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<\/p>\nReading requires a certain state of mind. The environment — the proverbial a well-lighted place — is usually a great help. Physical and mental strengths are also critical. That is why I did not even bother to try on this last leg of flight, a short hop from SFO to home. I am hungry but don’t want to eat. I am tired but cannot sleep. I want to stay awake but hate the thought of drinking coffee. My body does not believe the time displayed on my watch. I just want to hug my wife, pet my dog, shower in my bathroom, and lie on my bed. My god. So, so much.<\/p>\n
It started 10 days ago at the crack of dawn. A car awaited when I came downstairs. There wasn’t a conversation with the driver. Both of us wanted this journey to the airport over with quickly. He was to go on with his day. I to start a two-day journey to Malaysia: eight thousands miles away and 40°F warmer. Just when the plane was descending, I snapped this picture from the window.
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It is pathetic that most business trips involve flying thousands of miles to an exotic place only to spend the entire trip in a windowless conference room eating over-priced catered foods. This one is like that for the first two and half days. I caught some of the beautiful South China Sea during my morning walks, because I woke up too early from the jet-lag. Fortunately, there was a half-day break and we chartered a boat out for some snorkeling and sun burns. South China Sea’s light breezes are so intoxicating to this pale geek.
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There were eight legs of flights during this trip: three outbound and five inbound, since I add a short hop from Hong Kong to Taiwan for some business. That created a Sunday’s “personal day” and I got to catch up with friends and had some real foods. Taipei is a seriously fattening city, those on diet should avoid with all means. Monday came and it became all business again. It felt better and worse at the same time. My jet-lag was about over, but I am also about to get a new one at home.<\/p>\n
Day 9, 4am, woke up, pack, check-out, on the taxi at 5am to the airport. Boarded the plane at 7am ready for a 13-hour flight across the pacific ocean. This is where the math gets a bit blurry. The plane actually arrives the US on the same day. Does that begin day #10? Hmm…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Reading requires a certain state of mind. The environment — the proverbial a well-lighted place — is usually a great help. Physical and mental strengths are also critical. That is why I did not even bother to try on this … Continue reading