Surprises
This blog entry was originally posted on June 14, 2007.
In the Nov/Dec 2006 edition of National Geographic Traveler‘s “Real Travel” column entitled, “Surprise Gifts,” contributing editor Daisann McLane writes about a realization that many seasoned travelers have come to know: that some of the best travel experiences happen when something doesn’t go according to plan, ultimately leading you to sometimes happy, but definitely memorable situations. She writes:
“Travel happiness is that instant in time when everything you didn’t plan seems to fall together in a perfect moment: people, atmosphere, history, scenery — and strong coffee… Because a stopover is usually a last-minute decision, something done on a whim, or perhaps even forced on you by delays or carrier schedules, the odds are strong that it will end up being on of these unexpected traveler’s highs.”
For example, in my own travels, I hadn’t planned on getting mugged at knifepoint in Cape Town (boy, I didn’t see that coming!), but that unexpected moment led me to missed flights, which led me to an unexpected overland detour through Zambia, where I made ex-pat friends who led me to more friends in Tanzania — one of which took me to dinner and recognized me as her neighbor from our old hood in Jersey City, NJ. On a post-college trip backpacking trip around Europe, an unexpected stop through Basel, Switzerland led me to a great time at world class zoo and a cute little market with delicious sausages. In Mali, on an extended layover in Mopti en route to Timbuktu, I bumped into a British woman who eventually rang my doorbell in New York the week I returned — only to invite me to a fancy house party at the British deputy consul general’s flat in NYC. Surprise gifts, as McLane puts it.
But I digress. The point is, overplanning a trip too tightly is not necessarily a good thing; you set up expectations of yourself that may not necessarily be met — and anything can happen on the road to alter it: the people you meet, the people you don’t meet, the things that you do, the things that happen to you. Perhaps travel can be a microcosm of Life itself; people make plans and set expectations of themselves — what they’ll be when they grow up, what type of person they’ll marry (if they do at all), where they’ll live, etc. But as we all know, reality is never so cookie-cut — as the saying goes, “Life is what happens in between the things that you planned on.” I don’t know where or when I first heard that, but it’s been one of the mottoes I’ve forever kept in my psyche — that, together with the immortal words of Indiana Jones, “I don’t know, I’m making this up as I go.” I’ve learned it’s best not to overplan your life; there should be room for the inevitable and unexpected twists — it’s natural to evolve and adapt to new environments, experiences and people.
IF YOU’VE READ IN BETWEEN the lines of the “Twisted” blog, you may or may not have figured out that I currently have a Blogreader/girlfriend named Steph, who is worth bringing up again now since I’ll be with her on the surprise trip I mentioned in a comment at the end of the last blog entry: a relaxing and romantic jaunt through Europe for two and a half weeks. Relaxation and romance in Europe, yes — another departure from my usual gung-ho style of independent travel, this one on the exact opposite side of the spectrum of tornado chasing, with its long, 13-hour days of sitting in a van. The thought of me with someone may come as a surprise to some people as I’ve been known in some circles to be the eternal and sometimes preachy poster boy of singlehood, but all I can say is hey, Life is what happens in between the things that you planned on — or in my case, in between travel blogs.
I met Steph at the youthful, high-school-esque interactive ad agency I work at in New York City, where, as I’ve stated before, we drink beer and forward YouTube links to each other all day. With many friends in common, Stephanie and I had known about each other for months but didn’t really hit it off until we were put on the same project together for an undisclosed electronics corporation. It was a gradual affair: working closely together on the project led to after work drinks, which led to doing duets at company karaoke parties, which ultimately led to being on nighttime conference calls with our client in Korea, pushing the mute button so we could make out without them hearing. Eventually one thing led to another and we saw each other more and more, and before I knew it, we had gone all the way… and by that, I mean we actually met Gary Coleman. (It was Steph who had taken the picture of me and Gary [and my friend Moe] before).
Of course, we have our things in common outside of work; travel and adventure are no strangers to Stephanie. “You’re the only person in my age range that has been almost everywhere I’ve been,” she once told me early on when she realized what I did outside the office. With extensive travels through Asia, a study abroad in India, numerous trips to Europe — even living in Paris for nine months — and multiple safaris in Africa, Steph is definitely a match to my global tripping self. Moreover, her hobbies and experiences over the years have made her even more endearing to me — this cycling, bowling, rock climbing, scuba diving, road tripping, Guitar Hero-playing, motorbike riding, breakfast cereal eating, karaoke singing, kickball playing, VH-1 reality show watching, roller coaster riding, story editing, salmon sushi loving, competitive skiing girl from Michigan is definitely the “surprise gift” of the year to me.
