Doesn’t Matter Who Wins the K Race; We’re All the Same

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Adder

My great grandfather came from County Cork, so I claim the privilege of my people.

If you've an Irish sounding name, you may have experienced another unwanted privilege: The assumption you're cool with bigoted commentary.

Idk why the Irish are assumed to have an Archie Bunker gene, but it seems to be a thing. Just last week, someone said to me, "Well, I don't want to be Jewish about the negotiation." I pretended I did not hear it, but had a seriously hard time not bursting out in laughter and saying, "WTF?"

I've had people say to me at bars, "Well, there's good [insert minority] and then there's [insert slur for minority]." Since Trump's been in office, it's happened even more. That I've Colin Farrell's complexion doesn't mean I'm cool with nasty, tribal talk.

These same folks often assume one is religious, as well. And to get back to the point, a lot of them are Irish. Irish males. I think there's club of Backward Irish to which, thankfully, a mutt like me was not invited from birth.

I don't care that your kids met the Pope. I don't like Jameson. And I don't want to hear about how the country's going to pot or grandma disowned a cousin for moving in with a Muslim boyfriend. And stop having so many damn kids! You're fucking up the environment for the rest of us.

[LessinSF]

Originally Posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?

Do you just hang out in the observation car most of the day when you're not eating?

And sleeping, pretty much, although that was partly because the drink guy's cubby was in that car too. If it is full, you are supposed to limit yourself to two hours, but it never was.

[LessinSF]

Originally Posted by greatwhitenorthchick

I would be interested to know what you thought of Banff and Jasper. Apart from the touristiness, I think those places are the most beautiful I've ever seen -- just fucking spectacular, but I haven't seen as much of the world as you have.

Both are stunning, as is the 230 km Icefields parkway that separates the two towns. I was constantly smapping pics at each new vista. My only regrets in not going during summer was that there were fewer daylight hours and no bears.

https://icefieldsparkway.com/highlig...er-discoveries

[Icky Thump]

Bangkok. Interesting. Seedy. Food is good but don’t be surprised if you shit your pants a night. Not sure I’d go back. Went to a custom tailor who made two suits that are inexpensive and great but being that I checked them in as baggage, and am going back to US and flight is going on a 4 hour delay not sure I’ll see them.

Went to visit Chiang Mai which was decent but once you’ve seen 30 temples....

Did a bit more interesting wildlife rescue in Chiang Rai which was the highlight of the trip. Trip was a freebie (prize). Not sure idve paid even for a mileage run.

And non US carriers suck dick. Every fucking one of them.

[greatwhitenorthchick]

Originally Posted by LessinSF

Both are stunning, as is the 230 km Icefields parkway that separates the two towns. I was constantly smapping pics at each new vista. My only regrets in not going during summer was that there were fewer daylight hours and no bears.

https://icefieldsparkway.com/highlig...er-discoveries

Yeah, you pretty much point your camera anywhere and it's a stunning photo. I have visited in summer and winter and can't really decide about whether it's prettier in either season, but you're right about the shorter daylight being a drawback. Not the bears, tho -- I had enough of bears growing up. Glad you liked it.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

Bangkok. Interesting. Seedy. Food is good but don’t be surprised if you shit your pants a night. Not sure I’d go back. Went to a custom tailor who made two suits that are inexpensive and great but being that I checked them in as baggage, and am going back to US and flight is going on a 4 hour delay not sure I’ll see them.

Went to visit Chiang Mai which was decent but once you’ve seen 30 temples....

Did a bit more interesting wildlife rescue in Chiang Rai which was the highlight of the trip. Trip was a freebie (prize). Not sure idve paid even for a mileage run.

And non US carriers suck dick. Every fucking one of them.

thanks, I'm there for meetings, but they'll take us around to some of the nicer restaurants, temples, etc., and I'll have a bit of time to wander. Increasingly, though, I'm thinking that if I have a half day to just hang in a cafe or tea house in the sun by a river while all the people who annoy me each day are sound asleep half way around the world, I'll be happy.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

thanks, I'm there for meetings, but they'll take us around to some of the nicer restaurants, temples, etc., and I'll have a bit of time to wander. Increasingly, though, I'm thinking that if I have a half day to just hang in a cafe or tea house in the sun by a river while all the people who annoy me each day are sound asleep half way around the world, I'll be happy.

