Unclaimed luggage and canada
Rule Your Own State!
2015.08.15 06:27 Delta_Sigma Rule Your Own State!
Yet another Nation roleplaying Subreddit.
2021.06.17 01:11 ItsNotTheButterZone Wear It Forward
GONE, in protest of [Reddit CEO u/Spez's dehumanizing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOm_UKGyrZg) & [deletion of subs that were just granted new mods/community creators](https://reddit.com/modnews/comments/o5ymis/an_update_on_creating_new_opportunities_fo) via redditrequest (eg. clothesswap being rugpulled into a:t5_2t41b) under [the bogus pretense of future community creator accessibility](https://reddit.com/modnews/comments/o18ct9/creating_new_opportunities_for_future_community/)
2024.04.29 00:59 vitiate Flight transfer
We are coming into Rome from Canada and debarking in terminal 3. We have 1 hour to get our luggage and get to terminal 1 to make a connection to Naples on av different reservation. Is this possible or are we taking the train? :-) thanks for your insight!
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2024.04.28 20:30 Trandromeda Trip Report: Golden Route during sakura season and a wedding in Tokyo
Recently got back from an incredible 19 days in Japan. I’m really feeling the post-Japan blues now, but writing about the trip and sharing what I learned feels like a nice way to honour the memories I made.
I (35M) travelled to Japan with my partner (41M) from Canada. We were there from March 26 to April 13 - these dates were “chosen” for us because we were attending a wedding in Tokyo. We got to wear hakamas, walk in the procession at Meiji Jingu, and observe a Shinto wedding ceremony first-hand.
We did the Golden Route + Kanazawa, however, many travelers have already written about this route so I’ll try to offer new stories to interested readers instead.
About us and high-level trip summary:
- Our entire itinerary consisted of: Tokyo (+ trip to Kawaguchiko), Hakone, Osaka (+ trips to Himeji and Nara), Kyoto (+ trip to Hiroshima), Kanazawa (+ trip to Shirakawa-go), and then Tokyo again for the final night in Kichijoji.
- Stayed at a total of 7 hotels and made good use of the luggage delivery service. Usually took 1 day, but sometimes 2, so plan ahead.
- We got the JR West All Area Pass, which let us go to Hiroshima, Himeji, and Kanazawa from Osaka/Kyoto (plus a few other small trips). Not only was this worth it for us in terms of monetary value, but the built-in flexibility came in clutch i.e taking the train at our leisure and feeling much less stress over seat reservations or waiting in line. I used this website to help me determine which pass to get: https://www.japan-guide.com/railpass/
- As mentioned earlier, we attended our close friends’ wedding in Tokyo, which took place at Meiji Jingu and Meiji Kinenkan. It was a truly special and once-in-a-lifetime event. Being photographed by the sightseers at Meiji Jingu was also an interesting experience!
- We went out on weekend nights and checked out the popular places in Shinjuku Nichome (i.e the gay village). While they were fun, you need to dig deeper to find the places that make Nichome stand out from other gaybourhoods around the world.
- Did not make a lot of food reservations because we read how easy it was to find good food around every corner. We found this to be largely true and ate well on our trip (including many konbini meals and bento boxes on the train), but we look forward to diving deeper into the culinary world on trip #2.
- One of my favourite phrases was: Nani ga oishii desu ka? It means ‘What is tasty here?’ and is like asking the restaurant for their recommendation. I never got a bad result with this question.
- The ryokan, onsen, and kaiseki from our 1 night stay in Hakone were all amazing. It was probably our favourite room and meal on the trip. We would certainly return to Hakone and stay 2 nights next time.
- Saw a geisha performance in Kanazawa that was geared towards visitors and it was so fun and fascinating. My partner got to play taiko drums with a geisha!
- The big tourist must-sees were nice, but I’ll fondly remember all the times we just wandered the streets, witnessing small slices of other people’s lives.
- Kichijoji ended up being our favourite area of Tokyo.
- I planned this trip meticulously, but many items still ended up falling through or needed to be re-arranged due to various reasons (fatigue, sickness, timing mistakes). I think you will need to make peace with this and be prepared to be flexible with your plans, outside of pre-booked reservations.
Detailed report:
Before the flight
There were a few things we did before the trip began to help us out:
- Picked up a Wise card, allowing us to withdraw cash without paying extra fees. The fees can really add up.
- Reserved a pocket wifi router for pick-up at Narita.
- Made reservations for popular activities, namely the Ghibli Museum and USJ Express Pass.
- Adjusted our bodies to the new timezone a few days before our flight using an app called Timeshifter.
- Installed the Japan Travel by NAVITIME app, which I preferred over Google Maps when it came to anything involving the shinkansen.
- Watched Perfect Days, a meditative film that follows a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. It got us even more excited for Japan, plus the washrooms featured in this film are real and inspired us to look out for them in real life!
Landing in Japan
- After passing through customs, we picked up the pocket wifi router we had reserved. There are multiple drop-off locations, so you can pick up at one location and drop off at another. We chose the plan that gave us unlimited data for 3 weeks and it was worth it.
- I wanted to get our IC cards, but the line at the JR ticket office was so long that we just opted to buy individual tickets to take the Keisei Access Express. If you are going to be staying near any major metro stations (Ueno, Tokyo, Shinjuku, a few others), you can go there for your tickets because the lines seem to be shorter and you’ll ideally be rested by then.
- I got my IC card at Ueno Station. On the ground floor, at the JR travel centre, you can line up for the Suica. However, I really wanted the cute Pasmo Passport instead. It took some asking around, but we eventually found the ticket office in the metro station, which is underground and had no line at all. We showed our passports and picked up our Pasmo cards without issue. It’s cash only.
- I also purchased an eSIM from Airalo. It was my first time doing so and I found the process fairly straightforward. I only got 3 gigabytes of data, which was for situations where I might find myself separated from my partner (who held onto the pocket wifi). Ended the trip with over 1gb remaining.
- On our first night, we wandered and found some restaurants in the alleyways behind our train station; we ate delicious ramen for around ¥800. It’s true what they say about your first night being a write-off, however, so don’t expect to do much else.
A note about the trains and ticketing system
I loved taking the shinkansen, they were so comfortable and predictable. The ticketing system, however... that’s a different story entirely. I think everyone just has to go through it like a rite of passage. I also couldn’t get SmartEx to work, which would’ve saved us a lot of hassle.
Regarding the JR West pass, I learned that you can’t make online seat reservations with it after you pick up the physical pass. You must use a specific machine or visit a ticket desk. To use the machines, find the ones with the green head boards and then select the option that mentions using a ‘discount ticket’ or something like that. Insert your pass and choose the destination and train you want to take. You’ll then get your pass back along with the printed tickets. Fortunately, there’s usually an attendant there to help you out.