“If there was ever any girl I could see you with, it’s her,” my longtime friend Cheryl once told me.
Despite all the participial adjectives I used to describe her, Steph also retains her feminine side; she is not without her girlish idiosyncrasies: obsessions with Chinese dumplings, puppies, and of course, the most womanly of obsessions, shoes. To top it all off, she’s extremely bright, pretty, funny, witty, sarcastic, spontaneous and spunky (picture above) — it’s no wonder her personality has been compared to Natalie Portman in the movie Garden State.
IT WAS NOT THE GARDEN STATE of New Jersey but the Lake State of Michigan where I last saw Steph; after storm chasing for a week and a long weekend in Chicago, the last few unblogged days of my tour of the American midwest were spent in her home state where I visited longtime Blogreader and friend Michelle [in Michigan], went on a road trip to Kalamazoo (since I’ve already been to Timbuktu), and most significantly, accompanied Steph on a visit to her family so that I could meet them. I was happy to have fit in with her circles, but mostly I was impressed to be welcomed by the toughest critic of them all: her dog Elwood, a discerning Portuguese water dog that won’t even warm up to some friends and family who have been in Steph’s life for years.
Michigan was fun — except for the times Elwood accidentally pounced on my balls in bed — but soon I was dropped off at Detroit County Airport for my flight back to New York. Steph and I sat on the floor outside the security gate, kissing and hugging our goodbyes — or rather, our see-you-laters.
“A couple of jetsetters like us? We’re bound to bump into each other at some point,” I said with a smirk, knowing quite well I’d bump into her.
I flew back to New York to take care of some business, while she flew off to Tuscany for a week-long vacation with her family. Our planned “bump in” would happen ten days later in northern Italy, where we’ll start our European holiday through parts of Italy and Croatia, and onto other destinations neither of us have been. (Maybe then we’ll get a more authentic photo of us at an Italian fountain rather than the faux one we saw at Caesar’s in Atlantic City, NJ.) The second half of the trip is not yet set in stone, but the names “Bosnia,” “Interlochen,” and “Stonehenge” have come up, along with the verb — and possible future participial adjective — “sky diving.” We’ll also split up at some point and visit friends. I really anticipate having a fun time with Steph — the latest character in “The Trinidad Show” — unless we end up wanting to kill each other after; as many have seen on the reality show The Amazing Race, travel can really gauge the inner workings of a relationship.
As for blogging the trip, I haven’t decided what to do yet. I didn’t intend to do a daily blog for the tornado chasing trip, but I did anyway to kill time — a “surprise gift” to my regular readers if you will. This time around I may or may not write a blog of the trip, but if I decide to do it, it won’t be a daily one, but rather one split up in logical parts — in fact, that’s what I’m leaning towards. As you may or may not know, I’ve usually spent a good 3-4 hours a day to maintain my daily travel blog on the road, but in this scenario it’s a little different: if I have the choice to spend hours blogging in front of a computer or spend some intimate quality time with my girlfriend (wink wink), I’m most likely going to choose the latter — now that’s not so surprising, is it?
In any case, stay tuned… THE TRIP BEGINS JUNE 18.
Next entry: When Harry Met Erik…
Previous entry: The Calm After The Storm
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Comments for “Surprises”
Since I’m most likely going to write this next travel blog in parts instead of daily, try RSSing me, so you know when I update. Post a comment if you’re getting RSS bugs; we’re still working out the kinks.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/15 at 03:28 PM
Thanks for the storm entries and good luck and have a great next trip!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/15 at 05:31 PM
Have an excellent trip, man.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/17 at 02:06 PM
If RSS feeds aren’t working correctly for you, please email me directly with the subject heading “fix the F’ing RSS feed for TGT”...
If using Live Bookmarks on Firefox, you must be on version 2.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/17 at 04:40 PM
I think I speak for all BHs when I say “Awwwwwwww…”
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/17 at 05:01 PM
Wink wink nudge nudge, have a good one and don’t forget my chap stick! dang.
Posted by bil on 06/17 at 07:23 PM
I am so happy to hear the news…however I can’t believe you didn’t mention anything last Friday over lunch!
I was embarrased to ask about you too but I have to tell you I agree with your friend Cheryl: Perfect for each other!Posted by Monica Wallin on 06/17 at 09:40 PM
Thanks everyone… currently I am still in NYC in the diplomat’s lounge at the UN getting wasted with my friend Terence (3pm Monday). I’m off on the red eye to London tonight before heading to Italy soon after…
MARKYT: Thanks for the QA. TGBTGBTB is on the wiki now…
MONICA: Spread the word that I’m out of the office—I can’t seem to log into macmail and put up an autoresponder of my hiatus because I think my password expired.
