Random Reflections from JW Marriott in Ko Onlina, Hawaii

We are sitting on the balcony of our room in Hawaii, looking at the dark violet sea that stretches unhindered to the coast of Japan, from where we’ve come. This would have to stand out as the most gorgeous spot we’ve been. Hawaii is our final destination before coming home, so Gene and I are taking some time to process and reflect on the past 6 weeks.

We’ve tried painting word pictures of the places we’ve visited. Sometimes when we were tired and feeling the effects of changing many time zones, the words weren’t there. We then resorted to boring undescriptive rhetoric of our adventures. Looking back on the many experiences we have encountered, we want to hold on to them, to possess them and give them weight in our lives. There is the urge to say, “we were here, we saw it and it changed us. Yet in some way it is all very illusive.

Some things we’ve learned:

• Japan and Korea have the edge on America when it comes to toilets, (seat warmers, sprayer, dryer, adjustable water pressure).
• Squatty potties really aren’t’ all that bad. (They can be very welcome experience if you have been driving for several hours.)
• The world wide transit system is truly amazing; we never experienced lost or damaged luggage, or delayed or canceled flights.
• I don’t like kimchi (fermented cabbage). I’ve tried it many times and still think it taste nasty.
• The American dollar is highly valued and accepted in every country we visited.
• Gene and I are very compatible traveling companions.
• A new appreciation of America’s freedom of speech.
• Asians look younger for their age than Americans.
• More people use bikes for transportation than cars.
• People are generally loving, accepting and curious about Americans.

Some things we’ve done:

• Flown over miles and miles of rice paddies in Thailand.
• Read a book beside a plum tree in Africa, while a kudu looked on.
• Spent time with Miss Choy who has been in prison several times for speaking about Christ.
• Crossed the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
• Gene ate dog soup in a North Korean restaurant.
• Had the audience of the President of Uganda.
• Hugged a poor Buddhist nun in Myanmar.
• Crossed the Yalu River that separates China from North Korea.
• Walked a portion of the Great Wall in China.
• Flown 83 hours in 49 days.