Travels with Sunny D

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a blimp?!

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:01:00 +0000

Driving up and down the 101 I've noticed a blimp floating in the sky with "Airship Ventures" written in big black letters on either side. I've also seen it "parked" at Moffett Field. Cool.

I remember seeing a write up in the Mercury News about six months ago when these guys were just getting off the ground (pun intended). I've checked out their website and the experience looks like a lot of fun...and pricey too for an individual.

The obvious target markets are high tech companies with deep pockets looking for new group outings, well healed Bay Area people looking for a unique experience and tourists to the Bay Area. However, I can't envision these three customer segments having the buying power at this economic time period to fund the $495 per person ticket for a 1 hour flight. Maybe other target markets include businesses looking to advertise...which worked on me for I looked up their name online once I saw the blimp!

I think I will suggest a blimp "adventure tour" for a future work team outing. I'd like to add "flown in a blimp" to my adventure travel "bucket list." However, during these financial times, I'd like someone else to pay for this tour! I don't think one can call me cheap, but call me practical.

Please share with us your experience should you have experienced Airship Ventures!

Travel Photo Contest Submissions

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:45:00 +0000

I generally take a TON of pictures on my trips in hopes that at least a handful of images are captivating enough to share with friends and family. The best part of having a digital camera is that we can all just click away to increase our chances of capturing that "perfect" moment in time.

Over time I've created a fairly good sized collection of images. At the suggestion of a friend, I have been submitting select images to newspapers and to online photo contests. Cool!

I found a fantastic travel related website and community called TravelMuse! TravelMuse has been hosting a monthly photo contest and I submitted three images for their consideration from my trips to Australia, New Zealand and Tofino, Canada.

There are a lot of great pictures posted each month...some of them look more professional than those taken by me and my 10MP Canon point-n-shoot. My images were not selected for the February contest...but I did submit pictures for March!

Not all is lost with my photo submissions. I did have an image from New Zealand selected by the Travel editor of the San Jose Mercury news.

FranzJosefGlacierNewZealand

Hopefully one day I'll see more of my images in print or on the web...so I will need to keep traveling to some great locations!

Doing the Airport Security Shuffle

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 05:33:00 +0000

Everything I learned about getting through airport security I learned from the Soup Nazi.

An efficient pass through security can make the difference between having enough time to stop off to get a high carb and low protein bite at the gate and having to buy a snack box on the plane.

Having gone through airport security several times, I’ve witnessed passengers fly through security faster than it takes to punch through the self check-in at Southwest. On the other hand, I’ve seem “amateurs” hold up long lines as they fumble through the process. Based on my observations I’ve developed a process and check list to help a traveler “dance” through security.

The Airport Security Shuffle
(Assumes passenger has one bag to check and one carry-on with laptop)

Step 1: The Pre Security Prep and Strip

Pre Security Prep

Print out your boarding pass before you go to the airport. Be sure to have your pass in hand as you are standing in line to wait for the next touch screen kiosk to check in your bags

With boarding pass in-hand approach the self check in and check in bags. As you waiting for your luggage check stickers to be printed, take your photo ID out of your wallet or purse and put into a shirt pocket

Show your boarding pass and ID to the bag checker at the counter. Smile. Wave goodbye to you bag as it’s flung on the conveyor belt…and say a prayer that it arrives at your destination (if you check in no less than hour before departure, your bags should arrive just fine).

Put your boarding pass and license in your shirt pocket

Pre Security Strip

Before going into the security line, find an area close by… away from the lines…to begin the Pre Security Strip. This is the fun part.

Take off your belt, watch, car/house keys, change and other jewelry and place in a pocket in your carry on bag.

DO NOT TAKE OFF YOUR PANTS. THE TSA HATES IT WHEN PEOPLE DO THAT.

Step 2: Paying Homage to the “Soup Nazi”

Take out your ID and boarding pass from your shirt pocket and hold in preferred hand (I’m a ‘righty’).Those of us “Seinfeld” fans should be having flash backs to the “Soup Nazi” episodes.

Enter into the security line. Only when summoned, approach the TSA rep at his podium. Show the TSA rep your ID and boarding pass. Do not smile or speak. Once the rep believes you are “no security risk,” he or she will “check” your boarding pass with a highlighter marker.

If you pass the test, the TSA rep will direct you to go through the metal detectors. Continue to not smile and to not speak. Put the ID and boarding pass back in your shirt pocket (see! Shirts with pockets help!) pocket along with your folded boarding pass

Step 3: Breaking It Down with the Security Trays

Grab 2 of the TSA trays near the front of the security scanner conveyor belt. This is where the true “professionals” shine and where the “ammeters” well…look like they’ve never done this before.

Immediately take out your laptop and place it in the first tray. Don’t put anything else in there!

Put your jacket on the bottom of the second tray as a “tray liner.” Put your carry on back on top of the jacket. Find a corner in the tray to stuff your shoes.

NOTE ON SHOES: TRY TO WEAR SLIP ONS IF POSSIBLE. IF YOU ARE WEARING SHOE STRING SHOES, TRY TO UN-TIE YOUR SHOES BEFORE YOU GET TO THE SECURITY TRAYS)

Push the trays on to the scanner conveyor belt.

Hold out your ID and boarding pass out of our shirt pocket.

Show your boarding pass and ID to the TSA rep when summoned. Follow the same procedure defined in the “Paying Homage to the Soup Nazi” phase to get through the metal detector “door frame.” Without hassle.

Step 4: Taking it Back Home

Wait patiently for your trays to come through the scanner conveyor. The “Soup Nazi” is still watching you.

Once the trays come through, verify that all contents made it through the journey.

Immediately take your laptop out of the first tray and put it back in your carry on.

Leaving the first tray behind, pick up the second and walk to the series of chairs and “inspection tables.” Put the tray down in an open space.

Re-assemble your self with all the contents (belt, watch, wallet, etc) you put in your carry on.

Put your ID back in your wallet.

Proceed to gate…and buy a low protein, high carb meal on the way.

You have just completed the Airport Security Shuffle.

Or Just Get the Clear Card

Before you walk away from the security section, notice the standing kiosk nearby for the Clear airport security pass card. Use of this pass can cut your “dance time” in half or more…but it will cost you. If you travel A LOT, it may be worth the fees.

Laguna Beach, Pageant of the Masters and Doogie Howser

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 15:15:00 +0000

Augusts 22-24 2008

Laguna is one of my favorite places in CA and I try to make it down every couple of years if possible. The town is a lot like Carmel with its strong art community, only more beach and surf culture focus. The coastline and beach is magnificent with its paved footpaths lining the cliffs and the beach is well…the quintessential example of a California beach replete with the non-Californian palm trees! This is a great weekend get away destination from the Bay Area for it’s a one hour flight from San Jose into John Wayne/OC Airport.

Where To Stay
Laguna Beach has several nice places to stay…but it’s expensive. Check out TravelZoo for deals or go directly to the hotel websites to find online deals. Type in “Laguna Beach hotels” on Google!

I’d recommend staying in nearby Newport Beach…which is 20 minutes north of Laguna and 5 minutes from the John Wayne/Orange County airport. I searched TravelZoo and found a $129/night room at the Fairmount….not bad!

What To Do

The Pageant of the Masters
I have heard from several friends that the Festival of the Arts Pageant of the Masters, the live arts show where actors re-enact paintings, is well worth the time and effort to get to Laguna Beach. They were right….it’s a weird concept, but it’s really cool! The Pageant runs for a limited time from July 6 to August 30 and it sells out every year…so there is a LARGE fan base apparently! My wife and I flew down to see the gala benefit event on August 23…which turned out to be a great event and a good deal.

We received “private access” (us and 1,000+ others) to the art show on the theater grounds, o’rse dioveres and tickets to the Pageant all for the price of a normal show ticket. Not bad. The other benefit was the live music, silent auction and prime So Cal people watching opportunity that included brushing elbows with Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser) and with my wife getting excited when she saw a soap opera star (I had no idea my wife followed a soap…even in college).

The big Sunny D Tip is to be sure to buy your tickets to the Pageant and/or to this event as soon as they go on sale in May. The key is to have access to the lower reserve tickets and avoid having to sit in the back section…where we sat. The outdoor theater is really nice and there is not really bad seat in the house, but for this “live painting reenactment” show it’s worth sitting closer I think. The second tip is be sure to bring your (please read with an English accent) “theater glasses” so you can see the “paintings” up close. Wow, the show designers do an amazing job with perspective and color to “hide” the three dimensional actors in the 2 dimensional painting. I had a hard time finding the humans sometimes. I was unsure if I’d like the concept, but I really enjoyed the show and would go again!

I recommend making an afternoon of your visit to the Pageant in Laguna Beach. Get into Laguna by no later that 3:00pm and park at the lot across from the event theater. Walk into the town and walk around the shops and galleries. One of my favorite galleries for fine art is Laguna Fine Art. Stop off at a restaurant and have dinner and drinks at 5:00pm to see the Pageant at 8:00pm.

