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Published: April 23rd 2013
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I'm writting this on my last leg of a crazy little trip...in JFK, ready to head home...ASAP!
Do you consider yourself travelling when you take a metro ride to go for a lunch or dinner with friends that you haven't seen for a while. Well, I don't...so this is maybe not about travelling...expect that prior and after the metro ride, I had to add a few plane rides the last two weeks.
Travelling is not only about places....it's not only about discovery new sites...it can simply be about seeing your good friends...about people.... Well, and how do you do when they are all around...the world...
This is my fifth round-the-world, and for sure the most crazy one, done in less than 15 days. Trust me, that's not the fun part about it. But being a single Dad with two great kids at home, I've learnt to do what have to be done, and for this, it means trying to live three full days in the same 24 hours. Only few more years for me till Leslie and Tiffany are reaching university...I will obviously not stop to hit the road then....but the matter
is simple...I'll have way more time to do it and won't have to do these stupid jumps the other side of the earth in just a few days....because today, I need...and I've got to be back home as soon as possible.
So in two weeks I did transfers in Lima, Los Angeles, Seoul, Paris, and proper stops in Bangkok, Saigon, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Brussels and New York...I know, slightly insane.
It's kind of funny that over two weeks, I've spent time in places that I have call "home" over the years, I name Brussels and Louvain-la-Neuve, Saigon, Hong Kong and Shanghai to finish by Bangkok. We are moving back end of the year to Bangkok, so that was my first stop, bringing with me already more than 50 kgs of "stuffs" there ahead of our next move.
Bangkok was also the opportunity to double check where we are living next...and have a great meal with a good friend....and because earth is indeed a small place...our next encounter will be in two days...in Buenos Aires!
Than came Saigon...a lot more friends...a lot more meetings...and some great evenings...note
to myself...sometimes...later in my life...I'll have to sleep.
Next, Hong Kong...as that's the place I need to get my chinese visa..supposed to be a quick in...quick out...one more evening of nice wine with another friend...lunch ...coffee...visit to my local dive shop...and I should have had my visa on time...never worked as planed...arrived at the airport 20 minutes ahead of my flight...well....kind of missed it and went for the next one...the good thing is it simply allowed me more time for some bubbles...time to relax a little.
Than came four nights in Shanghai...ok, it was actually four nights...and four days....it looked like....breakfast with friends...coffee...with friends...lunches...with friends...little shopping session....on or two more meetings....than on for dinner...with friends...and than crazy evenings on Wednesday and Thursday in Mint...and yes, I didn't go to bed early...even middle of the week!
Bye bye Asia...welcome Europe...left Shanghai friday late afternoon....and early morning Saturday in Brussels...and yes, I can stand jetlag! First stop...stocking for all the goodies Tiffany and Leslie can't find in Buenos Aires...I name...well...mainly chocolates...and for me some nice Sauternes!
Lunch with my parents at "Comme chez Soi"....that's a pretty iconic place in Brussels,
lovely 2 michelin stars....than we went on to visit the last Kandinsky exhibition, drinks in the "Galeries de la Reine"...and train to my university city...time for me to say bye to my parents...and hi to friends of today...nearly twenty years...and one more time, I didn't reach my bed early.
Sunday...oh something so rare...a good sleep...great lunch with one of my cousine, one more coffee with friends....TGV to CDG...crashing late in bed...ready to fly the next morning to JFK...I know...insane...
Monday morning, CDG is packed...if only the frenchies could get organized...but hey, I ended up having the best company on that flight...best company for years...so no sleep....but ready to hit the Big Apple....Moma wouldn't store my roll-away, so I ended up seeing the last modern japanese exhibit at the Guggenheim....strolling through 5th, Central Park and Madison....and finishing it by a drink with a good friend on Lexington.
Ok, I have to admit, sooner or later I'll have to sleep. This entry may not be about visiting places...but I did a lot...and yes, even some serious business....because at the end of the day, that was a business trip!
Tomorrow I'll
be in BA...back home...happy....and Saturday we are heading on the road again...for some pretty amazing scenery...I will rest....later...
My friends over the last two weeks have the same question...how do you do to have such a "punch"....the answer is easy, I've got two great kids waiting for me...would rather do what I did in 6 weeks....but the work needs to be done...so better do it well...and head home straight on after!
Next entry, the pics should be way more interesting...
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Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
You really are nuts!
But then again, your heart is in the right place.