Travel Guide - ThePointsOfLife

Simply The Best: November 2019

thepointsoflife

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December 3, 2019

Michigan’s football season is done (see Fire Harbaugh, Hire Woodson) and this year is almost done. Here are the best posts for November 2019:

Guns & Butter: (Overrated) Beirut Travel Guide
Marrakech is the most overrated city I have visited. Istanbul is second. Surprisingly and sadly, Beirut is third.
Without Technology, TPOL’s the Creepy Old Guy in Shanghai
A modern playground for those with technology. Detention for those without.
Airbnb Long-Term? Never Again: My Shanghai Experience
For long term stays in Shanghai, I will not use Airbnb. The lists are overpriced, the ones I found didn’t include maid service, and the hosts’ idea as to what guests need left much to be desired.
My Duck Up: You Need a Passport for British Virgin Islands
I arrived at the airport and presented my ID. The ticket agent asked to see my passport. “Passport?” I asked. It did not occur to me to bring my passport.
Taco Bell Shanghai: What an Impostor!
I recall Taco Bell’s old slogan, “make a run for the border,” something that I would have to do if I wanted real Taco Bell.
Jamaica, Queens: How to Avoid Expensive Hotels in NYC
If prices are cost prohibitive in the City, I would consider Jamaica, Queens again, even if the hotel is cringe worthy.
Turkish Business IST-PVG: Really, 2-3-2?
Imagine my outrage when I came aboard Turkish Airlines IST to PVG to find the dreadful 2-3-2 configuration. It was shocking that this route didn’t have a better plane.

Cyberbully? TPOL’s Puerto Rico Turkey Trot (2nd Edition)

thepointsoflife

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December 2, 2019

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Puerto Rico Turkey Trot is part of the TPOL Moves to PR Trip Report.

While the rest of you were asleep, I was up at 4AM AST prepping for the Puerto Rico Turkey Run. Last year, I beat a sneaky runner who tried to sprint past me in the last second (see Puerto Rico Turkey Run: TPOL Wins, Then Trolls). I tried to reach out to him on Twitter this year to propose a rematch. He did not respond.

a screenshot of a social media post — #cyberbullying #bebest

It’s a good thing Eloy did not show up. TPOL was a runnin’ fool that day. I ended up 64th out of 509 overall and 9th out 50 of in my age group.

a table with numbers and letters — My goal was to be under 8 minutes/mile.

I checked the results for Eloy’s name. No sign of him. Maybe next year.

a man standing next to a large inflatable turkey — Who’s the turkey now?

Fire Harbaugh, Hire Woodson

Sports Reporter

thepointsoflife

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November 30, 2019

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Last year I said Harbaugh should be fired. Nobody listened. Instead, I got criticized. Look at the comments in that post. Today, we lost by virtually the same margin to those bloody Buckeyes. That makes Jim 0-5. That’s not good.

Harbaugh can’t win big games. Sure we can beat MSU consistently but they have imploded as a program. Against anyone good, Harbaugh folds. I warned my Michigan friends before Harbaugh came to Michigan that this could be a problem. As the coach of the 49ers, he blew the NFC championship game by having Kaep throw to sorry Crabtree. In the Super Bowl, instead of running it with Gore when they were on the goal line, he chose to throw it again and again. Both games ended in defeat.

That trend continued at Michigan where Harbaugh has not won any big games. He’s only won the ones we are supposed to win and the occasional game against a ranked opponent at home.

Michigan basketball hired Juwan Howard and 7 games into the season that’s looking like the right move (I was skeptical if it were a good hire). Maybe Michigan football could do the same and hire the greatest of all time, Charles Woodson.

Regardless of who’s the next coach, it is clear that Michigan needs new energy. It needs new leadership.

TPOL’s Prediction: Harbaugh doesn’t get fired. He leaves to coach the Cleveland Browns.

a man wearing a hat and yellow shirt — An angry Michigan fan.

I Jaywalk No More

thepointsoflife

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November 29, 2019

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I Jaywalk No More is part of the TPOL in NYC ongoing Trip Report.

Lately, I have been reading about freak accidents resulting in deaths. Whether it be the man killed by a deer or the countless people dying on account of trying to capture a perfect selfie (see Selfie Death in Bhutan), lives are meaninglessly taken.

As TPOL has found sustainable happiness (see TPOL’s Search for the Point of Life in Bhutan) and as I am now the Creepy Old Guy, I am more paranoid about doing something stupid that will result in my premature exit.

I used to jaywalk recklessly. This bad habit started at the University of Michigan where pedestrians always have the right of way over cars. It became worse when smartphones came along. Texting and walking is a surefire way to end up as roadkill. My jaywalking was temporarily halted when I went to Shanghai. Attempts to jaywalk when there is a guard in the intersection will result in loud whistles. Following the whistling, the authority figure will walk you back across the street, even if you had already made it all the way across. Singapore is much stricter. Those that dare jaywalk in Singapore do it at their own peril (see “You can get anything you want here”).

