Thoughts and facts about airlines

I promised it to you time ago but had problems with my PC and Internet, so I can write about it only today. And there are different notices to tell you.

So, I begin with the list of the best low-cost carriers (Forbes)

This year I travelled much with these type of companies and think they are good. The only problem I had was with EasyJet.

I prefer to buy tickets via Internet and there was written in my ticket: "Go directly to embark". I waited about 5-7 hours in airport for my flight and went directly to embark so as was written in my ticket. But it was not true. I had to register before and I didn't do it. If I felt good in that moment, maybe I had time to read more information in the time I had to wait, but I felt very bad and could not think about anything.
So I missed the flight because the confirmation mail had not right information.
And nobody from this company wanted to speak with me. For the team of EasyJet did not exist this passenger. The money they received from me, so what do you want else?

Other companies look for their passengers, call you 10 times to come to the place of embark, wait for you even if your airplane has to fly - so was with me before, with other companies, and this was the first time in my life that the customer service was so bad.

But the same EasyJet I found between the 3 best low-cost carriers of Forbes. The first is Jetstar Airways and the second is AirBerlin. In Europe.

What was the difference from low-cost ticket and normal price in one of the airplanes? Our places were in the tail of the vehicle and we had to buy coffee if we wanted it. The difference in price was about 200 euro for 1,5 hours flight.

The other notice is from Sweden.
In some of airports you will leave your finger-prints to check and then receive back your luggage. They say, it will help not only with terrorist's danger but the check up will be much more quicker and sure.
Something like this want to approve UE for the flights too. From February all the passengers will pass 3 types of control.

In airport of Naples they said me to undress completely (I don't joke) when a woman customs official saw a bottle about 30 ml of oil in my bag. Later I new that the law allows 50 ml of liquid to have in the bag. Without show striptease to presented persons.

Finally, if you read this post today, 30 January, you have time to win one of the prizes that other from the best low-cost carriers, Ryanair, will give to the best kissed couple in Dublin 31 January. 20 best of couples will have 50 euro prizes to fly with Ryanair on 14 February and all the best couple will sleep one night in one of the best hotels of Dublin.
So take your love and go to kiss her/him in Dublin tomorrow.

Abbotsham Cliffs

The sun came out today for the first time in ages, so after I'd finished painting the woodwork on my stairs I loaded the kids into the car and rushed down to Mum and Dad's to drag them out for a walk. Dad came along, Mum, I suspect, had a quick forty winks!

We drove down to Westward Ho! and went down past the rock pools, the Elizabethan, and all the holiday homes and beach huts til civilisation ran out and all that was left was the wild sea and the edge of the land. A path, that used to be the railway line from Westward Ho! to Abbotsham, runs along the cliff edge for about a mile and the views of the bay are fantastic. Today, despite the brilliant sunshine, it was a bit hazy in the distances but you could still make out Saunton Sands, Lundy Island and all the way round to Hartland Point.

The sun, shining low at 4.00, beat straight into us as we walked west and made taking the picture of the pebble beach above a bit tricky. We didn't follow the path all the way down, as little legs were getting tired by then, but its quite fun to go clambering on if you've a mind, and the cliff paths go on after that if you are interested in a longer walk, or you can turn left and follow the path inland to the village of Abbotsham where I believe there may be a pub!

Dulce de Leche in Argentina

What do you see on this photo is "Dulce de leche" and different forms of use for this product.

Why I write about this aliment in a travel blog?
Because it's a "national" product of Argentine.
And we are here in a travel-cafe or no?

Not that you don't meet it in other countries. There are many places where milk is worked in this way. It's concentrated milk with sugar boiled then for different hours, posted the tin in the pan with water.

But the Argentinians make worship with this product. They have infinite sorts of biscuits and chocolates where they use it. Some of them you can see on this photo. There are tins with pure milk like that on the left and there are all these other sweeties (on the right). I like "Bocadito" and that other biscuit in black (it's the same like other in white, but the recipe is much better).

So, if you are to go in Argentine, don't forget "Dulce de Leche"

We Knew It Wouldn't Last

...the phone service, that is. Out again. The latest word I heard is that the phone company is working on it, but they don't have an estimate of when it will be repaired. If you have tried calling us, and only get lots of ringing, with no answering machine, then they are out. We're probably in, we just can't answer you. But we're here with email, so drop us a line.

Another Alberta Clipper came rolling through, so it was minus 22 degrees this morning. The temp is supposed to continue to rise now, and they are predicting highs in the twenties--above zero--for Friday to Sunday. That will feel like a regular heat wave after the snap. We've been seeing lots of blue skies during the cold weather, and the days are getting a wee bit longer. Can spring be far away? (Umm, don't answer that yet!)

On the really cold days, Moses and Jethro, the donkeys, only come outside of their barn to eat and take care of business. Otherwise, they huddle next to each other throughout the day, and maybe stick a nose or two out the doorway, when someone goes by on the road. Today must feel warmer to them, as they were still out and about, after they finished their breakfast. I marvel that they can stay warm all night long with just their fur coats on....Brrr. I'm happiest outside with a minimum of six extra pieces of clothing on--and often times several more than that.

