After 11 happy years without wheels, I’m slightly tempted to buy a vehicle for travel to Mexico and the southern U.S.A. this winter.
I’m leaning towards a used Honda Element.
Click PLAY or watch a review on YouTube.
AutoTrader.ca search for Honda Element
Any advice for me? … Leave a comment.
Humour columnist Kate Zimmerman is on holiday with her family. She literally mailed in her latest article.
… Puerto Vallarta is glorious. It was made even more so by reports that Edmonton had posted its lowest temperature ever, at minus 47. We Canadians get a whole lot of schadenfreude for our tropical vacation buck. Our travel ads should probably use it as a lure. “Your package includes complementary continental breakfasts and bottomless delight in the abject misery of those you’ve left behind.” …
Her husband, Stanley let’s call him, is once again the foil of her jibes. Who does she think he is, Homer Simpson?
… Puerto Vallarta fulfilled his wildest dreams when he discovered a restaurant where a half-blind bartender mixed a regular vodka martini, the only thing he drinks, with about six ounces of vodka.
He was already on his way to becoming the Canadian version of National Lampoon’s bumbling Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase). The first day, the Mexican man at the front desk of our condo building introduced himself to us as “Juan José.” Repeating what he thought was the man’s name, Stanley said, “Nice to meet you, Juan Hossein,” remarking to us later that Middle Eastern employees must be rare in Puerto Vallarta.
That night he dove wholeheartedly into the vodka (“Vitamin V,” as he calls his beloved tipple). As the evening progressed, four local musicians approached our table, offering to serenade us with their acoustic guitars and bongos.
“Play something for the young people,” Stanley said grandly, indicating our teenagers. “Perhaps some Nirvana.” … Not that our children are remotely interested in Nirvana. The alternative band fronted by Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) was just the most contemporary group that tipsy Stanley could think of at the time. Vitamin V is like that. And Stanley is even more like that. …
This article is not yet posted online. But it will be linked from Kate’s blog soon.
Update: Ron and Kate Skyped me. … They could have simply emailed, but Skype video was more effective in displaying the beauty of their Pacific Ocean balcony view. Paradise.
I showed them the frozen Canadian wasteland outside my window.
I had a great deal this past summer, flying Glasgow to Calgary for CAD$227.24 on FlyGlobeSpan.
I drove them under …
Flyglobespan, Scotland’s biggest airline, has become the latest airline to go bust. The airline made the announcement yesterday, canceling all of its flights and firing all 800 of its employees.
The workers got a bad deal getting fired just before Christmas, but at least they get to suffer at home, unlike the more than 4,500 passengers left stranded in foreign countries. …
I thought I was “worldly”, … yet I knew almost nothing about Bangladesh before going there as a volunteer this Fall.
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The first thing people talk about in the capital Dhaka, is the traffic.
You might average 20km/hr. Walking is sometimes faster.
Actually, if you can get off the road, the countryside is green and lush. It’s one giant flood plain.
Bangladesh is a fast growing economy (growth 6-7%/yr), devoutly Muslim … but with few security problems. The nation is focused on economic growth, looking to bring millions out of poverty. Agriculture and clothing manufacture are the main industries.
It’s surprisingly progressive, the first Muslim-majority country to establish an all-women United Nations peacekeeping force. They have a woman Prime Minister.
Instead of blaming problems on the U.S.A. as a distraction, leaders in Bangladesh are “seeking five billion dollars of foreign investment for power and gas projects to end a chronic energy crisis”.
I think they’ll get 5-10 billion. Bangladesh is a good long term investment.
Happy Victory Day, Bangladesh!
Bangladesh celebrated Victory Day Wednesday, heralded by a 21 cannon salute that rang through the capital at dawn, while the president laid a wreath at the National Memorial in Savar to commemorate those who gave their lives for independence.
On this day in 1971, the Pakistan army surrendered to the allied forces of Bangladesh and India at Ramna Racecourse Maidan in Dhaka, ending the painful nine-month war that saw a new nation emerge.
more Bangladesh photos
My first day in Bangladesh was most interesting. Everything is great.
… The restoration of democracy in 1991 has been followed by relative calm and economic progress.
Bangladesh is the seventh most populous country and is among the most densely populated countries in the world with a high poverty rate. However, per-capita (inflation-adjusted) GDP has more than doubled since 1975, and the poverty rate has fallen by 20% since the early 1990s. The country is listed among the “Next Eleven” economies. Dhaka, the capital, and other urban centers have been the driving force behind this growth. …
Due to the terrible traffic, I’m moving tomorrow from the 5 Star hotel into the National Sport Training Centre residence where my gymnastics course is being hosted. I may have limited internet access there, however.
It’s the dry season. Water level is low, low, low.
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll be posting Nepal photos and a trip report over on my hiking blog.
This is Mt Everest as seen from the top of Kala Pattar 5545m (18,192ft).
Revered by Hindu and Buddhist are a series of high altitude lakes. Very tranquil.
Late November they are freezing, groaning and moaning like some distressed beast.
To visit each I walked up the glacier towards my old friend Cho Oyu, the friendliest 8000+m peak. Eleven years ago we did the same thing, walking towards Cho Oyu from the Tibet side.
It was dark by the time I got back to Gokyo Resort. Mine was the finest room in the last village before Tibet. Expensive at $3. But I’m worth it.
Flying back to Kathmandu tomorrow. My 17 day trek ended.
From Starbucks, Lukla, Nepal.
Day 3 of my Everest trek.
I’ve reached Namche, famed Tibetan trading post and high altitude staging centre.
That’s the view outside my window. A little guy, 6187m. … I’d forgotten how HUGE are the Himalayan peaks.
I’ll stay another night here at 3420m to acclimatize. I’m only 10hs walk from a 5535m pass.
Surprisingly, I really like Namche. It’s got character.
The only sour note is the Bazaar. Every Saturday morning everyone from the Khumbu meets here. Tibetan traders dominate the scene. They’re agressive young guys, … chain smoking, talking tough.
My favourite spot in the polluted city is Swayambhunath. I love watching these guys.
… an ancient religious complex atop a hill … It is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in parts of the temple …
It’s so ancient that legend tells that the Buddha himself taught here.
Though a Buddhist stupa and monastery, there are just as many Hindu pilgrims.
Each morning most visitors are making religious devotion, the rest are exercising. Only a few Western tourists arrive by dawn.
The early morning light filtered by polluted skies is ideal for photos.
see the rest of my pics from this visit to the Monkey Temple
This post for people who travel internationally. …
Gizmodo posted the best explanation I’ve ever seen.
Giz Explains: Why Every Country Has a Different F#$%ing Plug
… Is There Any Hope for the Future?
No. I talked to Gabriela Ehrlich, head of communications for the International Electrotechnical Commission, which is still doing its thing over in Switzerland, and the outlook isn’t great. “There are standards, and there is a plug that has been designed. The problem is, really, everyone’s invested in their own system. It’s difficult to get away from that.” …
Strangely, the article doesn’t address solutions.
Here’s what I’m using.
This adaptor “works” in about 150 countries. Sold by Fujifilm, it’s the main one available (greatly overpriced) in airports right now. Spend the extra couple of bucks for the one with a USB port if you frequently charge an iPod or other USB device.
In North America, I always carry one of these 3 prong to 2 prong adapters on my laptop cord. It’s amazing how many times it’s saved me in older buildings that only have 2 prong outlets.
Slightly dangerous, I understand you can no longer buy these in Canada. But God Bless the U.S.A., you can still get them there.