Back stateside, I have grown into a responsible person. With only seconds to go on the timer, I knew I could make it to the halfway point of the intersection. Young me would’ve tried to get there and turn on the jets to see if I could go all the way. Older and wiser, I took a different approach. Why not wait on the safe corner a few feet away from the curb instead of waiting in the intersection, while vehicles weighing thousands of pounds driven by humans who are doing everything but paying attention? When the walk sign came on, I first looked both ways before I crossed the street. Then I crossed in peace.

You can call me old, but that’s a compliment.

a street with cars parked on it — Would you go?

Happy Thanksgiving from TPOL!

The Deal Ticker

thepointsoflife

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November 28, 2019

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I’m taking the day off to eat, drink, and watch the Lions lose (A Lions Thanksgiving: Football at Ford Field). I’ll be back on Friday at 10:07AM, the day before Saturday, and the day before Michigan finally beats those dreaded Buckeyes (see Buckeyes Wolverines: Fourth & Short Trip Report Recap).

a man holding a jacket in front of a crowd of people — 2007 resulted in a loss like virtually every other game this century.

Traveling to Brooklyn? Don’t Fly To Newark, Don’t Trust Lyft’s Estimation

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November 27, 2019

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Traveling to Brooklyn? Don’t Fly To Newark, Don’t Trust Lyft’s Estimation

Transfer from EWR to Brooklyn is part of TPOL in NYC ongoing Trip Report.

Red-eyes to New York from Puerto Rico are becoming regular as Bachuwa Law continues to grow. Looking to save money last time, I stayed one night in Jamaica, Queens. On this next trip, work took me to Brooklyn where work required me to stay for the evening.

Mistake #1: Flying into EWR

If you’re going to Brooklyn, don’t make the mistake of flying into Newark. The points flight may be cheaper, but you will pay with time or money to make the trek from New Jersey to Brooklyn.

Mistake #2: Not Taking New Jersey Transit

Getting from JFK to Manhattan is manageable (see JFK AirTrain: Why Mess with Uber to Manhattan?). Getting from Newark via New Jersey Transit is dreadful. If you arrive late at night, prepare to wait an hour for the train to come. If you arrive during normal hours, you still have to go to Penn Station and take a subsequent subway to Brooklyn. Still, this beats being stuck in traffic and is probably the only time you will hear anyone say that not taking New Jersey Transit was a mistake.

Not a Mistake #1: Booking a Shared Lyft

Based on Lyft’s estimation, even if I booked a shared Lyft, I would arrive at the Sheraton Brooklyn with plenty of time to spare. I also thought that it was unlikely that I would have to share a ride given that I was arriving at 6:45AM. For $33.33 versus a $70 Uber, I was prepared to take that chance.

Mistake #3: Trusting Lyft’s Estimation

I know there is rush hour traffic, but I assumed that Lyft’s app would factor this in when it provided my estimated arrival time. Wrong. I ended up arriving 45 minutes later than expected. The ride took 1 hour and 20 minutes, which more or less would have been the same as NJT + subway for a cost of $16 + $2.75 respectively.

Overall

I shouldn’t have flown into Newark when I was staying in Brooklyn. I also shouldn’t have trusted Lyft’s estimation of how long it would take. Imagine if I would have shared a ride? I would’ve never made my appointment.

a map of a city — One cheap Lyft ride all things considered.

Transfer from EWR to Brooklyn is part of TPOL in NYC ongoing Trip Report.

Jamaica, Queens: How to Avoid Expensive Hotels in NYC

thepointsoflife

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November 26, 2019

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Jamaica, Queens is part of the ongoing TPOL in NYC trip report.

Flights to New York from Puerto Rico are becoming increasingly common as Bachuwa Law continues its growth. Expansion notwithstanding, I do not like to pay big rates for hotel rooms (see Thank You Trump! Best Marriott Anniversary Night Redemption), and I do not like to use points for work trips. This time, I thought I would try a new approach: arrive late at night, stay at a hotel near the airport, and leave the following night. I knew I would be exhausted, but this would minimize costs.

Pro: The Price

I chose to stay at the Lexington Inn at JFK Airport. For $105.75, it was a bargain compared to the $300+ rates I was seeing in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island City.

Con: Getting There

This is an airport hotel without shuttle service. If I didn’t have Amex Uber credit, it would have cost money to get to the hotel. That takes away from the value.

TPOL’s TIP: Make sure the hotel as 24 hour shuttle service before booking.

Con: The Room

The room looked nice enough but I could not get the TV to work, I could not get the shower to come on, and the cleanliness was suspect.

Pro: The Location

It was a five minute walk to the E train. Since I was going downtown, this was ideal.

Con: Subway

I hate taking the subway in New York.

Pro: Subway

The subway is still the better choice compared to dealing with commuter traffic (see EWR to Brooklyn: Don’t Trust Lyft’s Estimation).

