A last minute work trip came up and I was to go down to Long Beach on Tuesday night and return on Wednesday. Crazily enough a huge storm front came in and snowed out the Antelope Valley closing all freeways and entrances to the area, so I was unable to come home until Thursday. It turned out we were able to get a bunch of work done, which was great, but we got soaked to the bone (there was only rain by the coast) and had to extend everything for a night. This wasn't so bad since work paid for everything, but just sad that I couldn't get home to Brad and Mooshu!
Anyway, I did get to stay another night in my hotel. This would normally be of no particular interest except I was so impressed by this little place (as opposed to the ghetto version I stayed in on my trip to Pittsburgh) that I had to comment. I stayed in Marriott's Residence Inn - and it was everything I could have asked for (and more) -- with a full mini kitchen (including stove), and the ideal ammenities (24 hour gym, wake up call, pool and hot tub), it also a free breakfast (a pretty nice one too, not just continental) and even a fireplace in the room -- for only $139 a night! Now that is how an inn should be done! My only minor complaint was that the water wasn't very hot and the beds were a lot harder than I generally like, but those are all items of personal preference so I can't complain. I totally recommend it and would stay there again!
My rental car and experience with Enterprise on the other hand...
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
NYC - what is it about you?
Ooh, now another offer for next summer - a possible trip to NYC with some girlfriends! I love that idea too! Though I am thinking that one might have to wait. If I do get into Carnegie Mellon for grad. school, then Pittsburgh is only about a 6 hour drive to NYC -- perfect for a weekend getaway or whatnot. I am really hoping I get in so I have the chance to visit all the fun places on the other side of the country (Chicago, NYC, DC, Nashville, etc.)!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Summer 2009 Travel
So I am starting to plan what my vacation will be for 2009. So far I have 2 options, which really is at least 1 more than I can afford or take time off for. Not to mention that'll be right before I head off to Grad. School, so who knows if I'll even have any money at all? Why oh why is there never enough time or money to do all the things I want to do? Perhaps one of these days I may seriously contemplate going to work for the Travel Channel or something like that so I can have my cake and eat it too.
Anyhow, Tyler and Sue are FINALLY getting married next summer in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (near Cancun). They want everyone to stay with them at an all-inclusive 18+ resort for a few days. Good news, there is great diving and lots to see in the Cancun area. Bad news, if paying for an all-inclusive, why would I want to pay extra to go do other things? I suppose it depends what type of traveler you are, but I am not the type that likes to just lie around and sunbathe (for starters because I don't tan, at all) for days at a time unless I am scuba diving. I would rather spend my time exploring a place there is a good chance I may never return to again. Thus, I am contemplating just getting a separate hotel nearby and save all the over the top expenses added onto an all-inclusive. On the other hand, my parents swear that all-inclusives are the way to go, so we'll see.
On another note, my "2nd parents" invited me to join them on a dive boat for a week in Jamaica next year. I've always wanted to do one of those as they are the best way to improve your scuba skills. After all you are diving 4-5 times a day for a week straight. Not to mention no need for cooking, making your bed, etc. Plus plenty of time in between dives to TRY to get a tan. OTOH, there is really no sightseeing to do.
So I'm torn... really wishing I could do both.
Anyhow, Tyler and Sue are FINALLY getting married next summer in Playa del Carmen, Mexico (near Cancun). They want everyone to stay with them at an all-inclusive 18+ resort for a few days. Good news, there is great diving and lots to see in the Cancun area. Bad news, if paying for an all-inclusive, why would I want to pay extra to go do other things? I suppose it depends what type of traveler you are, but I am not the type that likes to just lie around and sunbathe (for starters because I don't tan, at all) for days at a time unless I am scuba diving. I would rather spend my time exploring a place there is a good chance I may never return to again. Thus, I am contemplating just getting a separate hotel nearby and save all the over the top expenses added onto an all-inclusive. On the other hand, my parents swear that all-inclusives are the way to go, so we'll see.
On another note, my "2nd parents" invited me to join them on a dive boat for a week in Jamaica next year. I've always wanted to do one of those as they are the best way to improve your scuba skills. After all you are diving 4-5 times a day for a week straight. Not to mention no need for cooking, making your bed, etc. Plus plenty of time in between dives to TRY to get a tan. OTOH, there is really no sightseeing to do.
So I'm torn... really wishing I could do both.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Pittsburgh, PA - I love it!
About a month ago I found out that I'd gotten an interview for the Tepper Business School at Carnegie Mellon, so I would need to plan a trip to visit and interview. I had planned to fly out on a Sunday and fly back on Tuesday, but it turns out that it the difference in airfare for flying out on Saturday equaled the amount of another night in a hotel. So, I decided to fly out on Saturday and have an extra day to get the chance to check out the city! Boy am I glad I did.
After arriving on Saturday night, I drove to the hotel that I'd booked. I had specifically picked a place that was a suite (AKA has a kitchen) so I wouldn't have to eat out every meal. Since I didn't have any clue of where to get a hotel, I just looked online for a reasonable compromise between distance to the school and price. Thus, I ended up at the Extended Stay America in Carnegie, PA. . It wasn't in a very good neighborhood (not an LA bad neighborhood, but just that weird creppy feeling like you need to get out of there ASAP), didn't have daily room cleanings, a gym, wake-up calls, free internet, no dish soap or an oven. Not to mention my room was right across from the front desk so it was super loud from about 4-10am AKA Danielle NOT happy. I did get to change rooms for the next two nights and it did work for my needs, but let's suffice it to say, I would not stay there again.
Here's a picture I took of the pretty trees from the hotel parking lot:
So once I checked in, I went off to pick up some groceries, then headed down to South Side Works for dinner/drinks and to check out the scene. It's a an area with a whole bunch of restaurants, bars, etc. right on the water. The scene seemed a little young for me (probably the college crowd), but it was really fun with the live bands and everyone seemed to be having a really good time. One place I went into was 2 bars combined into 1 - country bar + hip hop club -- which is great minus the fact that there was 1 restroom. Yay long line of drunk pushy girls. Oh, and smoking is allowed (cough, cough) - the rule is if the place serves mostly food there is no smoking allowed, if it's mostly a bar then smoking is allowed. I supose that's fair, but it was still hard to get used to. I only stayed long enough to do a few line dances and have a beer but it was fun.
