I'm back in DC!! Woo hoo!!! .... for the next 3 days....

I am finally back in DC after another two months of travel drama in Asia and Europe. I am organizing my pictures, and will have some (aka: the edited version) posted here in the next couple of days.

What can I say ... Indonesia was another whirlwind adventure. On my last day in Jakarta, I realize that my debit card was no longer in my wallet (still trying to figure out where that sucker went), which led to frantic emails to Patty to help me cancel it. Why I could not do it online is a mystery to me. In any event, no debit card with three more weeks of international travel to go was not my idea of a good time.

When I finally landed in Hong Kong, I was already very tired and fighting the cold/flu that was going around our Jakarta office (that and a fantastic bout of symptoms very similar to amoebic dysentery ... who says traveling to remote villages in the jungles of Indonesia is not fun???). Mark was very patient with me as I "pulled a Gotsch" and arrived late on nearly every occasion. Sorry Mark! I really did try! I need to stay away from the computer to avoid getting sucked into work emails (or not answer phone calls at 1:30 in the morning from HQ).

Gent, Belgium -- what can I say??? The city is beautiful, but the training could not have been at the worse time! For the whole two weeks, it rained except for a rare two days of sunshine at the end. I stayed at a very -- how should I say this -- simple place. The hotel was a former monastery turned convent turned retirement home for nuns turned hotel/restaurant/convention venue. Internet connection was a joke, but they did have plenty of fantastic Belgian beer and a decent selection of wine to choose from... all in all, not bad.

I'll have more later for you. This posting was just to let you know that I've finally made it back to the States. I am looking forward to seeing you all for Thanksgiving!!!

Finally! I've made it to Hong Kong!!!

Hello all! I am finally here! It took how many trips to Asia for me to get my butt to Hong Kong??!! In any event, I am staying at the Excelsior Hotel. Nope, I am not staying with Mark. I thought I would spare him the random flu bug/stomach "issue" that has plagued me for the last week in Jakarta. It was a combination of high fever, sore throat, and congestion, sprinkled with symptoms of what I lovingly call amoebic dysentery. I thought it would be rude of me to expose Mark to a possible outbreak of Jakarta's Revenge on my first trip to Hong Kong. I am feeling much better now, after a series of over the counter meds and some "home remedies" compliments of the chef at the hotel in Jakarta... don't ask.

Remember, it's all fun until you poke your eye out.....

I am meeting Mark tonight for dinner. I will be here until Saturday evening, then off to Belgium. More later...