Domestication

Question: What is a sure sign you’re past your prime?
Answer: When you get domesticated.

These past weeks, with my wife gone visiting her Mom, I’ve been walking our dogs around the neighborhood. Since then, I’ve gotten to know my neighbors so much more. If you ever want to run for office, owning a dog is one way of meeting people and getting votes. I get all the local news — crime, home repairs, trusted handymen, best places to eat, and the pooping habits of pets. For instance:

• I know that Emiliano (a young kid who used to kick his soccer ball on the wall) broke the window pane in their house and he now has to pay over $100 from his allowance.
• Everybody hates this reckless young man who doesn’t pick up after his 200 pound monstrosity of a Boxer. “Who does he think he is?” inquired an angry resident.
• The reason Jeanett doesn’t let her French poodle run around anymore is because her dog slipped her disc when she ran too fast.
• Don’t underestimate Drake, a slow moving old bloodhound because his sense of smell is incredibly powerful. Believe it or not, “he smelled a chicken bone a block away,” said his master proudly.
• The reason no one seems to live in a brand new house at the corner is because it’s rumored to be a safehouse for the Chinese spies.

Yes, I know my neighbors and my neighbors know me. Indeed, when the urge to get ahead in your career is replaced by the curiosity of the name of your neighbor’s pet, you know life’s beginning to slow down. You’re domesticated.

My daughter saw me walking the dogs with my unkempt hair, baggy sweat pants and oversized sweater. She said I looked like an old man wobbling down the street. Her remark startled me. I used to think I would never grow old but seeing myself from her eyes, I knew she was right. But you know what? It’s not so bad. I actually like my new persona.

So don’t worry about that white strand of hair or that new wrinkle. Don’t waste your money on a pound of makeup or worse! — plastic surgery! — just to end up looking like a weird expressionless alien from Hollywood. Embrace your transition into the domesticated army. It’s a lot more fun!

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Bob of Whittier, CA

Video of the week

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Parting Shots

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

I found these

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.

The post Age Is Just a Number appeared first on Traveling Archive.

I’m going to share a very personal and practical account of my travel from Los Angeles, California, USA to Dalipuga, Lanao del Norte: Mindanao, Philippines. I hope this will help many post pandemic travelers as they access the globe. You will find more tips at the end of the article.

David Z was my Lyft driver to LAX (Uber drivers were available but they were about $5 more expensive). If you’re in Los Angeles, I highly recommend David Z. He drove a 4-door sedan, but it reminded me of a mini-limousine. Because of the pandemic, we still had to be cautious and roll down the windows (no AC) and David had a wide transparent plastic sheet separating passenger from driver. He even fashioned black curtains on the passenger windows in case his customers want to be protected from the sun. He had a small video player to project my choice of Spotify music. The one thing that amused me the most was a small passenger table made of a glass bowl on a carpet with a complimentary bottled water in the center and candies around it. I found out that he graduated from Alabama and came to LA to produce video shows. Fate brought us together because I patched him up with one of my clients who was looking for people like him. We hugged when he dropped me off at the airport.

CHECK IN AT LAX

I had to show my passport, proof of vaccination and a 2-day old negative Covid Test result. I was surprised that I needed a Philippine Health pass. My online research didn’t mention any need for that. Fortunately, I was directed to a website that allowed me to fill it up online (www.onehealthpass.com.ph). This hassle reminded me of a few days earlier when I dropped by the AAA (Automotive Association of America) in Alhambra, CA to inquire about the necessary documents for Philippine travel and the sales agent tried to sell me Travel Insurance claiming it was still required by the Philippine government because of COVID. I was suspicious so I asked him to show me where it said it was required and (surprise! surprise!) he couldn’t find evidence to his claim. I saved myself a couple hundred dollars. I don’t trust AAA anymore. 

WHAT TO WEAR 

For the long flight, wear something lose and comfortable. Tight clothes will only make you squirm even more. Many travelers wear shorts and T-shirts. Be prepared for back and butt sores. Unless you’re traveling in First Class, the regular seats do not have thick cushions. After a few hours it will feel like sitting on a wooden chair without any pillows.

SLEEP

There’s plenty of entertainment on each seat but you will tire and want to sleep during long flights like this. I don’t find those neck pillows helpful at all. So I got myself a gartered eye mask that loops around the back of the airline headrest. This is perfect. It prevented my head from bobbing up and down. And I wore my N5 Face mask which kept my mouth shut.

BAGGAGE

Most flights (especially international flights) allow one hand carry and two baggage with a max of 70 lbs each (check the website of your own airline). But if you will be transferring planes, you should really consider the rules of the local flights where they tend to have smaller weight allowances to avoid paying hefty overweight fees. In my case, Singapore airlines allowed two baggage while Cebu Pacific Air (a Philippine airline) only allowed one baggage and a lighter maximum weight. I had to pay for the extra bag and extra weight. Plan around the least common denominator (i.e., base your baggage allowance on the more restrictive airline) and avoid unexpected fees.

For your hand carry, use as big a bag as allowed. An expandable knapsack will do just fine. If your baggage tips the scale over the limit, you can transfer your extra weight into your knapsack.  Fortunately, I found that the people at the check-in counter aren’t that particular about weighing your bags. They don’t charge you for going ten pounds over. It seems to be an unwritten rule to be lax about the weight.

I was planning to bring a guitar but my sister said that would be considered an extra carry on. That wasn’t true. You could bring your guitar and the flight attendant would park it somewhere in front with no extra charge. They do it for baby carriages and wheelchairs too. 

AT THE SCANNING MACHINE

Belts, shoes, wallets, cell phones, shoes and coins need to be placed in a basket to be scanned. Laptops also need to be placed in a separate basket. iPads can remain inside your carry on. It’s best to wear comfortable slip-on shoes or you will be tying your shoes in the middle of the frenzy. 

SINGAPORE LAYOVER

I passed the international date line and was on my second day of travel from Los Angeles to Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines. If your cell phone is set to point out your geographic location your clock automatically adjusts to local time. To save your sanity don’t worry about how much time you’ve lost or gained… the only time that really matters is the local time because that’s what everybody else around you is functioning by. This is very important to know especially if you have a connecting flight. You don’t want to miss your flight.

After 11 grueling hours I arrived at the Singapore airport at 3 a.m. It was a ten-hour layover before my connecting flight to Manila. I was excited to land in this airport because of the videos I saw about how cool this airport was. But to my horror, the waterfall and eateries were closed until just about the time I had to depart. 

