We arrived here in Prague this morning after three very interesting full days in Warsaw. My Polish friend was pleased to show us areas that we did not have time to see when I was here alone seven years ago. The highlight of Warsaw, after a day in the Old Town was the afternoon of yesterday that we spent touring the grounds of a Palace. The grounds were wonderful to see, and large, so we all did some walking. The day and, our visit came to a close when we visited the oldest chocolate factory in Poland...Wadell Chocolate. There we had items, including hot chocolate...the thickest and smoothest I have ever had. We then said our good-byes.
This morning, after breakfast in the hotel, we departed for the airport, then here....arriving on time at 12;30. Next Sunday, we will travel by bus or van, depending on the need, for the small (40,000 population city) of Teplice, about 100 kilometers from here, near the border with Germany.
We have not had great weather, cool...today about 8 degrees, and a few more tomorrow with rain...that will be the first since we left home.
I will find time to do an update towards the end of this week, before we go to the Spas at Teplice.
Monday, 13 May 2019
Friday, 10 May 2019
Warsaw, Poland, Friday, May 10, 2019
Hello from Warsaw. We arrived here on Thursday, as scheduled at noon, after a great trip. Everything went as planned. The bus to Montreal departed exactly at three, and we departed on KLM as scheduled. The only flaw in the trip was on the aircraft from Montreal to Amsterdam, and, I will deal with that when I return to Canada. We were assigned seats in row 18, H and J. these are window and one other, only two beside the aisle. There is then four seats, aisle and two more.
I selected these for the simple reason that those seats are forward of the engines, and very quiet.
BECAUSE on check in, you must deal with a machine, and not a person, we were given seats in row 47...three rows from the back, and VERY noisy. I could not change once issued, so will have something to say later. The service was otherwise excellent.
We did a walk of the local area, had dinner early and got a good night sleep. The internet was down, so am updating this morning.
We will be treated to lunch today, and tomorrow by a lady lawyer friend of mine, and then do some sight seeing. It is now raining here.
I will do an update when we get to Prague on Monday afternoon;
I selected these for the simple reason that those seats are forward of the engines, and very quiet.
BECAUSE on check in, you must deal with a machine, and not a person, we were given seats in row 47...three rows from the back, and VERY noisy. I could not change once issued, so will have something to say later. The service was otherwise excellent.
We did a walk of the local area, had dinner early and got a good night sleep. The internet was down, so am updating this morning.
We will be treated to lunch today, and tomorrow by a lady lawyer friend of mine, and then do some sight seeing. It is now raining here.
I will do an update when we get to Prague on Monday afternoon;
Monday, 29 April 2019
Ottawa, April 29, 2019
I wish to give a short update of events over the past few weeks, to inform people of the travel needs for such a trip as I have outlined. After all travel and hotel details have been confirmed, one must look at what money will be required. While the three countries that we will visit, are all within the European Union, and therefore make use of the Standard Euro Currency, all three also have their own currency that has been in use since before the European Union was established. Generally speaking, the local currency is in use by smaller, small scale outlets. For the trip that we will start on May 8, we decided to take a supply of Euros, to cover major expenses, and a supply of the three local currencies for the other items like coffee, meals and admissions to art galleries, etc.
To give you an example of the different currencies, here is what happened. We decided to take fifty dollars Canadian, (CAD), each in Polish, Czech and Hungarian money along with the Euros. Here is what we got on April 1, 2019. For $49.86 CAD, we got 130 PLN, or Polish Zloty, at rate of 0.3835.
For $51.13 CAD, we got 800 CZK, , or Czech Crona,(Crowns) at 0.06391.
For $51.90 CAD, we got 10,000 HUF, or Hungarian Florint, at a rate of 0.00519.
On that date, the Euro was selling for CAD 1.5312. ($612.48 CAD gave us 400 Euros.) Two days later, the Euro was selling for two cents more; and the rates are changing daily, sometimes by the hour.
We have spent some time getting used to the various currencies, all of which are of different sizes and colors. While we will pass thru the Air Terminal at Amsterdam, The Netherlands, (Holland), both going and on return home, they only use the Euro.
My next report will be issued from Warsaw Poland; Thank you
To give you an example of the different currencies, here is what happened. We decided to take fifty dollars Canadian, (CAD), each in Polish, Czech and Hungarian money along with the Euros. Here is what we got on April 1, 2019. For $49.86 CAD, we got 130 PLN, or Polish Zloty, at rate of 0.3835.
For $51.13 CAD, we got 800 CZK, , or Czech Crona,(Crowns) at 0.06391.
For $51.90 CAD, we got 10,000 HUF, or Hungarian Florint, at a rate of 0.00519.