I will miss having bento on the train while watching the scenery pass by (and listening to Fujii Kaze, haha).
March 26 - 28: A gentle introduction to Japan.
Places: Asakusa, Akihabara, Ueno, Ginza, and Chiyoda
Hotel: Route-Inn Grand Tokyo Asakusabashi
We chose this area because it was budget-friendly and gave us easy access to all the places we planned on visiting. A lot of people recommend staying in Asakusa, but we found Asakusabashi to be even quieter and cheaper.
Highlights: - Itoya Ginza is a stationary lover’s paradise. Each of the ten floors is immacuately curated, filled with beautiful things to look at and use. If that wasn’t enough, a nature-inspired soundtrack plays the entire time to really put you in the mood. I picked up a Shupatto bag and liked it so much (great design and durability) that I went back and bought a few more as gifts.
- I found a place called the Okuno Building and it felt like a hidden gem for anyone who’s into art and architecture. Try to time your visit with when Room 306 is open: https://room306project.tokyo/about-en/
- Stepping outside of Tokyo Station, you feel small and the grandeur of Tokyo really hits you. Across the station in the building with the Beams store, there’s an observation deck that offers a gorgeous nighttime view of the area. There’s also a food hall with a great energy and vibe.
- About 10-15 minutes walk north of Akihabara station is an artisanal market tucked away beneath the train tracks. It was quiet and cute with a lot of interesting shops. Many handmade giftable items to be found: https://www.cntraveler.com/shops/tokyo/aki-oka-artisan
- I had a reservation for the Final Fantasy Eorzea Cafe in Akihabara - it was something I had wanted to do for a long time, though it felt underwhelming in the end. The food and drinks were photogenic, but forgettable. There are a number of cafes like these around and I imagine the gimmick is similar in each (at least, the ones run by Pasela Resorts). Still, no regrets!
Notes: - Most of the hotels we stayed at did not allow use of stairs except in emergencies. This was usually fine, but during one busy morning rush we waited a ludicrously long time to get down from the 4th floor! We became acquainted with a charming Japanese woman as a result of waiting for the elevator, so there was a silver lining.
March 29 - April 3: Unforgettable memories made over a weekend.
Places: Shinjuku, Shibuya, teamLab, Kawaguchiko, and the wedding
Hotel: Yuen Shinjuku
Atmospheric hotel. Situated on a quiet street in Shinjuku while remaining within walking distance to all the fun places. Onsen on the top floor with amazing city views.
Highlight: The wedding - To prepare for the wedding, we had a fitting at a kimono rental shop (Vasara) along with some friends. The men in the group wore hakamas, which are like trousers reserved for very formal occasions. Wearing a kimono and hakama was interesting - there’s a lot of tucking and wrapping under those robes, forcing you to stand straight while also having your organs squeezed in. But damn did we feel and look good in them, haha.
- The wedding itself was one of the most gorgeous and well-organized weddings I’ve ever been to and I’m still in a bit of awe. It began in the early morning with a Shinto ceremony at Meiji Jingu. The ritualistic garments worn by the bride and groom as well as the attendants were beautiful. After conducting the tea ceremony in a semi-private reception area, we gathered into a two-column procession and slowly walked to the main ceremonial site deeper within Meiji Jingu, led by a priest and two shrine maidens. Everything was solemn and immaculate. You can read about what these ceremonies are like online, but there were a lot of rituals, rules, and even audience participation e.g. standing, sitting, clapping, and drinking sake. Being photographed by hundreds of people while walking to and from the ceremonial site was also something I didn’t think I’d ever get to experience - I imagine this is what a celebrity feels like!
- The reception afterwards was at Meiji Kinenkan and followed a more familiar Western reception format, with an MC, music, multi-course meal, and live performances (including mochi pounding and spectacular Japanese Bollywood dancers) - but no dancing for the participants, haha. There was also an after-party at an Indian restaurant in Shibuya and it was a much more casual and colourful affair.
Highlight: Nichome - Nichome - one could easily miss this entire neighbourhood during the day, but boy does it come alive at night. We visited most of the major bars: Eagle, Eagle Blue, Dragon Men, Arty Farty, etc. What immediately struck me about those places was how similar they felt to bars back home i.e Toronto. There were lots of foreigners and the vibe and music reminded me of our own bars. It’s still a fun time and you can meet other travellers if you put yourself out there.
- When I said that one needs to dig deeper to find what makes Nichome stand out from other gaybourhoods, I was referring to the hundreds of tiny bars in the basements and upper levels of the buildings all around Nichome. To really get something out of this experience though, you need to either: i) speak Japanese, or ii) be accompanied by someone who can speak Japanese. I was lucky to fall into the latter group and had a few nights of uproarious karaoke, bantering with drag queens, and intimate conversations with bar staff.
Other highlights: - teamLab Planets was mind-blowing and I highly recommend anyone go at least once. The less you know about it, the better. The area around teamLab Planets (which includes the famous Toyosu Market) was also pleasant to walk around. In fact, we had a picnic by the water with a clear view of the Tokyo skyline.
- I find malls in Asia to be on another level and the one we visited - Shibuya Parco - was no exception. There was a large terrace on the top floor with expansive views of the city and the basement housed an impressive food hall with a wide range of cuisines. The floors in-between had many unique offerings as well, even if only to window shop.
- We found one of the washrooms from the film Perfect Days, the one in Nabeshima Shoto Park. The exterior was incredibly designed, though the interiors were just fine. The park also houses a tranquil pond that was nice for a stroll around and the neighbourhood itself was enjoyable to walk through.
- Got my hair cut at a place called Assort Tokyo with English-speaking hair stylists - shout out to Yutsuki who gave me one of the best cuts I’ve ever had!
- Karaoke Manekineko is prevalent in Japan and we had the fortune of going to one with our Japanese friends. It was fun, affordable, and equipped with all our favourite songs (both Japanese and English). Indulge in the bottomless drink machines - their corn soup is a best seller and after trying it myself, I can see why!
- Seeing Mt. Fuji in person is an out-of-this-world experience - pictures don’t do it justice. However, the popular places we visited (Chureito Pagoda, northern shore of the lake) were extremely busy despite the lack of cherry blossoms e.g. the queue to access the observation deck at Chureito was 1 hour long. Getting around Kawaguchiko also wasn’t easy or cheap - the buses were packed and unpredictable and taking a taxi across town cost us a pretty penny. If I were to return, I’d get a private tour guide or just stick to the not-famous places and aim to be there in the early morning.
