Occasionally Interesting, often not

Was in HK in early November, and did a side trip to Kyoto. While in HK, ate at a number of good places, including Lei Gardens for dim sum in Elements, and Yung Kee, a well known place in Central. Also hit a couple of the private club dining rooms, at the Chinese Club, and the Shanghai Fraternity Club. Did some street food too, focusing on curry fish balls at various stalls around town. Best one was near Fai Yuen Gai, the well known discount shopping street in Mongkok. Just now back in HK for a quick Christmas trip. Flew out of SFO the evening of 24th, and was very surprised to run into a huge traffic jam getting to the terminals. Fortunately for me, not too many people heading to the international terminal, but quite an extended delay for those going to the domestic terminals ... the traffic jam stretched out onto the part of the road that also serves as an entrance to 101. Those in the know could have just caught the airtrain from the international terminal to get around the jam, but ...

This is a belated trip report, from a trip during August. Here's the executive summary: flew to Anchorage, stayed at the Spenard Hostel, close to the airport (http://www.alaskahostel.org), drove down to Seward, camped at PTARMIGAN CREEK for two nights, hiked up the Exit Glacier (one bear and some dall sheep), ate at the Exit Glacier Salmon Bake, took a day cruise with Major Marine (http://www.majormarine.com) and saw a big pod of orca, ate at a bbq place in a railroad car, drove up to Denali, drove into Denali on their bus to Wonder Lake Campground, did a hike to McKinley Bar on the river, did another hike to the top of Stoney Dome, saw the peak of Denali on the 3rd morning, saw a bunch of wildlife from the bus (moose, elk, bear, sheep, eagles), then returned to Anchorage to fly home.