Booking Rooms

Quickbook buys blocks of rooms in 49 US cities and sells them at discount. Its deals are good but not as great as Hotwire.com (which also shows you the neighborhood). It is good if you need to book a specific hotel. If you find a better deal in 48 hours, the site matches it. So there is a good guarantee program.

Hoteldiscounts.com sometimes has rooms that are officially sold out. Also more than3 dozen overseas properties. The site is slow to load. If you want to check a hotel’s location, googlemap it. Expedia is generally better.

I start searching at Expedia as it is descriptive and its prices are competitive. It’s special rates are highlighted with yellow banners like Travelocity’s Good Buy icons.

For low weekend rates, Travelweb offers deep discounts. SmarterLiving aggregates hotel special offers as does OneTravel. Don’t forget to check out direct sites like the Hilton and Hyatt. 

Healdsburg Winery

Arista Winery 5 Fitch Street Healdsburg www.aristawinery.com (707) 473-2606		Kendall-Jackson Tasting Room 337 Healdsburg Avenue Healdsburg www.kj.com (707) 433-7102
Rosenblum Cellars 250 Center Street Healdsburg www.rosenblumcellars.com (707) 431-1169		Sapphire Hill Vineyards & Winery 51 Front Street Healdsburg www.sapphirehill.com (707) 431-1888
Seghesio Family Vineyards 14730 Grove Street Healdsburg www.seghesio.com (707) 433-3579		Selby Winery 215 Center Street Healdsburg www.selbywinery.com (707) 431-1703

Simi Winery 16275 Healdsburg Avenue Healdsburg www.simiwinery.com (707) 433-6981		Toad Hollow Vineyards Tasting Room 409A Healdsburg Avenue Healdsburg www.toadhollow.com (707) 431-8667
Windsor Vineyards 308-B Center Street Healdsburg (707) 433-2822 www.windsorvineyards.com		Grove Street Wines 1451 Grove Street Healdsburg grovestreetwinery.com (707) 433-0290
Gallo of Sonoma Tasting Room 320 Center Street Healdsburg www.gallosonoma.com (707) 433-2458		The Wine Shop 331 Healdsburg Avenue Healdsburg (707) 433-0433
Russian River Wine Co. www.russianriverwinecompany.com 132 Plaza Street Healdsburg (707) 433-0490

Air Unfare

• Be flexible with your flying dates - it is the best tip. This works well with both Travelocity and Orbitz. If you’re ultraflexible, then try a fare watcher like MyYahoo! to monitor prices daily or sign up to get the airline’s weekly email of unsold flights
• Book at least three weeks ahead of your flight. Ring the airline at 0001 PDT on Wednesday for the best new fares released.
• Staying over Saturday nights is no longer necessary
• Fly midweek if you can but not on Thursdays; consultants fly out on Monday and back on Thursday but they bill you for the whole week.
• Use neighboring airports for cheaper fares. I always fly out of OAK instead of SFO. Kayak.com assumes you could fly out of SJC as well.
• Always check the RTF even if you fly one-way (this is always cheaper)
• Avoid busy holiday dates – most people leave te day before Thanksgiving and return the Sunday after.
• Book multicity trips using the special search in both Travelocity and Orbitz instead of three difficult one way fares.
• For US to Europe, always fly to London first.This is true no matter where in Europe you want to go.
• Use a good router. First, check travelocity. See if Orbitz can beat it. See if SWA or JetBlue can beat either. Then go to the airline webstie and see if they will beat the travelocity or Orbitz price. Buy immediately. If you need specific dates, use Sidestep.