The Beach!!
If you are focused on getting beach time, go early…like no later than 11:00am to find a good spot. If you are more focused on the just the shops and gallery, get there in by noon to find decent parking and take your time winding through the village and see the galleries, surf shops and boutique stores.

Where to Eat
There are several places to eat at…so take your pick. My personal favorite in Laguna is the Hotel Laguna on the beach. Go into the hotel lobby, walk straight back and through the restaurant to the bar/café patio. Tables line a deck that looks out over the beach and water. This is a great place to have fairly standard café food and bar drinks…and enjoy great views without having to get sand in your shorts.

Do I get the rental car insurance or not?

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:13:00 +0000

Every time a consumer rents a car he or she is faced with the question of whether or not to accept the additional insurance offered by the rental car company. Sometimes the daily rate of coverage is as much, if not more, than the rental car fee. Of course, the person behind the counter attempts to make the sale describing all the catastrophic expenses that may incur should one get into an accident without having the additional coverage.

Well, where is the truth in this?

The Big Sunny D Tip is to call your regular auto insurance company and ask if your policy covers damage to any rental cars you are driving (collision)…or covers damage caused to other cars/people while driving the rental (liability). I found that my insurance through AAA does cover me and damages to the other party (if I’m at fault).

Another tip is to call your credit card company to enquire about rental car insurance. I found many cards DO offer rental car insurance that is equal to that offered by a rental car company. The big catch though is to be sure this credit card is used to rent the car and is on file with the rental car company.

However, do your homework on this and actually call YOUR insurance and credit card companies to verify. This homework may save you a lot of money the next time you rent a car.

I found a few great articles to share regarding this topic as well….

“Tips to Avoid Travel Traps” on CNBC

“What rental car insurance do I need?” On Smart Traveler.com

Dig into this before your next trip…it’s worth the time and effort.

-Sunny D

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:40:00 +0000

Victoria July 5 – July 6

Victoria is a very nice city…that seems like a small town. There are no sky scraper buildings…or buildings that are higher that 4-5 stories I’d imagine. My wife and I covered most of the major “attractions” within the 2 days we were there. What makes Victoria beautiful and worth a short visit is it’s location by a bay and water front views. I’d recommend spending no more than 2 days here to enjoy the sites and take time to relax along the many water-fronts in the inner and outer bays. However, I think after a few days, visitors may find themselves asking “what’s next?”

Where to Stay
Unlike most cities, it’s easiest and most economical to stay just outside of the city. The city is so small that “getting out of town” is a 15 minute drive. I recommend searching Trip Advisor for a bed and breakfast outside of town along a water front. Dee Dee found the Bay and Harbour Havens. The property is one street back from the water and sits on a hill with fantastic views of the harbor. The hosts, Maggie and Nick are FANTASTICS and very forthcoming people who are eager to help tourists make the most out of a visit. Nick is a great cook and is innovative in his breakfast creations. Their hospitality made Dee Dee and I feel at home and welcome.

What to Do

THE attraction here is Butchart Gardens are 15 minutes outside the city. Now as a dude, the thought of visiting a gardens sounds like something my mother would love to do…and it is and she has by the way. However, these gardens are amazing. Dudes, just go….trust me…your jaw will drop with how well laid out and maintained these gardens are…and how colorful the flowers are. I that felt like I was visiting a movie set where the set designer made everything look perfect for the morning shoot. Yes, I know…maybe I should have my “man-card” revoked, but this place is magical and well worth the visit.

The big Travels with Sunny D tip is to either go right when the park opens..or anytime after 4:00pm. Both times enable visitors to avoid the large tour busses with droves of passengers and enjoy the many gardens at a leisurely place. If you are up to it, consider having dinner at the main house in the later evening..or enjoy an ice cream cone in the Italian garden.

The second high light is to have tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel and enjoy the great views of the inner harbor. This hotel is one of the oldest buildings in the city and is Victoria’s cultural lifeline to their mother ship, England and The Queen (not the rock band, but Queen Lizy). Be sure to make reservations roughly a week in advance of your visit for this is a major stop for the tourist buses. Consider making reservations anytime after 4:00pm when most of the tour bus crowd has left.

Now, regarding the “man-card,” it appears in any country affiliated with The Crown, civilized dudes must enjoy tea in the afternoon. So, there is no need to fear having the card revoked. If anything, you may get the card stamped by the distinguished wait staff. The tea experience is very traditional and what one would receive in England; finger sandwiches, scones, chocolates and a selection of their many teas. Be warned that tea comes at a distinguished price as well…like $60 each. However, the waiter will send you home with a can of tea as a thank you gift for your patronage…and to make the bite seem less painful.

The final attraction is really the city itself. Visit the tourist center near the Empress Hotel to get a walking map of the city. The map outlines walks that take you through the various districts of the city. Each walk is a few miles…and it’s possible to do all of them in a day. I’d recommend skipping the Beacon Hill Park walk…it’s a nice park, but Golden Gate Park is far nicer and the beach front area is very similar to Half Moon Bay. Yawn. The walk from the visitor’s center to fisherman’s wharf is really nice…and the wharf area is nice too. Just enjoy the leisurely walk and suck up the sun and laid back atmosphere.

Where to Eat
Brentwood Bay Pub
Hit this restaurant for a late lunch before visiting Bouchart Gardens. The pub is 5 minutes from the gardens and 15 minutes outside of Victoria. The restaurant has a great lunch menu, good beer and great harbor views. My wife thought the wait staff was the hottest that she’s seen in a long time. Hey, whatever keeps he wife happy.

Café Brio
This place is about a 15 minute walk from the water front and well worth the effort to find. The restaurant is very good…with a great list of Canadian wines to choose from. Several people recommended this place (even fellow Yelpers) to me and I’m glad we visited. Be sure to put this restaurant on your list.

The Fairmont Empress Hotel
High tea at The Empress is a meal in and of itself…for reals. Go to high tea hungry…and this can function as a $60 a person lunch.

Tofino, British Columbia, Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:08:00 +0000

Tofino July 2 – July 5

Tofino is an island that has a similar look and feel to Tahoe in California and New Zealand with great bays and waterfronts lined by tall mountains and lots of trees. Tofino is also a surfer’s haven with the coasts getting pounded by tall waves in the winter and rolling surf in the summer. This place is a great location to unwind from life and relax. Plan to spend about three days here…any longer and you may be thinking “what’s next?”

Getting there is not as easy. Tofino if a 5 hour drive north of Victoria. However the drive is really great and winds through an old-growth rain forest and, believe it or not, snow capped mountains. Just take your time and enjoy the trip there! We drove 2 hours out from Victoria to Nanaimo and stopped for lunch…and then finished the remaining 3 hour drive. Once you get there, you will realize how special and unique this place is....eh.

Where to Stay
Dee Dee found several bed and breakfast type places and hotels listed on TripAdvisor. However, prices do vary and none are really cheap. There are a few high-end resorts in the area…but they are fairly sterile and look like any other resort. We prefer to stay in bed and breakfast places for the experience is more personal.

Dee Dee found the BriMar Bed and Breakfast…and what a find. This house is built right on the beach and has excellent views of the ocean. The house is very new and resembles architecture from Cape Cod. The hosts, Sandra, Brittany and Adam are really great and helpful. We recommend staying in the bedroom with the en-suite bathroom on the second floor. Unlike the more expensive loft room, the second floor room has a great, unobstructed view of the ocean.

What to Do
The focus here is more relaxation and less focus on hard core adventure travel activities. There are several rain forest hikes in the Pac Rim National Park that are very easy going to enjoy too. However, the big highlights in the area are the whale watching and bear watching tours that leave from Tofino harbor several times a day. We went on a bear watching trip in the early morning with Ocean Outfitters. This company is buttoned up and very professional. We went out on a zodiac boat at 8:00am and motored up channel and saw several bears…it was AMAZING. Go as early in the morning as possible for the bears eat early.

There are several tour companies in the area to book whale and bear tours. It’s easy to book a trip 24hrs ahead of time…and know that tour prices are about the same so there is little value in shopping around. I thought of going on a whale watching tour too…but the whales, hump-back and gray, are the same species as in California….so I’ve been there, done that. However, some companies offer bear/whale combo deals that reduce prices by at least 10%...so keep an eye out for that.

Dee Dee and I also went on several great rain forest hikes and beach walks. We walked and took a nap at Schooner Cove. We also visited Long Beach where we saw a bald eagle flying and perching. The beaches are much different than California with the width and length of the beach, the drift wood and the presence of several small islands within walking distance at low tide.

There is a bog in the area that is worth visiting too. Bogs are really interesting…and are typically only seen in horror movies. However, the bog here is worth a walk through…the trees, plants and moss look very different than those of the neighboring rain forests.

The most unique hike is to a sight of a WWII plane crash site. The site is on a hillside fairly close to the Radar Hill hike starting point. All the local workers in the B&Bs, restaurants and tour places know about it…but no one at the Tourist Information kiosks will claim any knowledge…which is weird, but true. The wreckage is of a Canadian WWII Navy plane that crashed in the hillside in 1945. The plan is rusting away and hikers are able to hike up to it and even go inside the plane. The hike is through “un-official” trails that are marked by ribbons tied to trees. If you are up for the adventure, ask a local where it is and how to get there. Dee Dee and I passed on this hike for it was raining the afternoon we could do it. Next time!

