网际旅游

北卡是一个可以怀旧的地方，十二年后重新回到罗利的学校，没有丝毫的陌生。一样的楼，一样的路，一样年轻的学生，不一样的是自己。

临走的那个午后，我慢慢地开着车，努力地重温一遍当年和虫儿一起平凡的校园生活，那是两个年轻人刚刚聚在一起开始生活的日子，在异域的蜗居中，简单，匆忙，努力，迷茫，快乐。

NCSU的钟楼。 (more…)

“嗙”，望着镜子中黑压压的影子，我不由自主地扣响了扳机。幕色下，308口径的Tikka枪口一道清晰的火光，远处的影子一哄而散。再仔细看过去，地上还有一只黑影在挣扎。。。

中了。

———- (more…)

年轻的空姐就是好啊。Cepu Pacific是菲律宾的一家航空公司。

Iberostar Punta Cana - All Inclusive
4 nights - Reviews

travel.webshots.com/album/559551956NVefL…

Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus - All Inclusive
3 nights - Reviews

travel.webshots.com/album/556593944dVepj…

Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana - All Inclusive
3 nights - Reviews

难得的是，拿到手的deal非常好。All Inclusive, 特别是加勒比海一带的，还是要从funjet, apple vacation, usa3000 vacation 这类奢侈游的代表旅行社中找deal, 这次还有一个beachdestinations.com。 还有一点经验就是在线查好deal, 然后打个电话和代理聊聊，多半还能砍下一些。

Forums
debsdrtravels.proboards.com/index.cgi
www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g147288-i2…
www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jsp…
dr1.com/travel/index.shtml

www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g147288-c1165…

SO MUCH TO SEE!!!

Punta Cana is on the East Coast.. spectacular beaches stretched out for miles.. Bavaro Beach, the longest, Macao Beach, Uvero Alto Beaches. Bavaro Beach is the most famous beach there, with white sand for miles, and blue water, although parts of it can be a little wavy too.. the most southern part of the beach as the calmest water.. Right around the Barcelo Bavaro complex.. There are over 55 All Inclusive hotels in that part of the island, and more are being built.. there are non All Inclusive coming too.. The hotels built are becoming more and more upscale and luxurious as more people discover the Punta Cana beaches, and spread the word.

The South Coast of the island is the most quiet.. at this point.. I don’t think it will be for long, as more people will be discovering the pristine beaches of the Caribbean, and crystal clear, calm waters, perfect for snorkelling. La Romana and the Bayahibe area is also known for the spectacular sunsets on the water. There are Catalina and Saona Islands, where you can enjoy the unspoiled natural beauty af a tropical paradise, you can visit historical site of Altos De Chavon, gorgeous property built on the cliffs, overlooking the Chavon river.

From there you can take a trip to Santo Domingo, the capital city. There are great hotels there where you can stay and enjoy a big city vacation

The North Coast is great.. busy and active, with great beaches, and great affordable resorts. The sand is not white, but amber in colour, the water is clean, but not the turquoise Caribbean blue so many tourists are looking for..

Playa Dorada in Puerto Plata is the most popular resort complex.. But there is also Sosua and Cabarete, great little towns where you can experience more of the local culture and see how the locals live and work. The towns get into the party mode at night, but you do have to be careful.. you are a tourist in a foreign country..

Cabarete is a windsurfer’s paradise.. Constant breeze attracts many people from all over the world.. waves are incredible. There are many budget hotels there that are All Inclusive, or condos where you can make your own food. There is a lot of souvenir shopping and bars and restaurants right on the beach.. you can have a dinner under the stars right on the beach.

Sosua is built around a small bay with great views. There are several All Inclusive hotels there, and smaller condos.. there are plenty of restaurants and bars where food is pretty affordable, there are also nicer restaurants, if you have special dinners planned.. The beach is light honey colour, most of the time there are no waves, as the beach is protected by the reefs not too far from the shore. Snorkelling is great there, you can rent the equipment from many vendors on the beach, and enjoy the underwater world.

Both in Sosua and Cabarete you can rent the lounge chairs on the beach, they are very affordable.. you can make friends with the Dominican people, who are very warm and welcoming.

