What escalators tell you about people

It's cliche to say, "there are two kinds of people..." But you can sort folks by if they stand on the escalator or walk up it. Some of us just don't have the patience to be taken somewhere. And are annoyed by those who keep us from climbing by just standing in our way.

Getting plenty of time to ride escalators and moving sidewalks during 30 hour layover in Seoul's Inchon Airport. Nice place with lots of amenitiies, but still a long delay.

What I've learned through travel

Countries visited (as of 2020)

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The countries in blue on the map above show those I have visited sometime in my life. I don't count countries in which I have only had an airport transfer like Iceland and Korea. By my count, I am now up to 53 - and I have visited 46 of the states in the US. Speaking at international conferences and doing consulting work for international schools, along with a few vacations thrown in, have allowed me to see more of the world than this Iowa farm boy ever dreamed of. And I've loved it.

By now, one would think I knew a little more about being a traveler.

One travels, the gurus explain, not to understand more about other peoples and cultures, not to see historical sights and eat new food, or even just to relax by a beach, but to learn more about oneself.

I am still learning.

I am going home tomorrow, a month earlier than I had planned from my long anticipated, post retirement 3 months of "backpacking" around SE Asia. I am healthy, have funds, and am not running from any law enforcement agencies. I've had wonderful experiences here, but...

1. Three months is too long to be gone from home and friends. The longest I'd traveled before has been 3 weeks, with most trips being 1 to 2 weeks in length. The shorter trips seemed too short, but somehow that made the time there more special.
2. The exotic gets old. I like experiencing new foods and cultures, hearing new languages, seeing how other people live. But eating noodles, boiled vegetables, and rice for breakfast gets old quickly. I also miss my hometown restaurants, hearing Minnesotan spoken, my recliner, and hiking my favorite parks. I think a breakfast of pancakes at Dennys may be the first thing I do when I get home.
3. The heat can be as wearing as the cold. I chose this time to travel primarily to miss as much of the Minnesota winter as possible. Yet SE Asia's heat and humidity is getting tiresome as well. My shirt is soaking wet with sweat here in Thailand even when I get back from early morning walks. The heat drives me inside as much as the cold does at home. You'd think I'd remember from my five years in Saudi Arabia.
4. I prefer 3 star hotels to hostels. Maybe I did not look carefully enough, but the hostels I looked at were aimed at a much younger, party-loving customer than this old introvert can stand. I had anticipated finding lodging that would have allowed some interactions with fellow travelers, but that did not happen much this trip. I've found that things like AC, swimming pools, an in-house restaurant, hot water, and toilet paper all add to the pleasure of travel.
5. I don't need to see a museum or historic site a second time. I've see the watts of Bangkok. I don't need to go again. 
6. I am not a beach person. While I like walking on and viewing the seashore, I don't like just lying in the sun. If I am going to simply sit and read, I prefer a cool shady spot or my air-conditioned hotel room. 
7. Self-guided travel is hard work and anxiety producing. Getting from point A to point B is challenging when going by oneself. Booking flights, arranging local transportation, researching your locale, and even choosing a place to eat, all take a lot of effort. Late night flights, long bus rides, and hotel rooms on noisy streets are wearing, even if not aerobicaly taxing. I'm learning the value of a guided tour is usually worth the cost.
8. I am a creature of habit. Some of this trip has been simply staying at a single hotel for several days. When I do this, I find myself with a daily schedule much like that at home: walk in the early morning, write until early afternoon, nap, eat supper, and the read in the evenings, icluding the hometown online newspapers. I am not big on "winging it," liking to schedule any activities in advance.
9. I don't do late nights. I sense that in many cities, life may not start until well after dark. Even when traveling and knowing I don't have to get up at any set time, I am in bed by 10pm. An old age cliche, perhaps, but there you are. I'm sure this preference has kept me out of a lot of mischief. It's hard to admit, but my energy levels are just not what they once were. 
10. I get lonesome. I truly value my alone time both at home and when I travel, but I must admit, that I miss my friends, colleagues, and family much more than I had ever guessed after such a long time away. I'd have probably been home a month ago had my family and I had not gotten together in Vietnam for several weeks. Not the tough guy I had imagined myself to be.

I have had a great time on this adventure. My son's wedding in Ho Chi Minh City, meeting his new in-laws, hiking in the Philippines and Vietnam, touring with my friend Heidi, and relaxing, reading, and writing in small hotels for a few days were all great. I did not have any security issues, my debit card always worked, no unexpected expenses (other than the cost of an earlier flight home), and my health was good except for a couple days of tummy troubles in Vietnam, quickly cured with Pepto.

My plans are to continue to travel, but with an increased understanding of myself and my travel preferences. I don't know that I need to be gone for more than a couple weeks at a time. For a longer stay as a snowbird, maybe renting an AirBnb with a kitchen and doing day trips might be a good choice. And perhaps the choice of new places rather than returning to those I have already visited might renew my excitement about travel. I still have four states in the US I've not seen, many state and national parks I've not hiked, and even parts of Minnesota yet to see (International Falls, anyone?)

Learning about oneself is not always a comfortable experience. For me, it is usually quite humbling. But it is necessary for a good life.

Lost without data for my phone

 

Among the very first things I do when arriving in a new country is to purchase a local SIM card and data plan for my phone. I would be, quite literally, lost without it. Above is my "lucky" SIM I bought my first morning in Bangkok, replacing those I used in Vietnam and the Philippines.

While I use my phone for many things while I travel (camera, hotspot for my laptop*, e-book reader, repository of reservation confirmations, etc.), I value the mapping feature the most. While I use it to find and get to stores, tourist sites, my hotel, and restaurants, I also rely on GoogleMaps for helping me find my way on early morning walks.

As a creature of habit, I enjoy my 3-5 mile jaunts wherever I am staying, not just while I am at home. Over the last two days here in Bangkok, I visited Lumpini Park and the Khlong Toei Market early in the morning. Paper maps (remember those), would have of course, gotten me there and back, but GoogleMaps plots good walking routes and keeps one oriented when confused. And you don't have to figure out street signs that may not use the Roman alphabet.

I don't know how many people are aware of it, but GoogleMaps is also a great tool for using any public transportation systems like buses, trains, subways, or light rail. A teacher in Tokyo once showed me how to use the feature when I struggled with his city's dual and confusing mass transit systems.

I bring an old iPhone with me on international travels. The SIMs pop in and out easily and in most countries, the SIMS and about as much data as one needs, can be purchased for about $20. If you want to use your US phone to do this, make sure your provider unlocks it before you leave. While they are available in do-it-yourself packets at many convenience stores, I always go to mobile phone store in a shopping mall to purchase the SIM and have it installed and activated.

Happy travels!

* I found my 3G connection is often stronger and faster than hotel or airport wifi.