swim cap from Jensen (5th in the 1500 free) and met Bella Karoli.
A few hours to kill before the gymnastics so we walked the village. Unlike the plethora of cheap beer we were facing having little to eat. The snack booths had only snack like items including a box of rice and meat that self heated (like those Marine meals). Normally we'd be all over the local food but not this time. Not wanting to leave the village we took the only other option that I am ashamed of. For the second time in my traveling history I was forced to go to McDonald's over seas. Somehow having a beer with your BigMac makes it a little better but I'm not proud of myself.
Into the Arena for Gymnastics. We walked the joint looking for Steve Butcher who is the FIG US president and Olympic judge. Steve and I met in college and havn't really stayed in touch but I was hoping he'd remember me. We later found out that he had already left Beijing to return home due to the poor health of his mother.
The meet was good and after explaining the scoring to Laura we still couldn't help some of the people were gypped on scoring. It made me want to get a pommel horse and start doing that again to stay in shape but alas.....I have no where to put it and I'm extremely lazy now.
We are off to an early start tomorrow to go out to the Women's Triathlon event in the morning. More tomorrow.
Security was tight and it was early so we walked around taking it all in. Much to our pleasure guess what we found at the snack booths? Beer! Deciding now that Laura and I going for gold our selves in the 4X10 Beer Meadly Relay we had to get started. We had a good showing in the forbidden city where shortly after noon we had a beer in the sacred garden. The next day we followed up a strong performance on the great wall with beers on the wall, 9:00 am. This was a hair of the dog effort so extra points. Today we broke the seal with a 8:45 AM performance in the middle of the village. For some reason there is no shame in this since it is late evening in the states and the Chinese don't judge. We will ramp up our efforts since in the Olympic village beers are 5 yuan (eighty five cents). Walked the village and went into "The Cube" early to watch swimming warm ups. We hope to complete our beerlympics with a strong final showing in the events tomorrow.
Saw Phelps and the others in the practice pool. Dara was actually getting stretched out in the main hall so I snuck in behind her for a picture. If you don't know who she is she is the 4 time Olympian who took Silver in a single event and helped the women take gold in the relay all at age 41!
Then came the history breaking moment. 4x100 mens medley relay. You saw it on tv so I won't elaborate but Team USA with Phelps took the gold handing Phelps his 8th and final Gold in Beijing!
After the race I caught a swim cap from Jensen (5th in the 1500 free) and met Bella Karoli.
A few hours to kill before the gymnastics so we walked the village. Unlike the plethora of cheap beer we were facing having little to eat. The snack booths had only snack like items including a box of rice and meat that self heated (like those Marine meals). Normally we'd be all over the local food but not this time. Not wanting to leave the village we took the only other option that I am ashamed of. For the second time in my traveling history I was forced to go to McDonald's over seas. Somehow having a beer with your BigMac makes it a little better but I'm not proud of myself.
Into the Arena for Gymnastics. We walked the joint looking for Steve Butcher who is the FIG US president and Olympic judge. Steve and I met in college and havn't really stayed in touch but I was hoping he'd remember me. We later found out that he had already left Beijing to return home due to the poor health of his mother.
The meet was good and after explaining the scoring to Laura we still couldn't help some of the people were gypped on scoring. It made me want to get a pommel horse and start doing that again to stay in shape but alas.....I have no where to put it and I'm extremely lazy now.
We are off to an early start tomorrow to go out to the Women's Triathlon event in the morning. More tomorrow.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Laura who, the wall and drinking again and foot massages
I forgot to tell you yesterday. Apparently Laura doesn't exist. I know this is modern China but if you don't have a twig and two berry you don't really exist here. The wait staff in almost every establishment doesn't really respond to you unless you are the "man of the house". Laura can't get served to save her life. She would signal to them to no end but when I simply raise my eye browse I get 3 people to help me. They would even fill my beer up with hers while leaving her glass half empty. If only I could get this tradition to follow me back to the states we could curb ugly fat pathetic male impotence immediately in the US. Granted Prozac sales would plummet but I'm willing to take that risk as long as I can short Pfizer first.
6:30 came like your mother waking you up for Sunday School. This was actually a pinnacle of the trip. We entered our private car that Laura set up for us (Thanks Laura and ViaSystems!) and headed to the Great Wall of China! Peter our over zealous tourguide who decided to share with along the way that he was basically what is wrong with Americanized sensibility in China. He is an overweight Chinaman (they do exist) who likes to just play video games all day, lives with his girlfriend and can't be bothered to actually do anything. She is a surgeon's assistant, makes more money than he does, is not attractive and has little ambition in life. In a country where the women outnumber the men in a pretty bad ratio I weep for the future of this country.
Back to the Wall. We get there and I have only really one word........un-believable! The advice we got from the people in the hotel the day before paid off. Getting there early resulted in the wall to our selves. Sun was up, sky was clear, weather was cool and no huddled masses of camera hoarding ass monkey's to get in your way. Peter took us up the stairs (he was winded getting to the tram) the left us for a 45 min to explore the way. Can't say enough. This was fantastic, I will post pictures soon. I overheard one tour guide say that he had NEVER in his life been able to see Beijing from the wall. So clear, so beautiful, so green so........thirsty. So you have to commemorate a moment like the only way we know how, beer. So we bought a can of beer to cheers our concerning of the Mongols as if we had laid the bricks our selves. This was actually a two prong accomplishment. One was to celebrate our awesomeness and the other was to get a hair of the dog to put our hangover at bay. We ditched Peter to walk down the wall and take the toboggan down instead of the tram. Returned to the hotel and took a nap. Sorry the chink (pun intended) in the armor is showing.
This is now Laura entering...After Dave finally woke up from a 3 hour nap, yes 3 hours, LOSER, we met up again and went shopping. His favorite past-time, we went to the Silk/Pearl market, fake knock off shit of Beijing. I could not go to Beijing without doing some of my famous China shopping, looking for knock off jeans, clothing, and of course purses! Well, Dave, being a man, put a little damper in my shopping. He thought all the items were crap and we just kept walking. I trying to get him in the shopping mood talked him into his first ever foot massage. There were all these little booths that did foot massages and we finally stopped, I wanted the 55 minute, he asked if I really expected him to sit there for that long, I told him he would regret it and we agreed on a 30 minute foot massage. Let's put it this way--Amie, get ready Dave wants one every day now and paid for my massage for making him stop. He is still talking about how good his feet feel--that little shit I should have made him buy a purse and he would have still been talking about the bargain, but at least we stopped for foot massage. Then to a great Western Random pub we found after our feet felt so good and smooth, we stopped for a number of beers, salad, and pizza (at least it had duck on it--but could not do Beijing duck one more night). Then to bed early, the alarm went off at 6:30am again today to finally watch some sporting events!!
