Monday, June 30, 2014
Crossing the New Port Mann Bridge
Burnaby, B.C. - Cotto Enoteca Pizzeria
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Sunday, June 15, 2014
Friday, June 13, 2014
How Many Countries? Some Updated Travel Stats (But Who's Counting?)
We've dabbled in the pastime of counting up the countries we've visited for some time. While it's something we get asked from time to time, ever since we ran into another couple at a cruise stop whose sole purpose in travel - if not in life - was to make stops in as many countries as possible, we cringe a little at the topic.
Like so many other aspects of life, it also depends on how you count them. So far in 2014 it just happens that we've added two new countries to our list. Early on we spent a glorious week in the Republic of The Maldives, more commonly referred to as the Maldive Islands, or simply The Maldives.
More recently we've just returned from our first visit to Vietnam.
Based on the Century Travelers' Club list of 321 entities, we've been in a total of 94 "countries" to date. You'll notice the list includes a lot of places that aren't sovereign states, but it's one harmless way for us to keep tabs.
Pacific Ocean
Australia
French Polynesia (Tahiti,Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier)
Hawaiian Islands
New Zealand
Tasmania
North America
Alaska
Canada
Mexico
U.S. (continental)
Central America
Belize (British Honduras)
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Honduras
Panama
South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Uruguay
Caribbean
Antigua & Deps. (Barbuda, Redonda)
Bahamas
Barbados
Cayman Islands
Dominican Republic
Jamaica
Leeward Islands, French (St. Martin)
Puerto Rico
St. Barts
St. Kitts
St. Lucia
St. Maarten (formerly Netherlands Antilles)
Turks and Caicos Islands
Virgin Islands, U.S. (St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas)
Virgin Islands, British (Tortola, etc.)
Atlantic Ocean
Azores Islands
Bermuda
Canary Islands
Cape Verde Islands
Iceland
Madeira
Europe and Mediterranean
Austria
Belgium
Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Minorca)
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
England
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ionian Islands (Corfu, etc.)
Ireland (Eire)
Ireland, Northern (Ulster)
Italy
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Sicily
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey in Europe (Istanbul)
Vatican City
Wales
Africa
Egypt
Lesotho
Morocco
Senegal (plane refueling only - did not go through immigration)
South Africa
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Middle East
None
Indian Ocean
The Maldives
Asia
China, People's Rep.
Hong Kong
India
Japan
Korea, North (DMZ tour only)
Korea, South
Malaysia
Singapore
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey in Asia
Vietnam
Here's another way to look at it. Using this source, we've visited 75 sovereign states whose combined territories cover 33.3% of the earth's surface. Obviously, we still have a long way to go.
Like so many other aspects of life, it also depends on how you count them. So far in 2014 it just happens that we've added two new countries to our list. Early on we spent a glorious week in the Republic of The Maldives, more commonly referred to as the Maldive Islands, or simply The Maldives.
More recently we've just returned from our first visit to Vietnam.
Based on the Century Travelers' Club list of 321 entities, we've been in a total of 94 "countries" to date. You'll notice the list includes a lot of places that aren't sovereign states, but it's one harmless way for us to keep tabs.
Pacific Ocean
Australia
French Polynesia (Tahiti,Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier)
Hawaiian Islands
New Zealand
Tasmania
North America
Alaska
Canada
Mexico
U.S. (continental)
Central America
Belize (British Honduras)
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Honduras
Panama
South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Colombia
Uruguay
Caribbean
Antigua & Deps. (Barbuda, Redonda)
Bahamas
Barbados
Cayman Islands
Dominican Republic
Jamaica
Leeward Islands, French (St. Martin)
Puerto Rico
St. Barts
St. Kitts
St. Lucia
St. Maarten (formerly Netherlands Antilles)
Turks and Caicos Islands
Virgin Islands, U.S. (St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas)
Virgin Islands, British (Tortola, etc.)
Atlantic Ocean
Azores Islands
Bermuda
Canary Islands
Cape Verde Islands
Iceland
Madeira
Europe and Mediterranean
Austria
Belgium
Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Minorca)
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
England
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ionian Islands (Corfu, etc.)
Ireland (Eire)
Ireland, Northern (Ulster)
Italy
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Sicily
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey in Europe (Istanbul)
Vatican City
Wales
Africa
Egypt
Lesotho
Morocco
Senegal (plane refueling only - did not go through immigration)
South Africa
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Middle East
None
Indian Ocean
The Maldives
Asia
China, People's Rep.
