My Travel Woes (part 2)

My Travel Woes…
(Part 2 of 2 parts)


I had an asthma attack in USA

Back in 2003, everything was all set for our early morning drive to Niagara Falls, when I suffered from an unexpected bronchial asthma attack. Everybody advised me to just stay home, take a good rest and guard the house a la “Home Alone” kid. I firmly said “NO!”

Asthma is no joke, not to mention the chest and back pains that I had to endure. At Niagara, I felt my knees were shaking while queuing for our boat ride to flirt with the Maid of the Mist. But when we reached the foot of the falls, I had forgotten all about my asthma. I can’t describe that magical feeling being so close to the giant falls, hearing the laughter and jubilations of the passengers as the wind blew a bountiful amount of water all over, the joy in the faces of my parents, the magical sight of the rainbow on the background, all these lifted me up that no amount of asthma suffering could dampen my spirit.

The Niagara Falls experience was worth the risk I took in spite of my health concerns.


I was served an awful meal in Malaysia

I am adventurous when it comes to food. However, the taste of the packed meal served at the train on our night trip to Malaysia from Singapore made my stomach summersault. The slimy rice mixed with cracked corn and anchovies could pass for a hog meal. I chose to just sleep my hunger away.


The taxi driver in Hong Kong could not speak and understand English

On the last day of our shopping spree in Hong Kong, Leo, Lloyds and I made our last minute purchases at a night market called Stanley Market.

On board the taxi, I requested the driver, “Sir, can you take us to Stanley Market?” The driver replied yes. Later, I noticed that he was taking us to a different route, I asked, “Are you taking us to Stanley Market?” the driver said, “Yes.” Then, it came clear to me that the driver was taking us to the airport. It was late for me to realize that he could not speak nor understand English, but Chinese. Perhaps the only English word he could utter was "yes”.

Fumingly, I told him to stop the car and we got off. Luckily, the next cab driver could speak English. It was such a great relief.


It was a rainy day at the beach in Rio

It had been my dream for a long time to visit Rio de Janeiro and enjoy the sun and get a good burn while sipping caipirinha at the beach.

So, I decided to make it happen in September of 2006. However, it was such a great disappointment upon landing at Jigondas Airport when I discovered that the sun was nowhere to be found. It was raining. There were no beach goers at Ipanema or Leblon in their string bikinis.

I patiently waited for the sun to shine but I lost hope on the third day. I checked-out, went to the airport, and decided to get a ticket for Sao Paolo. As I was approaching Varig’s counter, the sun shone so bright, as if enticing me to just stay and enjoy Rio. So, I made a full turn, took the bus and returned to Ipanema.

What followed was a four-day holiday extravaganza at the beach.