TotallyOz

Day Zero This at times may be long and boring and full of information that others don't need or wish to read. I am trying to detail my experience for the month and will include prices and small details that may bore others. Just an advance warning. It is always very difficult to find a good price on airfare ticket going to Brazil. But this time Delta Airlines had a ticket that was around $2200 with 30,000 miles to upgrade for first class. I jumped at the ticket. Well, I would not say that I necessarily jumped at the ticket. I called Delta Airlines several times in order to find the best price of the ticket. After several calls I got ranges anywhere from over five or $6000 and finally down to the 2200 I felt comfortable with. I tried to leave from Dallas Forth Worth but it was going to cost over 1200 more and I decided the drive to Austin was fine for me. I stayed one night at an airport hotel called Fairfield Suites Hotel. It was around 90USD. It is about 8 miles from airport and as I had to return a rental car, I booked that room. Austin Airport is small. It is not a big place but it is very easy to get from rental cars to the check in. As I had a business class ticket, I am allowed 3 bags. Most people know I like to travel with lots of shit, but on this trip, I got everything into 2 suitcases and 2 carryons. I can't believe it. But, as I'll be taking GOL Airline on at least 4 or 5 other segments during the course of the month, I thought packing light was a good idea. The airplane ride BOEING 767-400 was fine. It was supposed to be the lay flat beds. However these beds are not the same size as the beds that are lay flat seats that go over to Asia. These beds were smaller in width. And your feet had to go in front of above the chair in front of you. It was nowhere for a really big guy to be comfortable. And, if you selected an odd number row by the window, it meant your shoulders were pushed against the plane if you have big shoulders. As soon as I got to hotel, I got on Internet and changed my seat assignment for when I return to USA in a month. I did like the new Tumi bathroom accessory bag that is given to business class passengers. I love Tumi and this was a pleasant surprise. I have about 10 Tumi luggage pieces and love that I will now get some free. The meals on the Delta flight were tasty and the crew was pleasant. However, for the business class section, they took the 2 bathrooms from the front and it left only 2 bathrooms in the rear. In other words, lines the entire time. Not sure why on earth they would configure the new planes like this. I'm not really sure what happened with this German passenger. But after the breakfast meal we were all standing in line to go to the restroom. The pilot of the airplane went to the restroom, came out of the restroom, and relocked the door to the restroom from the outside as well. I thought odd but perhaps he had an accident. After the pilot relocked the door so no one could enter another pilot came down to use the restroom in other word, he was saving the bathroom for the pilots. The German passenger got very irate and started yelling and screaming and calling them every name in the book. It was crazy experience that I didn't think what happened on an airplane and especially in the business class section. The pilot warned him that if he did not call down that he would have to have someone restrain him and have police waiting on him when we got to San Paulo. I tried to intervene the best I could and told the guy keep his mouth shut but he didn't listen to me or anyone else. He was extremely obnoxious, overly rude and very boisterous. I'm surprised they did not put him in restraints on the plane. He felt he was entitled to the restroom as a paying customer before the pilots. He said this to them and told them he would never fly their fucking airline again. When we got off of the airplane in San Paulo Brazil there were policemen waiting outside. I do not know if it were waiting for him or waiting for someone else. I do know that they made a call on the airplane sound system for a passenger with the German name to see the people outside. Typical of Brazil, once we got to the airport the lines to get through immigration took almost 45 minutes. After immigration, I had to pick up my luggage which was all waiting there in a belt that was not moving. The belt was piled high with luggage falling all of the place. For such a world class city, the airport sucks! I decided that I would take the taxi from the airport. The cost from the airport in some Paulo to my hotel was 116 R. I decided that I would get the taxi from the booth at the airport. It is never advisable to just let someone that's telling you that they will your taxi driver without the official medallion. I decided this time I will be a bit more adventurous than I have passed and stay in the hotel I have not stayed in before. I chose to stay at the Holiday Inn express. The Holiday Inn express had a special promotion to where you can stay each night for 5000 points. Being the point guy that I am I realize that 5000 points for one night at the Holiday Inn express versus 40,000 points for one night at the Intercontinental downtown was just too big of a difference to pass out, so I booked The Holiday Inn Express. It took me about 50 minutes to get from the airport to the hotel. I arrived early morning plane was late and it was rush hour. The traffic was horrible to get to the hotel. The Holiday Inn Express is in a very nice-looking neighborhood. I have not had the chance to explore around the area yet. But at least they have a room ready for me when I arrived. Since I am one other priority club members I was able to check in at 9 AM. The room is very basic but clean and livable for a week. My day zero going from Austin Texas to Atlanta airport and then on to San Paulo was a very long day zero. Now, it is time for my Brazil Adventure 2013.

