Travelling for Sandy

See what we did there...clever that. (Saw the show in London in '97...good, but no Les Miserables!) Awoke to finer weather in Hoi An. We are being picked up at 9 am so close up the packs and it's a good thing we bought the spare third pack as the purchases are piling up for the younger members of the team. Then head across for a final breakfast by the river at the resort. Best breakfasts of the tour to date for me. Driver punctual and by 9:05 am we are on the road to the airport at Danang. Retracing the route to the airport in daylight is interesting. Different perspective in daylight. Check in at Danang is quick and painless. We take an interest in an American college or university group of about 20 checking ... read more

Any one whose been to Halong Bay probably gets the significance of the number 1,969. Its the recorded number of islands in Halong Bay. But we had to get there first. Early Wednesday morning in Hanoi and feeling very organised. Packs closed and locked and heading up for breakfast at 7:30am. Bit over the breakfasts at the May De Ville. Three is enough. Food is good and there is a chef doing fresh eggs (cooking, not laying) and omelettes. Just time for a change. There's a first world problem right there, bored with your breakfast options. Driver was picking us up at 8:30 am. He, rather 'the gang' turned up at 8:20 am. We were ready. The gang is 18 of our travel companions for the next day or so. Lots of Australians, trio of Argentinian ... read more

Leaving at 1:15 am made for a long day leading up to the flight. Reubs and Caitlin both buzzing and by midnight just slightly annoying. Better than whinging so no complaint made by dad. Departure formalities a breeze. Interesting part was when Customs pulled Reub's day pack off the conveyor belt for inspection. Turned out the machine gets a bit suspect on day packs that are too 'light'. The boys day pack consisted of a GoPro, charger, cell phone and his headphones. All the vitals for the teenage traveller in 2018. Silly us with first aid kits and other such nonsense. Despite concerns about the storm coming in we got out without delay or issue. Apparently I am now told its important to know something about the plane your travelling on. I did not know this. ... read more

No, not time for a George Orwellesque insightful assessment of first world living in a capitalistic material possession obsessed 21st century. We went to Legoland. California. As opposed to Legoland anywhere else in the world if there was any misunderstanding. An opportunity for children to play in a place they related to from their daily interaction with their everyday educational toys...might sell that to Lego! The children were harried and harassed, pushed and prodded, cajoled and cursed at to get them to the car by 0845 hours stat because by any of the dieties you elect as your personal preference, life style choice or faith inspired belief - Sandy was going to have us there for 0900 hrs, at the gate for 'opening time' all of which we had carefully planned through the magic of the ... read more

...if you got the title...'your old'. The 'hit' song 'LA International Airport' was first recorded in 1970 and shame on us, it actually went to No.1 in New Zealand. But first, woke up in Vancouver on Thursday to another beautiful BC day. Packed up and checked out and stored our bags downstairs at Time Squares Apartments and ordered a taxi for 12.45 for the trip to the airport. As to Times Squares Apartments, with the exception of the noisey air conditioning unit it was centrally located and very comfortable in a fairly active part of town a mere two blocks from Stanley Park. The staff are very friendly, but who isnt in Canada it seems, and very helpful. Located on Robson Street, this is very much an artery into the central city and easy to access. ... read more