Overall

My optimal strategy is to arrive first thing in the morning to NY and leave on a late flight back to PR. That avoids having to pay for a hotel. This time, I was in New York less than 24 hours and saved plenty of money by only booking a night stay. If prices are cost prohibitive in the City, I would consider Jamaica, Queens again, even if the hotel is cringe worthy.

Not bad for next to no sleep.

Expat Life Shanghai: Best VPN China 2019 Is Astrill

thepointsoflife

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November 22, 2019

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Expat Life Shanghai: Best VPN China 2019 Is Astrill

Best VPN China 2019 is part of the TPOL in Shanghai Trip Report.

Disclaimer: I get paid if you sign up using my affiliate link. In exchange, you get a kickass VPN that I hope works indefinitely.

I have been posting about my TPOL in Shanghai expat experiment. One necessity while living in Shanghai is having a reliable VPN (see TPOL Alive & Well Thanks to Astrill VPN). I used to use ExpressVPN, but that didn’t work well this time around. I learned about Astrill VPN and never had a problem with it. Without it, I would not be able to blog, check Gmail, or engage in other typical extracurricular activities.

I use it on multiple devices and have found it to be fast. The guessing game of what network to connect to is eliminated as it provides recommendations. There’s also no need to check or uncheck boxes to optimize the VPN, something that ExpressVPN recommended I do without meaningful results.

Before you go to China, make sure you Google the best VPN and cross-reference that with what is happening on the ground. Today Astrill may work well; tomorrow it may be shut down.

best vpn china — Get a VPN or get used to seeing this.

Expat Life Shanghai Metro: When Every Day Is Black Friday

thepointsoflife

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November 21, 2019

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Shanghai Metro is part of the TPOL in Shanghai Trip Report.

If you’re sick of “DiDi” (China’s replacement of Uber), and want a more efficient way of getting around Shanghai, take the metro. Sure, you will stick out when you use coins to pay for your ticket instead of WePay (see Without Technology TPOL’s the Creepy Old Guy in Shanghai), but it’s worth the embarrassment.

What you need to learn to maneuver around is the mass of people who do not share Western concepts of personal space. If you ride the metro during rush hour, you have two choices: get pushed around or become an enforcer. After being bumped repeatedly, it is understandable to become the latter. It’s also a necessity. The weak get left behind and the strong get ahead.

This jostling doesn’t end on the way to the train. It is also required to get on it. In China, riders line up on the edge of the platform. If there is any room between you and the train, someone will step in front of you. Westerners may call this “cutting,” but in China it is normal.

When the doors open, the silliest thing happens. The people looking to board are so anxious to get on that they don’t wait for those needing to exit to get off. Instead, there’s a human traffic jam that is cured when an enforcer steamrolls the group in one direction or the other.

Once on the train, be prepared to be knocked down by a rider who, despite taking the metro presumably countless times, is still taken by surprise by the initial movement of the train. Without fail, station after station, someone stumbles sideways and lets out a gasp of surprise whenever the train goes forward.

To get off the train, you must continue to be an enforcer. Saying “excuse me” in English or Mandarin will only get you to the next train station.

Overall

Shanghai has a great metro system, but it’s not for the passive person.

a yellow tape with arrows on the side of a building — Feet on the left have the right idea. Nobody follows “mind the gap” regardless if the directions are in Mandarin or English.

Expat Life Shanghai: Setting Up DiDi in China

thepointsoflife

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November 20, 2019

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Setting Up DiDi in China is part of the TPOL in Shanghai Trip Report.

You’ve read the post about how TPOL Is the Creepy Old Guy in Shanghai. While I didn’t try to set up a Chinese bank account, after much effort I did manage to get Didi to work. It is an essential. Trying to hail a cab is next to impossible during peak times.

Initially, I couldn’t link a credit card and could only use DiDi to call taxis. This was still more convenient than trying to flag down a cab on the street. Eventually, the credit card did work though I’m not sure which of the following did the trick:

Updating the DiDi app.
Deleting my Citi Prestige MasterCard and switching to Chase Ink Visa.
Trying continuously despite receiving error messages.

Once it finally worked, I never had an issue until I had to pay a 3RMB fee for making a driver, who never showed up to the right location, wait. For that, I couldn’t use my credit card and I couldn’t book another ride until I paid the fee. Luckily, I had 30RMB in my WeChat from years ago. I was able to pay and book another ride. But for that, I would still be locked out.

TPOL’s TIP: You definitely should take the time to set up DiDi. It’s worth the error messages. Don’t cancel a ride if you owe a driver for waiting. I would be out of luck if I hadn’t had that credit in my account.

a car parked on the side of a road — The look of concern as DiDi takes over the taxi circuit.

Thank you for reading Setting Up DiDi in China. Keep up the fun by reading the TPOL in Shanghai Trip Report.