"Welcome Home." (Home, USA)
The words are still echoing in my mind. The US immigration officer at Chicago O'Hare airport asked me how long I had been out of the country. I told him "Almost 7 months, Sir." Then he uttered those magic words.
"Welcome home."
With all of the security talk in the media and fingerprinting of those from certain countries, I thought for some reason returning home might be tougher after my time away to so many countries. Maybe, I just didn't visit any of the flagged countries. Maybe, I just don't look a certain way - even for a native citizen. I'm a well behaved Asian-American. Maybe, it is just the implicit trust given to native citizens - which is a good thing. He barely flipped through my passport. I suppose immigration officers see travelers everyday who have a vast amount more of travel experience than I. I wonder as to how computer systems between different countries may or may not be linked.
Home
A few days have passed, and the first task has been to sort through all the mail. I will say one thing - life back here is SO QUIET in this suburban setting. No hustle and bustle. A lacking of "communal" life. Perhaps the right word is less community energy. It is nice for now, but it would probably drive me crazy if I didn't already have plans to travel again. I was reminded of the difference while in London and Oxford, England, even Dubai. In some places, there is too much community energy (and chaos), in others not enough. The reasons for one way or the other are fairly obvious. What one prefers is a function of what one has experienced and learned to appreciate, or dislike I believe.
As I write this I am starting to realize that the word travel won't really apply as much in the future. While I will still be visiting new places I am going to do it from a new home base. At this point I am planning on renting an apartment in perhaps the Czech Republic or thereabouts. I will start on my next chosen life goal - writing a fiction book that appeals to grown ups and young adults with the hopes it could someday be a movie. I will then use that as a base to visit Russia, the Mediterranean area, Scandinavia, and Africa, and of course many parts of continental Europe which I have never been to.
I mention the latter travels with a touch of skepticism in my mind. I am not really sure if I even have the inclination to go to some of these places. It sounds nice saying it, but in reality, I probably will spend more time staying at one place then traveling around. I can't write a book constantly moving around anyway.
The concept of home is very temporary in my mind. During my recent continuous travels - home is definitely here in the Seattle area. As I shift travel strategies - home is where I rent an apartment. After my primary exploratory travels are over, I will probably settle somewhere outside the US - while there are candidates, it is still unclear. Being an author, one can live anywhere I suppose. Though I would have to return for publishing, etc... Ideally, I would have multiple homes in various parts of the world - a rented apartment will have to do. Traveling from one place to another for inspiration. But, this is another kind of fantasy for right now.
Yemen
While I would like to visit regions of the world I have never been to, having answered many questions in my mind, I'm not sure if push comes to shove if I really will go. But, I am still going to Yemen - that I am positive about. Sooner, rather than later too. Briefly, Yemen is kind of like a marker in my mind - when I've been there, then I've probably seen most of what I want. Why? Well it has to do with a friend of mine who I met on an airplane some years ago mentioning as he listened to my travel plans that he had never met someone who wanted to go to Yemen of all places. For the record - from 1990-2000 average tourist arrivals/year in Yemen according to the World Tourism organization is around 65,000. With post-2001 mentions of terrorism activity there, it probably has dropped a little I am guessing. How many of those are non-Arabian tourists too? Other than a few tropical islands (Like Palau) and a few countries in Africa and / or a place with active or recent war, it has the lowest amount of tourists. Not a high traffic place.
That combined with some amazing pictures of the architecture and people that I have glimpsed in books has me putting Yemen in a must see category for me. Since then, I have met one Dutch couple (In Sri Lanka) who went there - 10 years ago.
Yemen Tourism Board
Middle East Online article on Yemen
BBC Yemen Profile
Yemen Times Article
Last article is interesting, mentions only 7000 American and Canadian tourists. Less because lack of 4 and 5 star hotels which North Americans desire. Looks like tourism was on upswing in later 90s then has fallen back due to kidnappings among other reasons. Haven't been able to find concrete statistics. Lots of french tourists from neighboring countries.
"Welcome home."
With all of the security talk in the media and fingerprinting of those from certain countries, I thought for some reason returning home might be tougher after my time away to so many countries. Maybe, I just didn't visit any of the flagged countries. Maybe, I just don't look a certain way - even for a native citizen. I'm a well behaved Asian-American. Maybe, it is just the implicit trust given to native citizens - which is a good thing. He barely flipped through my passport. I suppose immigration officers see travelers everyday who have a vast amount more of travel experience than I. I wonder as to how computer systems between different countries may or may not be linked.
Home
A few days have passed, and the first task has been to sort through all the mail. I will say one thing - life back here is SO QUIET in this suburban setting. No hustle and bustle. A lacking of "communal" life. Perhaps the right word is less community energy. It is nice for now, but it would probably drive me crazy if I didn't already have plans to travel again. I was reminded of the difference while in London and Oxford, England, even Dubai. In some places, there is too much community energy (and chaos), in others not enough. The reasons for one way or the other are fairly obvious. What one prefers is a function of what one has experienced and learned to appreciate, or dislike I believe.
As I write this I am starting to realize that the word travel won't really apply as much in the future. While I will still be visiting new places I am going to do it from a new home base. At this point I am planning on renting an apartment in perhaps the Czech Republic or thereabouts. I will start on my next chosen life goal - writing a fiction book that appeals to grown ups and young adults with the hopes it could someday be a movie. I will then use that as a base to visit Russia, the Mediterranean area, Scandinavia, and Africa, and of course many parts of continental Europe which I have never been to.
I mention the latter travels with a touch of skepticism in my mind. I am not really sure if I even have the inclination to go to some of these places. It sounds nice saying it, but in reality, I probably will spend more time staying at one place then traveling around. I can't write a book constantly moving around anyway.
The concept of home is very temporary in my mind. During my recent continuous travels - home is definitely here in the Seattle area. As I shift travel strategies - home is where I rent an apartment. After my primary exploratory travels are over, I will probably settle somewhere outside the US - while there are candidates, it is still unclear. Being an author, one can live anywhere I suppose. Though I would have to return for publishing, etc... Ideally, I would have multiple homes in various parts of the world - a rented apartment will have to do. Traveling from one place to another for inspiration. But, this is another kind of fantasy for right now.
Yemen
While I would like to visit regions of the world I have never been to, having answered many questions in my mind, I'm not sure if push comes to shove if I really will go. But, I am still going to Yemen - that I am positive about. Sooner, rather than later too. Briefly, Yemen is kind of like a marker in my mind - when I've been there, then I've probably seen most of what I want. Why? Well it has to do with a friend of mine who I met on an airplane some years ago mentioning as he listened to my travel plans that he had never met someone who wanted to go to Yemen of all places. For the record - from 1990-2000 average tourist arrivals/year in Yemen according to the World Tourism organization is around 65,000. With post-2001 mentions of terrorism activity there, it probably has dropped a little I am guessing. How many of those are non-Arabian tourists too? Other than a few tropical islands (Like Palau) and a few countries in Africa and / or a place with active or recent war, it has the lowest amount of tourists. Not a high traffic place.
That combined with some amazing pictures of the architecture and people that I have glimpsed in books has me putting Yemen in a must see category for me. Since then, I have met one Dutch couple (In Sri Lanka) who went there - 10 years ago.
Yemen Tourism Board
Middle East Online article on Yemen
BBC Yemen Profile
Yemen Times Article
Last article is interesting, mentions only 7000 American and Canadian tourists. Less because lack of 4 and 5 star hotels which North Americans desire. Looks like tourism was on upswing in later 90s then has fallen back due to kidnappings among other reasons. Haven't been able to find concrete statistics. Lots of french tourists from neighboring countries.
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