Possibly Addictive Game: GeoGuessr

I bet you think you know your geography.  Am I right?

Perhaps you're the person who points out which string of islands is Vanuatu, or where Comoros sits.  You might be the one who patiently explains that the Amalfi Coast is in this area of Europe while the Dalmation Coast is over there.

The fact is, it isn't often that a map proves to be a challenge.  Until now.

GeoGuessr is a geography game that utilizes Street View on Google Maps.  It dumps you unceremoniously somewhere almost guaranteed to be remote, some just nondescript country roads, and it's up to you to navigate the area and decide where you are.  Once you've decided, you make your guess and are assigned points in accordance with how wrong you were (the size of the map pretty much ensures that you won't be 100% right, ever).

It's actually one of the harder geography games I've seen, as it's based more on sight than on place names. My suggestion would be to try it out on your own, then drag some friends into it with time limits and make it a competition.  Chances are the geography nerds will still win, but you never know!

Check it out!

Gorgeous Photography: 22 Unbelievable Places

There are some truly phenomenal places out there!

They say "a picture's worth a thousand words", but the travel photos posted by Bored Panda don't make me want to write so much as hop on a plane.  Some are famous, some less known, but all are beautifully photographed and remind me what phenomenal places are out there.

Check it out!

Craving Paris

Hemingway once wrote that Paris was "a movable feast".  It was a place so marvelously full of life that you need only think of it to evoke the wonder and essence of the city.

This morning I woke craving Paris.

This was a bit of a surprise.  You see, I don't like Paris all that much.  

The city is a bit of a madhouse, filled with French who for some reason think I'm French also (has to be the hair), it smells odd at moments, sweet at others, and I find myself too often overwhelmed.  So how is it possible after years of avoiding this city, that I suddenly crave it?

Sitting on my Toronto patio in the morning sunshine, a cup of coffee steaming between my fingertips, I close my eyes and remember winding streets and narrow alleys.  I remember my feet as they walked up cobblestone hills, thighs burning, talking too loudly to a friend so I could more effectively ignore the patisserie shop we passed. 

We’d just had breakfast, yet my mouth was watering. 

Even in the morning the air was hot, moved by a breeze too subtle for the summer heat.  I carried a bag over my shoulder that bumped my hip with every step, some of the contents fairly useless for the day, making the bag heavier than it should have been.  I didn’t notice the weight.  It was easy to forget incidental inconveniences when surrounded by this city.

We had already seen the Eiffel Tower, so much bigger that I had expected, and strolled through the Gothic grandeur that is Notre Dame.  The Louvre we had gone to the first day at dawn, following a line of tourists in before hurrying to see the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo before the crowds made them impossible goals.  We had shopped on the Champs Elysees, stood atop the Arch de Triumph, and watched a movie in one of the thousands of small theaters that are so easy to find in Paris.  Though we hadn’t done it all, we had done what we wanted and were happy.

Yet years later I don’t crave the moments of Paris.  I have no desire to revisit The Eiffel Tower, nor wish to walk the halls of Notre Dame a second time.  Even the Louvre, though fascinating, is not what draws me to the city. 

I crave the less tangible side, the romantic heartbeat beneath the cobblestone streets.

Imagine yourself there, no goal in mind, just wandering.  Old buildings rise on either side and arguments can be heard in the distance.  Ahead, there’s a break and you see the river, a houseboat parked to one side.  The curtains are frilly lace, drawn to one side so you can see a light flickering within.  A couple walk towards you dressed in black coats, conversing in serious tones until one of them laughs and you think perhaps the other make a silly comment.  They are holding hands, touching shoulders, and like you they are just wandering.

Years ago when a good friend of mine graduated boarding school her parents asked her what she wanted as a gift.  They were so proud, they told her she could have anything.  She asked them to take her to Paris for a cup of coffee on the Champs Elysees.  I always thought her story was wonderfully romantic.  It reminded me of how grand travel could be, and yet at the same time how frivolous. 

Both her image of Paris and mine today are so cliché.   Even having walked those streets, I find it hard to convince myself that it is memory and not media that entice me now.