Games are tomorrow....
6:30 came like your mother waking you up for Sunday School. This was actually a pinnacle of the trip. We entered our private car that Laura set up for us (Thanks Laura and ViaSystems!) and headed to the Great Wall of China! Peter our over zealous tourguide who decided to share with along the way that he was basically what is wrong with Americanized sensibility in China. He is an overweight Chinaman (they do exist) who likes to just play video games all day, lives with his girlfriend and can't be bothered to actually do anything. She is a surgeon's assistant, makes more money than he does, is not attractive and has little ambition in life. In a country where the women outnumber the men in a pretty bad ratio I weep for the future of this country.
Back to the Wall. We get there and I have only really one word........un-believable! The advice we got from the people in the hotel the day before paid off. Getting there early resulted in the wall to our selves. Sun was up, sky was clear, weather was cool and no huddled masses of camera hoarding ass monkey's to get in your way. Peter took us up the stairs (he was winded getting to the tram) the left us for a 45 min to explore the way. Can't say enough. This was fantastic, I will post pictures soon. I overheard one tour guide say that he had NEVER in his life been able to see Beijing from the wall. So clear, so beautiful, so green so........thirsty. So you have to commemorate a moment like the only way we know how, beer. So we bought a can of beer to cheers our concerning of the Mongols as if we had laid the bricks our selves. This was actually a two prong accomplishment. One was to celebrate our awesomeness and the other was to get a hair of the dog to put our hangover at bay. We ditched Peter to walk down the wall and take the toboggan down instead of the tram. Returned to the hotel and took a nap. Sorry the chink (pun intended) in the armor is showing.
This is now Laura entering...After Dave finally woke up from a 3 hour nap, yes 3 hours, LOSER, we met up again and went shopping. His favorite past-time, we went to the Silk/Pearl market, fake knock off shit of Beijing. I could not go to Beijing without doing some of my famous China shopping, looking for knock off jeans, clothing, and of course purses! Well, Dave, being a man, put a little damper in my shopping. He thought all the items were crap and we just kept walking. I trying to get him in the shopping mood talked him into his first ever foot massage. There were all these little booths that did foot massages and we finally stopped, I wanted the 55 minute, he asked if I really expected him to sit there for that long, I told him he would regret it and we agreed on a 30 minute foot massage. Let's put it this way--Amie, get ready Dave wants one every day now and paid for my massage for making him stop. He is still talking about how good his feet feel--that little shit I should have made him buy a purse and he would have still been talking about the bargain, but at least we stopped for foot massage. Then to a great Western Random pub we found after our feet felt so good and smooth, we stopped for a number of beers, salad, and pizza (at least it had duck on it--but could not do Beijing duck one more night). Then to bed early, the alarm went off at 6:30am again today to finally watch some sporting events!!
Games are tomorrow....
Tiananmen, Porn and Cab Rides
Laura and I have been on a three day drinking and Olympic binge. I don't even know where to start.
First off we have had many new challenges with the cab drivers. If Laura didn't have her cell phone hot dialed to the hotel to have them talk drivers in from wherever we are we'd still be picking rice in a field somewhere. One driver decided to get us across the street from the hotel after going 12 miles an hour on the freeway all the way here. When the time came for him to flip a bitch and get us home he balked and simply meandered down the street about four blocks before we just got out and walked back. If and only if (not saying we did this) but the walk was just long enough to have a smoke along the base of the elevated train back to the hotel. The driver this morning for example took us around a 20 min tour of the city in a circle before actually asking us where we were going (we made the dumb ass assumption that he knew where we were going). Ok enough about the cabs.
We did head down into the city on Friday, after meeting Erik Vendt's parents in the lobby after I had too many cups of coffee with corresponding bathroom visits we headed out to the Forbidden City. City was beautiful but after walking through 3 gates and 17 tea rooms we were ready for some refreshment. Laura and I decided to have a beer in the inter garden. BTW remind me to re-watch the Last Emperor when I get home. Beers in random places will become a theme so watch out.
Tienanmen Square was nice. Not actually as large as I thought. I was expecting check point Charlie kind of crap since that seems to be the center place of political dissent in this country but instead all we found was a bull shit "security screening" with light metal detectors and a sign reading to the effect that I couldn't protest or bring in weapons and pornography. I immediately had to surrend my Penthouse since I was hoping to read the articles in the open pollution of the square in all it's glory.
We ended up leaving there to go pick up our massively overpriced tickets that we bought from our ticket broker and drank the day away in the hotel. Not all was lost as we of course got hungry and went to a local eating establishment and had duck crepes, soup, dumplings and of course, more beer.
Since we only talked a big game the first night we felt compelled to drink our limit so we came back to the hotel and drank my, Laura's and some "imaginary friend's" share and past out drunk (which should also explain the lack of blog updates this day). Which reminds me. While we were "socializing" with ourselves we watched 3 hours of the most impressive sport in the Olympic family......equestrian. You've never seen such pageantry, love for sport and complete and total rich douche bags with nothing better to do and at least 8 generations of inbreeding. If I have to watch another fag in a top hat riding around on a beautiful horse he's obviously violated by holding a carrot in his butt cheeks trying to get this horse to jump, turn or mount then I might get sick. So in such a circumstance what can you possibly do? Gamble. So we started betting on..........I don't know, there isn't win, place and show so I through out the fact that the next horse (yes I said horse since they are the only thing in this event that actually do anything) would come in 28th place. Nailed it! In fact Clyde did in fact come in 28th, no medal for him but hell, I should be in Vegas right now. Things only progressed down hill from here.
I have to be up in 7 hours to go to the wall........
First off we have had many new challenges with the cab drivers. If Laura didn't have her cell phone hot dialed to the hotel to have them talk drivers in from wherever we are we'd still be picking rice in a field somewhere. One driver decided to get us across the street from the hotel after going 12 miles an hour on the freeway all the way here. When the time came for him to flip a bitch and get us home he balked and simply meandered down the street about four blocks before we just got out and walked back. If and only if (not saying we did this) but the walk was just long enough to have a smoke along the base of the elevated train back to the hotel. The driver this morning for example took us around a 20 min tour of the city in a circle before actually asking us where we were going (we made the dumb ass assumption that he knew where we were going). Ok enough about the cabs.