Condé Nast Traveler magazine said in a article about winter vacation destinations titled ” More Sun for less Money” that the Samaná peninsula is one of the 25 best locations in the world. There you can find unspoiled beaches, coconut-covered mountains, tropical rain forests, and most importantly internationally known whale-watching. That area will be developing as well much to the disapointment of some naturalists, who love their quiet and peaceful vacations there.

—-
The Dominican Republic is a large country in the second largest island in the Caribbean (Hispaniola). Depending on which airport you fly into you may be able to access different parts of the country easily.

Santo Domingo is the capital and the first city of the “New World”. It offers some great historical sites and dining/nightlife.

To the East of Santo Domingo are the famous beaches of Punta Cana perfect for a holiday of white sand, palm tree lined beaches.

The center of the island is home to “Pico Duarte” - the highest mountain in the entire Caribbean. It’s excellent for hiking.

The North Coast, or Amber Coast, of the Dominican Republic offers beautiful beaches in Puerto Plata, Sosua, and Cabarete. Cabarete is a kiteboarding and windsurfing capital of the world, one of the best places on earth to practice these fun water sports.

—-

If you are in Santo Domingo for just one day and one night, you are in the perfect area. Since you have just 1 day I woud visit (all in walking distance) The 3 big historical attractions are

-The cathedral (first cathedral in the Americas)
-Museo de las Casa Reales
-Alcazar de Colon.

Then explore El Conde (the pedestian street right outside your hotel door), enjoy a nice restaurant in the zona colonial.

http://www.dr1guide.com/maps

A good guide to Santo Domingo is the one published by DR1. It is free and found in many business establishments in the capital, and can also be downloaded and viewed in it’s entirety for free at dr1guide.com It’s tagline says it all. “The tourist guide that treats you like a local” it’s full of information on transportation, shopping, attractions, etc.

Boca Chica is not a place I would recommend. The ‘feel’ is not right. It has a dangerous atmosphere I did not sensed anywhere in DR. And it had quite some prostitution as well. The beach is not pretty compared to other places.

I think Mercado Modello is an interesting place to check out local stuff (yes, some junk) and experience that kind of market.
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the new highway was built for easy access to samana peninsula , once you enter the Samana highway there is nothing but the gas station

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La Romana

Water conditions are extremely better in this area though. Specially in the Dominicus area.

Is much more clearer, transparent, turquoise, and much CALMER than Punta Cana. Some days almost like a pool!. Not one wave, even small ones.
You see many many fish right at the beach and if you bring bread you’ll be able to feed them from your hands.

If you want to be in the touristy area the Punta Cana would be the best. If you want to experience more of the local life then Bayahibe Dominicus is the place to go. You can still stay in a nice All inclusive resort while you can easy access the local village.

Airfare
Round trip: AUS, IAH to PUJ, AZS, EPS, LRM, STI,SDQ , POP,

Hotels
res.funjet.com
from.bookit.com

the Iberostar beach area is way calmer than the rough surf in Cortecito, where the Palladium is located.

the Budget Resorts like the Grand Oasis/Be Live, Natura Park, Barcelo Dominican Beach, Carbela Beach Resort,Occidental Grand Flamenco, Tropical Princess/Caribe Club Princess, VIK, Gran Paradise Bavaro, Barcelo Punta Cana.

tripcentral.ca gives a grid showing prices and you can narrow it down by month and resort.

Car Rental

www.flyertalk.com/forum/13061646-post33….

I have known two “tourist” people who had accidents in rental cars. Nothing serious. Maybe $1000 max in damage to the moto concho and car combined. None of them went to jail. No one was ever charged the full price of the car. The police talked to the car rental people and made sure their was full coverage and in one case they asked for their passport for a couple days till things got sorted out. The police also verified where the driver was staying. If you use the right credit card for the rental even the deductible is covered. If you rent from National or Avis or one of the International companies you will bemore protected than if you rent from a local non name type. If you drive defensively you should be OK. I have driven in Montreal and NY and drive here for 3.5 years. I think I prefer driving here!

www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g317144-i5…

www.nellyrac.com/en/
Mitsubishi Outlander 6px is $105/day

Car Rentals
Major car rental companies have airport, hotel and city locations. Do not cut corners when choosing your rental car service. Also take out the extra insurance plan that is available. If you suffer an accident that dents your car, for instance, the insurance will prevent delays or hassles. All you will have to do is visit the nearest police station and declare the accident. To do so, have the other party accompany you, or just take his name, insurance company, license number, cedula and car registration (license plate) number. A valid driver’s license and major credit card is required to rent a car for up to 90 days. You must be at least 21 years old.