Travel Secrets

• Actionable tickets: new airfares must be releaed to a central clearinghouse (airline tarriff publiching compant) at certain hours – on weekdays  after 1400, 1630 and 0000. Tickets that were “held” usually appear shortly after migniht. Weekend fares are updated only once daily at around 1700.
• Bank overseas with fewer fees. as Bankamerica has partnerships with banks all around the world so you can withdraw cash without paying extra fees.
• Cruise solo but beware that the cruise line can charge from 10 to 100% more than the per person for a double occupancy cabin but the older cabins, like the QE2 has some single cabins. Check with your travel agent to get these. The least expensive single supplements are on Crystal Cruises, Seven Seas, Sebourn and Silversea.
• Drive fee-free. Hire cars charge $3- $33 for a second person behind the wheel but the fine print says spouses and domestic partners are exempt. Avis, Budget and Enterprise waive the fee for a significant other if you have the same address on ID
• Earn higher status from scratch using the gold and platinum challenge from AA.com If you buy a prepaid card from united (eg $5000 for instant premier status), you have one year to use the cards before they expire.
• Get bumped at usually $300 vouchers (not for restricted flights) – this also give syou miles, voucher flights have no credit
• Gethuman.com is quick advice on reaching a real person instead of being stuck in the phone tree.
• Jump amusement parkl ticket lines by checking themeparkinsider.com
• Maximize your miles by checking out your options at insideflyer.com
• Met tickets are sold out in advance but if you head to the box office in NY 2 hours before curtain time you can get one of 200 orchestratickets at $20 each (an 80% discount) for each Monday through Thursday performance
• Passports must be valid for the next six (60 months beyond the date you enter the country. Full stop.
• Save at the on-board spa as many cruise lines offer port day specials. While everyone else is cavorting on land, you can get treatments for up to 20% off
• Do not wait in line at the gate when your flight is canceled. As per rule no. 240, if itthe airline’s fault, they need to put you on another carrier. Pick up the phone and ring thetoll free number
• Use airline codeshared to find better fares. Each carrier is free to set its own price. A code share between USAir and United to get to Glasgow from SFO is cheaper if you fly USAir all the way.
• Value at sea – if a cruise’s price is your main concern, make a category-guarantee rservation rather than one in a specific cabin. This will get the best available cabin in that cartegory after all other rooms have been assigned at the lowest possible cost but is a risk as you won’t know which cabin until you check in.
• Warm up to wave season. If you want to get a cruise suite for less (cruisecritic.com, look after New Year’s and through March for value added extras like free airfare.
• Locate speed traps in Europe on ViaMichelin.com. If you are driving in Londontown, just give up.
• A Y-up fare is a special kind of seat category that puts you in the front of the plane for half the price of a first class ticket. It is equivalent to a discounted first class with an automatic upgrade.
• Always carry a copy of your driver’s license and passport, and also email yourself compact versions in a secure form so you might be able to retrieve them from anywhere in the world.

Greek Speak

Common phrases

• how much – poso kani?
• how are you? – ti kanis?
• I am fine – ime kala
• what is your name? – pos se lene?
• speak slower please – parakalo mila pio siga
• I don’t know – den xero
• let’s go – pame
• the bill please – to logariasmo, parakalo
• so and so – esti esti
• how many hours? – poses ores
• where are you goin? – pou pas
• the road to – o dromos gia…
• what is the time? – ti ora ine?
• a ticket to the… – ena isitiro gia…
• excuse me, do you speak english? – parakalo mipos milate aglika?
• I don’t speak Greek – den milao elinika
• I don’t understand – den katalaveno
• I am going to … – pigeno gia…
• Do you have? – Ehete?
• I am lost – hathika
• I am ill – ime arostos
• I will buy this one – tha agoraso afto

Common words:

• yes – ne (I hate this one so much)
• no – ohi
• please – parakalo
• okay – endaxi
• thank you – efharisto
• today – simera
• tomorrow – avrio
• yesterday – hthes
• this one – afto
• good – kalo
• now – tora
• later – argotera
• open – anihto
• closed – klisto
• big – megalo
• small – mikro
• cheap – ftino
• expensive – akrivo
• mister – kyrios
• madame – kyria
• miss – despinis
• mother – mitera
• father – pateras
• friend – filos
• bakery – fournos
• pharmacy – farmakio
• bank – trapeza
• money – lefta
• toilet – toualetta
• police – astynomia
• doctor – yiatros
• hospital – nosokomio

Days of the week

• Monday – Deftera
• Tuesday – Triti
• Wednesday – Tetarti
• Thursday – Pempti
• Friday – Paraskevi
• Saturday – Savato
• Sunday – Kyriaki

Travel

Good morning	Kalimera
Good evening	Kalispera
Good night	Kalinichta
Hello	Yassas
How are you?	Ti kanete?
Very well thank-you	Poli kala, efharisto
Please/You’re welcome	Parakalo
Thank-you	Efharisto
Excuse Me/Sorry	Signomi
Yes	ne
No	ohi
A table, please	Ena trapezi, parakalo
We have a reservation for…	Ehoume klisa ya…
Can I see the menu, please	Ton katalogho, parakalo
What do you recommend?	Ti sistinete?
I’m vegetarian	Ime hortofaghos
I would like..	Tha ithela…
Wher is the bathroom?	Pou ine i toualetes?
The meal was good, thank you	To fayito, itan poli kalo, efharisto
Do you take credit cards?	Pernete pistotikes kartes?

Fifty Seven

Perfect Beijing

If one’s earliest memory is that of the Great Wall, be sure to arrange for a picnic lunch and driver to see it at Mutianyu, a 90-minute drive. Of the three main gate ways near Beijing, Mutianyu has lovely views without the crowds of Badaling or the precipices of Simatai. The 6700 kilometer long stone wall with staggered watch towers was constructed between 220 BCE and 1644 ACE, and can be seen when inflight to resemble a dragon. You are sure to be terribly hungry by the time the driver/guide gets you to the Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan) in the northwest suburb of Hai Dian district. Eat up from the views off Longevity Hill and be sure to check out the Empress Dowager Cixi’s marble boat docked at the north end of Kun Ming Lake with its shaded stone pathways and wide open grassy spaces. Perpetual party park.