Notes: - We switched hotels from Asakusabashi to Shinjuku and it was worthwhile to do so. We valued being able to walk to and from the bars, especially at night after the trains close
- I made the mistake of thinking we could get tickets on the express/direct train to Kawaguchiko the day before - nope. You should book these early. We took the shinkansen to Otsuki and then from there took a local train the rest of the way.
April 3 - 7: Embracing the calm after Tokyo.
Places: Hakone, Osaka, Himeji
Hotels: Mount View Hakone and Onyado Nono Osaka Yodoyabashi
The hotel in Hakone was itself the highlight. This one was a bit higher up in the mountains, but still easily accessible by bus. Top-notch hospitality and amenities. Our Osaka hotel was also comfortable and had an onsen and was located in a convenient area - not in the thick of things, but close to the important metro lines.
Highlights: - I wish we stayed longer at our Hakone ryokan. Their kaiseki dinner and breakfast were exquisite. The private onsen consisted of two large basins for our exclusive use with a view of an illuminated bamboo grove. That said, I think you could choose any 3+ star ryokan in Hakone and have a stellar time. The town was calm and charming; it was especially haunting with the light rain and mist when we were there.
- We took a bus that went directly from our hotel all the way to Odawara, where we caught the shinkansen to Osaka. Unlike at home, where riding the bus feels like a chore, I felt that taking the various transport options in Japan was an experience unto itself - always something to see and admire outside the window.
- Osaka’s nightlife was vibrant, though we preferred Shinsekai over Dotonbori if only because the former was way less crowded. I also went out to Doyamacho (Osaka’s gay district) on my own, which seemed tiny in comparison to Nichome. I visited the newly opened Eagle Osaka and met a Canadian expat; it was fun to hear stories about being gay in Japan from people who’ve lived there for a long time.
- Sunset at Osaka Castle with all the sakura was magical. The crowds were minimal here. My favourite shot to take was a close-up of the flowers with the castle in the background.
- My partner was very keen on visiting USJ and getting the Express Pass - I’m glad we did that because we got to experience (almost) everything we wanted to. Super Nintendo World was the absolute gem of USJ: going there felt like going to another dimension.
- Right outside USJ is a large shopping and restaurant complex. There’s a place on the fourth floor called TAKOPA Takoyaki Park and what a joy it was - pick any of the restaurants here, order a combo meal, and let your taste buds soar.
- Himeji is an easy day trip from Osaka and the famous castle is a straight walk down from the station. It was very picturesque - definitely visit the gardens while you’re there.
Notes: - My partner started to feel unwell at this point of the trip, so we had to slow down our pace and also reshuffle a few itinerary items.
April 7 - 10: Sakura, temples, and museums.
Places: Nara, Kyoto, Hiroshima
Hotel: TUNESTAY Kyoto
A modern hotel that also feels like a hostel with its communal amenities and young vibe. Rest assured, the rooms are private and include your own bathroom. Minutes away from Kyoto Station and situated on the same street as the sightseeing buses.
Highlights: - The sakura were now in full bloom and made for magnificent strolls around Kyoto’s famous districts, but like all other famous sites, they are best enjoyed early. We got up early for Philosopher’s Path and it was breathtaking and tranquil, just as we imagined it to be. It started to get crowded i.e noisier after 9am.
- The 10th floor of the Isetan building at Kyoto Station is a dedicated food hall, with one side being just ramen shops. Very yummy and very short lines!
- I read about how emotional the Hiroshima Peace Museum made people feel, but I still wasn’t prepared for the sheer gravity of it once we were there. I can only describe the experience as powerful and poignant. Certainly take your time to go through and read the cards on the exhibits. It was one of the rare places we visited that was both busy and quiet.
- Visit Okonomi-mura for delicious Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki and good vibes. It’s another food hall, but one that feels much more down to earth and gritty.
- We happened to stumble upon a night market at Murayama Park in Kyoto. The cherry blossoms were at their peak; they looked especially splendid under the glow of the lanterns. There were food stalls aplenty and we ate to our heart’s content: grilled fish, fried yam rolls, bamboo on a stick, and barbequed meats. Several restaurants and tables were set up in the middle of the park so you could sit down for a meal and some drinks while partaking in hanami. People were in very good spirits and we ended up chatting to a young couple sat next to us, where we bonded over our shared love for Howl’s Moving Castle and all things Ghibli. I’ll remember this particular night very fondly.
Notes: - It’s possible to visit Nara on route from Osaka to Kyoto or vice versa. That’s what we did and we just stored our luggage at the station in Nara.
- It makes more sense to go to Hiroshima from Osaka - not only is it closer, but our JR West Pass did not include shinkansen travel between Osaka and Kyoto (even if we were riding on the same train going from Osaka to Hiroshima). We only did it this way because our original plans were changed due to my partner’s change in health status.
April 10 - 12: Winding down and enjoying small city life.
Places: Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go
Hotel: Hotel Kanazawa Zoushi
Our second favourite hotel of the trip. We had the warmest reception here, with complimentary tea and dango provided at check-in. The room was very comfortable, while the bathrooms were surprisingly spacious.
Highlights: - Everyone comes here for Kenrokuen and... yeah, it’s an absolutely stunning garden, dressed in wide swathes of pink thanks to the pretty cherry blossoms. Having said that, we noticed other areas of the garden weren’t as lively because the plants had not yet flowered. I think coming here when you know certain flora will be in season will make for a more memorable experience.
- Right next to the gardens are the Kanazawa Castle Ruins, also home to some gorgeous blossom-lined paths. It was way less busy here, as if people didn’t realize they could walk another few minutes to this beautiful location.
- On the surface, Higashi Chaya looked similar to the historic districts in Kyoto. We primarily went there for the Geisha Evenings in Kanazawa performance held at Kaikaro Tea House and it ended up being one of our favourite highlights of the entire trip. Lady Baba is a fabulous host and storyteller; the two hours we spent here flew by, filled with laughter, music, and cultural learnings.
- Omicho Market feels a lot more like a real food market than Nishiki and smells like the sea. We enjoyed some huge oysters here and grilled scallop and octopus skewers.
- We dined at Gen-zae-mon on the recommendation of a local who worked at Kaikaro. It’s a cozy izakaya in downtown Kanazawa serving plenty of scrumptious regional specialties. Try asking the service staff for their recommendations if you’re overwhelmed by the menu options.
- Shirakawa-go was quaint, almost like being transported to a different era. The entire village is easily traversable by foot and it’s worthwhile to visit at least one of the historic houses that have been converted into a museum. If you can climb to the top of the observation deck, you’ll be rewarded with a serene lookout of the entire village. That said, I don’t think spring is the optimal season for Shirakawa-go to shine; I think any other season would colour it better, because it was still grey and barren when we went.
