Archive | June, 2019

Oh My Body, Part 2

30 Jun

There’s always something about the return journey compared to the initial arrival one. The traveling hours are about the same or sightly longer but the woes seem to be different.

When we first arrived in the US three weeks ago, the next day upon arrival I had recovered from the jet lag. The same can’t be said for returning to Malaysia for sure.

I recall our 2012 US trip, I took a week to recover from the jet lag. Now, seven years later, a week too or longer? Hmm…

Maybe the fact that we are returning from a holiday – back to reality, makes it hard for the body to accept, thus longer to readjust.

In the meantime, I was hoping to sleep 18 hours throughout when we arrive home but I cannot do so because our checked-in bags never arrived at KLIA! Haish…

Looks like recovery sleep has to be shortened to return to the airport tomorrow as our report has been done and bags should arrive by then to be collected.

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Oh My Body

30 Jun

All that sitting and inability to find a snug position on the second leg had caused my backache to flare up. Throughout the journey, I had my painkiller on standby but I tried not to resort to them.

The last three hours of more sitting and waiting in Schiphol was just so arduous. And we didn’t want to walk too much too as we had the backpacks to carry and the cabin bags to pull along. We both knew it will just tire us and most likely we can’t sleep well on the third leg of the journey.

By 8.00pm, the announcement came on for boarding and in an orderly fashion, passengers boarded when their zones were called out. We sat in the aircraft for a good 40 minutes or so because of one late inconsiderate dude to come onboard. Eventually we were cleared for take off, 24 minutes passed the scheduled 8.50pm.

Within an hour, dinner was served! And after the meal, I tried to sleep again and it wasn’t easy. I just couldn’t get any comfortable positions. So I watched a movie and a couple of documentaries but not long enough to kill time. We still had over five hours to go. Felt like forever. Oh my body!

Eventually I forced myself to sleep. After all, I was wedged between two people this time, I couldn’t get up and the aisle passenger was asleep. Then I had to pee. Oh dear…

Do I wake her? It wouldn’t be polite because she was in deep slumber snoring away. Hubby too was sound asleep against the window. Hmm…I shouldn’t go pee and tried to sleep instead as my eyes were tired. I think I managed two hours at most and not more. And it made matters worse.

The legs were sore, the back hurt, the butt numb and the shoulders stiff and I still had to pee. As if these problems were not enough, a tiny nagging headache started developing. Oh my body…

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We Wait Again

29 Jun

The transit this time at Schiphol is in the main terminal and there are so many things to eat and shops to browse. We arrived by 2.30pm after a rather pleasant journey with no bad turbulence. But the same can’t be said for comfort and the inability to sleep well. Our next flight is at 8.50pm but boarding, as printed is 8.09pm. Still… a long wait. Again.

By now, with three hours still to go, the both of us are really tired and no will to explore. Somehow with one extra transit and stop throws the whole body system awry. I just want to lie down and sleep if I can. Big yawn…

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So Tired

29 Jun

I was feeling tired and we were not even halfway when we were in transit at SLC International Airport. I suspect waking up at 6.30am could be the factor.

We boarded our Amsterdam-bound aircraft at 8.15pm mountain time and there was a 20-minute delay before the aircraft departed at 9.20pm. Finally, on the way home.

The cabin lights before take off

Two hours into the flight, dinner was served. I watched a movie and then tried to sleep. It was so difficult. The space was not comfortable – I twisted and turned but could not find a snug position. My Mi Band2 showed four hours of light sleep and zero deep sleep. Yawn…

Before I could try again, the cabin lights were turned on and our next meal was served. Breakfast? Lunch? It’s hard to tell because it’s almost five in the morning Oregon time and almost one in the afternoon Amsterdam time.

The cabin lights before the second meal

By now the body is all confused, the perils of long distance travels. And we have one more 12-hour leg to go!

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Now We Wait

29 Jun

The goodbye was quick and thankfully tear-free. We went through security check with a small glitch – a bottle of water in the bag, so that had to be surrendered but luckily my spanking new Dutch Bros flask cleared because I remembered to empty it out.

The flight to Salt Lake City International Airport was smooth and on time. Upon descending only there was some slight turbulence. SLC Airport is kinda small. We walked the whole terminal where we are transiting and that’s it. Nothing caught our eye.

Mountain range in the background still has snow

Luckily we found a quiet corner with a table and it’s a good spot to rest, have a meal without hurry. Another four hours to go before our flight to Amsterdam as I write this…

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Heavy Heart Again

29 Jun

The inevitable has come. We are leaving today…

Yesterday, it rained on and off the whole day, adding unnecessary gloom. And I was told it hardly rains in Summer! But has it really been Summer? Save for the first couple of days, it has been cold for us throughout our stay.

Our flight departs at one but we left for the airport by eight in anticipation of heavy traffic. And for the first time, the sky was mostly grey. Dull, sad and not a single cloud or blue, a reflection of our feelings?

It stayed grey for the first 45 minutes of the journey to the airport before the sun managed to peek out.

Despite the heavy heart, we leave knowing M1 will be okay. She has started working and undertaking her graduate program studies at the same time. All grown up and doing good, we are really proud and totally in support of her next path in life.

Maybe knowing this fact, I can sleep well on the flight home.

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It’s a Wrap, Folks!

28 Jun

Today is our last day with our first born and the weather this morning reflected the sentiment – dreary and sad. The skies are crying, raining in other words. It is darn cold! Brr…

We wrap up our wonderful two and a half weeks with her (and M2 for the first week) as we prepare ourselves for the separation. There is now less activities, last minute purchases and packing to do.

Tomorrow begins our long, long journey back: 34 and a half hours from PDX to KLIA and not counting the drive to and from the airports. I feel numb just thinking about it.

The additional hours are due to an extra stop and longer transit time unlike when we came, there was only one stop at Amsterdam at a relatively short transit time. Oh well… I hope there’s more movie choices to watch on board as I have done four movies already when we were coming out. As for the transit stops, an opportunity to explore the airports I guess.

We will return with treasured memories and looking forward to our next family gathering.

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Willamette Valley Vineyards

27 Jun

We drove to Willamette Valley Vineyards after having lunch with M1 and joined their 2.00pm daily tour. It was a really small group, just us, our guide and three new employees.

The weather was lovely to be outside too as we toured the grounds. When we were indoors, we saw all the facilities, from the lab, bottling and packaging sections to the cellars.

After our tour, we stayed on for wine tasting. We tried the two choices on their Tasting Flights menu which consisted of the Daily Tasting and the Reserve Tasting. Basically the difference being the former had more whites and the latter, more reds.

Both choices had very nice flavors, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. So much so, we bought two bottles from the list – the 2016 Pinot Blanc and the 2017 Tualatin Estate Semi-Sparkling Muscat; and we will drink them this evening.

Willamette Valley Vineyards is a must-visit if one ever visits Oregon. They get my thumbs up.

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Feeling Sore

27 Jun

I didn’t think two days of golf, using rental sets could result in sore arms and upper torso. Have we both lost our touch playing golf? Or was it the putting woes that caused this? Haha… Then I remembered it was the rock climbing! That must be it.

Since the both of us are feeling sore, we decided not to play a third round of golf which was the intended plan. We will do a vineyard tour after visiting downtown and checking out the stores.

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Mind Boggling Choices

27 Jun

Yesterday I was at the stores and was browsing aisle after aisle. The choices are mind boggling!

Just for bread alone, a stretch on the aisle with so many variations. Gatorade had super sizes that I have never seen on the shelves back home. The other stuff on the shelves too, I could go on. Amazing.

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