Salt water taffy, and Philly cheese steaks to new Orleans beignets. Battleships to Mesa Verde.
Summer was such fun back then. I think mostly because our entertainment directors were so much better at it. My parents carefully planned out every detail, had a list of scheduled activities which we followed as best as we could. One of the things I hoped for when I grew up was that I could give my kids the same enriching experiences. Alas, hopes are not always realized, let me explain...
Since the day we got married in 2006, I had kept promising my wife that we would be sure to visit her home country but life always seemed to get in the way. Finally, after 10 years we caught a break and started planning. Got passports for the kids, made reservations for hotels, flights and immunization shots. We made a plan, I would fly over with them, stay a week, then leave them there for 3 more weeks so the boys could really get to know their heritage and more importantly, their relatives.
As the day of our departure approached, I prepared a list of things to take. I sure was not going to make the mistakes I had made in the past, over packing, because I assumed that I could not buy anything but trinkets and diphtheria in a backward third world country. (Note to all of you; never get travel advice from anyone born in the depression era, or any company that sells travel accessories.) I was going minimalist, dressing for comfort, and the only thing I was taking beside some clothing were American smokes to give out to the locals, because I knew that would curry great favor and give me access to paths most tourists never get to see. I KNEW that.
The great day arrives, time for us to go. I was all excited that I was about to live the dream, see the sights as a seasoned visitor. I get up, load the van, put the kids in the car and calmly drive to the airport with time to spare. Because I am of course a seasoned traveler. I had mentioned that, right?
I wake up early to find my suitcase torn open, and my wife repacking it with gifts, kids stuff, and clothing. "HEY!" I calmly screamed at Dessy, "I had that packed and ready!" Apparently, the kids had to have 50 changes of clothes each. Then at the last minute I decide to gift Indonesia with one of my famous home made cheesecakes, because it totally makes sense to fly a frozen cheesecake halfway around the world, right?
We finally board the plane and take off, first layover is in Tokyo. I tell Dessy, that we just HAD to try real sushi. We found a place and ordered a modest 2 caterpillar rolls and sodas and a beer. It was so exciting, but not because of the quality. It was the bill got my heart racing. I did the conversions and $100 USD!!! I later was told that the airport was the worst place other than a gas station in Kansas to buy sushi.
We re-boarded the plane and took off for Jakarta. Smooth flight, but just as the plane touched down a crosswind got us and we landed poorly. I looked at Dessy and her wide eyes and said; 'Well, at least you still get to be buried in Indonesia!" We made it to the gate and had a reunion with her family. It was so nice seeing the kids great their Opung mama for the first time. Dessy was tired but excited. Her family was mildly concerned over the cheesecake, as it was no longer frozen, a bit malformed and had an odd after taste of jet exhaust.
Now, it is important to understand that in some cultures, you follow certain rules, and one of those is to properly protect yourself from ingesting harmful bacteria. I knew how to do this because I am a seasoned traveler. I had mentioned that, right? WELL. I managed to spend the remaining 7 days doing the Bogor Bathroom tour. I could not go anywhere farther than five minutes away from a western toilet. It was awesome. I got to expose my bum to squatty potty's, and 30 other bathrooms ranging in luxuriousness from abandoned condemned septic tank to 5 star heated toilet seat with auto bidet. So there was that delightfulness. That, and how everyone seemed to know about the condition, because my wife FACEBOOKED IT!!! Initially I thought people must have known I was from Colorado, because no matter where I went, someone would invariably ask me "How's your Aspen?" Of course I may have understood the accent.
Dessy and the kids fared a little bit better. The kids decided to refuse any food that did not come in a McDonalds, Burger King, or Pizza Hut wrapper. At home they love to eat most Indonesian foods, but heck no, not at the source. They were spoiled terribly by relatives. They got to ride with auntie on a scooter (no helmets), and had so much fun that my youngest informed me on a call that he did not miss me, and wanted to stay and live with his grandmother and aunties. I won that battle though. I said, "Fine, I will give all your toys to the neighbor kids." He must have mulled that over, because a week later he said he might want to come home again someday.
We did get to see a couple of sights, the traditional markets, and some relatives. I tried to give out the cigarettes and found that in the ten years I had been gone, hardly anyone smoked anymore. Everyone wanted to be healthy. Figures. I had nothing to offer at that point.
One last note, I am eternally grateful to cousin Erina, her husband Arief and their son Owen, for watching over the family to make sure they were safe and sound. I hope that we get to go back in a couple of years, and hopefully will have learned some good lessons for the next trip.
Because, you know, WE are seasoned travelers.