We did head down into the city on Friday, after meeting Erik Vendt's parents in the lobby after I had too many cups of coffee with corresponding bathroom visits we headed out to the Forbidden City. City was beautiful but after walking through 3 gates and 17 tea rooms we were ready for some refreshment. Laura and I decided to have a beer in the inter garden. BTW remind me to re-watch the Last Emperor when I get home. Beers in random places will become a theme so watch out.
Tienanmen Square was nice. Not actually as large as I thought. I was expecting check point Charlie kind of crap since that seems to be the center place of political dissent in this country but instead all we found was a bull shit "security screening" with light metal detectors and a sign reading to the effect that I couldn't protest or bring in weapons and pornography. I immediately had to surrend my Penthouse since I was hoping to read the articles in the open pollution of the square in all it's glory.
We ended up leaving there to go pick up our massively overpriced tickets that we bought from our ticket broker and drank the day away in the hotel. Not all was lost as we of course got hungry and went to a local eating establishment and had duck crepes, soup, dumplings and of course, more beer.
Since we only talked a big game the first night we felt compelled to drink our limit so we came back to the hotel and drank my, Laura's and some "imaginary friend's" share and past out drunk (which should also explain the lack of blog updates this day). Which reminds me. While we were "socializing" with ourselves we watched 3 hours of the most impressive sport in the Olympic family......equestrian. You've never seen such pageantry, love for sport and complete and total rich douche bags with nothing better to do and at least 8 generations of inbreeding. If I have to watch another fag in a top hat riding around on a beautiful horse he's obviously violated by holding a carrot in his butt cheeks trying to get this horse to jump, turn or mount then I might get sick. So in such a circumstance what can you possibly do? Gamble. So we started betting on..........I don't know, there isn't win, place and show so I through out the fact that the next horse (yes I said horse since they are the only thing in this event that actually do anything) would come in 28th place. Nailed it! In fact Clyde did in fact come in 28th, no medal for him but hell, I should be in Vegas right now. Things only progressed down hill from here.
I have to be up in 7 hours to go to the wall........
Friday, August 15, 2008
Talked a big game.
I met Laura in the lobby last night about 7. Of course we immediately went to the bar and had beers. Decided that we better head out to dinner soon since we were going for blood and it would be a long night of drinking. We asked "James" the most charismatic and best English speaking bell boy in the hotel where we should go. After confirming us a reservation and writing down the directions off we went. We got to the place and it of course was ornate and tacky all at the same time. After proceeding down the grand plastic stair case past the section of the restaurant that looks more like a pet store we arrived at our table sided with a jade green couch on both sides. Duck, Chicken, Dumplings, Asparagus, noodles and beer oh my.. Service of course was smotheringly good and the "Forman" of the restaurant came by to ensure we were doing fine. She insisted on escorting me to the bathroom each time (had to go twice with my little girl bladder and 5 beers). There is something really funny about this level of service when getting a new beer is a national emergency requiring her to literally run to get it in high heels that don't fit right and a skirt. She then walked us all the way out to the street to say good night.
Back to the hotel a beer or two and right to bed. We talked up a first big night but the food bloat, beers and jet lag took us down before midnight.
This morning we woke up to the best weather yet. There is a sun, I can see it! I can also now see well over a mile (as opposed to across the street the first day). I was up early again this morning had a chat with my boss back home who didn't know I was in China (I love an empowering hands off boss!) and all is well on the work front.
Finally got through to the ticket broker for our Gymnastics tickets so we are off in a bit to have breakfast, pick up the tickets and head to the Forbidden City, Tienanmen Square and Mao's Mausoleum.
We are also trying to track down Becky Lavell today to see if we can hang out.
Dave
Back to the hotel a beer or two and right to bed. We talked up a first big night but the food bloat, beers and jet lag took us down before midnight.
This morning we woke up to the best weather yet. There is a sun, I can see it! I can also now see well over a mile (as opposed to across the street the first day). I was up early again this morning had a chat with my boss back home who didn't know I was in China (I love an empowering hands off boss!) and all is well on the work front.
Finally got through to the ticket broker for our Gymnastics tickets so we are off in a bit to have breakfast, pick up the tickets and head to the Forbidden City, Tienanmen Square and Mao's Mausoleum.
We are also trying to track down Becky Lavell today to see if we can hang out.
Dave
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Beijing - Not your father's China
My only frame of reference is Shanghai from eight years ago so this could be a 8 years later thing, an Olympic thing or a Beijing thing but China has exploded. Everything is under construction, the bikes have given way to cars, the buildings are big and bright and have even taken on a Vegas feel in some areas (one building had a Jumbotron four stories high and as wide as the building on each side, playing the live Olympics of course). I really only got to drive through town today on my way to work but.....I did go past the Olympic village, saw the "birds nest" stadium and the outdoor venue (sand volleyball was going on inside). Pretty impressive stuff and there was no feel of communism or repression anywhere. I guess it's true what you say, make a fat and happy middle class and most people will chill out.
After a few meetings and trainings in the office today a few of the locals took me out to a crazy lunch. A very nice place specializing in duck. So we get this private room where the duck guy comes with a certified, numbered duck (they gave me the certification, duck number 1,586,212 that they have served since 1845) and he proceeds to chop it up for you into various plates. Duck breast in broth, duck sides for crapes, and of course my favorite, straight fried duck skin (dipped in sugar if you are into that sort of thing). Call me a duck purist but you could hand me a bag of duck skin and I'd eat it like a bag of chips. No I didn't get the duck sweats but needless to say, it was the shit. I'm not sure I need dinner now. Well it is 5:00 AM in California now so I could just be jacked up.
One more day then Laura gets in town. Dinner and drinking will be mandatory at night, hungry or not......This could be a blood bath.
Dave
PS. It was actually fog today, not pollution.