Where to Eat
There are very few restaurants in the area…which means there is little competition and that keeps prices high. Many are targeted to the traveler looking for that “quaint experience” and their menus feature “quaint dollar signs.” We found the following places…which we recommend above the others you may find.

Rain Coast Cafe
This place is on the right just inside the town. The food here is great in this tiny restaurant that focuses on serving sea food, duck and beef dishes with an Asian twist. This place aint cheap…but is GREAT. I highly recommend the halibut with a curry/wasabi sauce or the duck with a blackberry sauce.

Breakers Deli
A down town deli and coffee shop, Breakers is a great place for lunch or a fairly cheap place for dinner. Many locals come in to take advantage of their under $10 lunch specials. There is a wide variety of sandwiches, wraps, salads and drinks. The counter staff is “so Bay Area” that it almost feels like home…or Santa Cruz.

Andy’s Pizza
Blonde’s in Berkeley this is not. But the pizza is good…and is sold by the slice. Go to the very end of town…turn right on Main and it’s right there next to the small Co-op Grocery Store. There is no seating…so go in there ready to stand and eat your slice. This is great for a cheap lunch or dinner…we got out of there for under $5 a person.

Chocolate Tofino
Dee Dee found a little, tiny shopping center off to the right about 2 miles south of downtown Tofino. The shopping center serves the local population south of the town and includes a small grocery store, a surf shop, movie rental store…and Chocolate Tofino where home made chocolate candy is made…and it’s good and worth a stop. The grocery store is great to get a bottled water or soda too.

Common Loaf Bakery
This is more of a locals coffee shop and bakery. There are a ton of really cool baked goods made fresh each morning. Dee Dee had a great fresh cinnamon role with sunflower seeds…and I had a raspberry and white chocolate muffin that was baked that morning. The standard coffee drinks are served too. We recommend starting here for an early afternoon snack.

Sweet T's
Now this place is really small and off the beaten path..and a total find. Just past the Ocean Outfitters shop by a block is a small shop owned by a break and pastry baker and his wife. The baker makes cookies, bread and pastries. Dee Dee had a ginger cookie that she still talks about. I had an almond lemon bar that was really good. The shop is really small so plan to go in, buy your stuff and walk out to eat on a bench outside or on the doc down the street. Go here when in Tofino…you will be stoked you did.

Eric and Dee Dee's Trip to British Columbia

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:12:00 +0000

I have always thought of a trip to British Columbia, Canada as one of those trips that “empty nesters” take while their kids are away at school or have moved out completely. I have this demographic stuck in my head for my parents took a trip to BC my junior year while I as at UCLA.

I got over my “aged” stereotype and took a 6 day trip with my wife, Dee Dee, as our last DINK adventure before our baby is born. I was pleasantly surprised by Tofino and Victoria and highly recommend a trip up to visit our North American brethren,

Getting to Canada is very easy for us Americans…but remember to bring your passport for this trip…for you are leaving the US! Duh. This may seem obvious, but apparently passports were not always required when travel was more “casual.” We flew out of SFO on a United flight direct to Victoria and were there in 2.5 hours. Keep in mind that Canada flights depart from the domestic terminal…not the international terminal. This is really strange…so make sure your drop off driver looks for the Canada signs on the way into the airport.

Our short adventure began on Wednesday, July 2 and we got back on Monday, July 7 with the first 3 days in Tofino and 2 days in Victoria.

Check out the following blog entries for trip details and see our photos!

OH CANADAAAAAAAAAAAH!

BestFares.com has some great deals!

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:52:00 +0000

I read about a new discount travel website in this past Sunday's Travel section of the San Jose Mercury News. The site is BestFares.com. The front page of the site is really busy with a ton of links to discount travel rates on hotels, airfares, cruises, resort stays, etc. Hopefully the site passes the saving from not developing a better user interface on to the consumer!

I have no idea how the discounts compare to what can be purchased on TravelZoo.com or Priceline.com. However, this site may be worth checking out. It looks like the site is offering additional discounts to encourage first time usage.

Check it out and let me know how it works out!

Check out Travelzoo for some great deals…seriously.

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 02:05:00 +0000

I’ve used Travelzoo.com for the fast few years and I’m continually amazed by the great deals that one can find. Many airlines, hotels, resorts, cruises, etc are finding excess capacity during certain seasons and partner with Travelzoo to “unload” the inventory. I’d imagine there are all sorts of great deals given the economic anxiety. Many people are not traveling…which means the travel industry ready to make deals! If you are flexible with travel time frames and locations, you can benefit from this liquidation.

One strategy my wife and I follow to be kept in the loop on these discounts is to sign up for their weekly emails. Yes, no one needs the extra email inbox filler, but I created an email “rule” to have these emails filed into my Travel folder. Every week I check the folder to see what deals come up. Another strategy is to check the Travelzoo.com front page for the latest promotions.

This past week my wife found a room at the Fairmont in Newport Beach for $139 for the month of August. Knowing we’ve wanted to visit friends in OC and relax by the beach, she clicked the link in the Travelzoo email and reserved the room…with Fairmont’s full cancelation policy behind us. Over the past few years we’ve booked airfare to and hotel rooms in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

There are plenty of international trip discounts too! This past spring we were looking at an offer for a 1 week stay at a Paris managed apartment for $100US a night. The timing didn’t work for us…but what a deal!

Check this site out…it’s well worth it. Plus, getting the weekly emails reminds you that you are only a plane flight away from the day to day grind.

Use Seat Guru to find the best plane seats

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:47:00 +0000

We all complain about how cramped airline seats are these days. Cramped seats are such a point of consumer pain that airlines are starting to “un-cramp” their planes by removing seats and telling consumers about how spacious their cabins are compared to the other airlines. Let’s face it, unless you are flying business or first class, the seats are cramped…and flying in coach sucks.

The consumer’s competitive advantage to find the best seats BEFORE a flight is booked can be found in Seat Guru . This site ROCKS and is part of the TripAdvisor family. I am able to review a floor plan of each aircraft flown by whatever airline I’m about to book a flight on. The floor plan clearly notes exit rows, bathrooms and steward kitchenettes to help navigate the most optimal seats. The site also provides indicators (in red) for the worst seats and points out the seats with the most legroom.

My wife and I flew the 14 hours to Sydney last year on Qantas. Before we booked, we researched the plane our flight would be on and reviewed the seating layout on Seat Guru. We quickly realized through the site’s interface and content that the best “coach” seats were way in the back…where the “three in a row” seats become just two in a row as the plane fuselage bends into the tail. This two seat set afforded additional leg room as my wife and I were not cramped by the third seat or person. We would not have known about these seats if it were not for Seat Guru. On a long flight, every inch of additional space counts.

Map, Schmap

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Sun, 04 May 2008 04:53:00 +0000

One of my photos from the Australia/New Zealand trip was selected for inclusion in a new travel guide site, Schmap at www.schmap.com . My picture of the exterior of the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, Australia caught the eye of the Schmap photo editor. So, what the heck. I approved the use of the pic and it can now be found in the Historic Buildings of Australia section of the Schmap.

I checked out the site and they seem to be providing original travel guide content licensed through a third party, Wcities, which has an office in San Francisco and in India. The "unique" content is that they feature pictures from travelers who have uploaded pics on Flickr. Big deal. I don't understand the value they are providing traverls that can't be found on other sites.

However, the content is displayed via an interactive map where each location is featured and linked to the area travel guide. I guess this is cool. Maybe I'll use this site to help plan my trip to British Columbia in July...and then hopefully I'll understand the unique value proposition.

Queenstown, New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 07:04:00 +0000

Queenstown (3 days,3 nights – Nov 28-Dec 1)

Queenstown is "Ground Zero" for adventure travel in the South Island and is a great home-base for most outdoor adventures. The town itself is very similar to an Aspen, CO with a lot of booking offices for tours, clothes boutiques, restaurants and bars. Given all that there is to do here, we recommend spending NO LESS than three full days here..and even that is too little time!!

Where to Stay
Queenstown in general is not cheap and hotels or managed apartments can easily rent for $200+ a night. However, if you have a rental car, consider staying in Arrow Town which is a small little town 10 minutes north of Queenstown. The money you will save on lodging makes the drive into Queenstown well worth it. We stayed at the Orchard Cottage and it was fantastic. Our room was an individual cottage with bedroom, living room and kitchenette just off the main house. We were the only ones on the property too. The best part was our rate of $140 NZ a night...which we learned was cheap compared to Queenstown prices. If rooms are available, we recommend staying here. Check out the rates on Trip Advisor.

What to Do
There is so much to do here...it's a matter of figuring out how adventerous you want to be. I am amazed by all the things that one can do here including bungee jumping (it was invented here), orbing (which involves being strapped inside a large plastic ball and rolled down a hill), jet boating and kayaking, to name a few. Below is a list of what we tackled for our short 3 day stay.