TWILIGHT ZONE

I stepped into the Twilight Zone where and time needs to reset. The airport at the wee hours of the morning is when pilots, stewardesses, ground crew, and other airplane personnel go to dreamland. I imagine this is where passengers who opt for the bargain flights are dumped, where toys wake up and where dogs and cats start walking with their hind legs and engage in intelligent conversation. The whole complex airport building was eerie and empty. There were other stragglers like me sleeping in different corners of the airport. It’s first-come-first-serve at the sleeping lounge where there were comfortable lounge chairs. Most sleepy heads created make-shift beds by pulling chairs together. The lazy ones simply slept on the carpet floor using their bags as pillows. Security guards and cameras follow you wherever you go. It was safe to sleep in any little corner of the empty airport and not worry about theft.

Inviting though the aroma of warm Ramen was, I resisted the temptation because I didn’t want the hassle of exchanging currency I would never use again. Besides, I’m used to fasting and skipping meals, so this was not a problem for me. Starbucks Coffee, 7-Eleven and a few local establishments were open but one would need to exchange one’s currency to Singapore dollars to purchase anything. Surprisingly there was one Foreign Exchange booth (with a real person working) near the D section claiming to convert currency with zero commission. If you ever do need to exchange currency in the Singapore airport, this is the only one of its kind.

Singapore is a very cosmopolitan country with many ethnicities (I did notice a very strong presence of Asian-Indians traveling, but not sure why). In fact, my plane ride there was a microcosm of the United Nations. I sat in the middle seat. On my left was an older Vietnamese. On my right was a Cambodian. In front were Koreans. Behind was a Panamanian headed for Indonesia. Of course, some old wounds never heal; the Vietnamese didn’t want to talk to the Cambodian because he said their countries hated each other.

NINE HOURS LATER

Five hours into my Twilight Torture Chamber, my legs began to hurt from all the walking. I found a cozy cushiony chair near the Information Center and managed to grab a few winks.

I woke in a panic because the Schedule Board listed that my flight was leaving in 30 minutes. I made a dash for the departure gate and I saw the plane taxiing away from the retractable tunnel. The people from that section were walking out and I begged them to call the plane back. Well, it turned out that it was another flight after all. Although I had mud on my face, it was also a welcome relief.

To avoid confusion with my real flight, I decided to wait beside the designated departure area. There I found a bevy of Filipinos waiting patiently for the gate to open. I befriended two OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) who were on their trip home for a much-needed vacation after years working in Milan, Italy. They shared their struggles and blessings working a lifetime away from their homeland. They both spoke fluent Italian; unconsciously saying “Si” instead of “Yes.” They said some OFWs are more fortunate than others (the unfortunate ones wound up in Middle Eastern countries where they are abused to this day). They spoke of one famous Italian actor (I think they said “Ronald”?) who adopted the child of one of his servants. They said the Italians (as a whole) were generous and decent employers. They had established a professional working environment where the OFWs paid taxes and fed into their Social Security (their retirement benefits would average about $600 a month by age 65). One of the women was able to bring her husband and her kids to Italy. The other had a son studying to be a doctor. The older woman suffered from cancer but believed it was now in remission. The one with her family in Milan turned out to be a member of the JIL church in the Philippines (Jesus Is Lord church). The older one had no concept of the spiritual bond I shared with the younger one. We were three peas in a pod sharing a yearning for home inside the vast travel bubble of the Singapore “Changi” Airport.

MANILA

Our Boeing jet plane circled the Manila landing strip for 20 minutes before we were allowed to land. Bad weather was to blame. I was getting panicky again because my final plane ride from Manila to Cagayan de Oro was leaving Manila in less than two hours upon landing. That meant I had to go through Immigration, Health Check and secure my baggage within that little window of time. I prayed. The long wait to deplane was excruciating. But to my delight, I breezed through all of the lines with more than an hour to spare. I guess it pays to be a senior citizen with an American passport and a big smile. Outside, domestic planes were lined up for takeoff because the storm delayed the departures as well.

As I settled in my final departure area, a woman was screaming at the top of her lungs with words I could not understand. Airport security and personnel surrounded her. Apparently, she was autistic and (nightmare of all nightmares) her plane left without her. The gentle Filipinos did not complain. All were deeply concerned. I prayed for her too.

We landed at the Laguindingan Airport in Cagayan de Oro at nine in the evening. A friendly face, Tata, our family’s trusted helper, was there to lead me to our family Isuzu Trooper. I was surprised to see my sickly father inside the Trooper waiting with our driver. They’d been waiting for two hours. Tata said my 94-year- old Dad insisted they prepare for the airport ride as early as six o’clock. My sweet Dad was that excited to see me.

It took us a good hour whizzing in and out past the slower vehicles to our ancestral home in Dalipuga, a small beach village on the Western side of Iligan City. I chatted with Tata and the driver along the way: me with my Americanized Tagalog (the Philippine national language) and they with their thick Visayan accent (the language of Southern Philippines). My Mom spoke Visaya so I grew up understanding but not speaking Visaya.

When the large faded blue steel gate opened, I knew I was home. It took about two days from Los Angeles to Dalipuga. And now the real adventure begins: immersing into a culture long forgotten and helping my aging Dad understand the real meaning of the Gospel before it’s too late. It’s a sad fact that not everyone will get to heaven. And no words of wisdom can change a person’s heart towards the Gospel. Real conversion comes from the Holy Spirit. With the short time I have with my Dad I will be sharing and I will be praying — and if he chooses to remain in his disbelief, at least I know it was never meant to be. This is what I believe. It’s that important to me. And this is why I traveled this far.

Booking Tips

• The closer you are to the date of departure, the more expensive it gets. But then comes a magical period when the airline has empty seats they’re just dying to give away and if you list yourself as a chance passenger, you can really get amazing discounts. My round trip ticket in Singapore airlines cost less than $900 (all inclusive) when I booked for a weekday departure four months prior. I checked and within a month off departure, it had already doubled.
• Check all your flight options going to and fro. Many airlines like Singapore Air and EVA Air (Taiwan) offer huge discounts if you decide to stopover in their country for several hours. What that means is you land in their country during their last flight and you stay inside the airport when most shops are closed and you walk around in zombie land till the flight crew wakes up. Uninviting though it may be, it forces you to have precious “alone time” for reflection of where you are in life with a backdrop of a different culture in God’s great kingdom.  