Sunday I met up with Christy (a friend from Lancaster who is a freshman
at University of Pittsburgh) at her dorm. It is an interesting campus because it is spread throughout the city (much like schools in SF), not all together like most schools. It has such pretty buildings, such as these (Left: Pitt, Right: CMU):
Christy and I spent the day checking out the 2 schools (which are practically right next to each other), different neighborhoods in the area, shopping places, and just enjoying the nature.
The cute homes of Squirrel Hill:
The day was a bit overcast and chilly for a Cali girl, but it is so beautiful I didn't care. It was nice to see the pretty leaves and get to wear some of my fun fall clothes! That night we went to dinner and a movie (Rachel Gets Married - it's weird, ask if you really care) then called it a night.
I spent Monday at CMU - the morning at the Business school and the evening at the School of Computer Science -- LONG DAY! I attended 2 classes, had an information session, tour, interview, and a meeting with an admissions officer... it was thoroughly exhausting, but really exciting. My interview went pretty well -- the gal recommended that I re-take my GMAT to inprove my score (for scholarship purposes only), which is a bummer, but doable. Anyway, I can't wait until I go there -- that is if I get in of course. Oh, and they give me a scholarship b/c it's SUPER expensive!
The next day I headed back to Cali, sad to be leaving, but always glad to go home.
After arriving on Saturday night, I drove to the hotel that I'd booked. I had specifically picked a place that was a suite (AKA has a kitchen) so I wouldn't have to eat out every meal. Since I didn't have any clue of where to get a hotel, I just looked online for a reasonable compromise between distance to the school and price. Thus, I ended up at the Extended Stay America in Carnegie, PA. . It wasn't in a very good neighborhood (not an LA bad neighborhood, but just that weird creppy feeling like you need to get out of there ASAP), didn't have daily room cleanings, a gym, wake-up calls, free internet, no dish soap or an oven. Not to mention my room was right across from the front desk so it was super loud from about 4-10am AKA Danielle NOT happy. I did get to change rooms for the next two nights and it did work for my needs, but let's suffice it to say, I would not stay there again.
Here's a picture I took of the pretty trees from the hotel parking lot:
So once I checked in, I went off to pick up some groceries, then headed down to South Side Works for dinner/drinks and to check out the scene. It's a an area with a whole bunch of restaurants, bars, etc. right on the water. The scene seemed a little young for me (probably the college crowd), but it was really fun with the live bands and everyone seemed to be having a really good time. One place I went into was 2 bars combined into 1 - country bar + hip hop club -- which is great minus the fact that there was 1 restroom. Yay long line of drunk pushy girls. Oh, and smoking is allowed (cough, cough) - the rule is if the place serves mostly food there is no smoking allowed, if it's mostly a bar then smoking is allowed. I supose that's fair, but it was still hard to get used to. I only stayed long enough to do a few line dances and have a beer but it was fun.
Sunday I met up with Christy (a friend from Lancaster who is a freshman
at University of Pittsburgh) at her dorm. It is an interesting campus because it is spread throughout the city (much like schools in SF), not all together like most schools. It has such pretty buildings, such as these (Left: Pitt, Right: CMU):Christy and I spent the day checking out the 2 schools (which are practically right next to each other), different neighborhoods in the area, shopping places, and just enjoying the nature.
The cute homes of Squirrel Hill:
The day was a bit overcast and chilly for a Cali girl, but it is so beautiful I didn't care. It was nice to see the pretty leaves and get to wear some of my fun fall clothes! That night we went to dinner and a movie (Rachel Gets Married - it's weird, ask if you really care) then called it a night.I spent Monday at CMU - the morning at the Business school and the evening at the School of Computer Science -- LONG DAY! I attended 2 classes, had an information session, tour, interview, and a meeting with an admissions officer... it was thoroughly exhausting, but really exciting. My interview went pretty well -- the gal recommended that I re-take my GMAT to inprove my score (for scholarship purposes only), which is a bummer, but doable. Anyway, I can't wait until I go there -- that is if I get in of course. Oh, and they give me a scholarship b/c it's SUPER expensive!
The next day I headed back to Cali, sad to be leaving, but always glad to go home.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Thailand Trip - part 1
Monday, Aug. 4
In July Thai Air had decided to cancel all flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays due to in July, but had never bothered to tell us until I got an email the day before we were supposed to leave. After hours of frustrating phone calls (and losing all respect for Thai Air) we decided to switch our flights to EVA Air, where we were able to get Elite class (something between Coach and business) for virtually the same cost as our previous tickets. Unfortunately, it did mean we would have a stop in Taipei and I would have to take an extra day off work, but it was the best option we had.
Tuesday, Aug. 5
Since I wasn’t able to go to work on Tuesday, I got to sleep in and have lunch with my Mom before leaving. Brita’s mom picked us up and drove us to LAX where we hoped our last minute tickets wouldn’t cause us any problems. Fortunately they didn’t so we had plenty of time to grab some treats and entertainment for our long flight and for Brita to get a last minute smoke break.
It had been years since I’d flown out of LAX (I try to avoid it by flying out of Burbank or Ontario), but I really couldn’t believe what a crummy, teeny international terminal it had! Everything was filthy and half under construction, there was no sit down restaurants or coffee bars (what, no Starbucks?), I was pretty disgusted. Anyway, I did manage to find myself some juice past security while we waited since our plane took off about an hour late.
Wednesday, Aug. 6
We lost a day due to flying and crossing over the International Date Line! Some time in the wee hours of morning we were rushed through the Taipai airport by people yelling “Bangkok”, who put stickers on us. We didn’t get to check out the airport at all, but honestly we were too rushed to notice anything anyway.