Jet Boating
This is a MUST do and something that can't be done many other places in the world! The Shotover River runs through the South Island snaking through many mountain gorges. The river runs deep in some areas...and very shallow in others. These conditions are perfect to skim across the water at 60 mph, brush up against the cliffs and twist and turn around the river bends. There is only one company that has been approved to run jet boats on the River; Shotover Jet . Consider booking the afternoon before for a mid morning run. The big tip is to arrive a half hour before your run to be first in line....to have your choice of seats. THE place to sit is in the back row on the driver's side of the boat. This spot is "ground zero" to get bounced around and soaking wet. Dee Dee and I had a GREAT TIME and would be willing to do it again the next time we're there.

Milford Sound
The Milford Sound is a natural beauty that is like no other in the world. However, it's also one of the most elusive with the ever changing weather conditions. If the weather is good, we highly recommend making the effort. There are 3 options to visit Milford Sound:
1) Take a small plane from Queenstown out to the Sound, take a boat tour of the sound and fly back. This trip takes about 5 hours in total.
2) Take a bus out from Queenstown to the Sound, take the boat tour and then take the bus back. This tour takes 12 hours...and your on the bus for 10 hours total.
3) Take an overnight tour where you drive out by car to the Sound, stay over night on a boat in the sound, tour the sound in the morning and drive back to Queenstown the following day.

If you have the means, we HIGHLY recommend flying out to the sound to make the most out of your time in Queenstown. The flight out is in a six passenger propeller plane which is FREAKY, but really great and takes 45 minutes each way. We felt like we could touch the mountain tops as we flew by. The boat tour is 2 and a half hours and your draw will drop as you float by the snow capped mountains, waterfalls, rocky coves and spot the occasional penguin and seal. After the boat tour was over we flew back and enjoyed a late lunch in Queenstown. The big rub with this option is the cost. The complete tour runs roughly $350 NZ each. Ouch!!!! We highly recommend booking with Milford Sound Scenic Flights for we were impressed by the pilot and how the company took care of our needs.

We met others who did the bus trip and the overnight trip. Both people said while the Sound was beautiful, the 10 hour bus trip was too long or that there is not enough to really see to warrant an overnight. We felt we made the right choice. Be sure to take your Dramamine for the flight out and check that you have enough room on your camera's memory card to take a TON of pictures. I took 50+.

Visiting Queenstown
The town is very much like an Aspen, CO or Tahoe, CA in it's style of shops, restaurants, casinos and outdoor focus. This is a great place to buy gifts for friends and family. Be ware that there are no "great deals" on the most popular items like outdoor clothes, jade and wool (possum wool, I might add).

Relaxing by the Pier
After we got back from the Milford Sound trip we drove into Queenstown and headed for the pier. There is a great grassy park near the pier that is close to many waterfront restaurants. We grabbed a sandwich and bought gelato and pulled up a strip of lawn to relax. The Dramamine made us a little drowsy so we ended up taking an hour nap on the lawn after we ate. The sun was warm and a light breeze blew off Lake Wakatipu.

Where to Eat
There are so many restaurants here that looked really great. Below are our recommendations, but feel free to find some on your own!

Breakfast and Lunch
We got breakfast and lunch foods to eat at our cottage or duing the day at the grocery store in town. Buying food here saved us from paying high prices at the restaurants.

Joe's Garage
This place is tucked down an alley way and is more of a locals spot. Go here for a STRONG cup of coffee. I got an espresso and I was wired until I got home the following week.

Dinner
The Bunker
Like Joe's this place is tucked down an alley way and is more known to the locals. This place is pretty pricey, but really great. The exterior is non-descript and the interior is very lounge-like replete with James Bond pictures on the wall. To make it more intersting, the bar tender piped lounge music (Sinatra) through out the restaurant. We could'nt help but order a dry martini before dinner. The food and wine list are FANTASTIC. I got the lamb and Dee Dee got a pork sholder. Both dishes were very tender and tasty. The bill was not tender...be prepared to use the credit card. However, it's well worth it.

Franz Josef, New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:03:00 +0000

Franz Josef Glacier (2 days, 2 nights – Nov 26-28)

Franz Josef is a very small town in what is known as Glacier Country. There are two glaciers within the area, the Franz Josef and the Fox glaciers. We decided to go to the Franz Josef at the recommendation of a friend and it was an amazing experience. However, either glacier is supposed to be great. You must make reservations in advance to stay in this tiny town (unless you are backpacking and can sleep anywhere) as well as to go on any tours. The day we visited the glacier all tours were booked so we were glad we booked in advanced. This is a nature wonder that is NOT to be missed…it’s incredible…and it’s GROWING…but don’t tell Al Gore!

Plan to arrive in Franz Josef the day before you want to visit the glacier. Visit the glacier the next day and spend one more night...you’ll need it to rest from any glacier hikes that day. We found that the one day visit to the glacier was enough for there is nothing really to see in the area. We woke up early the next day to drive on to Queenstown.

Where to Stay
We found the Rainforest Retreat and booked online through Trip Advisor. However, it was a little expensive and you may be able to book a room in the area for cheaper. The Rainforest Retreat is a nice place and our room had a small kitchenette to make breakfasts and a nice eating area. The retreat has a restaurant, hot tub and central gathering area to meet other travelers. The big tip is to search for rooms on Trip Advisor to find the best rates.

What to Do
Hiking the glacier was one of our most memorable moments in life to date. I put this experience right up there with visiting Machu Picchu or the Taj Mahal. I was astounded by the natural beauty. Shit dawg.

There are only a few tour operators in Franz Josef that are authorized to give tours of the glacier. Tours can consist of a half day or full day hike, ice climbing or a helicopter ride. Because the glacier is constantly shifting, cracking, growing, visitors must be on a tour to hike on the glacier. Dee Dee and I found Franz Josef Glacier Guides online and were very happy with our full day hike experience. Franz Josef Glacier Guides provided all the necessary gear including water proof clothes, books, cramp-ons and gloves. The guides were FANTASTIC and were very knowledgeable of the glacier and we always felt safe. The big safety tip is to always follow the guide’s instructions…the guides had to frequently re-cut the path we were walking on because the path from the day before had shifted due to ice movements.

The all day hike was strenuous and required basic physical agility and cardio fitness. Dee Dee and I both handled the hike well and we are in good physical condition. We recommend doing the all day hike for you get to spend more time on the glacier seeing the ice mountains, streams and crevasse without feeling rushed. We had to pack in our own lunch and ate sitting on the ice enjoying spectacular views. Be sure to take 2 bottles of water for each person…and be sure each person carries a backpack with food, water, sun block and lip ice. Sunglasses and long undies are a must to!

Dee Dee and I were so exhilarated by the experience that we did not feel any pain throughout the day…until we got back to the Rainforest Retreat.Ugh…thank God we brought Advil.

Where to Eat
We recommend going into the supermarket (Fern Grove Food Center) and buying breakfast and lunch (for the all day hike) there. There are a handful of restaurants up and down the main drag, Main St. Take a walk up Main St and look at the menus to see what interests you. All of them are casual. We ate the Blue Ice Café that is near the end of Main. The café has a bar upstairs and restaurant downstairs. There seemed to be a lot of locals at the bar.

The drive from Chirstchurch to Franz Josef

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:18:00 +0000

November 26

The drive from Christchurch to Franz Josef is spectacular…and long. Be sure to buy a good map while you’re there so you are familiar with where you are heading and can track your progress along the way. Leave Christchurch in the morning as early as possible so you have the chance to stop along the way to enjoy the scenery. The drive will take you through the New Zealand Southern Alps…which are very similar to the Alps in Germany (hence the name)…but a little smaller if I remember Germany correctly. There is only one route to take west from across the Alps (HWY 7 ) and down the west coast along the Tasman Sea. Dee Dee and I frequently said “WOW! Stop the car to take a picture”…the natural beauty is like nothing else in the world. Welcome to Rivendell (my wife has NO IDEA what that means ;-) ). Yes, many of the landscapes, snow capped mountains, etc were featured in The Lord of the Rings…one can even take a tour of the locations if so moved.

The roads are well paved, but only one lane wide in each direction. When you get stuck behind a slow truck or driver, be careful when you pass using the lane in the opposite direction. The dotted lines in the center signify it’s safe to pass…don’t pass on a solid line road for there are frequently blind curves or even blind hills where on coming cars can be hidden. I’m sure head-on collisions do happen. Take your time and you will have a safe and enjoyable drive. And yes, the tiny compact rental car with a 4-cylinder engine you rented will make the trip just fine.

We recommend cutting through the Alps and then stopping for lunch in Hokitika which is on the coast. There is a café there called Café de Paris which is a great place to stop for lunch and is easy to find. After lunch, be sure to stop to fill up on gas too. The next few hours will be back into the mountains as you wind your way to the glacier areas…and there are several long stretches where there are no gas stations. Don’t push it…fill up before you get into the mountains. Before jumping back on the road, stop at the nearby beach area and dip your feet into the Tasman Sea. There will be an ocean horizon in front of you…and a snow capped mountain view behind you. Where else in the world can you see that!