Notes: - I mistakenly thought we could get tickets for the highway express bus from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go last minute... nope. Thankfully, our JR West pass let us ride the shinkansen at no additional cost to Toyama, where we caught the bus there - and that bus was mostly empty. It only added about 30 minutes more to our travel time.
April 12 - 13: One more outing in Tokyo’s most desirable neighbourhood.
Places: Kichijoji, Haneda
Hotel: Tokyu REI Kichijoji
Standard hotel with few frills, but great price and location. We chose it because it was a last minute decision to switch from Akihabara to Kichijoji for our last night.
Highlights: - I’m glad we stayed in Kichijoji for the last day of our visit. Walking the streets of this neighbourhood was exactly what we envisioned a peaceful Tokyo to be like and there was much to please the senses. It just felt like the whole package - picturesque, relaxed, easy to get lost in, and bustling to a degree that felt exciting without being overwhelming. The Internet claims that Kichijoji is the most desirable neighbourhood in Tokyo; I definitely believe that now.
- Ghibli Museum was delightful and I’m a big fan of the “no indoor photography” rule. The attention to detail was incredible. Treat yourself to a walk in Inokashira Park before or after your visit. It was late afternoon when we went and the park was filled with young families and students playing after-school sports. It just felt like a pinnacle “slice of life” moment.
- My very fashionable friend (the one who got married) said Kichijoji is her favourite place for consignment shopping and we saw plenty of those stores here. A bit deeper into the residential parts of Kichijoji is an artisanal market and cafe called Sippo: it was filled with one-of-a-kind goods at reasonable prices and everything was made in Japan. I know there are a lot of great shops in Tokyo, but this one stood out to us and we would certainly return on future trips.
- We hopped on an airport shuttle bus from Kichijoji Station to Haneda. No reservations, but the bus was only a quarter full. We gave ourselves three hours at Haneda and still felt like we ran out of time - lots of great shops for last minute gifts (including an Itoya outpost!) Take note that the higher rated restaurants are located outside of the security gates.
Now that some time has passed since departing Japan, the emotions that swept over me in that country have left a deep impression. Like a reminder of what I’m chasing after in this life, Japan excited me, fulfilled me, and left me wanting more. I know that being Japanese in Japan is an entirely different experience, but I still yearn to experience even just a sliver of that life.
Thanks for reading and I hope you got something out of this trip report. If you’re interested in seeing some of the photos I took on this trip, I’ve shared them on my Instagram account, which is the same handle as my Reddit username.
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2024.04.28 14:57 pohltergiest Grinding up Fuji
| We woke at dawn, having slept quite well. I crawled out of the tent to see a dawn walkers, scowling. I'd scowl too if I was an old ass dawn walker. Whatever. We packed up and got going to avoid anyone giving us grief, even before 6am we were on the road. And it was good, as even at 6am, it was getting warm in the sun. The forecast was for 28 degrees where we were, that wouldn't do for a day of climbing! Bryce nudged me to look up, and we were treated to an unfettered view of Fuji, blue and crisp against a light blue sky. A good omen to begin our work for the day. We visited a 7-11 for breakfast as nothing else is open that early and Bryce managed to break the payment machine. The poor lady was trying her best to figure out the procure to clear the problem in a rather complex machine, coins are very common in japan and these machines operate at high speed, so she had to go through some diagnostic windows to make it happen. Bryce turned red with embarrassment as she pulled out a small mountain of coins he had dumped in, but when she pulled out the toothpick to pry out the problem he turned as purple as his hair. Honestly from an engineering perspective, a public facing machine in a 24hr chain that can't handle a piece of wrapper that got in the change is surprising to me. I would think the machine could handle ejection of non-coin items. At the very least I was glad I got to see the inner workings of one of these machines, they're mesmerizing how quickly they operate. After sunscreen and eating a breakfast of coffee, a smoothie, and a peanut pastry and a strawberry pastry, we were off. The peanut butter here is "peanut cream" and is more sugar than anything, the strawberry pastry was a straight up eclair masquerading as "food". Honestly this country survives off empty carbs, if people didn't have small portion sizes I don't know how anyone would manage their weight. Our first destination was Tanuki lake, the first lake we'd see in a string. There are the famous Fuji Five Lakes, but I thought I'd be extra cheeky and plan for six. Our mapping app took us up through back roads between town areas, which mercifully kept us in the shade as we ground up the hill. Lake Tanuki would be half of the grind for the day, so it was a long one. I wanted to see the waterfall nearby, but my brain quickly turned to mush from the climbing. We generally ride at the pace I can handle, which means I always suffer at the same rate (though faster all the time!) I didn't have many thoughts aside from various curses and worries of the temperature rising. We came across a temple complex with many administration buildings, apparently the head of a sect. I wonder how many Buddhist and Shinto sects there are in Japan? We've seen the head of a few sects, I suppose it takes a lot of coordination to keep it all running. These buildings were all modern but had many extremely large halls that looked like they could hold thousands. Lots of residence looking buildings too, maybe a place where clergy come to meet? I haven't even the slightest clue how religious administration works here. The main thing to look at was of course Fuji, each new view showing a different angle with a new dressing of clouds. It seemed a cold wind was blowing from the north around the mountain and impacting a warm mass on the south, making a ring of clouds form. Otherwise it was just quiet cedars to keep us company as we went up and up and up. Arriving at Lake tanuki, we stopped to dip our hands in the first lake. The clear blue waters reflected Fuji brilliantly and we could see why people love the lakes in this region so much. The beautiful mountains ringing the back side of the lake were the perfect opposition to Fuji looming in the distance. This lake had many people fishing, we watched one man pull in a medium sized fish. Looked fun. The second lake was going to be nearly as much climb as the first, and I was a little nervous heading into a national park that we wouldn't find food to eat. We stopped and got some food bars and other things to eat at a park later, but some hours later we got up on the high plateau that rings the north side of Fuji and found, of course, well developed tourist areas to stop at. Bryce picked out a local beer and I picked out a custard, seeing that they were serving locally made cream products. We also saw they had ice cream, and when I saw it was local I made sure we got the premium vanilla. Sure enough, it was the best ice cream we've had, amazingly creamy. Even better than the mt Aso ice cream, which we didn't think could be topped. The custard was second best, delicious and full of flavour. The beer though, followed the trend of a immature craft beer scene in japan. It's just not there yet. Most of what we've seen is beer made as a souvenir rather than a good product, like the beer made for a rollercoaster. While we were enjoying our treats, we saw a flyer for a festival happening. I immediately recognized what it was, it was the Shibazakura festival, the flowers known as moss phlox in English. We simply had to go, the pictures of neon pink fields of flowers had me hooked. Lucky for us, it was on our path and not far up the road. The plateau here was open, burned to make land for cattle the same as Aso. We had no cover from the sun, but we also had a great view of Fuji to our right and to our left we could watch paragliders circling up the mountains like hawks on thermals. Then we saw hawks circling on thermals and thought we'd seen it all. Cars were lined up for an awful long way on the highway as we approached the festival, a real shame for them. We on the other hand, just rode into the site and parked near the ticket gate. I figured it would be busy but it was heckin busy. We waited a while to buy a ticket and enter, and then got to see the fields. Beautiful beds of three shades of pink, as well as white, baby blue and lavender Shibazakura were there, as well as purple muscari and one flower I didn't catch the name of. Bryce and I had a capital time weaving around the beds, dodging folks taking photos. It was very hot in the sun so we didn't wait for the cute photo ops, but we got plenty of photos anyways. We were hungry for food at this point, so we got some fried chicken, a basket of long fries, and two kebabs. The long fries are around 20cm long and are extruded potato, kind of like how McDonald's makes theirs. Just, yenno, long. Fuji lake two was next, this one having a shoreline composed of volcanic rock gravel. I was cooking by this point, so we went down to the shore and I took off my shoes and socks and waded a little bit to cool off. The rocks were very sharp so it wasn't very comfortable, but it did make my feet feel great. We agreed that lake Tanuki was better, however. Lake 3 was a little otherworldly, looking as if scooped out of the volcanic rock. We liked how nestled it was into the mountains, very secluded. Not many people at this lake. Leaving lake 3 and heading towards lake 4, we finally found the end of the lineup for the flower festival. 