Originally it was the cliché that turned me off of Paris.  It made it seem surprisingly unoriginal.  There were no surprises, no moments of revelation or astonishment.  Paris is said to be spectacular and it was.  It completely deserves its fame, and I was disappointed because I had somehow expected more. 

I think now that I didn’t appreciate its subtlety.  Perhaps that’s what I crave about Paris today.

Though I won’t book a flight this moment, I know that someday soon I'll go back.  Not with a plan in mind, but just a good pair of shoes, a camera, a notebook and a pen, and a romantic ideal.  I agree with Hemingway, some places are just as wonderful in memory as in life, however others are like a good patisserie shop that need to be sampled again and again.

Airport Experiences: In Love with SIN

I think I’m in love.

There, I’ve said it.  It’s not what you think though.  I’m not in love with Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome, I’m still waiting for him to show up.  No, don’t laugh but I’m in love with an airport.

Crazy?

Yeah, I know.  I SO know.  But after a lifetime of airports treating me as one of the many, how can I not be enamored by the first one who pays attention to my needs as an individual? 

Let me gush for a minute here.  Girly, yes, but guys should hold on as well because it’s not all pink bows and pantyhose. 

My affair is with Changi International Airport (SIN).  Located in Singapore, this gem of an airport comes with a city touted as a shopping and botanical garden haven with the best collection of five star hotels I’ve ever come across.

Why indulge in SIN?  How about:

1.       Shopping

Sure, they have duty free shops for your booze, chocolate and cosmetic addiction, but SIN’s shopping experience is more similar to a mall than to your average airport.  High end offerings include Tiffany’s, Miu Miu, BLVGARI, Bally, Burburry, etc., but you also have options for those not wanting to drop hundreds or thousands on a single item.  On a recent pass through I picked up a really neat shirt at Cotton, a shop in T2 where the average price per item is about $10.  Bring your credit card anyways, it’s fantastically fun shopping here. 

Note: even though security for SIN is at the gates, most flights allow passengers to bring liquids they have purchased in the airport on board.

2.       Orchid Garden

Can you imagine sitting in an airport admiring the flowers?  Perhaps watching the coy as they swim past, while reading a few chapters of your favorite book.  The orchids themselves are a gardener’s dream, with both standard varieties and hybrids on offer.  Gardeners use with caution or risk missing your flight.

3.       Sunflower Garden

This is a simple outdoor garden on the roof of Terminal 2.  Along with the rows of sunflowers and a bit of fresh air, the airplane geek in you can stretch his wings and enjoy fantastic views of planes as they taxi to the gates nearby.

 

4.       Distractions for Children

Have a screaming, bored, overly energetic, troublesome child?  Perhaps more than one?  Need a distraction to keep from murdering them?  You have options!  My favorite was an area where crayons and paper were set out, with the option of creating your own art or doing one of several rubbings.  All I saw were happy children and happy adults around this table.

5.       Movie Theatre

Recent Hollywood blockbusters on offer 24/7.  It’s a small theatre with couches laid out in front of a large screen.  Show times are listed outside, and passengers come and go as they please.  This is a great area to kick back, put your feet up, and catch that movie you were sorry you missed.

6.       Gaming

Guys, this is the point at which most of you will start looking for flights.  The Entertainment Zone has several blocks of PS3s available with 2 controllers each and multiple games on offer.  Additionally, there is a LAN gaming room set behind glass which offers the ultimate indulgence.  All free, of course.

7.       Relaxation Zone

Every traveller knows there’s a point where you just need to sit down for a bit.  Perhaps take a power nap, or just rest wickedly tired feet before going at it again.  Comfy chairs abound in creative nooks around the airport, offering both brief and prolonged respite from the trials of vacationing.

8.       Personal TVs and group videos

Missing your TV?  Not a problem.  TVs abound in SIN.  Just take a seat, grab the remote, and enjoy.

 

9.       Digital Postcards

Feeling disconnected from the rest of the world?  Wanting a Facebook post that will truly inspire jealousy?  How about a digital postcard which you can email to yourself or post on the giant backboard for other passengers to see?  Say cheese!

10.    Internet Voice Chat

Now that you’ve seen and done it all, it’s time to rub it in.  Call your lover, call your friends, or call your parents and tell them all about it using these internet voice chat consoles.  Just don’t spend too long, there is so much more to see and do before your flight!

