Bling it on: Introduction

For as much as you complain about seattle for only being there for a short time I really think you should leave. Being from there and now living in a number of other places I've never heard anyone complain so much about the weather. If it so bad pack your bags and move on

Didn't know you could do etihad and Cathay in the same ticket! I thought after North American gateway it had to be AA.

Lucky - did you ever write the TRs for the Maldives trip you took last year?

@ Romsdeals -- Yep, as long as the overwater carrier publishes a fare between the city pairs (in this case Abu Dhabi and Vancouver), you can fly any partner airlines on the itinerary.

@ Bob -- Wrote the report about all the portions of the India trip except the Maldives. Not sure if it would even be interesting to read at this point, given that it has been 13 months. If it is would be happy to write a report to the best of my recollection once this report is done.

@ Russ -- You can hate the weather and still love a city. I love Seattle and the area and don't regret moving, but I don't think that means I have to love the weather 24/7. Please keep in mind I moved from Florida where it's almost always warm and sunny, so it's quite an adjustment. I'm sure I'll be raving about the Seattle summers when the time comes too.

Not sure why the weather is a big deal... You don't seem like you spend your days outdoors anyway.

I'm voting to see your Maldives trip report

Stick around Seattle, it'll grow on you, kinda like moss. Well, it might actually be moss, but you'll get used to that too. Uh, but seriously, coming from Florida to Seattle - you'll need to suppliment with a high dose of Vitamin D.

Another vote for Lucky to write a trip report about the Maldives.

just curious (without meaning anything by this comment):

how many days have you spent in seattle vs. outside since you moved there?

i'd like to see your impressions from the maldives as well

and while ti is your blog and you can write what you want, you do spend a lot of time complaining about the seattle weather

Agreed. Bring on the Maldives reports! Most of us vacation vicariously through you.

I would definitely book a South Africa trip soon....I think you'd find it infinitely more interesting than UAE.

Another vote for Maldives report.

And people still say Avios isn't worthless... you can literally half the price of an award and it still wouldn't be a great deal. if you're looking for interesting routings you're even more SOL.

@ steve -- I've been here about nine weeks, and have spent six of those here.

@ John -- Visited South Africa when I was younger and definitely want to return. But it's also a trip I'd like to plan in advance as it's not quite as easy to throw together last minute, in my opinion.

Seattle is amazing, and it appears you know that already. Give it another sunny, warm summer and enjoy the hell outta it. That, and give it a rest on omaat.net, for fear your crankier readers respond in the same way they did today.

Aber ya - Maldives TR, bitte

May I ask how to draw an itinerary map like you did on this post with departure from Seattle to JFK and then Middle East? It looks so concise and I would love to use on my next travel too.Thanks.

@Sean. Use the Great Circle Mapper's 'map path' function: http://www.gcmap.com/

You have a very lucky friend who got to enjoy this trip on their winter break!!

About Seattle... I live in San Franciso area and love to take weekend trips to Seattle year round. They know I'm an out of towner when I use an umbrella in the rain when all the residents just pull up their hoodie. I still love my visits when it's raining. Make sure to start visiting the restaurants by Tom Douglas and Ethan S.

did u consider HKG? the fuel surcharges is limited by law.

@ alan -- Well my trip would be originating in the US, so I don't think any limitation on fuel surcharges would apply. In doing a search fuel surcharges to Hong Kong seem just as high as any other destination.