Local Air Booking

• Air travel in the Philippines is really just between three airlines: PAL (Philippine Airlines), Cebu Pacific Airlines and Air Asia. PAL, the flagship carrier of the Philippines, does international as well as domestic flights. Cebu Pacific and Air Asia are strictly local. Air Asia has the fewest routes. Local flights are about $50. Naturally, PAL is more modern and cleaner but I’ve had nightmares with PAL. The management system (at least five years ago) leaves a lot to be desired. One needs to really plan one’s itinerary well. Do that and life is beautiful. Make changes to the itinerary while you are on vacation and you release the dogs of hell. You can read all about it in my article about “The Crooks of Philippine Airlines” in T-Boy. 
• Throughout my trip, most of my fellow travelers kept their face masks on.
• I like to travel as inexpensively as possible. Doing so not only saves money but I get to mingle with the common crowd. Immersing into the culture is what traveling is all about for me.  Of course if you have money to spend, don’t bother with my tips.

Tech Tips

There are things we take for granted while living in America. We forget that technology may not be as advanced elsewhere. And if we aren’t careful, we may be unwittingly wasting money. When you get out of the US and Canadian borders here are things to remember:

• ROAMING CHARGES: Your US-based internet and cell phone providers will charge you about $2.05/MB, up to $3/min, $0.50/message sent, $130/photo or video message sent. So before you depart away from the US, be sure to disable your text and calls. Turn off your “DATA” in your settings or you will be charged every time you talk or text.
• ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF COMMUNICATION: Viber and WhatsApp are two popular apps you should download on your phone. They both allow you to text, talk and enjoy video calls to anyone in the world that has internet access. No extra charge. Of the two, Viber tends to shut down if idle for a minute or so. You do not have that problem with WhatsApp (this is definitely better). Be sure to inform people whom you want to communicate with (family, friends, business relations) while abroad to also download those Apps. Both parties need to use the same program. Viber and WhatsApp run on different technologies so they do not communicate with each other.
• No need to worry about email. As long as you turn your “DATA” off (to ensure you aren’t being charged for ROAMING), your cell phone will pick up your emails using available Wi-Fi (just like your laptop). This is free. Just be aware that any public Wi-Fi is not secure
• In developing countries like the Philippines, you can purchase data minutes at increments you choose. Rather than explain the details, it’s best you ask the locals. I just want to assure you that you can still use your cell phone if you really want or need to.
• Most airports are internet friendly. They have free Wi-Fi and offer several charging stations. You need to go to your SETTINGS and log on to their Wi-Fi. Most of the time you will need to give out your name and email address before you can avail of the free internet access. It’s not entirely free; you do get advertisement but that’s okay. Let me reiterate that using your phone or pad in public areas is not secure. If you can help it avoid doing any online banking or business.
• Be sure to tell your banking institution(s) that you will be traveling. Give them the dates so you won’t raise red flags with your purchases abroad.
• TWO STEP VERIFICATION. Your access to some of your favorite websites require two-step verification. While that is good when you are in the US, it may cause a problem when you are abroad if the verification code is sent via phone text. It’s best to have verification come in the form of email.

The post Long Road to Dalipuga: From Los Angeles to a Little Village in Southern Philippines appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Common Sense

WARNING: Some spiritual stuff

Can you guess what my wife and I are watching nowadays? Clues:

• It’s a mystery between who’s good and who’s evil.
• Aside from 4 regular participants, each episode brings in a new set of prime characters — whose intelligence range from smart to real dumb.
• Most are just simple folk who have taken a wrong turn in their lives and wind up in the show.
• There are several spectators who laugh, smile, but never speak and are in suspense for the dramatic conclusion.
• The clean wooden settings never change.
• It’s a reality TV where real people hang their dirty laundry for the world to see in order to get justice done.

Have you guessed the show yet? If you guessed Judge Judy (or Judy Justice), you’re correct.

Judge Judy has x-ray vision and can see through the charm and the lies. She should be a Supreme Court Justice. Maybe even President. Imagine her deciding on contemporary cases:

• Rapists, pedophiles? Off with their “heads!”
• Murderers, your life will replace the life you stole till your dying days. And in jail you will have less freedom than the saddest person who isn’t a criminal. If a free person has only 2 meals a day, you get only 2 meals a day. If they sleep on the floor, you sleep on the floor. If they have no health care, you don’t have health care. Suck it up butter cup!
• Hackers, swindlers, ponzi schemers, you return all the money you stole with interest and your family (who enjoyed your ill-gotten wealth) will help pay for that bill. Lock them up!
• You reporters that spread fake news, your faces will be stamped beside your lies on billboards so everyone knows you are not to be trusted and you will never get a job in journalism again. No more internet access for you!
• Greedy Politicians, you are not exempt from the laws that you pass. Your children have to go to public school, ride public transportation, have the lowest free insurance benefits, walk the same street where the criminals you released walk. If you tell us to wear a mask, you wear a mask. If you are caught not following your own rules, you DIE!!!

I know it’s simplistic but I’m not Judge Judy (and everyone said: “thank God!”). Truth is, I’ve been discouraged lately by the absurdity of many in Congress who seem to have no understanding of a budget and how to stop this runaway inflation. I don’t think they’re that ignorant. I think they believe we are. We could really use Judge Judy’s common sense law.

Arthur of Sierra Madre sent me a somber video (see below) about why evil will win over good almost all the time. You should watch it. The great philosopher, Billy Joel, explained it well — “only the good die young.” There is actually a best-selling book that encourages people to be mean and demanding in order to succeed. Who would want their hearts turn cold like that? Greedy, immature, self-absorbed people that’s who. And there are lots of them … especially at the top.

But wait! Do you really think stricter laws will change society? It may help (maybe for a short time) but it’s not the real solution. Case in point: Glamorous Singapore has very strict laws but beneath their glitzy lifestyle, there is an oppression rarely spoken of. In fact, every model nation has their secret skeletons dangling in their closets too.

We can strive to have a perfect society but it will never happen. Evil prowls like a roaring lion waiting to devour. Oooooo weeeee — It’s Twilight Zone time again … wish it weren’t real. That’s why I take comfort in the promises of scripture:

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” — Ephesians 6:12-13

There is hope. There is always hope.

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31

When something’s wrong in the neighborhood, who you gonna call? Judge Judy? Don’t be silly.

Pray!

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.” — James 5:13

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Lois of Oregon for this joke.

Videos of the week

Thanks to Lois for this cute video.

Thanks to Arthur of Sierra Madre, CA for this thought-provoking video.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Belen of Cerritos, CA

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA for these cartoons.

The post Food for Thought appeared first on Traveling Archive.