On that date, the Euro was selling for CAD 1.5312. ($612.48 CAD gave us 400 Euros.) Two days later, the Euro was selling for two cents more; and the rates are changing daily, sometimes by the hour.
We have spent some time getting used to the various currencies, all of which are of different sizes and colors. While we will pass thru the Air Terminal at Amsterdam, The Netherlands, (Holland), both going and on return home, they only use the Euro.
My next report will be issued from Warsaw Poland; Thank you
Sunday, 24 March 2019
Ottawa, March 24, 2019....Upcoming Trip Plans
I have now completed plans for my next adventure. I will depart Ottawa on May 8, and travel to Montreal by a KLM Airlines bus, and fly from there to Warsaw, Poland via Amsterdam, where there will be a three hour stop. In Warsaw for three days, then fly with LOT Polish airlines to Prague Czech Republic for about a week. There will be a side trip to the Czech town of Teplice for a few days, then back to Prague. Teplice is about 100 miles North-West of Prague, near the German border, and just east of the city of Dresden. Then, its a train trip to Budapest, where the visit will be about eight days, then home via Amsterdam, on May 30, again with KLM airlines, and the bus back to Ottawa. During this vacation, I will have a friend travelling with me. When we are in Warsaw, we will be guided around that city by a friend I met there when going around the world in 2012. My travelling companion has never been to Europe, so this will be a very exciting experience for both of us. As with all my travels, "The Rules of Rome," will apply.....what happens in Rome stays in Rome. I will be doing updates as we progress on this adventure, and photos will follow in due course.
Wednesday, 9 January 2019
Ottawa, January 9, 2019
Today, I will give you a web site where all my photos from my 2012 trip around the world are now available. To recap, I completed a 124 day trip around the world in 2012, visiting 14 countries, and doing some volunteer work along the way. I departed Ottawa on March 31, and flew to Vancouver with a stopover of 22 hours. Then, flew to Auckland, New Zealand, drove the north Island, and flew from Wellington, to Sydney, Australia. From there, I traveled by bus to Canberra, flew to Melbourne, then flew to Adelaide, to Alice Springs and back, (visited Ayers Rock by bus), Train to Perth, a two day ride. From Perth, I flew to Singapore, bus to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, flew to Bangkok, bus to Siem Reap, Cambodia and back, flew via Amman Jordan to Istanbul, Turkey, flew to Budapest Hungary, and used Eurorail trains to Prague, Czec Republic, Krakow and Warsaw, Poland, Berlin, and on to Frankfurt, spending a week at each European city. From Frankfurt, I flew home via Iceland.
Prior to Europe, I spent from three days to weeks in the other countries. I had a sailing friend, Robert Beriault with me for the travels as far as Thailand, from where he returned home. I was on my original plan alone for the remainder of the travels.
The photos are on the web now, but we are working on the captions, which will appear as time allows. When this trip is completed, we will do other trips I have made, mostly to Asia, now having made about five trips around the world, but not as long as the first one, in time or distance.
By law, all these photos have copy-write protection, and are for private enjoyment only. I have provided, with full authority to use for commercial use, copies of these photos to Turkish Premiere Travel, based in Istanbul, and TVP, the Polish Television Company, based in Warsaw.
The site is;https;//marinastkitts.smugmug.com/Don-Bediers-Travel-Photos/n-czcQ8X
I hope you enjoy these photos. Many friendships were established during this trip, and they remain.
Other trip photos will appear as time permits. I will note here when they are available. I do not expect to go back to Asia in 2019, but do have plans to travel elsewhere. Enjoy
Prior to Europe, I spent from three days to weeks in the other countries. I had a sailing friend, Robert Beriault with me for the travels as far as Thailand, from where he returned home. I was on my original plan alone for the remainder of the travels.
The photos are on the web now, but we are working on the captions, which will appear as time allows. When this trip is completed, we will do other trips I have made, mostly to Asia, now having made about five trips around the world, but not as long as the first one, in time or distance.
By law, all these photos have copy-write protection, and are for private enjoyment only. I have provided, with full authority to use for commercial use, copies of these photos to Turkish Premiere Travel, based in Istanbul, and TVP, the Polish Television Company, based in Warsaw.
The site is;https;//marinastkitts.smugmug.com/Don-Bediers-Travel-Photos/n-czcQ8X
I hope you enjoy these photos. Many friendships were established during this trip, and they remain.