I got an email from Delta today that I should link my account with my Starwood's account. I did it as it seems like you get some good benefits including late checkout, free Internet, upgraded rooms, etc. Does anyone know what the difference would be when staying in a Starwoods Hotel and being Delta Platinum and but Starwoods elite as I let that run out a few years back? If it is the same, well, that is fabulous! Diamond and Platinum Medallion® members can enjoy 4pm late checkout, access to the SPG elite check-in line, complimentary in-room Internet access, and upgrades to enhanced rooms at check-in.

And yet another article on this study. A worthwhile read: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/dining/when-diet-meets-delicious-the-mediterranean-approach.html?src=dayp&_r=0 My doctor told me I had to loose 100 pounds this year and I'm working on it. I am doing this slowly this time and not so drastic although I have a few "events" planned for the year. I am headed to Brazil for one month and it has been 3 weeks with no caffeine, no junk food, no meats, etc. It was a hard 3 weeks but I play to keep the soda at bay on the trip but I love the meats in Brazil and sure I'll be back eating dead animals (as my family of vegans call them). But, I'll keep eating the veggies and fruits as I have been. It has been a hard 3 weeks but I feel better and healthier and hope I can make it on my airplane in 1 hour for a 14 hour trip with no soda!

And, yet another good article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/dining/when-diet-meets-delicious-the-mediterranean-approach.html?src=dayp&_r=0 I agree with you dear Ihp, I think this is known for years. I am moving more and more in this direction in my own life but this is hard to live by if you order fast food often. My doctor told me I need to loose 100 pounds this year. I have already incorporated many of these things into my diet.

OK. You all have convinced me that it is offensive to some and thus, it is removed from my vocabulary for this site. However, I need some cute words in my articles. Is anyone offended by pickle eater?

No2, I don't give a rat's ass who you are on other sites. Your posts are intelligent and well thought out. Looking forward to your participation here!

Yes, and you can even do multiple video chats together like a conference call. That is great!

Now that was funny.

It is my opinion that these additional support briefs may be the reason the court rules the way it does and it is my firm hope that it rules for us.

Well, I just did a 3 way and it was great! 3 way Skype that is with the boyfriend and the other boy special that lives with us. When I put the two of them together, all they do is chat in Thai and laugh and gossip. But, I just enjoy the laughter. 1 hour is a long time to talk to anyone but I can't think of a better way to end my night.

Yes, this was the place. I have been a few times. I didn't remember the name but I do remember the place. I had fun when I went. That was several years ago. When I was living at the Marriott Executive Apartments, there was an abundance of good gay massage places in walking distance. Walking was only option as from morning to night, traffic was horrible.

I honestly had no idea that was ever even possible.

Here is the best photo I have seen today. Any others?

You the right! I just used the multiquote and it worked for me. I also can use it with either light switch on or off.

Sorry guys. I have not had time to tally up this yet. I am on the road the next few days and will try my best to get a tally of who won. Although, I think I do pretty bad.

I love Thai guys! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEx5C86VUCE

I have seen this often. There is a little light switch at the top of this edit box. Click it and see if that helps.

Agree. Welcome.