James Boitano – T-Boy Writer:

Iceland’s Keflavik Airport handles most international flights and is the convenient gateway for Icelandair’s connection from North America to a many European destinations. Transfers are the quickest and easiest than I have found in any other European airport. Even if your flight is less than an hour from landing and you have to pass through Schengen, it’s enough time. And if you have to spend any time here, it’s such a pleasant and user-friendly airport with every amenity. The airport is about an hour from Reykjavik and the bus ride over the lava fields to the city is a magical introduction to this land of fire and ice.

In contract, Iceland’s domestic flights are handled by their tiny city airport, Reykjavik Airport It’s more like a glorified bus terminal with a minimal of fuss and amenities. I don’t know if this is still the case, but when I took a domestic flight in 2013 there wasn’t even any airport security. It doesn’t get more low maintenance than that.

I have transferred to Munich Airport twice, and it was second only to Keflavik in easy of customs and transfer procedures. Both times they seem to have arranged that my outbound flight was at the same gate as my arrival. If you have ever spent an hour trying to get between terminals at Heathrow, you will appreciate that convenience. I also remember their lovely free coffee and newspaper stations and pleasant waiting areas.

Kevin Revolinski – T-Boy Writer:

That’s easy, Seoul Incheon International Airport, South Korea

Richard Carroll – T-Boy Writer:

It was a memorable experience flying to Cabo San Lucas in the late 1960’s before it was tagged Los Cabos. The airport or landing strip was located in San Jose del Cabo, and it never seemed to be fully paved and always felt like we were landing uphill in a cloud of whirling dust. It was like flying into another world. The terminal was basic with no A/C and I could always smell the sweet bouquet of tequila, which was probably from a small booth in the terminal hosted by an attractive senorita offering shots to anyone strolling by. A few Taxis that would give you the ride of your life were lined up outside the terminal for the 20-mile drive from the working town of San Jose del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas, which was along a gorgeous coastline with few hotels, a wide expanse of ocean, sandy beaches, coves washed by a strong surf, and a scattering of fishermen casting their lines. Arriving in Cabo San Lucas the cabbie’s carefully dodge the dogs snoozing in the streets.

Yap’s International Airport consists of one runway, no tower, and if a plane fly’s es over it must be Wednesday. Yap Micronesia, 541 miles southeast of Guam in the Western Caroline Islands, was invaded and occupied by the Japanese during World War II until the official surrender in 1945. The single taxiway was built by the Japanese in early 1944, and was heavily bombarded by the U.S. Army Air Force and Navy. Landing on the runway among thick foliage and a sparkling ocean, I could see the wreckage of Japanese aircraft near the runway which vividly brought to mind the history of warfare in the Pacific. The terminal consists of a small A-Frame style building with bird life in the rafters and is nicely organized. English spoken.

Portland International Airport is a feel-good destination and my favorite large city airport. Disembarking, travelers are greeted by live music, and it could be a guitarist performing blues, jazz and classical charts, or an agile violinist with a smile, or Liz Wister an accordionist. Local musicians with great skill also light up a permanent upright splendidly tuned piano, the sound system perfected to relax harried travelers. A big cheer to the Portland International Airport Music Program where volunteer musicians perform an average of 65 weekly sessions providing some 200 hours of live music each week for travelers. Performers have a time limit with changing talent throughout the day and evening. Even the giant, 24-foot-tall Cuckoo Clock has a song to share. It’s an ideal airport for a dreaded layover, and if traveling with a dog there is a Pet Relief Area.

Landing in Hawaii my first impression is always the fragrant splendor of fresh flowers, and being greeted by the smell of freshly cut blooms, the scent drifting along the air currents and possibly created from the profusion of orchard leis’ that have found a home in the airport. For the airports of the world this is a special and unique greeting for sure.

Flying to Tsavo West National Park in southeastern Kenya in a steamy single engine puddle-jumper we circled the landing strip for a length of time that seemed like an eternity waiting for a large herd of elephants to move off the runway, all the while watching the fuel gauge slowly waver downward. When we finally touched down on a bumpy strip of land with the help of the remaining fumes, the terminal was a small hut with a man inside stretched out on a bench soundly asleep.

Jim Gordon – T-Boy Writer:

Airports for me begin and end with Palm Springs! I’ve never been to an airport where my stress level drops as soon as I walk through the open-air structure, small though it is!

Rodger Fallihee – T-Boy Writer:

I loved Hollywood Burbank Airport (now Bob Hope Airport) because of the stars that I saw there over the years. Robert Redford, Beau Bridges, Jon Voight, Lynda Carter, Jerry Lewis, Tom Poston, John Ritter and I’m sure more than I have forgotten. They also had the best parking at Carter VSP. They would wash the car or change the oil.

Ed Boitano – T-Boy Editor:

Shop till you drop is an alien term to me. To be more specific if there was no such thing as online shopping, I fear many birthdays and holidays would be celebrated gift-free. This all changed upon an early arrival at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport when waiting for an international flight back to the states. The statistics were in my favor for Schiphol is regularly voted the best airport for shopping, plus it’s run by the Dutch who have the characteristic of being orderly and forward thinking, already anticipating the needs of the traveler. Yes, that includes a shopping mile, a casino, spas, a library and even a branch of the Rijksmuseum all neatly laid out along Schiphol’s Holland Boulevard. My only dilemma was whether I should purchase Dutch gin, chocolates or gouda cheese for my Aunt Kate back in the states. I already knew tulip bulbs should only be purchased by the grower.

I had made it, complete with a backpack stuffed with unnecessary items. Zürich Airport was calm, and it was just what I needed after having taken the train there in the early morning. But I kept thinking I had forgotten something. Oh, yes; it was a trip to the bakery to bring a bag home of silserli (Swiss Pretzel Rolls). I rendezvoused with my photographer at the airport and explained my dilemma. Take it easy, she replied, pointing to Brezelkönig Bakery, just a few steps away from where we were standing. Painfully aware of uncivilized price gouging in captured U.S. airport settings, I replied, Yes, but won’t they cost a $1,000 U.S. or something? No, she smiled. The prices are regulated, they’re no more expensive than on the street. Yet, another reason why I love Switzerland and silserli.

I knew that Singapore Changi Airport would be clean and sparking, as all things are in Singapore. But I never expected an airline representative in pre-pandemic and post-9/11 Singapore to approach me while I wandered around the terminal in my usual daze. I was also aware that the rules are strict in this handsome island nation, and wondered if I committed an airport infraction. The employee’s words were simple: Can I help you? It appears that you may be lost. No, I replied. Just marveling at your airport. Well, please enjoy it, she said. We have free Internet over by the window.