8km of cars, totally blocking the highway for a huge area. I think the amount of cars on the highway outnumbered the parking capacity by many times. Maybe a shuttle service would be warranted, I can't imagine having a massive section of highway completely impassible is a good idea. Lake 4 was beautiful, and our road went around the back of it, following the shoreline. We enjoyed the parallax of the trees, the lake and Fuji in the background, thoughts staying to good times at lakes at home. Folks paddling around in kayaks added to the general good mood. The road on lake 4 led through as a tunnel to our last lake, Kawaguchiko, the largest lake today. We felt relieved, having had gone up and down many times on the plateau and were ready for a break. I wanted some kind of food and maybe a beer, so we found a souvenir shop selling local beer, a grape cider and big bags of chips with Fuji on them. I picked out a wasabi flavour, and we found a spot in the shade to relax as we had a few hours before our hotel check in. When have we had time to kill in the last two months? It feels like forever ago that my time hasn't been filled to the brim, every day. Here, we sat and talked Fuji Q, how the beer tasted like bacon and was mediocre like the rest, and also how wasabi on chips is a thumbs up. I laid my head on Bryce's lap and we cooled down in the breeze, I watched the trees fluttering in the wind and thought about the Chinese ideal of landscape beauty being a windy day. With everything moving, I can see the interest. Heading to our hotel, we were very ready for a hot shower and a bath. Good grief we were filthy. Four days of biking in heat and humidity with no access to showers. We are certainly going to try to get laundry done in the go, it's just too hard on our skin to wear salty sweaty clothes to ride in for ten hours a day, multiple days in a row. We made do with lots of chamois cream today, but we'll need a better strategy. Luckily laundromats here are excellent and have the dryer settings not to ruin our biking clothes. While we eat, we think we can do laundry on the go too so we don't need to use dirty clothes when we're riding. Bryce thinks he can find us more places to shower too. We're gross, but mostly because we're not trying very hard. Our hotel was in the middle of nowhere between town and mt Fuji, up another incline we didn't want. I was pretty crabby by the time we got there to find a modest hotel. We stopped our watches and I reeled as I saw the total ascent for the day, 1300m. No wonder I was tired! I just set a new personal best for climb two days earlier, and a PB for distance yesterday, does this mean I can try harder? I feel like someone who is tapped out shouldn't be able to string together pbs if they're giving it their all. I feel like I am, but I guess it's not a bad thing to do better than you expect. The lobby was oddly large and empty, and the receptionist told us they didn't need our passports. That's a first, I thought it was law for them to take copies of our passports. Next, they have us an info card that essentially said that aside from the hotel onsen, there were zero amenities besides beer at $3.50 a can. When Bryce asked if the onsen was the curtain behind them, the receptionist and the manager who had popped out of the back room both eagerly pointed at my tattoo like a gotcha and both exclaimed that I would not be allowed. There are better ways to go about this. We went up to our room, me thoroughly displeased, to find they had put us at the end of the hallway on the third floor. The room is decently sized, but we found we had no bathtub to soak in, and now it was known that we have tattoos so no onsen. Fantastic. Now I wanted to rip heads off. When we went downstairs to get our bags, I asked if they had a luggage cart, and the lady looked at me like I was asking her to take her clothes off, she squinted and said no. Good grief. Bryce offered to be the one to ask if they had a private onsen later. After I had some water, some of the meal bars, and a shower I was starting to feel less angry. I guess four days is enough riding to fray anyone's nerves, but Bryce gets anxious when I'm angry at people, worried I'm going to make a scene. It's a fair worry, I am the kind of person to make a point of things. This time, however, I was going to give peace a chance and instead just packed up laundry for later and we headed out for dinner. I found a great looking burger place that purported to have Australian burgers, it was a bit of a hike, but I thought it would be worth it. Biking up more hills before food was a tough pill to swallow for sure. The burger place was popular enough that a man was working the parking lot, and the inside sure looked like a western kinda place. Everyone working was definitely Japanese, but the menu looked like someone from the west wrote it. The burgers came with fries, the usual cheeseburger double cheeseburger bacon lettuce tomato kinda stuff. A welcome reprieve from trying to sort through set meals and lame burgers for people who don't know better. These burgers, however, were fantastic. Juicy and well seasoned, they were pricey but worth it. Beef is extremely expensive here, most burgers are a blend of beef and pork or beef and... Things that are not beef. We've had some interesting hamburger here. We got extra fries and some craft beers, these beers we actually liked! We saw they were made in Belgium, but curiously had a note on the label about Quebec's recycling rates for bottles. Of course. We looked it up and it's a Japanese company bottling their stuff in Belgium to sell to Canada. No wonder we like it. After dinner we went to the laundromat to get that over with. This place had dryers where we could select a lower temperature, perfect for spandex. It's still not good for them, but sacrifices need to be made to keep our sanity. I'm tired of stringing up clotheslines in hotel rooms already too small for us, I'll take the damage on the clothes to have clean and dry clothes to pack up. While the clothes were washing, we walked across the street to get some food for the morning, as the hotel both had zero on site food options, nor had anything nearby. We're thinking the hotel exists primarily for buses full of tourists staying as a package deal, and they get bussed somewhere else to eat as the busses are parked at the hotel overnight. We can't complain too much, we booked the hotel yesterday on the busiest week of the year and paid peanuts compared to other hotels. The location sucks, but the beds are pretty comfy and it's clean, so it's fine. We headed back to the laundromat to have a few snacks and Bryce read while I wrote. A lot happened today, and I'm very tired. I will write more tomorrow. It's bedtime and whatever. submitted by pohltergiest to RainbowRamenRide [link] [comments] |
2024.04.28 11:00 Time_Temporary_7639 Looking for a good personal item travel backpack
I am looking for a great travel backpack that will work as a personal item for North American and European airlines, so somewhere between 20-30L. I plan to travel with just this bag and a carry on, so it MUST fit personal item dimensions. I have a max budget of around 350$ CAD but would much prefer to keep it under 200$ if possible. I will be travelling to Hawaii for 2 weeks on May 4th so it needs to be readily accessible in stores or on Amazon in Canada. Here is what I am looking for:
- A good amount of internal organization and functionality. I don't just want a bunch of huge cavernous pockets.