Driving is on the right hand side and the speed limit is 60 kph in the cities and up to 100 kph on the highways, unless otherwise indicated. Getting around the DR is easy on a network of highways that branch out from Santo Domingo, the capital city. Roads inside towns and cities may not be in perfect condition so watch for large holes and oversized speed bumps.

Domestic travel times
Santo Domingo-Puerto Plata 3-1/2 hour
Santo Domingo-Santiago 1-1/2 hours
Santo Domingo-Jarabacoa 1-1/2 hours
Santo Domingo-Constanza 2 hours Santo Domingo-Boca Chica 1/2 hour
Santo Domingo-Juan Dolio 40 minutes
Santo Domingo-Bayahibe 2 hours
Santo Domingo-La Romana 1-1/2 hours
Santo Domingo-Punta Cana 3-1/2 hours
Santo Domingo-Samana 4 hours or 2 hours on toll road
Puerto Plata-Samana 3-1/2 hours
Santo Domingo-Barahona 3 hours

Tours/Activities

If you go to Bayahibe, I highly recommend you take the 45-minute boat ride to Saona Island and/or visit Isla Catalinita.

Reaching Isla Saona is easiest via Bayahibe, where there are a number of independent excursion vendors. A reasonable price to expect for a ride from Bayahibe to Isla Saona is about RD$1,000–2,000 per person.
www.moon.com/destinations/dominican-repu…

La Piscina Natural, or Palmilla, as it’s sometimes called, is a starfish-dotted sandbar in the waters between the Parque Nacional del Este and Isla Saona coastlines. Excursion boats whisking their customers to and from Isla Saona make a stopover in this spot where, more than a kilometer off the coast, one can wade around in clear water that never gets above the waist. It is a unique experience to be able to walk in the Caribbean Sea so far from land.

Full Day Saona and Catalinita (Including buffet and drinks). 79.00/pp
www.scubafun.info/rates/rates.html

Two Islands tour, $95/pp
www.seavisbayahibe.com/2Island_e.htm
www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g6…

Caribbean Festival
Sharks, Stingrays, and Sunshine
www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147…

Punta Cana drive around tour; we can DIY.
www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g147293-d1574…

this is an idillic place in the middle of Los Haitises, they provide tour with lunch included at the hotel followed by a dip in the refreshing waterfalls that surround it.
dr1.com/directories/hotels/paraiso_cano_…

Dolphin Explorer
www.dolphinexplorer.com.do/
>$100/pp, expensive tour, but kid may like it.

Bavaro Runners Safari Adventures
We had a great time on this trip. The driver was great, as was our tour guide “munchie”, safe vehicles. You get to see sugar cane field, tobacco, and how they are made and processed into rum. You also see the mountains, and experience a nice dominican style lunch. You also see a school, visit a beautiful beach, and a typical dominican home, where you get to try fresh coffee, coco, etc. Very neat trip for people who enjoy culture and adventure, i highly recommend it! I do however feel like this trip wouldnt be good for kids, its a nice couples trip, but kids will get bored, unless they enjoy culture etc.

Horseback Riding Punta Cana
Secrets Excellence has sunset horseback ride
El Pat Ranch. We booked it through our rep at the hotel.$50 US for a two hour ride along the beach.
Rancho El Diferente

Parque nacional los haitises (NP @Sabana de la Mar)
www.moon.com/destinations/dominican-repu…

Paraíso Caño Hondo (Sabana de la Mar, tel. 809/248-5995, cell 809/889-9454,
Tours start around US$45 (including guide, lunch, and entrance fee).

The road from Miches to Sabana de la Mar is notoriously horrendous. You will need an SUV and a strong stomach. If you still insist on driving it on your own, just don’t drive at night since drivers tend to swerve to avoid potholes, sometimes without headlights!

Samana Peninsula
www.samana.net/attractions-en.html

El Salto del Limon
waterfall, horseback riding uphill, need to pick a nice stable.
www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147…

Terry at toursamanawithterry@hotmail.com
La Playita is one of the best places on the whole peninsula to snorkel.The food at the beach restaurant is very good with fresh fish as their specialty.

the Devil’s blowhole
prices of some souveniers
www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147294-i1…

Shopping

All colmados and supermarkets will sell Dominican rum and it will be cheaper here than on the beach. IMO the best is Barcelo Imperial. The most popular is Brugal. They sell it in small bottles and it makes a good present. Another option is Dominican coffee - eg Cafe Santo Domingo.