You will eventually drive into Franz Josef around 4:00pm with an understanding of why people from all over the world come to New Zealand.

Christchurch, New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 07:02:00 +0000

Christchurch (1 day, 1 night – Nov 25-Nov 26)

Christchurch is a town that looks like it was transplanted directly from Stratford Upon Avon in the United Kingdom. Christchurch has a river meandering through it with quaint bridges and an Anglican church. This small city is the starting point for most adventures into the south island of New Zealand with tourists picking up their rental cars and driving out of town to see the natural beauty. We recommend staying in Christchurch for just one day...at the very most! Dee Dee and I walked around town the afternoon we arrived...and we saw everything before sundown at 9:00pm.

Where to Stay
Again, we stayed at a Quest Christchurch managed apartment that we found on Travelocity. The Quest is near Cathedral Square with several restaurants close by. Unfortunately, this hotel is in an area called Cathedral Junction...which is a large building complex that has the Christchurch trolly passing through it ever 20 minutes. So, if you are unlucky to have a room that faces the trolly tracks you will hear the trollies pass buy until early a.m. hours. The hotel is nice...just be sure your room is not near the tracks!

What to Do
There is not much to do or see here beyond a full day of walking around town. Fortunately everything is within walking distance. Be sure to go into the cathedral which is one of the oldest, if not THE oldest in New Zealand and is similar to the grand cathedrals in the U.K...only smaller! Take some time to walk along the river bank, walk across the bridges and appreciate the stone buildings. You will also see statues of local dignitaries including Thomas Cook, the "founder" of New Zealand for the British Crown. Stop off for dinner at the strip of restaurants along the river. They all have outdoor seating which makes for a great place for a pint of beer and people watching!

Where to Eat
We did no find too many unique restaurants there for we were in Christchurch for less than 24 hours. However, the restaurants near the river (which is close to Cathedral Square) are quite nice. Look at the menus and go to the one that catches your eye.

There are a few hidden gems though that we read about, but were not able to go to. If you have the time, make reservations for . is a small restaurant and was not able to take Dee Dee and I as walk-ins. This place looked GREAT!!!!

Rotorua, New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 07:01:00 +0000

Rotorua (2 days, 2 nights – Nov 23-25)

We highly recommend renting a car and driving from Auckland to Rotorua to enjoy the New Zealand countryside. The drive takes roughly 3-4 hours from Auckland and you will see a lot of green fields, a ton of sheep and the occasional cow. We recommend that you start your drive no later than 9:00am from Auckland so you can stop at the Waitomo caves to go black water rafting and visit the glow worms on your way to Rotorua. The cave tours apparently take four hours. Unfortunately, Dee Dee and I did not leave Auckland early enough to take advantage of this tour and we were disappointed that we didn't plan this better! GO! It's supposed to be great!

Rotorua is really great. The region is a geothermal amusement park with a lot of bubbling mud and escaping thermal gases...which makes for stinky air. Rotorua is also home to the Maori culture. We recommend spending at least two if not three days here.

Where to Stay
We searched through Trip Advisers and found the B&B at the Redwoods and what a gem this place is! The B&B is really comfortable and very nice...but what makes this place great are the two inn-keepers, Vivian and Peter. They were very helpful in helping us plan our daily itinerary and were very attentive to making sure we were comfortable. Vivian is a great cook and prepared a very tasty English breakfast. Please look into staying here...it's well worth it! When you make reservations, please mention that we referred you!

What to Do
There are a lot of great outdoor activities to do here...the problem is choosing what to do!

Mitai Maori Hangi
There are a lot of Maori people in the area and there are several opportunities to learn about their history and culture. Unfortunately, there are a lot of CHEESEY opportunities too! Vivian recommended that we go to a hangi, or a Maori-style luau, called the Mitai Maori. The tourist "show" consists of a traditional meal cooked underground, Maori demonstrations of tribal life and Maori dancing. Dee Dee liked the dancing the best for the men wore nothing but loan clothes with "g-string" backs. What makes this hangi unique is the size. The tourist capacity is only 100-ish...with the competing hangis holding 300. Secondly, the location of this hangi is in a natural park with natural springs and forests. The park also contains several animal and fish exhibits...including glow worms! The most unique exhibit is the Kiwi preserve...apparently the Kiwi bird is having a tough time surviving in the wild so "rescue" teams are raising them in this natural park. Dee Dee and I caught glimpses of the birds and they are really cool!

Wai-O-Tapu
The Wai-O-Tapu geothermal park is fantastic and is well worth spending a morning. Be sure to arrive at the park by 9:30am to buy a park ticket and then head over to see the Lady Knox geyser erupt at 10:00am. After the eruption, head over to see the rest of the park. Wow! Cool.

Mountain Luge
This is not a unique to New Zealand experience so we recommend passing on this if you are pressed for time. There are far more interesting things to do in Rotorua if you are limited in time..and you can do this in Tahoe during the summer. However, if you have never done this, it's actually fun. We drove out to Skyline Rides in the later afternoon...after all of the kids have gone. You have to buy a gondola ticket to get to the top of the mountain. You will also need to buy luge tickets. Look for combo deals (condola + luge) when you buy the gondola ticket in the main office. Honestly, you will do the luge 2-3 times and will be burnt out on it.

Polynesian Spa
If you have never been to a natural hot spring this is a MUST do. However, you MUST do this when there are not hundreds of others in the hot springs with you!! The most popular and most authentic spa in Rotorua is the Polynesian Spa. The big tip is to go between 3:00pm - 5:00pm which is the in-between time for the tour buses. The afternoon tour bus will have left by 2:30pm and the evening bus at 5:30pm has not arrived. There is the option to pay $20 extra per person for a private room. If there are a lot of people at the hot springs, this option is worth the privacy to NOT be in crowded pool. However, if the spa is fairly empty, just pay the flat fee to enjoy the public pools...there are 5 of them and all very in temperature. Ahhh...niiiiiiice. After you get out of the pool, you will want to shower to get rid of the gritty feeling on your skin..not to mention the sulfur smell!!

Where to Eat
Rotorua is not known for have a lot of great restaurants. In our limited time we found both restaurants by asking our B&B hosts, Vivian and Peter. We recommend referring to the locals for where to eat based on your culinary mood!

Mitai Maori Hangi
Be sure to make reservations for this hangi a day in advance if you can. It's well worth it and the food is great!

The Fat Dog Cafe
This place is in the downtown area and is a great find. The food is great...they have great beer too. This is a great place to meet locals as well!

Auckland, New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 06:59:00 +0000

Auckland (3 days, 3 nights –Nov 20-23)

Auckland is a very nice city…and generally is the entry point into New Zealand for most people. Dee Dee and I booked two and a half days to stay here, but could have done the most significant sights within a day and a half. The real beauty, we believe, is outside of Auckland! After being in Sydney and Melbourne for 8 days total, we were a little burnt out on large cities. Yes, every city is unique…but a city is a city.

Visit the Auckland visitors website to help plan your visit. We checked out this site to help with planning what to do.

Where to Stay
Again, when staying in a big city, it's mission critical to be centrally located and not have to spend time/money traveling to the major sites. Unfortunately, the city center is accessible by taxi or airport shuttle only from the airport. But once you get to the city center, you can walk almost everywhere. The key in Auckland is to stay as close to the Quay (the ferry dock) as possible.

We searched for the best hotel rates near the city center on Trip Advisor. We got a rate of $120-ish NZ for the Hyatt which is the best rate we found. The hotel is a little older and is on top of a hill (which sucks on the way back up) up from the Quay…but we got a great rate.

What to Do
The city is really well laid out and has a very European flavor with many high-end boutique shops, restaurants and cafes. Be sure to spend some time walking around High St and Vulcan St in the CBD (Central Business District) and the Viaduct Basin near the Quay which is the home to the Americas Cup. Even from my perspective, as a dude, there are some really cool shops and cafes to hang out in.

The best attraction we found is an hour ferry ride from Auckland to Waiheke Island. Plan to spend a day here at the very least. Imagine Napa Valley wineries with an island setting. It’s possible to book yourself on a wineries tour from the Quay in Auckland, but Dee Dee and I found it more enjoyable to NOT be on a tour and take the island bus or a taxi to the major wineries. The bus system is easy and cheap and tickets are easy to buy in the ferry terminal on the island. Besides, we’ve been to Napa a zillion times…so we don’t need to see a lot of wineries there. We highly recommend just doing one winery, Mudbrick, that is very unique and special. You do need to take a cab to the winery for it’s tucked away where the buses don’t venture. Cabs are waiting at the island ferry terminal and it will cost roughly $10 NZ to get there. You may want to make reservations for Mudbrick’s restaurant. If you can, get there by 11:30am to beat the tourist bus lunch crowd. You will be BLOW AWAY not only by the views from the restaurant, but by the food and wine. Even Dee Dee was impressed with the wine and she has “snooty-paloooty” tastes.

After lunch at Mudbrick, take a cab to Oneroa Village to pick up a bus out to Onetangi Beach. The bus ride out takes about a half hour as you twist through neighborhoods. Onetangi is a great place to relax and take a nap…so be sure to take a beach towel if possible.