Skip Kaltenheuser – T-Boy Writer

Hard to imagine that the last time I was in one of my top favorite cities, Hong Kong’s head honcho was still the amiable Governor Chris Patten, and I was soon to be scribbling columns from DC for a now long-gone Hong Kong magazine called Windows. Kai Tak was still the airport. When I first flew into it, a side trip after visiting a pal in Tokyo, during the landing it looked like the plane’s wings might snag lines of laundry hanging off the balconies of apartment buildings, or flatten TV antennas. There was a sudden hard turn that made me wonder if our final destination was Victoria Bay. It was a spectacular landing and prelude to a great city.

Preparing for a trip to Hong Kong with my wife, I learned she had an abhorrent fear of airplane crashes, not unlike William Shatner in the Twilight Zone episode, Terror at 20,000 Feet. So we got a prescription for an anti-anxiety medication which she topped off with drinks. Upon landing the passengers cheered and clapped and I smiled at her. I couldn’t tell if the expression she returned was one of stark terror or a promise of revenge. I looked down to see four ripples of blood dripping from my forearm from where my wife’s fingernails had been embedded. I remember thinking future plane travel for her might not be much in the cards. On a prior trip to Hong Kong, I came across a fortune teller who was a doppelgänger of Ho Chi Minh. He answered my query of a contemplated union by requesting a photo that would allow him to compare noses. As the mystic was closely tuned to Hong Kong, the foreboding on his face must surely have presaged the coming airplane fright, I figured.

How do I convey the thrill of landing at Kai Tak, with or without fingernail acupuncture in one’s arm? Here’s an article that gives a notion of an approach to the airport’s runway 13/31, known as the “Kai Tak Heart Attack.” Built on reclaimed land in Kowloon Bay, the airport was in a bowl, surrounded by mountains and water and plenty of apartment blocks and skyscrapers. Runway 13/31 extended out into Victoria Harbor, across from Hong Kong Island. Imagine the additional excitements at night, with all the distracting lights of Hong Kong, or in rough and/or rainy weather, and the occasional typhoon. Automated landings could not carry the day here. For pilots, it was revered as the best test of competence. Takeoffs weren’t the easiest liftoffs either. Remarkably, despite this airline gauntlet, runway 13/31 was the world’s busiest single runway, with an hourly log of 36 landings and take-offs. One every 100 seconds. No one tarried when there was a mishap. One of the times a plane overshot the runway into the drink, the airport blew off its tail so it could be quickly towed out of the way.

To master the unique requirements of landing on that runway, often while fighting powerful crosswinds that, like wind speed, were in constant flux, airline pilots trained extensively on special simulators before they took on the low-altitude, manual 47-degree visual right turn at 200 miles per hour, immediately kicked into gear by the sight of a large orange and white checkerboard painted on a hill, with only two nautical miles to go before hitting the runway.

For a better sense of the challenge to pilots, try this video explaining it by a pilot very experienced with the runway and checkerboard approach:

And here’s a fun look via simulators showing the added value of the buildings all about:

Some additional photos are hyperlink: here at the Daily Mail website.

Despite a dozen air disasters, by 1996 Kai Tak was handling thirty million passengers a year. The airport closed on July 6, 1998, but that landing remains indelible in many millions of minds, for the passengers, pilots and crew, as well as the plane watchers on apartment rooftops and balconies and in the streets. Landings there made Kai Tak one of my two favorite airports. It’s now a cruise liner terminal, but I doubt docking there is quite the same. I get emails updating me almost daily from pals in Hong Kong. Though they no longer have to land in Kai Tak, I wish them luck on all other fronts, now every bit as tricky.

EXTRA

The post Favorite Airports of our Past appeared first on Traveling Archive.

The Other Ones

In a few days is Valentines day so let’s talk about relationships. Obviously, my wife is the most important person in my life. When I cook a meal, I always give her the best part. She may not even realize this and that’s not important to me. Making her happy is. If that isn’t love, what is?

But I confess I have another relationship going right now… two of them. I spend more hours with them than I do with my wife. They’re constantly with me everyday. When I close my eyes to sleep, they’re there. When I open my eyes, they’re there. My wife knows this. She doesn’t mind. She’s understanding this way. Actually, she was the one who brought them into my life. I warned her that something like this was going to happen but she insisted. Maybe she knew someone at my age needed something she could not provide. I told her the reason I didn’t want them was because I would get too attached and… well, it’s too late now.

When my wife goes to work, it’s just me… and them! Many times I’m in the middle of my work I can sense them beckoning for attention. Sometimes the temptation is so great I give in. Okay… okay… yes, I’m weak. I give in.

A simple touch, a simple massage and they are assured of my affection. Often, I tell them to let me go do my work but they want more of my touch… especially the little one.

And they’re very jealous. Whenever the phone rings, that’s when they decide to break their silence and compete with the person on the other line. “Can you please be quiet!” I shout. But they’re not that smart. They look at me quizzically wondering why I’m adding to the noise.

Life has never been the same. I’ve learned to live with the guilt of spending too much time with them. My wife knows I spend more time with them. The three cats know I spend more time with them.

But time is never enough for the two. What can you expect from Tonka and Tinker? They’re just two dogs.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Happy Chinese New Year!

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for sharing this joke.

Video: My Husband’s Guilty

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for this amusing court video.
There’s a lesson at the end for you husbands.

Video: Everyone Should Have an Elephant

Thanks to Naomi of N Hollywood, CA for this cute video

Video: Extraordinary Man

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA
Art is a Singaporean American who is proud of his motherland. LKY was a true leader — country first before self. We need more like him.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Ding of Vancouver, B.C.

Thanks to Mel of Washington, DC.

Thanks to Peter Paul of South Pasadena, CA

Another one from Peter Paul

Thanks to Tom of Pasadena, CA

The post You’re an EXTREME Redneck When…. appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Random Thoughts About the Year of the Rat

It’s almost midnight and I need to get this edition ready.

This weekend is Chinese New Year. I wonder what the environmentalists are gonna say with all the fireworks and the resulting air pollution. How come, I wonder, hasn’t any of them complained about the 4th of July fireworks in America or the nightly fireworks at Disneyland and Disneyworld? Why this free pass? Well, one thing they can’t complain to is nature — like volcanic eruptions happening right now in Taal volcano in the Philippines. That one volcano is doing more atmospheric damage than years of pyrotechnics. Sure, every little bit to help the environment counts but it still makes me wonder what much difference man can do when nature goes by its own rules. It’s like telling a man with stage 4 cancer to stop smoking.