Of course there is free WiFi throughout the airport, as well as computers if you haven’t brought your own. 

Obviously this is a big airport, and I can hear you whining about the distances you need to cover.  Trains run between terminals at 4 minute intervals, and there are guides available to help you map out your course.  If you’re wondering how long it will take you to get to your gate, consider one of the electronic maps which not only gives you step by step directions, but offers a “print” function so you can take them along.

I know!  Cool, right? 

Post indulgence, there are a plethora of options for munchies, transit lounges where you can sleep it off, a pool on the roof where you can work on your tan, and a gym where you can train for round 2.  Better yet, just keep going as my list doesn’t cover half of what is actually available.

So here’s to avoiding all the advice we ever heard about love at first sight and not falling for the first pretty face.  Screw waiting, screw patience.  We want what we want, and we want it now.  So here’s to falling in love with SIN.  I have, have you?

Airport Experiences: YTZ (Billy Bishop Airport, Toronto)

Did you know Toronto has two airports?

Everyone knows YYZ (Pearson International Airport), that big one in the upper left corner that has the honor of hosting a slew of airlines while acting as Air Canada’s hub.  It has lovely glass walkways that seem to go on forever, questionable artwork that is likely more meant for entertainment than deep thought, and a slew of shops in which you can buy the usual overpriced but Canadianized snack food.  Familiar to Torontonians and foreigners alike, if you’ve flown through Toronto chances are you flew into YYZ.

My point? 

Not about YYZ, I assure you.  That would be like writing a commentary on Coke.  Drink it and make your own opinion.  Better yet, ask your neighbor as for sure they will have an opinion you can steal, origionalize, and claim as your own.  Instead, let’s talk about YTZ, that other Toronto airport.

Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ), often referred to as the “island airport” by Torontonians, is a small airport located on an island directly across from Toronto’s downtown core.   It caters mostly to business passengers traveling to destinations within a few hours of Toronto.  Flights are on prop planes as the runway is too short to land jets on, however the popularity of the airport has recently brought the viability of jet travel from YTZ into question.

 For those not in-the-know:

FlyerTalk: http://www.flyertalk.com/the-tarmac/porter-airlines-wants-to-take-on-air-canada.html

Globe & Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/mayor-ford-asks-for-report-on-billy-bishop-expansion/article11516617/

Assuming we’re all educated now, for kicks let’s look at the airport itself and the implications of an expansion.

YTZ is easy enough to get to, being located in the downtown core, however it isn’t directly connected to the mainland.  As a result, it has the dubious honour of offering one of the shortest ferry rides in the world.  Having ridden that ferry more times than I would like, I’ll say that in Lena-years this ferry takes ages.

Passengers arrive at the ferry terminal where they cue on the upper floor for up to fifteen minutes (they promise, but I’ve absolutely waited longer than this) before being loaded and carried the short distance to the terminal (schedule: http://www.torontoport.com/Airport/Getting-To/Ferry-Schedule.aspx).  Luckily, there are check-in facilities at the ferry terminal, including both machines and agents, so those rushing for the flight and just missing the ferry aren’t completely without hope (I wouldn’t recommend showing up less than 1 hour before your flight unless you are drunk already, have a bottle with you that you plan to polish off before security, or enjoy the wild ride that is the potential anxiety of missing your flight).

Once across, passengers have a quick walk to the main check-in counter, which I have never once seen even moderately busy.

 

From there, passengers usually have a short but very exacting security check before proceeding to the departures lounge.  Of note for frequent flyers, there is no priority line (gasp!).

The lounge is downstairs, offering a setup reminiscent of cubicles in an office with chairs set to face each other in small sets of four.  WiFi is free, and if you need computer access there is a somewhat austere business centre in the back.  Also on offer are drinks (water, pop, juice, hot chocolate, coffee, espresso maker, tea) and snacks (mixed nuts and cookies).  There is no charge for these, and there is also a small shop attached that offers more substantial options for purchase.  Another note for frequent flyers, all passengers have access to this area and there is long Star Alliance lounge (Elitist snob nightmare!  Gasp #2!).