Another great place to visit is the Auckland Museum. The museum has the largest collection of Maori culture artifact, art and crafts. I knew nothing about the Maori and learned a lot about this group of people who are still very much part of the New Zealand political establishment and economic structure. We recommend going to the museum just to see the Maori exhibit only and then going somewhere else. Walk through the gardens on the way out of the museum and you will most likely see cricket being played. The museum is easy to get to via the bus. Buy a bus ticket from a corner market and the person behind the counter will tell you what to buy.

A visit to the Sky Tower is a must as well. We learned that people actually bungee jump off the tower during the day! If you’re into that…it could be cool. Sky Tower is a complex that holds restaurants, bars and the casino. The casino is kind of a joke compared to Las Vegas casinos…or even Reno casinos. Dee Dee and I went to the restaurant at the top called Orbit, which is a rotating restaurant. We recommend visiting the Sky Tower in the evening, making reservations for Orbit at 6:30pm and just enjoy watching the sunset over Auckland. The view from the Sky Tower is fantastic…and the restaurant is surprising not that expensive compared to what we spent at Mudbrick!

Where to Eat
It’s strange that most of our favorite attractions in Auckland revolved around food! Auckland is full of many great restaurants and cafes so you will undoubtedly find places to go on your own. However, we recommend eating at….

Breakfast
There is a great café off of Vulcan St that has indoor/outdoor seating. We can’t remember the name..but it’s the only one on Vulcan!

Lunch
Mudbrick (See above for details)

Dinner
Orbit (See above for details)
The Occidental Belgian Bar and Cafe

There are a lot of Belgians in Auckland..and thus a lot of Belgian restaurants. The Occi has a HUGE selection of beer and a muscles prepared all the traditional Belgian way…be careful, you have to order by the bucket!

Melbourne, Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:53:00 +0000

Melbourne (4 days, 3 nights – Nov 17-20)

Melbourne is a really great city and very similar to San Francisco. Most people come to this city for the art galleries and museums, but we are a little burnt out on these types of places after having been to the New York Met earlier in the year. However, the city is a great place to just walk around, check out the sites and eat some great food! Melbourne has a huge Asian and Greek population which makes for great restaurants.

Where to Stay
When staying in a big city, it's mission critical to be centrally located and not have to spend time/money traveling to the major sites.

We found great rates for managed apartments online that beat prices of most hotels in the city. We stayed three nights at The Quest Hero on Russel St. in downtowm Melbourne. This apartment is in a central location making getting around very easy. The apartment we stayed in was very clean and secure and the staff was really helpful. Check out the reviews on Trip Adviser

What to Do
The city is really well laid out and there is a light-rail system that makes getting around very easy. Dee Dee and I spent two days in the city and had a great time. We checked out:

Federation Square: This is the most famous location of Melbourne...and we're not sure why. Yes, the architecture of this area is unique...but there is really nothing to do here. We saw everything there is to see in a half hour. There is a museum on the lower levels displaying media and entertainment arts...but who wants to spend time seeing that when you're in Australia? Spend no more than an hour here...seriously. There are cooler things to see in this city.

Queen Victoria Market: This is a great, old world, Victorian market. Vendors sell produce, meats, fish, poultry along with a lot of other flea market kind of stuff. Plan to spend a morning here...it's cool.

South Bank on Yara River: On the weekends artists set up their stahls to sell their creations in this area next to the Yara. This is a perfect place to pick up a local, unique to Australian piece of art to remember Australia. The Yara is also lined with several great restaurants and bars.

The Crown Casino: The casino is right on the Yara and looks like any Las Vegas casinos...only less flashy. The casino has a lot of shops...which are common American brands. Spend an hour here just to check it out...but get out of there fast for there is nothing Australian about it.

Botanic Gardens: Close to South Bank are the Botanic Gardens which are really cool. There is even a California Garden featuring poppies and redwoods. The gardens are worth spending 2-3 hours in to soak up the variety of plant-life and to just relax. Pull up a bench and drink a Coke and enjoy.

St Kilda: St Kilda is a 30 min light rail ride from downtown Melbourne and is worth the effort. St Kilda is the beach borrough of Melbourne and is similar to Venice Beach in it's people and style. Spend the afternoon here and check out the shops, get a gelato and take a nap on the beach. However, bring the sun block for it's hot and humid on a summer day!

Where to Eat
You MUST spend time in Melbourne's "Chinatown"! It's fantastic and is rivaled only by the one in New York. Chinatown is the home of Chinese, Japanese, Malaysian and Vietnamese people, culture and restaurants to name a few. I'm sure there is a restaurant and store that represents every country in Asia. Just walk down the streets of this are and you will find a restaurant to your taste. We highly recommend eating at:

Bamboo House
This restaurant serves very traditional Chinese food and is well known throughout the city. You may want to make reservations the day before to ensure you get it...we were luck to get a two-top as a walk in. Be sure to try the Peking duck. The prices are expensive, but it's well worth it!

Tsindos
A large collection of Greeks found their way to Australia as well. There are many great Greek restaurants in the area. Go to Lonsdale Ave and take your pick. We highly recommend eating atTsindos. The place has been there many years, the cook is Greek and so is the wait staff. Try the Mousaka....it's great!

Cafe Segovia
We had a great breakfast at Cafe Segovia. This place is tucked away down an enclosed shopping area and reminded us of a cafe in Italy. The breakfast was really good and fairly cheap as Melbourne prices go.

Birdie O'reilly's.
Be sure to go to a few pubs and bars in Melbourne...the city is famous for them. Visit any 7-11 or corner market and buy the deck of cards featuring 52 pubs/clubs/bars in Melbourne and find a few that suit you. We found a great pub close to Chinatown and our apartment called Birdie O'reilly's. This place has been around a while and is a great place to slow down for a pint of beer and enjoy the Irish pub look and feel. A few great Australian beers to try are Tookey's and Carlton Draft.

Ayers Rock, Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 06:52:00 +0000

Ayers Rock/Uluru (3 days, 2 nights – Nov 15-17)

I was really looking forward to going out to the Australian Outback to see the desert landscape, to see Uluru and The Olgas, and most of all, to see the Aborigines people. During our planning phase for the trip, I had heard a mixed response from friends and Australian residents on whether or not to make the four hour flight from Cairns to see this part of Australia.

The Outback is very unique in its natural beauty and history. There is no other place in the world like these giant rocks and the Aborigines dream time stories used to describe the creation of these geological wonders is very interesting.. However, the opportunity to see and interact with the Aborigine is very limited to none. The Aborigines do not want to be “on display” to the Australians and tourists. Given then history of these unique peoples, I can understand the desire to be left alone. If you are interested in seeing the beautiful landscapes and enjoy the dessert, a trip to the Outback is worth the effort and costs. We’d recommend spending at least 2 days, but no more than 3 days in this region.

Remember that you will be in an arid, dry climate which means DRINK A LOT OF WATER to keep hydrated. Temperatures get up to 100 degrees F by 10:00am. Also, wear shorts, a t-shirt, a hat and bring sunscreen with at least a 30 SPF rating. No kidding.

Where to Stay
The costs to get out to the Outback and stay for a few days are quite high. Voyages Hotels and Resorts is the sole resort company that runs the Ayers Rock Resort hotel and restaurant system here so there is no competition for tourist dollars. The only variation in accommodation appears to be in price. The quality in accommodation seemed to be mediocre in all areas so it makes little sense to book the most expensive room given how little time one will actually spend in the room. We stayed at The Lost Camel Hotel which was the second to the least expensive resort and the cost per night came in at roughly $450AU. The rooms are basic and clean. The hotel does have a pool which comes in handy during the heat of the day.

What to Do
Most activities are best done working through a tour company. Tours can be booked ahead of time or at the resort, but we recommend booking at least a month in advance to ensure getting booked in the desired tour. Be careful to not book a large group tour, such as the tours offered on the Voyages website. Nothing is worse than being part of a 50+ person tour and you get nothing out of the experience. We booked online through Discovery Ecotours which offers smaller group tours of no more than 10 people. The tour guides were fantastic and were very knowledgeable about the geology and Aboriginal culture and dream stories. Sweet. We booked the following through Discovery….

Kata Tjuta and Dunes tour in the afternoon once we arrived
Uluru Walk tour in the early morning the following day
The Sounds Of Silence Dinner in the evening after the Uluru Walk

We highly recommend booking all three tours. The Sounds Of Silence Dinner is by far the most popular attraction in the resort. Voyages is the only tour operator that runs the experience and reservations book up fast. Book the dinner at least a few months in advance and any remaining tours on Discover Ecotours a month in advance.

I was not impressed with the tourist shops in the area. These shops sold the typical junk and souvenirs made in China. A few shops carried Aboriginal art work made by the native people…sold at prices well above $100AU for small art pieces. The sad part is that most of the proceeds from the art most likely go to the resort and not the artists.