EVERYONE ELSE: Thanks! I’m off… stay tuned!
p.s. i’m pretty fundamental right now…
Posted by Erik TGT on 06/17 at 10:05 PM
well, I’m glad to here you are so happy! And besides, I really didn’t believe you when you were spouting all that singlehood stuff anyway.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/18 at 05:52 PM
GREETINGS FROM VENICE… One more day here, and then Ill write up a Part One entry…
Posted by Erik TGT on 06/19 at 12:22 PM
BTW, Im totally at an internet cafe right now, on the student rate with my old student ISIC ID card… Yay, young-looking Asian genes!
Posted by Erik TGT on 06/19 at 12:25 PM
Erik…
Glad to hear you’re back out there. Am working my way through Twisted, and as always, am enjoying it immensely. Just not getting a lot of work done in the meantime…
Have a great trip!Posted by Dave on 06/20 at 05:35 AM
You’re back! Just bought a new laptop and did a search on google so I could add a bookmark to your (old) site in case you finally did a new trip. And there I see you’ve done a U.S. trip and onto a Eurpoean trip! where was teh link from your old blog?? Looking forward to more entries!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/21 at 07:37 AM
GREETINGS from the Isle of Capri! So far I’ve gotten quite used to actually being on a vacation for a change, a trip without constant notetaking and four hours of drafts and edits each day. I’m severely behind—but dont fret; I’m still taking notes to recreate and report the experience for when there’s a real lull in time (which there hasn’t been), or when I just get home. My apologies to all the regular daily vicarious travelers out there!
LINDA: Thanks again for the resort out here… it’s lovely!
Posted by Erik TGT on 06/21 at 01:04 PM
GREETINGS FROM POSITANO, ITALY (or as we jokingly call it, Punxsutawney, PA)! Sorry I haven’t posted anything just yet. As I’ve said before, the Western World is actually a harder place to get online since most people have internet at home or at work, and there aren’t internet cafes on every street corner. So far, I haven’t had any good quality internet or even wifi opportunities, as I travel off the backpacker trail and onto the honeymooners one. Also, I’m actually quite enjoying this trip, not blogging constantly—for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m on an actual VACATION. (Travel blogging—at least the way I do it—is a lot of work, you know.) Don’t worry… I have a four hour ferry ride to Croatia tomorrow and will have some time to catch up on Blog duties en route… hopefully, at least Part One will be up for the Monday Rush (if there still even is one). Ciao!
Posted by Erik TGT on 06/24 at 06:21 AM
I’m going to start the “Single Erik” campaign to free you from the shackles of romance. How dare you put your personal happiness before our reading pleasures!
Haha, just kidding dude. Hope your having a great time.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/25 at 06:44 PM
AWESOME that you’re spending time w/o feeling the ‘obligation’ to the blog… good on ya!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/26 at 01:49 AM
GREETINGS FROM CROATIA! As this rate, I’ll be home before the first entry is up… We missed the only day ferry from where we were in Italy to Croatia across the Adriatic; it was a whole day of detours to finally get here on the overnight ferry, so I haven’t had much time for blog duties…
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/26 at 04:26 AM
this is your worst blog ever…
j/k. enjoy your vacationPosted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/26 at 04:26 PM
GREETINGS FROM ZURICH! Yes, call me a slacker, but I’ll be in full force blogging mode when I have the time… I actually have Part One on deck—I just have to type it up. Stay tuned!
IAIN: On the edge of your seat, eh?
NOELLE: Thanks… you know firsthand how much of an obligation it is for me; the “shackles” that Iain speaks of are actually from the blog and it’s refreshing to be free from them for a bit.
OL DIRTY BASTOS: I live and breathe my friend; I live and breathe…
Posted by Erik TGT on 06/27 at 01:47 AM
Not only am i on the edge of my seat but i’ve fallen off on several occasions to!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 06/27 at 01:43 PM
GREETINGS FROM SWINGIN’ LONDON where I split from Steph and spent the last couple of days with Zoe… The trip is almost to an end, and I’ll in NYC soon—then maybe I’ll have time to write about all this. (I’ve taken two days off from work to do so.)
Stay tuned…
Posted by Erik TGT on 07/01 at 11:20 AM
just read the tornado blog. nice to again have something to read during work ! well done
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/02 at 08:35 PM
tiffany
tiffany and co
tiffany sale
Tiffany Bangles
Tiffany Bracelets
Tiffany Earrings
tiffany co jewelry
gucci sale
gucci handbags
gucci jewelrygfffPosted by ERR on 08/23 at 08:59 AM
??????? ???????
