After recently seeing a Facebook status asking people to Google Map directions from Japan to China, I became excited. How cool is it that my BFF Google now provides international service. I'll never need another travel agent again!
Being a fairly green community, it only makes sense that Seattle residents would want to take a low emissions vacation. Right? And if I lived in Seattle, I would want to vacation in Tokyo. So I decided to walk from Seattle to Japan, and thanks to Google Maps, I now have directions. Let's see. I need to take Madison to 5th to Westlake to Burke-Gilman to Northlake to... "kayak across the Pacific Ocean" 2,756 miles to Hawaii (step 9). Take a few more roads then hop back in the ocean and "kayak across the Pacific Ocean" 3,879 miles to Japan (step 32). Now since we're walking, we have to cross several streets, use a couple of cross walks, and use access paths (steps 81-190). Finally we walk up and down stairs (steps 191-193). Aren't you so glad it's so easy to walk to Japan? And it only took us 90 days and 7 hours.
While we're across the Pacific, it would have been silly to go so far without visiting China, too. Luckily, Google Maps has driving directions. (I'd tired from all that kayaking, so walking is NOT an option.) Tokyo to Kagoshima's fairly mundane, but once there, you must "jet ski across the Pacific Ocean" (step 48) to China. Now my question is why do I have to kayak to Japan but get to jet ski to China? Luckily though, this trip only takes 35 hours. (Google Maps does warn us this trip does include toll roads, so be forewarned.)
Oh, let's visit Taiwan while we're in the neighborhood. Since we'd probably be rested up, I tried walking directions again, but Google says to use caution because "this route may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths." That's unacceptable, so we're driving. We drive down the shore line until we hit Fuzhou, then we have to "swim across the Pacific Ocean 165 km" (step 40). Then you get back in your car and drive the rest of the way. My question: How did you keep your car from getting wet on the swim over?
Unfortunately, my trusty Google Maps has no directions between Taiwan and Barcelona, so I have to fly. But after spending a few days or so in Spain, Paris should be the next stop on the trip. Right? And we're going to backpack there. Thankfully, I learned you can NOT walk to Paris from Barcelona without taking a ferry to Porto Torres, Italy and then to Marseilles, France. Apparently there are no roads or paths across the Pyrenees that would allow us to go totally by land.
Remember how we're backpacking around Europe (but using the most direct paths according to my handy dandy Google Maps)? Now we're off to Sweden. The thing about Sweden though is that you have to ferry to England, bypass through London, ferry across to Denmark, drive through Denmark and along the German coast, take a ferry to Latvia, and then hop on another ferry to Stockholm.
All of these directions have been taken directly from Google Maps. I think I'll stick with a travel agent.
This list is hilarious! I've got to go play with Google maps now.
Love it - now I want to map out a few places... like AZ to Bali or Australia ;)
Great list 5 star!
Very funny-congrats on front page. Tweet!
Featured list! Congrats! :)
Oh my, perhaps you should try mapquest next time. :)
Can you sue google if the directions are incovienient. Some out of state lady sued google here for giving her bad directions in Park City, Utah.
Fun list and congratulations on the featured article.
This is such a great list! I like the variety between swimming, kayaking, and jet-skiing across the water. ;) Thanks for sharing this fun list. Congrats on the front page feature too! :)
Such a great idea! I wanna go ;) After a few 5 hr entergys I should be ready...
Maybe I should try Google Maps from Earth to Heaven, LOL! This was so fun!!!
Too cute!
Super list--what fun!!
I love this list! Well deserved spot on the front page!
Love it! Great list!
Do you know the way to Santa Fe?
This is hilarious!
hahahaha! Love it! Can you tell me how to get to Scotland?
haha - Great list!!!
Haha! Good one!
LOL!!!!!!!!! This is hilarious! Kayak the Pacific Ocean? Right...I'm on it. : )
Ha ha, only you could find this, Chris!
Hilarious! I thnk I understand why the Google Travel Agency may not have been a good business idea. Nicely researched, and we all appreciate the warning!
Terrific! And so funny...love the wry humor.
select one here...