I don’t know when my last blog post was. Was it two weeks ago? Was it longer? I write blog posts so frequently that I don’t remember. What I do know about is Antifa. And what I can say is that testing whether I didn’t have to break for a vacation (see TPOL’s Vacation Post Policy) was a good idea. That experiment has left me feeling positive. My editor was worried that I would quit, but I assured him that this approach was for my mental well-being. Now that I’m back, expect the same great content as before until my next trip when I’ll be forced to run the Turkey Trot virtually (see Cyberbully? TPOL’s Puerto Rico Turkey Trot (2nd Edition)). Here’s to hoping that the jackass in chief leaves peacefully and doesn’t try any Ohio State shenanigans before January (see The Game: A Wolverine’s Guide For Surviving Columbus).
Yesterday I went on vacation. In this new world of shit, this doesn’t mean hopping on a plane. It means mentally checking out of my daily routine which, despite COVID, is actually productive and fulfilling. Still, I need a break from fighting big companies (visit Bachuwalaw.com).
What I’m trying to figure out is whether going on vacation now or in the future relieves me of my obligation to blog daily. I used to blog on the go in an attempt not to fall behind on trip reports. I scrapped that idea because I would rather enjoy my trips than spend hours deciding which photo of the hotel soaps I should use. With my staycations, which I expect will last through next spring, I don’t have the burden of trip reports. But does that mean I should spend my free time writing posts?
I’m not sure who invented the rule that successful bloggers have to post daily. TV shows take breaks, late night hosts take weeks off, and the Olympics is every 4 years. Still, people tune in when they’re back on the air. Accordingly, I too will take a sabbatical when it’s vacation. Whether it’s 3 days during the never-ending pandemic or 3 weeks when my normal life resumes, TPOL will go dark. Of course, I reserve the right to break my silence should the need arise.
Like all great entertainers, I will announce when I’m going offline. That way you aren’t constantly hitting refresh in anticipation of my next post.
Sanya is a great place to visit. There’s a superb nightlife (see Sanya! Where to Party Guide) and there are plenty of beautiful beaches. It’s the island’s goal to become the Hawaii of the East. The first night I was at the Four Points near the city center enjoying the big city feel, think Honolulu. The second night I moved to the Sheraton. Now I was beachfront but much more isolated, think Maui? (See Sanya, China: Struggling To Find Where to Stay.)
Valet
The best thing about the hotel is the valet. They parked my car in the lobby.
The Hotel Itself
The hotel is massive. The grounds looked like Hawaii.
The Suite
The suite was spacious and cool, a nice retreat from the hot Sanya sun.
The Bath
I’m not one for sitting in hotel tubs, but it was aesthetically nice and connected to the bedroom.
The Bathroom
Hot shower, that’s my style.
The View
Easy to see how I could believe I was staying in a Hawaiian paradise.
The Pool
The Hawaii meets jungle theme continued.
The Beach
And now to finally relax on the beach, or at least attempt to do so.
For so few people, the guests that were there were amazingly noisy. It was like I was back at the club. The reason I had left the city center was for peace and quiet. I found none. Any confusion if this was Hawaii or if this was a secluded getaway was destroyed by the rambunctious crowd. And I’m not talking about young spring breakers. I’m talking about a group of old people who did not understand the concept of rest and relaxation. It was nonstop yelling and carrying on.
It wasn’t until sundown that I could unwind.
Overall
The Sheraton Sanya is a lovely hotel. I only had one day on the beach so it would be unfair to generalize if Sanya-goers are always annoying or if this was an obnoxious bunch. I can say that the peace and calm was more visually represented than audibly.
Do you recall the post, Complaints: How Long Till You Let It Go?? Here’s one I didn’t let go and now can live to tell about it. I was charged a $10 cash advance fee by Citi for using my Prestige at Kathmandu Airport. There was no way of knowing that it would be processed as a cash advance which is why I caution against using credit cards to pay visa fees (see Rainy Season? Visa? Lessons from Travel (ANA Edition)). I tried to deal with the charge when I came home via chat. That did not work. I emailed the office of the president and was surprised when I received a call stating that my request had been received and that Citi would reverse the charge.
The usual answer for keep vs. cancel regarding annual fees these days is cancel. There are two cards where this rule did not apply. First is Chase Ink. Second is the Amex Business Gold. I use both of them to get 3X points on ads. For me, that’s the best way to accumulate points and more importantly, money. The annual fee of $175, the grandfathered rate, for my Business Gold came due. I called to see if anything could be done about the fee. Usually I ask for points, but since points are useless right now, I asked for them to eliminate the annual fee. Surprisingly, I was offered $100 statement credit. I accepted it and on we go.
I’m happy to refer anyone looking to sign up.
TPOL’s TIP: The new version has an annual fee of $295, but you do get 4X points on ads. Tempting but not worth the cash for me.
Let’s play The Price Is Right – what number do you think is before the 0?
I could tell you a romantic tale about how a local artist recommended this restaurant and how it was authentic. The truth is I was smart enough to avoid the main street and lucky enough to find this place.
Besides injecting myself with bleach and calling it a day, I’ve tried to find ways to stay alive and stay positive. By positive I mean my attitude, I don’t mean a positive test (see Thanks Donald! My COVID Test in Puerto Rico). I’m slowly adapting to this avoidable shit normal (see Social Distance Yourself from Misinformation). I’ve accepted the fact that America is a pariah on the world stage and that I won’t be allowed to seek refuge in a country that has its act together (see Do I Stay Or Do I Go? Thoughts on the Second Covid Wave, written on 4/23/20). Remember when a certain someone called places shithole countries? Now look where we are. Fear not, we’ll all magically disappear.
Instead of dwelling on inept, incompetent, negligent leadership, I decided to take care of myself. First, I addressed my fitness needs (see TPOL’s Travel & Fitness Intro). Second, I took out a loan for $420,000,000. Finally, I addressed my drinking problem. And by problem I don’t mean drinking too much. I mean the inability to party without exposing myself or others to COVID. While I refuse to fall for the gimmick products marketed for this pandemic, I did make an exception for the following:
The Redee mask and straw gives me the flexibility to be my belligerent self and remain social. COVID isn’t going away for a long time so why not have a shot, even if it isn’t the vaccine which won’t be out by November, and even if it is out of a straw. Regardless, you’ll feel a lot better than a certain clown did after his pathetic debate performance.
Bloggers write about credit card offers and it appears that they get approved for everything. Someone Lucky still seems to get approved for Chase cards despite the 5/24 nonsense rule. That good fortune does not apply to me. I get a “don’t you even bother” pop-up if I even go near a Chase offer. Since life is too short to wait for my inquiries to drop off my credit report, I apply for every new offer that is available. It worked recently for my Alaska card. I thought I would give it a go for the Capital One Venture. I have applied for that card three times, and three times I have been instantly rejected including now. On top of that, there is now a hard inquiry on all three of my credit reports.