So it’s the year of the rat. I did a little Chinese research about the “personality” of the rat and what we can expect in 2020. Is it just me or can the prophetic descriptions apply to any other zodiac sign? I think it’s a lot of baloney so I enjoy it when different “fortune tellers” have opposing prophecies. It goes to show there is no rhyme or reason for their claims. It’s hit or miss. As they say: even a dead clock will be accurate twice a day.

I believe there is a China Town in most major cities in the world. Imagine all the preparations in colorful paper mache, incense and gunpowder that will parade in these towns this weekend. What fun!

MY ODE TO THE CHINESE NEW YEAR
Hey, diddle, diddle
The RAT ate the fiddle
The cow jumped over the Chinese moon
A little Kung Fu, a little Confucious
Let’s celebrate with chicken, pork noodles!

Terrible poem, huh? Oh well …

TGIF people!

Raoul

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for sharing this joke.

Rodney’s Puns

Sent by Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

AUDIO: A Lighthearted Look at Wedded Bliss

A funny audio clip about being married. About 25 minutes.

VIDEO: Mr. Lim’s Reunion Dinner

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA for sharing these 2 videos. They both got me teary eyed. The first is 6 Minutes long. The second is over 15 minutes long. They both give us a peek at life in Singapore. Happy Chinese New Year!

VIDEO: The Reunion Dinner

A simple family through the years. This is a mini-movie.

Parting Shot

Thanks to Jeff of Pasadena, CA who shot the picture while driving in Arcadia. I just put an appropriate meme.

“On my way home from church, (Baldwin & Huntington) I set up to grab a shot when the left turn arrow lit up green.

Not sure if she thinks she knows more than the rest of us, but this is one of the few boners I haven’t pulled yet. I am wondering if she didn’t pay, though.”

— Jeff

The post Celibacy appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Riding on the Upswing

Remember Rodger who I talked about a few months ago? He was the gentle soul who seemed to be missing out on the good jobs despite his being more than qualified. So rarely was he treated fairly (hey that rhymes!) that when blessings came to him, he felt obliged to pay for them. You can refresh your memory of my story here: CLICK HERE.

Yesterday he called me up with unusually high spirits. Our prayers for his dream job finally came true. He said he walks through the different sections of this famous theme park every day to get to his work station. His employee card gives him access to the back doors of the park, he buys lunch at a employee discount, he enjoys the other hard workers who are smart and super friendly … every day is wonderfully exciting. No, he wasn’t bragging … he was grateful — big difference! Today, Friday, all personnel are required to wear beige/tan in their attire to commemorate the opening of a new section of the Theme Park — and little old, humble Rodger will be part of that.

When I asked him what advice he would give to others regarding their career path, he said: “I have learned, and continue to learn, that God wants us to totally rely on Him for everything.” Isn’t that a wonderful lesson? Coming out of his tunnel of ordeal, he has certainly matured.

Of course Rodger understands there is no guarantee that everything will turn up roses from here on. You know the deal … big corporations hire and fire people according to the shifting wind of the company’s success and failure. But for now there is joy and blessings in Rodger’s life — and boy! did God overflow Rodger with blessings in over-abundance. Praise God!

Where are you in your season of life? Are you in the dark tunnel? The apostle Paul said this while he was suffering in prison: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank Him for His answers.” (Philippians 4:6)

TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Dean of Vancouver, B.C. for sending this joke.

Video of the Week

Anuvab Pal
Sent by Art of Sierra Madre, CA

Funny stand-up comedian talks about corruption in India and where the Indians learned it from.

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Something to Think About

Sent by Don of Kelowna, B.C.

The amazing Airport of Singapore.

Parting Shot

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA who shared this.

The post The Confrontation appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Everything You Need to Know About Oktoberfest – Including How to Book a Last-Minute Trip

Courtesy Adrian Bridge, The Telegraph

The Munich Oktoberfest justly lays claim to being the world’s largest folk festival (yes, it’s not just about drinking beer). Over the past decade it has attracted an average of around six million visitors a year, who between them consume almost seven million litres of beer and munch their way through thousands of grilled sausages, chickens, giant pretzels and – for those really wanting to soak it all up – wild oxen.

MORE

The lads sang a few songs with passages in other languages besides English.

Q) Name the Song where the Refrain is in Sanskrit

Scroll down for the answers

15 Surprising Things TSA Allows Past Airport Checkpoints

By Benet Wilson

Some items — like guns (real or replica), large scissors and flammable liquids — are never allowed. But the agency continues to make changes when it comes to what can get past the checkpoint.

Below are 15 surprise items you can actually take past the checkpoint. But in case you still have questions, you can take a photo of the item and send it to either AskTSA on Facebook Messenger or via Twitter. Staff are online with answers from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET during the week and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays

MORE

Check Out the Latest Inflight Meal Reviews!

Courtesy Nik Loukas,  Inflight Feed 

InFlight Feed an airline food information website for passengers that also features a blog of the inflight meal experiences of Nik Loukas on his various trips around the globe. Inflight Feed has been giving passengers information on over 150 airlines worldwide since 2012,  telling them how to order special meals, find out what food might be for sale inflight, how to upgrade your inflight meal and general inflight meal information.

MORE

8 Popular Destinations Where Air Pollution Could Ruin Your Trip

Air pollution does a lot more than cause canceled or postponed vacations — it kills millions of people worldwide every year, according to the World Health Organization. Some of the worst places for air pollution are also home to bucket-list-worthy sights. But missing them might be the least of your problems if smog ramps up during your visit: Symptoms of air pollution sickness include nausea, coughing, headache, itchy eyes — and air pollution can cause long-term breathing problems.

Here are some of the worst destinations for smog, especially if you already suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems.

India

The Taj Mahal attracts thousands of travelers every day, but the city it’s in is one of the worst in the world for air pollution. Smog in Agra can cut visibility so dramatically that you can’t see much more than an outline of the giant tomb, and visitors who don’t cancel their trip during a period of heavy smog can be seen wearing face masks to visit.

MORE

10 Most Misleading Travel Terms

Courtesy Jamie Ditaranto, SmarterTravel

If you spend enough time comparing hotels, flights, and tours, you’ll eventually realize that many words have very little meaning in the travel industry. You might think that there would be some sort of common agreement on travel terms across hotels that would define what makes a suite a suite or a deluxe room better than a standard room, but no such agreements exist. Travelers are often surprised to find that what they booked is not quite what they expected.

