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This is our last video from San Francisco. It really is a great city albeit WAAAY Too Cold for us, its great to explore new locaitons. I think Gracie is liking the USA! …there still is not enough street food so I’m sure Thailand will end up on the calendar Very Soon!!!!

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Gracie and I take the obligatory Cable Car from Powell Street to Fisherman’s Warf for some touristy breakfast.

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This video is a check in from my walk to Moscone Center West conference center in San Francisco for the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Summit.
AWS Summit SFO:
https://aws.amazon.com/summits/san-francisco/

I’ve been a HUGE fan of AWS for about 10 years now. Their growth has truly been exponential.
The AWS Summit(s) are completely free, day long conferences.

Check out the full list of summits happening around the globe:
https://aws.amazon.com/summits/

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Quick check in from Sands convention center at Dell Technologies World 2018 Las Vegas at the CONVERGED User Group.

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Its actually cheaper for me during the “high season” in Thailand and the Philippines to fly from the Philippines (traditionally, Manila (MNL) or Cebu (CEB) to Bangkok (BKK), then on to Los Angeles (LAX)

So during my return flight/commute back home, I went from Kalibo (KLO) to Manila (MNL) to Bangkok (BKK), laying over through Taipei (TPE), then on to LAX.
During the layover in BKK I decided to head down to Pattaya and hang out with one of my great buddies, Eddie.

If you’ve watched any of my other videos, you’ve seen me share about gratitude. Easily one of my Top 10, favorite topics.

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After about 11 hours walking around Disneyland I realized that the amount of time spent standing in line and waiting while at a Disney part is at least 50% of the time there. There is not debate that ANY amusement park experience is made up of rides that are X minutes of adventure, preceded by 10X to 30X minutes standing in a maze-like line of people I normally would NOT hang out with.

In summary: the experience at Disney with was Totally Awesome, *BECAUSE* I was with Gracie. All Disney did was provide me with about 2 hours of entertainment (not concurrently) interlaced with 8+ hours of waiting in line and/or walking through a sea of people who also seemed disappointed at:
– the ridiculous prices of everything
– the closing of rides due to mechanical failures
– lack of items that were advertised (e.g. ice cream, water!!!!!)
– waiting in line
-…

Afterward, it was so sweet to just plop ourselves down on two seats on the AMTRAK back to San Diego from Anaheim. Driving home on the I-5 would have been brutal and actually a bit unsafe given how tired we both were.
I *realllllly* wish Amtrak went straight to LAX. I guess I can understand why though – for the most part, train travel is no where near as popular as getting in a car and driving. So, to be fair, the financial cost of extended railway(s) to the Los Angeles International Airport would indeed be significant and the payback might take 40 years. In that time, self-driving cars will be taking me to LAX… shoot in 4 years I bet I’ll have taken at least ONE!

The other summary I touch on in this video is of the customer service provided by Disney. For years, I have heard and indeed experienced the Awesome that is synonymous with a Disney Park Experience. This day was not Disney-Awesome. Is was also not Six-Flags annoying, thank Gawd. BUT, it was definitely sub par and each time I had to pay $4 for water or $15 for chicken and rice or wait in a line for 45 minutes only to hear the PA system announce the ride was closed due to mechanical failures for an indefinite amount of time…
I find it offensive that there is no financial compensation for lack of service yet there is a financial demand for services rendered…. followed by a box car full of legaleeze that basically states that “We will not be held accountable for ANYTHING and you have NO RIGHTS once you enter our private property…” Its pretty lame when you think about it.. BUT, whatever, Gracie and I were there to have an experience together and as I realized, a bad experience WITH Gracie is infinitely better than a good experience without her. So – its a win!!! 🙂

I truly hope there is someone who responds with something fo the flavor of, “WOW – that was NOT my experience with Disney, EVER!!!!… ” Sadly, though, the few posts I did make during our adventure were only supported and even “one upped” by someone having an even worst time. Sad.

NOTE: stay tuned for many many more videos that are centered around Fun and Gratitude and Living the Dream!!!

thanks for watching!

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This video is my check in before and after I get thru Thai Immigration at Suvarmnabhumi International Airport (BKK) in Bangkok, in less than 60 seconds because of my APEC BTC – the Asia Pacific Economic Community Business Travel Card.
If you have ever had to wait in the Immigration line at any airport really, then you have done just that: Waited. While I understand that queuing up and waiting my turn is simply a part of life in many scenarios, there ARE certain scenarios where with a little bit of research, and planning and paperwork and money, it is possible to have a much shorter wait.

I made it through Thai Immigration via the Priority Lane in less than 60 seconds with my APEC Business Travel Card (BTC). This time. I have indeed used some of the Priority Lane cards that you get from either buying them on line, or getting them as part of your business class or first class ticket, or your Fast Track service from the airport or Fast Track service provided through the taxi service you might use but, *this* “APEC Card” I can use at all of the APEC countries:

from WiKipedia, the TWENTY ONE (21) APEC countries are: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Thailand, United States, Vietnam.

Getting this card as a US citizen is accomplished by First, getting Global Entry. Global Entry is one of the ways to “fast track” your entry into the United States. Primarily for frequent travelers it is part of the larger program called Trusted Traveler. SENTRI is also one of the benefits of the Trusted Traveler program: allowing for a quicker entry into the US from Mexico, either via land (walking or car) or Air

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After the typhoon near Jamindan and Roxas, the rain stopped, the clouds cleared and it was a pretty nice morning.

Clearly we were not the ONLY people who thought to head out to the beach early that morning. I had no idea how many shells could be on the beach AND how many people think that tiny little clams? muscles? will make for a good snack.
This little clam-like things apparently are good when boiled in butter and garlic. Personally, I think that people just like the taste of Butter and Garlic and this is simply their way of eating it. HA!

It was a nice change in the weather and as I have mentioned before, the warm sun, air and breeze ALWAYS seem to make me so happy. Seeing Gracie and her Mum happy while getting all of these little pieces of food from nature made me smile Big Time.

Thanks for watching and following our journey.

Live the Dream!
~mikes & Gracie