After a few meetings and trainings in the office today a few of the locals took me out to a crazy lunch. A very nice place specializing in duck. So we get this private room where the duck guy comes with a certified, numbered duck (they gave me the certification, duck number 1,586,212 that they have served since 1845) and he proceeds to chop it up for you into various plates. Duck breast in broth, duck sides for crapes, and of course my favorite, straight fried duck skin (dipped in sugar if you are into that sort of thing). Call me a duck purist but you could hand me a bag of duck skin and I'd eat it like a bag of chips. No I didn't get the duck sweats but needless to say, it was the shit. I'm not sure I need dinner now. Well it is 5:00 AM in California now so I could just be jacked up.
One more day then Laura gets in town. Dinner and drinking will be mandatory at night, hungry or not......This could be a blood bath.
Dave
PS. It was actually fog today, not pollution.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Beijing - Summer Olympics
I've been a bad blogger lately. I'm going to try to make an effort this trip. Ok, quick re-cap before I go brain damaged and pass out.
I was able to come to Beijing for work and while I am at it Laura Patton is also in town and was able to not only swing free tickets to the Women's Triathlon but also Track and Field. I of course couldn't stay away from Gymnastics and then we both agreed to go to the swim finals to hopefully watch Phelps win #8 in Beijing.
I came in late tonight so it was already dark but it is either really polluted or just misty tonight. I'm going with polluted.
Jumped in the cab to have him not know where we were going but a few calls later and him backing up on the freeway to take a different route through traffic and I made it to the hotel. BTW everything here so far is brand new. They clearly want the world to see them with their shit in order. Help desks everywhere, floors so clean you could eat off of them and no lines for anything. It is almost creepy how sparse it was here tonight coming in.
I don't think Laura gets into Beijing until Thursday but I'm here working for the next two days to get most of this crap paid for by the company.
Speaking of Laura she sent a note saying the Becky may get bumped up to the show this week after Laura Bennett may have had to pull out? Trying to find details but nothing official yet.
More tomorrow!
Dave
I was able to come to Beijing for work and while I am at it Laura Patton is also in town and was able to not only swing free tickets to the Women's Triathlon but also Track and Field. I of course couldn't stay away from Gymnastics and then we both agreed to go to the swim finals to hopefully watch Phelps win #8 in Beijing.
I came in late tonight so it was already dark but it is either really polluted or just misty tonight. I'm going with polluted.
Jumped in the cab to have him not know where we were going but a few calls later and him backing up on the freeway to take a different route through traffic and I made it to the hotel. BTW everything here so far is brand new. They clearly want the world to see them with their shit in order. Help desks everywhere, floors so clean you could eat off of them and no lines for anything. It is almost creepy how sparse it was here tonight coming in.
I don't think Laura gets into Beijing until Thursday but I'm here working for the next two days to get most of this crap paid for by the company.
Speaking of Laura she sent a note saying the Becky may get bumped up to the show this week after Laura Bennett may have had to pull out? Trying to find details but nothing official yet.
More tomorrow!
Dave
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Honolulu - May 24th -May 27th
Usual arrival plan: straight to the Westin for cocktails on the beach and a little swim. Heaven. What was not heaven, our hotel the Aqua Continental. It was OK but I think for a few dollars more you can stay at a much nicer hotel.
I took a surf lesson at Girls Who Surf. My instructor was Cherri and she kicked ass! I actually caught waves and stood all by myself. Super cool!
I took a surf lesson at Girls Who Surf. My instructor was Cherri and she kicked ass! I actually caught waves and stood all by myself. Super cool!
We had a lovely time at Chang and Gina's wedding later in the afternoon. I must have looked nice with my cuts from the coral on my shins from surfing, well it makes me sound cool to say - yeah, I did that surfing. The wedding was at a little church in Hololulu and the reception was at the Kahala Hotel, which was cool because they had a lagoon with dolphins - yes I am 5.
Other than that we did our usual for Honolulu: LOTS of sushi, lots of beers, lots of swimming. I love Hawaii.
Other than that we did our usual for Honolulu: LOTS of sushi, lots of beers, lots of swimming. I love Hawaii.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
NEPAL - Same Same, But Different
I am not bothering with pictures within the blog entry. Go to http://picasaweb.google.com/aashton to see my photos. The photos are not well organized yet. I had to get my freaking $20 photo CD from Snapfish in order to incorporate Cyncy's photos. I f-ing hate Snapfish. Save yourself the headache and cost and just use PICASA everyone!
Also, I must prominently recommend the tour company we used, Intrepid Travel. We did their Annapurna Sanctuary Trip. The price and sustainable tourism-slant got me initially interested in the company. Intrepid uses only local operators and locally owned hotels. The company ensured that our guides and porters were paid well and weren't overloaded or overwhelmed. Our guide made sure we all felt safe and comfortable and didn't drink bad water or eat improperly cooked food. TOP NOTCH all around. I will definitely use them again.
KATHMANDU (March 7-9)
You think of Kathmandu as some sort of mysterious place full of culture and historic sights. Maybe a few retired hippies to keep it interesting. But no, what a craphole. Sorry, but it is true. For me personally, it is hard to love a place where you can get Dahl Bhat, Chicken Enchiladas, Pizza, and Apple Pie - all at the same restaurant. Sort of like the Cheesecake Factory only you can't drink the water and there's no toilet paper in the bathroom (and no toilet seat either, for that matter).
The City is dirty and strikingly poor and choking with diesel fumes. Seriously, my snot was black after 2 days there. You cannot step into the street without being completely in the moment and completely aware - watching for cars, rickshaws, open sewers, kids, dogs, cows, people trying to sell you bits of junk and nick-knacks . Now I sound like a western, elitist snob - but this is a tourist town of the worst sort.
That being said, Kim, Cyndy and I found refuge in a few places. For example: our favorite breakfast spot for eggs, coffee, and cheese-toast, the local bookstore, the restaurant/bar overlooking the intense chaos of the main street, and the garden cafe next to the Hotel Marshyangdi where we stayed. It wasn't quite the cultural experience I was hoping for, but I knew that going in. I think I have seen my fill of Kathmandu. Once is enough.
BHAKTAPUR (March 9-10)
Cool little city outside of Kathmandu. The City is known for its preserved temples and medieval-looking, narrow streets. I thought the city was a nice break from Kathmandu. No traffic on the streets and lots of local crafts and cool stuff for us tourists (aka suckers) to buy.
