As outlined in my last blog at the end of June I was on the eve of departing for my second trip home. Well that has now come and gone and I am back on the other side of the planet to resume my 'professional' duties in Timor Leste (TL). The original plan was to have a short visit home, approximately 10 days, then reintegrate to the Asian lifestyle and time zone by having 5 nights in Bali on my way back. As the cliché goes though - plans are meant to be broken, and my plans as it turns out were just that. On the positive side it was for all the right reasons.
After a long journey home I arrived in Winnipeg at 12:35pm local time into the waiting arms of my wonderful mother dutifully waiting for #2 son to return. We ended up having a fabulous day in the afternoon sitting in the backyard visiting and catching up. Starting at around 4pm my siblings started to arrive after their work days. A wonderful evening ensued and I got to see the people most important to me all at once prior to starting my break. As vacations go it turned out that everyday thereafter were good days spent either catching up with other friends, visiting the bounty of retail which in the past seemed like such plentitude of excess and doing what I longed to do: getting back on my bike. Things you had taken for granted are grandiose pillars of commerce that you realize you miss so much; a retail Shangri-La limited only by one’s credit. This versus the paltry selections available in our limited retail environment where shelves often go bare because certain products are not available for long periods of time – microwave popcorn comes to mind – though expensive ($4US) for a pack of 3, if and when you see it stock up as you might not see it again for awhile. The other pleasure was getting back on my bike – which has been my sanctuary and primary mode of transportation to and from work for the past 20 years. When not commuting I ride often for the pleasure of just being out for a ride and is not uncommon for me to be on my bike 7 days a week. Not because I’m one of these fitness freaks but because it is personal solitude where I ponder and think about issues as the ipod plays my favorite tunes. While it did feel good to be back riding my bum wasn’t quite up to riding shape as quickly. That said though the weather didn’t accommodate the reunion with my best friend. As it turns out for once in my life my timing to leave my home was unparalleled. Being creatures of the northern environment, conversations with family and friends invariably turns to the weather – opinions in that regard in my limited statistical sample seemed to be unanimous – it SUCKS! Whether the winter which was unusually cold and long to a summer that hasn’t really been a summer yet – sentiment was universal – ‘we deserve better’. In that regard I have no complaints whatsoever – as I have extolled at length previously in this forum I love the weather here. Now, firmly ensconced in the winter, or dry season, it is even better – cool and clear in the morning (about 20o C) to the day time high of about 32 by 9 am. In the weeks since my return I have not seen rain, nor is it expected again until late September or October.
Another pleasure that I availed myself too for the first time in 6 months was going to a movie. The movie was “My Sisters Keeper” based on the book by Jodi Picoult of the same name. It was in my favorite genre, what I call a gripping human drama or as it turns out a good old fashion tear jerker. Funny thing about human animal: we get on death defying roller coasters and thrill rides to scare ourselves witless, and in my case go the emotionally charged movies to cry. Why? well a couple of reasons neither very convincing: one, the book was one that my Sister had given me prior to my departure in January to TL, and I love watching a movie after reading the book (but never the other way around!). The best part was not being aware that such a movie was being made as entertainment news is more limited than in North America. Needless to say I cried almost entirely throughout the entire movie - yet I have the audacity to say it was a good movie consistent in large part to the book. Thankfully I had wonderful, understanding company who refused to call me sissy man incessantly afterwards to otherwise make my outward show of emotion even more psychologically damaging.
As previously mentioned plans are meant to be broken; mine were broken as a look at the calendar confirmed what I already knew – only two days prior to my departure and I still didn’t get all I wanted to get done, done. The foreboding stress of my departure was made more acute by the fact that my flight left very early in the morning. A decision had to be made and mine was to limit my time in Bali and add on a couple of days being home. As an aside: when I looked at my revised travel itenary for July 18, I realized that it was exactly the same as my original July 15th itenary: Winnipeg to Chicago, to Tokyo, to Denpasar (Bali) and finally to Dili - same times, same everything. Curiosity got the better of me as I wondered just how many people need to go to Tokyo from Chicago? As it turns out quite a lot, I did a cursory search on a travel website and a typical day will see approximately six or seven, 13 hours flights/day depart for Tokyo from the windy city.
With my reprieve secured I was able to accomplish what I still needed to do and even managed to secure a few days for myself – to take a vacation from my vacation. Strange as it may seem that’s what it is – you end up being so busy visiting, catching up etc. that you realize that you haven’t had any downtime which is what, the theory goes, a vacation is supposed to be. Unlike my previous visit home where I was feeling displaced at my former home, this time I found that as I was getting near the end of my visit that I was comfortably falling into the inveterate feeling of being home. Why I wish I could explain.
