只要在任何媒体，论坛，网站，博客，朋友圈，同学圈，同事聚会中替我们美中机票网站宣传一下，就可以得到我们精美的行李牌一个。来信请告知邮寄地址，喜欢的颜色和如何宣传我们的。２００９新年快乐。

行李牌的好处，想了想：
1. 可以在大量行李中快速找到自己的
2. 即使行李丢失也可以让机场工作人员联系到自己
3. 飞友看见类似的行李牌，有个话题开聊。。。 =）

1. 在北美各大中英文论坛、校际论坛积极推荐我们的美中机票网站。
backchina.travelsuperlink.com
gochina.travelsuperlink.com

2. 在blog中推荐介绍我们网站的。

3. 积极参加我们的论坛讨论，提供及时有用的信息，提供回国旅途见闻经验，通过我们网站找到旅途飞友，及回国各种各样的腐败见闻的精彩帖子。

以上飞友网友可以任选一种颜色的行李牌。

4. 如果是中文论坛或校际BBS的相关版主，愿意把我们网站置顶宣传，将获得一套三枚的精美行李牌。

限于邮资考虑，目前只能邮寄北美地区。

这一段时间自留地长草的原因，是因为在搬家。

于是偏离blog的主题，写写搬家的故事，也正式推出我攒的一个关于搬家的网站，HomeZome.com, 好记吧，就是前面两个起头字母改改。Zome: in the original sense is a building using unusual geometries。当然取这个名字就是为了域名敲起来方便。

写搬家的故事，是为了记录过去一个月的辛苦，是为了回馈一些经验教训，是为了呼唤房产界大佬们更多的分享。

以此为序。

搬家记（一）：找房
搬家记(二)：Realtor
搬家记(三)：Inspector
搬家记(四)：讨价
搬家记(五)：Mortgage
搬家记(六)：Closing
搬家记(七)：Plumber
搬家记(八)：Water Heater
搬家记(九)：Paint
搬家记(十)：Stone Tile
搬家记(十一)：Carpet
搬家记(十二)：Carpet(下)
搬家记(十三)：Wood Floor
搬家记(十四)：Wood Floor
搬家记(十五)：Wood Floor
搬家记(十六)：Wood Floor
搬家记(十七)：Wood Floor
搬家记(十八)：卖房教训
搬家记(十九)：Sofa & Furniture
搬家记(二十)：Plant & Fengshui

以上是草稿。自己佩服自己一下，LD说我是百分百的唐朝和尚。希望大家多发言鼓励，否则难免我就“欲练神功”了。

玩trap shooting 很容易。天气好的周末，三五好友相约，找一块收费不贵的靶场，只要允许shotgun，和装备了clay thrower(投靶机），而大伙儿约好时间，聚在Academy，十来盒打鸽子的弹药，配上几箱clay target, 就齐活了。当然，装
霰弹枪的套子，射击用的眼罩耳罩，打猎用的小马甲，就丰俭由人了。

Trap shooting的有趣之处是移动靶。小小的土鸽子(clay)放在投靶机上，你这面一喊pull, 那面朋友一拽绳子，小鸽子沿着不同轨迹飞出去。提枪，追踪，瞄准，扣扳。只听一声爆竹声，clay如烟花搬绽开。一气呵成，五发五中，打完后那心里的感觉，
一个字，美。再加一个字，爽。

据说早年人家玩这个的，放的都是活鸽子，可咱现代人，一来不忍心，二来就算你全身绑鸽子，你又能带几只呢？更不要说这鸽子的成本了，想来想去也不会六块钱七十只吧。不过说起这土鸽子，买的话还是要买稍贵一些的，我们先试的Academy
便宜的那份，投靶机一放，枪还未响，就已经碎的四分五裂了。结果放靶的人累的要死，等着放枪的人也忙的不亦乐乎，弹药倒是省下来了。一份价钱一分货，用在clay上有道理。

Trap shooting算是小集体活动，至少需要一个帮手，四五人最理想。练的准了，还可以自创多种玩法，比如一碟多枪，看谁抢在前头；比如两碟两枪，有些山寨版skeet shooting 的味道。如果打的不急不缓，大家轮着来，天公又作美，周末的早上打上两三个小时，也就是一眨眼的时间。