Thursday, Aug. 7
We arrived in BKK around 3 am and called family, changed some money, had problems with Brita’s bank card. We caught a taxi to Kelsey’s Aunt’s house, which only got partially lost. When we finally arrived we got to greet Kelsey and meet Kelsey’s cousins who were still awake and were a bit drunk but very friendly. They gave us a tour of the house then headed off to sleep. The house was really neat – multi-level with a meditation room, and rooftop garden with a great view of the city of Bangkok. From the roof we could see a big mosque, and we were actually able to hear a muslim prayer call at dawn. We weren’t unprepared for the unbearable heat and wretched smells of Bangkok, but it was still a bit surprising.
After we caught a few hours of shut-eye, the whole house woke up and we got ready for the vanpool to Pattaya. Carolynn & Jeremy arrived from their hotel, and we got to meet Kelsey’s mom, and brother, Dominic. We stopped at gas station to grab snacks and go to the bathroom. We got Mama cups (the Thai version of Cup ‘O Noodles but WAY better) and some neat Thai candy, and discovered Thai toilets, which aren’t much more than a hole in the ground.
About an hour later we arrived in Pattaya Beach. We checked into Amari Orchid Towers, they greeted us with big smiles and delicious glasses of lemongrass tea. The people are so very friendly with giant smiles on their faces, and they even had our names on a welcomes sign, though Brita’s name said Mr. Daniels! Kelsey gave Carolynn, Brita and I gifts for coming – individualized beach bags w/ our initials on them filled with goodies – so cute!
While Kelsey and Josh met up with the wedding planner, the rest of us checked into our rooms and decided to take a little walk down to the beach. It reminded us of Mexico – honking taxis, stray dogs everywhere and a horrible sewer stench, which made the beautiful resort and hotel seem so out of place in such an obviously poor country. We decided to head back to our safe haven and Carolynn, Jeremy, Brita, and I headed down to the pool for some veg time and to check out the swim up bar. We had fun out in the sun, but the drinks took forever!
A few hours later we caught up with Dominic (AKA “Domo”), and went in search of dinner. We found a great noodle joint called MK, where we fed 5 for dinner the first night down here for what was approx. 16 dollars - so nice to be in a part of the world where the dollar still holds some value! The food was delicious, and we didn’t seem to have any problems speaking English – though their English is obviously very limited. We quickly picked up how to say "Hello" and "Thank you", and the people all seem genuinely pleased when we try speaking to them.
After dinner we headed out to the Minus 5 Ice Bar with the whole gang. For only XX Thai Baht (approx. $) you get 20 minutes in the ice room, where it is all you can drink vodka. You put on big parkas and gloves, then they send you in the refrigerated room. Everything, including the shot glasses, is made of ice. We quickly discovered that only the first two shots were actually vodka, the rest was different kinds of juices (leechee, watermelon, etc.) – possibly mixed with vodka, but it was really weak. We then decided to mix half juice with half of the honey vodka (which is delicious btw), and everyone got pretty tipsy. We had a great time with the whole bar to ourselves! When we were done Kelsey, Josh, Carolynn and Jeremy took a tuk tuk back to the hotel. My sleep deprivation had started to kick in, plus a heavy buzz, so I didn’t want to stay out, but Brita convinced me that we were on vacation and we should party it up, so we went out with Kelsey’s mom and cousins to a Discotec.
What a crazy place! It had a mix of live bands and a dj, all of which was really good, despite the fact that we couldn’t understand a lot of it. They ordered a hooka (sheesha) and more drinks for the table, and danced. We got our first glimpse into the world of Thai hookers as we had a girl proposition everyone in our party (male and female) and partied until the wee morning.
Friday, Aug. 8
We slept in, and got breakfast at the restaurant at the hotel. The prices were pretty equivalent to American/European prices, but it was convenient and the food was good so it worked. I discovered the most fantastic Pomegranate juice, and sampled all the tropical fruits, though I was sad to discover that most look very pretty but are actually pretty bland.
That afternoon was Kelsey and Josh’s wedding! They had hired a charter bus to take everyone to Jomtien Beach, where the ceremony would be held. It was pretty windy and overcast, but very pretty. Kelsey looked so very beautiful in a mermaid dress, and Josh was dapper and nervous – it was very cute. Unfortunately both my camera and Carolynn’s batteries died within minutes of getting to the wedding site, but at least that gave us a chance to just watch the ceremony. The wedding officiator could barely speak English and he was butchering it so badly noone could understand a thing, and had to exercise some serious restraint to keep from busting out in laughter. It was really lovely though, and we had a lot of fun! They are such a great couple so it is nice to see them finally married! The reception was held at a local place with great little cabins right on the ocean! It had a great buffet of food, and the newlywed Simmons were able to get themselves a cocktail in a coconut, which they’d been looking for everywhere. Sadly the Americans were all so tired we virtually fell asleep at our table towards the end of the night, but it was a really charming reception.
Saturday, Aug. 9
The next morning B and I went to checked out the town, find an Internet Café and try the famous Thai massages. The little internet cafe we found doubled as a laundry mat of sorts and had decrepit 486 type computers trying to run Windows Vista on dial-up. We got quite a kick out of it, but the lack of air conditioning had us out of their fairly quickly. We found a massage parlor that looked legit (not the kind with a happy ending) and went in midly worried but very excited. It turns out Thai massages are like Pilates except you don’t have to do any work. The girl stretches and pulls every muscle in your body (including your face and head) and even lifts you over their head! This is an incredibly impressive, especially considering how teeny most Thai people are, as they use every part of their bodies to wrap you up in knots. As dancers, and thus fairly limber, Brita and I enjoyed it, but it certainly wasn’t relaxing as we had expected (that would be an oil massage instead). We headed back to the hotel for some pool time, but the sun was virtually gone by the time we got out there.
