Becky … and Margaret – a Katya Tale

Katya and I recently visited Magic Kingdom on our annual pilgrimage to Walt Disney’s World. Because of intermittent showers, thunder and lightning activity, it was not the normal fruitful trip – many of the rides were cancelled for the most part of the day, especially the outdoor ones. As a result, the queues for those attractions were astronomical even by recent Disney standards – and the resultant spillover because of closures force-landed on the inside attractions such as perennial favourite Space Mountain.

We were forced to wander around looking for something that had a shorter queue. We saw this raft ride that we had usually skipped; this ride was a two-minute ride to a small island – “Tom Sawyer’s Island” – that we’d never been to (other attractions were more attractive to us). After we landed on the island, Katya asked me whether I knew who Becky Thatcher was – I said sure I did, “She was Tom Sawyer’s girlfriend!” Apparently, I had failed to notice that the raft that had helped us cross the moat to the island was named after her (a typical Disney touch).

Anyway, we had fun exploring the little island in the rain, until the authorities were forced to close it due to inclement weather and “extradite” us back to Magic Kingdom.

So, today, we were recounting the incident to Mrs. Porcupyn.

Katya: So, do you know who Becky Thatcher was?

Mrs. Porcupyn: Well, I had forgotten but now that you talked about her, I remember. (Counter question) Do you know who Margaret Thatcher was?

Katya: Ummm… Becky Thatcher’s mother?

Porcupyn: #Facepalm!!

My Financial Advice on an Index Card — When I Have Time by Sara Rosso

I share my bite-sized financial advice and some additional resources.

via My Financial Advice on an Index Card — When I Have Time by Sara Rosso

Paris and Berlin – a Thanksgiving Saga [Part 3 – Orlando (MCO) to Gardermoen Airport, Oslo (OSL)]

After much trepidation, our day of departure dawned. Norwegian Airlines (or Air Shuttle, or whatever they want to call themselves) was a relatively new airlines, and we had read mixed reviews about them, including instances where the flight had been cancelled after the passengers reached the gate to board the plane. Besides, we had learned that a consortium of US and other airlines had sued to block them from US skies. With all that in mind, we were a bit sceptical that we would actually be on our flights without any issues. Thankfully, our fears were assuaged when we saw that the plane was ready at the gate a short time after we got there, and we started boarding.

Baab was thrilled at the sight of the Dreamliner, the first time we were going to be travelling in one. The boarding process was relatively straightforward and we got one (or maybe two) window seats among the four of us. It was nearly midnight (past 11 pm if I remember) that we finally took off amidst a light rain shower. My photos show the raindrops streaking across the windows as we took off.

Norwegian being a budget airline, there are no complimentary services enroute. We had brought onboard with us some burritos and sandwiches for dinner, which we had a few minutes after we boarded. I liked the barebones service. It would be great if the airlines would knock off a couple of hundred dollars and leave everyone to their own for the duration of the flight and have minimal stewards/stewardesses. I did engage the crew in conversation during a visit to the restroom. I was surprised to note that the crew were either from Thailand or from Indonesia. Having recently returned from a cruise where the majority of the crew was from Indonesia, I quickly figured out one of the means that Norwegian uses to keep their fares low! Basically, they were using the cruise model with the airlines … at least with respect to the attendants.

After a short while, all of us fell asleep. The flight was pretty uneventful, but for the fact that when I woke up, it seemed still quite dark outside while the smartphone (my first!) that I had brought with me indicated that the local time should be past nine am. It took a while before I figured out, thanks to Baab, that it is the effect of the Dreamliner. Instead of window shades, these windows were photocromatic and could be darkened (or lightened) by the touch of a button. So, I spent a few minutes figuring out those controls and, sure enough, I got bright sunlight streaming in!

I could see the ice and the fjords in the Norwegian landscape by this time, and the plane was starting its descent into Oslo’s Gardemoen airport. We landed on time, and had a few hours to kill before the flight from Oslo to Paris. After enquiring around, we found out that we could leave the security area of the airport, then get back for our outbound flight – and that there would not be too much of a queue to get back, so once we were done from our walk outside, we needed to allow only about 15-30 minutes to get all the way back in to the gate.

So, we decided to head out and see if we could walk about a bit outside the airport. Earlier, I had researched to see what our options were with regard to visiting the city. However, the four-five hours that we had appeared to be too less to try that out – at best, it would be a quick trip out and back with an hour spent in the city, which would not be much at all. So, we had abandoned that plan from the get go.

As soon as we came out of the terminal, the blast of cold air hit us. The temperature was about 26 degrees Fahrenheit. And though it was about noon, the sun was way far down in the horizon. I took photos of the longest shadow I’ve ever cast during the middle of the day!!

And I thought you were smart – a Katya tale

As I was cleaning up around the house and trying to remove traces of my packratism one paper at a time, I came across an unbound tome – it was my doctoral dissertation from more than two decades ago.

Some background aka “flashback”: Katya goes to a school whose director has his PhD. As a mark of respect, everyone refers to him as Dr. ___. It so happens that his daughter is Katya’s classmate. So, each time she refers to this gentleman, she uses “Dr. ___”; I, on the other hand, have never had anyone calling me “Dr. Porcupyn” so it is obvious that Katya has no clue. So, one day, I informed her that I too have a PhD and am within my rights to demand to be called “Dr. Porcupyn”. Katya laughed at me, “No you don’t! You are kidding.”