The main tourist market is on Avenida Mella (just north of the Zona Colonial and is called Mercado Modelo - (referred to above as the balck market - never heard of it described as that). It has many stalls inside mostly selling stuff from Haiti. At the back are various stalls selling potions etc related to santeria.

The main things we buy when we are there are from the supermarket - coffee, rum and cigars + the local music - merengue.

Santo Domingo is a city for shoppers
The Mercado Modelo at Avenida Mella, a farmer’s market turned into giant gift shop, offers the largest selection of handicrafts. Several gift shops are located on Arzobispo Merino and Isabel la Catolica in the Colonial City. Shopping venues are located in the 27 de Febrero to Gustavo Mejia Ricart environs, including Plaza Central, Plaza Lama, Plaza Naco, Americana Departamentos, Hache, Acropolis, Plaza Bolera, Cuesta, Bella Vista, Diamond large stores.

Horseback riding at Punta Cana
Rancho El Diferente. They sell the rides on the property at Dreams Punta Cana and other hotels, but even if they don’t sell them directly through your hotel they can be reached by e-mail at ranchoeldiferente@hotmail.de or at (809) 552-6322, (809) 342-1639 and (809) 498-3482.

el pat ranch, a little bit expensive.
pandora ranch, horse is not in good shape.
Rancho Caribeno - recently recommend

— Appendix —
www.gobarahona.com
Barahona-Enriquillo Coastal Highway

This is perhaps the most splendidly scenic highway in the Caribbean, exceptional in its views of a multi-colored sea, untamed stretches of dense forest, sparkling rivers and towering green mountains. Visitors to this area are few and the simple ways of traditional village life may be glimpsed along the route. Wave to the residents and they will smilingly wave back. It’s a lush landscape of brilliant greens, complemented by millions of graceful yellow butterflies and the melodies of innumerable birds.

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In Boca Chica, the main shopping strip is one block up from and parallel to the beach. It’s only about 5 or 6 blocks long, but it has everything you need to take back home: rum, cigars, artwork, crafts etc.

Map

—-
I will suggest 4PUJ-3Bayahibe-3PUJ for hotels.
suggest car rental for 5 days in the middle of trip.
Interested tour:
day 1 - arrive
day 4 - Road trip PUJ - Sabana del la Ma, NP Los Haitises
day 5 - Catalina island tour
day 6 - two islands tour
day 7 - St Domingo road trip (option)
day 8 - sunset horse riding at beach
day 11 - fly home

www.panamainfo.com/en/what-do-see

The Ten Top Things Do and See Nearby Panama City
The Top Ten Things to Do and See in Panama City

Snorkeling
Dry season takes place in most of the country from December to April

Snorkeling/Diving in the Pacific, from west to east: the Chiriqui Gulf National Marine Park (Secas, Ladrones, Paridas), Coiba, Isla Iguana, Las Perlas.

In the Caribbean: Bocas (north west of Panama) and Colón (Portobelo, Isla Grande) have some really cool places but as someone already said: visibility won’t be good when it’s raining. So for Bocas (and the Bastimentos Marine National Park), which is in the Caribbean you’ll have good visibility in January, February, March, September and October. Not sure about Colón.
The city of Colon can be very dangerous, is best to avoid.

Panama Travel Blog
www.costaricapages.com/panama/blog/categ…

Fresh And Cheap – Panama City’s Seafood Market
www.costaricapages.com/panama/blog/fresh…

Typical rental of a Toyota Yaris in Panama

Rent per day - $16-20
Liability - $12/day - required
Phyisical damge - another $12 -16 per day
comes with $1,000 - 2,000 deductable
Deductable coverage - $6 day
So a posted rate or $15/day can easily turn into $45/day plus tax.
Your cc may cove physical damage, your US car insurance won’t.
www295.americanexpress.com/premium/car-r…

Do two things when you rent the car: 1) Get the American Express international, wherever-you-rent insurance coverage. While the rental cars are cheap, the required insurance is not. It will triple or quadruple your bill. Go with AmEx, but read the fine print about things like gravel roads. 2) Make sure you walk around the car with the inspector when you rent the car. Make double sure he marks ever infintisimule nick and ding on the car … especially the windshield. Biggest scam: a nick in the windshield or a scratch below the front bumper and you’ll be buying the new one at three times the cost of one in the states.