As you enter Lama Temple (Yong Hegong), you see ocher and maroon robed monks worshipping with incense in bronzed urns. Frescoes recant tales of Tibetan buddhism and the woodwork integrates Han, Mongolian and Tibetan carpentry styles.

Finally,head to the offbeat Ancient Observatory atop a shard of wall that once surrounded the city. Giant bronze 17th century astronomical instruments are timeless objets d’art, intricately detailed with slithering dragons, cupid arrows pointing skyward and spheres floating on their axes. Dine with lovely sparkling wine off the golden palace roof from the upper cigar divan in the former courtyard home turned art gallery and restaurant at the Court Yard Restaurant. A maple soy leek glaze on a mound of spicy couscous with green tomato sauce. Prolong it with a moonlit stroll across the Forbidden City moat. A quick prayer and coin toss will bring you back here.

Perfect Beijing

Up again and at the east entrance of  the Temple of Heaven Park (Tian tan GongYuan) you will pass tai chi practitioners. I feel like I am in some advert. Head to the northernmost section of the park dominated by the sacrifical altar of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest. This three-tiered pagoda is interlocking wood pieces with no nails. It is like my work station indeed and is iconic of the city. Exit from the east and cross Tiyuguan Lu toward Hong Qiao Market. Check out the fresh and salt water pearls on the third floor jewelry section. I like the wooden rice scoops and red & black lacquerware. On weekends only there is Panjia Yuan Dirt Market which is sort of like Boroughs Market and you can sift through rubbish to find communist kitsch, wooden mooncake molds and purple tea pots. Haggle like you mean it down to the mao (cent). It is expected. Insert gratuitous stereotyping joke here. Return to the hotel to drop off the steals and book a quiet booth at the Fortune Garden restaurant for a dim sum lunch. And then some. Share baskets of dumplings, water chestnuts and rice flour crepes.

Re-energeized, walk south of Tiananmen Square to Qian Men Dajie and then turn on Dashi Lan, bordered by pretty dark wood beams and brightly painted lintel doorways. This area produced the glazed tiles used in the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven. Today the lane sells traditional calligraphy kits and book binding supplies. I totally loved to bind my books while in school. It was pathological in extremis. Stop in Store 78 for exotic papers and silksm and store 30 for lovely wood block prints and poetic ink paintings. Be sure to have them translated because you know I will ask you the meaning when I visit to take tea. Which you can pick up at Ji Gu Ge Tea House on the second floor of 132-136. Get a window table to people watch. Head to the Silk Alley (Xiu Shi Shi Cang) when the expats flock for great deals on silk under wear, cashmere and brand clothing.

Rush back for the 1915 local time Chinese Acrobat Show at Poly Plaza. Pitch a few extra kuai (dollars) for juhua chua (chrysanthemum tea), sugary walnuts and front-row seats as you check out the 65-child hyperflexible troupe.

Dinner follows at the Green Tea House. Head east on Gongren Tiyu Chang Beilu and turn left to the festive Sanlitun Juiba Lu (Beer Drinking Street) and head for a bar. Cross Dong Zhimenwai Lu and take the side street past the Friendship Store. Tall purple lanterns sentinel the small ten table bistrot where dishes are prepared with tea. Start with the pear, longevity tea and walnut salad with minty dressing. The tofu and chestnuts entree is simmered in Ceylonese tea and Gong Bao JiDing is enhanced with oolong tea.

Perfect Beijing

Beijing was founded along the banks of the river Yong Ding in the second millenium BCE but waited for one thousand years to become the northern capital when the completion of the Forbidden City made it the first city of Zhong Guo (Middle Kingdom).

The Peninsula Palace is in the heart of Beijing and has a classic emerald green-tiled roof. The innards mix homely comfort with modern decor. As it is impossible to master the language, have the concierge translate your itinerary into Mandarin. This with a hotel business card and a city map are all that is needed. Point and click. Most restaurants have at least one English menu. Everyone serves steamed rice. While cabs are cheap, walking and biking are really the way to go. So I always pack walking shoes. That have been walked in historically – this is no time to experiment. Streetfood (youtiao! is fried dough) is okay but a full breakfast at the Palm Court Coffee House is warranted.