Travel home was thankfully uneventful. Unfortunately on my travels thus far I have not have the opportunity to see Japan, only the inside of the Narita Airport some 60 kms outside of Tokyo. Despite my limited exposure to this country one thing has struck me – they seem to love their high tech toilets. Of the three times I have been through the airport I have come across unbelievable toilets - seats are heated, and depending on the model a choice of bidet spray, squirt spray or misting option. One such toilet had an LCD control panel mounted close at hand to select the options. Ironically after about 20 hours of travel from Winnipeg I was starting to stink – though my bum had never been cleaner!
My reintegration back into Asia, while not as long as I had originally intended, was still a pleasant one. Although I did lose 5 nights in Bali I did have one good day in paradise. My flight from Tokyo arrived at around 11pm and after clearing customs, finding a taxi and getting to the hotel it was about 1 am - like my first flight here in January to Singapore - enough time for the triple B - bath, beer, bed. Repeated long haul travel does allow one to learn how to battle jet lag. Unlike previous trips where I suffered measurably I had no ill effects coming back. I have managed to force myself to sleep at judicious times (albeit drug induced) so to make the easing into a 14 hours time difference less difficult.
My one full day in Bali turned out to be glorious. It started with an early morning walk along the beach where I met a nice local fisherman. Skeptical at first that he was just going to hock either: fish, women, trinkets or just ask for money I was surprisingly in error. I ended up following him back to where he and his other fisherman buddies hang. We ended up sitting roadside sharing a few Bintangs watching the activity that surrounded us. They showed me where the fresh tuna arrived on the beach and then carried to waiting trucks full of ice. Tuna are big fish - while these were smaller by tuna standards - seeing 40 - 50 kg tuna loaded into a truck is quite a site, most bound for export. At 2 that afternoon I bid them farewell and no sooner as I started my walk back that one of them rode up behind me on his scooter, told me to get on, and drove me back to the hotel some 5 kms away. An exciting transportation diversion that I really enjoyed.
Then it was back to the airport again to catch a delayed flight back to Dili. Thus I begin my countdown to my next leave in two or three months.
It begins with anticipation, travel, good times, and ends in remorse
Another vacation over, when work reality suddenly takes your mind by force
After a long journey home I arrived in Winnipeg at 12:35pm local time into the waiting arms of my wonderful mother dutifully waiting for #2 son to return. We ended up having a fabulous day in the afternoon sitting in the backyard visiting and catching up. Starting at around 4pm my siblings started to arrive after their work days. A wonderful evening ensued and I got to see the people most important to me all at once prior to starting my break. As vacations go it turned out that everyday thereafter were good days spent either catching up with other friends, visiting the bounty of retail which in the past seemed like such plentitude of excess and doing what I longed to do: getting back on my bike. Things you had taken for granted are grandiose pillars of commerce that you realize you miss so much; a retail Shangri-La limited only by one’s credit. This versus the paltry selections available in our limited retail environment where shelves often go bare because certain products are not available for long periods of time – microwave popcorn comes to mind – though expensive ($4US) for a pack of 3, if and when you see it stock up as you might not see it again for awhile. The other pleasure was getting back on my bike – which has been my sanctuary and primary mode of transportation to and from work for the past 20 years. When not commuting I ride often for the pleasure of just being out for a ride and is not uncommon for me to be on my bike 7 days a week. Not because I’m one of these fitness freaks but because it is personal solitude where I ponder and think about issues as the ipod plays my favorite tunes. While it did feel good to be back riding my bum wasn’t quite up to riding shape as quickly. That said though the weather didn’t accommodate the reunion with my best friend. As it turns out for once in my life my timing to leave my home was unparalleled. Being creatures of the northern environment, conversations with family and friends invariably turns to the weather – opinions in that regard in my limited statistical sample seemed to be unanimous – it SUCKS! Whether the winter which was unusually cold and long to a summer that hasn’t really been a summer yet – sentiment was universal – ‘we deserve better’. In that regard I have no complaints whatsoever – as I have extolled at length previously in this forum I love the weather here. Now, firmly ensconced in the winter, or dry season, it is even better – cool and clear in the morning (about 20o C) to the day time high of about 32 by 9 am. In the weeks since my return I have not seen rain, nor is it expected again until late September or October.
