Two Nutty Months, In A Nutshell
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008
A quick run down of the last two months which seem to have flown by in the blink of an eye, a bit like the entire last year, now that I think about it…
I left Asia late mid-June and have been back in the U.S. for about 3 weeks now.
- Mid-May: Left 10-day meditation retreat in southern Thailand, started cycling (and bus/train-ing) from Bangkok to Malaysia along the east coast.
- Survived sweltering heat and “political unrest” in the south (men with big guns enforced peace while friendly locals looked at blonde girls on bicycles like lunatics), landed in a few small villages and on empty beaches, ate phenomenal food, saw tropical rain storms arise out of nowhere, got wet, really wet, then hot, real real hot.
- Came down with fevers (lasting only a few days, my first and only illness of the whole trip) and severe writers block (a more serious condition that has still not subsided, hence no website updates in long long time and such a late mass email update).
- Visited a friend in Kuala Lumpur around mid-June, met his lovely girlfriend, borrowed a beautiful cocktail dress and wore high heels for the first time in 10 months (though oddly and sadly, I’ve snapped back to western culture quickly and effortlessly and have been guilty of shopping in 4 inch heels in Dallas more than once since returning home… I don’t understand it?!)
- In Malaysia, began getting anxious about a professional project/opportunity that I had tried to forget but had been in the works since February. I was hot, tired and indecisive. My forward travel momentum started to slack and the time came to make decisions.
- June 4th, made first phone contact with “the real world” (my previous consulting company), confirmed new project and agreed to July 15th startdate. Felt familiar butterflies in my stomach again… took this as a good sign.
- Spent next day formulating my “Final Fling” and organizing my way out of Asia. Bought ticket at airport and boarded flight to Thailand that night.
- Enjoyed 14 days on Thai island, Ko Phagnan - avoided full moon parties, completed a 10 day detox program; overdosed on cheap massages (2 per day), spa treatments and sunbathing; reflected on the blur and excitement of travels, was bewildered that India and Nepal happened only 5 months prior; read five books, sometimes front to back in a day; ate very many and was as active as… a vegetable.
- Started the journey home via my dear old dirty mistress, Bangkok. (Don’t know why, I just love her!) Chose hotel based on favorite grocery shopping heaven (Siam Paragon Gourmet Foodhall, a.k.a. Keisha’s Favorite Grocery Store in The Whole Wide World); met a cycling friend there, introduced him to my personal foodie utopia; bought 9 complete pounds of “stuff” (mostly cheap comfy clothes, souvenirs for family, gourmet food items, etc); blew kisses to my dear polluted Bangkok; packed up one dirty, well-loved and hated bicycle; splurged on private taxi to airport and a trashy gossip magazine (I know, embarrassing but true…).
- Became overwhelmed with excitement to see friends and family, cook my own meal (which I’ve done happily and extravagently every night since), sleep in a reliably comfortable bed, experience air conditioning (much stronger than I remembered), use coat hangers instead of compression sacks and drive a car.
- Crossed the Atlantic! - stopped in London for a reality/unreality check and break in the long haul.
- Moved in to a friend’s living room for this temporary Dallas stint. Cooking her dinner every night, drinking wine (oh sweet wine, how I’ve missed you) and laughing a lot… when 32 and living on a single bed squeezed in to a small living room (yes, I said it, I shoved a bed in there), one must certainly be able to laugh.
- Pushed the “36 floor” button in a medium sized metal box inside an enormous glass and iron box and arrived at the entrance to my old familiar company headquarters.
- Was issued my very own laptop computer! (ahh my sweet baby, where have you been darling?!? I missed you…)
- Took a road trip over 4th of July weekend to Arkansas. Had a large dose of welcome-home therapy… wide open spaces, big skies, deep south, beans and cornbread, big trucks, Harley Davidsons, cheap motels, gas bills, hot springs, curvy roads and southern drawls.
- Getting ready for that scary old thing called “work” and excited about my next move to Hyderabad, India around mid-Sept/October, where I’ll be working for the next 8-10 months.
I intend to backpost a few more stories from my journals in the near future (I’m sure I’ll be reminiscing quite frequently anyway), as well as continue this blog while I learn the pains and pleasures of living in India.
Again, loving gratitude and thanks to all for supporting me through the highs and lows - emails, comments, thoughts, friendships, prayers - all were deeply appreciated.