That night we joined Caro and Jeremy to check out the infamous Walking street. It is all lit up like Las Vegas with bars and strip clubs and it is a very crowded street. The prostitution and lewd acts (of horrifying things I won’t put into words) run ramped. We were shocked (I have now seen it all) and disgusted to see how little a human life was valued. We did manage to find a neat bar, named “Hot Tuna”, where there was an incredible rock cover band. We got some drinks and hung out people watching and jamming to the music for an hour or so. We then headed over to Boyz Town, the gay section, and by far the cleanest and friendliest part of town. Jeremy was too afraid to stay there long, but we were able to grab a drink and chat with some beautiful lady boys.
Sunday, Aug. 10
We only got a few hours of sleep before we got up to catch a boat to go Scuba diving. Brita snorkled, but then got seasick and was miserable the whole rest of the day. I had a cute, Dutch dive buddy named Jared and we were able to make two really great dives.
We had planned to go to the famous “Tiffany’s Cabaret Show” that evening, but we were so exhausted we ended up staying in, ordering room service, and trying to watch some of the Olympics.
In July Thai Air had decided to cancel all flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays due to in July, but had never bothered to tell us until I got an email the day before we were supposed to leave. After hours of frustrating phone calls (and losing all respect for Thai Air) we decided to switch our flights to EVA Air, where we were able to get Elite class (something between Coach and business) for virtually the same cost as our previous tickets. Unfortunately, it did mean we would have a stop in Taipei and I would have to take an extra day off work, but it was the best option we had.
Tuesday, Aug. 5
Since I wasn’t able to go to work on Tuesday, I got to sleep in and have lunch with my Mom before leaving. Brita’s mom picked us up and drove us to LAX where we hoped our last minute tickets wouldn’t cause us any problems. Fortunately they didn’t so we had plenty of time to grab some treats and entertainment for our long flight and for Brita to get a last minute smoke break.
It had been years since I’d flown out of LAX (I try to avoid it by flying out of Burbank or Ontario), but I really couldn’t believe what a crummy, teeny international terminal it had! Everything was filthy and half under construction, there was no sit down restaurants or coffee bars (what, no Starbucks?), I was pretty disgusted. Anyway, I did manage to find myself some juice past security while we waited since our plane took off about an hour late.Wednesday, Aug. 6
We lost a day due to flying and crossing over the International Date Line! Some time in the wee hours of morning we were rushed through the Taipai airport by people yelling “Bangkok”, who put stickers on us. We didn’t get to check out the airport at all, but honestly we were too rushed to notice anything anyway.
Thursday, Aug. 7
We arrived in BKK around 3 am and called family, changed some money, had problems with Brita’s bank card. We caught a taxi to Kelsey’s Aunt’s house, which only got partially lost. When we finally arrived we got to greet Kelsey and meet Kelsey’s cousins who were still awake and were a bit drunk but very friendly. They gave us a tour of the house then headed off to sleep. The house was really neat – multi-level with a meditation room, and rooftop garden with a great view of the city of Bangkok. From the roof we could see a big mosque, and we were actually able to hear a muslim prayer call at dawn. We weren’t unprepared for the unbearable heat and wretched smells of Bangkok, but it was still a bit surprising.
After we caught a few hours of shut-eye, the whole house woke up and we got ready for the vanpool to Pattaya. Carolynn & Jeremy arrived from their hotel, and we got to meet Kelsey’s mom, and brother, Dominic. We stopped at gas station to grab snacks and go to the bathroom. We got Mama cups (the Thai version of Cup ‘O Noodles but WAY better) and some neat Thai candy, and discovered Thai toilets, which aren’t much more than a hole in the ground.
About an hour later we arrived in Pattaya Beach. We checked into Amari Orchid Towers, they greeted us with big smiles and delicious glasses of lemongrass tea. The people are so very friendly with giant smiles on their faces, and they even had our names on a welcomes sign, though Brita’s name said Mr. Daniels! Kelsey gave Carolynn, Brita and I gifts for coming – individualized beach bags w/ our initials on them filled with goodies – so cute!
While Kelsey and Josh met up with the wedding planner, the rest of us checked into our rooms and decided to take a little walk down to the beach. It reminded us of Mexico – honking taxis, stray dogs everywhere and a horrible sewer stench, which made the beautiful resort and hotel seem so out of place in such an obviously poor country. We decided to head back to our safe haven and Carolynn, Jeremy, Brita, and I headed down to the pool for some veg time and to check out the swim up bar. We had fun out in the sun, but the drinks took forever!
A few hours later we caught up with Dominic (AKA “Domo”), and went in search of dinner. We found a great noodle joint called MK, where we fed 5 for dinner the first night down here for what was approx. 16 dollars - so nice to be in a part of the world where the dollar still holds some value! The food was delicious, and we didn’t seem to have any problems speaking English – though their English is obviously very limited. We quickly picked up how to say "Hello" and "Thank you", and the people all seem genuinely pleased when we try speaking to them.
After dinner we headed out to the Minus 5 Ice Bar with the whole gang. For only XX Thai Baht (approx. $) you get 20 minutes in the ice room, where it is all you can drink vodka. You put on big parkas and gloves, then they send you in the refrigerated room. Everything, including the shot glasses, is made of ice. We quickly discovered that only the first two shots were actually vodka, the rest was different kinds of juices (leechee, watermelon, etc.) – possibly mixed with vodka, but it was really weak. We then decided to mix half juice with half of the honey vodka (which is delicious btw), and everyone got pretty tipsy. We had a great time with the whole bar to ourselves! When we were done Kelsey, Josh, Carolynn and Jeremy took a tuk tuk back to the hotel. My sleep deprivation had started to kick in, plus a heavy buzz, so I didn’t want to stay out, but Brita convinced me that we were on vacation and we should party it up, so we went out with Kelsey’s mom and cousins to a Discotec.
What a crazy place! It had a mix of live bands and a dj, all of which was really good, despite the fact that we couldn’t understand a lot of it. They ordered a hooka (sheesha) and more drinks for the table, and danced. We got our first glimpse into the world of Thai hookers as we had a girl proposition everyone in our party (male and female) and partied until the wee morning.
Friday, Aug. 8
We slept in, and got breakfast at the restaurant at the hotel. The prices were pretty equivalent to American/European prices, but it was convenient and the food was good so it worked. I discovered the most fantastic Pomegranate juice, and sampled all the tropical fruits, though I was sad to discover that most look very pretty but are actually pretty bland.
