Post 26.1: Departure for Vancouver (LAX-YVR: AS 711)

For this July 4th weekend, I did something highly unpatriotic... I visited Canada.  Is that so wrong? The guilt in my heart indicates that it is just a tad bit wrong.  But, but, but... before we jump to any conclusions about where my heart lies, I will say that after this trip I have set my feelings towards my country in stone.  YEAH, AMERICA ROCKS.

But here's a little warming up to the slew of fatty, fried foods that I had in our friendly neighbor to the north.  Behold, the commute:

Fill'er up! Every trip starts with a stop at the gas station.

My Sam Adams from Goldstone's in Terminal 3 at LAX.

Preparing to board.

EVA Air (BR 16) to Taipei prepares for departure across the way at Tom Bradley Int'l Terminal.

Gate 33, eh? The AS staff throws in a few jokes during the boarding announcement.

The scenic route. 

The captain directs our attention to the Sierra Nevada mountain range just to our east.

My in-flight reading. 

Gaga article and McChrystal controversy.  And OJ for a change.

J'ai arrive.  Landed twenty minutes early.

It's cool to see French instead of Spanish as the second language on signage.

To baggage claim.  Native culture adorns YVR Airport.

Speakers play the bird's calls, and the water under the kayak is reflected on the ceiling.

The arrival hall at YVR.  Immigration and Customs.

Totem poles of the natives stand guard for Canada.

Of course, I was interrogated regarding my purpose for visiting Canada:

Officer: What brings you to Canada?

Me: Fun...?

Officer: Fun...?

Me: I'm visiting... um, uh... sightseeing...

Officer: When was the last time you were in Canada?

Me: Uhh... after high school?

Officer: Where in Canada are you staying?

Me: Vancouver? Um, uhh... Burnaby?

Officer: Who are you staying with?

Me: My friend...?

Officer: What's your friend's name?

Me: Amanda...

Officer: What does she do?

Me: (sweats) I'm not really sure, but I know she works at a school.  I think it has to do with education.  (thinking... I sound really credible here.  My answers probably scream DRUG TRAFFICKING.)

Officer: How long are you staying in Canada?

Me: 5 days.

Officer: Not 115 days?

Me: Oh, don't worry! I'll be gone by Monday! (thinking... what the hell is wrong with me?!)

Officer: (stamps passport and smiles) Welcome to Canada.

A warm welcome! I love Canada? Maybe, but not just yet...

Meet Amanda, my tour guide and awesome hostess for the weekend.

Whoo hoo! Can't wait for poutine and some delicious Cantonese-style Chinese cuisine.  What else does Canada have in store for me? An unexpected Hawaiian-themed barbecue, way too much fried food, more unexpected surprises in Taiwanese form, too many Kit Kats, and a tow truck (and the onslaught of being insanely late for the return flight home).  To be continued...

ML - 20100701/20100708

Post 25.1: Departure for Seattle (LAX-SEA: AS 477)

Here's how we got from LA to Seattle by 9:00 a.m.:

3:30 AM / Wake up
4:00 AM / Standing in driveway... waiting for Jess to pick us up
4:15 AM / Wake Jessica up because she didn't hear her alarm

4:20 AM / Text Connie and Duke just in case they didn't hear their alarms...
4:21 AM / Confirmation... Connie is awake
4:22 AM / Confirmation... Duke is also awake

4:23 AM / Text Diana... supposed to be at my house 10 minutes ago... is she asleep too?
4:24 AM / Text from Diana... "will be there soon"
4:25 AM / Diana arrives within one minute

4:30 AM / Jessica's Accord screeches into my driveway
5:15 AM / Arrive LAX (nice driving, Jess)
5:16 AM / Find Connie inside

5:20 a.m.  LAX Terminal 3.  Waiting for Duke.

Facing the emptiness.  It's actually quite crowded behind me.

5:25 a.m.  Saving time and money.

The four of us consolidate our liquids into one bag for check-in.  $15.  Smart.

5:50 a.m.  Man in front of me reads Chinese newspaper.

I am amused.

5:55 a.m.  Say hello to the Alaskan native.

A plane takes off in the background.

5:59 a.m.  Push back from the gate.

Hello VX planes.  See you on the return flight!

6:00 a.m.  Taxi to the runway.

The air traffic control tower and iconic Theme Building sit behind.

6:05 a.m.  Take off.

As we barrel down the runway, a Qantas flight touches down on the adjacent runway.

6:05 a.m.  The wheels lift off the ground.

QF 25 from Auckland comes to a stop just as we lift off.

6:06 a.m.  I'm leaving on a jet plane...

Flying Up in the Air.

6:06 a.m.  Where ocean meets the sky...

About to turn North by Northwest towards Seattle.

6:07 a.m.  Bye, bye, bye...

Our Airplane! was a Boeing 737-900.  I was hoping to fly in this.

7:00 a.m.  Would you like a snack? I sure would!

Party mix and real tomato juice for a change.

8:55 a.m.  Wings extend to the fullest for landing.

I love how the mini jet stream flies between the flaps.

9:06 a.m.  Welcome to SEA: Seattle/Tacoma Int'l.  Rain.

In the back sits an NWA jet that has yet to be painted with Delta livery.

While we were waiting to de-board the plane, some passengers had to be taken away by security because they threatened the flight attendant.  Smart.  All because a passenger stepped on another passenger's foot.  Real smart.  Props to the Alaska Airlines FA who picked up the screaming baby and walked it up and down the aisle.  Super props.

To be continued.  Until then, get S.O.F.A.T.

ML - 20100624/20100529

Post 15.3: That's Not Tomato Juice!

The one thing I will always remember about my first flight with United Airlines (LAX-SFO) was the unexpected Bloody Mary Mix.

I have a habit of ordering tomato juice as my in-flight beverage.  Strange, perhaps... but there's something about the saltiness of the juice mixing with the quickly melting ice that gets me.  I'm not sure it's that I like the taste as much as I like seeing the nano-sized bubbles blend with the liquid tomato and sink in swirls to the bottom of the plastic cup.  It's art, really.

So sitting in the aisle seat of row 27 (the very last row) on the plane, I was patiently awaiting to be served my highly anticipated ice cold Da Vinci in a cup.

FA: Sir, what would you like to have?

ML: Tomato juice, please?

Without saying a word he placed a can of Mr. & Mrs. T. Bloody Mary Mix on the tray table.  Immediately, he called a few rows above to the other flight attendant, "Done!" 

He began locking up the cart while the female attendant served her final passenger.

FA: Ma'am, would you care for a beverage?

Ma'am: Tomato juice, please.

FA: We're all out of tomato juice at the moment.  We have a Bloody Mary Mix though... it's like a spicy tomato... would you like that?

I was speechless.  Just 3 rows up was a completely different world.  I know I was sitting in the last row of United Economy, but I am damned sure that row 24 was not part of First Class.

It's not like I requested anything too crazy, right? I mean, I didn't ask the flight attendant to go Starbucks crazy with the skim milk + extra foam + half a shot, etc.  My first inclination was to switch the Bloody Mary Mix out for a more standard apple or cranberry... or even ask for a shot of vodka, but I thought I'd try the "spicy tomato" for the sake of trying it.  

And you know what? The taste grew on me.  The more I swiveled the cup, and the more the ice melted between the velvety, red liquid... the better it tasted.  No aftertaste or anything.  As long as I didn't stare at the stalk of celery on the can, I was fine with it.  Would I order it again? Probably not.  But if it were ever carelessly substituted for a V8 or a plain tomato juice, I think I'd just pop open the can, let the pour melt the ice, and... swivel away...

ML - 20100412/20100314