TREK (March 11-22)
How do I even begin to describe 11 days of 4-6 hours hiking, temperature and weather variation from boiling hot to freezing cold and snowing (all in the same day), with the most fantastic vertigo-inducing views I have ever seen in my entire life. For anyone that doesn't know, I went with 2 friends on this trip, Cyndy Schafer from UCSB and Kim Potter from my triathlon club. We met three other AMAZING couples in Kathmandu for the trip, The Brits - Charlie & Helen from Leeds and Dai & Janna from Brighton, and the Aussies Matt & Jen from Melbourne. I cannot imagine a better group of traveling partners. We all got along so well, not a douchebag in the bunch.
A typical day would consist of a 6:15 am wake up for sunrise, followed by a 7:00am breakfast (porridge and black tea for me). We'd pack up and give our bags to the porters, then get started. This was some hard hiking, the "difficulty rating = 5" that the tour company. Nothing like the mellow Inca Trail business we did a few years ago. This was REALLY hard. OMG I have never gone up and down so many freakin steps. We'd take a break for a Fanta and Snickers at 10:00am then have lunch a few hours later. The usual meal was Noodles or Rice with veggies and egg, perhaps some dal bhat (the staple meal of Nepal, veggies with rice and lentils) . It was cheap, simple, filling food. Usually we'd hike for another hour after lunch then we'd arrive at the next "lodge".
Our afternoons of leisure after hiking were my favorite part of the trek! We'd all just sit around, play cards, drink beer, talk, read books, and watch the weather outside. You just never do that in your daily life, sit around and do NOTHING. I relished every moment of our downtime. Dinner was served early, pretty much the same fare as lunch - but with the occasional yak cheese pizza or Nepali-style chicken enchilada?!?!? Weird but good.
BANGKOK (March 24th-26th)
I loved everything about Bangkok! The chaos, the Pad Thai in the street for breakfast, the people, the markets, EVERYTHING. It makes me sad that anyone lives in sprawling USA-type suburbia, I truly believe that living like that is the major cause of depression in the states . It must be almost impossible to be depressed here, but then I am a big-city girl at heart. This trip made me more sure that I must live in NYC in my 40s. I know not everyone can handle all the people, the dirt and pollution, and general disorder - I feel alive in it.
Also, I must prominently recommend the tour company we used, Intrepid Travel. We did their Annapurna Sanctuary Trip. The price and sustainable tourism-slant got me initially interested in the company. Intrepid uses only local operators and locally owned hotels. The company ensured that our guides and porters were paid well and weren't overloaded or overwhelmed. Our guide made sure we all felt safe and comfortable and didn't drink bad water or eat improperly cooked food. TOP NOTCH all around. I will definitely use them again.
KATHMANDU (March 7-9)
You think of Kathmandu as some sort of mysterious place full of culture and historic sights. Maybe a few retired hippies to keep it interesting. But no, what a craphole. Sorry, but it is true. For me personally, it is hard to love a place where you can get Dahl Bhat, Chicken Enchiladas, Pizza, and Apple Pie - all at the same restaurant. Sort of like the Cheesecake Factory only you can't drink the water and there's no toilet paper in the bathroom (and no toilet seat either, for that matter).
The City is dirty and strikingly poor and choking with diesel fumes. Seriously, my snot was black after 2 days there. You cannot step into the street without being completely in the moment and completely aware - watching for cars, rickshaws, open sewers, kids, dogs, cows, people trying to sell you bits of junk and nick-knacks . Now I sound like a western, elitist snob - but this is a tourist town of the worst sort.
That being said, Kim, Cyndy and I found refuge in a few places. For example: our favorite breakfast spot for eggs, coffee, and cheese-toast, the local bookstore, the restaurant/bar overlooking the intense chaos of the main street, and the garden cafe next to the Hotel Marshyangdi where we stayed. It wasn't quite the cultural experience I was hoping for, but I knew that going in. I think I have seen my fill of Kathmandu. Once is enough.
BHAKTAPUR (March 9-10)
Cool little city outside of Kathmandu. The City is known for its preserved temples and medieval-looking, narrow streets. I thought the city was a nice break from Kathmandu. No traffic on the streets and lots of local crafts and cool stuff for us tourists (aka suckers) to buy.
TREK (March 11-22)
How do I even begin to describe 11 days of 4-6 hours hiking, temperature and weather variation from boiling hot to freezing cold and snowing (all in the same day), with the most fantastic vertigo-inducing views I have ever seen in my entire life. For anyone that doesn't know, I went with 2 friends on this trip, Cyndy Schafer from UCSB and Kim Potter from my triathlon club. We met three other AMAZING couples in Kathmandu for the trip, The Brits - Charlie & Helen from Leeds and Dai & Janna from Brighton, and the Aussies Matt & Jen from Melbourne. I cannot imagine a better group of traveling partners. We all got along so well, not a douchebag in the bunch.
A typical day would consist of a 6:15 am wake up for sunrise, followed by a 7:00am breakfast (porridge and black tea for me). We'd pack up and give our bags to the porters, then get started. This was some hard hiking, the "difficulty rating = 5" that the tour company. Nothing like the mellow Inca Trail business we did a few years ago. This was REALLY hard. OMG I have never gone up and down so many freakin steps. We'd take a break for a Fanta and Snickers at 10:00am then have lunch a few hours later. The usual meal was Noodles or Rice with veggies and egg, perhaps some dal bhat (the staple meal of Nepal, veggies with rice and lentils) . It was cheap, simple, filling food. Usually we'd hike for another hour after lunch then we'd arrive at the next "lodge".
Our afternoons of leisure after hiking were my favorite part of the trek! We'd all just sit around, play cards, drink beer, talk, read books, and watch the weather outside. You just never do that in your daily life, sit around and do NOTHING. I relished every moment of our downtime. Dinner was served early, pretty much the same fare as lunch - but with the occasional yak cheese pizza or Nepali-style chicken enchilada?!?!? Weird but good.
BANGKOK (March 24th-26th)
I loved everything about Bangkok! The chaos, the Pad Thai in the street for breakfast, the people, the markets, EVERYTHING. It makes me sad that anyone lives in sprawling USA-type suburbia, I truly believe that living like that is the major cause of depression in the states . It must be almost impossible to be depressed here, but then I am a big-city girl at heart. This trip made me more sure that I must live in NYC in my 40s. I know not everyone can handle all the people, the dirt and pollution, and general disorder - I feel alive in it.
Anywho, the picts tell the story. We saw a few monuments, temples, buddhas, blah blah blah - but the real fun is just wandering the streets and eating random things off the carts. I am going back to Thailand SOON for sure.
