The Traveling Hillbilly Feels Like a Celebrity at Dinner!

And spends like one too!

As I mentioned in my last post, I arrived at the hotel too late and too exhausted to go out exploring so I decided to just have dinner at the hotel.  I had already read a couple of reviews on Cipriani, the Italian restaurant in the hotel and the net, net was it was a MUST while you're at the hotel so my decision was made.

By the time I arrived at the hotel, I was starved. I'd pretty much had a banana and a piece of toast of all day and it was almost 9pm.   After a quick shower, I headed downstairs to feast!

I'm not sure whether it was due to the late hour, or if it was just an unusually slow night, but there were three tables in the restaurant.  One had five people, one had one guy and the third one was me!   There were like 7 waiters in fancy white coats, plus the hostess and another guy in a fancy suit, he may have been the manager, but I'm not sure.   Anyway, with all that staff and so few patrons to wait on, you can imagine the service we three tables got!   No sooner than I put down my glass, it was instantly refilled.   These boys hovered around our tables like they were afraid we were all going to band together for a mass exit out the door at any minute.  Don't get me wrong, they were not rude or anything.  They were all very pleasant. I just think they were bored and each just wanted something to do.  When I was finished with dinner, three of them came over bearing tempting offers of dessert.  While each of the offerings look delicious, I was just too full to partake.  I had started with burrata mediterranean and then had a pasta dish with eggplant, not to mention the bread!  All in all a great meal.

I settled my bill and headed to my room.  And here is where the spend part comes in.  See I had forgotten to check the exchange rate before I left my room and of course the prices were all in Turkish Lira.   Based on the prices on the menu, I knew there had to be a significant exchange rate, otherwise I was about to consume the most expensive dinner I'd ever had!

When I got back to my room, I was happy to see the exchange rate is significant, about 50%.  So 10 Turkish Lira is about $5 US dollars.  It did make me feel better, but I still had a very expensive dinner.  Although given my state of exhaustion, I wouldn't have changed anything.  The food was delicious!

The Traveling Hillbilly Spends Turkey Day in Turkey!

Well, a lot of it was spent in airports or in traffic, but at least I arrived in Turkey on Thanksgiving!

When you get the chance to go London for work, you have to take advantage of the opportunity and extend your trip, especially when that trip is right around Thanksgiving!

As most of you know, Turkey, Istanbul specifically, has been on my list for the last four years.  A trip to London for work so close to our U.S. Thanksgiving , seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally make that happen.   So being the Traveling Hillbilly I am, I immediately starting looking into flight options to Istanbul from London.

The morning after my work was done, I hopped on a plane to Istanbul.   Unfortunately, my flight landed right at rush hour. Even more unfortunate, it was raining!   For those of you who live in LA, you know what traffic is like.  You also know what traffic is like in the rain!   However, LA has nothing on Istanbul when it comes to traffic and traffic in the rain.   It took me just over 2 hours to get from the airport to my hotel!  

While I arrived at my hotel much later than expected and didn't go out to explore after I arrived, I was still so excited to finally be in Istanbul!

The Traveling Hillbilly Tries Paddle Boarding!

I’m sure a lot of you have seen people paddle boarding.   It looks easy right?   It’s something I’ve wanted to try for a while and the fact that I live in Los Angeles, there is absolutely no excuse for my not having tried it already.  But it took me a getaway in Honolulu to actually try it.   After a few days of truly doing nothing, I was ready for some sort of adventure so I decided to try it.   Despite, how it looks, I knew it wouldn’t be easy.   I’ve tried surfing before and couldn’t even stand up on the board.   However, that was many years ago and I figured now that I know how to snowboard, standing on board in the water should be easier.  

After about 5 minute’s instruction on the ground, we headed out to the water.  Somehow I managed to stand up right away.  However, I did not stay up for long.   As soon as a small wave came, I tumbled off the board.   I stood up and fell a few more times.   Things are going exactly how I expected them to!