That afternoon was Kelsey and Josh’s wedding! They had hired a charter bus to take everyone to Jomtien Beach, where the ceremony would be held. It was pretty windy and overcast, but very pretty. Kelsey looked so very beautiful in a mermaid dress, and Josh was dapper and nervous – it was very cute. Unfortunately both my camera and Carolynn’s batteries died within minutes of getting to the wedding site, but at least that gave us a chance to just watch the ceremony. The wedding officiator could barely speak English and he was butchering it so badly noone could understand a thing, and had to exercise some serious restraint to keep from busting out in laughter. It was really lovely though, and we had a lot of fun! They are such a great couple so it is nice to see them finally married! The reception was held at a local place with great little cabins right on the ocean! It had a great buffet of food, and the newlywed Simmons were able to get themselves a cocktail in a coconut, which they’d been looking for everywhere. Sadly the Americans were all so tired we virtually fell asleep at our table towards the end of the night, but it was a really charming reception.
Saturday, Aug. 9
The next morning B and I went to checked out the town, find an Internet Café and try the famous Thai massages. The little internet cafe we found doubled as a laundry mat of sorts and had decrepit 486 type computers trying to run Windows Vista on dial-up. We got quite a kick out of it, but the lack of air conditioning had us out of their fairly quickly. We found a massage parlor that looked legit (not the kind with a happy ending) and went in midly worried but very excited. It turns out Thai massages are like Pilates except you don’t have to do any work. The girl stretches and pulls every muscle in your body (including your face and head) and even lifts you over their head! This is an incredibly impressive, especially considering how teeny most Thai people are, as they use every part of their bodies to wrap you up in knots. As dancers, and thus fairly limber, Brita and I enjoyed it, but it certainly wasn’t relaxing as we had expected (that would be an oil massage instead). We headed back to the hotel for some pool time, but the sun was virtually gone by the time we got out there.
That night we joined Caro and Jeremy to check out the infamous Walking street. It is all lit up like Las Vegas with bars and strip clubs and it is a very crowded street. The prostitution and lewd acts (of horrifying things I won’t put into words) run ramped. We were shocked (I have now seen it all) and disgusted to see how little a human life was valued. We did manage to find a neat bar, named “Hot Tuna”, where there was an incredible rock cover band. We got some drinks and hung out people watching and jamming to the music for an hour or so. We then headed over to Boyz Town, the gay section, and by far the cleanest and friendliest part of town. Jeremy was too afraid to stay there long, but we were able to grab a drink and chat with some beautiful lady boys.
Sunday, Aug. 10We only got a few hours of sleep before we got up to catch a boat to go Scuba diving. Brita snorkled, but then got seasick and was miserable the whole rest of the day. I had a cute, Dutch dive buddy named Jared and we were able to make two really great dives.
We had planned to go to the famous “Tiffany’s Cabaret Show” that evening, but we were so exhausted we ended up staying in, ordering room service, and trying to watch some of the Olympics.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Thailand, Mexico... and destination weddings.
It seems (and the news seems to confirm) that destination weddings are becoming more and more popular. After all, I leave for Thailand in a few days to go to Kelsey & Josh's wedding! My friend Tyler and his fiance finally set an approximate date for their wedding and decided it would be in Mexico (in the Yucatan penninsula), and want me to come (Tyler says he wants me to be in the wedding party too - which is a whole other story entirely).
Don't get me wrong - I love traveling, and having a great excuse to travel to fun new places is great. However, the whole concept of remote weddings has left me in quite a quandry. There are all kinds of questions that have rolled through my head... For example:
* Do I still have to buy the couple a gift if I'm spending all this money to be attending their wedding? (BTW - Ettiquette guides say yes, and they should be mailed to the bride's home before the wedding like all wedding gifts - who knew?)
* Why would people decide to do that? Is it because they want to be different? Or they are hoping that most people won't come but don't really want to just elope? Or is it a money thing?
* Isn't it rude to ask people to be in your wedding when it's such a financial commitment to go there to be a part of it (above and beyond the normal costs of being in someone's wedding)?
* Isn't the point of a honeymoon to get away to a destination? If you go somewhere, how do you get the privacy for a honeymoon when all your friends and family are around and want a piece of your time?
I guess I'm just irritated b/c Tyler told me the reason they were doing a destination wedding was b/c it was cheaper for them, as they could get a package deal with the resort since all the guests paid the costs, and they got the bonus of the free honeymoon and such. But he also told me I HAD to stay for at least 3 days. Well honestly, if I'm going to pay all the money to fly down there, I'm going to make it a vacation and stay for a while, but seriously??? If you ask me, that's just plain tacky - I was really offended. I'm of the philosphy, if you can't afford it, you shouldn't be doing it. I know the wedding is for the bride and groom, not the guests or anyone else, but what ever happened to courtesy to everyone else? Since when did couples get so selfish and think their friends and family owed them so much?
Am I just being ridiculous b/c I lack the ability to say "No", or do I have a legitamate irritation? I'm not sure. But hopefully through all these things I am learning is just another part of the Golden Rule... since I "don't want done unto me".
Don't get me wrong - I love traveling, and having a great excuse to travel to fun new places is great. However, the whole concept of remote weddings has left me in quite a quandry. There are all kinds of questions that have rolled through my head... For example:
* Do I still have to buy the couple a gift if I'm spending all this money to be attending their wedding? (BTW - Ettiquette guides say yes, and they should be mailed to the bride's home before the wedding like all wedding gifts - who knew?)
* Why would people decide to do that? Is it because they want to be different? Or they are hoping that most people won't come but don't really want to just elope? Or is it a money thing?
* Isn't it rude to ask people to be in your wedding when it's such a financial commitment to go there to be a part of it (above and beyond the normal costs of being in someone's wedding)?
* Isn't the point of a honeymoon to get away to a destination? If you go somewhere, how do you get the privacy for a honeymoon when all your friends and family are around and want a piece of your time?