Early risers can catch the pomp and circumstance of the PLA flag-raising ceremony at sunrise in Tiananmen square, three blocks southwest of the hotel. Others can join in to see countless kites lifted over by the winds over the Great Hall of the People, the Museum of the Chinese Revolution and the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (queue up south of the Monument to the People’s Heroes past the crystal sarcophagus of a mummified chairman). Head north to the ruddy portrait of the chairman hanging on Tiananmen Gates by taking the Qianmen Dajie walkway underpass. The hoi pollo rub the large gold studs before entering the red doors to the Forbidden City. Purell is SO handy. And, yes, I got my flu shot as per usual. Rent an audio tour when you reach Meridian Gate (the former royal entrance) and head to the 9999 rooms. No coincidence – they love the number nine here. Access the northwest corner of the ancient palace to reach Beihai Park, the winter play ground or main city park of Beijing. 10 yuan to enter. Dragon paddleboats! Cross over to Jade Islet, bearing the White Dragoba, a 36- meter high bell like thing which looks awfully cliche. Cross the stonr bridge near the east entrance of the park to Fangshan Restaurant which used to be the royal kitchen. Prices continue royal with up to 300 yuan. That is around $30 (right now 0.128 CY is 1 US$). Slow cooked asparagus and green onions served by very pretty (did I say very?) waitresses in dazzling palace hand maiden outfits. Or China Air flight attendant Pucci wear. Siesta by the Shishahai Lake Distrcit, a 700 yr old hutong north of Beihai Park. The hotel arranges for a guided pedicab (= bike + rickshaw) hutong tour and get negotiated between clotheslines and tight corners. Think of all sorts of human rights violations. Back to the hotel for a pool break.

Beijing Opera tickets must be obtained in advance to be sure. Zhengyici theater is made entirely of wood and features more traditional music. The Beijing Concert Hall has mainly fusion fare. Jingju is a combination of musical drama and comedy. Some like it.

Taiwan Taoyuan

Taipei’s international airport was named after the late Chinese president Chung-Cheng (Zhongsheng, or Chiang Kai-shek) until 2006. In a situation similar to Reagan-Washington National Airport, local officials often referred to it as the Taoyuan International airport as Chiang Kai-shek was association with the Chinese political party Kyomintang and authoritarianism. It was commonly effectively called the Taoyuan Chung-Cheng Airport. Best of both worlds but President Chen Shui-bian’s administration officially changed the name to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on 11/6/2006. More bureaucratic Desinicization will ensue. The airport is the main hub for China Air, the flagship carrier of the Republic of China, as well as Eva Air, a private airline from the nineties.

We are enjoying the luxuries of the More Lounge (aptly named) with wonderful beverages, crappy coffee and quaint little tasty delights. The Chinese telly has shows that seem extremely strange and juvenile, but it is quite late in the evening so I can only assume this is the equivalent of Skinemax After Dark and infomercial heaven. M will likely end up buying one of the massage chairs we are completely in lust for.

I remind myself that this airport has a bleak history:

• it was one of the airports targeted by the failed Project Bojinka plot in 1995
• On 2/6/1968, China Air CI 00676 arriving from Den Pasar (Bali) crashed into a residential area while landing in poor weather (we had nearly zero visibility with the torrid rain tonight), killing all 196 people on board and an additional 6 on the ground.
• On 10/31/2000, Singapore Airlines SQ 006 en route from Singapore Changi to LAX crashed upon take off from Taipei killing 82 passengers. Misleading runway lights (many could be espied in the water while we were landing) and improper command by air traffic control resulted in the plane taking off from runway 05R which was undergoing works.
• On 5/25/2002, China Airlines CI 0061 broke up in midflight en route to Hong Kong International. All 225 on board died.

I am enjoying some delightful chrysanthemum tea and trying not to think of all this. W had quasinightmares of a wet death during landing turbulence. M is still enjoying the massage chair. I wish the shower stall were cleaner but there it is. And it only cost US$28.

Bali Spa

A lulur massage is the queen of Javanese massages. One must keep aside three (3) hours for this item. On holiday, I have this kind of free time. It is technically a 17th century purifying ritual practised in palaces upon maidens before marriage. After a relaxing foot bath, it starts with a traditional Balinese deep tissue massage with strong strokes to improve energy flow. Ask for the long stroke massage. Be specific and be prepared. A creamy honey enhancer prepares the skin. This is followed by a lulur scrub with its golden color reflecting its main ingredient turmeric (that will guaranteed stain your under clothes unless you really scrub it out). After a rinse, the body is coated with a cool yoghurt minty splash to cleanse and nourish the skin. Very hot lemon and ginger tea are served between phases. It is heaven.

Java Time

I am at the amazingly lush Losari Coffee Plantation and Spa. Ironically, industrialization and deforestation have despatched most of the other coffee growers to Sumatra. Which is where the coffee Gods currently reside. The coffee in Java is, amazingly, not all that good. And mostly instant. Insert audible gasp here.

A dutch colonial setting peppered with smiles and earnest attitude, this lush plantation is surrounded by natural beauty, majestic volcanoes and all manner of rather loud insects. Wasps, butterflies and mosquitoes abound but if you are well fortified (with any combination of coil, spray and electrical repellents) and plug your ears, you might even get some good hours of sleep. The mystical aura from twilight to noon is to be experienced. The pool is algaic-appearing and the pool chairs need to be withdrawn when the sun comes out (there are no umbrellas). Breakfast is fair to middling and you should not mind the wild life around you.

