Fountains of Tivoli, Italy. 1969.
Having traveled to China several times, my friend told me to always take a plastic fork or chopsticks with me, because some of the restaurants there recycle the chopsticks. Often, she would see bits of food on the tips of the sticks. Ew. Okay, thanks for the advice! I’ll pack some plastic forks, then.
We still have an outstanding balance due to the travel agency. This amount will cover Chinese visas, two seats in business class, transfers, hotel rooms, tours, and most meals. We’ll be on our own for a few lunches or dinners, and this will give us a chance to be adventurous and try other cuisines. The travel agent encouraged me to dine at a Korean restaurant instead of the usual Chinese ones. Are there Korean chefs in China or are they all Chinese? Lol. It will be fun to taste a Chinese version of kim chee and kalbi.
I still want to see India. AAA features the Traditions of India group tour that interests me. Imagine seeing the Taj Mahal at sunrise! That’s on the itinerary. I’ll call AAA in 2013 regarding that tour. I hope to see my friend Kavita, but don’t know if the tour will include the Assam region, where she resides with her family.
I realize trips are expensive. Are we fools to spend so much money so frivolously? Well, I don’t expect us to travel when we become old and feeble. We might as well do it while we still can. NOTHING WILL EVER REPLACE HAPPY MEMORIES!
February 29, 2012 at 2:16 am |
Absolutely, take those trips. That is why we work the better part of our lives, to enjoy the latter part and do what we didn’t have time to do earlier.
Build those memories.
February 29, 2012 at 4:21 am |
You can’t take it with you so build those memories!
February 29, 2012 at 4:30 am |
If you can afford it, why not? I had my travel paid for by my employer or other organizations, so it wasn’t an issue. However, I didn’t actually have much of a vacation most of the time, either!
February 29, 2012 at 4:42 am |
My friend Amara returned to India to retire (Madras). She invited me to come visit her, but I don’t think I could survive the 15 hour plane trip. That’s something to do when you are young I think. Dianne
February 29, 2012 at 4:53 am |
I think building memories is very important. Sounds exciting.
February 29, 2012 at 5:31 am |
Gigi since you are visiting Kolkatta ( Calcutta) , my city Guwahati is just 40 mns away(by air) from it and there are more than ten to twelve flights everyday .I think your travel agency will have no problem arranging that.I so want to cook a yummy chicken curry for you
:)
February 29, 2012 at 8:13 am |
Looking forward to it, Kavita. I so want to meet you in person after all these years of blogging!!!
February 29, 2012 at 12:49 pm |
So tempting Kavitha; I am on my way home from work and already finalized the dinner menu – chicken curry it is!
February 29, 2012 at 6:05 am |
Absolutely not! Enjoy every moment. It’s only money. As long as you are sensible (which I know you are) and have enough for your needs, enjoy it.
February 29, 2012 at 6:50 am |
It’s the right thing to do this! I think most of the Japanese restaurants here are run by Chinese!
February 29, 2012 at 6:53 am |
I like to enjoy slow, relaxed travel and do what I want. Makes for very good memories. I have enough wonderful memories to be grinning when I’m at the nursing home! DrumMajor
February 29, 2012 at 12:45 pm |
So true Gigi! Traveling is my fancy too.
February 29, 2012 at 2:01 pm |
We’re going to do our last big strenuous adventure travel to Macchu Picchu. But there will be other trips,
I think it will be excellent for you to see China and later on India.
.
February 29, 2012 at 2:40 pm |
I think travel is a wonderful thing, such a learning opportunity. go for it while you can.
Right now I’m planning a domestic trip, but I think we need to get out of the country a time or two more.
February 29, 2012 at 2:48 pm |
I agree with Linda… Go while you can and take lots of photos. That’s what everybody says. That’s why we’re taking my mother while she is physically able to travel. She’s skipping China next year though.
February 29, 2012 at 4:40 pm |
Travel is wornderful stuff. We are heading to The Smithsonian this year. All of me will love it. Lots of pictures please.
February 29, 2012 at 5:24 pm |
so true!
March 1, 2012 at 12:00 am |
Welcome to India …. Hope you get to see Taj and meet Kavitha .
March 1, 2012 at 8:29 am |
NOTHING WILL EVER REPLACE HAPPY MEMORIES!..says it all
March 4, 2012 at 8:01 am |
I never regret the $4 we have spend of travel. You are right in the memories being important. One day we won’t be able to travel and those memories will still be fresh and new.
March 4, 2012 at 8:02 am |
Ooops… how funny.. I meant to say “The $$ we spent on travel… It is usually more than $4…ha!