Different behaviors

Reflecting on my flights I have to describe some noteworthy experiences at Narita and HCM airports.

When the plane landed in Narita there was the usual announcement over the pa about keeping seat belts buckled until the sign was off. We taxied for several minutes and finally pulled up to the terminal. The plane stoped and finally the fasten seat belt sign was turned off. Once the sign was off the sound of seat belts unbuckling was almost a chorous. It was then I realized I hadn't heard any unbuckling to that point!

Departing Narita included an equally unusual experience. Once the plane was pushed back from the gate and turned perpendicular to it to begin taxiing away the ground crew stood in a line and waved at the departing plane. One fellow was a bit late to the line and I saw him drop what he was doing and run over to join his colleagues and wave us off.

These experiences added weight to my preconception of Japanese orderliness.

The experience on landing in HCM was quite different! Once the plane touched down again there was the expected announcement about staying seated. Not long after that and before the plane had turned off the runway I heard seat belts being unbuckled.

Once we had turned onto the taxiway more belts were unbuckled and people got up, opened overhead compartments and started pulling carryon items down! At this point the stewardess came into the asile and asked everyone to sit down now and buckle up. Everyone complied although several people took their time about it and finished rummaging through the overhead before returning to their seats.

Once we had stopped at the gate and before the seat belt sign was turned off seat belts were again unbuckled and people were up and emptying the overheads. I'd have to say the Vietnamese are a bit unrully compared to the Japanese.

The adventure begins

Waiting to leave JFK. Got here early so I didn't worry about rushing through the airport. Waiting 2 1/2 hours for my departure. Right off the bat the flight is delayed 15 minutes. Hope that doesn't change!

Saw somethig I never expected in an airport, power went out briefly at all the shops in the concourse that I could see. The lights bliked out, came back on and blinked again then finally went out for several second at some shops and is still out at others 15 minutes later.

The general lighting in the hallways and at the gates hasn't been affected though. And the food shops only flickered they didn't go dark like the news stand.

Shop lights came back on after about an hour. Just in time for me to board.

...and away I go.

Time to go...

After collecting stuff in a bag for months, slowly accumulating the cache of Vietnam travel stuff, food (no, I'm kidding), medicine, clothes, toiletries, documents (can't get in without a visa) it finally came time to put it all in a suitcase.

My plan has been to pack light for the two week trip. Into the bags went a few gifts for people there, a camera to record the trip, a tablet to blog it, toiletries, way too much medicine and, of course, some clothes.

I would have been able to get everything into one carry-on but I have some gift items that are liquid/paste and over 3 oz. so a checked bag is necessary (no it's not alcohol!). If it weren't for the over 3 oz. items I'd be taking a two week trip to Vietnam with only a carry-on!

Not bad packing light for a two week trip, eh?

Time to say goodbye

Held a small party Sunday to celebrate my pending trip. A bunch of friends came over for burgers, chips & dips, beans, corn, watermellon, beer and dessert. Seems like I was the only one who really liked the jalapeno stuffed olives. And I forgot to serve the potato salad!

Rain didn't come and we were able to be inside and outside for the party. Kids played on the lawn and seemed to have a great time.

Everyone wished me well. Mary said "don't bring anyone back", Jessa said "let him be himself and do whatever happens" (thanks Jessa) and Kevin wants to know what it would take to bring back a good nanny for Regina.

Mom said it was a good party, my friends are nice I should enjoy my trip. Thanks mom.

Nice way to get sent off.

Will be posting from Vietnam

I will be posting while on my trip. After talking with my cô giáo in Vietnam about safety in the hotel I've decided to bring my Asus Eee Pad Transformer along so I'll be able to post while traveling.

Thanks Casey Family Services management team for a wonderful parting gift!

Who's afraid of Vietnam?

A few more days and I'm on my way to Vietnam.

As I think about stepping off the plane in Ho Chi Minh, still have a hard time writing that instead of Sai Gon, I worry customs will look in my bag and decide to send me home on the next plane.

Why? Because I've gotten everything recommended on the medical travel guide that was given to me when I got my Hepatitis and Typhoid vaccinations for the trip. I feel like I'm carrying a pharmacy along with me. Plus while shopping for all this stuff I saw three other things that seemed to me like good additions. Temporary filling/cap replacement, Gold Bond powder (a life saver on recent New Mexico trip) and Anbesol (generic).

I imagine the Vietnamese border agent looking at the contents of my bag and thinking "this guy is afraid to be here, what an insult" or "this guy must be sick" and deciding the best thing to do is kick me out of the country.

That won't happen I'm sure but the mind can come up with some pretty strange thoughts.

Below is a picture of medical supplies I'm bringing. Am I forgetting anything?


I've got....

• hand sanitizer
• Betadine solution
• gauze pads
• cloth tape
• bandaids
• water conditioning tablets 
• insect repellent, 35% DEET recommended, looked forever and finally found 34.34%, it'll have to do
• OTC antacid
• OTC antifungal cream (jock itch cream was clearly labeled antifungal so picked that)
• OTC anti-itch cream
• OTC antibiotic ointment
• OTC laxative
• OTC anti-diarrheal (can almost imagine using this and the previous, one after the other, and having regularity swing out of control)
• Ciprofloxacin a prescription anti-diarrheal, doctor's description - "Only to be used for travelers diarrhea, it's like nothing you've ever had before so you'll know if you need it!" (great confidence builder that instruction)
• Tamiflu - prescription flu medication

     My finds

• Ambesol gel generic
• lost filling and loose cap repair kit
• Gold Bond powder

Can't imagine being more prepared. I am probably overdoing it. As my former staff might remember I'm a "measure until the results are repeatable and then cut" type of guy. Yup, it drove some people nuts sometimes.

My newest, biggest adventure is about to begin. GOOD MORNING VIETNAM!!

This should be a trip, in more ways then one.

Been quite a difficult year capping off the accident that got this blog started 4 years ago. Got divorced, lost my job...

There've been upsides too. My stress level has gone WAY down. Me and my boys went on a great vacation RVing around New Mexico. Carlsbad Caverns is absolutely worth visiting! Roswell is a goof, almost everything IS alien themed. The museum and art center in the downtown has an excellent exhibit about America's rocketry pioneer, Robert H. Goddard. A big exhibit room with lots of machinery from his shop, various pieces of the rockets he built and about half an hour worth of videos covering his career and life. It's nearly impossible to find anything about the Goddard exhibit on the museum/art center web site and what's there doesn't do the exhibit justice. Real shame. Another stop was Santa Rosa. The Blue Hole there is definitely worth stopping in for a dip.

Now my biggest adventure begins. About two weeks in Vietnam. Literally half way round the world. A bit nervous about getting there and coming back. Have to sit in a small seat for 20 hours each way. I expect that will be uncomfortable. Traveling to and from the airport just adds to the journey. I'll be on the ground a total of 11 days and have about a day and a quarter travel on each end.

Bringing two long books to try and keep my head occupied on the flights so I'm not feeling too stuck in the tiny seat. Also bring two Vietnamese phrase books and some language CDs on my MP3 player. Still up in the air about bringing any electronics beyond a digital camera and the MP3 player.

Got a SWEET hotel booked. A/C, private bath and JACUZZI, morning brunch included for $32/day!!! Went on TripAdvisor to find a hotel. Came up with three options and sent the list to my cô giáo (teacher) for comment. She suggested a fourth she believes is better. After looking at the details went for the one cô giáo recommended. Better room, jacuzzi and breakfast and still less per day than two of the hotels I found. It's always helpful to have someone local looking out for you.