I guess I'm just irritated b/c Tyler told me the reason they were doing a destination wedding was b/c it was cheaper for them, as they could get a package deal with the resort since all the guests paid the costs, and they got the bonus of the free honeymoon and such. But he also told me I HAD to stay for at least 3 days. Well honestly, if I'm going to pay all the money to fly down there, I'm going to make it a vacation and stay for a while, but seriously??? If you ask me, that's just plain tacky - I was really offended. I'm of the philosphy, if you can't afford it, you shouldn't be doing it. I know the wedding is for the bride and groom, not the guests or anyone else, but what ever happened to courtesy to everyone else? Since when did couples get so selfish and think their friends and family owed them so much?
Am I just being ridiculous b/c I lack the ability to say "No", or do I have a legitamate irritation? I'm not sure. But hopefully through all these things I am learning is just another part of the Golden Rule... since I "don't want done unto me".
Friday, May 23, 2008
Traveler Laughs...
While looking up information on vaccines and such I would need before my trip to Thailand / Malaysia this summer, I ran accross a suggestion that you should have a "Traveler's First Aid Kit". Thinking this sounded like a really wise idea, I started reading...
Well, I guess it is Thailand... the land where you can buy anything you want. Or as Brita put it where you get "a happy ending" with your "massage". Anyhow, it made me laugh.
Sunscreen - right, good call.
Oral rehydration solution packets - facinating, never would have thought of something like that.
Latex condoms - wait, what?
Well, I guess it is Thailand... the land where you can buy anything you want. Or as Brita put it where you get "a happy ending" with your "massage". Anyhow, it made me laugh.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve
Despite the fact that I've lived out in the Antelope Valley for 4 years now, and have attended the "Poppy Festival" every year, I had never made it out to the Poppy Reserve a few miles out of town. Brad and I decided to check it out yesterday, and it was really pretty!
We weren't sure what to expect, and were a bit surprised to find out it was just large fields of Poppies (the California state flower, FYI) and walking paths. It was lovely, but unfortunately it was so windy that all the flowers were closed up. Still made for some cute photo ops though!
We weren't sure what to expect, and were a bit surprised to find out it was just large fields of Poppies (the California state flower, FYI) and walking paths. It was lovely, but unfortunately it was so windy that all the flowers were closed up. Still made for some cute photo ops though!
Monday, April 14, 2008
Palm Springs - Girl's Birthday / Spa Weekend
Heather suggested we go out to Palm Springs to celebrate our 27th Birthdays! I decided to invite a bunch of my girlfriends, including those I knew couldn't go. Turns out only Angie, Heather and I could go, but I knew we'd still have a blast!
I hadn't been to Palm Springs since I was a kid (we used to go out there for Dance Competitions) so I really had no idea what to expect! It was a bit of a drive, but mostly due to hitting traffic on the 10. I wished I'd had time to stop and check out the Cabazon outlets, but per normal, I was running a little late (I had stopped at a MAC counter - can you blame me?). All 3 of us girls were driving separately and had planned to meet up out there around noon and get lunch. The hotel was really pretty
with a great pool side view,
(despite a little bit of strange graffiti) so we checked in and dropped off Mooshu.
Since Heather got stuck in horrible traffic, Angie and I went out searching for Mexican food. We found this place that looked cute and homey and decided to order bean and cheese burritos. Guess I should've known when the chips came out cold, and the "salsa" consisted of a quarter slice of tomato in some liquid that lunch wasn't going to be great, but we were starved, so we didn't care. Our burritos came out with scalding burnt beans inside of a tortilla with maybe 7 shreds of mozzarella on top. Not a great start to our trip, but we were still cool. We stopped at a liquor store to pick up some liquid refreshments and headed back to the hotel.
By the time we got back Heather had arrived and we all headed out to the pool to enjoy the beautiful sunny day!
We quickly decided that 99 degrees in the middle of the desert was a bit excessive, but at least the pool was ice cold!
Once the heat drained us, we headed inside to take a nap. Later we went out on the town for dinner and some fun.
Had great food @ a Mexican place down the road, and had this funny, sassy waitress. We returned to the hotel a bit tipsy and decided to go down to the spa (even though it was closed).
A quasi "guard" came to kick us out, but realized we were 3 cute girls so he let us stay with a simple word to be quiet.
The next day we went to the day Spa, Revive, for some much needed pampering. I got the "Balancer" package which included a massage, facial, and mud wrap (incredible!). While we had gotten a great deal on our package prices, we probably should have gone to one of the more expensive places! Everything was really pretty, and calming, but it just seemed like everything was mediocre. Guess the old adage, you get what you pay for, stands. Nevertheless, we had a good time, and all in all it was a wonderful weekend!
I hadn't been to Palm Springs since I was a kid (we used to go out there for Dance Competitions) so I really had no idea what to expect! It was a bit of a drive, but mostly due to hitting traffic on the 10. I wished I'd had time to stop and check out the Cabazon outlets, but per normal, I was running a little late (I had stopped at a MAC counter - can you blame me?). All 3 of us girls were driving separately and had planned to meet up out there around noon and get lunch. The hotel was really pretty
with a great pool side view,
(despite a little bit of strange graffiti) so we checked in and dropped off Mooshu.
Since Heather got stuck in horrible traffic, Angie and I went out searching for Mexican food. We found this place that looked cute and homey and decided to order bean and cheese burritos. Guess I should've known when the chips came out cold, and the "salsa" consisted of a quarter slice of tomato in some liquid that lunch wasn't going to be great, but we were starved, so we didn't care. Our burritos came out with scalding burnt beans inside of a tortilla with maybe 7 shreds of mozzarella on top. Not a great start to our trip, but we were still cool. We stopped at a liquor store to pick up some liquid refreshments and headed back to the hotel.
By the time we got back Heather had arrived and we all headed out to the pool to enjoy the beautiful sunny day!
We quickly decided that 99 degrees in the middle of the desert was a bit excessive, but at least the pool was ice cold!
