Planning for the Inevitable

Bought snowbird flights for our winter getaway, cashing in a bunch of Delta e-credits that will expire soon. Come February, all these seats will be filled.

Planespotting

Woke up to a view of wet tarmac and San Francisco SFO’s International Terminal A. After a week of blue skies, rain was pelting down. Soon, the EVA Air (green tail on the left) flight will depart for Taipei, the China Eastern flight (on the right) for Shanghai, and we’ll be en route to Minneapolis/St.… Continue reading Planespotting

(Not Quite) Minimal Backpacking

Soon we’ll be hiking inn-to-inn in California. We’ll stay 3 nights in a fake British pub with no tea kettle in our room. Confirmed this minimal (8 ounces) setup reaches the ideal temperature range for coffee (195-205°F). The kit includes Japanese-style filters, a trusty aluminum mug from my teenage years, and two slightly younger plastic cups (about 36 years old).

Applying a Large Language Model to Travel

These days, navigating a massive Japanese train station with its multi-level tracks feels less like studying a map and more like following a personal guide. Google Maps provides step-by-step instructions, delivered straight to my wristwatch. A gentle vibration tells me when to turn, making the journey to the exit for my hotel less stressful. This… Continue reading Applying a Large Language Model to Travel

Excess Baggage

It was time to empty my backpack. Some things I never used in Japan include: a spork (accidentally brought two), a SIM remover (I used an eSIM), work gloves (for clambering over volcanic rocks), and various health and repair items (duct tape included). The mental unpacking, however, will take much longer.

Final Stop, Yokohama

Monday. Travelled by bullet train from Kanazawa to Tokyo, then transferred to a local train for Yokohama (part of Greater Tokyo), my final stop on this trip. On Wednesday it will be a 20-minute ride on the Keikyu Line to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport international terminal.

Kanazawa for the Weekend

I’m now in Kanazawa (blue dot) which will be my base for the next three days. Authorities are begging tourists to return after the January 1, 2024 earthquake devastated areas in the peninsula north of Kanazawa. Today I traveled 144 miles from Osaka via two bullet trains and four local trains. Along the way, I paused for a hike.