There was a time when I was excited about boarding a plane on a long haul journey. I’d pack all my creams and toiletries neatly in my hand carry (pre 9/11) and a good paperback to read if the company wasn’t interesting. But invariably, I’d spend all my time watching movies and playing interactive games only to break for yet another delicious in-flight meal or a snack of sandwiches or comforting instant noodles. Friendships were easy. On one flight, I played interactive trivial pursuit in a rather lively session with fellow passengers. I won, and one of the participants walked up to my seat and congratulated me, sparking off a new discussion on how knowledgeable I was about American sports. (I had to eventually confess that I got a bit of help from Bald Eagle who is a treasure trove of useless facts.)
On another flight, I was travelling alone to the UK to surprise my parents who were holidaying there at my brother’s place, when I met a kindly gentleman who not only provided conversation and companionship but also helped me carry my bag to the train station after seeing me struggle with my load.
But hey, the times they are a changin’. On my recent flight on our national carrier, I was dumbfounded upon being served a bread roll, for breakfast, which tasted like cardboard. When I asked for snacks, I got peanuts instead of something more substantial. I said I was hungry, so they gave me more peanuts. A few seats away, I saw an adult passenger shove a kid rudely and the kid stumbled forward. For an entire sector, a passenger across the aisle thought it fit to talk loudly to his wife who was sitting several seats away. They are the new rich. Even the flight attendants seemed to have given up on the chaos.
*****
For the past twenty years or so of knowing each other, we have made it a point to make at least one annual trip abroad together. In the early years, I used to cry after returning from a trip. My first night home was always the most difficult. I’d wake up in the middle of the night, think about my holiday, and then sob uncontrollably. There were times when even Bald Eagle felt helpless, and he’d hold me tight until I fell asleep. I think, in those days, I lived more in those moments abroad on holiday than I did in the remaining 300-odd days which were filled with work and little else. The yearning to travel became an addiction for us, and soon it became more than annual holidays. I made scrapbooks of our travels, wrote stories on bits of paper and made friends online with like-minded people.
The essential experience is not of seeing monuments and landmarks. It is about meeting people and learning that the world does not revolve around me alone. There are spiritual moments, and there are moments when I ask myself why the hell I’m standing stranded in the depths of a glacier with no one in sight for miles when I could be curled up in front of a fireplace drinking hot chocolate instead. When difficult situations, like the glacier incident, occur, I tell myself that one day…one day, I’ll look back and laugh.
If I could go back in time, I’d probably not do it again (the glacier bit), but that’s the beauty about the lack of foresight and the inability to time-travel – you live with the decisions you make and you crack stupid jokes about it later on your blog.
*****
This year’s travel plans were a little different. Bald Eagle secretly planned the trip in February but didn’t tell me anything until June when I, in a control-freak moment, made him tell me something about our plans. “We’re going away in August, for your birthday,” he said. “It’s my birthday present to you.”
“Where to?” I asked.
“It’s a secret. Just take two weeks off from work,” he replied. “I’ll let you know in due course.”
And so I lived in delirious happiness for the next two months without the knowledge of the destination, but knowing that I was going somewhere with him. Friends started placing bets. But never in my wildest dreams did I guess that he was taking me to Argentina. ARGENTINA! We had travelled the world over, but Argentina (and greater South America) always seemed too far away, too expensive, too unattainable. It had always been on our agenda, but I had little faith of it ever materializing.
We are back from our holiday now.
I owe that sweet, sweet man a lifetime of gratitude.
Ooooo, that waterfall place from Happy Together! I trust you both got wet wet wet 😀
YAY! (Argentina!)
YAY!!! (A new blog post!!!!)
🙂
Wow the waterfall photo is beautiful! And may I say, what a thoughtful husband BE is. 🙂
Oh wow! Oh Wow! Oh WOOOOOOWW! Welcome home BFF. Don’t cry (for me Argentina) now OK? At least you can hang out with me when you’re back here on Malaysian soil. I’d take you out for something more than bread rolls and peanuts. I promise. 🙂
Sean: Yup, thought of you when I was at the waterfall getting drenched to the bone.
J: hahaha…..not dead yet.
Baby Sumo: He is! I am ever grateful!
alilfatmonkey: Thank you! I missed you lah. Looking forward to hanging out soon (very soon). I want spicy food! 😀
WOW. all the husbands whose wives read this blog must now be hating bald eagle bc their wives are gushing about him! hey bald eagle, way to go, now you’ve raised the standards for all of us. love you! i’m hopeful tt this loving romantic side of you might rub off on my hub. i have this friend whose husband is THE BEST (they are on the alaskan cruise right now, flew first class, also yearly trips, surprise designer handbags, carries her when she feels faint) and you’ve just been crowned THE BEST too:))
Wow!! Both of you are truly blessed 🙂 Happy Birthday Meena!
I hope that one day, I too, am able to have a scrapbook full of memories from my travels. *hugs* Welcome back!Merry belated birthday wishes from the both of us.
To BE, thanks for spoiling the market.
there was a time when i’d yearn for beautiful travel writing like yours. thank you for bringing tears to my eyes with this post 🙂
Thanks for sharing your sights/comparison of travelling back then and now. Kinda sad how things are now. Agree on the point about meeting people and learning how they live their live for a change. I wish I will have many of such travels in my lifetime.
And a pat on the back for the love of your life. He certainly is a very sweet man. Grats to you for such a fine catch..haha!
I shall forward your post to Hubby right now!!!!
terri: designer handbags! Hmmmmm….haven’t got those yet from BE. hahaha. Off with my head, I say! Yeah, he’s a sweetie, isn’t he?
Yin: Thanks, Yin! We’re blessed indeed.
Unkaleong: Haiyoh, you’re king of romance la. BE would NEVER pick me up from the airport, you know! 😛
Jun: Your travel writing is so inspiring. It’ll be hard to match up to yours, that’s for sure!
Kristine Tang: We’ve just got to make the most of what we have, eh? Airasia’s having a sale now…..go buy! 🙂
Precious Pea: Hahahaha! Please la! Your hubby is already damn sweet.
Such a sweet post and a sweet gesture from BE! Ahh Argentina is SO beautiful! Looking forward to more posts on your trip!
Aww sucha a lovely post. I couldn’t stop laughing when i read “I’d wake up in the middle of the night, think about my holiday, and then sob uncontrollably.”
so cute laaaa ! jealous.
iamthewitch: It IS such a beautiful country. I miss it already.
chaokar: dei, that was meant to make you cry la, not laugh. 😛 hahaha. You’re cute!
Can’t wait for the rest…story and pics and all! 🙂
i swear nic is not goin to let me go if she reads this….
Pureglutton: coming soon!
Nips: But you brought her to Oz! 🙂
yey new post! yey awesome trip, yey steak!
wow, awesomeeeee! i so dig what you mean about spiritual….just looking at that pic of iguazu evokes memories of that wonderfully spiritual movie, the MISSION starring robert de niro and jeremy irons.
i am moved to tears just looking at the images. (makes sign of cross)
I know, I know, I know what you mean. I feel the same (well, different, cos we’re different people, but in a way, the same, you know what I mean) when I return from a fantastic vacation too. Why does life suddenly feel a bit emptier? Maybe this is why we need to write, to put down to words and images, what we experienced.
To say, it was good.
*hugs*
Greats pics…got to hear da stories frm horses mouth one day.
Greats pics…nice read
what a terrific holiday! Lovely shots.. and yes BE luvs u.. BE luvs u!! 😛