Confessions of a YYC Travel Junkie

[Bigtime]

Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji



Kyoto, To-Ji Temple Pagoda



Tokyo, Shinjuku





Tokyo, Shibuya

[Wormius]

^^^ you were supposed to take a picture of Shibuya from inside the Starbucks, not a picture of Starbucks from Shibuya.

So anyway, I am not sure if I am outlier here, but I like the new passport design, but one thing I’d change is ditch the coat of arms on the cover - use a stylized maple leaf or something instead (not the Montreal Olympics one).

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Wormius

^^^ you were supposed to take a picture of Shibuya from inside the Starbucks, not a picture of Starbucks from Shibuya.

So anyway, I am not sure if I am outlier here, but I like the new passport design, but one thing I’d change is ditch the coat of arms on the cover - use a stylized maple leaf or something instead (not the Montreal Olympics one).

I don’t care much about the design. I just hope they’ve made this version waterproof for a change. The fact that the current ones aren’t is pretty dumb.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Slava

I don’t care much about the design. I just hope they’ve made this version waterproof for a change. The fact that the current ones aren’t is pretty dumb.

I’ll admit, I have never taken mine for a swim, but it seemed like the pages had that feel of being made with a kind water-repelling type material.

[DoubleK]

Sick pictures Bigtime

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I’ll admit, I have never taken mine for a swim, but it seemed like the pages had that feel of being made with a kind water-repelling type material.

I got caught in a thunderstorm on my motorcycle, and they’re definitely not water proof in the least. All of the pictures are soluble and I think some of the writing as well! So, I got back into Canada without out issue. When I went to replace the passport though, I had to provide a statement about what happened. It’s a pretty basic story, I think. They told me that they would replace it (for a fee of course), but also if anything happened again (theft, damage or whatever), that I was a security risk. At that point, I could only get a two year passport and only with proof of travel. Needless to say, I’m pretty careful with my passport because of that!

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Wormius

^^^ you were supposed to take a picture of Shibuya from inside the Starbucks, not a picture of Starbucks from Shibuya.

So anyway, I am not sure if I am outlier here, but I like the new passport design, but one thing I’d change is ditch the coat of arms on the cover - use a stylized maple leaf or something instead (not the Montreal Olympics one).

On it's own the design isn't bad but I don't like what is being replaced so it's an initial thumbs down for me. I love those historical pictures in the current design.

[MoneyGuy]

Giving up the historical photos = fail for me. However, it’s no big deal.

[Fuzz]

As far as issues to give a #### about, this one is way waaaay down the list. It's fine, it's a passport.

[Tiger]

Originally Posted by Wormius

^^^ you were supposed to take a picture of Shibuya from inside the Starbucks, not a picture of Starbucks from Shibuya.

So anyway, I am not sure if I am outlier here, but I like the new passport design, but one thing I’d change is ditch the coat of arms on the cover - use a stylized maple leaf or something instead (not the Montreal Olympics one).

We must keep the coat of arms. we must always keep a unicorn on our passports!!!

[Izzle]

Anyone know if Uber or checker cabs provide a ride to the airport with a car seat for a toddler between 2-4?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Izzle

Anyone know if Uber or checker cabs provide a ride to the airport with a car seat for a toddler between 2-4?

Could you clarify whether you mean whether they provide a car seat for you or let you use one in their cab? If the latter, I can confirm cabs will let you set your own car seat up as they all have the anchors in the rear seats. I presume Uber is the same.

I don’t know about the former, and I’d probably not want to put my child in a car seat with an unknown history.

[Izzle]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Could you clarify whether you mean whether they provide a car seat for you or let you use one in their cab? If the latter, I can confirm cabs will let you set your own car seat up as they all have the anchors in the rear seats. I presume Uber is the same.

I don’t know about the former, and I’d probably not want to put my child in a car seat with an unknown history.

Good point about not trusting a car seat with an unknown history. I guess I was wondering about the former in your two scenarios. Just need a ride to the airport and have my toddler sit in the car seat. I'm assuming cab drivers won't allow the toddler to sit on their parent's lap.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Got home Saturday afternoon from our trip to South Korea and Japan. Thanks again to all of you that supplied information and ideas for what to do/see. Two amazing countries, exceeded our expectations and had us pondering how does one live there instead!

Can we at the very least get some high speed rail between Calgary and Edmonton and Vancouver? I'd settle for 200km/h speeds also.

People don't realize how terrible we have it here in North America with respect to infrastructure until they've visited major cities in places like China, Japan and South Korea. Our public transit is 3rd world compared to them.

[MoneyGuy]

Australia - best public transport I’ve seen.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Izzle

Good point about not trusting a car seat with an unknown history. I guess I was wondering about the former in your two scenarios. Just need a ride to the airport and have my toddler sit in the car seat. I'm assuming cab drivers won't allow the toddler to sit on their parent's lap.

Oh, well I mean, in probably a high percentage of the cases, the driver won’t care despite any rules they have. I know most of the time when the kids were of that age the drivers seemed surprised we weren’t just putting the seat in the trunk with the rest of our luggage, and didn’t even know their vehicles had the anchors for the seats. I can’t even remember the type of seat they needed at that age? Is it the harness ones or just the cheap booster?

Your mileage may vary though.

Also, if you’ve driven in a cab, I don’t think I’d trust the “hold the kids tight” approach. I can’t imagine that has ever worked in practice should there be an accident.

If it’s convenient, the bus has pretty good service to the airport if you’re close to a route.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by activeStick

People don't realize how terrible we have it here in North America with respect to infrastructure until they've visited major cities in places like China, Japan and South Korea. Our public transit is 3rd world compared to them.

It’s easy for them to build. No consultations with anybody impacted by it: “your small town is in the way, here’s some money, now begone”.

[calgarygeologist]

72 hour strike notice from WestJet pilots has been filed tonight. Just in time for long weekend travel plans.

[chemgear]

It's been a long while since pilots actually reached striking in Canada right? What do people figure will happen this go around?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Kyoto, Kinkaku-ji

Ah, the anagram lover's Tokyo!