Japan February 6, 2008

We took Japanese last Spring at the community college’s night classes.  We took it because I insisted that I needed to know how in the world those characters made any sense and how the heck this language worked.  It really didn’t have a lot to do with Japan at the time, although I did find the culture very interesting and fun to learn, too.  Also, I just adore Japanese food.  Adore it!

Who would have thought, then, that our trip to Europe in 2008 would be replaced by a trip to Japan.  Not I!  Maybe a trip to Brazil, but Japan?  I had not considered it.  But Numero Uno’s job has agreed to send him to Misawa, Japan, on business for a week.  Rather than sit around moping and wondering why my job won’t send me to Japan (although I admittedly did some of this, too), I booked myself a ticket, too.  We are spending a week in Tokyo and Kyoto in April (when the cherry blossoms are out, I hear) before Numero Uno goes north to Misawa and I return stateside.

I did some research into going to Misawa, too, but there were a few drawbacks that would have made it way less than “Lost in Translation”, and I would not hear of that!  The biggest drawback was that I would have had to rent a (probably stick-shift) car (driving on the left, which is a proven skill of mine now) with an international driver’s license to see much of anything, given that the north of Japan is more spread out.  Though I could have taken a train to place X or Y, it would have been hard to get to the sights at place X or Y sans car, and especially as a day trip.  Or maybe it’s not hard, but it looked hard to me, anyway.  So I am bowing out of that.  Numero Uno will hop on a plane at Haneda while I am hopping on one at Narita.  Then he will come home a week later.

Now that we have settled on a destination, we have to brush up our Japanese skills (murasaki sukiyaki = purple noodles) and alphabet (Hiragana is better than nothing!) and decide where we’re staying and what we’re seeing.  Right now I know there are historic things to see, temples, museums, gardens…  but all I can think of is the giant, early morning fish market in Tokyo that Anthony Bourdain talks so much about.  I have big plans to get up early to see it and to then eat my weight in sushi and sashimi by week’s end.

Where the Sidewalk Ends January 27, 2008

If there were an “end of the world”, as in “where the sidewalk ends”, would it be a popular tourist destination? And if so, how popular? Disneyland popular? This was a question posed by a small group of people sitting near us when we were out to dinner the other night. They were arguing adamently about it for a very, very long time: yes it would be a tourist destination, but how could you fit that many people at a point at the end of the world; how much would one charge given that it would probably be popular; what kind of souvenirs could one sell; is there upkeep involved, does the edge of the world erode periodically into nothingness; would one need mega-insurance to handle someone falling over the edge (presumably into abyss)…

While I am sure that the space at the end of the world would be a popular destination among a very large set of people, I’m not sure I would ever travel there unless they assured me it was safe in the same way that, say, Niagara Falls is safe: it’s unlikely that I would tumble over the Falls, but there they are, anyway. I’m also not sure what there would be to “see” at the edge of the world? What *does* abyss look like? Are there trees and “nature”, or is it just dirt? Might there be an actual sidewalk, a la Shel Silverstein? Oh, it’s all so philisophical! (I might say “deeply philosophical”, but then you’d know I was lying.)

“The end of the world as a popular tourist destination” … a topic that I think should be addressed more frequently in highschool and college debate. You have 30 seconds… GO!

Sharp Diamond Mitties January 26, 2008

Here’s another mittie pattern for those long plane rides! It’s colorwork, so it’ll keep your mind and hands occupied. Be sure to travel with someone else so that they can hold your yarn. These mitties can be completed quickly so that when you arrive in Reykavik, you will be prepared!

Sharp Diamond Mitties Pattern – warm, winter colorwork!

Beyond… to Switzerland January 3, 2008

I think we might go to Switzerland in lieu of Russia this year. Numero Uno likes the outdoors, and while I am an indoors-person to the bitter-end, I figure there must be something special about walking in the Alps. It’s like an outdoor museum, I think, and I like museums! The compromise is that hikes won’t be ridiculous uphill battles (I hear there are trams to take you up a lot of the way where you can then just walk up and down over meandering peaks) and that there will be no day-long or overnight hikes — I want to be back in “civilization” long before dark.