The mostly local staff is pleasant and accomodating, without being overtly interfering. A walk through the coffee plantation is a must. Bath products are good but the antique looking furniture could use a dusting. Air-conditioning needs a tune up thought I partially blame the mosquito net for the bane of my ventilatory issues. Some of the chess pieces in the outdoor giant set are missing. We enjoyed evening educational lectures on Borobudur and the forgotten isles of eastern Indonesia while sipping hot ginger tea and spicy jamu (a local herbal concoction). The chef is enterprising but call for your drinks before you leave your villa (without its individual plunge pool) as they all appear to originate from Mt Merapi as they usually arrive several hours after your main course, if at all. The chef did show me how to prepare banana flowers and squash blossoms though. And they had ana amazing pastry chef. Durian sorbet!

Skip the trance dance in the parking lot. Do not expect scheduled events to start on time. Everything is at its own pace, which is fine when you are on holiday. Morning yoga is wonderful. The spa is extremely relaxing (ask for Martin) and invigorating. It is 45 minutes into the city of Megalang (the plantation is not near anything) and approximately 3 hours from the Yogyakarta airport. Request special rates for locals or diplomatic status if you qualify. Alcohol is dear, and you should take your meals elsewhere. Activities are easily arranged. Not handicapped friendly.

Borobudur Stupa

Borobudur is a ninth century Buddhist Mahayana monument in central Java designed as nine platforms (the top three square and the rest circular) decorated with 2672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. A main stupa in the middle of the top platform is surrounded by 72 perforated stupas, each one containing a sitting Buddha. You must NOT be peasantlike and reach out to rub his thighs for good luck no matter how many others are seen doing this. We were atop the highest level when a 5.8 magnitude quake hit. We did not feel it. We are now all of us Buddhist converts. I have always been Buddhist for the accessories.

The entire monument is a shrine and a place of pilgrimage. You ascend from Kamadhatu (world of desire) through Rupa dhatu (world of forms) and Arupadhatu (world of formeless). During this journey, the monument guides pilgrims during circumambulation (always clockwise from the east) through a system of stairways and brilliant blinded corridors with 1460 narrative bas relief panels on the walls and balustrades.

Borobudur was abandoned after the decline of Buddhist and Hindu kingdoms around the fourteeht century as Java converted to Islam. It was rediscovered by Sir Thomas Stanford Raffles in 1814, the British ruler of Java. It has been through several restorations since, the most damaging being the Dutch which cakesprayed the lower tiers with yellow ocher paint for optimal photography. The biggest restoration at a cost of millions was between 1975 and 1982 by the Indonesian government when UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. Not all of the funding went to restorative purposes, if you know what I mean. It is used for ceremony only once a year. Tragic.

Before you go to the stupa, stop off at Candi Mendut and purify yourself. Be warned – the hawkers and vendors outside Borobudur are relentless. Do not say a word.

And yes, there are 830 UNESCO WHSites, including 644 cultural, 162 natural and 24 mixed properties in 138 states parties.

Bird Flew

Bird flu has claimed its latest victim while we are here in Yogya (or Jogja), one of the foremost cultural centers in Java at the foot of the active volcano Merapi. Universities and centers of teaching still thrive here. Since accomodation is prized, an entire street is lined by key duplicating shops to encourage duplication of living quarters (the night shift workers sleep when the students go to school in the morning time – there is a Hollywood movie somewhere in there).

This special province is one of the most densely populated in central Java. It came into its own in 1755 after the division of the Mataram empire into the Sultanates of Yogyakarta and Surakarta (Solo). The current Sultan (it is dynastic rule) has no male offspring and it is generally regarded that his brother will take over when he passes on. Local craftsmen excel in batik, silver and leather work. Industry is more organized than in Bali. The call for prayer by the imam at local mosques frequently punctuates the day.

Life Thread

William Ingram is from Londontown. Jean, who is from neighboring Albany, first came to Bali in 1987 and lived with the family of Wayan Sudarta In 1989, Jean met William in Japan and based themselves in YTokyo to organize yoga and cultural retreatsm both in Japan and Bali. They relocated to Bali in 1993 and began a tour business. In researching for the same, they frequently traveled the mostly forgotten isles of eastern Indonesia which evolvd into a love of indigenous textiles.

As a result of the late 1997 southeeast Asian economic crisis and the political upheavals in 1998, many families were selling off their heirloom textiles. Weavers began to abandon traditional time consuming weaving arts in favor of more commercial wares. This was rapidly degrading the culture. Threads of life was initiated to help this art thrive.

The showroom is in the aircooled basement of the office. While pleasant and reminiscent of Aztec or Indian weaving, most of the handloomed work was a little too dear for me. I have a refreshing lemon splash in the restaurant immediately above. It was within the darling compounded home of the Darta family on the quietest street in Bali.