Coolest moment for me- the temples are all also schools- young men go live at them around 12 or 13. We were at the temple with the golden buddha (fun backstory of how it was found*) and it is as cool as the last 5 temples- but I hear a thump, thump, thump- I wander back into the residential area, and there was an outdoor basketball court. 10 teens are running a full court. One looks at me and asks, "5 on 5?" It was the only English I heard.

I assumed a Buddhist b-ball game would be an endless series of passes- I mean they reject the personal accumulation of stuff- right? But these guys were the biggest bunch of ball hogs I've ever seen. It was so bad that my passes, especially early, bounced off their heads- passes were not an option to look for at all.


*so when the Mongols or the huns or whoever were coming through the priests covered their golden buddha in plaster to hide it. They were all killed, but the plaster buddha left alone. For hundreds of years it stood as a mundane old buddha. then, some priest rammed a cart into it and a chunk of the plaster fell away- revealing the gold. Some clumsy assed priest, probably dogged as an idiot his whole life, finally benefitted from his clumsiness.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

thanks, I'm there for meetings, but they'll take us around to some of the nicer restaurants, temples, etc., and I'll have a bit of time to wander. Increasingly, though, I'm thinking that if I have a half day to just hang in a cafe or tea house in the sun by a river while all the people who annoy me each day are sound asleep half way around the world, I'll be happy.

We did a full day tour with a guide that was way worth it. A lot of explaining as to the history of all the monuments in architecture. A lot of explaining as to the history of all of the monuments and architecture


I can pass on the deets when home.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

We did a full day tour with a guide that was way worth it. A lot of explaining as to the history of all the monuments in architecture. A lot of explaining as to the history of all of the monuments and architecture


I can pass on the deets when home.

oh, also, DO NOT BRING A DURIAN into your hotel room!!!! They reek.

[LessinSF]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

And non US carriers suck dick. Every fucking one of them.

Not correct. Some of the Asian airlines like Cathay Pacific are nice, and the Middle Eastern ones like Ethiad and Emirates, although the alcohol rules ban be weird during Ramadan.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by LessinSF

Not correct. Some of the Asian airlines like Cathay Pacific are nice.

more than nice. And it’s executive lounges are beyond anything I’ve seen.

[pony_trekker]

Originally Posted by LessinSF

Not correct. Some of the Asian airlines like Cathay Pacific are nice, and the Middle Eastern ones like Ethiad and Emirates, although the alcohol rules ban be weird during Ramadan.

Oops.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by LessinSF

Not correct. Some of the Asian airlines like Cathay Pacific are nice, and the Middle Eastern ones like Ethiad and Emirates, although the alcohol rules ban be weird during Ramadan.

Qatar has a good rep but when shit goes wrong it's a nightmare. After a 7 hour flight BKK-DOH, our DOH-JFK was delayed a total of 9 hours. They basically told us "the plane is delayed, we'll make another announcement in an hour." No explanation, nothing If you try to dig, there'll be a nice beheading in your future.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

We did a full day tour with a guide that was way worth it. A lot of explaining as to the history of all the monuments in architecture. A lot of explaining as to the history of all of the monuments and architecture


I can pass on the deets when home.

I'm a history junky, so I love that stuff. Thanks.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by LessinSF

Not correct. Some of the Asian airlines like Cathay Pacific are nice, and the Middle Eastern ones like Ethiad and Emirates, although the alcohol rules ban be weird during Ramadan.

I actually like flying some of the "local color" airlines. The flights from Boston to Lisbon on Air Portugal are a gathering of folks from the old country, everyone going back to see friends and family and speaking Portuguese. They've got a charm to them.

This time I'm flying Eastern China Air. I'll report back.