Another pleasure that I availed myself too for the first time in 6 months was going to a movie. The movie was “My Sisters Keeper” based on the book by Jodi Picoult of the same name. It was in my favorite genre, what I call a gripping human drama or as it turns out a good old fashion tear jerker. Funny thing about human animal: we get on death defying roller coasters and thrill rides to scare ourselves witless, and in my case go the emotionally charged movies to cry. Why? well a couple of reasons neither very convincing: one, the book was one that my Sister had given me prior to my departure in January to TL, and I love watching a movie after reading the book (but never the other way around!). The best part was not being aware that such a movie was being made as entertainment news is more limited than in North America. Needless to say I cried almost entirely throughout the entire movie - yet I have the audacity to say it was a good movie consistent in large part to the book. Thankfully I had wonderful, understanding company who refused to call me sissy man incessantly afterwards to otherwise make my outward show of emotion even more psychologically damaging.
As previously mentioned plans are meant to be broken; mine were broken as a look at the calendar confirmed what I already knew – only two days prior to my departure and I still didn’t get all I wanted to get done, done. The foreboding stress of my departure was made more acute by the fact that my flight left very early in the morning. A decision had to be made and mine was to limit my time in Bali and add on a couple of days being home. As an aside: when I looked at my revised travel itenary for July 18, I realized that it was exactly the same as my original July 15th itenary: Winnipeg to Chicago, to Tokyo, to Denpasar (Bali) and finally to Dili - same times, same everything. Curiosity got the better of me as I wondered just how many people need to go to Tokyo from Chicago? As it turns out quite a lot, I did a cursory search on a travel website and a typical day will see approximately six or seven, 13 hours flights/day depart for Tokyo from the windy city.
With my reprieve secured I was able to accomplish what I still needed to do and even managed to secure a few days for myself – to take a vacation from my vacation. Strange as it may seem that’s what it is – you end up being so busy visiting, catching up etc. that you realize that you haven’t had any downtime which is what, the theory goes, a vacation is supposed to be. Unlike my previous visit home where I was feeling displaced at my former home, this time I found that as I was getting near the end of my visit that I was comfortably falling into the inveterate feeling of being home. Why I wish I could explain.
Travel home was thankfully uneventful. Unfortunately on my travels thus far I have not have the opportunity to see Japan, only the inside of the Narita Airport some 60 kms outside of Tokyo. Despite my limited exposure to this country one thing has struck me – they seem to love their high tech toilets. Of the three times I have been through the airport I have come across unbelievable toilets - seats are heated, and depending on the model a choice of bidet spray, squirt spray or misting option. One such toilet had an LCD control panel mounted close at hand to select the options. Ironically after about 20 hours of travel from Winnipeg I was starting to stink – though my bum had never been cleaner!
My reintegration back into Asia, while not as long as I had originally intended, was still a pleasant one. Although I did lose 5 nights in Bali I did have one good day in paradise. My flight from Tokyo arrived at around 11pm and after clearing customs, finding a taxi and getting to the hotel it was about 1 am - like my first flight here in January to Singapore - enough time for the triple B - bath, beer, bed. Repeated long haul travel does allow one to learn how to battle jet lag. Unlike previous trips where I suffered measurably I had no ill effects coming back. I have managed to force myself to sleep at judicious times (albeit drug induced) so to make the easing into a 14 hours time difference less difficult.
My one full day in Bali turned out to be glorious. It started with an early morning walk along the beach where I met a nice local fisherman. Skeptical at first that he was just going to hock either: fish, women, trinkets or just ask for money I was surprisingly in error. I ended up following him back to where he and his other fisherman buddies hang. We ended up sitting roadside sharing a few Bintangs watching the activity that surrounded us. They showed me where the fresh tuna arrived on the beach and then carried to waiting trucks full of ice. Tuna are big fish - while these were smaller by tuna standards - seeing 40 - 50 kg tuna loaded into a truck is quite a site, most bound for export. At 2 that afternoon I bid them farewell and no sooner as I started my walk back that one of them rode up behind me on his scooter, told me to get on, and drove me back to the hotel some 5 kms away. An exciting transportation diversion that I really enjoyed.
Then it was back to the airport again to catch a delayed flight back to Dili. Thus I begin my countdown to my next leave in two or three months.
It begins with anticipation, travel, good times, and ends in remorse
Another vacation over, when work reality suddenly takes your mind by force
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1 comment:
It was wonderful to see you again. Next time we'll have to make an actual plan so we can have a longer visit. Keep posting. We love to hear what you've been up to.
Alice
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