- Big enough and hopefully with a dedicated compartment featuring a compression strap for a small amount of clothes.
- Top opening pockets for quick access to things like passports, phones, books, etc. Secure/hidden pockets are a plus.
- Suspended and well padded pocket for a tablet (no need for like 16 inch laptop storage)
- Waterproof or at least water-resistant
- Made by a reputable brand with some warranty
Here is what would be nice but I can live without:
- Luggage straps
- Comfortable to wear and could double as a daypack
- Included sternum strap
- TSA approved built in lock
- side handle
Bags I have come across so far:
- Osprey 26 + 6 lacks functionality or dedicated pockets, but it was really nice. I loved the minimalist look.
- Tom Bihn Synik 22 seemed incredible but was way out of my price range and not easy to get in time for my trip
- Bellroy Venture ready pack 26 also seems really great. but also pricey and no luggage strap.
- The Ecohub 16 inch travel backpack (Amazon) looks good - it has everything I'm looking for, but I don't like that there is no warranty and it isn't a big reputable brand,
Thanks in advance for any and all input!
UPDATE: After going to both MEC and another store, I ended up going with the Patagonia Mini MLC 30 L. I really appreciated the loads of storage, side carry handle option, build quality, and dedicated laptop space. I really thought the Bellroy Venture was going to be the one for me, but after seeing it in person, I could tell it was a bit too small for what I was after and lacked some functionality in comparison. The only things I am not super excited about are the lack of quick-access pockets and the anxiety of it possibly being too big for a "personal item." Time will tell! Thanks again everyone.
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Time_Temporary_7639 to
travel [link] [comments]
2024.04.28 08:26 Shot-Still8131 Disappointed in Italy. What am I doing wrong?
For some context: I am here with my husband. We are mid-twenties from the Midwest US. We live in a big city, have traveled to and enjoyed of big cities all over the world. We’ve been to France (loved), the UK, Ireland, Canada, Mexico (also loved), Colombia, Egypt. We love history, art, food. All that to say, we are not unaccustomed to crowds, chaos, cities, or touristy places. I even enjoy going to Disney World!
That said, I am finding Italy an extremely unpleasant place to travel. More akin to the developing world than Europe. So far we have been to Rome and Naples.
Rome was horrible. It felt absolutely soulless. Everything felt created for tourists. We know to follow the idea of ‘walk a few blocks from the tourist attractions and you’ll find real people, good food, etc.’ Every street we went down in Rome had currency exchanges, luggage storage, tourists.
We are liking Naples more because there’s a liveliness and soul here; but it’s still overcrowded, chaotic, and generally unpleasant.
The driving culture is on par with Egypt. No rhyme or reason. Palazzos are just parking lots. Cars double park and use sidewalks as overflow. Even in pedestrian areas.
There are more people here than I’ve ever seen. Every time I step outside, I feel like I’m battling a mass of humans and vehicles at every turn. Walking through the streets takes at least twice as long as you expect. I’m constantly breathing down car exhaust and cigarette smoke.
So walking isn’t super pleasant, but it’s better than the public transit. Rome’s public transit system is the worst I’ve ever experienced. We’d wait 20mins past when a bus was meant to arrive and they’d never show. When we got to the Naples train station, there was a horde of people crowded around the ticket machines. 20 mins to get a ticket. Then, a crowd standing around the barricaded entry to the metro. Police would periodically open the entry. Why?
Same thing getting a snack at a football game - just a horde of people standing around. Everything seems to be the most inefficient way of doing things possible.
The people have been surprisingly cold. We use basic italian phrases. We don’t ask for anything special, like modifications at restaurants. Particularly in restaurants, I’m made to feel like such a nuisance. And I do understand that the locals are probably sick of the tourists too. So maybe it’s on purpose.
Finally, and most disappointingly, the food has been… underwhelming. Where is the life changing Italian food? We’ve made a concerted effort to eat at places recommended by locals and everything has been average at best.
I’ve only heard amazing things about Italy. In theory, I should love it. But it feels like I showed up on Opposite Day. I don’t know how this place is soooo beloved. I feel like I’m in a developing country. (Which would be okay if I that’s what I knew I was in for).
Please, give me tips and recs for the rest of my time in Naples and Florence. I want to see the Italy everyone else has fallen in love with!
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Shot-Still8131 to
travel [link] [comments]
2024.04.27 18:46 throwaway_milky Pick up luggage for inter-airline connection or pick up at destination?
Hi!
I booked a one-way trip for May from BOS to YQM with Air Canada, with 2 stops, one in IAD and then one in YUL. My BOS to IAD flight is operated by United, and I’ve been instructed in my app to check in with them for my flight.
Will I have to pick up my luggage in IAD and re-check in with Air Canada, or will it go right through to my destination with no pick up? I know that I can find out at the airport when I check in, but I’m pretty nervous at airports when I’m alone, and this is only my second time flying without someone with me, so it would put me a bit more at ease to know. If no one can answer, that’s okay too!
TYIA!
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throwaway_milky to
aircanada [link] [comments]
2024.04.27 17:43 bravesfan4171985 Have had this since I got 2 blasters back in March, thought maybe a Dbacks/Corbin Carroll fan might like the chance to get a cool card. Good luck whoever gets it!