REPORT CARD
Cool peeps on the trek: A++++++++
Janna and Gen getting sick: F- But carrying on anyway: A+
Macchapucchre: A
Kim Asking the Scottish Guy, "So who are you?": B+
Golf: A-
Trash on the Trail: C
Bullshit: C+ (come on that game got old and Rabin couldn't lie)
HOLI paint fights: B+
Nine million freakin stairs up and down: C
Sunrises in the Mountains: A (not an A+ because it was too freakin early)
My Super-cute Porter Who Couldn't Hold His Liquor: B+
French Fries Topped with Fried Egg: A
Too Many Fantas: B-
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/: A+++
Missing Dave: D
Hail Storms: B+
Being Indoors During all the Rain Storms: A
Hot Springs: C (sorry but the old German guy in his tighty-whities ruined it for me)
Mules on the Trail: D
Doggies on the Trail: B+
Pit Toilets: C
Frozen Pit Toilets: D-
Solar Showers: B-
Porridge: A
Chocolate Porridge: C-
Incorporating "Posh" and "Dead Horse" into my American Vocabulary: C (sorry, my fake British and Aussie accents are really bad)
7 Habits of Highly Effective People: D-
Beer along the trek at the Teahouses: A
Matt's Hideous Hangover: D
Kim's Dancing on the Last Night at the Disco: A+
Janna's Hippie-style Glove Twirling: A-
Hot Climber at ABC: A (come on you know you saw him)
Amie's friend Ray: B+
Amie's friend Ray drunk: F-
Pad Thai for Breakfast in Bangkok: A
Ambien for the Plane: A
Monday, March 17, 2008
Singapore and Nepal
I know it sounds almost made up but for the last week Amie has been hiking around in the foothills near the Himalayas in Nepal. Amie, Cindy and Kim are all over there together having a great time. I am a little jealous but I've been having my own fun this week as well. A few days after Amie left I also left on a trip (although mine is a work trip, work trip, yeah right) and have been in in Singapore for 6 days. This post comes a little late since I've actually already left there but that isn't the point.
Singapore is a very strange place, strange in that it is NOT at all what I expected. It is a small country in South East Asia less than a mile from the equator and at the very bottom of Malaysia. The part that I found very strange is that short of the heat and humidity (which was not bad, think Hawaii) most of the time you could have very easily been in down town San Francisco. Asians, yes of course, but also tons of Americans, Brits (Poms) and every other nationality you could think of. Ok, they do drive their cars on the opposite side of the road (ex British Colony) and the food was much more diverse AND the streets were so clean you could eat off them but other than that, it was very US feeling.
I did climb the highest peek in Singapore (a small hill realy) and did go to the wild park at night to see Lions, Panthers, Bats, Spiders and everything else you can imagine that lives here including raccoons, yes, raccoons. They have them in the show, I have them in my back yard as pests but hey they also celebrate the rat over here so what are you going to do?
Despite my reputation I didn't get caned and I DID spit on the sidewalk a few times. Seat belt violation is $150, feeding the Monkeys in the park is $500 and drug smuggling brings the death penalty. It says so right on the immigration card when you enter, needless to say I left the tar heroion at home this time thank god.
Ok, I'm in Sydney now and am missing Amie a lot. The last I heard from here was a IM from here as she past through LAX. She has been out of range for over 7 days now and knowing I can't talk to her makes me want to all the more. I don't know when she'll be back in phone or internet range but I'll let you all know and will expect a large post from here then.
I'll also post on Sydney after I spend some time here and I can't wait to meet Amie in Bangkok early next week.
Also another big hello and thank you to Peter and Mary who came out from Canada to hang with Sam again while we are gone. Thanks guys, hope you are having fun with Sam and out of the snow.
Ok, got to run down to the pub. It is St. Patrick's day and I've got green on. I'll see if I can stay mildly sober before the boat cruise tonight in Sydney Harbor!
Dave
Singapore is a very strange place, strange in that it is NOT at all what I expected. It is a small country in South East Asia less than a mile from the equator and at the very bottom of Malaysia. The part that I found very strange is that short of the heat and humidity (which was not bad, think Hawaii) most of the time you could have very easily been in down town San Francisco. Asians, yes of course, but also tons of Americans, Brits (Poms) and every other nationality you could think of. Ok, they do drive their cars on the opposite side of the road (ex British Colony) and the food was much more diverse AND the streets were so clean you could eat off them but other than that, it was very US feeling.
I did climb the highest peek in Singapore (a small hill realy) and did go to the wild park at night to see Lions, Panthers, Bats, Spiders and everything else you can imagine that lives here including raccoons, yes, raccoons. They have them in the show, I have them in my back yard as pests but hey they also celebrate the rat over here so what are you going to do?
Despite my reputation I didn't get caned and I DID spit on the sidewalk a few times. Seat belt violation is $150, feeding the Monkeys in the park is $500 and drug smuggling brings the death penalty. It says so right on the immigration card when you enter, needless to say I left the tar heroion at home this time thank god.
Ok, I'm in Sydney now and am missing Amie a lot. The last I heard from here was a IM from here as she past through LAX. She has been out of range for over 7 days now and knowing I can't talk to her makes me want to all the more. I don't know when she'll be back in phone or internet range but I'll let you all know and will expect a large post from here then.
I'll also post on Sydney after I spend some time here and I can't wait to meet Amie in Bangkok early next week.
Also another big hello and thank you to Peter and Mary who came out from Canada to hang with Sam again while we are gone. Thanks guys, hope you are having fun with Sam and out of the snow.
Ok, got to run down to the pub. It is St. Patrick's day and I've got green on. I'll see if I can stay mildly sober before the boat cruise tonight in Sydney Harbor!
Dave
Monday, February 11, 2008
TAHOE - February 8th to 10th
FridayWe rode up after work with Meg and Marty and got in late. I went to bed early to ensure proper rest for the ski day the next morning. Dave stayed up half the night giggling and talking crap with his friends. Shut up already, it's 1:00am.......
Saturday -
What Happens in Tahoe, Stays in Tahoe
Meg and I took a cool ski class for women at Kirkwood, well let me elaborate: it was an "Expedition Course for High Intermediate to Advanced Skiers". Oh la la. Let's just say Meg is a much better skier than I am. I can get down any hill with her but it just won't look very pretty.......I know nothing of what you call "form" or "grace". I have been spoiled by Utah's awesome snow and zero lift lines, but Kirkwood was still pretty cool. Class was good and the weater was HOT, like 50 degrees. The best part was drinking beers in the snowbank with Meg after the class, yum.