Hong Kong
India
Japan
Korea, North (DMZ tour only)
Korea, South
Malaysia
Singapore
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey in Asia
Vietnam
Here's another way to look at it. Using this source, we've visited 75 sovereign states whose combined territories cover 33.3% of the earth's surface. Obviously, we still have a long way to go.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Premium Laurel Class Dining Aboard EVA Air
Yes, EVA Air's Premium Laurel Class really seems premium to us.
Lunch SGN-TPE
That's a four-course lunch on a 3 1/2-hour flight, considering the fruit plate and ice cream are served separately. There was a choice of three entrees and we both went with the beef.
Lunch SGN-TPE
That's a four-course lunch on a 3 1/2-hour flight, considering the fruit plate and ice cream are served separately. There was a choice of three entrees and we both went with the beef.
Dinner TPE-LAX
It was quite a meal, with a multitude of flight attendants to serve us. Note the closeup of the aspic appetizer in the second photo below.
Kathy opted for the steak (too much to finish dinner) and Brian enjoyed his chicken.
Had we included a cheese plate (we skipped it), it would have added up to a six-course dinner. Five courses were more than enough for us.
It was quite a meal, with a multitude of flight attendants to serve us. Note the closeup of the aspic appetizer in the second photo below.
Kathy opted for the steak (too much to finish dinner) and Brian enjoyed his chicken.
Had we included a cheese plate (we skipped it), it would have added up to a six-course dinner. Five courses were more than enough for us.
Breakfast TPE-LAX
After a great sleep, we awoke to a two-course breakfast of more food than we could handle.
The first course (we chose the 'Western' option) below - muesli, yogurt, fruit plate and croissant - contained more than enough for us.
We nibbled at the second plate. Unlike the Brits and Aussies, we're not fans of breakfast beans so it was easy to skip those. The cylindrically-shaped omelets (or frittatas?) were worth a couple of bites, but we couldn't miss the tasty, albeit greasy, hash browns.
We didn't try any of the hot inflight snacks that can be prepared in just a minute. Yes, even we have our limits.
After a great sleep, we awoke to a two-course breakfast of more food than we could handle.
The first course (we chose the 'Western' option) below - muesli, yogurt, fruit plate and croissant - contained more than enough for us.
We nibbled at the second plate. Unlike the Brits and Aussies, we're not fans of breakfast beans so it was easy to skip those. The cylindrically-shaped omelets (or frittatas?) were worth a couple of bites, but we couldn't miss the tasty, albeit greasy, hash browns.
We didn't try any of the hot inflight snacks that can be prepared in just a minute. Yes, even we have our limits.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Home Sweet Sehome
The flight on Air Canada "Rouge" was nice for us, sitting in the rows at the front.
They block off the middle seats European-style, served us beverages and meals, and handed out iPads which linked to the inflight entertainment.
We landed on time, zipped through Immigration with NEXUS, picked up our car, and were home about an hour after getting off the plane.
Tomorrow just might be a sleeping-in Sunday.
They block off the middle seats European-style, served us beverages and meals, and handed out iPads which linked to the inflight entertainment.
We landed on time, zipped through Immigration with NEXUS, picked up our car, and were home about an hour after getting off the plane.
Tomorrow just might be a sleeping-in Sunday.
Aboard AC Airbus 319M 'Rouge'
They lend out iPads to access the inflight entertainment (they cost something like $10.50 back in Economy) and the meal they served on this 2 1/2-hour flight was well presented and tasty.
We would fly them again if up front.
LAX Connection
Terrific flight in EVA Business,maybe Brian's best ever, counting the great sleep.
EVA purser told us our transfer terminal 2 and gave us passes to express line after we "deplaned." We used Global Entry and walked to our terminal in less than 10 minutes.
We reprinted our AC BPs and got TSA Pre-Check. Our best ever connection at LAX, one of our least favorite airports.
We're in the Maple Leaf Lounge and scheduled to board in 25 minutes. Next stop is YVR.
Friday, June 6, 2014
SGN: 'Rose' Contract Lounge
Our third lounge visit in Vietnam leads us to believe that all of them feature overstuffed 1950s-style chairs.
Come to think of it, what's a "Business Class" lounge doing in a socialist republic anyway?
Shades of Sydney
PAs happened to us at SYD two years ago, we're at the airport bright and early but the EVA counter hasn't opened yet.
Update... Fairly soon after this, an EVA team set up shop and we checked in.
Update... Fairly soon after this, an EVA team set up shop and we checked in.