Posted by EVDOKIMOV28Rostislav on 09/23 at 03:21 PM
This is great that people are able to take the credit loans moreover, this opens up completely new opportunities.
Posted by WebsterMarquita on 09/25 at 05:41 AM
????????? ?????????????? ?????? ?????
Posted by BORISLAVKoroljov29 on 09/28 at 01:26 PM
Thank you for all the great posts from last year! I look forward to reading your blog, because they are always full of information that I can put to use. Thank you again, and God bless you in future.
Posted by tiffany jewellery on 09/29 at 06:43 AM
I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this post. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to start my own BlogEngine blog now.
Posted by christian louboutin on 10/04 at 07:01 AM
Knight chose Nike shox over Syracuse, Connecticut, Kansas and Florida. Nike Shox Shoes averaged 32 points a game last year at Pine Crest and ended his high school career Nike Shox Sale as the second-leading scorer in Florida history. More from Nike Shox:http://www.nikeshox-outlet.com
Posted by nike shox on 10/05 at 10:24 AM
It is available to get the outcome connected with essay buy or just about this post in our world. But before some people buy the essays written, they should search for the reliable essay writing service.
Posted by MELISSAMURRAY31 on 10/21 at 11:03 AM
We should just dream about such perfect skills in thesis examples about this good post creating. We always utilize the help of the perfect buy thesis service. In my case that fits me the best.
Posted by FarleyViola32 on 10/26 at 01:55 AM
41ugg boots sale,
uggs on sale,
ugg boots sale,
ugg boots sale,
ugg boots sale uk,
ugg store,
ugg classic tall,
ugg boots on sale,
sale ugg boots,
ugg for sale,
ugg boots sale,
uggs on sale,
ugg boots on sale,
sale ugg boots,
uggs cheap,
uggs for cheap,
sale ugg,
cheap ugg boots,
ugg classic tall,
ugg classic cardy,
ugg boots uk,
ugg boots sale,
Ugg Classic short,
Ugg Bailey Button,
Ugg Ultra Tall,
UGG Bailey Button Triplet,
ugg boots sale ukfree shipping,sale online.
ugg boots sale,
uggs on sale,
ugg boots,
ugg boots sale,
ugg boots uk,
cheap ugg boots,
discount ugg boots,
bailey button ugg boots,
Bailey Button Triplet Ugg boots,
classic tall ugg boots,
classic short ugg boots,
classic cardy ugg boots,
uggs on sale,
cheap uggs,
uggs boots
We could enjoy best cheap cheap nike shoes sales online,about all kinds of
nike air max,nike air max 90,
nike shox.Run retailing and wholesale trade worldwidely for
years,free shipping, super sale off retailing with 1 week delivery to your door.Posted by ugg boots sale on 10/26 at 12:22 PM
The nike shox outlet as well bid an cushy footbed that bequeath assimilate the affect, although at the equal clock arriving at the brake shoe jackanapes. These are decidedly an easy brake cheap nike shox that chaffs leave bask.
Posted by cheap nike shox on 10/28 at 06:41 AM
Badly performed essay order could fail your good name. Though, if you buy custom paper writing service of superb quality, everything will be OK.
Posted by LopezMallory on 10/28 at 08:17 AM
One scribbles a narrative thesis in dry to achieve a large segment of academic education, such as in expectation to receive a master’s degree. But there are people who provide custom thesis, it’s better way.
Posted by Debora22Huffman on 10/28 at 09:05 AM
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Posted by moncler jackets on 10/28 at 09:21 AM
Moncler sale! Shopping 2010 New StyleMoncler,Moncler jackets
moncler coats,online at Monclerstyle.com.Free Shipping ,No sale tax, Up to 60% off.Buy Now
Moncler are 68% off from moncler outletMoncler jackets original edition in fall and winter of 2010
Buy 2010 new designer Moncler jacket,Moncler coats,Moncler outerwear online No sale tax, Up to 75% off.Buy Now!PayPal payment
Moncler jackets
Moncler coats are 68% off from moncler outletMoncler jackets original edition in fall and winter of 2010
To choose Moncler down jacketfrom our Moncler outlet.Moncler coats and Moncler Vest in great fashion for several decades.
Moncler Brand is keeping a fashion trend for such a long time.The beloved clothing are Monclerjackets and Moncler Coats
Spyder Jackets,Spyder Jacket,spyder, Discount Spyder! : - Spyder Men Ski Wear Spyder Men Ski Pants Spyder Women Ski Pants Spyder Gloves The North Face Men’s Wear The North Face Climbing Shoesski jacket Women Ski Wear Spyder Children Ski Wear Spyder Women Ski Suit Spyder Childern Ski Pants The North Face Women Wear The North Face Bags The North Face Gloves ecommerce, open source, shop, online shopping.