2024.04.27 11:00 hanakumah Help with Northeast specific trip.
Hi, me and my boyfriend are planning to fly from London and spend 2ish~ weeks (nothing is booked yet, and we’re decently lenient with how long we can do) in North America, mainly the US. It’ll be in October most likely. We’re thinking of flying into Toronto first, to spend some time in Canada and see Niagara Falls before heading onto the US.
I have a list of cities I want to visit, the two with asterisks being the ones myself or my boyfriend definitely 100% want to visit.
Boston NYC* Philadelphia Washington DC* Baltimore
We’re honestly happy to visit any cities on the east coast that are interesting to tourists, but our only requirement is that they must have decent public transportation as neither of us can drive. We did initially want to fly down to Florida after but have been told not to bother? I’m also big on nature and national parks, but have expected anything like that not to be the most accessible without a car, please let me know if I’m wrong though! A day trip would be nice.
I was wondering if I could have some help planning a route from someone who has visited the area before, how long to spend in each cities, what cities are and aren’t worth visiting with the time we have.
I’m also struggling to figure out if it’ll be cheaper to fly or take long distance trains. We’d have two checked luggage between us and personal items (backpacks). I’ve heard a lot of domestic American airlines charge for seats/bags etc.
I know this is a little vague but I’m open for any suggestions, the east coast was my bfs idea as I personally wanted to do the west coast (but we decided against it until one of us can drive), so I’m only really clued up about NYC.
Thank you!
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hanakumah to
usatravel [link] [comments]
2024.04.27 03:15 KariKyouko non-UA star alliance gold benefits for other passengers in same reservation
I have star alliance gold through Air Canada, will my benefits for stuff like priority boarding and one free checked luggage apply for other passengers as well if I book all of our tickets under the same reservation? Or do the benefits only apply to me as other passengers on my reservation don't have any status?
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KariKyouko to
unitedairlines [link] [comments]
2024.04.26 22:20 FondantForward1533 The award for most sneaky airline goes to: Condor
I’m gonna try my very best to not lose my shit, but I’m fuming!
Booked a flight from Germany to Canada with Condor, because it was cheaper than the other airlines. First thing I noticed was that these guys have perfected additional fees: seat reservation, overhead bin, even carry-on are all extra. I’m thinking to myself “okay, no biggie, still cheaper”. So I try to check in online the day before the flight, but the webpage doesn’t let me complete the check-in because of “visa restrictions”. No real reason to do that, I’m a citizen of both countries. System tells me to see an agent at the airport the next day. At that point I’m already annoyed, but whatever. So I check in at the airport, go through security, but when I try to board the plane I’m denied access. An extremely rude agent explains that with my ticket class I “wasn’t allowed to check in at the airport” and that they would charge an additional $27 for the inconvenience I’ve caused.
Please what??? WTF, they literally forced me to check in at the airport! There was no possible way to take this flight without checking in at the airport. Let me get this straight: Condor sells tickets that do not cover the minimums necessary to take the flight. Let me repeat: you CANNOT take the flight at the price they sell the ticket for, even if you put up with all their BS restrictions and travel without luggage.
WTF!
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FondantForward1533 to
rant [link] [comments]
2024.04.26 21:04 VanHammersley Big Anxiety Around Upcoming Trip to Europe
So my family (wife and 10 year old daughter) and I are leaving from Canada for a three week trip to Europe in a couple of days. It's the first time we've travelled internationally and I'm having some serious travel anxiety. The itinerary is 10 days in the Netherlands, 3 days in Paris, 5 days just outside Florence (Agriturismo with day trip to Florence), and 5 days in Rome. Flying is usually my biggest travel anxiety, but after reading various threads on
/Travel and other places online, I've become apprehensive and disheartened about the France/Italy leg of the trip (in the Netherlands we’re staying close to extended family, so worries are diminished).
First, the train travel. We're travelling via Eurail pass for the France/Italy route and I have no idea what to expect. I'm worried about keeping our luggage/possessions safe (or even the way luggage is handled), some tight train changing times (one stop in Switzerland only allows for 12 minutes once we arrive), and the general safety of some of the stations we’re stopping at since they sound like they can be a haven for bad actors (along the way we have a 2 hour stopover at Milano Centrale, an evening arrival at Firenze S.m.n., and get into Rome via the Termini). I'm also fretting about travelling to the Paris city center. Our hotel is located out by the airport (don't ask), and it seems like a lot to navigate for a first-timer (maybe just take a taxi or Uber?)
Second are the pickpockets, thieves, and scammers. The internet seems rife with negative stories and anecdotes regarding this topic, especially in terms of Italy (although Paris seems a close second). I've tried to educate myself on strategies and tips to help mitigate potential issues, but it feels like this will be a constant headache to deal with and will put a damper on enjoyment.
I'm trying to remain optimistic... any positivity, advice, or reassurance from the more seasoned travellers out there would be greatly appreciated.
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VanHammersley to
travel [link] [comments]
2024.04.26 20:45 LopsidedPay5462 Is it safe to walk from Blake Transit Centre to 325 Depot St- Amtrak Station at 3AM in the night?
Hey all, so I am travelling to Canada from Ann Arbor and I am taking the bus at 325 Depot St- Amtrak Station. Problem is that I will be first arriving to Ann Arbor via the Michigan Flyer at Blake Transit Centre at 3 am in the night and I am also bringing heavy luggage with me. Can anyone suggest if it is safe to just walk there at 3 am as the distance is less than a mile? Also any other safe alternative ways to get there? I have reserved an Uber but it seems unreliable.
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LopsidedPay5462 to
AnnArbor [link] [comments]
2024.04.26 11:15 SurpriseMeOnceMore Car for hired
Moi!!! My family and I are visiting Lappeenranta this August. We (my wife and I) will be traveling with an infant along with a bunch of luggage. We were wondering if there is any kind of car-for-hired that could bring us from Helsinki to Lappeenranta (1 way). Is there a platform that offers such kind of service?
In Canada, people often refer to it as rideshare.
Kiitos!!!
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SurpriseMeOnceMore to
Finland [link] [comments]
2024.04.25 21:35 SixOhSixx Did you know that unclaimed property is a thing and you might have money just sitting and waiting to be collected?
I just learned about this today (from an
AmItheAsshole post of all things???) but apparently if you search up your states name (US) and "unclaimed property" or "unclaimed funds" and make sure it's an actual government website (.gov) you can search through unclaimed property and claim any that's yours. I just got $22 from it! It's not much, but there are stories of people finding over 30k or more in there - if you're in the US, take the time and check it out!
I can't believe I didn't know this was a thing!