Driving from Panama to Bocas will take you about 10 hours. Going over the corridor is breathtaking for its scenery, especially with your first glimpses of the the emerald green waters and the islands of Bocas del Toro. But, it is a very, very long haul and extremely tiring.

The drive from Boquete - if you are staying there - to Almirante (mainland jumping off spot to Bocas del Toro) is beautiful & interesting. It is probably one of the nicest routes - for scenery - in the country. My suggestion would be to start out by 10:00am or earlier. The drive is about 3 1/2 hours but the road is narrow & should be done in daylight. And you will save a lot on the airfare.

Don’t bother bringing the car to the island - unnecessary & complicated. There is a safe & secure spot next to one of the water taxi companies - Taxi 25.

1 week itineraries:

Rent a car and head to El Valle/Santa Clara area for 2 nights - about 2 hour drive outside PC.

Head back to PC over to Portobello and Isla Grande for 2 nights ( at Bananas Resort on Isla Grande) for decent snorkling.(1-2 hour drive from PC)

Spend the other three night in PC - when in PC don’t drive take taxis - easier quicker.

Don’t bother with Boquete area - you will lose two days driving.

Tours
www.barefootpanama.com

Panama Discovery - 15 days
www.barefootpanama.com/panamaDiscovery.h…

Highlights include:

* Panama Canal
* Casco Viejo, Panama City
* Miraflores Locks
* El Valle
* Pedasi, Azuero Peninsula
* Playa Venao
* Isla Iguana
* Santa Catalina
* Coiba National Park
* Bahia de Chiriqui
* Cerro Punta
* Waterfalls, rivers and hot springs
* Amistad National Park
* Quetzal Trail to Boquete
* Canopy Tours and Coffee Plantation
* Paradise Gardens
* Sailing and snorkeling at Bocas del Toro

PC taxi world
www.panamatravelexpert.com/images/Panama…

www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g294480-i1…

Wherever you decide to go, make your reservations as soon as you can, because that week between Christmas and New Years is a very popular time for Panamanians and tourists to go to Boquete, Cerro Punta and El Valle.

Tripadvisor Guide Expert
www.tripadvisor.com/members-forums/bluff…
www.tripadvisor.com/members-forums/CDY

出游前的一个月，在Priceline上拍到西雅图机场的租车，$15/day，很不错的deal。当然了，车是compact的小车，按以往的出游经验，希望能免费升级一把。

第一次搭Alaska Airline, 感觉很不错，SJO-SEA的一段和回来的直飞都有免费wifi onflight，提供服务的公司取了个和google很象的名字，叫gogo，一不留神还以为google又扩展业务了。当然不管什么名字，只要是免费的都要赞一下。飞机上的饮料服务一直不断，另外还出租DVD给客人看。其实，我还有个好点子，长途飞机上如果能出租降噪耳机(noise cancellation headphone)的话，应该市场不小，这东西在飞机上很实用，但平常不常飞，单独买一个还是太贵了。

中途在SJO转机，不得不抱怨一下圣何塞的机场。原本不大的一个机场，却非常愚蠢地设计成长长的一条，从一侧的登机口到另一侧，足足可以走上二十分钟，没有任何扶梯什么的。还有就是机场里面的餐馆清一色的sports bar风格，适合家庭的快餐店根本就没有，无语。

相比之下西雅图的机场很方便，租车柜台也在机场内。Hertz柜台的老兄在电脑里看啊看，一直向我推销升级，看他一副不甘心的样子，我就知道priceline的价钱踩到他了。一通拒绝之后，他很不情愿地在对讲机里嘀嘀咕咕，然后递给我一把钥匙。

既然没有免费升级，我也没搞清他肉痛什么。走到停车场，一辆银色小车，外表无奇，不过是Toyota的。当时没多想，打开车门才发现，内部装置和平时开的车不一样耶。再仔细一看牌子，Prius, 咦，不是刚刚机场看到的Toyota Hybrid新款广告吗？更乐的是，GPS是标准配置，呵呵，赚翻了。