Here are some travel hype words you should take lightly, and that might even signal you should do a little more research.

MORE

10 of the World’s Craziest Landings

Courtesy Ashley Rossi

These 10 airports have some of the craziest landings in the world. Fretful flyers, you’ve been warned.

Flying can be a nerve-racking experience for fretful travelers; however, landings at these 10 airports are sure to frighten even the most frequent flyers. From an airport at the edge of a cliff to sandy beach landings, here are the world’s craziest runways — consider yourself warned.

MORE

Time Capsule Cinema

Polanski’s “Cul-de-Sac”

By Walt Mundkowsky

By this viewer’s idiosyncratic standards, Cul-de-Sac (1966) is Roman Polanski’s sole brush with greatness, and the only feature to keep faith with the surrealist metaphors and perceptions of his celebrated short films. It’s his most bizarrely funny, as well as his most serious work.

MORE

Hometown Heroes: Iconic Foods from Around the World

Courtesy Polly Byles, Lonely Planet

Every city around the world has a local food culture that embodies the unique essence of the place. While some have become iconic on the global stage – think Philadelphia’s Philly cheesesteak or Tokyo’s renowned ramen – others remain under the radar, tucked away in a backstreet trattoria or hidden in the pages of grandma’s secret recipe book.

MORE

Random Acts of Canine Kindness

Cedric the Dog takes a well-earned break after organizing a protest at an alt–right Neo-Nazi rally in South Dakota.

You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog. – Harry S. Truman

MORE Dog Quotations

How to Travel to Singapore ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Style for Cheap

Courtesy Sarah Berger

If you’ve seen the new movie “Crazy Rich Asians,” which follows an Asian-American woman who discovers that her boyfriend hails from one of the richest families in Singapore where it’s set, you’re probably already dreaming of visiting the Southeast Asian city.

MORE

Burping Is Good Manners & 25 Other Global Etiquette Surprises

Courtesy The Daily Meal Staff

In Italy, Never Order A Cappuccino After A Meal

When you’re dining the Italian way, be sure to order an espresso or a coffee after a meal. Do not order a cappuccino, as Italians believe milk beverages slow down digestion.

MORE Global Etiquette Surprises

In First Lady’s Hometown in Slovenia, the Business Is Melania

Courtesy The New York Times

Melania cake. Melania cream. Melania wine. Melania tea. Melania slippers. Melania salami. Melania chocolate-coated apple slices. There are few products that the enterprising burghers of Sevnica, a small, rural Slovenian town where Melania Trump spent her formative years, have not sought to brand in honor of the first lady of the United States.

MORE

Countries Difficult for Americans to Visit

In spite of broad generalizations that Americans have no interest in leaving their own borders, US citizens are traveling abroad in record numbers. According to the US National Tourism Office, nearly 67 million Americans chose to take an international trip in 2016. The world may be our oyster, but some countries impose harsh visa requirements that may hinder American tourism.

MORE

October

By Robert Frost

O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
The crows above the forest call;
Tomorrow they may form and go.
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
Hearts not averse to being beguiled,
Beguile us in the way you know.
Release one leaf at break of day;
At noon release another leaf;
One from our trees, one far away.
Retard the sun with gentle mist;
Enchant the land with amethyst.
Slow, slow!
For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,
Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,
Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—
For the grapes’ sake along the wall

Send Deb your favorite travel poems

Beatle Beat Trivia Answers

The lads sang a few songs with passages in other languages besides English.

Q) Name the Song where the Refrain is in Sanskrit
A) Across The Universe

The refrain “Jai Guru Deva Om” is a mantra intended to lull the mind into a higher consciousness. The words are in Sanskrit, an ancient Indic language of India, in which the Hindu scriptures and classical Indian epic poems are written and from which many northern Indian languages are derived. “Jai Guru Deva Om” means “I give thanks to Guru Dev,” who was the teacher of The Maharishi. The “Om” at the end is the drawn out “oooohm” used in meditation to relate to the natural vibration of the universe. While visiting the Maharishi in Rishikesh, John purchased a set of brass bracelets with the words “Jai Guru Dev” imprinted on them. The bracelets are now in the possession of Julian Lennon and were on display at the “White Feather – The Spirit Of John Lennon” exhibit at the Beatles Story in Liverpool.

The post Oktoberfest, Iconic Foods, Beatle Beat appeared first on Traveling Archive.

How to Travel to Singapore ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Style for Cheap

Courtesy Sarah Berger

If you’ve seen the new movie “Crazy Rich Asians,” which follows an Asian-American woman who discovers that her boyfriend hails from one of the richest families in Singapore where it’s set, you’re probably already dreaming of visiting the Southeast Asian city.

MORE

Beatle Beat Trivia x 5

Q) In which Beatle song is there a reference to Edgar Allan Poe?

Q) Who is ‘Martha’ in “Martha My Dear”?

Q) To whom is John singing to in “Don’t Let Me Down”?

Q) What is ‘Norwegian Wood’?

Q) Who is ‘Mary’ in song “Let it Be”?

Scroll down for the answers

Check Out the Latest Inflight Meal Reviews!

Courtesy Nik Loukas,  Inflight Feed 

InFlight Feed an airline food information website for passengers that also features a blog of the inflight meal experiences of Nik Loukas on his various trips around the globe. Inflight Feed has been giving passengers information on over 150 airlines worldwide since 2012,  telling them how to order special meals, find out what food might be for sale inflight, how to upgrade your inflight meal and general inflight meal information.

MORE

Burping Is Good Manners & 25 Other Global Etiquette Surprises

Courtesy The Daily Meal Staff

In Italy, Never Order A Cappuccino After A Meal

When you’re dining the Italian way, be sure to order an espresso or a coffee after a meal. Do not order a cappuccino, as Italians believe milk beverages slow down digestion.

MORE Global Etiquette Surprises

In First Lady’s Hometown in Slovenia, the Business Is Melania

Courtesy The New York Times

Melania cake. Melania cream. Melania wine. Melania tea. Melania slippers. Melania salami. Melania chocolate-coated apple slices. There are few products that the enterprising burghers of Sevnica, a small, rural Slovenian town where Melania Trump spent her formative years, have not sought to brand in honor of the first lady of the United States.

MORE

Countries Difficult for Americans to Visit

In spite of broad generalizations that Americans have no interest in leaving their own borders, US citizens are traveling abroad in record numbers. According to the US National Tourism Office, nearly 67 million Americans chose to take an international trip in 2016. The world may be our oyster, but some countries impose harsh visa requirements that may hinder American tourism.