 

 

 

The airport offers only a handful of gates, and the walk is delightfully short to any plane you might be catching (girls, keep your heels on, this is a non-running shoe necessary airport).  When the flight is called, passengers file through glass sliding doors and down a brief hallway to one of several desks where tickets and IDs are checked.  Boarding proceeds from there.

 

So overall, what are the key pros and cons?

Pros:

1.       Downtown location: I’m not convinced that this airport is a faster experience than YYZ, but it does have a phenomenal location.  Transit from the terminal into the downtown core has gotten better over the last several years, and with a shuttle service to Union Station and a timetable for the ferry I would expect the experience to continue to improve.  On top of that, the landing is hard to beat, coming in parallel to the Toronto skyline.  Honestly, I’ve landed in some phenomenal locations globally and never gotten the city skyline these flights offer.

2.       The airport authority has promised travelers a walkway “coming soon”, placating complaints related to the inefficient ferry they currently use.

3.       Departure lounge: Free food, newspapers and a business area with about two dozen computers.  Wifi is easy to access and doesn’t require a password, making this a great offering for those passengers who don’t typically have access to an airline lounge.

4.       Flights are rarely full.

Cons:

1.       Logistics: (1) The ferry: touted as one of the shortest ferry rides in the world, I’m quite certain I could swim across faster.  (2) Getting a taxi: a harrowing experience where you wait with the masses until someone shouts and waves at you to go to “that cab over there!”  (3) Security: For a primarily business-oriented airport where travelers know the procedures, could the agents be any slower?  (4) Pick-up: there is no area for stopping and no cellphone lot, so coordinating pick-up of a passenger is an unpleasant exercise in patience or non-verbal growling.

2.       No Maple Leaf Lounge: If you’re a frequent flyer, you may have gotten use to a little quiet place where you can have a lowball before or between flights.  The YTZ departure area is advertised as a lounge however it’s a far cry from your average Star Alliance offering.

3.       Routing: YTZ is small and caters to small planes.  As such, the route offerings are limited and the distance they travel often means that a connection is necessary.

In my experience, while YTZ is a great concept it has failed to deliver.  My primary complaint is related to the logistics of catching a flight and the ease of getting home when I land.  It’s poorly done and they are overburdened by the passengers they currently cater to.  I’m hard pressed to understand how they intend to efficiently and effectively bring it more flights and passengers.  An expansion is obviously worth considering, but first I would challenge them to work out the bugs in their current system. 

Judge for yourself, but for my part I’ll stick to Pearson.

Wicked Weekends: Montego Bay, Jamaica

             
“Any interesting plans this weekend?” a co-worker asked as we headed for our cars, laptop bags flung over our shoulders and jackets buttoned tight against the cool Canadian spring.

                

“I’m going to Jamaica,” I said, after an appropriate pause that suggested my reluctance to share.

                

She glanced sharply at me, laughing.  “For the weekend?  How far is that?”

                

“Four hours each way.  I’ll be on the beach by one o’clock tomorrow, back in Toronto by eight Sunday night.  The perfect weekend.”

               

“You’re going for two days?”  Again the laugh, then an observation that I was crazy, that I should spend more time there.

                

“It’s not that far,” I shrugged, “and I’m not much for resorts.  I just need a little sunshine.”

               

“Take pictures,” she ordered as we parted ways.  They always say that.  Take pictures, like they need proof that I’d gone.  Funny thing was, if no one asked I wouldn’t have said a word.  Travel isn’t about other people, it’s about enriching yourself. 

                

A few years ago I was considering driving from Ottawa to Boston for a three day weekend.  I was researching the best route to take, and was surprised at how opinionated people were about a simple road trip.  One post stuck in my head, the author held the opinion that unless you could spend at least double the time in a place it had taken you to get there, it wasn’t worth the effort.  At the time I thought that was reasonable.  Travel can be tiring and is a lot of work to organize and engage in.  Today, I only smile when I think about it.  If everyone took that simple piece of advice, weekend trips to the Caribbean would be common.  It’s really not that far.