Then we paddled out a little past the waves to calmer water and I finally got my bearings and my balance.  I was actually able to do it.   From the shore, it might have actually looked like I knew what I was doing.   After paddling for quite a bit, it was time to head back in.  I was feeling pretty good about myself and quite proud that I’d actually conquered something new!   So when the instructor asked me if I wanted to paddle back in or catch a wave, I boldly said, I want to catch a wave in!  I was ready!   Well my confidence quickly vanished.   He gave me a gentle push as the wave came and as soon as I tried to stand up, I tumbled!   We had time for one more wave.  I had to redeem myself, but there was to be no redemption for me today.   I tumbled again.  All that great work out in the deeper waters and now here I was on the shore with everybody watching and tumbling off that board like the normal klutz I am!   Well truth be told, most people probably weren’t really paying me any attention.  Either way, I felt the need to at least stand up and paddle the rest of the way in.   I was not going to let my last few minutes be me walking my board into shore, so I stood up and paddled my way in. 

All in all, it was a great workout, a lot of fun and something I definitely want to do when I get back to LA!

The Traveling Hillbilly Refuses to Miss Another Sunset

After yesterday’s screw up, the Traveling Hillbilly wanted to be ready and prepared to capture tonight’s sunset.   After lounging by the pool and then grabbing a late lunch, I was ready for a nap.  Instead, I headed downstairs sat in a rocking chair reading for a bit and then decided to use the time to work on my website.   Being on the computer always keeps me up! 

I decided a quick visit to the gym would really do the trick.   That would give me a great burst of energy.   After realizing the gym consisted of a few treadmills and stationary bikes, I thought, “Why walk on a treadmill when I can walk on the beach?”  Walking on the sand would give me that much more of a workout.  So I grabbed my ipod and headed to the beach.  After a bit of walking and running in the sand, I decided it was finally time to take a quick dip ocean.  I mean who comes to Hawaii and doesn’t get in the ocean?!    Just as I’m getting ready to jump in, the rain comes pouring down.   At this point, I figure I’m already wet, so why not jump in.   It’s amazing how clean the water feels.  It doesn’t feel sandy at all here.  I’m really enjoying my dip when a big wave comes crashing through and gets just inches from my shoes and ipod!   I quickly run rescue my stuff before another wave almost takes it away!

After a quick shower, I now sit at the beachside bar enjoying the beautiful view.  The rain has stopped, the skies have cleared and the crowds are gathering.  I think we are about to be treated to a truly stunning and amazing sunset.  

Beautiful, what do you think? 

Rocking in Hawaii!

Day #1

Got up, walked from the hotel to Diamond Head Crater

Hiked Diamond Head, took a few photos of the amazing view and then walked back to the hotel – great workout

Lounged poolside for a bit

Got a massage (outside in the garden, listening to the birds chirping)

Took a quick power nap, wound up sleeping through the sunset!

Met a friend for dinner, then slept

Day #2

Slept in til 8:30

Walked to grab some coffee

Lounged poolside for a bit

Right now, I’m sitting in a rocking chair enjoying the breeze and just relaxing

Aaaahhhhhh this is the life!

What Better Place to Relax & Recharge than Hawaii?

And how better to “pay” for this trip than with miles!  I am on plane right now (used 30,000 miles to book a non-stop RT ticket cost me $5) headed for Honolulu for a few days of absolutely nothing, or maybe absolutely everything.  I’m hoping my toughest decisions will be, wine or cocktail?  Should I lounge poolside or on the beach today?   Should I hike Diamond Head or go mountain biking?

Dear sweet Hawaii, here I come!   My Pink Palace awaits.

The Traveling Hillbilly is Exhausted!

You all know how much the Traveling Hillbilly loves to travel.   And so far this year, I’ve done my share of it, but most of it has been for business.   Yes, I’ve managed to get a couple of kick back local weekends in there for me, but most of it has been for work.   I’ve traveled every week so far this month; have another trip in early November and then probably two more in December.   Just the thought of it all, makes me exhausted.  Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining.   All that work travel has allowed me to rack up more frequent flyer miles and hotel points!

The Traveling Hillbilly needs to recover.  I’m ready for some relax and recharge time.