I’ve never thought much before about wanting to see Switzerland, but now that I think about it, it has been placed on the list of places I would like to see (luckily for this trip, I think). However, since it has never been in the Top Ten, I think we will fly open jawed into another city prior to visiting Switzerland and then out of Zurich. It looks like it might be a ten day trip, which means four days in one place, six in the other (or something similar). I was thinking of six days in Switzerland, specifically and four in one of Paris, Milan, Venice, or Frankfurt (Frankfurt because it’s a really cheap flight from the US right now). Each are between 3 and 5 hours by train from Zurich, closer and further from other places in Switzerland. There are a few places in Switzerland that have been recommended to me, besides the larger cities of Bern, Zurich, etc. Oeschinensee, Murren, and Kandersteg come to mind first; Kandersteg is in Interloken which is where my friend Boris used to vacation, so it can’t be all bad! Boris is not outdoorsy. Lakes, mountains, trams… everything one could ask for in Switzerland.

I have also heard that the train/bus system around Switzerland is quite excellent and complete, so there would be no need to rent a car: a plus! And even though Switzerland is rumoured to be one of the more expensive European nations to visit, it can’t be more expensive than a trip to Russia would end up! (Or can it!?) Tonight should begin the planning phase, although surely real planning won’t begin for at least two weeks. We’re like that.

Russia? Or beyond? January 2, 2008

I have for a while been considering a trip to Russia for the springtime.  I was going to go in the winter, when tickets and lodging are cheap, to experience the “true” Russia — freezing cold temperatures of 17degF below, snow all over the ground and buildlings, warm fur outerwear, people huddling together as they walk… but then I was reminded of what a wimp I am in the cold.  I would love to see it and experience it, but when I want to get out of it… well, it would probably still be there hampering my “tourist” experience.  So, the springtime, it is!

The flight would go into Moscow where we would stay for probably 3 days to see the museums, cathedrals, subway, and get a short handle on the culture.  Then we would travel to St Petersburg where we would stay about 6 days.  There are all kinds of historic museums, palaces, cathedrals, and shiny, gold things to see, from my understanding.  And there’s vodka.  I was told that, not knowing the language, it would be best to get a driver/escort to show us around, translate for us, and keep us from overpaying due to the language barrier.  An escort makes the trip seem less spontaneous somehow, and a Visa is kind of a pain, but I can handle that.  I just really, really want to see a part of Russia.

But then I keep thinking of how I haven’t really seen much even of Europe.  And maybe it would be an easier (and cheaper) trip to go to Hungary or Germany or Belgium or Switzerland this year.  Maybe then I could see Swiss watch makers in action or go walking through the Alps or drink German or Belgian beer or eat real crepes or see Budapest.  And then I wouldn’t have to hassle with the visa to Russia or the cultural barrier.  But I also wouldn’t see the shiny things or be a part of the culture that I kind of can’t comprehend without seeing it first person.

So which will it be?  Because this is supposed to be a spring trip, decisions have to be made soon, and maybe because it’s a spring trip, I’ll take the easy way out.  Stay tuned to find out what happens while I ponder over the next destination!  Or if maybe I win a contest!

Mittie Pattern December 23, 2007

I am remiss in updating this journal, but this would be a great knitting pattern for the airplane! Airplane rides are irritatingly long (no matter how long actual-in-flight-time is) and require small projects to keep them in check. If you’re flying over a sea and planning on staying awake, you will be able to start and finish these by the time you arrive. Easy to pack, too!

Cabley Mitties Pattern– a warm, wintery pair of mittens, perfect for your cold destination of St Paul, Minnesota or St Petersburg, Russia!

Aquamarine October 5, 2007

Another CNTraveler entry:

In St Thomas, the vibrant colors of the water aren’t the same as in pictures; they’re much more brilliant and alive! Here at Sapphire Beach, there are at least seven hues of blue comprising the sparkling view over the sea. The snorkeling in this crystal water is magnificent: the coral just below the surface comes alive with beautiful creatures. The experience is both completely soothing and wonderfully breathtaking — the perfect day.

