International Dateline Confusion

I'm about to get my masters in computer science and I still get confused when I book a flight across the international dateline. I'm trying to book a flight from Tokyo to Maui and it is very confusing. I think I'll end up choosing a flight from Tokyo to Seoul to Honolulu to Maui. The part that confuses me is the timing. Somehow I fly out at 8pm on the 18th from Tokyo and land in Maui at 2pm on the 18th. I get that I'm flying over the international date line, it's still just confusing. Anyway, I'll learned that I am dumb today.

Ready for Maui

Kristen and I finalized plans for Maui last night. We are staying at a very nice hotel on the West shore, renting a car to get around, and staying for 4 days. Couldn't think of a more perfect way to end a long and exciting trip. And it's all thanks to my wonderful parents! Anyway, sorry I don't have more details, but I'm kind of on a role with Jonket right now, so I'm trying to ride the wave of productivity. More next week everyone.

FINALLY Back Home

I'm home thank god. 1 hour of traffic in Baltimore. 1 hour of traffic in NJ at 11pm at night. 3 hours at Panera in Maryland finishing my midterm. What was my midterm? To write a C++ mp3 player with GUI for linux. Given to me at 3pm on Thursday, due at midnight Friday. !trivial. (For non-programmers, that translates to NOT trivial). BUT It's all over, and it is good to be home.

Today I have hiking shoes, backpack, and possibly computer shopping today. Have a great break everyone!

Tours on the Cheap

Not much happening in terms of travel this past week. Mostly just grinding through work. I'm launching 2 iPhone apps by May of this year, not to mention websites and backend stuff for both of them. Oh and I'm launching my own company. Lots to do, but really exciting!

Anyway, I have been looking around for ways to take tours when I'm abroad. I found one really good website, Backpacker Tours. It seems pretty good, and they have prices closer to where I need to be. Specifically I'm looking for a tour that does kayaking in Hai Long Bay. So far only one group comes up in a price that is reasonable for me. But there are other options besides kayaking. Though clearly not as fun. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

Thank you William Shatner

That's riiight.... I JUST got a great deal on PRICEline.

Sorry, it's hard to do a Shatner impression using only ASCII characters. ("There's..... SOMEThing on the wing! SOME... thing on the wing.") But in all seriousness, Kristen and I tried out Priceline for the first time this week and here were the results.

I began by shooting for a 3 star hotel in Athens for $100 a night. Instead I got a 4 star hotel, which with taxes came to about $110-115 a night. Then Kristen tried it (because we needed 1 more day in Athens before her flight home). She shot for a 4 star hotel in Athens for $80 a night. Instead we got a 5 star hotel, which with taxes came to about $90-100 a night! We also have the fortune of staying during the week, but those still seemed pretty good. Then we looked up what we would have paid for the first hotel without Priceline... $270 a night before taxes!

So we got a $270 a night hotel for $100 a night. That's 63% off! I can't even imagine what the other one would have cost us. Now I should add that Greece is feeling the recession right now, we are staying in Athens during the week rather than weekend, and we are booking almost 5 months in advance. But STILL that is a ridiculous savings.

Anyway, I think I just gave Priceline free advertising, but I really don't care cause they saved me almost $340 bucks, which I will now go spend on booze and video games.

Kristen and I are now all booked for Greece. We decided to stay on Milos for most of the trip. It seems like an island with lots to do and fewer crowds than the bigger islands. And we got lots of tips that it is very romantic. I can't wait. I'm sure I'm going to take tons of pictures, but in the mean time, here are some from Flickr:

Milos Island Flickr

Anyway, until next week! Take it easy everyon!

Valentines Day in NJ

I'm the worst blogger ever. I hope I get better when I'm traveling. Anyway, I'm on my way to NJ for a valentines weekend with Kristen! I haven't seen her since John Hopkins so I'm pretty excited! I'm actually in the plane, on my iPhone typing this. Sorry if there's any errors. Oh and as an update to the trip, Hawaii (or some other pacific island) is now officially on the table for my trip. Kristen and I will planning that more this weekend. I should go, the steward/stewardess just gave me an evil eye.... I really can't tell if it's a man or woman. Until next time!

It's Happening

Bought a one way ticket to Dublin last week. June 20th. I am going. Unfortunately that I is indeed singular. Our other major members have had to scale back their plans to joining for only part of the trip. However, I will still be spending my summer abroad in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Currently the plan is as follows:

• Dublin
• Eurail Pass travel for 21 Days
• Greece w/ Kristen
• Cairo
• Istanbul w/ Parents
• (?) India (?)
• Vietnam
• Hong Kong
• Beijing
• Tokyo
• (?) Hawaii (?) w/ Kristen

The (?) parts mean plans are still in the works. And by all means, please contact me! I would love to meet people in different places around the world. Especially Europe, which is by far the cheapest location on this list for everyone to meet me. Email me and we will scheme, plan, and other words that mean plan.