『For the vacation・・・』

My wife and I have been planning to overseas for the vacation in this summer.

Actually, her wish, or I should rather say, her dreaming place is Maldives, well known as one of the best beach resorts in the globe. She's eagerly wanted to go there though we didn't have any chance to fly there. When we got married, she insisted to visit there for the honey moon but our final choice was not there. Going to the Europe partially for watching the World Cup 2006 in Germany. Composing the plan w/ stadium visit to watch the match Japan vs Brazil, which was the last game for Hidetoshi Nakata as his player's career, and also we went to France, Monaco, Germany and UK for 18 days during our honey moon. I thought that was the fantastic and amazing trip but she even was content w/ the honey moon plan, still having a dream. In her wish list, as far as I know, lots of places are shown up. Every time she watched the journey program on TV, she said that was the place I've wanted to go... after listening her wishes, for me to many to go or rather all the places are same, like her "sleep talking" simply because more than 20 or 30 places are on the list. Ordinary people like me, it is just recognized her favorite is the traveling around the world.

But the truth is not out there....

Maldives are the another kettle of the fish. That is one of her dreams she has to realize through out her life, even I don't know how many.... Every time we planed the vacation, Maldives were the first destination from her words and seemed to be rankned top priority but I let go in one and out the other simply I don't like going to the beach resort. For me urban place like NY, London, Milano are the favorite places for the rest. However, I recognized Maldives are something special for my wife.



So we decide this summer vacation is for Maldives.



When we travel, we don't, never use the travel agency or packaged plan. Because it is constrained and costy. For me, that is not the travel. If people don't want to feel the unfomfy situation, such as language barriers, fatigues for the travel when we go abroad, stay in the domestic place, please.... or don't complain so much. Travel contains something new and sometimes we face to uncomfortable staffs such as food, bed room, shower temperature. Travel agency biz imposes the extra charges under the name of the commission. For me, that business model is taking a mean advantage of someone's weakness. Sometimes travelers have to pay more than double compared to the list price. That is unacceptable scheme... like fraud. (sorry for those who in the travel industry....) That is coming from my real experience that was family trip to Italy when I was in Sophomore in univ. Everything like air ticket, hotel, meals, transfers method were prepared but I completely could NOT enjoy the travel under such condition. At last in Rome, finally we could have a free time to walk around the ancient town. That was the last opportunity to see around separately from the parents. Of course they wanted to go around w/ me and my bro, but I definitely denied. My choice was to walk around just w/ younger brother who can not speak English and Italian. I finally released from the constraint and I swore I would never use the packaged travel plan.


Travel is not always free from the perfect comfy but after overcoming sorts of uncomfy staffs w/ own planning the travel by themselves, that would be extremely enjoyable.


Therefore, for us, it is fun to check the WEB site to compare the price and facility or other factors. I think that is the starting point of the travel. Recently, we check the circumstances on the Google street view. I personally don't like to check the facility or surroundings before the travel. Sometimes we have to take responsibility when we we face the trouble or sometimes miss the place worth visit written on the guide book. But every time we checked in the hotel, we search some local info on the WEB by ourselves or inquire something based on the local to the concierge. I like that style.



Back to the Maldives story.


This time, as usual, we gather some related info about Maldives such as transfer from Male airport to the island, flight connectivity at KL or Singapore, hotel prices and conditions. Some info indicates the price over \400,000....for one person.... intolerable....or F-ck..... Japanese travel agency's fraudulent stance is charging each person for hotel. But almost all the hotels overseas charge us by room. If we follow the Japanese style, we have to pay double.


That's airhead!!!!!
That's fraud!!!!!!


Again back to the line. This time my wife executes the net surfing to reach the best price w/ checking some WEB sites. She visited some travel agency just to check the price and facility. Maldives are the hard in terms of planning by ourselves. Some idea was hit in my mind that we are forced to choose the packaged plan ?!?! But we talked a lot....


And finally we reached out the conclusion.

We reserve all the staffs like air, hotel, transfer w/ utilizing the FPP program on JAL. Actually, go and back from TKO - KL are NOT charged because we spend the accumulated miles for the return tickets. Yes, we did a lot after coming back from the job. Almost every night, we discussed a lot. Maldives are the dream for her. I am supposed to realize her dream. Among the plenty of the islands, I set the standing point basically her wish having the notion of ROI or cost performance. Seemingly, each islands have different face. So I asked my wife which is your dreaming place w/ the consideration of the price and facility?


And final of final, we dive into the WEB site to pay the best condition hotel.


Nevertheless,,,,,,,,, she made some mistakes.... she put the button which is not ought to be... When I receive the confirmation e-mail from the hotel, some of the attached files are on the e-mail and open each files. One of them indicates the worst case. I don't mention the detail but those factors are the things we can not miss. After checking the travel itinerary, we focus upon the recovery shots. 2 of 3 have been cleared out but one is not still solved.


That is the connection to the internet......


If we can not fix this matter before going to Maldives, I will not read any e-mails during my stay in Maldives. Sorry for the colleagues!!!! I will be free from the cyber world.


Sometimes it could happen when we plan the travel by ourselves..............