You know that feeling you have when you see something for the first time? The first meeting with an interesting stranger or first time in a new Place? It could be a common place. A place were many other people have been or it could be a seemingly empty place with only you present. All that matters is that the first time in such a situation is somewhat.......Magical isn't it? A feeling of excitement and intrigue. The second, third & even forth time could also be wonderful (ie. every single time i'm in NYC) but that first encounter extraordinary yes?
Anyway as I said I'm flyin now. There was no internet on this flight and being new at this blgging thing I was forced to figure out an alternative to writing directlly onto the blog webste as I have been doing up to this point. If this method works I may have found a technique for doing some (really necesary) editing prior to submitting these posts. If
Well I have been noticing lately how much I'm drawn to this initial feeling of awe. It's sort of like I crave it. The unexplored. Unknown.
Today I left for Asia. I'm on the plane right now in fact. This morning My Mom and little brother met me early and drove me up to JFK to drop me off. Thank you for that guys! On the way to the airport we stopped in Manhattan to see an 0ld family friend, Bobby Donahue who's been feeling under the weather. While we were there with him in his office he got a call from his daughter Tricia who we all know and adore for her raw, hilarious style of honesty. As I was talking to her on Bobby's cell I explained that we were in NY to drop me off @ JFK, on my way to Thailand by way of Russia. She commented that when she comes back for her next life she wants to come back as me. Understandable I guess! I have an amazingly privileged life and feel blessed beyond belief almost every day for sure. In fact, If I had the choice for my next life I would like to come back as me. That's what I felt in the moment and actually said to her in response. Since then I have been thinking, If I did come bACK AS ME I wonder how much I'd do different. I mean I'd have to totally change things among some of my previous choices Ive made. Wouldn't I? Maybe some people I've trusted or not? Maybe some people I've hurt! But when it comes down to the basic structure of my existence there's not a tremendous amount I'd redo. As I journey eastward I cant help but think fuck, Russia,Thailand, Cambodia,Burma,Laos,Viet nam and Indo? One trip, Unreal. Its almost unbelievable, for me! Im very lucky indeed and I expect to take full advantage of that luck, take in as much as I can, while hopefully, during these travels, giving back a large enough portion.
I was a little worried about flying out today as I am flying a new airline, Aeroflot. Actually it's one of the oldest airlines around even though it' all brand new to me. My major concern was centered around me having an actual ticket when I arrived to the check in. I kinda bought a discount fare from a super discount website. I saved a few hundred bucks but savings came wth a rather significant price, Like some serious layover times in Russia. That wasn't my concern however. What I feared the most was actually not having a ticket when I got there. As I waited in line for close to an hour after my drop off I couldn't help noticing how attractive the Russian people were. Georgeous women and the men were actually quite handsome. It made the time in line seem a little bit more bearable for sure as I first fantasized about the life of a KGB agent, which led to me as James Bond and then somehow terminated with thoughts of finding Eric Snowden. Hey, i wonder if mentioning Eric Snowden (twice!) on my blog just entered me into the FBI watch list? Maybe not. Unless I mention Russia again;)! Now I'll bet that did it! When I got to the front of the line and put my bag on the belt to be checked in I was greeted by a really sweet and equally gorgeous airline representative who immediately cemented my worst fear. She could not locate my ticket, a registered passport or even my name in her system. "I was actually afraid this would happen because I bought the ticket through a website" , I said to the woman with sincere panic in my eyes. "did you consider making a hard copy of your itinerary by any chance", she asked. "Why yes I did" , I said as I pulled the paperwork out of my carrion bag with a very deep breath. After a few trips to the back to ask someone official she asked me what airline I was flying. Turns out that the Russian airline "Aeroflot" and the Polish airline "Lot" are right next to each other in the terminal and share a desk(but different friggin lines). If it were not for the Russian looking people (who knew Poles looks so much like Russians?) in the Polish line I'd probably noticed quicker that the signs all said LOT and not AEROFLOT. Blinded by the beauty I guess! I'm a Leo and a sucker for it. Now I'm paying more attention, head up!
Anyway as I said I'm flyin now. There was no internet on this flight and being new at this blgging thing I was forced to figure out an alternative to writing directlly onto the blog webste as I have been doing up to this point. If this method works I may have found a technique for doing some (really necesary) editing prior to submitting these posts. If It doesn't work, Well, you may never read this and my poor grammar and punctuation will continue to go unmasked and keep makin Chelsea cringe!