Once the heat drained us, we headed inside to take a nap. Later we went out on the town for dinner and some fun.
Had great food @ a Mexican place down the road, and had this funny, sassy waitress. We returned to the hotel a bit tipsy and decided to go down to the spa (even though it was closed).
A quasi "guard" came to kick us out, but realized we were 3 cute girls so he let us stay with a simple word to be quiet.
The next day we went to the day Spa, Revive, for some much needed pampering. I got the "Balancer" package which included a massage, facial, and mud wrap (incredible!). While we had gotten a great deal on our package prices, we probably should have gone to one of the more expensive places! Everything was really pretty, and calming, but it just seemed like everything was mediocre. Guess the old adage, you get what you pay for, stands. Nevertheless, we had a good time, and all in all it was a wonderful weekend!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Oklahoma City, OK - For Work
Spent the week in Oklahoma City for work and froze half to death! I always forget that just because it is beautiful in California, does not mean it's not still winter in the rest of the country! This time I was traveling with my Dad, and we arrived on Monday afternoon around 3 pm. Since I knew we'd be super busy the rest of the week, I wanted to get a chance to go to the Oklahoma City Bombing memorial, so I barely let my Dad unpack at the hotel before I dragged him out of his room to go exploring with me.
Thankfully, my Dad had brought along my mom's TomTom (GPS device) and we had maps, however we still got lost all week! The freeways there are ridiculous. They have no rhyme or reason to the way the streets work -- the on ramps are so short you practically get killed every time you try to merge! When two freeways intesect, sometimes the one you were on becomes the other one, and vice versa! Not to mention the map we had (from the rental car place) only had about 50% of the streets on it. I was very fortunate that my Dad did the driving and had some clue of where he was going since he'd been there before!
Anyhow, we finally made it to the memorial, right as the museum was closing. However, there were signs everywhere and a walking tour, so we were still able to enjoy (though that sounds awfully macabre) the memorial. It is designed on the city block where the Federal Building had been with 2 giant archways marking the entrances that say 9:01 and 9:03.
This is to signify that the moment in between is the moment where everything went crazy. The memorial is designed on a slope, with the top of the "hill" holding this OLD tree they call the living tree. Despite the fact that the bomb blew up the building, and all of these other things around it, this tree somehow managed to survive.
At the bottom of the slope, on the site of the Federal building are 5 rows of metal and glass chairs signifing the people who died on each of the floors of the building. Each one is engraved with someone's name, and they have tiny chairs for the chairs for the children who were in the nursery on the bottom floor.
It was so beautiful and poignant -- I cried. It is lovely to see how the memories have been preserved, but so sad at how quickly we all forget.
After that, we headed up for dinner on this pretty lake. It was beautiful, and nice to lighten the mood. I had no idea there was even water in Oklahoma, so it was a bit of a surprise!
The rest of the week we were super busy, but we did get to have dinner with my old boss (and family friend), Dave
and check out the steak! I still don't think it can compare with Texas steaks, but they were still awfully tasty!
My impression of the city was that it was tragically bleak and poor looking. Obviously some of that could have had something to do with the fact that it was winter and all the trees were barren, but nothing special. Can't say I'd be too interested in taking a job out there personally, but it was a friendly area in the mid-west.
Thankfully, my Dad had brought along my mom's TomTom (GPS device) and we had maps, however we still got lost all week! The freeways there are ridiculous. They have no rhyme or reason to the way the streets work -- the on ramps are so short you practically get killed every time you try to merge! When two freeways intesect, sometimes the one you were on becomes the other one, and vice versa! Not to mention the map we had (from the rental car place) only had about 50% of the streets on it. I was very fortunate that my Dad did the driving and had some clue of where he was going since he'd been there before!
Anyhow, we finally made it to the memorial, right as the museum was closing. However, there were signs everywhere and a walking tour, so we were still able to enjoy (though that sounds awfully macabre) the memorial. It is designed on the city block where the Federal Building had been with 2 giant archways marking the entrances that say 9:01 and 9:03.
This is to signify that the moment in between is the moment where everything went crazy. The memorial is designed on a slope, with the top of the "hill" holding this OLD tree they call the living tree. Despite the fact that the bomb blew up the building, and all of these other things around it, this tree somehow managed to survive.
At the bottom of the slope, on the site of the Federal building are 5 rows of metal and glass chairs signifing the people who died on each of the floors of the building. Each one is engraved with someone's name, and they have tiny chairs for the chairs for the children who were in the nursery on the bottom floor.
It was so beautiful and poignant -- I cried. It is lovely to see how the memories have been preserved, but so sad at how quickly we all forget.
After that, we headed up for dinner on this pretty lake. It was beautiful, and nice to lighten the mood. I had no idea there was even water in Oklahoma, so it was a bit of a surprise!
The rest of the week we were super busy, but we did get to have dinner with my old boss (and family friend), Dave
and check out the steak! I still don't think it can compare with Texas steaks, but they were still awfully tasty!
My impression of the city was that it was tragically bleak and poor looking. Obviously some of that could have had something to do with the fact that it was winter and all the trees were barren, but nothing special. Can't say I'd be too interested in taking a job out there personally, but it was a friendly area in the mid-west.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Orlando, FL - Vacation with Brad
Brad and I decided to go out to Orlando for a vacation the week after Christmas since we both get that time off of work! We didn't want to spend too much money (since we were poor from Christmas presents and such), but since we could stay at his parents house and use one of their cars for FREE (since they are currently living in Mississippi and the Orlando house is empty) and possibly get into some of the theme parks for free, it was a deal we couldn't pass up! The timing was a little awkward though since everyone assumed I was going out to "meet his family", but we decided we didn't care what anyone else thought and went anyway!
I am so glad we did! Despite everything being busy and super expensive (all of the freeways are toll roads), it was such a great time. Everything is beautifully green, and the weather was fantastic (despite the humidity giving me a giant afro)! There are lots of lakes everywhere, and moss hangs from the trees. We got a nice opportunity to check out some of the suburbs when we rented some bikes and rode down the West Orange trail.