Remington 870

玩霰弹枪的成本不高，单说这枪，也就一两百块钱的价格。最常见的两种，一是Remington 870(相对贵), 二是Mossberg(相对便宜)，Academy都有个卖。霰弹枪这东东属于猎枪范畴，所以申请起来也容易。几个没买枪的朋友一大早去Academy现买，大半个钟搞定。

Mossberg 930

说起我买这枪，还有个故事。买枪的起因还是玩trap shooting，当然从看家护院的角度看，霰弹枪也是必备的。话说买之前细读了散彈槍(Shotgun)簡介。文章说的详细，读后感觉了然于胸，兴冲冲地去Academy, 进门还发现Remington给30刀rebate,得，就是它了。难得的柜台PP小姐年轻还很热心，循循善诱，娓娓道来，买枪的过程那叫一个如沐春风。第二天朋友靶场一聚，人人12 gauge的鸽子弹，唯独我的装不进，再仔细一看枪筒，20 gauge.&^%$#@!做为男人，枪的尺码比大家小一号，那叫一个纠结，那叫一个郁闷。那一整天枪打个也不理想，由此看来心里因素是多么重要。

按理说枪械出店概不退换，可我不甘心，明明说好12的尺码，为什么拿到的却是20的呢？第二天去Academy, 店员的态度还不错，经理有些想推卸责任，不过一查paperwork, 真真实实，白纸黑字，写的都是12 gauge,经理推诿说退枪过程复杂，需要时日。不过我换枪的决心很大，真的很大，结果。。。重新走了一遍程序，如愿以偿。唯一画个问号的应该是FBI，为啥子这家伙连续两天买两支枪呢？而我的经验是，一定要检查枪筒上的印字。没办法，谁叫偶是菜鸟呢。

trap shooting 玩好了，下一步应该是skeet shooting了，增加些难度，大家私下算个分什么的。不过当下之急是成立好贤内助后援会，组织领导们在百忙之中KK歌，交流下shopping 心得，然后我们靶场归来一起聚个餐什么的。军委常务已经做出指示，只有稳定了后方，才可以提高靶场将士的士气，此乃安家兴邦之长久之道。

2012来临之际，买只霰弹枪，练练护院的把式，是个理由很不错的户外活动。

Austin trap shooting ranch:
www.eaglepeakshootingrange.com/shotgunra…

Austin skeet shooting ranch:
www.capitolclays.com/

www.eaglepeakshootingrange.com

散彈槍(Shotgun)簡介

www.falconheadaustin.com/golf/proto/falc…
15201 Falconhead Blvd · Austin, TX 78738 · (512) 402-1558

感慨两点：一是逐渐步入老龄化，打高尔夫也会觉得累。二是男人运动，用腰的地方太多了。套句广告语，腰好身体就好精神倍棒玩嘛像嘛。

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMtQjnsoD8c

12/xx - 12/xx (11 days 10 nights) $473 IAH 9:10a-12:50p SJC 1:45p-5:35p

San Jose聖荷西

Tortuguero National Park 多爾督雷諾國家公園 (*)

Poas Volcano 波俄斯火山 -La Paz Waterfalls Gardens 拉霸斯瀑布公園
Monteverde Cloud Forest 夢蒂貝勒地雲霧雨林 (*) - Rainforest Aerial Tram 雨林纜車

Arenal Volcano阿蓮那火山 - Arenal lake 阿蓮那湖 -Baldi Hot Springs 阿蓮那火山巴勒迪溫泉- Tabacon Hot Springs 達巴共溫泉 (*) Hidalgo Hot Springs 伊達兒谷溫泉

Carara National Park 卡拉拉國家公園 - Manuel Antonio National Park 瑪蘭安東尼爾國家公園 - Quepos 加布斯

Gandoca Manzanillo 甘多佳曼莎妮蘿 (too far, at boarder)
La Fortuna 佛爾督那 (too far, at north east)
Sarapiqui River 莎拉比基河
San Carlos Valley 聖卡羅斯谷(?)