The other dudes went to Heavenly, which I hear is generally a very crowded resort - but you cannot beat the view. Have a look at the cute gay couple we ran into.
For dinner we BBQd some Fred's and drank some good wine. Again, yum. Jesse and Jeff were drinking their douchy White Russians. We spent the evening doing varous educational activities: solving for X and Y, calculus, some basic quantum physics.
Sunday
Yeah so we were supposed to ski......but all that math from the night before had us all tired out. So, we all drove home. It was a lovely time and thanks all for coming!
Meg and I took a cool ski class for women at Kirkwood, well let me elaborate: it was an "Expedition Course for High Intermediate to Advanced Skiers". Oh la la. Let's just say Meg is a much better skier than I am. I can get down any hill with her but it just won't look very pretty.......I know nothing of what you call "form" or "grace". I have been spoiled by Utah's awesome snow and zero lift lines, but Kirkwood was still pretty cool. Class was good and the weater was HOT, like 50 degrees. The best part was drinking beers in the snowbank with Meg after the class, yum.
The other dudes went to Heavenly, which I hear is generally a very crowded resort - but you cannot beat the view. Have a look at the cute gay couple we ran into.
For dinner we BBQd some Fred's and drank some good wine. Again, yum. Jesse and Jeff were drinking their douchy White Russians. We spent the evening doing varous educational activities: solving for X and Y, calculus, some basic quantum physics.
Sunday
Yeah so we were supposed to ski......but all that math from the night before had us all tired out. So, we all drove home. It was a lovely time and thanks all for coming!
Salt Lake with M&M - February 1-3
Friday
Saturday - POWDER, yes please!
Me, Dave, M&M, and Dave's dad John woke up early and drove up the canyon to Snowbird. We were a bit worried by the traffic going up. What, are you kidding me - I don't wait in line to ski...... I am a Utah-skiing snob now.
Sunday - Park City
,
Actually it ended up being an OK day. Not much of a crowd later in the day and lots of fresh powder. You had to be careful on the side of the runs. The snow was so deep that you would just sink. Dave and Max got a little stuck at one point and were digging their snowboard and skis out of the 3 feet of powder......see photo.
We arrived just in time for dinner with John and Linda at La Frontera - 2 smothered with cheese and onions please. We also got a chance to visit Dave's brother Mike at his office. We got the tour of Send Out Cards which was pretty cool. Thanks Mike!
Saturday - POWDER, yes please! Me, Dave, M&M, and Dave's dad John woke up early and drove up the canyon to Snowbird. We were a bit worried by the traffic going up. What, are you kidding me - I don't wait in line to ski...... I am a Utah-skiing snob now.
Our worries were unfounded though. It was the most amazing ski day I have ever had. The slopes were nice and powdery from storms the previous week. It was a relatively clear day for the most part.
Dave took Marty on the Cirque Traverse and they hiked to the top of Mount Baldy and skied down (see photos below). They are pretty tough runs or something like that.
OK, I didn't go up to Baldy. I am not normally a wuss. However, the thought of hiking for 10 minutes up a mountain in my ski boots at the end of the day for 45 seconds of downhill was too much for me - especially when the Tram Club awaits.
We were dead tired from skiing ALL day. Dave's dad took us to Tuscany in Salt lake City for dinner. Thanks John! Tuscany was good but absolutely NO COMPARISON to Bambara. But then again I am a restaurant snob, I live in the Bay Area after all.
Sunday - Park City
, Dave and His Many Baclava
What a difference a day makes..... We knew what we were in for. LOTS of snow was in the forecast - not probable chance, not 70% chance, just SNOW. Which in Utah, means it is going to dump. Dave's dad waved goodbye to us dumbasses from his warm house. He is not one to miss a ski day but I think he is a little smarter than the rest of us.
When we got to Park City, half the mountain was closed so the lines at the open lifts from the base were long. Here is us on a ride up the lift. The guy in the white is Meg's cousin Max (aka. Sam). No one talked on the way up so we could conserve warmth. You had about an inch of snow on your legs and shoulders when you got to the to the top. Fun.
Actually it ended up being an OK day. Not much of a crowd later in the day and lots of fresh powder. You had to be careful on the side of the runs. The snow was so deep that you would just sink. Dave and Max got a little stuck at one point and were digging their snowboard and skis out of the 3 feet of powder......see photo.We called it a day realtively early to make sure we caught our flight home with all the snow. Though, I wouldn't have minded getting stuck at Park City for the week.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
OK OK, I LAG BIG TIME - Puerto Morelos at X-mas
December 25th - December 30th
Puerto Morelos is a cool little place. I won't give the normal daily summary. I have been back for weeks now and the entire vacation has lapsed into that too-much-Dos Equis-haze as do all my Mexico vacations. Please excuse any ranting and long winded-ness. Work is terribly slow and I am tired of looking at my email and stocks. Here are the hi-lights of the trip I suppose.
- Hotel. So I am addicted to http://www.tripadvisor.com/. Everyone should use it to check out what others say about your potential hotel. What I have found is that the $60 a night place gets as highly reviewed as the $500 a night place. Plus I am cheap so maybe I am just deluding myself with the high I get from saving money....but I digress. I picked a hotel that got great reviews, www.http://www.www.caracol-hotel.com/. Cute place, owned by a Swiss couple. NO - when we got there the ownership has changed and two very unenthusiastic Italians were running the place. While the morning espresso rocked and the room and AC were good, there was none of the amazing service or fresh breads for breakfast that everyone raved about - whatever.
- More Hotel. We stayed the last night at Hotel Marviya http://www.marviya.com/. This was a great place. We had a kick ass balcony and view and the room was really big, see photo. Here is the weird thing, the hotel (and Puerto Morelos in general) the place is over-run with French Canadians (FC), all from Montreal. I have never met an FC in my life and here I was surrounded by them. I was so excited to practice my hideous French - at which time they immediately break into English, dammit I thought I sounded good. In any case, one of our Mexican waiters thought I was a Canuck and started speaking French to me. Knowing that he would never detect my heinous mispronunciation and no-conjugation, I spoke French back to him. I was screwed when he stared asking me how to say easy words like "fork" and "straw". I think he thought I was retarded until we told him we were American. He thought we were FCs because were were not overweight......can you believe that.
