| Somewhere above the coast of
Greenland...
I'm on my way home. There are plenty of
clichés I can think of. Not too many which can express how I
really feel. I'm glad I've had Lisa with me the last week, it's
been nice to share the trip with someone I love. I'm certainly
not ready for the trip to be over. With a day or two of rest, I
would be ready to go on. Where to? I'm not sure, but I know
there are places left to be seen. In some sense, the trip is
never over.
It's overwhelming the places I have been on this trip. The
Taj Mahal, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, the temples of Thailand,
Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the Swiss Alps. But all of it is
tempered by the tragedy in Asia. I left Delhi the day it occurred.
At this writing, over 160,000 dead. That number could easily
represent everyone I've
ever met and will ever meet. One of the problems is that I've
been so disconnected with the world, only involved with myself
and my trip.
What have I learned? Count your money, don't turn knobs
unknown to you, turn knobs unknown to you, enjoy life, I'm a
lucky guy, I'm in love with a wonderful person, check out the
gift shops at the airport when you arrive, travel first class,
pack light, carry tissue paper with you at all times, I work
with some great people, I miss my friends, I have a great
family, and so much more.
Random thoughts about hotels:
- Favorites: JW Marriott in Bangkok and Le Meridien Pyramids
in Giza.
- Least Favorite: Mansingh Towers in Jaipur
- Room service is usually worth it
- Room service is not worth it
- French hotels don't have top sheets (very annoying).
- Swiss hotels don't have top sheets (very annoying).
- When did I have top sheets?
Random thoughts about tour guides
- They are better than not having a tour guide
- You will have to put up with the bull of shopping
- I probably tipped them too much
- Younger ones are better, but their English isn't as good
Random thoughts about drivers
- They are usually pretty cool
- They are underpaid
- I probably tipped them too much
Hindsight
- I stayed too long in India
- I didn't stay long enough in Egypt
- Despite the heat, Thailand is a great country to visit
- Switzerland, regardless of how easy it is to travel in and
how beautiful it is, is very expensive
- Siem Reap, Cambodia will be ruined within 5 years due to
tourism
- The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful buildings in
the world
- I'm one of the luckiest guys in the world
- I'm glad I speak English
- I wish I knew a different language (French, German,
anything)
- I'm happy the British colonized the world (everyone speaks
English)
- The Rio Carbon was a good purchase
- My Victornox travel bag was a great purchase
- Eddie Bauer wrinkle resistant shirts are great
- You can't drink enough bottled water
- Bring your own medicine (Imodium A-D, Clarinex, Xanax,
Tylenol)
- The Pyramids are bigger than you think
- Everyone smokes anywhere and everywhere, except the USA
and Canada
- Carry tissue with you at all times
Well, enough reminiscing for the moment. Time for lunch.
What will we have today?
- To Begin
- Warm roasted nuts served with your preferred cocktail or
beverage
- Appetizer Cart
- Smoked salmon and cheese tart, accompanied by creamy herb
sauce
- Smoked duck with fig
- Salad
- Romaine lettuce with red onion strips, Kalamata olives,
sliced tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella cheese
- Offered with your choice of balsamic vinaigrette or
yogurt herb dressing
- Freshly baked break and assorted rolls with butter
- Main Course
- The Chef's Selection: Rack of lamb with roasted garlic
and herb jus, accompanied by mashed potatoes, medley of
vegetables including carrots, parsnips and turnips
- Herbed Breast of Chicken Provencale, enhanced by jus de
roti, offered on a bed of white wine risotto, broccoli
florets and oven-roasted carrots, sautéed leek and
champignon mushrooms
- Shrimp Scampi, served over saffron risotto with carrots,
red onion, yellow squash, zucchini and red bell pepper
- Pasta Bowl, tortellini filled cheese and sun-dried
tomatoes, complemented by Boscaiola sauce, a sauce prepared
with mushrooms, freshly grated parmesan cheese will be
offered with your pasta
- Fruit and cheese
- Select European cheeses accompanied by fresh seasonal
fruit, assorted gourmet crackers and rolls, served with Port
wine
- Dessert Cart
- Featuring vanilla ice cream offered with your choice of
toppings
- Warm fruit cobbler with vanilla ice cream
I asked Lisa to get the smoked duck, and I got the salmon
and cheese tart. I don't think I can get enough smoked salmon.
Yummy. Lisa and I both got the pasta bowl, which was OK. For
dessert, Lisa got vanilla ice with toppings, and I got the
cobbler. Very good.
Flying First Class
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