Car Rental
www.vacationcity.com/costa-rica/car-rent…
(Daihatsu BeGO 4×4 automatic)
34.29+16.00 ~ 50
Daihatsu Terios
Insurance
www.ticotravel.com/costarica/inseuropcar…

www.tricolorcarrental.com good local

San Jose to Tortuguero
a ticket for the bus portion from Cariairi to Pavona and the boat from Pavona to Tortuguero for $7:00 per person.
real fare: The fare is C1000.00 for the bus and C1600.00 for the boat.
www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g309268-i3…

Package
smartcostarica.com/TOURS.html
double occupancy that includes hotel and breakfast and driver and kids are free.

Hotels
www.turtlebeachlodge.com/reservations.ht…
$686
Day 1
6am pick up, 3-6:00 PM Tortuguero village and a visit the National Park office to purchase entrance tickets.
Day 2
5:30 AM – Join the guided Canal Tour and experience the awakening of the jungle surrounding the canals as the animals start their day.
10:00 AM - Dress out in the jungle boots provided by TBL and explore the mysterious Tortuguero Jungle with your guide.
1-7:00 PM - Free time.
Day 3
10am return

www.hotelmountainparadise.com $ 316.40/2

$160 www.hotelsilenciodelcampo.com/rooms_la_f…
$524.93/2 secure.tabacon.com/reservations/step_1/s…
otherwise $70 per adult / $35 per child - 175
$125 Hotel Magic Mountain www.hotelmagicmountain.com/ (*** rank 6/38)

Santa Elena
www.hotelpocoapoco.com/ $122.00 (rank6/19)
www.fondavela.com/rates.html $111?

www.hoteltresbanderas.com/ (rank 37 of 50) $100.00
www.bybloshotelcostarica.com $110 (rank 9 of 50) $110 only for 12/15. (***)
90 miles (150 km), which will take around 3 to 3.5 hours depending on traffic and road conditions.

www.hotelbritanniacostarica.com/ (rank 29 of 66) $85.88 — not safe
www.hotelamistad.com/index.php?option=co… (rank 2 of 66) 69.00 per night. (***)

Hot spring
Tabacon is like a landmark…everything started there…but prices are high…nice place but expensive…and they love to charge even for a glass of water…and they are not afraid to charge…still a nice location!

Eco Thermales…family run…100% costaricans…good food…family oriented…not to much noise or ugly people (DRUNKS) Only 100 people every 4 hours! $46/$37
(hotel can book it, reserve.anywherecostarica.com/arenal/tou… may overcharge)

Baldi…not the best place in La Fortuna…can be noisy…a lot of tour buses…
Titoku Hot Springs… new small, close to Baldi, and expensive.

Actives:

–
www.manuelantoniopark.com/mapk/english/p…
The Manuel Antonio National Park entrance fee is US$10 per person. Children under 12 free. Hours: 7am. to 4pm. Closed on Monday.
aguilatours.blogspot.com/ (***)
Manuel Antonio National Park Tour $25+10/park fee

It is perfectly OK to rent a car and drive to Manuel Antonio…is about 3 hours…with a mandatory stop at Tarcoles bridge to see the wild crocodiles!

mangrove tour
Canopy Zipline. Titi Canopy for a shorter tour time with great fast lines, or Canopy Safari for a longer more in depth tour and some repelling lines too.

–

Sky Tram/Trek (best in CR ***)
This is an amazing excursion. Sky trek is by far better than any of the other ziplines I have done in Costa Rica.
We took our two 8 year old boys this spring. They had a great time and it seemed plenty safe. The kids ride with a guide alongside, so they often went faster than we did, much to their delight. We also did the Sky bridge tour, unfortunately at mid-day, but even so, saw nearly as much wildlife as at Monteverde! If I were to do it again, I’d do the walk early, then the zip line later.

(***) Santa Elena Skywalk

Selvatura Park - Butterfly Garden
Frog Pond - Ranario

We went because we wanted to see quetzals and hike in the cloud forest. If that doesn’t interest you, you can easily fill up the time in Arenal - there’s tons of things to do there. Monteverde was quite cold and rainy when we were there. We had to wear sweatshirts at night, and our hotel had the fireplace going. If you’re looking for a place to stay in MV, we enjoyed Fonda Vela. They have some new junior suites that are comfortable and pretty affordable.