In just over 6 hrs I will be landing in SVO, Moscows' airport. I met a guy in JFK while searching for an available plug for my deadening phone who has the same stay in SVO as I... 8+hours;(. He's from Boston and traveling to Beijing on an open ticket (hasn't bought his return yet) to choose a bicycle manufacturer to build his new line of NYC street bikes. And, as a banker with a finance degree, also filming a documentary on the coffees of the world as he travels, (what else would a finance guy do right?) we had much to talk about! We had an extensive 2 hour/4 beer conversation highlighting my unearthly knowledge of a beverage I bearly drink. He began his film, camera focused on me, with my 15 minute dissertation of the wonders of Vietnamese coffee. Keep an eye out for this one as I'm sure its going to Caans! If not to the can:)).
So anyway this guy tells me that his sister Katey just graduated from Penn Architecture and is working in Seatle. He calls her and asks if she had heard of our design/build firm, Onion Flats (onionflats.com) and she tells him more about us in a 5 minute call than I had with an of rapping. Crazy small world aye? He's planning possibly to meet me & Pete in Indonesia in January. Maybe I'll turn him onto some of the Monkey shit coffee and get a sequel part in the film!
So time for a Russian Spy film (hello CIA watch list!) and a good nap before I get to Russia and have only 1/3rd of a day to catch up on my sleep.
I miss you Guys already. See yous on the news!
It doesn't work, Well, you may never read this and my poor grammar and punctuation will continue to go unmasked and keep makin Chelsea cringe!
In just over 6 hrs I will be landing in SVO, Moscows' airport. I met a guy in JFK while searching for an available plug for my deadening phone who has the same stay in SVO as I... 8+hours;(. He's from Boston and traveling to Beijing on an open ticket (hasn't bought his return yet) to choose a bicycle manufacturer to build his new line of NYC street bikes. And, as a banker with a finance degree, also filming a documentary on the coffees of the world as he travels, (what else would a finance guy do right?) we had much to talk about! We had an extensive 2 hour/4 beer conversation highlighting my unearthly knowledge of a beverage I bearly drink. He began his film, camera focused on me, with my 15 minute dissertation of the wonders of Vietnamese coffee. Keep an eye out for this one as I'm sure its going to Caans! If not to the can:)).
So anyway this guy tells me that his sister Katey just graduated from Penn Architecture and is working in Seatle. He calls her and asks if she had heard of our design/build firm, Onion Flats (onionflats.com) and she tells him more about us in a 5 minute call than I had with an of rapping. Crazy small world aye? He's planning possibly to meet me & Pete in Indonesia in January. Maybe I'll turn him onto some of the Monkey shit coffee and get a sequel part in the film!
So time for a Russian Spy film (hello CIA watch list!) and a good nap before I get to Russia and have only 1/3rd of a day to catch up on my sleep.
I miss you Guys already. See yous on the news
In just over 6 hrs I will be landing in SVO, Moscows' airport. I met a guy in JFK while searching for an available plug for my deadening phone who has the same stay in SVO as I... 8+hours;(. He's from Boston and traveling to Beijing on an open ticket (hasn't bought his return yet) to choose a bicycle manufacturer to build his new line of NYC street bikes. And, as a banker with a finance degree, also filming a documentary on the coffees of the world as he travels, (what else would a finance guy do right?) we had much to talk about! We had an extensive 2 hour/4 beer conversation highlighting my unearthly knowledge of a beverage I bearly drink. He began his film, camera focused on me, with my 15 minute dissertation of the wonders of Vietnamese coffee. Keep an eye out for this one as I'm sure its going to Caans! If not to the can:)).
It doesn't work, Well, you may never read this and my poor grammar and punctuation will continue to go unmasked and keep makin Chelsea cringe!
So anyway this guy tells me that his sister Katey just graduated from Penn Architecture and is working in Seatle. He calls her and asks if she had heard of our design/build firm, Onion Flats (onionflats.com) and she tells him more about us in a 5 minute call than I had with an of rapping. Crazy small world aye? He's planning possibly to meet me & Pete in Indonesia in January. Maybe I'll turn him onto some of the Monkey shit coffee and get a sequel part in the film!
So time for a Russian Spy film (hello CIA watch list!) and a good nap before I get to Russia and have only 1/3rd of a day to catch up on my sleep.
I miss you Guys already. See yous on the news!
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