Edit: I'm super glad people in the comments are finding money for themselves!! This is a wonderful thing and I'm glad it exists, even for those of us who get small amounts, it's super helpful!! Check back every so often!
Edit 2: thank you
u/Kenthanson for informing me this I'd also a thing in Canada! Go to the CRA website and look for "unclaimed cheques" to see if you have some!!!
submitted by
SixOhSixx to
povertyfinance [link] [comments]
2024.04.25 02:28 nini1025 Extra baggage fees
Help please. I have a return flight to Toronto at the end of the month. The return flight starts with (Philippine Air) MNL-NRT , (United) NRT-ORD, (Air Canada) ORD-YYZ. I booked through cheapoair (one booking). The booking comes with 2 free checked bags. I need to purchase an extra (3rd) checked bag and I keep getting different information from each airline and even from speaking with their agents on different days i get a different answer and it’s very confusing. Do i have to pay for the 3rd luggage for each separate airline? Or do I only pay Philippine Air for the third luggage at check in? If i have to pay the other airlines how do i pay them if I am only on a layover , do i need to pick up and recheck all my bags and pay again at the counter for each country im in? thanks for your help.
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nini1025 to
Flights [link] [comments]
2024.04.24 23:10 httpram Best way to pack gel polish in luggage
Hi! I’m taking a flight with a layover next month (canada to US) and I was wondering what the best way to pack gel polish in my checked luggage would be? It’s not ideal but unfortunately is my only option (,: probably somewhere between 20-30 bottles, the suitcase will also have clothes in it. thanks!
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httpram to
Nails [link] [comments]
2024.04.24 21:32 purplepineapple21 Travel air purifier recommendations & questions
I have upcoming mandatory travel for work, and I'd like to get an air purifier for my hotel room. I will have my own room, and it looks like it has open-able windows. But I'd still like a purifier as an extra measure. However the issue is that I will be flying, so I need something small that fits in my luggage. I will have a checked bag, but I do need a lot of room for personal belongings besides the purifier.
So far the Levoit Core Mini seems like my best bet for something small, but I'm looking for any other recommendations if people know of others. Must be available to purchase in Canada please.
My two questions about the Core Mini though: 1) If I have the correct outlet converters, is there any reason this would have issues working in Europe? Do I need specific converters for an appliance or do the "regular" ones work? 2) How exact is the square footage range? Levoit website says its "ideal" for a room size of 17m2, and the hotel room may be up to 19m2 (website lists a range). Am I correct in assuming this shouldn't be an issue?
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purplepineapple21 to
ZeroCovidCommunity [link] [comments]
2024.04.24 17:16 mvzzy Infinite Privilege Stopover luggage allowance not originating on AC
I'm flying back from Vietnam with a stopover in Korea using my aeroplan points. Im flying Asiana to Korea, and then AC back to Canada. Im flying economy on both flights (lowest redemption level). I have the TD visa infinite privilege card.
I was charged for checked luggage on the Asiana flight from Vietnam to Korea, and I understand why that is the case.
Do I get the free luggage allowance that comes with the visa infinite privilege card on the flight to Canada? It's on AC metal but as I understand it the stopover may need to originate on AC for this to count.
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mvzzy to
aircanada [link] [comments]
2024.04.24 15:17 Mannimarco117 YUL -> YVR -> SYD -> MEL checked bagged
Ive read of a lot of posts asking about checked bagged when transferring international to domestic at Sydney (Australia) airport - but they never come back to the post to update. I've recently done Montreal -> Vancouver -> Sydney -> Melbourne on a single ticket. First two flights were Air Canada, and last was codeshare on Jet Star.
Here is what i'm looking to understand, mostly because im curious. My checked luggage tag says its is going to Melbourne. I asked Air Canada staff in Montreal and they said its going all the way to Melbourne. The air canada app even said "We will be transferring your bag to Jetstar" .When i arrive in Sydney i'm walking past the baggage carousels and what do i see? - My bag on the carousel, so i grab it. When rechecking my bag with Jetstar, they tear off my air canada luggage tag and put a new one on.
Question is: why did Air Canada tell me my bag was going to Melb? Would they have grabbed my bag in Sydney?
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Mannimarco117 to
aircanada [link] [comments]
2024.04.24 06:13 Mieux_que_rien_218 Luggage mystery
I left Cozumel on Monday. I had one backpack 🎒 checked-in on my flight back to Montreal, Canada.
I am a "cube packer": all my things are divided in different zipped bags so it's easy to find everything and my luggage doesn't become a mess. But when I opened it... All my belongings were mixed loose in my backpack!
I don't know if it happened in Mexico or Canada and I have no idea why my bag was targeted.
I had a part of my photography material on there. Every item was out of its case and mixed with sandy shoes, other stuff... There are big greasy fingerprints on my lens filters 😤 and my duster pump has disappeared.
One other item is missing. My Leatherman multitool, which is totally legal to carry in checked luggage. So it was not confiscated, it was stolen.
The thing that puzzle me the most is that I had 60 USD 💵 in there in a mix of 10$, 5$ and 1$. But now, I have 3x 20$. Someone made themself some change wille searching in my things... 🤨
If anyone can make sense of what happened, I 'd like to understand. Keep a camera duster, a pricy Leatherman and make change before putting everything else haphazardly in the bag...
(Should I keep the fingerprints on my lens filter?)
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Mieux_que_rien_218 to
cozumel [link] [comments]
2024.04.24 00:33 Serdemyy Need advice on opening an RESP account
I received a letter in the mail from the Government of Canada stating that I have $2000 in unclaimed Canada Learning Bond. It says I can use this money to pay for university. Once I turn 18 (which I did today), I can open an RESP and apply for the Canada Learning Bond. It says I do not need to put any money into the RESP to get the learning bond. It says I need to find an RESP promoter to set up an RESP. What I'm wondering is, how does this RESP work? How can I get the money? Which RESP provider do I use? What can I use the money for? For example, can I use the money to buy a monitor for my PC, let's say? I heard you shouldn't use a promoter. Is this true? Like, I know nothing about this and need more information basically.
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Serdemyy to
PersonalFinanceCanada [link] [comments]
2024.04.23 20:20 Dry_Statistician_435 F This Guy
| I don’t like Bryce. Apart from playin for Philly, I’ve gone 0/7 with this guy on home run challenges this year, including the one time I had him for a double down, and he hit three homers, but couldn’t muscle one over 425’. As a Braves fan, I wouldn’t want the reward card anyways. F Bruce Hooper. I hope you have better luck than me. If you claim this, let everyone else know to save them some time. submitted by Dry_Statistician_435 to baseballcards [link] [comments] |
http://activeproperty.pl/