Setbacks

Reading this article from LP got me thinking.

From the article:

Travel should involve just a little struggle, a few annoyances, a bit of frustration.

Queuing for overcrowded buses, sleeping in smelly dorms, spending hours guarding packs on cold railway platforms these are all part of the complex mix of excitement, boredom and hassle that makes seeing the world such a joy.

...Throwing yourself into confusing and confronting situations and seeing how you cope, is what makes life, and travel worth experiencing.

These sentences sum up my general travel outlook.

The way I see it is, no setback during your travels is so grand that you can't endure it. Take Machu Picchu. At no point during the hike did I think, "Man this feels awesome!" It didn't. The first day sucked, the second day was no better, and by the last day, I was a bearded, constipated mess.

But the point is, I survived. With tales to tell. With pictures and memories to share.

I'm not asking you, Fellow Traveler, to actively look for difficult situations in your trips. They'll be sure to find you. And I'm not saying that all travel is difficult, because even the hard-core travel junkies need respite.

What I am suggesting is that when you do find yourself stranded at the airport, or late for your overnight train, take a deep breath and relax. You'll pull through it. These things come with the territory. They teach you patience. They build character.

As much as traveling connects you with the world, it connects you with yourself too.

For Your India Trip

India is definitely on my list of places to go. Here's a link to other links to get you started on planning.

read more | digg story

iPods On a Plane

"United Airlines announced this morning that it is the first US airline to offer an iPod connector for its in-flight entertainment systems. The systems feature an iPod dock—naturally compatible with the iPhone—which connects it to the 15.4-inch LCD screen for viewing video content as well as listening to music, all while charging the iPod's battery."

Thank GOODNESS.

read more | digg story

Sinking In

It hasn't sunk in yet that I'm going to Thailand and KL in a little over a month.

I haven't prepared much for my trip. I have my LP guidebooks, but I haven't read much of either one. I've stopped looking for things to do, places to eat. I haven't even learned some basic Thai phrases.

Unless I start now, I'm liable to be out of luck if I need to find a bathroom in Chiang Mai.

San Francisco Treats

During my visit to SF, I had lunch here:



Imagine my delight to find a Jollibee right in the heart of San Francisco! For the uninitiated, Jollibee is Filipino fast food. I ordered the pancit palabok with fried chicken. And it was delicious.

Also delicious is the Paella Valenciana at The Thirsty Bear, on Howard St. As well as their wonderful selection of beers.






Make sure to check out both spots whenever you're in San Francisco. Your stomach will love you for it.

Airline Fun

t's Friday night, 8:30 PM, SFO. I'm ready to check in my bag for my 10:15 flight to LAX when the lady at the Southwest ticket counter says, "There is no 10:15 flight. Can I see your boarding pass?"

I fish for my pass, hand it to her. "No, the flight's at 8:50. You might miss your flight." Well, then.

I ask her what time the next flight leaves. "9:50. You can still make this one. Gate 21. Hurry!"

Usually, I'd book it down to security, clear all my bags through the detectors in a frenzy, and sprint toward the gate. On this night, none of that. I had endured a whole week of Java talk. Four days of techie talk is enough to wear anyone down.

Expecting that I won't make my flight and will have to wait however long for the next, I lumber down to the TSA Funzone, empty my pockets, slip off my New Balance shoes and on and on.. I make it to Gate 21. The SW agents take my boarding pass. I'm the last one to check in.

As I collapsed onto my bed in my apartment, I looked up and thanked God, not because everything worked out for me, but for giving me the comfort knowing that no matter what was going to happen, I would make it home OK.

Peace of mind is underrated.

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With that said, that was a messed up thing for Southwest to do. Is this expected? Maybe it is. And if it is, that isn't right.

On the Road: San Francisco

I'm in my hotel room in Downtown SF. I'm here all week for a conference, and while it's supposed to be a business trip, there are plenty of chances to let loose.

I love my hotel room, for reasons that I'll have to blog about later.

Also, it's kind of cold here. I don't like that.

Back later.