Vagawandering
I love discovery, adventure, and the unexpected and my partner loves points and miles. Based in San Diego, our goal is to reach every Disneyland park, Cirque du Soleil show, World Heritage Site, and continent...and everything in between. This blog is our trail of breadcrumbs. Join us!
Thursday, August 31, 2017
NYTimes: Maps: Tracking Harvey’s Destructive Path Through Texas and Louisiana
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Tesla Is Turning Kauai Into a Renewable Energy Paradise | WIRED
"The economies of scale are such that Kauai's utility cooperative can install a solar-and-storage unit for about half what it would cost a family to install the same amount on a house. Even when it comes to the island's fossil fuel–generated power, the utility can produce more from a gallon of gasoline than someone with a $100 generator in their basement.
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
How to care about work less—but not do less of it — Quartz
""Is this who I am? Is this all I am?" This philosophical question, posed over and over again, is intended to arouse great doubt in you, inviting you to prod your deepest ambitions, why you're here, and what it's all about."
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Fwd: Band organ standards
Bohemian Rhapsody https://youtu.be/JTnGI6Knw5Q Killer Queen https://youtu.be/l6UFOHjhp2Y
Mr Blue SkyBad Romance (3:34 onwards) https://youtu.be/cDfIdFOJ1SM
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Uncle Tetsu Cheesecake's First Continental U.S. Location Draws Massive Lines - Eater LA
"The big lines are already forming for Uncle Tetsu, the Japanese import bakery operation known for their airy cheesecakes that now open on the continent (it was previously opened in Hawaii). The new build, pictured above, is part of the larger food hall finishing up inside the Westfield Santa Anita, and is currently soft-open with hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays."
Saturday, September 10, 2016
The Burning Desire for Hot Chicken
https://theringer.com/the-burning-desire-for-hot-chicken-bf87446b4dda#.hy59hfh65
"My search brought me to Prince's, but it didn't stop there. In planning my journey, I found inspiration in Anthony Bourdain, who had tweeted earlier this year that eating hot chicken was a "three day commitment." And so that's what I did. I committed myself to eating at three hot chicken joints in three days, ordering the highest spice level available at each one.
I realize now that isn't what Bourdain meant."
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Gizmodo: How to Watch the Exceptional Perseid Meteor Shower Tonight
Gizmodo: How to Watch the Exceptional Perseid Meteor Shower Tonight. http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIwj87BiS0
Get Ready for the Perseids Meteor Shower: 'It Will Rival the Stars in the Sky.' http://nyti.ms/2b65OFR
ðŸ”⛺☄🌠🌜❇
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Miles and Points 102: annual fees and annual perks
The appeal of cards without annual fees is obvious. They usually have simple reward systems, and can be fairly lucrative. Some cards give 2% cash back or have bonus categories that can give up to 5% cash back on certain purcahses! And you don't have to worry about paying an annual fee. But they usually don't have a very good signup bonus (around $100 value), and sometimes none at all.
So why would anyone pay an annual fee of $100 for a credit card? What if I told you that the rewards and perks from a card with this annual fee were usually much better, more than enough to offset the annual fee?
Most cards with annual fees around $100 or below waive the fee for the first year. And they have bigger signup bonuses, usually over $400 value. At the end of the year you can cancel the card, or pay the annual fee and keep it another year. You're still way ahead because of the signup bonus.
Usually the cards with annual fees around $100 earn better rewards compared to their no-fee equivalents.
Some cards even give additional rewards every year that make keeping a card forever a no-brainer.
I recently got a Marriott Rewards Visa card. It has an annual fee of $75 waived for the first year. I will receive a signup bonus worth almost $550 (after spending $3000 in the first three months) and I also get Silver Elite status in the Marriott Rewards program. If the signup bonus isn't enough, every year when I pay the $75 annual fee (so starting a year from now), I will receive a free hotel night at a category 1-5 Marriott property that I can use anytime during the year. Now that isn't good for a property like the Kauai Marriott (that's a category 8) but there are over 2700 category 1-5 hotels just in the US with prices ranging from $67 - $329 (not including tax, which the free night includes).
An even better example is my IHG Rewards Club MasterCard. IHG (InterContinental Hotel Group) is the parent company of Holiday Inn, and their hotel brands include not only Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, but Crowne Plaza, Staybridge Suites, and InterContinental. This card has an unusually low $49 annual fee (waived the first year). I got 60,000 points and a $50 statement credit for signing up (after the spending requirement) and I get Platinum status in the IHG rewards program. And every year for my annual fee I get one free night in ANY IHG hotel. Imagine staying at the InterContinental in Paris near the Opera House or the InterContinental Hong Kong, with a spectacular view of Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island? Both hotels cost over $400 including tax. Does that make a $49 annual fee sound like a good value?
That bring us to the last category of annual fee cards, those with an annual fee over $400.
So why would anyone pay an annual fee of $400 or more for a credit card? What if I told you that the rewards and perks from a card with this annual fee were usually much better, more than enough to offset the annual fee?