Tip: Be sure to keep your eye out for people you want to share a table with at the Sounds Of Silence Dinner. There are not seating assignments at the dinner so make the effort to meet a few other people to share a table with…or risk sitting next to Mr and Mrs Castanza (Seinfeld anyone?)!!!

Where to Eat
You’re trapped at the Voyages Hotels and Resorts so selection is limited. All the restaurants are very expensive and most seem to be buffet style. Barf. However, there is a hidden gems in…

Gecko’s Café: A small, a la carte restaurant near the small shopping center/market next to The Lost Camel Hotel. They serve basic Italian food and sandwiches for less than $20AU a person. The service sucks there, but hey, it’s cheaper!!

Pioneer BBQ & Bar: This place is a lot of fun with a pizza/sandwiches/hamburger order window or a “buy and BBQ your own meat” BBQ grill. The picnic table seating is arranged under tents. We went there with another couple we met on the Uluru tour and had a great time.

There is a tiny supermarket near The Lost Camel Hotel. Go there to buy bottled water and snacks. It’s far cheaper than buying these items from the hotel.

Port Douglas, Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 06:49:00 +0000

Port Douglas (5 days, 4 nights – Nov 11-15)

The distance between Sydney and Cairns is 1,600 miles...so fly! Don't even think about driving. We flew into Cairns in the late morning and rented a car to drive north to Port Douglas. The drive took us an hour...and yes, the Australians drive on the left. However, don't be intimidated. It feels strange to drive on the left...and the first few round-abouts are a little scary, but you will quickly get used to it. I promise. Dee Dee and I were both thankful to have a rental car for the three days that we were there for it gave us freedom to explore.

Port Douglas is a small beach town and is far less touristy and commercialized than Cairns. Cairns is a larger city with the big hotels and restaurant chains. Dee Dee and I wanted something lower key so we took recommendations from friends that Port Douglas would be a better fit for us. It is! We recommend spending no less than 4 days in the area if possible.

Keep in mind that Northern Australia is very tropical which can mean rainy and humid weather. The tropical countries of Malaysia, New Guinea and Indonesia are directly north and Australia receives the tail end of the tropical storms running through those areas. Dress for the tropics..which means wear clothing with material that breaths (cotton, lycra)!

Where to Stay
Hotel and resort prices in Port Douglas can be pricey...especially in the summer season (Nov - Jan). The best and least expensive option we found was booking a serviced apartment. We did our research on Trip Advisor and found several great options for under $150 AU a night...which is cheap for the area. We HIGHLY recommend staying at The Meridian Port Douglas for the location, rooms and specifically the hosts (John and Susan) were fantastic. Check out our complete review of this property on Trip Advisor. John and Susan are excellent hosts and were very helpful in booking tours of the area and providing recommendations on where to eat.

What to Do
Great Barrier Reef
The big attraction is obviously the Great Barrier Reef! However, the key with booking a trip is to not book too far in advance. The weather changes daily with heavy rain one day, and blue sky and calm water the next. Plan to call John and Susan at The Meridian the day before you arrive and ask how the weather has been. John will recommend what days would be best to go to the reef and can help you make a booking.

Unfortunately we had bad reef weather all four days we were there. We were able to get out on a boat the second day we were there. Due to the weather and choppy sea, we had to go out on the Quicksilver boat which is a large 300+ person boat that takes snorkelers out to a platform in the outer reef. Given the weather, Quicksilver was our only option to see the reef...along with 300 other people. The outer reef is 50 miles off the coast...and that's a long 50 miles in rough weather.

Given good weather, we recommend booking on a smaller 40 person boat, such as Wavelenght Reef Charters. These smaller boats go to 2-3 locations on the reef and you will have a better chance to see a wider variety of under-water life.

Dee Dee and I did have a great time seeing the reef on Quicksilver. We saw beautiful blue coral, several tiny tropical fish in bright colors along with giant clams that were as wide as I am tall (I'm 6 ft). Yikes. The coral is really beautiful..and is very much alive. We could see the organisms "breath" which is a little creepy...IT'S ALIVE!

The Daintree Rain Forest
I LOVE rain forests. The Daintree Rain Forest is an old growth rain forest that has been preserved through the Australian government. The other site in the areas is the Mossman Gorge. The best way to see the Daintree and Mossman is on a tour...seriously. One could visit both areas by driving up and walking around, but one will not have any idea about the significance of the surroundings, the various plants and wildlife. We took Tony's Tropical Tours and it was a great experience in a small group of 6 people plus the guide. We were picked up in a Toyota Landcruiser at our hotel at 8:00am and didn't get back until 5:30pm. The tour took us on two great walks through the Gorge and in the Daintree reserve and spent several hours pointing out and discussing the wildlife.

Dee Dee turned out to be a great wildlife spotter. She spotted tree crickets, leaf crickets and a few lizards...and a dragon lizard napping on the side of a tree. The highlight of the day was seeing the old growth pedestal base trees towering high above us. Wow! We also stopped off at the beach at the edge of the preserve and saw several coconut trees and several huge tanker ships floating off the coast...a reminder of the well traveled shipping rout off the coast that generates the garbage found on the beach as well.

The naturalist guides are quite well educated on the plants and wildlife and share the many issues the confront rain forest preservation and de-forestation. So...get ready for a dose of "green" thinking. However, Dee Dee and I were impressed with the guide's take on preservation. The guide said "there is not irresponsible logging. There are only irresponsible logging habits." The guide understood the need for wood, but was promoting better logging practices to generate more wood in the future. From what we understood, logging companies log and don't replant...or use tactics that destroy future growth opportunity. Not good.

Be sure to take a tour of the Daintree Rain Forest and Mossman Gorge. It's really eye-opening and you will see great things.

Where to Eat
The most famous place is Salsa which is at the end of the main drag closest to the beach. This restaurant is famous for being visited by President Bill Clinton on Sept 11, 2001. President Clinton was visiting Port Douglas when he was informed of the attacks and was whisked away by helicopter. His visit was commemorated by a signed plate hanging on the wall and each of the waitresses wear dark blue dresses with stains on them. The food is really good there...and not that pricey.

The best find in the area was The Beach House...a local restaurant was referred to us by workers at an ice cream shop. This place is fantastic from the food and ambiance side of things. It's very casual with tikki torches and sandy floors. The food is great too...I had a macadamia nut encrusted sea bass that was great...and memorable...and locally caught. Ask any local where the restaurant is and they will point you in the right direction...it's only 2 minutes drive from downtown.

Mango Jam is another good restaurant on the main drag. They are known for their pizzas and tropical fruit drinks.

Sydney, Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 06:47:00 +0000

Sydney (5 days, 4 nights – Nov. 7-11)

Where to Stay
The key to visiting Sydney is staying in a central location near the Sydney Harbor...known as the Circular Quay (pronounced "key"). The Quay is the central area the hotel. Guests pay big money for the location of the Hyatt for it sits right on the harbor, near the Sydney Bridge and all rooms have a view of the Sydney Opera House. We highly recommend NOT staying here for it's very expensive.We did enjoy the experience in the lap of luxury...but we were there to see Sydney. There are plenty of other hotel options in the general area that are far less expensive.

What To Do
The Rocks
The Rocks is the oldest most historical part of Sydney...and where the Hyatt is located. This area is also quite expensive. I think I paid $1 a minute to breath. There are a lot of boutique shops and restaurants...along with a few historical buildings including the first English jail. We'd recommend spending a half day in the area to soak up the location which is very similar to Boston.

If you are in Sydney in November, make the effort to go to The Rocks Markets By Moonlight which is an evening outdoor festival very similar to an arts/crafts/wine/music festival in California. Generally there are signs posted everywhere promoting the big musical act that will perform that night. Dee Dee and I ended up having a cheap Greek dinner there that night and listened to the live music for a while. That night, Ian Moss performed. Apparently he was a BIG star in the 1980s...and the crowd LOVED him.

The Sydney Botanic Gardens
The Botanic Gardens are really cool...and I'm not a big gardens kind of guy. The gardens are similar to the gardens at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, only much nicer and with no homeless people. Take a few hours to walk through the park and look at the various plants and birds. The highlights were seeing fruit bats which are the size of small foxes...yikes. We also saw several loriquets...which look like parrots.

Manly Beach
We visited a friend and her new baby at Manly Beach one afternoon. Manly is a 30 minute ferry ride from the Circular Quay and is well worth the trip. Manly is small beach town very similar to Santa Monica and the beach was gorgeous and clean. And of course, every American brand was present including Burger King (Hungry Jack), Starbucks and 7-11. We met Kristen at The Blue Water Cafe for lunch and then walked down to the beach for a nap. We were both impressed by the beach and the town...and some say this is the best beach in Sydney if one wants a low key beach experience

Bondi and Bronte Beach
Bondi and Bronte beaches, specifically Bondi, are the most famous beaches in Sydney. Getting there is easy via the bus system. Unfortunately the ferry system can't reach these beaches. Go to the Circular Quay and find the bus ticket kiosk and ask for the Bondi Beach Express. The bus will get you to the beach in a half hour...which is the fastest and least expensive way to get there.