MORE

10 of the World’s Craziest Landings

Courtesy Ashley Rossi

These 10 airports have some of the craziest landings in the world. Fretful flyers, you’ve been warned.

Flying can be a nerve-racking experience for fretful travelers; however, landings at these 10 airports are sure to frighten even the most frequent flyers. From an airport at the edge of a cliff to sandy beach landings, here are the world’s craziest runways — consider yourself warned.

MORE

Beatle Beat Trivia Answers

Q) In which Beatle song is there a reference to Edgar Allan Poe?

A) “I am the Walrus.”

Q) Who is ‘Martha’ in “Martha My Dear”?

A) Paul’s sheepdog.

Q) To whom is John singing to in “Don’t Let Me Down”?

A) Yoko Ono.

Q) What is ‘Norwegian Wood’?

A) Norwegian pine. An inexpensive wood used in building, popular in the mid-60s.

Q) Who is ‘Mary’ in the song “Let it Be”?

A) Paul’s mother, Mary McCartney who died of cancer when he was 14-years-old.

Random Acts of Canine Kindness

Cedric the Dog takes a well-earned break after organizing a protest at an alt–right Neo-Nazi rally in South Dakota.

You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog. – Harry S. Truman

MORE Dog Quotations

Last Meals of 23 Famous People

Courtesy The Daily Meal

There is something fascinating about last meals. Eating is something we do multiple times on a daily basis; it is what gives us life. Surround yourself with chefs, cooks, and culinarily inclined guests at a dinner party, and you may very well be presented with a particular question: “What would you want for your last meal on Earth?”

MORE

15 Surprising Things TSA Allows Past Airport Checkpoints

By Benet Wilson

Some items — like guns (real or replica), large scissors and flammable liquids — are never allowed. But the agency continues to make changes when it comes to what can get past the checkpoint.

Below are 15 surprise items you can actually take past the checkpoint. But in case you still have questions, you can take a photo of the item and send it to either AskTSA on Facebook Messenger or via Twitter. Staff are online with answers from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET during the week and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays

MORE

8 Popular Destinations Where Air Pollution Could Ruin Your Trip

Air pollution does a lot more than cause canceled or postponed vacations — it kills millions of people worldwide every year, according to the World Health Organization. Some of the worst places for air pollution are also home to bucket-list-worthy sights. But missing them might be the least of your problems if smog ramps up during your visit: Symptoms of air pollution sickness include nausea, coughing, headache, itchy eyes — and air pollution can cause long-term breathing problems.

Here are some of the worst destinations for smog, especially if you already suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems.

India

The Taj Mahal attracts thousands of travelers every day, but the city it’s in is one of the worst in the world for air pollution. Smog in Agra can cut visibility so dramatically that you can’t see much more than an outline of the giant tomb, and visitors who don’t cancel their trip during a period of heavy smog can be seen wearing face masks to visit.

MORE

10 Most Misleading Travel Terms

Courtesy Jamie Ditaranto, SmarterTravel

If you spend enough time comparing hotels, flights, and tours, you’ll eventually realize that many words have very little meaning in the travel industry. You might think that there would be some sort of common agreement on travel terms across hotels that would define what makes a suite a suite or a deluxe room better than a standard room, but no such agreements exist. Travelers are often surprised to find that what they booked is not quite what they expected.

Here are some travel hype words you should take lightly, and that might even signal you should do a little more research.

MORE

Alone

By Edgar Allan Poe

From childhood’s hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not bring
My passions from a common spring.
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow; I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone;
And all I loved, I loved alone.
Then- in my childhood, in the dawn
Of a most stormy life- was drawn
From every depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still:
From the torrent, or the fountain,
From the red cliff of the mountain,
From the sun that round me rolled
In its autumn tint of gold,
From the lightning in the sky
As it passed me flying by,
From the thunder and the storm,
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue).

Send Deb your favorite travel poems

Time Capsule Cinema

Polanski’s “Cul-de-Sac”

By Walt Mundkowsky

By this viewer’s idiosyncratic standards, Cul-de-Sac (1966) is Roman Polanski’s sole brush with greatness, and the only feature to keep faith with the surrealist metaphors and perceptions of his celebrated short films. It’s his most bizarrely funny, as well as his most serious work.

MORE

The post Elvis, Global Etiquette, Famous Last Meals appeared first on Traveling Archive.

For answers to these, blame the media for fostering the stereotype for Asians and not changing with the times. This new movie “Crazy Rich Asians” portrays the really-rich-until-now quiet yet growing minority. In this movie both old rich and new rich are displayed for us to see.

Indeed, it is a cultural shock and a reality check for the America people. To be precise, is America cash-rich? If we ponder carefully we are not in reality rich as a majority of us are in debt. Unless you own the title to your real property and can put up a few million dollars in cash, you are not truly rich. People magazine has commented that there are rich, filthy rich, and crazy rich (super rich). These individuals are rich in assets including liquid assets.

Temporary putting aside the Asian context of this movie, this is a romcom (romantic comedy) well acted and filmed on location overseas according to the best seller with the same title. This is also an international cast of Asians in a big Hollywood film after 25 years. It showcases the lives of rich Asians whose lives are hidden in plain sight.

The movie is about a man and a woman in love, who though coming from an Asian ethnic background, still have to work through class differences, cultural differences (one Asian American versus Singaporean-rich ethnic Chinese). If you have the opportunity to read the book, there is a genealogical map of Nicolas Young’s family. In fact, the Young name is English and thus to say the Eurasian main character is “not Asian enough” is silly.

Enjoy the love story, the jealousy, the initial rejection by the elders… in the backdrop of the Chinese culture within the context of Malaysia/Singapore today. Yes, we speak English. The Chinese born in the Straits of Malacca which includes Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia are highlighted in this movie. They are the wealthy who send their children to good schools and colleges overseas. This explains why they converse in American, British and Australian accents.

This movie is based on the real world today. Hollywood has finally recognized that there is a complex mix of Asian Chinese who speak English and are wealthy beyond our limited Hollywood exposure.

Enjoy the many tiered good acting… a romantic comedy to boot. A word of advise: Eat first before watching the movie because you will salivate over the food. The range of emotions you may experience include laughter and tears.

HJ Lim, born in Singapore, is an IT professional who enjoys history, music, international food, and observing human nature.

The post Crazy Rich Asians – From the Viewpoint of a Singaporean American appeared first on Traveling Archive.