Net Free

I have no connectivity but I wanted to remain productive. The option is to place several calls to India and chat with people who claim their collective name is “Jack”.

1. Clean out and categorize my bookmarks. If I haven’t visited a site in a month it’s not important. Create categories and organize the list of bookmarks after you’ve eliminated all those links you don’t need. Do not create a miscellaneous category. Catch-all categories do exactly that and soon become difficult to use.

2. Delete programs I don’t use. Why delete them when you have plenty of space on the drive? Because it makes things like Scandisk and Defrag run faster. It might not make your PC run any smoother, but you’ll feel good knowing you aren’t wasting space.

3. Unplug my PC, take the cover off and clean out the dust. Invest in some canned air. Heat is a PC’s enemy and even in a clean environment, cooling fans suck dust through every opening and it builds up fast. I could make a warren for all the dust bunnies I found.

4. Write my next blog post (which is what I am doing and will upload later). If you use a blog client like BlogDesk just write and save. If not, write to a text file and format it after your connection is live. Not being connected may force me to write about something different, like say, five things to do when you have no Internet connection. Oh, this is so meta I love it.

5. Run any maintenance programs I don’t have auto-scheduled. Reclaim your drive space and allow your PC to run smoother.

Bonus Item: Write down my logins and passwords for all your sites, blogs, email accounts, Adsense, affiliate programs, where you purchased your domain names – all that information is the key to smooth business. Put the information in a safety deposit box or keep it in a fire resistant safe at the house and let the people that may need that information know where it is kept.

Ubud Gardens

We stayed at the Ubud Hanging Gardens. This wonderfully secluded Pansea Orient Express hotel in the middle of the jungle with private villa style setting, each with its own plunge pool. A relatively new property, we arrived on the weekend and assumed shortcomings arose from weekend temporary off-peak staff: some inservicing is definitely required. I loved its isolated location (it is 45 minutes from the city and nearly 3 hours from Den Pasar airport) the included breakfast with its array of fresh fruit juice (I miss my egg team), and, of course, the private plunge pools. However, for a luxe resort, the products (toiletries and such) are not high grade, breakfast is nearly identical daily and there are limited spa treatment rooms (2 rooms for 22 villas! You need a booking). The linens were not pristine and I am glad I always lug around my own bath linen as their towels certainly were not absorbent, an issue when one sweats the humidity away and the faulty directional shower heads would certainly spray all over the overtreated teak flooring to make it seem as if an infant had been splashing about. Communication in English was quite limited but acceptable. However, the availability of only two (2) room service carriers and egregious added charges for web use and yoga in the morning time ruined it for me. Oh yes, we spoke to the assistant manager. The general manager has not been there in months. It shows. My travel mate is less forgiving – he will write to corporate!

Pulau Bira

Bira Besar Island resort is supported by the lovely landscape with traditional style cottages, crystal clear water, and a white sandy beach peppered with jetskies. It is accessible only by motor boat and is within 90 minutes from Marina Ancol in Jakarta Bay.

South Sulawasi

Also known as Selayar, this is primo diving central. It is far from the madding crowds in the Celebes sea to the south of the isle of Sulawesi. Once on the Chinese trade route, the west side of the isle is inhabited mainly by fisherfolk.  Vanilla and tangerine are grown here. I did not think the tangello juice was sweet enough for me and added a touch of palm sugar molasses to it. Sacrilege, I know. The isle is blessed with unusual rock formations (think caves and waterfalls forever) and unspoilt beaches. The almost uninhabited east side where the resort is sited is still covered with original rain forest. The tarsius, the world’s smallest monkey, which is eminently ready for extinction can be seen in his natural habitat. This is surrounded by a reef and has been put under protection. A marine park had been founded here. It is altogether unique.

Miles Away

Alaska

In celebration of its new service between Santa Rosa/Sonoma and Los Angeles or Seattle, Alaska is offering double miles on either route. Travel is valid between March 20 and June 30. You must register prior to travel.

American

You can earn up to 15,000 bonus miles for flights to Europe through March 31. For roundtrip flights between the U.S. and Frankfurt or between Chicago or Los Angeles and London, you’ll earn 2,500 bonus miles in booking classes H, K, L, or M; 5,000 bonus miles in booking classes Y or B; 10,000 bonus miles in booking classes J, D, or I; and 15,000 bonus miles in booking classes F, P, or A. These promotions can be redeemed a maximum of three times, and you must register prior to travel.

Earn up to 50,000 bonus miles when you take one roundtrip flight from the U.S. to London, plus one flight beyond London, by March 31. For example, fly from Boston to London, then London to anywhere else in the world on American codeshare partners, and return to the U.S. through London. You’ll earn 50,000 bonus miles in first or business class, or 25,000 bonus miles in economy. This offer can be redeemed an unlimited number of times within the offer period.