Bondi beach is gorgeous, really wide and clean. Wow. The town is a bit touristy, but there are plenty of places to eat and have an ice cream. We recommend getting to the beach before 10:00am and have a late breakfast. After breakfast, walk the foot path over to Bronte Beach. During the summer months (Nov - Jan) there is generally a sculpture exhibit that lines the foot path. Dee Dee and I took an hour to walk the path stopping along the way to check out the sculptures. These sculptures were really great and worth the time. Don't forget to look at the great scenery in front of you. Wow, the views of the coastline are great! After walking the path to Bronte, come back to Bondi and take a nap on the beach. Be ware of the topless sunbathers.

If the waves are up, this may be a great place to learn to surf for the waves roll a long way in to shore. The water is surprisingly cooler than expected...but not as cold as Santa Cruz in California.

Toranga Zoo
Sigh...I was really apprehensive about going to a zoo while on vacation. What does a zoo in Australia have that the zoo in San Francisco does not? Well, everything. The Torango Zoo is spectacular and well worth the time. The zoo is world class and several friends who have lived in Sydney said this is a must do..and they were right! The zoo is very easy to get to...it's a 20 minute ferry ride away from the Quay. Be sure to buy the ferry/zoo entrance fee combination ticket at the ferry ticket window for $38. The combination ticket will save you $10 a ticket.

The zoo is very popular so get there first thing in the morning before the lines get too long and every school bus in Sydney arrives. There is so many exhibits to see, but we recommend seeing: the Platypus exhibit (cool!), the Koalas, the Kangaroos, the Gorillas and Chimpanzees...and the Lions, Tigers and Bears (oh my!). The Platypus exhibit was really great...and not something that can be seen in the US. Be sure to also see the bird show...wow!! The zoo has so many trained birds...including an Australian Condor with a 10 foot wingspan. Plan to spend at least 3-4 hours here..it's well worth it.

The Sydney Opera House
A visit to the Sydney Opera House is a must do when in Sydney. Taking a tour is possible, but the only way to get the most out of the experience is to see a performance. There are performances nightly from symphony to ballet to theater. Check for performance dates and book online through the Opera House website. Be sure to see a performance in the main hall. Dee Dee and I saw the Sydney symphony perform Rochmaninov and sat way up in the nose bleed seats. However, the acoustics inside are so great, we felt like we were in the front row.

Where to Eat
Our first night in The Rocks area we ate dinner at Pony, a trendy tappas style restaurant in The Rocks area. Tappas bars are all over The Rocks area. It's a very nice and trendy restaurant...with a lot of people wearing black. However, for the money, it was not all that great we felt. We could eat the same food on Santana Row in San Jose.

THE RESTAURANT to go to in The Rocks area is The Australian Heritage Hotel . This hotel is one of the oldest in the city, has great character and is know for its selection of Australian beers and pizza. The pizza to get is the duck..quack quack. Dee Dee and stopped in for a pint and quickly met a few Australians who were eager to help plan our next few days. We highly recommend going here to have the duck pizza and for a chance to meet the locals.

A GREAT breakfast place is Bill's on Liverpool St. This restaurant is off the beaten path in a neighborhood..but is well worth the effort to get there. Apparently the chef who created the restaurant is quite famous, has written cook books, etc (He's probably even been on Rachel Ray's show...gag). However, the restaurant inside is really cool (very Scandinavian) and the food is really great. I had the Meusli..hmmm...good! The menu puts a different twist to the basic breakfast items that makes the food interesting and unique.

Before visiting the Opera House to see the symphony we went to dinner at Cafe Sydney, which is on top of the Customs Building in the Circular Quay. The restaurant has a great view of the harbor. Be sure to make reservations a day or two in advance for the restaurant is popular. While dining, don't pay attention to the prices for they will depress you. Just enjoy the food, a glass of wine and the ambiance. I ordered the lamb and was blown away by how great it tasted. The meat did not taste gamey and melted in my mouth. We highly recommend coming to this restaurant for it was a great culinary experience.

Eric and Dee Dee's Trip to Australia and New Zealand

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 05:04:00 +0000

One of the great benefits of working at eBay is that after 5 years of work, we are given a 4 week sabbatical in addition to the standard vacation. Obviously, this time is best spent taking a great trip to a far away land. Fortunately, Dee Dee was able to take four weeks off too and we decided to go to Australia and New Zealand for just under four weeks.

Australia and New Zealand are both beautiful countries to visit and traveling there is VERY easy. Both countries have very strong British influences and a lot of American brands have permeated their store shelves and restaurants. The familiarity makes visiting these countries very easy and non-threatening to a beginning traveler. There is so much outdoor beauty, unique cities and wonderful people to meet that makes the 14 hour plane right from SFO well worth it! Our adventure began on November 5 and traveled through December 1, 2007.

Check out our pictures from Australia and New Zealand by clicking the links.

As always, please feel free to post any specific questions to this blog!

Eric's Trip to Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:33:00 +0000

Wednesday, Sept 5

Today was muggy….so when it’s muggy, it’s best to be inside. We opted to go the Museum of Science and Industry. Now before you scream, “Dunstan is a nerd,” know that some of me and family are nerdy, but this is really worth the visit…and the A/C works really well in the buildings! This museum is much like the Smithsonian in Washington DC. As with all museums, it pays to get there early before the crowds show up at noon.

On display is a full size train engine and a complete miniature train model of Chicago and the surrounding farm lands. If you are an electric train nut, this place is for you. Hanging from the ceiling are three WWII fighter planes along with a full size 727 where there are exhibits regarding how a plane flies, how it’s controlled, etc. It’s really nerdy, hands on science nerd stuff.
On other floors there are Energy displays that include a complete mock up of a coal mine that simulates coal mining. Dad and I checked this out and were blown away. We were taken down a few levels into the museum in a simulated coal miner elevator shaft, taken in a train to a dig site (we road in actual miner cars) where mining techniques were shown. Way cool.
The most famous display in this museum is the full sized WWII German submarine, U-505. This submarine was captured by the US off the coast of Africa and was the only machine actually captured in tact. The entire submarine is on display along with film footage of the capture and narratives of the US forces and German forces who were involved. Even for people not into museums and science, this is amazing. See this exhibit..you won’t regret it for it’s a reminder of the sacrifices our soldiers made. This capture took guts.

That night we ventured to the Wicker Park area of Chicago to a restaurant called Smoke Daddy Rhythm and Bar B Que. This place is well known for it’s free jazz ever night. We were told to get there by 7:00pm for dinner for it gets packed. Unfortunately, the entertainment was NOT Blues music, which is typically played. On schedule that night was acoustic guitar rock music…yawn. However, apparently most nights are fairly hopping. Instead of sticking around for music, we walked around Wicker Park after dinner. Wicker is a cool area with a lot of restaurants and bars. I have a business trip to Chicago next year and I plan to take our team there. Wicker reminds me a lot of Harlem, NYC in that the area was built in the early 1900s, was neglected for a while, and is now being “remodeled.”

When in Chicago, it’s a MUST to see live Jazz and Blues. I insisted that we (Mom, Dad and I) go to Andy’s Jazz Club for one last listen of excellent jazz. Even on a Wednesday night, we were not disappointed. Even better, the club is really close to the Monaco where we stayed. The music typically starts at 9:00pm and the musicians play three sets. Get there at 10 min before 9:00pm to find a seat at the bar (2 drink min). Even if you are not a big jazz fan (and my Dad is not), it’s worth staying to listen to two sets. The musicians here are excellent and are great representatives of the current Jazz scene.

Not a bad way to spend the final night in Chicago.

Eric's Trip to Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Eric Dunstan) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 00:32:00 +0000

Tuesday, Sept 4
I really dig going to art museums…especially museums that have a great Impressionists collection. The Art Institute of Chicago has a fantastic collection of the Impressionist masters and I’d highly recommend spending some time there. There are paintings from American masters as well, including American Gothic. The museum has vast collections of art through out the various periods so pick a time frame or style and see the galleries. I tend to burn out in about three hours…which is enough time to see 3 collections.

Another interesting stop is the Chicago Cultural Center…which is the old Chicago Library. The big site to see there is the Tiffany designed stained glass dome on the third floor. Wow. Really cool! Seeing the building and the dome window will take you all of a half hour…and it’s worth it.

Later in the afternoon we checked out the premier shopping destination of Marshall Fields. In the early 1900s this was the store to go to if you had the money to buy anything and everything. The building houses 7 stories of department store, an oak tea room and a domed stained glass dome done by…yep, Tiffany. The visitors center on the 5th floor has a free audio tour that gives an overview of the history of Marshall Fields, why it was so significant and why Macy’s taking over the store last year is really controversial. Take the tour..and go have lunch in the Oak Room. You will have seen it and done it in an hour and a half.

That night we had dinner at Lawry’s. Lawry’s is a high-end prime-rib restaurant chain that started out in Beverly Hills, CA. However, the Chicago version of the restaurant is set in an old residence and makes for an interesting Chicago ambiance. Be sure to check out the various photos set around the restaurant…it’s interesting. If prime rib is your thing, Lawry’s is a great place.