Forgotten Time (Jakarta, Indonesia)
I first noticed it in Australia when I walked by a store dedicated to selling Christmas goodies. I thought to myself at the time - isn’t it a bit early? When I was in Japan I saw a lot of stores decorated too but didn’t think much of it. When I was in Singapore (A seemingly different world compared to Indonesia) a few days ago I noticed a lot of Christmas decorations and holiday lights. It finally dawned on me that Christmas and the Western New Year are right around the corner.
I’m finding it so easy to lose track of time while traveling. Sure, I plan out day to day and weekly schedules but the overall picture of passing months seems to have fallen by the wayside. I have no sense of seasons at the moment as I am constantly going to new parts of the world with different climates. If I stayed in one place I would know the time of year is changing because it would get colder or warmer. Or in the case of some places - wetter.
In Japan I did notice there were many beautiful fall colors. But beyond that, my concept of holidays is well...on a holiday.
While most people I know are busy exchanging gifts, buying things for others or themselves, or having year end parties I’m off in some distant part of the world....acquiring experiences, not material goods, except for the occasional souvenir and / or piece of equipment. For Christmas, I will be in Central Java, Indonesia checking out temples and volcanoes. In my wildest dreams I have never dreamed of being in such a place at such a time. My high school friend Bob and his wife Jenny whom I met in Singapore will be in India acquiring new experiences too - so I’m not alone.
There is something comforting about the holidays. The predictability to it. Maybe that is why the Japanese have so many festivals. It is something to focus on and prepare for. Of course giving and receiving stuff is fun too. And the time off work (Well not Christmas in Indonesia - it is a predominantly Muslim nation) - I haven’t forgotten that!!
Stuff is good, stuff is bad, too much stuff is well...too much stuff. As for stuff....this I know – you can’t take stuff with you.....you may not be able to take experiences either...but I think the likelihood is a lot higher.
...oh yeah...I did find the vending machine of used school girl panties in Osaka. I thought it would be great to buy one as a gag gift...but I couldn’t get myself to do it.
I’m finding it so easy to lose track of time while traveling. Sure, I plan out day to day and weekly schedules but the overall picture of passing months seems to have fallen by the wayside. I have no sense of seasons at the moment as I am constantly going to new parts of the world with different climates. If I stayed in one place I would know the time of year is changing because it would get colder or warmer. Or in the case of some places - wetter.
In Japan I did notice there were many beautiful fall colors. But beyond that, my concept of holidays is well...on a holiday.
While most people I know are busy exchanging gifts, buying things for others or themselves, or having year end parties I’m off in some distant part of the world....acquiring experiences, not material goods, except for the occasional souvenir and / or piece of equipment. For Christmas, I will be in Central Java, Indonesia checking out temples and volcanoes. In my wildest dreams I have never dreamed of being in such a place at such a time. My high school friend Bob and his wife Jenny whom I met in Singapore will be in India acquiring new experiences too - so I’m not alone.
There is something comforting about the holidays. The predictability to it. Maybe that is why the Japanese have so many festivals. It is something to focus on and prepare for. Of course giving and receiving stuff is fun too. And the time off work (Well not Christmas in Indonesia - it is a predominantly Muslim nation) - I haven’t forgotten that!!
Stuff is good, stuff is bad, too much stuff is well...too much stuff. As for stuff....this I know – you can’t take stuff with you.....you may not be able to take experiences either...but I think the likelihood is a lot higher.
...oh yeah...I did find the vending machine of used school girl panties in Osaka. I thought it would be great to buy one as a gag gift...but I couldn’t get myself to do it.
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