It really will depend on when you’re coming. If you’re there during the green season, definitely do only the morning tour, at night it usually rains and if not, it’s usually muddy after the rain.However, during the dry season go for both! 50% of the night animals come out at night, so it’s a super cool tour

Road condition:
www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g309277-i3…

drive back: mandatory stop at Tarcoles to see the wild crocodriles
–

San Jose to Arenal…3 hours drive nice road all the way! Hotel Silencio del Campo…

2- Arenal/Monteverde…jeep-boat-jeep…about $30.00 per person, they will pick you up at your hotel in La Fortuna..and drive you to take the boat…waiting for you at the other side of the lake…transfer to your hotel in Monteverde…in general is a great way to get to Monteverde…El Establo or hotel Poco a Poco.

3- Monteverde to Manuel Antonio…about 4 hours drive…nice drive…of course a mandatory stop at Tarcoles to see the wild crocodriles…La Posada Inn , Hotel Inn On the Park…Cabinas Hotel Espadillas.

4- Manuel Antonio to San Jose…about 3 hours…easy drive…good road all the way…
between Tilaran and Santa Elena is mostly hard rock
–
La Fortuna waterfall
night volcano hike
go to Tabacon one night

Map
www.mapcr.com
www.yourtravelmap.com/costarica/travelma…

GPS map
www.gpstravelmaps.com/costarica.php
www.ezfindcr.com/

Kohnami
410 Padre Blvd
South Padre Island, TX 78597
(956) 761-4847
Japanese sushi

Dirty Al’s
1 Padre Blvd.
South Padre Island, TX 78597
(956) 761-4901
fried sea food

Manuel’s Restaurant
313 E Maxan St
Port Isabel, TX 78578
(956) 943-1655
breakfast, Mexican

Pirate’s Landing
110 N Garcia St
Port Isabel, TX 78578
(956) 943-3663

1. Live Shrimp purchase
B&A Seafood is on the right side of Highway 100 (closed!!)
Try across the street where Hwy 100 turns goes over the channel. There is a Quick Stop, the one with all the cool fishing quotes on the marquis.

On Maxan, in Port Isabel, there is Gulf Seafood and Oyster Bar. We used to get shrimp there.
207 E Maxan St
Port Isabel, TX 78578
(956) 943-4501

There is a place to buy shrimp near the entrance to the shrimp basin on Hwy 48 on the way to Brownsville, on the right and
Snodgrass Seafood, same highway nearer Brownsville, on the left.
There is Reyes Seafood Products in Laguna Heights

2. Bay fishing:
Cap.Danny Tamayo ph no 9563461391 (cell)
Capt. Terry Hansen with Gladiator II Adventures (956) 572-4204.

3. Sunset watching
Luvthebeach is right on! Great laid back music while you watch the sun set over the bay. You can drive on the beach at Andy Bowie park on the north side of the island.

4. Sea Turtle Ctr is a must

5. Brownsville is a gateway to SPI
Gladys Porter Zoo is one of the best small zoos in the country.
maybe a good tex-mex

6. an insider’s blog
en.wordpress.com/tag/south-padre-island-…
may be good for restaurant reference.

7. grab the freebie papers and check out dinner specials

Where we are going to stay at island?
www.pirentals.com/rental/gulfview-ii-302…
I think it is a good deal, since it is not a ocean view condo. I rather spending more money on food and other fun.

8. Firework
www.spichamber.com/events/fireworks.php
May 23, 2009 Memorial Day Weekend
July 4, 2009 Fourth of July
Sept 5, 2009 Labor Day Weekend
…and Every Friday Night May 22 through Labor Day
Also Also New Year’s Eve!