之后的十天，小小的车载着我们三人，时而穿梭在城市中的大街小巷，时而奔驰在田野间的高低起伏。还车的时候，二千多迈的里程，算算汽油，绝对高于50mpg了，Toyota的广告算是名副其实了。这Hybrid的小车，如果单独在Hertz租的话，是要额外加钱的。这样看来，Priceline租车不光便宜，居然还捡到宝。

温哥华夏天的旅行，就在我们捡到便宜的那份欢喜劲儿中，上路了。

—–
最近乱忙，故事更新会很慢，圣诞节前应该会写好吧？还希望能把三年前的Washington State一游给补齐，可能吗？

2010年的夏天，逃离烈日炎炎的德州，去温哥华和维多利亚岛转了一圈，十日的休闲游，先报报流水帐，供感兴趣的朋友参考一下。有些具体信息可以参考我之前的博客，后面如果有时间会唐唐我们沿途有趣的故事。

10day/9nights Vancouver - Victoria Islands Itineraries

June 30

Fly to Seattle(SEA) through Alaska Airline, 1 stop at SJO. (recommend Alaska Airline)

Rent compact at Hertz, and get Toyota Hybrid Prius. (stealing deal)

Drive to Vancouver through Hwy 5, board cross at Peach Arch Provincial park. Traffic is ok, it is about 3 1/2 to 4 hours.

Check in at Hyatt Regency Vancouver. (room is modern style, bed is very good. pool is outdoor, not impressive. $28/night parking, gee~ this is bad, no free wifi/internet)

Dine at 麒麟海鲜酒家 (7900 Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC (604) 303-8833). Several friends recommend it, but our experience is not very good, I will rate ok but not great.

July 1 (Canada Day)

Worm spent the whole day doing hair straightening at 美发轩 (Maggie, Unit2127, 3779 Sexsmith Rd, Richmond), it is about five hours.

Lunch at 王記台灣牛肉面 (8390 Granville Street), so-so, not very impressive.

Later afternoon, we visit the Vancouver water front around convention center for Canada national day actives. Then watch the night parade.

Dine at 悦海大酒家(1088 Melville St. Vancouver, (604) 669-8383), close to Hyatt hotel, but very hard to find the entrance. Few people, quiet, food is ok.

July 2

Day trip to Whistler, sea to sky drive.

It is about 3~4 hours drive, about 8 to 10 stops at the road. The view is good, little town, harbor, waterfall etc, nothing fancy but worth a day trip.

Whistler peak to peak Gondola is the highlight, a must experience. We spent quiet a lot time at the snow mountains. Tried all types of gondola, and saw a little black bear cub on the way downhills.

The lunch at Whistler is too expensive, $15 for just a burger. We should prepare sandwich ourselves.

Dine at 上海一只鼎 (Unit 120, 8100 Ackroyd Rd. , Richmond . 604-278-8789). Friday night no reservation, wait about 30 min. The food is good, we recommend it but better make a reservation first, since it is a small restaurant.

July 3
North Vancouver - Downtown Vancouver

Visit the Lynn Canyon Suspension bridge for free, instead of famous Capilano Suspension Bridge. Hiking about 1 hour.

We spend the rest of day at Stanley park, driving around, taking pictures, hiking and clam digging. So many fun.

Dine at 帝苑海鲜酒家(7997 Westminster Highway, Richmond, 604-249-0080), since that weekend the lobster is special. Be there at 5:30pm just before the open time, so got a table. Otherwise you need a reservation since the tables are filled up quickly. We love the food there. Recommend.

July 4
Western Vancouver - Horseshoe bay - Nanaimo - Tofino

Check out hotel and went to VanDusen Botanical Garden. Since some tourists recommend it. Cheaper than the Butchart Gardens at Victoria island.

Go dim sum at 置地广场楼上(I need to find the restaurant name). Very crowed at Sunday noon. Have to wait about 1 hour since we did not make a reservation. The feel eating there bring me back to Hong Kong. The lady at frond desk is amazing, more stories later. The food is half-half, some is good, some is so-so. If I do not have to wait that long, I will recommend it.

After lunch, we rush to Horseshoe bay for 3pm ferry. Just in time. Ferry to Victoria island is about 2 hours. Then it is another 3 hours drive to Tofino.

Check in Blue Bear B&B. Great, nice lady owner. recommend.