American extended its “Fly three trips to/from Chicago and get one free” promotion through February 28. You’ll get 5,000 bonus miles for one trip, two trips will earn 10,000 bonus miles, and three trips will get you 25,000 bonus miles. Registration is required prior to travel. You can earn a maximum of 25,000 bonus miles with this promotion.

Frontier

Through February 15, Frontier is offering a 1,000-mile online booking bonus. Valid for travel through August 31.

Midwest

Redeem just 20,000 miles for Midwest award tickets by February 14 for travel through March 31 on the following routes: Milwaukee to Atlanta, Boston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Philadelphia, or Washington, D.C.; and Kansas City to Boston, Philadelphia, or Washington, D.C.

Northwest

Earn up to 15,000 Northwest bonus miles when you fly round-trip on its new service from Hartford to Amsterdam between July 1 and October 31. You’ll earn 15,000 miles in World Business Class (fare classes J, C, or Z), 10,000 miles in coach class (fare classes Y, S, B, or M), or 5,000 miles in economy (fare classes H, V, Q, L, T, or K). You must register prior to travel and by July 31.

Earn up to 10,000 Northwest bonus miles when you fly round-trip between the U.S. or Canada and Germany. You’ll earn 10,000 miles in World Business Class (fare classes J, C, or Z), 5,000 miles in coach class (fare classes Y or S), or 2,500 miles in economy (fare classes B, M, or H). You must register prior to travel and no later than March 21; travel must be completed by March 31.

Earn up to 10,000 Northwest bonus miles when you fly round-trip between Chicago or Los Angeles and London. You’ll earn 10,000 miles in World Business Class (fare classes J, C, or Z), 5,000 miles in coach class (fare classes Y or S), or 2,500 miles in economy (fare classes B, M, or H). You must register prior to travel and no later than March 21; travel must be completed by March 31.

United

For every dollar you spend over $200, you’ll receive double United miles on eligible tuition-related expenses (identified by Visa as colleges, universities, professional schools, junior colleges, elementary schools, and secondary schools). Through March 31, you can earn up to 2,500 miles if you have a Rewards or College Plus credit card, and up to 5,000 miles if you have a Visa Signature, Gold Class Visa Signature, or Platinum Class Visa Signature card.

In celebration of its new nonstop route between Kalispell, MT, and Denver or Chicago, you can earn double United miles on flights originating in or departing from Kalispell. Travel must occur between June 7and July 15. You may earn the bonus an unlimited number of times, and you must register prior to travel.

Immaculate Misconception

In the Constitution Ineffabilis Deus of 12/8/1854, Pope Pius IX pronounced and defined dogma that the Blessed Virgin Mary in the first intance of HER conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin. This is the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.

It is often confused by the Virgin Birth of the Baby Jesus, the dogma that teaches that Mary was a virgin before, during and after the conception and birth of the divine child. This virginity was defined under anathema in the third canon of the Lateran Council held in the time of Pope Martin I, in ACE 649.

Komodo Monitor

It is inaccurate in extremis to call it a dragon. Our archeologist lecturere indicated in a lecture (twice! M can vouch for this) that the Komodo Monitor is related to dragons. M thought it meant dinosaurs. The Ora, to the natives of Komodo is Varanus komodoensis, the largest living species of lizard and grows up to ten feet long and only inhabits central isles in Indonesia. First documented in 1910, the Komodo National Park was founded seventy years later to protect this limited population of monitors, but now expanded to preserve the entire biodiversity, ecoterrestrial and marine as a UNESCO WHS since 1986. It is in the center of the archipelago between the isles of Sumbawa and Flores. The Park includes three major isles: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and several smaller islets. It takes 36 hours to get there by inter isle ferry from Den Pasar but you could also fly in.

Drool Cloth

Jimbaran Bay

Bali lies between Lombok and Java. It is 93.18% Hindu. The capitol, Den Pasar, houses the Ngurah Rai international airport and is close to Kuta, beaches routed by Aussies and resorts. Overhotelified if you will. Also this is where bombings in 2002 and 2005 crippled the tourist industry. We head inwards into the jungle. To Ubud which is considered the arts and cultural center of the isle and it gets its name from the balinese word for medicine (ubad). There are many crossover words in Balinese from the Sanskrit so I am doing really well out here.

Jalan is Balinese for EL Camino. The high street is Jalan Raya Ubud and it runs east-west. Two long roads (Jalan Monkey Forest and Jalan Hanoman) extend south from Jn Raya Ubud. Puri Saren Agung is a large palace at the intersect of these roads and was the home of Tjokorde Gede Agung Sukawati (1910-1978), the last “king” of Ubud. His descendants currently live there and dance performances are held in the courtyard around 1900 local time. The dodgy smell harking of fetid magnolia upset me quite a bit during the legong dance and we beat a hasty retreat after part four (of the fourteen part dance). There are a temple and over 200 monkeys, mostly macaques, in the Monkey Forest Park. Why is it every time I see a rhesus macaca I think of HIV? Monkeys scare me.