Sell cheap spyder jacket,spyder ski wear,spyder ski Jacket,the north face wear,the north face hats,the north face gloves.the north face bags,the north face climbing shoes,sale up to 70% off,free and fast shipping.You can find your spyder jacket ,north face jacket from here!”
Our wensite provide high quality jackets and coats of the brand North face. If you like this brand,you can choose North Face Jackets and north face coats here.Our website is a very good online north face outlet.You can find any northface that you like here.What is more,the price is so amazing,you can save even 70% money if you shopping here. So,just enjoy your timesearching, looking ,comparing ,choosing :—ugg boots, cheap ugg boots,discount ugg boots, comfortable ugg boots , novel style, fashion, and low price, quality assurance
The new style herve leger dresses summer 2010 make you have high rate of second glance.And we offer high quality herve leger outlet at reasonable price to meet your need.herve leger bandage dress help you own enviable body and herve leger dress know how the perfect curves do occur.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 11/11 at 01:31 AM
very cardy moncler jackets is very Beautiful
very cardy moncler is very Beautiful
very cardy moncler coats is very Beautifulbeautiful christian louboutin cardy
cheap christian louboutin sale uk discount
comfortable discount louboutins cheap
cheap cheap louboutin store discount
comfortable louboutin uk cheap
cute christian louboutin uk niceshose discount ugg boots is very Beautiful
boots ugg boots is very good
sale ugg boots on sale is very Comfortable
classic Ugg is very good
cheap Cheap Ugg is very Comfortable
shose Cheap Uggs is very Beautiful
shose ugg boots sale is very Beautiful
boots cheap ugg boots is very goodclassic classic ugg boot is very good
very good classic ugg boots is very cheep
boots ugg classic short is Good quality
classic ugg classic short boots is very Comfortable
very classic ugg classic cardy is very good
very cardy classic cardy ugg boots is very Beautiful
classic cardy ugg classic cardy boots is very Comfortableboots UGG Boots UK is Good quality
classic ugg boots sale is very Comfortable
very classic cheap ugg boots is very good
very cardy ugg boots is very Beautifulgood ugg boots sale cheap
good cheap ugg boots on sale
prefect discount ugg boots gift
tall ugg boots classic
women ugg boots on sale men
discount Ugg on sale
for sale Cheap Ugg good quality
cute UGG Boots UK is Good quality
classic ugg boots sale is very Comfortable
very classic cheap ugg boots is very good
very cardy ugg boots is very Beautifulshose ugg classic boot is very Beautiful
boots ugg classic boots is very good
sale ugg classic tall is very Comfortable
classic ugg classic tall boots is very good
cheap classic tall ugg boots is very Comfortable
shose ugg classic tall chestnut is very Beautifulclassic uggs outlet is very good
very good ugg outlet is very cheep
boots black ugg boots is Good qualityclassic uggs outlet is very Comfortable
very classic ugg outlet is very good
very cardy ugg outlet store is very Beautifulclassic cardy ugg bailey button is very Comfortable
classic ugg bailey buttons is very Comfortable
very classic bailey button ugg boots is very good
very cardy bailey button uggs is very Beautifulclassic cardy ugg bailey button is very Comfortable
classic cardy ugg bailey boots is very Comfortable
classic uggs bailey button boots is very Comfortable
very classic ugg bailey button sale is very good
very cardy ugg bailey button boots is very BeautifulPosted by UGG Boots UK on 11/29 at 02:10 AM
Since I’m most likely going to write this next travel blog in parts instead of daily, try RSSing me, so you know when I update. Post a comment if you’re getting RSS bugs; we’re still working out the kinks.
I would likely nike air force 1 say there are most likely no specifics pertaining to nike dunks footwear that individuals have not a clue about. nike sneaker Workout shoes are recognized for their quality and availableness – they are everywhere you go. air max 2011 It is unusual, given that around fifteen years ago I could barely tell that nike dunk sb will change into an eternal movement and I was definitely pleased to see the Nike Air Griffey Max older products nike air jordan keep coming back a while ago.
Countless professionals propose we should normally try newer sneakers on during the night. lebron james shoes Not because of a superstition, air jordan 2011 but mainly because this is the time when your legs are almost all swollen and that way you will know basketball shoes whether or not the footwear will be comfortable or not. Nike air max 90 And that goes for all the shoes also and not just sneaks.Posted by nike shoes on 11/30 at 05:21 AM