Other trip photos will appear as time permits. I will note here when they are available. I do not expect to go back to Asia in 2019, but do have plans to travel elsewhere. Enjoy
Sunday, 23 December 2018
Ottawa, December 23, 2018
I returned to Ottawa as scheduled, December 12, all flights were on time, and because of the season, very smooth travel. My checked luggage was tagged all the way to Ottawa. But, with the need to clear customs in Toronto, I claimed it, cleared customs, and then put the luggage on a belt, and it went to Ottawa. I had a scheduled layover in Seoul, South Korea of twelve hours. I was offered a five hour free trip into the city, but declined. While there were several, of various hours, most involved quite some time shopping, a no no for me.One of several hours was a tour to some cave where a lot of gold was recovered...but, Mr Don does not go into caves more than ten feet, and then only if I can see the other exit.
Before departure from Korea, as we prepared for take-off, we were told by Air Canada staff that a hot dinner would be served an hour after take off, and that a snack would be served six hours into the flight, (scheduled for almost 13 hours), and a hot "Breakfast", would be served one hour before landing in Toronto. We were scheduled to arrive at five in the afternoon. We were flying in a Boeing 787-900 series aircraft. The 787s were the first in the world to have no blinds on the windows. There is a button below the window, top is white bottom half is black. To see out, one presses the white part of the button several times, and the window is clear. If you want to darken the window, one pushes the black several times, and total dark window..unable to see out. Now, this 787 and, I suppose all the 900 series have a crew override for the windows. As we departed Korea, even before the dinner was served, the crew darkened the windows, and one could not see out. The Air Canada crew kept the windows darkened until after breakfast was served at four Toronto time. They also darkened the windows for landing...which is a no no at least, has been a no no until now. They always ask to set seats in upright position and OPEN window shades at landing on all other carriers and flights.
Thailand had been ruled since May, 2014 by a military dictatorship, who imposed very strict laws on the people with their own so-called constitution. To talk or write anything negative about the government is, in the eyes of the Generals, a crime against the king...and if caught, one is jailed for up to 15 years. In addition, for Google, and probably many other companies to operate in Thailand, under the dictators, they had to give the army full control of the internet.
As a result, every outgoing and incoming email is read, and allowed to continue, or , it disappears
into thin air. The speed is controlled..to the point that it can take several minutes for a short four line email to be sent. This control is done by them detecting foreign owned computers from the computer I.P. address. The computer will often tell you that, "Google is using the web cam". In short , spying on you. As a so called, "election", is planned for probably February, and is already fixed according to some sources, the military is getting nervous and becoming more controlling. If I were to return to Thailand under this dictatorship, I will probably leave my laptop at home, just too much trouble.
I hope to post some photos, probably mid January, after the holidays, and when my techie is free to help. In the meantime, Happy Holidays to All/Thank you.
Before departure from Korea, as we prepared for take-off, we were told by Air Canada staff that a hot dinner would be served an hour after take off, and that a snack would be served six hours into the flight, (scheduled for almost 13 hours), and a hot "Breakfast", would be served one hour before landing in Toronto. We were scheduled to arrive at five in the afternoon. We were flying in a Boeing 787-900 series aircraft. The 787s were the first in the world to have no blinds on the windows. There is a button below the window, top is white bottom half is black. To see out, one presses the white part of the button several times, and the window is clear. If you want to darken the window, one pushes the black several times, and total dark window..unable to see out. Now, this 787 and, I suppose all the 900 series have a crew override for the windows. As we departed Korea, even before the dinner was served, the crew darkened the windows, and one could not see out. The Air Canada crew kept the windows darkened until after breakfast was served at four Toronto time. They also darkened the windows for landing...which is a no no at least, has been a no no until now. They always ask to set seats in upright position and OPEN window shades at landing on all other carriers and flights.
Thailand had been ruled since May, 2014 by a military dictatorship, who imposed very strict laws on the people with their own so-called constitution. To talk or write anything negative about the government is, in the eyes of the Generals, a crime against the king...and if caught, one is jailed for up to 15 years. In addition, for Google, and probably many other companies to operate in Thailand, under the dictators, they had to give the army full control of the internet.
As a result, every outgoing and incoming email is read, and allowed to continue, or , it disappears
into thin air. The speed is controlled..to the point that it can take several minutes for a short four line email to be sent. This control is done by them detecting foreign owned computers from the computer I.P. address. The computer will often tell you that, "Google is using the web cam". In short , spying on you. As a so called, "election", is planned for probably February, and is already fixed according to some sources, the military is getting nervous and becoming more controlling. If I were to return to Thailand under this dictatorship, I will probably leave my laptop at home, just too much trouble.
I hope to post some photos, probably mid January, after the holidays, and when my techie is free to help. In the meantime, Happy Holidays to All/Thank you.
Monday, 10 December 2018
Bangkok, Tuesday, December 11, 2018
I will keep this page very short. I have been having internet problems for all my time here in Bangkok, and have been erased, and delayed many times. I will comment more when home. I depart hotel in 12 hours for the return trip. Time here has been great/Thanks for understanding
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