She is more of a nomad than me, I guess. If she doesn't get to see a new place for a while, she gets restless like a fish without water. And it had been a while without a big travel, so very apparent! Then came a day when it got all dangerous and the question popped up (imagine a cute but dangerous voice): "Why don't we go to Hawaii?"
After my customary sequence of excuses 1) No, its too much money 2) No, I don't think I have time 3) Ummm, really? 4) Hmmm, okay, maybe 5) (Waste few days dilly-dallying) -- finally the day of reckoning came around, when I said let us plan. What I meant was: "Why don't you plan?".
She loves planning for travel (I sometimes wonder if she gets more pleasure from travel-planning than the actual travel). Soon enough, there came detailed Google docs, with pictures and possible plans. Soon enough, there were disagreements about which Hawaiian island we want to visit: Big Island or Maui. All travel combinations were tried and finally we settled for Maui (which turned out to be really good decision later, not only because Maui is awesome but also because a volcano near-erupted on the Big Island as we traveled). Now Google docs got expanded with day-by-day plan of Maui. Bookings were done and tickets were purchased.
In some moment of insanity, I had agreed to go for snorkeling during the trip. Then she tossed me into swimming classes which helped me get plenty experience in failing to stay afloat (by the end of it, I promised myself not to go for snorkeling, the promise which I thankfully broke). Most importantly, I got introduced to a new world of contact lenses, because one cannot wear spectacles while snorkeling. Then came Maui Jim sunglasses, which are equally loved by snobs and discerning enthusiasts (we believe we fall in the latter category). Then she did shopping (say this sentence slowly and loudly in your mind). I suspect shopping is her way of replenishing the energy lost while planning the trip, for me obviously not so. I got introduced to the concepts such as packing cubes, multipurpose backpacks, sun-proof shirts. After digesting these concepts and spending some money, we were all ready to go within next five days!!
~~~
P.S.: My new travel buddies (introduced by her):
1) Osprey Porter 46 travel backpack (defies laws of physics, can fit soooooo much stuff!)
2) Packing cubes (which now substitute my usual way of cramming plastic bags)
3) Quick-dry, vented, 40 SPF long-sleeve shirt (offers as good protection as a sunscreen as well as keeps you ventilated, both things very important in Hawaii)
After my customary sequence of excuses 1) No, its too much money 2) No, I don't think I have time 3) Ummm, really? 4) Hmmm, okay, maybe 5) (Waste few days dilly-dallying) -- finally the day of reckoning came around, when I said let us plan. What I meant was: "Why don't you plan?".
She loves planning for travel (I sometimes wonder if she gets more pleasure from travel-planning than the actual travel). Soon enough, there came detailed Google docs, with pictures and possible plans. Soon enough, there were disagreements about which Hawaiian island we want to visit: Big Island or Maui. All travel combinations were tried and finally we settled for Maui (which turned out to be really good decision later, not only because Maui is awesome but also because a volcano near-erupted on the Big Island as we traveled). Now Google docs got expanded with day-by-day plan of Maui. Bookings were done and tickets were purchased.
In some moment of insanity, I had agreed to go for snorkeling during the trip. Then she tossed me into swimming classes which helped me get plenty experience in failing to stay afloat (by the end of it, I promised myself not to go for snorkeling, the promise which I thankfully broke). Most importantly, I got introduced to a new world of contact lenses, because one cannot wear spectacles while snorkeling. Then came Maui Jim sunglasses, which are equally loved by snobs and discerning enthusiasts (we believe we fall in the latter category). Then she did shopping (say this sentence slowly and loudly in your mind). I suspect shopping is her way of replenishing the energy lost while planning the trip, for me obviously not so. I got introduced to the concepts such as packing cubes, multipurpose backpacks, sun-proof shirts. After digesting these concepts and spending some money, we were all ready to go within next five days!!
~~~
P.S.: My new travel buddies (introduced by her):
1) Osprey Porter 46 travel backpack (defies laws of physics, can fit soooooo much stuff!)
2) Packing cubes (which now substitute my usual way of cramming plastic bags)