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There are some very rich areas with huge homes, but plenty of poor sections too. The swimming pools were all covered (I forgot why), and it just felt so home-y. Brad's parents (and brother, Wesley) ended up coming down to Orlando for the duration of our trip, so it was nice to meet them and they made us feel so welcome!
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We took a day trip out to Kennedy Space Center to check it out since I hadn't been there since I went to Space Camp as a kid (yes, I know I'm a geek). I couldn't believe how much stuff was out there! It took us all day to do everything, and we still didn't cover it all. We got to see some of the neat stuff they are building to send up to the International Space Station, the shuttles, lots of rockets, and of course, enjoy freeze-dried ice cream. =)
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Afterwards, we went out to dinner at a very "Southern" restaurant and Brad convinced me to try Gator tail! Not bad, I thought it tasted a bit like fishy chicken!
We spent several days checking out a bunch of the different theme parks - Universal's Islands of Adventures, MGM, and .
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I wanted to check out Epcott too, but time just didn't allow for it. I got a chance to meet 2 of Brad's friends, Maurice and Andrew. The three of them turned into band geeks all over again, but it was really cute, and the guys were so nice. We really enjoyed all the parks, but did start to get tired of the crowds - esp. at MGM, as everyone had come to see the Million Light display!
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We went to dinner at a BBQ restaurant, and I quickly discovered that any BBQ I've ever eaten in the past was a very poor imitation of the way BBQ should test. It could've had something to do with that fact that I was starving, but it was mezmorizing. I think I could eat BBQ like that every day and not get sick of it (though I'd probably get very fat)! After dinner we stopped and got gas, and I discovered that the gas stations reeked! Apparently Florida doesn't use filters on their gas, and it actually has a higher octane level than the stuff we get in California! Interesting... guess we get used to the things we see all the time and assume everyone else is strange!
On New Year's Eve, Maurice's family invited us to join them for a block party. It was a lot of fun with booze, games, and loads of fireworks! They are legal to buy and set off there! Brad was so sweet, and stopped at a stand and bought me a bunch of them (everything from sparklers to bottle rockets) and showed me how to set them off! He couldn't believe I'd never gotten to them before (always living in fire hazard areas) and was such a good teacher for his little pyro girlfriend. I was giddy like a 5 year old little girl - it was a blast!
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Brad also was a good sport and went with me to some of the cheesier things I wanted to do like go to the Arabian Nights Dinner Theater. We were both a bit bummed though b/c we were expecting the normal show, but got theese corny Christmas show instead. Guess we should've figured, but were suprised it never mentioned it in anything we read!
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We also tried to do an Indoor Skydiving Adventure, but unfortunately the air compressor broke right before we got there, and they were booked solid for the rest of our trip. Oh well, we found out there is one in LA, so we're hoping to make that a fun date night sometime when we get back!
Overall, a delightful trip back to Florida! What a great start to 2008! =)
I am so glad we did! Despite everything being busy and super expensive (all of the freeways are toll roads), it was such a great time. Everything is beautifully green, and the weather was fantastic (despite the humidity giving me a giant afro)! There are lots of lakes everywhere, and moss hangs from the trees. We got a nice opportunity to check out some of the suburbs when we rented some bikes and rode down the West Orange trail.
There are some very rich areas with huge homes, but plenty of poor sections too. The swimming pools were all covered (I forgot why), and it just felt so home-y. Brad's parents (and brother, Wesley) ended up coming down to Orlando for the duration of our trip, so it was nice to meet them and they made us feel so welcome!
We took a day trip out to Kennedy Space Center to check it out since I hadn't been there since I went to Space Camp as a kid (yes, I know I'm a geek). I couldn't believe how much stuff was out there! It took us all day to do everything, and we still didn't cover it all. We got to see some of the neat stuff they are building to send up to the International Space Station, the shuttles, lots of rockets, and of course, enjoy freeze-dried ice cream. =)
Afterwards, we went out to dinner at a very "Southern" restaurant and Brad convinced me to try Gator tail! Not bad, I thought it tasted a bit like fishy chicken!
We spent several days checking out a bunch of the different theme parks - Universal's Islands of Adventures, MGM, and .
I wanted to check out Epcott too, but time just didn't allow for it. I got a chance to meet 2 of Brad's friends, Maurice and Andrew. The three of them turned into band geeks all over again, but it was really cute, and the guys were so nice. We really enjoyed all the parks, but did start to get tired of the crowds - esp. at MGM, as everyone had come to see the Million Light display!
We went to dinner at a BBQ restaurant, and I quickly discovered that any BBQ I've ever eaten in the past was a very poor imitation of the way BBQ should test. It could've had something to do with that fact that I was starving, but it was mezmorizing. I think I could eat BBQ like that every day and not get sick of it (though I'd probably get very fat)! After dinner we stopped and got gas, and I discovered that the gas stations reeked! Apparently Florida doesn't use filters on their gas, and it actually has a higher octane level than the stuff we get in California! Interesting... guess we get used to the things we see all the time and assume everyone else is strange!
On New Year's Eve, Maurice's family invited us to join them for a block party. It was a lot of fun with booze, games, and loads of fireworks! They are legal to buy and set off there! Brad was so sweet, and stopped at a stand and bought me a bunch of them (everything from sparklers to bottle rockets) and showed me how to set them off! He couldn't believe I'd never gotten to them before (always living in fire hazard areas) and was such a good teacher for his little pyro girlfriend. I was giddy like a 5 year old little girl - it was a blast!
Brad also was a good sport and went with me to some of the cheesier things I wanted to do like go to the Arabian Nights Dinner Theater. We were both a bit bummed though b/c we were expecting the normal show, but got theese corny Christmas show instead. Guess we should've figured, but were suprised it never mentioned it in anything we read!
We also tried to do an Indoor Skydiving Adventure, but unfortunately the air compressor broke right before we got there, and they were booked solid for the rest of our trip. Oh well, we found out there is one in LA, so we're hoping to make that a fun date night sometime when we get back!
Overall, a delightful trip back to Florida! What a great start to 2008! =)
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