Distances and demands

"When I was young, I had just begun...."  A.A. Milne really didn't comprehend, in this future, that phrase would be so be so meaningful.  In the age of Winnie the Pooh's creation, the world barely moved.  Many people never made it 20 miles away from home.   Several world wars and other conflicts created the need for travel.   Travel became faster and "easier".  In today's generation, hopping over to Europe is a day jaunt and deepest Africa or the Amazon can be achieved in not much more.

At one time, having a vehicle hit 100,000 miles was a wonder.  Now some of us do that in three years or less and we are not professional long haul drivers.

As a young adult, I gloried in spending time wheeling along, going anywhere and no where in my sports car.  Distance (and time ) was no problem.  The resilience of youth.  When marries, it was a joy to travel with my loved one, but the trips seemed to take longer.    Then came the kids and time seemed to go backward. Pits stops became marathons and yet, THEY seemed to think that I was holding up the proceedings.  How long is it going to take?????

Now, there is an old person in the car who seems to want to stop and stretch every couple of hours.  And my wife is egging him on!  Now I have to argue with myself as to why it takes so long.  I thought nothing of driving 24 hours straight, grabbing a couple of hours and getting on with life.  Now it seems I drive a couple of hours and nap for 24 before I can think about life.

Perhaps I should get rich and buy that jet.  They come with built in pit stops!  On the other hand, I still like the idea that I can drive where I want and stop when I want.  I get just as stiff on the long flights but I can step out and breath that fresh air.

Road trip anyone????

To converse or nod

You have your seat assignment, hopefully what you wanted and you are boarding.  The pressure begins to build in you as you mull over the future.  What is your seat mate going to be like?  There are several not so good scenarios:

What if the person or persons resemble a sumo wrestler?  What if they have a permanent lean, towards you?  What if they actually talk more than you, like no-stop?  Or the worst case, what is they are children or .... teens!  Depending on the length of flight, these situations can dictate whether you really need to take the multiple Gravols / sleeping tablets / tylenols.

But the reality is that you are generally stuck with the airlines whimsical seat assignments.  I am still not sure how you balance a plane with 6 linebackers on the right and 5 twiggy’s on the left.

Now if you are an evangelical Christian, you are expected to converse with said “trapped” listener.  But those who quail at such boldness must them find an alternative.  Just thing how tiring the whole boarding process is and you can begin to nod.

One little known fact, you are not allowed to “nod” or even close your eyes if you are sitting in the emergency exit row.  Apparently, in signing on for the increased room you also get the privilege of having to see the disaster when it happens.

But even if flying, serendipity happens .....

Fingers finally travelling

I just checked.  Well over a year with a post.  Probably should leave it at that but....   it's not that travelling is not happening but rather my hands took a break after the last post.My thoughts always did out-fly my typing and sometimes the post is written and, well, posted in my mind before the hands get their act together.

Have you ever had a trip where quite frankly you don't take the time to regular things? You know...  brush your teeth, comb your hair, post to your blog, breathe.  Memories are either a blur (and not from overindulging) or very crisp and clear.  Imprinted on your mind. 

It was a great trip, pretending that I was young and efficient and energetic.  Being a pirate and an expert, at least in others minds, can add spice to any endeavour.  The fact that it was rough travel as well almost made the trip by itself.  But it was the travelling companions, faithful to support, tease, and being willing to share of themselves and to keep me in my place.  God bless them all.

Just a side note, New York cheese cake in NY is plain and expensive.  Three cheers for President choce and the other providers of multi-flavoured cakes.

levart - the art of returning

When someone talks about travellig, we automatically think of going somewhere.  We don't often think of what goes out generally has to return.  It seems that after the halfway point of your time away, some part of your brain starts a countdown to the day you leave / return.  The homing call is heard and it seems you must answer.

One way of lessening the call is to try harder to do nothing... a sort of state of inertia.  Many seem to attain this state.  Look at the menber of couch potatoes in North America.  another way it to do the exact opposite.  Immurse yourself so fully into a project that time stands still.  (Shopping does not really  do it for me .... time just feels that it has stopped).  For me a good hands on problem works well.

But, and there is always a but,  eventually you come aburtly out of time warp.  Either the project coms to some conclusion or some spoilsport is tugging om you and telling you that you have to get packed...now!

Goodbye pineapples and sun.   Goodbye dust and wierd project.  Hello, all the mundane things that make up a "normal" life

Deja Vu or coming "home"

Returning to places of your past is totally different from touristing in new lands.  There is always the fact that places like people change over time but some places are like best friends.  The years may take a toll but despite the laugh lines and age spots, a friend is always the same.  You can just pick up where you left off.

I have found that SakejiSchool and its surrounding is that old friend.  Both of us have more wear and tear but its is a home.  That comfortable feeling that you are still accepted by the place.  Of course any "home" has great memories and other memories that may be on the sad side.

And the people of Africa retain their memories better than DVD's!  "Ah please sir, do you remember me?  I was the one who .....    "  The fact that they were 14 or 15 at the time and it was 16 years ago, does not seem to matter to them.  On the other hand, my memory is a lot less  efffcient (and accurate).

But the Northwest province of Zambia is a place that has enfolded our family and there is a draw that is felt, especially when travelling.  Of course there is also the draw of the regular "home" and family.  Too many draws but I love them all.

What lights up NWP?

Part of travelling is enjoying the places you arrive at.  If it is the remote spot that many people "wish" for, there can be definite benefits.  One of these is not being able to post because the service is toos low or spotty or...   The down side is when you do get the opportunity to post, you have to remember your last thought train.  In my case, the train was definitely derailed.

Northwest Zambia is an amazing place, especially in the rainy season.  I had forgotten the sheer power and majesty of the thunder storms and rain.  And the magnitude of the lightning eradicating the darkness.  Images that can never really be caught on film or video but has to be felt in person.  Worth the trip alone. 

And the fruit.   Pineapples to die for.  In some ways, you're not really eating a pineapple unless the juices are running down you chin.  A little hard on the clothes though.  Eaten with some of those sweeet bananas that you just can't get back home.   (A little of both keeps you regular!).

Better enjoy them while I can because I can't take them home with me.  At least not enough to last more than a day or two.

Travelling for fun

Travelling is best enjoyed cold, or after the fact. Travelling, as opposed to being in exotic locales, is not high on the best moments list.  But later, in looking back, there are hours of humour and reminiscing in most travels.  Like trying to explain to security why you are travelling with 3 laptops/notepads not to mention several bags of chips with the air let out.  Then there is the airline check in personnel who have very perplexed looks as to why a ski-bag would be going to Zambia.

Of course, when you are tired, many things are skewed.  What do you say to flight attendants who have decided that they like you, so much that they check you at least every hour to see if you need anything?  The arrival of real shortbread and chocolate along with tea brewed to your specifications does take the edge off the fact that it is the middle of a 13 hour night flight and you have not really slept for 24 hours.  Maybe the fact that the goods are from first / business class energizes you.

There is also the humour of your flying mates.  You have to laugh about the fact that in one row all the passengers are female Twiggies while you seat mate makes your 6 foot 250 pound frame look like the 90 pound weakling needing a fitness centre. Of course you must maintain your seat during takeoff because of balance.  Let’s see, 610 pounds on the right and 160 pounds on the left.  Yep, that appears to be a balanced equation.  Oh well, you must admit some of the airlines math is very good.  Just check ticket and meals prices.

So smile through your lost and sometimes brutalized luggage woes because you may find the humour at a later date.