Is the tide in the USA turning. It seems like everyone is coming out of the woodworks in order to support gay marriage before the SCOTUS! The more I see these names appearing, the more chance I give the court's decision going the right way. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/us/politics/prominent-republicans-sign-brief-in-support-of-gay-marriage.html?hp "Legal analysts said the brief had the potential to sway conservative justices as much for the prominent names attached to it as for its legal arguments. The list of signers includes a string of Republican officials and influential thinkers — 75 as of Monday evening — who are not ordinarily associated with gay rights advocacy, including some who are speaking out for the first time and others who have changed their previous positions. "

I don't know anything about any of the new posters but as KT says, they are most welcome here. As someone who doesn't often read other boards, I find it very easy to welcome anyone new with open arms. This site has always been about people who love Thailand and anyone that wishes to participate in that is most welcome. So, although I don't know about any of you newbies that are here now, let me say welcome and if there are things we can do to make you feel at home, please tell us.

I am extremely offended by the term "ladies." It really gets under my skin lookin. Please, please don't refer to me that way. Just because I love designer purses and shoes and an occasional boa, it does not mean I am a lady. I just like to look pretty.

Wrong. I asked an opinion from others who may or may not think like I think. I know that you think your opinion is right and unquestionable but I disagree. I don't disagree with what you think, I disagree with your belief that no one else has a right to have a different opinion. This "poll" was never about a majority vote. I have already started to remove the word from future articles. The post was a means of dialogue. Something I think everyone should have a right to have on this and all forums. The point of all message boards it to discuss issues with people that you know are intelligent but may have different views than yours. But, no need to argue with you. You always have a home here should you want to return. As I have always said, the door is always open and the welcome mat is out.

About 30 percent of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease can be prevented in people at high risk if they switch to a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables, and even drink wine with meals, a large and rigorous new study has found. The findings, published on The New England Journal of Medicine’s Web site on Monday, were based on the first major clinical trial to measure the diet’s effect on heart risks. The magnitude of the diet’s benefits startled experts. The study ended early, after almost five years, because the results were so clear it was considered unethical to continue. The diet helped those following it even though they did not lose weight and most of them were already taking statins, or blood pressure or diabetes drugs to lower their heart disease risk. “Really impressive,” said Rachel Johnson, a professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont and a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. “And the really important thing — the coolest thing — is that they used very meaningful endpoints. They did not look at risk factors like cholesterol or hypertension or weight. They looked at heart attacks and strokes and death. At the end of the day, that is what really matters.” Until now, evidence that the Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of heart disease was weak, based mostly on studies showing that people from Mediterranean countries seemed to have lower rates of heart disease — a pattern that could have been attributed to factors other than diet. For full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/health/mediterranean-diet-can-cut-heart-disease-study-finds.html?hp

About 30 percent of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease can be prevented in people at high risk if they switch to a Mediterranean diet rich in olive oil, nuts, beans, fish, fruits and vegetables, and even drink wine with meals, a large and rigorous new study has found. The findings, published on The New England Journal of Medicines Web site on Monday, were based on the first major clinical trial to measure the diets effect on heart risks. The magnitude of the diets benefits startled experts. The study ended early, after almost five years, because the results were so clear it was considered unethical to continue. The diet helped those following it even though they did not lose weight and most of them were already taking statins, or blood pressure or diabetes drugs to lower their heart disease risk. Really impressive, said Rachel Johnson, a professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont and a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. And the really important thing the coolest thing is that they used very meaningful endpoints. They did not look at risk factors like cholesterol or hypertension or weight. They looked at heart attacks and strokes and death. At the end of the day, that is what really matters. Until now, evidence that the Mediterranean diet reduced the risk of heart disease was weak, based mostly on studies showing that people from Mediterranean countries seemed to have lower rates of heart disease a pattern that could have been attributed to factors other than diet. For full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/health/mediterranean-diet-can-cut-heart-disease-study-finds.html?hp

That is your choice. But, it would seem to me that this being put to a vote would be what you wanted. You wanted a word not to be used. I did not believe that the word was offensive to anyone and asked for input. Now, you are offended by the post. Jeeze. There really is no winning is it?