9 event calendar
www.spichamber.com/visitorguide/events.p…

10 attractions
www.spichamber.com/visitorguide/attracti…

Andy Bowie Park
Atwood Park
Isla Blanca Park

Laguna Madre Nature Trail
Point Isabel Lighthouse Complex
Sea Turtle, Inc.
Dolphin Research and Sea Life Nature Center

South Padre Island Visitors Center Sand Castle
South Padre Island Convention Centre
Treasures of the Gulf Museum
Whaling Wall #53

www.spichamber.com/visitorguide/calendar…

今天的计划，是Madison 到 Old Faithful之间错过的Geysers, 然后启程去Grand Teton. 前几天光想着追熊了。

黄石公园中最佳的picnic地点，你知道吗？

就是Old Faithful Inn 二楼的凉台。远眺老忠实，凉风徐徐，不经意间的发现，让我们多日来的picnic午餐上升了一个境界。

Old Faithful Inn 你也许住不到,但是你可以很随意的坐在里面看看书，吃个冰激凌，古老的书桌旁拼拼图，如果不是时间关系，静静地找一个角落坐一个下午，不妨让思绪徜徉在时间的长河中。

最佳消食方式：

吃完午餐，在Upper Geysers hiking, 行程可长可短，如果愿意，你甚至可以走到Middle Geysers. 一路上或大或小的Getsers, 冷不丁喷一下，带来几分惊喜。我们一路走到Grand Geysers,已经是我家小的极限。烈日炎炎下，来回两迈，也是她第一次一口气走这么长。回程完全是靠走回去买冰激凌的诱惑才完成的。

今天最好笑的事情：

场景是这样的。我家小的喘着粗气酿酿跄跄走回Old Faithful Inn,全然不顾门外围的里三层外三层的人群，一路excuse me只奔心中的冰激凌店，没想到门口被一人拦下：sorry, we are temperately closed,we have a fire alarm.失望之极，仿佛一脚踏空，瘫软在地。

拍摄老忠实的最佳tip

看风向，找上风处，喷的最高的时候是一开始的几分钟。

如果你象我第一次在下风处傻等，看过之后的不光是一头雾水，结论是忠实老矣，徒有虚名。
上风处可以清楚拍的满意的照片，得出的结论也不一样的，老忠实泉还是值得一看再看地。这就是典型的屁股决定立场。

园中最美的温泉池：
Grand Prismatic Spring.

Yellow Stone 和Grand Teton之间修路，而且很长的一段土路，耽搁了不少时间。傍晚六点赶到今天的住宿：Jackson Lake lodge. 房间和床都不错，当然价格摆在那里。Jackson Lake Lodge to Grand Teton, 和 Old Faithful Inn to Yellowstone 一样。

今天应该是我们hiking最长的一天了，加起来有三四迈的样子。晚餐在Murul， 不说价钱，食物还是不错的，有些正宗西餐烹饪的味道。落地玻璃窗可以看到Teton的黄昏。

吃完，牵着手走走，在暮色中，看着远处那一群麋鹿，忽然想起, 今天是我们的anniversary.

时间真快。

唯一值得聊以慰记的是，在Lamar valley看到成群Bison过马路的盛况和开车人被包围的窘状，也算一乐。我们运气好，停在前面一些，一看情形不好，早早地溜了。

去了Tower Fall, 在小卖店里买冰激凌的时候碰到了国内来的小王在那里打工，人很热情，以为他是从事旅游方面的，没想到他说在国内学经济的，有机会出来短期见识一下。帮他照了张照片，希望他有所收获吧。

Grant Village的访客中心主题是火山和地震，我们在那儿歇脚吃午餐，小宝也终于完成了她的Junior Ranger功课，宣誓之后拿到了她想要的徽章。不容易，这功课足足做了三天，比她老爸这回儿用功。

之后我们去了昨天错过的upper fall/lower fall几个其它观景点，主要是south rim上的artist point和north rim 上的inspiration point, 这几处，加上之前的Brink of uper fall,lower fall, 都是值得推荐的。 Yellowstone River 源自黄石公园，北上穿过园中Grand Canyon, 形成upper lower 两大瀑布，然后向西北汇入Missouri River和 Mississippi river, 为黄石增添了几分秀色。我们在north rim听一个UC Bercley 的学生ranger的讲解，只可惜，讲的太泛泛了。

晚餐是在Wild West Pizzeria定的Piza, 生意太好了，太多人和我们一样的主意，居然一个小批萨等了半个钟。从小超市买了盒clam chowder, 外加一个小西瓜，很不错的晚餐了。