I admit it. I was shocked when I first heard about credit cards with annual fees of $400 or above. Who would pay that, I thought. But people that have these know the perks more than make up for the fees.
A recent example is the Citi Prestige card. It has a $450 annual fee (NOT waived the first year). The signup bonus (after spending $3000 in the first three months) is 50,000 ThankYou points (a transferrable currency), valued at $800 or more. And the perks with this card just keep on coming. There's a $250 airline credit (per calendar year so during the first year of card ownership you can use this twice!), a $100 Global Entry credit, access to American Airlines and Priority Pass airport lounges (up to $399 value), and one truly amazing perk: book a hotel stay of four nights or longer through the Citi concierge, and you are refunded the cost of the fourth night. Any hotel. As often as you like. No matter the cost of the hotel.
Even if you don't use the lounge access or the Global Entry credit, that's $1300 of value back in the first year, not counting the fourth night free hotel benefit. Taking the $450 fee into account you still come out at least $850 ahead the first year. Subsequent years aren't as good with only the $250 airline credit but you still get the lounge access and fourth night hotel benefit, which can add up quickly and easily to exceed the $450 annual fee.
I'm honestly thinking of getting this one myself, although it seems rare that we stay four or more nights at one hotel lately. Maybe we could if it meant every fourth night was free.
Other cards with fees over $400 are not quite as lucrative. But again, the perks have to be worth the cost or these cards wouldn't have any takers.
If you play your cards right (pun intended), the annual perks of your credit cards can more than make up for annual fees.
Liberty Station Market - first peek (San Diego)
We took a first peek at Liberty Station Market last weekend. There are about 12-15 vendors with pretty good representation between entrees and desserts including specialties like sausage, raw bar, poke, and specialties like Cajun and Thai. The butcher had some interesting cuts of meat for sale, some marinated, but some looked a bit old. Everything we tried today was very good and we look forward to trying this place again. We saw several airport travellers as well - this could be a good spot for pre-flight eating.
Pro Tip - park in the big lot on Historic Decator between the market and the water. From Truxton there is very little signage indicating the location of the market.
Capri Blu (4S Ranch/Rancho Bernardo)
I was trying to eat light today so I had the Carpaccio and the Bruschetta Toscana both of which were excellent. Although it is a little strange to have goat cheese on top of the bruschetta and the tomatoes really needed more olive oil and garlic. It was still tasty.
4S Commons Town Center, 10436 Craftsman Way #120, San Diego, CA 92127
https://goo.gl/maps/
Friday, June 10, 2016
San Diego County Fair 2016
Previously named the Del Mar Fair, this is in my opinion the best fair in California. The LA County Fair is almost too huge, and the OC Fair is too small.
The San Diego Fair has a spectacular setting right on the ocean, nice and breezy, and just the right size for all the animals, rides, great food, and the commercial tents. Check out the view of the ocean from the Sky Flyer!
Our favorites, in no particular order:
San Diego County Fair - now open thru July 4
Milton's (Del Mar)
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Tea Station (Mira Mesa)
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Five Crowns (Corona Del Mar, CA) (2013)
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Shangri-La Day Foot Spa (San Gabriel)
Pro Tips:
Wear comfortable clothing - tshirt, exercise pants, slippers
Shave your legs, ladies
Might not get your choice of male or female masseuse
Be prepared with exact change for tip
Be prepared for typical brusque service ("Sit here. Wait 10 minutes")
Don't be afraid to tell them to ease up on the pressure, if it hurts
Don't be surprised when they carry on a conversation in Chinese the entire time, and answer their phones. It's still an outstanding massage!
324 W Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776
http://www.yelp.com/biz/shangri-la-day-spa-san-gabriel
Spicy Cucumbers
Here's a great recipe for Spicy Chinese Cucumbers that I found online. Thanks, kirbiecravings.com!
SMASHED CUCUMBER SALAD
A Chinese-style cold marinated cucumber salad that is flavorful, simple and very addictive.YIELD: 2-4
PREP TIME: 5 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
5 Persian cucumbers (it's best to use Persian because they are crisper; if Persian isn't available then I use Kirby ones)
1/2-1 tsp salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp granulated sugar
1 tsp red pepper flakes
DIRECTIONS:
1. Slice ends off cucumbers and then smash them until they break like video above. Cut the cucumbers into thirds. Then slice into bite sized pieces approximately 1/2 inch wide and 1 inch long.
2. Add in all the remaining ingredients and mix until cucumbers are evenly coated in seasonings. Taste and adjust as needed. You can eat right away or let the cucumbers sit in the fridge to further develop the flavors.
Monday, May 30, 2016
Five Star Dim Sum aka New Capital Seafood (San Gabriel, CA)
The one thing that Five Star has going for it is acreage. This picture only shows about 20% of the restaurant. I am totally not joking.
Pro Tips:
Go early.
Take the elevator next to Daiso. When you exit the elevator, move right to the podium - the hostess has already seen you.
She will give you a ticket with your table number on it.
Take the escalator/stairs when you leave.
Check out Daiso (Japanese dollar store) if you have never been there - everything is $1.50!