Page 288 – The Points Of Life

36,000 Miles And I’m Back A-Live

thepointsoflife

-

January 17, 2015

36,000 miles later, many headaches, a lot of drama following fortunes made and lost, I’ve returned to these United States. The voyage began in July 2014 and today, the 17th of January 2015, I’m taking a few days to catch my breath before I’m back at it again.

Hopefully the a-live posts over the last month have been entertaining as I chronicled my exodus from Mongolia. I now return to my regular blogging of Trip Reports from my laptop instead of the trusty Blackberry. Obviously I plan on doing much more than redundant posts about first-class showers that but it will be nice to catch up on and relive this latest adventure.

Here is the routing and map of my travels from when this all began:

phx-jfk-hel-rix-ist-icn-pek-uln-pek-pvg-hkg-pvg-kix-pek-uln-icn-uln-pek-bkk-rgn-hkg-ord-mco-fnt

Born Into Points: Disney Vacation Club

thepointsoflife

-

January 15, 2015

0

Today while on the Disney Bus to Animal Kingdom, I had an eye-opening experience when I heard older people talking points. They were my parents’ age and were embracing the idea of points for stays at hotels throughout the world. This was a strange encounter as my parents do not get nor do they support my points hobby.

Ever interested, I listened intently to try and figure out what made these people different from my parents. Then it hit me; these were not points churners. These were members of Disney’s Vacation Club, a points scheme invented by Mickey so families could come to Disney somewhat affordably year after year.

My parents signed up for Vacation Club in the 90s and still come to visit even though my sisters and I are somewhat all grown up. Indeed, many of my fondest memories are coming to Orlando for spring break before heading off to college.

As I sat and listened to discussions of ‘banking points’ and using points to go to Hawaii, I wondered why my parents would endorse this program that cost money to join and requires yearly dues with similar attention to detail needed to maximize membership benefits versus churning cards and paying annual fees.

In my opinion, the points game is far more flexible with where you can go and how you can get there. And with MS the costs associated with pursuing the hobby are much more reasonable.

As I was leaving the bus, I heard a Vacation Club member use the word ‘aspirational’ to describe a Vacation Club property they hoped to visit.

Perhaps points churns and Vacation Club members aren’t so different after all. Perhaps someone could tell my parents the same.

W Disney: Wherever, Whenever

thepointsoflife

-

January 14, 2015

2

OK, so there isn’t a W Disney but how funny would it be if that was the name of a hotel here. Instead, this is a quick commentary of Disney hotels in general whose prices are astronomical and subpar guest services.

I haven’t been to Disney in a decade but I do not recall everything being so expensive. Today at SPG’s Walt Disney Swan property, my dad was duped into paying $20 for 3 hours of parking. When did Disney start charging for parking?

A burger with fries at the resort? Also $20. The cost of hotels is so steep that the only magic left in the 407 is when a family of four pulls off a day at the park with the kids with money left for food. The cost of admission for Epcot and the like are right around $100 with a nominal discount of $4 for kids age 3-9.

For these outrageous prices, maybe it’s better to take the kids to Las Vegas, at least then the parents stand a chance of breaking even.

Global Entry Random Search?

thepointsoflife

-

January 12, 2015

5

I’ve been trying to sell Global Entry to all my international travel friends. For $200 you get 5 years of skipping the immigration counter and coming back to the United States free of hassle.

The question I always received was “how do they know you’re not bringing in drugs,” if u skip the desk? The answer is supposed to be because you went through the background screening and interview process making you a trusted traveler.

Today I found out that trust must be earned beyond applying and being approved for the program. After 14 hours in Cathay first, I approached the Global Entry machine, swiped my passport, and took my picture.

With no bags checked I was ready to smell the smells of America for the first time in half a year. Instead, I was told that I was randomly selected for screening.

Randomly selected? What’s the point of Global Entry if I’m just as randomly selected to go through extra security checks as I was before I applied for the program?

The check took only a few seconds as I joked the agent that this was my first time using the system and I wanted a refund for what feels like the old days where I was always randomly selected.

Anyone else have this happen?

You're not in Hong Kong anymore. — You’re not in Hong Kong anymore.

Cathay Pacific First Class 777-300ER

thepointsoflife

-

January 11, 2015

0

So here’s a quick alive post and flight review.

Cathay Pacific first class is awesome. 14 hours of Krug champagne.

Bye bye.

Packing Up And Shipping Out

thepointsoflife

-

January 11, 2015

0

Another chapter of the book is closed. I’m packing up and shipping out of Mongolia via Hong Kong. Some decisions are no brainers like drafting Bron Bron with the first pick. Others are straight busts like drafting Darko Millicic instead of Carmelo Anthony and a whole host of other players.