The Other Side

Here we are, on the other side....The other side of the cold snap, the other side of our telephone challenges, and biggest of all, the other side of Paul leaving home.

I always think that it is the cold weather causing troubles like the phone was suffering over the weekend. It probably has nothing to do with it, but it sure is a convenient excuse. If you tried to reach us and were unable, we are sorry. Remember that you can always email us. We don't know how long this tenuous relationship with working phones will last, but for now, call away!

The cold snap wasn't so bad....just enough to remind us that we are in Minnesota after all. What would winter be without a blast or two? We hit about twenty-six below zero, and it warmed up each day to the low teens and even single digits below zero. We are on a warming trend again, with the temp already one degree above zero. Robert called the other day, and it was 15 above in Fairbanks, while it was 15 below here. And one other interesting little temperature tidbit: Yesterday Sharlene told me that Barrow, Alaska was reporting thirty-one degrees, and guess what it was in Atlanta, Georgia at the same time? Thirty-one degrees. Winter can be strange.

The snow, on the other hand, is great. The ten inches that fell a week or so ago has really improved the trails. Greg and Bob (from Gunflint Pines) were able to go out and groom all of the trail system, and folks skied over the weekend, despite the cold temperatures. Some chose to snowshoe instead, as that was a bit more of a workout, and kept them warmer. No matter what they did, the best part is just getting outside. The air is so crisp and fresh when it is cold like this. I had reason to call an office at the university in Morris last week. I learned that Paul needs to stop in to that office this week, and the woman pointed out to me that they were located in the same building as his dorm room, so that "he won't even need to go outside." I replied that I Want him to go outside, because it is good for him. She agreed, and also noted that it probably wasn 't as cold there as it is here. So Paul, if you are reading this--and Robert, too--go outside! It's good for you. (Once a mom, always a mom--grin.)

Paul and Greg took off from here early on Sunday morning, as it is about an eight-hour drive to Morris. They wanted to get to school in time for Paul to check in to his dorm room, but also so that they could watch the Packers game. One last evening together, in which the Packers did not win, but they had a good time. Today, Paul went back to the classroom--first time in better than seven years for that. He has a couple of friends already at Morris, so they will show him the ropes of the place. And I'm sure he is quite happy that he won't be having to haul firewood in to keep the place warm anytime soon.

When these young men with strong backs leave home, we need to find a new way to do the work that they have been tackling for the last few years. After Greg left Paul in Morris, he drove on to the Twin Cities to pick up a snowmobile. It seems like that should just be standard equipment at a winter resort. We do have an old machine--one that's been here about as long as I have. But it has seen its hard times in recent years. Robert had a knack for getting it to run, but lately it really was in trouble. It was time for an upgrade. Greg found this one on Craigslist, and it looks like it will meet his needs. Soon it will have a sled behind it, to haul things around, and it will also be used to go and check the ice thickness. After the cold snap, we should have more ice.

As I finish this up, it is snowing out. Not much new snow is predicted, but we can always use a freshening up. If the clouds stay, we won't be able to see the full moon tonight. Addie and I saw it rising last night, and what a beautiful globe it was. The brightness of it these days casts all sorts of moonshadows at night, so that even at two in the morning, we can see out the window with little trouble. It's an awesome sight.

Telephone Troubles

Our telephone service is currently down, so if you need to reach us, please drop me an email at info@hestons.com.
The phone company is working on it, but we are told that it could be a few more days before service is restored. Makes it a little rough to run a business, but we are used to challenges here on the Trail!
We're sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

Batu Caves Hindu's Shrines

I'm very happy to present you the second article of Berry Sudirno from Jakarta/Indonesia, author of these interesting blogs: howtoboostyourwealth, journeytomakemoney, sweetjourneyinmylife .
You know him in my blogs from the first article Endagered Species -Orangutans that many of you found interesting.

Batu Caves is a limestone hill in the Bukit Gombak District, about 13 kilometer north of Kuala Lumpur the capital city of the Kingdom of Malaysia. The cave is sacred for the Hindu�s and one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India.

Batu Caves could be reached by taxi or by bus from the Pudu Raya bus terminal at the city of Kuala Lumpur or you may use the tourist bus which is available at your Hotel.

You must climb 272 steps in order to access the temple at the summit of the hill. They consist of 3 main caves and number of smaller one.

You will be greet by a lots of long tail monkeys which expecting some foods like peanut, banana from you. You must be careful because some of them are very naughty they will raid you and steal your hat, bag or any other things. Besides that there a lots of birds around and expecting you to feed them with corn. Those foods could be purchased at around Batu Caves.

�The site serves as the focus of the Hindu community�s yearly Thaipussam festival. A procession begins at Sri Mahamariamman Temple Kuala Lumpur with some people carrying kavadi and last eight hours. In 2007, the festival attracted more than 1.5 million pilgrims, making it one of the largest gatherings history.� (Wikipedia)

(photo of my daughter at Batu Caves was taken a few years ago)

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