July 5
Tofino

Ocean Outfitters whale watch
Three hours morning tour, caught six grey whales. Not bad.
The sea is rough.

Afternoon we spot several beaches, including the pacific rim long beach. Low tide, very impressive on the size of the beach.

In the evening we drive out photo hunting for bear. Stop at Uclenet, now we understand why that town is not as good as Tofino, luckily I didn’t rent a B&B there.

On diet, on budget, free breakfast, but for rest of day we like instant noodles plus some fruits/snacks.

July 6
Tofino - Victoria

In the morning we check out and visit another two local beaches, for tide pool and beach combing.

Then it is a long 5 hour drive on the road.

Check in at Marriott Victoria Inner Harbor. Room is nice, the indoor pool, hot tub are great. free internet, parking is $15/night. Recommend.

Victoria inner harbor sunset view, romantic and relax feel. It is more like a tourist town.

Dine at Japanese village restaurant for light food. It is ok, nothing fancy.

July 7
Explore Victoria

Local scenic drive. Visit Sidney, and several local beaches. Well, overall, the local beach is not as good as Tofino for sure.

Lunch at Redfish Bluefish, highly recommend, the halibut is very fresh. Check out Yelp, so many people love it.

Dine at a local family Chinese restaurant, and order some Xinjiang food. Good value and good taste.

July 8

Check out hotel, leave at 8:00am for 10:30am vehicle ferry from Victoria BC to Port Angeles WA. The lock down time is 1 1/2 hour for immigration procedure.

Unfortunately since we did not reserve in advance ($15 extra reservation fee), we are out of luck since the ferry is full and they cut the line two cars before us.

Have to wait another 4 hours for the next. Walk and lunch at Fisherman wharf. Order at Barb’s fish & chip, about same price as redfish bluefish but you can tell the piece of fish is much smaller.

Take 3pm ferry and arrive Port Angeles at 5pm. Decide to go Sol Duct hot springs at Olympic NP as planned. The spring is crowed, but we enjoy the smelly hot water.

Left at 9pm, arrive hotel at 12pm, this is a long drive since too late to catch the ferry to Seattle, instead a big deep loop at Hwy 5.

July 9
Holiday Inn Seattle-Renton is a good option for SEA airport hotel . No extra parking fee, free internet, onsite gas station. 10 min drive to airport. $42/night through the priceline is a good deal.

Fly back home, sweet home at night.

前面说了，去温哥华的感觉就跟回国似的，既然如此，吃是不能忘的。我这个周末居然有心把朋友送来的餐馆系列都看了一篇，太无聊了，不过谁让自己好吃呢，还跑到vansky论坛上瞅了半天，总算有几家列出来，大家看看靠不靠谱。千万不要象我之前去洛杉矶那回儿那么失望了。

填空更新中，着眼于性价比高的。

www.westca.com/News/article/sid=103195/l…
2009 温哥华25道首本名菜欣赏

三号路的龙皇鲍翅三号路夹lansdown和ackroyd中间，麒麟海鲜酒家，Granville+cooney的金满楼（早茶）
海港大酒楼 > 鸿星，叙香园，钓鱼台　＞　王府井，英记，富大　＞　加乐，南海渔村，金满楼，龙皇鲍翅，大同

台湾牛肉大王 （台式）
GUU （日本）
老干妈火锅, 金牛海鲜火锅（火锅）
麒麟海鲜酒家 （粤菜）
上海一只鼎，沪上，沪江（上海菜）

列治文夜市: 这个我一定要逛，超喜欢这调调。

地點: 12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond(一樣Home Depot後面
沒有變!)
日期: 2009-05-21~2009-9-26
時間:星期五 07:00pm ~ 12:00am
星期六 07:00pm ~ 12:00am
星期日 07:00pm ~ 11:00am (含星期一國定假日)
www.summernightmarket.com/

冰酒
VQA(Vintnes Quality Alliance)。想带几瓶回来，这东东当地Costco有没有呢？

今天开始订旅馆租车，Seattle, Vancouver 这样的大城市，Priceline的价格是绝对有优势的。看看我今天晚上的成绩：

Compact Car bid:
Hertz @ SEA airport, $15/day, total charge $246/9days.
网上最便宜查到的要$28/day, 还是不起眼的小公司。

Hotel at Seattle bid:
回家前的一晚。
$42/night, total charge $55/night. 网站官方价格： Rooms available from $109.00/night
No hassles and no parking fees.

