Tag: misc

French Polynesia update: super nice again

I’ve been having trouble uploading posts with photos due to slow connections since leaving Moorea on Thursday for Huahine, after doing a power snorkel with a Bond-like device that pulls you along.

It was actually sunny for the morning, the flight, the minivan + boat shuttle to the hotel (how cool is that?) to our charming overwater bungalow. Then the wind picked up again, clouds moved in and it rained occasionally.
It cleared a bit on Fri afternoon, then partly sunny on Saturday for our interesting anthropology tour, and finally sunny for our Sunday lagoon day boat trip.

On Monday we flew via an hour stop at Bora Bora airport code BOB! which is on a motu with light blue water and transfer boats) to Taha’a for our final island and fanciest hotel.
The resort provided boat transfers (35 min) directly from the airport, literally 30 steps from baggage claim (even cooler than previous island!).

And now sit on our gorgeous overwater bungalow with a cooling breeze over turquoise water, and a view of Bora Bora. We saw stingrays and puffer fish snorkeling below our deck.

And lots of sun :-)

More details and photos to follow…

Relaxing in SFO lounge… 3 hours until flight to Kona

Flight 1 of 8 down… Make that 1 of 7 after today’s rebooking.
Had a comfy 3 seats to ourselves on AC, with extra legroom in the “preferred seats” which surprisingly included a sandwich and snack (not sure if it is the seat or the high last minute fare that Delta booked).
It was  looking like we’d have gotten any upgrades on Delta due to heavy Friday passenger loads.

The one upgrade I secured (which Susan will enjoy) on the UA flight to Lona was thanks to the high fare class Delta booked (and my status – known as the Y-up fare).

Misc Santiago notes

Some random thoughts on Santiago de Chile:

The city is pretty clean and orderly, including traffic.
Although everything is gated and store fronts have graffitied metal shutters when closed.

The Metro (subway) is modern, fast, cheap (pricing independent of distance, but varies by time of day – CLP 620-740 / $1-1.25, using a required stored value card (costing CLP 1500 / $2.50) though it does not run past midnight I think. There are 4 lines, with 2 more slated to open over the next 2 years.
No train goes to the airport, though an express bus does from the red line 1 Pajaritos metro station.
Taxi from airport to old town was fixed fare CLP 18,000 / $29 (no tip for taxi drivers).

Santiago is at altitude in a big valley with scrub-covered mountain ranges visible to the east (coastal range) and west (Andes). Very little snow on the peaks. With the current dry spell, there is more smog than usual – in fact they were having preemptive car restrictions based on the final digit of licence plates.

The Chilean Palm tree is a surprise, given how far south we are (not tropical). It has a blackish, thick, smooth trunk.
Actually outside if the city the edge of the valley reminds me of Arizona desert, ie with cacti and shrubs but no significant trees.

Highway signs are very European, and the highways are in good shape with toll baths (inc automated gated lanes). Also extremely straight, except when going over the passes between valleys. And little roadside garbage.

Food and drink are cheap.
Drinkable wine in the grocery store starts at CLP 2,500 / $4, and a local beer is CLP 620 / $1.
Snack shops have sandwich and pop/beer combos for CLP 1,850 / $3, while nearby non-fancy restos had meals die CLP 3,000-5,500 / $5-9, with plate displays in the front window. The cheaper dishes’ names start with pobre (poor). Taxes are included.

Electric outlets are a form of European outlet with 3 round pins in a row.
Currently US$1 = 630 CLP.

You are always given a little receipt, even for small purchases (eg an empanada) though if not printed by a cash register, it’s a hand written total on a receipt preprinted with the business info & licence number.

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Statue in Plaza de Armas

Chile: Old town Santiago at night, shopping cart BBQ

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One of many pedestrian streets near Plaza de Armas. Stores close early, but many restos, cafes and snack places open. Street performers, people dancing, sidewalk vendors.
It gets messy, but in the morning the garbage is gone and street cleaners are out in force.

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I had to pass on this one… Grilled meat skewers on a coal fired hibachi perched on a shopping cart. Were did the meat come from., and how long has it been unrefrigerated?

Myanmar/Burma: power

In my hotel were fancy surge protectors for each of the A/C, TV and fridge. On the street were lots of relatively quiet generators.

I experienced power outages in Inle Lake, but not in Yangon.
No power, in no Wi-Fi, no internet.

Tip: have a flashlight! Handy on poorly lit streets too, given the absence or disrepair of sidewalks, not to mention holes and raised things to trip on.

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