Rolling along through another blessed Sunday. It may not be much, but it is more than enough to keep me happy. My big accomplishment was booking flights and lodging for a trip to Da Nang, Vietnam in July. We’ll also be doing two nights in Hong Kong, another place I’ve never previously visited. I’m flying budget airlines (Cebu Pacific and HK Express) and I hope I don’t regret it. The actual flights are reasonably priced at around a hundred bucks each way. The crazy thing is that the cost of a checked bag is almost as much as the ticket. Oh well, as long as we have a wheels down landing I won’t complain.
Oh, and here was a rare experience. Usually, it is my first name they spell wrong (Jhon):
Anyway, we got out of the house and kicked off the morning with another Candy Walk:
Here’s what the Candy Walk looks like in action:
Part two of the Sunday routine began with the Hideaway feeding:
Then it was time to hit the beach.
Here’s what getting there looks like:
Once the sun is gone, we are ready to head ashore for our Sunday dinner at John’s place.
After a pleasant dining experience, we headed to Wet Spot for our nightcap. A drink for Irene and Beth, some chitchat, then we were homeward bound. And so ended another Sunday.
Today is Martin Luther King Day. His dream of a nation where citizens were judged on their character rather than their skin color has sadly become a nightmare. Despite the blatant racism against white folk that is inherent in “woke” politics, there is still hope for the future.
Let’s go back in time for a moment or two:
From the LTG archives, here’s a post from 2005 showing my first residence in Korea. I stayed there over five years.
Today’s YouTube video claims that the US is reactivating the Subic Bay Naval Base. Um, that is overstating what I understand to be happening. The video really talks about what the Philippines is doing to utilize those facilities to counter China’s aggression. This is not to say that the Americans won’t be returning at some point. With Trump in charge again, anything is possible. The most likely scenario is American military personnel being deployed to Filipino bases on a rotational basis. Still, the best way to prevent a war is deterrence. Hopefully, China gets the message that starting a fight now will be too costly.
Who is up for a laugh?
And now it is time to prepare for another Hash Monday. I’ve seen a map of the trail, and it appears to be one I will enjoy. I’m going to walk to the start via My Bitch, so I should be getting a good step count today. I’ll tell you how it goes tomorrow (assuming I survive).
We’ll also be doing two nights in Hong Kong, another place I’ve never previously visited.
You’re a braver man than I am. I wouldn’t risk setting foot on Chinese soil if you paid me. Watch YouTube videos by SerpentZA or LaoWhy86 (who are friends) to see why.
I’m flying budget airlines (Cebu Pacific and HK Express)[,] and I hope I don’t regret it.
Yeesh. I hope you don’t, either.
There’s something in the air
But it’s producing a nice visual effect.
A horny goat
No relation to Ed or to Helen, I hope.
Sand and water
I like the dog napping in the foreground.
That’s me thirty-five years ago, half the age I am now.
Suckin’ down a cold one, as usual. The world is unjust, man. I’m the one who had a stroke and a heart attack, and you’re the one with the shitty habits of drinking and, for years, smoking. And all you’ve got are stiffened heart valves and under-control COPD? For God’s sakes.
The stories I could tell from my seven years as a letter carrier.
Sounds like a new feature for the blog:
• Tales from the Mail Bag
• Letter-carrier Chronicles
• Neither Rain nor Snow nor Open Legs
• Shit You See on the Route
—etc., etc.
And now[,] it is time to prepare for another Hash Monday.
I hope it went well.
Been a couple of years since I have been to Hong Kong, but I think you will enjoy. I think it is a cool place – probably could spend your whole trip there.
I assume you pick the routing you did because you wanted to visit HK? Seems like your route is two legs of a triangle rather than the hypotenuse.
Re: budget airlines. Yeah, they get you on the peripheral fees. Check a bag? extra. Want an assigned seat or seats (or want to sit next to your partner)? Extra. Bring a carry on? Extra. Want a water or food while on board? Extra
I am surprised those airlines haven’t started to charge for using the planes toilet!!!
Generally, those airlines are always pretty bad with on time departures and arrivals.
IMO, better to pay more upfront for one the bigger name airlines and when all is said and done, not a whole lot of difference in pricing, especially if you have any luggage. But, I guess the journey is half the fun. LOL
Anyway, glad to see that you are going to be getting out of your comfort zone a bit.
Re: Subic Bay – Trump is much more of an isolationist than any recent administration, so would be surprised if he put US troops in Subic Bay.
Brian, I didn’t choose the itinerary; we are joining another couple on the trip, so I followed their lead. Dave wanted to avoid Manila, and the flights out of Clark required a layover in HK. I’m not a fan of China, but one day going and one day on the return shouldn’t be bad.
I agree that “budget” airlines cost more in aggravation than the savings are worth. I hope I don’t wind up regretting it, but again, I didn’t have any choice.
I enjoyed my visit to HCMC (Saigon) and am glad to have had the chance to experience the beach city of Da Nang.
I think it was a big mistake for the PI to kick us out back then, but I’m not advocating full-fledged US bases here again. Having the shit we need stored and available for contingencies makes sense, though.
Kev, I wouldn’t have chosen Hong Kong of my own volition, but we are traveling with another couple, and I’m following their lead. It’s a one-day layover on both ends, so it shouldn’t be too bad. Hopefully, war doesn’t break out while I’m in China.
Maybe there are hidden health benefits brewed into beer. Or I was born lucky. It does seem that genes play a role. My father was twice the drinker (and a smoker) that I am, and he made it to 83. Then again, my mother had diabetes and all the bad shit like heart disease I’m trying to avoid, so we’ll see whose genes are dominant in me.
Re: mailman stories. So, are you suggesting I turn LTG into a porn site? 🙂