Holiday Inn Seattle-Renton
ten minutes from SeaTac Airport, twenty minutes from the SuperMall, you can not get better location than this.

Hotel at Vancouver bid:
Hyatt Regency Vancouver (4*)
$100/night, total charge $476/4 nights. 官方网站价格 Total Price Per Room: 996.00 CAD/4nights before tax.

Victoria 4* bid fail at $100/night and 3* bid fail at $65/night. Will try it later.

更新：
今晚第四次试着bid Victoria的旅馆，最后$105/night拿下，难道加币贬值有帮助？

Marriott Victoria Inner Harbor，total $251.32/2 nights. 官方网站价格 $169 CAD/night before tax.

另附Tofino/Ucluelet 预订B&B的秘诀：
info@tourismtofino.com 一封邮件给Tofino Tourism, 会群发到两地所有的旅馆B&B业者，接下来就是慢慢比较选择最满意的了。

我们最终的选择：Blue Bear B&B C$150/night
www.bluebearbandb.com

朋友看到我的夏天出游计划，特别友情送来的温哥华餐厅一览，我似乎记得之前在网上也见过的，希望原作者也允许我这儿分享一下，今夏周围去温哥华的还特别的多，盼望加币贬值的再多一点，再多一点 =)

另外虫儿还想去那儿剪个头，有朋友知道好的发廊请留言。其实，去趟温哥华不就跟回国差不多嘛，呵呵。

www.westca.com/Restaurant/index/lang=sch…

www.chinasmile.net/forums/showthread.php…
这个贴的集合，还带评论的。

food.poco.cn/commendDetail-htx-id-707501…
吃遍温哥华

中餐

上海楼
1124 Alberni Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 1A5, Canada
(604) 683-8222

Shanghai River (沪江)
7831 Westminster Hwy., #110
Richmond
Tel: 604-233-8885
强烈推荐！最好吃的小笼汤包和上海生煎包，精致的淮扬菜,餐厅的装潢和waitress最漂亮,没订位最好别去. 醉鸡＋蔬菜卷

锦江上海菜

城市: Richmond
地址: 6610 No.3 Road
邮编:
电话: 604-276-1780

今晚我点了干烧鲳鱼,确实好吃,量大,漂亮
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My plan:

Day 1: Seattle - Vancouver (Driving through the border at the Peace Arch.)
Day 2: Vancouver city
Day 3: Day trip to Whistler
Day 4: North Vancouver
Day 5: Western Vancouver - Horseshoe bay - Nanaimo - Port Alberni - Tofino
Day 6: Tofino
Day 7: Tofino - Victoria (5 hour drive)
Day 8: Victoria
Day 9: Victoria - Port Angela - Seattle
Day 10: Home

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Matagorda is the best kept secret on the upper Texas Coast. Less than 1.5 hr to H-town, yet a population of less than 1,000. Best fishing, least crowded beaches, nicest people you’ll ever find.

Try Spoonbills for fine sea food, Russell’s Bait shop for fisherman’s breakfast, the Reef for shrimp poorboys, River Bend for CFS, Neon Palm for pizza.

Say “Hi” to Stephanie at Stanley’s “If Stanleys don’t have it, you don’t need it.”

www.panoramio.com/map/#lt=28.692282&ln=-…

www.matagordabay.com/
www.matagordachamber.com/directory.html
fishermansmotel.com/

www.vrbo.com/Search?q=matagorda%2C+tx
www.matagordabay.com/lodging-condos.htm

周末，春假尾，有朋友相约宿营，先约Guadalupe River state park，再约Pedernales Falls State Park，都人满为患，最后在Pace Bend Park找到一亩三分地。

呼朋唤友，拖家带口，凑出十来家，人数不少，菜鸟居多。无奈天公不作美，春暖花开之际，偏偏周末冷锋来袭，多云转雨，顿时军心动摇。

忍不住春心荡漾，大家决定先野炊后求雨，点着篝火等了大半夜，瓜子鸡腿，东拉西扯，居然等出来月冷星稀。午夜过后风来云起，还是当了逃兵。

清晨，梦中，雷声滚滚，不由自主地躺着行了个礼，向坚守宿营地的朋友们。

德州州立公园宿营地

典型德州Hill Country地貌

iphone照的，点火求雨

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