It took some effort on my part to convince her, though truth being said, I was never really convinced that she was really convinced.

Back to yesterday: Now that I had proof of my “Doctor”ness, I promptly took the sheaf of papers over to where Katya was and said, “Look, here is the dissertation I wrote that made me a PhD!”

Katya: “What is it all about?”

Me: About traffic studies.

Katya (rolling her eyes): Traffic? I thought you were into maths and science!

Me: Well, it needs maths and science.

Katya: Traffic? Who writes all that much about traffic?! Traffic needs maths and science?

Mrs. Porcupyn (coming to my aid): Yes, sure traffic needs maths and science.

Katya (disgusted): You got your PhD in (with extra emphasis) traffic? And I thought you were smart!!

Me (thinking to myself): At least Katya thought I was smart … though it is now in past tense! 😉

Bye Bye Sydney, hello USA

A view from the Intercontinental Double Bay, Sydney (thanks Chase IHG)

Sydney Airport – shops

Two dreamliners

Air Vanuatu

Taxiing over the road at Sydney

Landing at SFO – clouds were very low indeed!

The Great Salt Lake

Salt Lake City airport

Rockies just west of Denver – there should be many fun hikes in this area

Denver freeways and housing developments

Taking off from Denver, we just about escaped this storm!

And that is the end of my trip report, as we got back to Atlanta too late and too tired to take any photos … plus we had to drive overnight to get back home.

In retrospect, we did most of what we set out to per our itinerary, but had to drop the planned visit to the penguins in Melbourne (not enough time), exploring Sydney downtown on our last day there (same reason!), seeing more of Melbourne’s sights such as the Victoria Market, MCG, go to the top of the Skydeck, etc (too much rain … though we did bring our ponchos with us, finally we did not end up using them).

Sydney, Manly Ferry

After all that excitement, I am sorry to confess that this trip report is about to come to an abrupt end. That is because after reaching Bondi beach, we took a bus to Circular Quay, from where we took the Manly ferry to and from Manly Wharf. By then, night had fallen, and we did not do anything further from a sightseeing standpoint. Here then, is the last set of photos for this trip report. I could add photos of planes taken at Sydney airport the next morning as we were about to fly out, but I’m sure you all have seen enough plane photos (in this trip report, as well as on others).

Wait a minute though! I will conclude the trip report by posting (next post) a few photos I took from the plane(s) on the way back to Atlanta.

A sculpture by one of the buildings in the Sydney CBD area

Another imposing building in the Sydney CBD near Circular Quay

A ferry glides by the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Close up view of the Opera House

Entering the iconic Manly ferry

View of the Opera House from the opposite side

The Harbour bridge and the Opera House silhouette

The Watson Bay lighthouse

This is my third photo of the Watson Bay lighthouse – first time from the air, the second time from the land across the water, and this time from the ferry on the water 🙂

From the air (day one)

From the land (day one)

Up there – that’s where we were on land on our first day in Sydney, from where I took the photo of the lighthouse

Approaching Manly wharf …

… and its lots of boats

Souvenir shopping

Twilight view of Sydney CBD

Luna Park at night (this is the best I could get my camera to focus at night)

Local trains in Sydney

Circular Quay station

An amusing (and a little scary) incident took place while we entered our train at the Townhall station (we had gone there to get something to eat at Woolworths) headed towards Circular Quay. We had barely entered the compartment and taken our seats when we heard a lady screaming loudly … and using decidedly unladylike language. Every other word was one that I am pretty sure (I hope I am wrong!) that DD had not previously heard. OK, to be honest, it was the same word repeated incessantly, so after the first time, if she was paying attention, I’m sure DD had heard it before!!

Anyway, the person was not a happy camper. She was making reference to her five-year old kid and the gap between the platform and the train, and to these people who didn’t know how to accommodate a kid getting on the train, etc. Funny thing was, I don’t think there was much of a rush to board the train. After a few minutes of this tirade, I noticed that some folks were coming toward where we were sitting from the location where all the yelling was happening. In the meantime the doors of the train meant to close … but stayed open.

A few minutes passed with no let up. Then we noticed a bedraggled kind of man leaving the train from where the noise was coming from. But the yelling continued louder about folks who should go back to the country they came from , etc. (the bedraggled person looked pretty much like a local, so I don’t think he was the target of the abuses). And then I noticed a few more oriental tourists coming toward us from the Noise Location.

Anyway, after what seemed like ages, we noticed a native Australian woman leave the train with a little kid in tow (who was obviously not oblivious to the colorful language). There were a few uniformed staff on the platform who were talking with her to calm her down. Finally, the doors closed and the driver (or other staff) came on the intercom to apologize for the behavior that passengers in the sixth compartment had been subjected to!!

Sydney, the march from Coogee beach to Bondi beach – Part 3

Scuba divers (practicing, I assume)

Bronte Park and Bronte Beach

Surfers and sunbathers …

… and models modeling on the beach

Tamarama Park

Exercise bench with detailed instructions

Interesting sculpture …

… at Bondi Park

Self explanatory map

Unrelenting waves …

… at Bondi Beach