Around the world in 15 days

With midterms more or less behind me, and nowhere near ready to travel around the world, I threw some stuff in a suitcase and set off for Vietnam on what would be a 21 hour journey:

1. Austin --> Dallas (1 hour, 5 minutes)
2. Dallas --> Tokyo (13 hours, 30 minutes)
3. Tokyo --> Ho Chi Minh City (6 hours, 40 minutes)

I have to admit that somewhere over Seattle I was already getting stir crazy and felt like I had been on the plane forever. Although I knew 3 others on the long haul flight, we weren't sitting together so I may as well have been traveling alone. I did manage to work on my paper (last midterm looming like a dark cloud over this trip) until my laptop battery finally died and then moved on to more exciting things like watching movies.

I ended up watching Quantum of Solace for the 2nd time, Vicky Cristina Barcelona (still don't get the hype), and Madagascar 2 (not nearly as good as the 1st). I filled in the quiet time with episodes of The Office. The greatest thing about the flights was that I never had to sit next to anyone. So I was able to spread out and get comfy, but how comfy can you really get on a 13.5 hour flight?

Warning: more griping ahead. I always forget just how terrible plane food is and these flights were no different. I wonder too when they stopped offering free alcohol on long haul flights? $6 a pop! Ugh. And it was turbulent for much of the flight which is not my favorite. I kept asking myself if becoming a consultant was a good idea as I would have to fly every single week. Hopefully I won't need Xanax just to get to work!

I am glad I got a chance to speak with B since it might be a while before we catch up again. We didn’t say too much, but it was nice to hear his voice. I actually cried last night when we were saying goodbye on Skype. Not sure why, I just suddenly got very emotional at the end of the conversation and I couldn’t help it. No tears today, but I do miss him and wish he was joining me on this trip. I suppose it’s all for the best in the end, but one of these days I would like for us to get away together. I can’t believe it’s been a whole year since I took this trip the first time. I have so many fond memories of our time there, but it was also sort of the beginning of the end for AJ and I so definitely a bittersweet journey.

Next up, Ho Chi Minh City...