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Currently I’m sitting in the Philippine Airlines Mabuhay (business) lounge at SFO airport. I’m quite impressed by the drinks selection, which ranges from juice and soda, to beer, wine and mixed drinks. The food is an eclectic selection of sushi rolls, fruit, sandwiches, meatballs, and pastries. I’ll probably have to go down to the food service area for some “real” food prior to leaving on the flight. The lounge offers a tv, comfortable chairs, and free wifi (just get the password from the attendant).

Upon check-in, I asked whether this flight would be on one of their remodeled planes. Alas, I was told that it was not, so rather than a lie flat “cocoon seat”, I will be sitting in a regular business class seat. More reviews on the actual flight and service to follow later.

Ideally, I would love this post to be about my retiring from my full time job and setting off into the sunset to explore the world and all that it has to offer. This is, unfortunately, not the case, and I continue to toil day after day in a 9 – 6(ish) job.

I think all ramblers, however, have the same goals. That one day we will be able to sever the link to the corporate day job and take off on our own. We’ll have enough residual income to be able to support our galavanting off to see the Pyramids of Egypt, or the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Some might even have the smaller goal of being able to visit friends and family on their schedule rather than when their boss will grant them time off.

I am personally making it my goal to be financially independent within the next five years so I can see all the amazing places in the world while I am still young and relatively care-free. Hopefully some places, such as the glaciers of South America will be around long enough for me to soak them in and witness their power and beauty first hand.

Until next time, keep on rambling and exploring this massive world of ours.

I recently returned from the British Virgin Islands, and I promise more on that trip will be forthcoming.  In the interim, I wanted to quickly let people know some ways of getting to the British Virgin Islands, as they are not the most accessible destination.

One way to get to the British Virgin Islands is to fly to Beef Island (airport code EIS).  American Airlines flies there from San Juan, Puerto Rico (I believe this is an approximately 30 minute flight).  Once you’re there, you can take a taxi to destinations on Tortola Island.  If you’re going to Peter Island Resort, or anywhere on Virgin Gorda, you’ll probably need to take a ferry or water taxi to that final destination.

Another way to arrive in the British Virgin Islands (the BVI), is to fly to into St Thomas, and then take a ferry from St Thomas to Tortola.  From Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas), you can take the Tortola Fast Ferry (the locals recommended this over Native Son this trip, so I’ll take their word for it) to Road Harbor on Tortola.  For adults a one way ticket will run you $30; round trip $55.  I personally like taking the ferry as you get to see a lot on your trip between the islands from St Thomas to Tortola.  And if you aren’t keen on being on a ferry for fear of rocking and rolling too much, it’s really quite smooth unless you catch the weather when a storm is approaching or has just left the area.  Wear sunscreen though; I got pretty burnt on the hour trip between St Thomas and Tortola since I stayed on deck the whole time.

More on the trip to follow.