                

So why did my co-worker say I was crazy?  It wasn’t the first time I had received that observation.  I flew to Myanmar last winter via Dubai, Karachi and Bangkok, leaving on a Thursday evening and walking back into the office the following Wednesday morning.  I was gone five days total; five fantastic, frivolous, fascinating days.  That was a crazy trip.  Jamaica was just a bit of sunshine to wash away the blues of a spring too slow in arriving.

                

I arrived at the airport shortly before the flight, changed my seat to a window near the front, sauntered through security, grabbed a latte from Starbucks, and boarded my WestJet 737 bound for Montego Bay.

Shortly before takeoff a man stopped at my row and took the aisle seat.  We were three to a row and the flight was full, however we were lucky to have the middle seat vacant.  Sitting down, the man immediately introduced himself.  I noticed he had no book or headphones with him, and from the way he started chatting with the flight attendant I just knew I was in for some interesting stories in the hours to come.

                

Life and travel have taught me again and again, pounded the point into my head perhaps, that everyone is the main character in their own story and each story is interesting in its own way.  I’ve sat next to CEOs and VPs, students dreaming of changing the world, HR managers with stories about the crazies they interviewed, and recruiters who asked for my business card.  Because of this, while some people might avoid plane chat, I smiled and jumped right in. 

                

This time I was meeting Joe, who had the honor of having helped Stompin’ Tom Connors write his famous song “Big Joe Mufferaw”.  It was when he was sixteen, and the success of an evening spent writing had obviously shaped the subsequent years of his life.  Today he lived in Toronto, renting apartments in the west end while enjoying the occasional vacation in Jamaica. 

                

The descent into Montego Bay was spectacular, the plane seeming to float over crystal clear waters and white sand beaches.  As I stepped out into the sunshine, the warmth surrounded me like a blanket, welcoming me from Toronto and promising that the bad weather hadn’t been quick enough to follow me down.  I immediately wanted to strip off my long sleeved shirt, run for the waves and throw myself into the surf.  Security suggested this would be inadvisable before customs. 

                

I spent twenty five hours in Jamaica that weekend.  My total transit time was about seven hours each way (14 hours total).  If I followed the advice of that post I had read so long ago, I wouldn’t have gone.  But life changes us, and this weekend was worth it for me in those first moments of sunshine. 

                

Why?

Because when I think about it, it’s the things I didn’t do that I most often regret.  And because I really enjoyed walking into work on Monday morning with a smug expression and just a bit of a sunburn.

Hotel recommendation: Coyaba Beach Resort & Spa

I was really impressed by this little resort.  Fifty rooms total, and very personalized service.  The staff were phenomenal from the moment I stepped out of the taxi, whisking my bag away while offering a drink and a cool towel, taking me to my room which had obviously been upgraded, and patiently pointing out features of the resort.

The room had two beds and the patio doors opened onto the beachfront.  On a corner table a bottle of water and a loaf of banana bread were arranged in a basket, a bright pink flower tucked between them.  Outside, I was within steps of the crystal clear Jamaican waters.

The resort probably had twenty guests the night I stayed, adding an intimate flair to the experience.  I sat for hours in the sunshine, reading a book as the wind caressed my cheek in a soft welcome to this beautiful island.  I thought of Big Joe and where he might be, I thought of life and if I was really happy with where I was, and I smirked when I thought of the snow that would be falling in Toronto this weekend while I was away.

No regrets.

Website: http://www.coyabaresortjamaica.com/

Rate: $170 CAD per night through Expedia

Special inclusions: Fresh banana bread on arrival and high tea in the afternoons

Location: 10 minutes by car from Montego Bay Airport (MBJ)

Awesome Search Engine: Kayak Explore

Though I use kayak.com all the time to check flight prices, I only recently came across Kayak Explore.  This is a fantastic option when you're itching to fly, but can't quite decide where. 

To use it, choose the city you want to depart from, the month you'd like to depart in, your budget, and the flight time.  It then gives you the cheapest flights available that meet that criteria. 

There are several websites out there that offer a similar idea, but the interface kayak uses is absolutely intuitive and links back to their main search engine.  The inability to choose specific dates or a specific network to fly on (for example, Star Alliance) are limitations, but this is otherwise a fantastic and fun option to help pick where to go on that next frivilous (or serious) trip!