Couch Surfing September 20, 2007

Maybe I’ve just had some bad experiences with strangers in the past, but it’s not clear that I would welcome a complete and total stranger to stay on my couch. A stranger is one thing. I don’t mind strangers in limited quantity. Sooner or later they’re not strangers anymore and are friends instead, but that’s often “later” rather than “sooner” and sometimes for good reason. A known-quantity houseguest is another matter. You can plan ahead that they’re coming, know their habits, and never invite them in the first place if you have the foresight that it just won’t work out. Combining the notions of strangers and houseguests just seems like a bad idea.

Staying on strangers’ couches, “couch surfing”, is the premise of a website (as well as an NYT article) that must be meant for a younger generation than I. Being a part of this couch-surfing community means accepting some rules: not staying out until all hours, being a gracious guest, enjoying rather than taking advantage of your host’s company. Even with these rules in place, I know that I would end up with at least one guest who pushed the boundaries of what I feel is acceptable behavior for a houseguest, especially a houseguest/stranger.  But I think in this case one bad egg ruins the experience.

I also know that if I were to stay on a complete stranger’s couch and be expected to join them in their planned-fun-activities, something would go wrong. I don’t know what, but something.  Again, it only takes one bad experience to spoil the whole thing, and it just seems too likely to me that I would get that.  I guess my overly cautious persona means that I won’t get to see or do some set of things in life, but I’ll learn to accept that, and I’ll do other things in their place.

Seating Moo-pinions September 19, 2007

In the news today I noticed that Southwest Airlines is changing their A-B-C cattlecall boarding structure. Rather than have people lying on the floors, their backpacks strewn all over the place, passengers will each be assigned a number within an A-B-C boarding group, based on their relative check-in times.

I see a few weird things about this process. First, how is assigning people a number within a group (A-B-C) any better than just assigning people a number from 1 to the total number of passengers? Is this in place because the setup is already built in (three lanes) at Southwest gates? Second, Southwest is apparently taking this stance rather than traditional assigned seats because there are passengers who actually like the cattle call setup. I don’t personally see how the cattle call setup is at all beneficial. It means I have to race to check-in at midnight the day before the flight in order to assure that I’m not sitting in a middle seat. Rather, I feel that I should get seating privelege not because I stayed up late or arrived early to check-in, but because I bought my ticket in advance and helped them fill the plane’s seats early.

I also feel that if I book a flight with a travel companion that we should be guaranteed to sit together, not forced to each sit in a middle seat across the plane from one another because a solo-traveler was quicker to check-in; when booking a long flight, I will bypass a somewhat cheaper flight for another because the first is mostly full with no seats together (this case tends to be rare for me) and on the other there is room for me to sit with my companion.

Finally, I just don’t see how the cattle call arrangement, or this deviation, is monetarily beneficial to Southwest. While there may be a few people who enjoy the race to be in Group A, I can’t imagine it makes or breaks their decision to fly Southwest. But maybe that’s the moral: since seating probably won’t break my decision to fly Southwest either way, why do I care what their policy is as long as their prices remain relatively low. Will their prices remain relatively low, though, if they keep spending valuable executive dollars and resources on potentially unnecessary decisions like seating arrangements? Will any of it even make a difference? Is this just a bold PR move? That is to be seen!

Fly Away Free September 14, 2007

Continental Airlines has a contest (monthly, it seems) at www.continentalflyaway.com. Just drop off your name and address and you’re entered. The prize this month is a trip for two to China. China, you say?! Well, Hong Kong. And four nights’ accomodation. One of these days I’ll get mine, I’m sure!

Speaking of Continental Airlines, this week they were featured on Top Chef (with guest judge Anthony Bourdain — yay!) where I thought they really made themselves look good.  The flight attendants were all very complimentary of the chefs’ work, and the people in business class looked especially comfortable… makes me want to fly more often, but only in business class.  I was especially jealous when the winner (no spoilers here!) took away two free plane tickets, business class, to anywhere in the world. That’s right. Anywhere. Berlin? okay. Brazil? okay. Bangkok? okay. Beijing? okay. I hope she uses it to go to the most expensive and awesome destination she can find (oops… she… giveaway).