But recognizing the failure of a gamble however ill-advised it was leads to better preparation for the next selection. Otherwise you’re stuck with Josh Smith jacking up 3s with no regard for human life.

My name is Darko and I approve this message. So long Ulaanbaatar, see you never again.

At least I’m leaving in style thanks to Cathay 1st.

George Costanza and Wan Chai

thepointsoflife

-

January 11, 2015

0

How does George Costanza and Wan Chai go together in the same sentence? Simple. I like George seek out the finest toilets in all of the world by walking into 5-star hotels and pretending to be a guest.

Entering the lobby with confidence and my Western face leads me to the splendid ivory, bathroom attendants, and first-class soap.

Why am I now telling you about this strategy? Simple. Because I’m in Wan Chai and finding a clean toilet among all the filth is damn near impossible.

Many thanks to this hotel for hosting me.

The Press in Ulaanbaatar

thepointsoflife

-

January 10, 2015

0

The press in Ulaanbaatar is depressing. Once a mighty empire, the land of Genghis Khaan has become a wasteland in all senses of the word.

The country is literally standing on a gold mine but the government’s mismanagement to put it kindly or corruption to put it bluntly has rendered the prospects of striking it rich a foolish endeavor for those who were naive enough to believe it is possible.

The mood on the ground is captured by gazing at the sky. Depending on the vantage point, the impression of Mongolia will vary. Looking off into the horizon, the sky is clear, blue, and endless. Panning in, the film from the smog of burning raw coal and tires is stifling.

The self-inflicted problems of a land that otherwise would be prosperous is baffling. A democratic government, limitless reserves, and a proud history are not enough to inspire hope. Years come and go but change does not. With no unifying leader to muster the nomadic mindset of its people, Mongolia remains stuck in the shadow of its former self. Though everyone believes that a return to greatness is inevitable, no one has laid out an orderly way as to how this will be achieved.

The way forward is to embrace the ideology of what made the country great in the past appreciating that complacency and bureaucracy were not the battle cry for the Khans of the past.

Why Stay at a Hostel in Hong Kong

thepointsoflife

-

January 8, 2015

0

Two nights at the Hyatt Regency was the proper prescription following the interminable bus ride that was my time in Burma.

Two nights was also enough to know that cash and points isn’t as great a value when the cabrini green housing project known as the Chunking mansions are located next door.

Hyatt goes for $100 a night + a ten percent service charge while your room in the mansion goes for $33 a night (negotiable based on your tolerance of living conditions).

The room is very tolerable. It comes with AC, hot water, WI-FI, and a television. Makes my Mongolia apartment goat herder look like a welfare case.

But the reason I advise to stay in the mansions is because the rooms are very small. They are so small that you have to, hangover or not from playing the 7 Eleven game, leave the room and explore the city.

Much like the two days at the Hyatt, two days at the hostel is all I would advise for your sanity and for your liver.

Here’s the fashionable room worthy of its own hotel review.

How to Explore Hong Kong On Foot: The 7-Eleven Drinking Game

thepointsoflife

-

January 7, 2015

7

How to Explore Hong Kong On Foot: The 7-Eleven Drinking Game

Despite its small size, Hong Kong isn’t the cheapest place to explore. That’s why I’ve come up with this handy guide to explore Hong Kong by foot and have a great time doing so. If you do not like beer, then quit reading now. If you do, then feel free to apply this game to other cities throughout Asia but be wary of the consequences should you try to do it in Taiwan or Thailand.

The name of your tour guide is 7 Eleven. The rules are simple: Leave your hotel and start walking in any direction. As soon as you come across a 7 Eleven, stop in to purchase a beer. In Hong Kong, many beer brands are 2 for the price of one so it helps to have a friend go along with you. Alternatively, it is a great way to meet someone should you find yourself traveling alone.

After purchasing your beer and toasting to a great day in Hong Kong, continue walking while taking in the sights and sounds of this bombastic city. As soon as you come across another 7 Eleven stop in and grab another beer for you and your new friend or devoted travel companion. From there, the game gets a little tricky as you may encounter a 7 Eleven across the street from another 7 Eleven. Now is not the time to practice temperance.

Proceed to the first 7 Eleven and purchase a beer then immediately cross the road and purchase another. If you find yourself understanding the Cantonese neon-lit street signs then you are playing the game correctly. If you find that you are lost, keep walking because your tour guide, 7 Eleven, is only a few more paces away.

The goal is to make it to the harbor of Hong Kong whether you started your tour on Hong Kong Island or Kowloon then make it to the other side only to start over again.

The best part is that the tour will take you to places in Hong Kong that weren’t in your Lonely Planet guide, introduce you to new people who you may not have spoken to in your reserved state, all for less than the cost of a hop on, hop off double-decker bus.

Warning: Your 7 Eleven tour guide is not responsible for the poorly made, badly tailored suit purchased after a few hours on the trail.