- Playa Del Carmen. I think it is HILARIOUS that all the Americans go to the gaudy fake-ness that is Cancun and all the Euros and Canadians go to Playa Del Carmen (PDC). PDC has cobbled streets, restaurants of all types, great cafes and stores - hardy a Mexican Mexico but charming nonetheless. It is filled with espresso drinking Euros looking just-so. Cancun is a walled off nightmare where if you can even find the exit to the street from your hotel you are lucky. Then, if you are lucky enough to make it out you can go to the Outback Steakhouse or Plant Hollywood for some craptastic food. Dave thinks that Cancun gets points for it's beaches. OK, I'll concede Cancun gets a few "luxury" points and "clean beaches" points but that's it.
- Meg and Mike. This is bad...... My sister and her husband stayed up the beach a bit at the luxury-resort-of-luxury-resorts, Excellence Maya Riviera. Check out the reviews at the link. WOW! All inclusive and super nice. So our hotel was about 2 miles from my sister's hotel. What's nice walk on the beach when there are free drinks to be had at the All-Inclusive. SO each evening we sneaked (snuck?) onto the property and tried to blend in. After a few Mojotos and a $40 tip for the bartenders Humberto and Roberto, were were in like Flynn for the entire week. Granted, we earned our cocktails because the only way to get to and from the resort was to walk on the beach, that's 4 miles everyday people. They sure as hell were not letting riff-raff like Dave and I in at the main security gates.
Puerto Morelos is a cool little place. I won't give the normal daily summary. I have been back for weeks now and the entire vacation has lapsed into that too-much-Dos Equis-haze as do all my Mexico vacations. Please excuse any ranting and long winded-ness. Work is terribly slow and I am tired of looking at my email and stocks. Here are the hi-lights of the trip I suppose.
- Hotel. So I am addicted to http://www.tripadvisor.com/. Everyone should use it to check out what others say about your potential hotel. What I have found is that the $60 a night place gets as highly reviewed as the $500 a night place. Plus I am cheap so maybe I am just deluding myself with the high I get from saving money....but I digress. I picked a hotel that got great reviews, www.http://www.www.caracol-hotel.com/. Cute place, owned by a Swiss couple. NO - when we got there the ownership has changed and two very unenthusiastic Italians were running the place. While the morning espresso rocked and the room and AC were good, there was none of the amazing service or fresh breads for breakfast that everyone raved about - whatever.
- More Hotel. We stayed the last night at Hotel Marviya http://www.marviya.com/. This was a great place. We had a kick ass balcony and view and the room was really big, see photo. Here is the weird thing, the hotel (and Puerto Morelos in general) the place is over-run with French Canadians (FC), all from Montreal. I have never met an FC in my life and here I was surrounded by them. I was so excited to practice my hideous French - at which time they immediately break into English, dammit I thought I sounded good. In any case, one of our Mexican waiters thought I was a Canuck and started speaking French to me. Knowing that he would never detect my heinous mispronunciation and no-conjugation, I spoke French back to him. I was screwed when he stared asking me how to say easy words like "fork" and "straw". I think he thought I was retarded until we told him we were American. He thought we were FCs because were were not overweight......can you believe that.- Mosquitoes. There are mosquitoes that cover your entire body at exactly 4:30pm. What the hell. I have already experienced this phenomenon at Ilha Bella (see blog entry below for Wednesday, January 10, 2007) and found it to be largely unpleasant. I looked like I had scabies or something when I got home. Thank got for DEET, though the warnings on the bottle really freak you out http://www.environmentalhealth.ca/spring03hazards.html.
- Playa Del Carmen. I think it is HILARIOUS that all the Americans go to the gaudy fake-ness that is Cancun and all the Euros and Canadians go to Playa Del Carmen (PDC). PDC has cobbled streets, restaurants of all types, great cafes and stores - hardy a Mexican Mexico but charming nonetheless. It is filled with espresso drinking Euros looking just-so. Cancun is a walled off nightmare where if you can even find the exit to the street from your hotel you are lucky. Then, if you are lucky enough to make it out you can go to the Outback Steakhouse or Plant Hollywood for some craptastic food. Dave thinks that Cancun gets points for it's beaches. OK, I'll concede Cancun gets a few "luxury" points and "clean beaches" points but that's it. - Diving & Snorkeling. Snorkeling is fantastic here, though I am not sure how much longer it will be fantastic with all the morons in the water. PET PEEVE PET PEEVE PET PEEVE! If I see one more doughebag touch or kick the coral while snorkeling, I am not responsible for my actions. At least in Cabo Pulmo our dive guy warned us, "you touch the coral and I kick your ass". I'm sorry but people in general are inconsiderate, annoying, and not smart. We did dive the Cenotes, which are cool underwater caves that are all over the Yucatan. I was less than enthused about the dive but Dave was paying and I am a supportive wife (generally, when it suits me). I got cold during the dive, can we please swim faster...... The Aquanauts Dive Shop rules though. Super friendly, good equipment.
Food. Tacos and beers tacos and beers tacos and beers! The rule of thumb holds, eat where the locals eat. It will be good and cheap. 10 tacos for $8 - NICE
Food. Tacos and beers tacos and beers tacos and beers! The rule of thumb holds, eat where the locals eat. It will be good and cheap. 10 tacos for $8 - NICE
- Meg and Mike. This is bad...... My sister and her husband stayed up the beach a bit at the luxury-resort-of-luxury-resorts, Excellence Maya Riviera. Check out the reviews at the link. WOW! All inclusive and super nice. So our hotel was about 2 miles from my sister's hotel. What's nice walk on the beach when there are free drinks to be had at the All-Inclusive. SO each evening we sneaked (snuck?) onto the property and tried to blend in. After a few Mojotos and a $40 tip for the bartenders Humberto and Roberto, were were in like Flynn for the entire week. Granted, we earned our cocktails because the only way to get to and from the resort was to walk on the beach, that's 4 miles everyday people. They sure as hell were not letting riff-raff like Dave and I in at the main security gates. Puerto Morelos summary: OK beaches, good food, good location for outdoorsey activities, GREAT snorkeling, soon be over-run by over-fed American tourists that can take the easy shuttle from their safe hotel in Cancun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)