Lovely Lombok

Lombok is separated by the Lombok strait and lies to the east of Bali under the shadow of the volcanic Mount Rinjani. What was previously touted as an unspoilt Bali, the impending tourist boom was severely disrupted by riots in 2000 when mobs of Islamics and ethnic Sasaks, ostensibly protesting sectarian violence in Maluku, attacked and looted churches owned by Christians and ethnic Chinese. Some damaged churches look like quake damage! Interestingly, Islam was brought to the archipelago by the Islamic Chinese during the Ming dynasty. I did not think there were Chinese Moslems. I know better now. There are still not many tourists about. Lombok is quieter in terms of parties and nightlife than Bali because of the more Islamic culture: this could work both ways. There is a mosque everywhere you look. S even saw a jihaadi sign.

Lombok’s people are 85% Sasak, culturally and linguistically related to the Balinese, yet Moslem (Bali is 95% Hindu). A notable non-orthodox Islamic group found only here are the Wektu Tulu (“Three Prayers”) who do not pray at all five times as suggested by the Al’Quran. I tried to determine what the times might be. To my untrained ear, it seemed as if prayer punctuated perennially. While it rains on Lombok, it is rarely more than an hour and it is definitely drier than on Bali.

Quickie London

No better bargain than the hourlong concerts at Wigmore Hall. Sunday perfs include a glass of sherry. Most shows sell out but if you arrive by 1100, wait for returns.

Stroll through (free admission for the permanent collection) the National Portrait Gallery and then head upstairs to Portraits for a chimney sweeps view of the skyline. Sunday brunch until 1500. Book ahead. Turn the corner to the stately National Gallery at Trafalgar Square (also free admission) to check the Old Masters

Next stop: Indonesia

Quickie London

Maybe everyone else also decided to head across the Thames to Borough Market (tube: London Bridge on the Jubilee and Northern line) for brunch today. Crack into the Globe Tavern for a cold pint.

Walk off the carbs with a stroll along the Thames Path to pass the Globe Theater and the National Theater complex. There are jazz musicians playing under acoustic perfect covered walkways playing Mozart to jazz.

The highly skilled Boys’ Choir sings Evensong every afternoon except Wednesday and Sunday at the Abbey. This is a good way to see the abey without battling the tourists but enter through the main west doors and get there by around 1445

Despite the current Broadwayification of the West End, some good shows are still to be seen. Get cheap tickets at the TKTS booth in Leicester Square 1000-1900, except Sunday noon until 1500 only. Always check the London Theater Guide Online for reviews and prices.

Parisian fare for $200 for two in the Mayfair at Le Boudin Blanc but go for the outdoor tables if the weather permits.

Quickie London

All of you post-holiday bargain vacation seeking travelers must remember that attitude is everything and that the TSA strongly mandates that “Snow globes, regardless of size of amount of liquid inside, even with documentation, are prohibited in your carry-on.”

The bar at the Dorchester has reopened and you must go there immediately upon arrival to check out their martini (The Martinez is an 18th century recipe with Old Tom Gin). Gin an tonic with house flavored bitters (cardamom or ginger) is $21. Londontown does not dazzle at first viewing. Stroll across the Waterloo bridge right off the Strand and stop midway to look around. In front is the fanciful London Eye. To your right are Parliament and Big Ben. To your left is St Paul’s Cathedral. and below you see a few slow moving boats on the Thames. All is right with the world.

The Tate Modern is open until 2200 on Saturday which means less crowds. Last admission is at 2115. In the up and coming area of Clerkenwel is the new Spanish Moorish restaurant Moro where diner runs around $160 for two, including wine

The late night vibrancy of Leicester Square is approaching the soullessness of Times Square. But you have your Burger King, your Pizza Hut and your entreating 20somethings joshing with the doormen. The chaotic party scene lasts until 0230 or so when everyone suddenly makes a bee line to the early morning buses heading out of central Londontown.

Hereby Resolved

Resolutions for 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!

1. Continue to work less (days)
2. Work more (in yard)
3. Spa more.
4. Continue to travel more.
5. Play more piano.
6. Read more.
7. Continue to give more.
8. Continue to be nice to everyone.
9. Unclutter life.
10. Keep it simple.
11. Continue to be less anal.
12. Fulfil goals*

Good leads to follow:

• American College of Sports Medicine
• American Council on Exercise
• National Strength and Conditioning Association
• Exercises in the Adult Exercise Program

*Numerical Goals:

• work no more than 200 days and 80 nights
• sleep 7 hours nightly
• spa 7 times a week
• run 1 marathon
• drop heart rate to 55
• see 4 new countries
• piano every alternate day
• read 26 books
• give 10% to charity

Roll Call