Life is a journey, and along the way, the inspiring people I meet bring more meaning to my life. First, I get to know each one and hear short stories of the paths they have crossed to reach where they are. Then, I realise how different their stories are yet how vulnerable we all are.
Two weeks away from my blog, while climbing another step towards a worldly understanding on an incredible trip, I got home yesterday (Monday) morning after an almost twenty-four-hour journey through three plane rides!
First came the incredible 40-minute ride on a six-seater, one-engine plane from Osa Peninsula, taking us to San Jose's international airport. We did not even have to turn our mobiles off! The pilot simply asked us to buckle ourselves in our tight seats, with the smaller luggage in between each row of two people and off he went off the smallest runway I have ever seen. No checking in ... Nada (nothing as the Spanish say). I was thrilled at the experience and did not even realise Tracey, who was sitting next to the pilot, was handed the wheels at some stage to have a go at driving the 1976 plane, bandaged in some parts with masking tape; as my young travel companions Livia and Molly pointed out while deteriorating in their shades of white every time I looked back at them in the last two seats. I did, however, notice the propeller plane move distinctly in mid-air at some stage while the pilot turned towards Tracey, explaining something that could not be heard from where I was seated in the middle row. Honestly, I did not think for one second he would be giving piloting lessons to a beginner while having other passengers abroad! Oh well, they say, 'What you don't know won't hurt you'. So oblivious to all this, I recall asking Tracey to turn around and take a photo of us while she answered something in surprise that was best not repeated. So, I realised she must be busy somehow. My only concern began when I realised there was no toilet on board, and thrown into somewhat of a panic over that, I tried having a go at writing unsuccessfully, so the next best thing was to go through my Tatler magazine! My friends in the back row seemed to have noticed in surprise and took a photo!
Oh well, obviously, we arrived in San Jose safe and sound. After a three-hour recovery wait, the flight to Miami was exposed to more turbulence, far worse than the propeller plane experience, flying at 8,500 ft above the ocean, jungles, and some mountains at 8,100 ft only a few footsteps below us!
The plane we were booked on went into bankruptcy only two days before our schedule, and this was the only option to get us to our outgoing flights on time.
Two weeks away from my blog, while climbing another step towards a worldly understanding on an incredible trip, I got home yesterday (Monday) morning after an almost twenty-four-hour journey through three plane rides!
First came the incredible 40-minute ride on a six-seater, one-engine plane from Osa Peninsula, taking us to San Jose's international airport. We did not even have to turn our mobiles off! The pilot simply asked us to buckle ourselves in our tight seats, with the smaller luggage in between each row of two people and off he went off the smallest runway I have ever seen. No checking in ... Nada (nothing as the Spanish say). I was thrilled at the experience and did not even realise Tracey, who was sitting next to the pilot, was handed the wheels at some stage to have a go at driving the 1976 plane, bandaged in some parts with masking tape; as my young travel companions Livia and Molly pointed out while deteriorating in their shades of white every time I looked back at them in the last two seats. I did, however, notice the propeller plane move distinctly in mid-air at some stage while the pilot turned towards Tracey, explaining something that could not be heard from where I was seated in the middle row. Honestly, I did not think for one second he would be giving piloting lessons to a beginner while having other passengers abroad! Oh well, they say, 'What you don't know won't hurt you'. So oblivious to all this, I recall asking Tracey to turn around and take a photo of us while she answered something in surprise that was best not repeated. So, I realised she must be busy somehow. My only concern began when I realised there was no toilet on board, and thrown into somewhat of a panic over that, I tried having a go at writing unsuccessfully, so the next best thing was to go through my Tatler magazine! My friends in the back row seemed to have noticed in surprise and took a photo!
Oh well, obviously, we arrived in San Jose safe and sound. After a three-hour recovery wait, the flight to Miami was exposed to more turbulence, far worse than the propeller plane experience, flying at 8,500 ft above the ocean, jungles, and some mountains at 8,100 ft only a few footsteps below us!
The plane we were booked on went into bankruptcy only two days before our schedule, and this was the only option to get us to our outgoing flights on time.
 |
| The most exciting plane ride ever! |
 | |
| Flying at 8,500 ft. Could have almost jumped off the plane if necessary! |
Back in London, before leaving for the yoga retreat to Costa Rica, I had the good fortune of meeting up at home with Jill one evening after an emotional last day at her present job and spending hours catching up on past, present and plans for the future to come. Discussing ideas with friends who understand your goals is always encouraging. The Friday arrival of my friend Lori never came to flourish as somehow expected, so instead, Kristel and I headed to Anglesea Arms' neighbourhood pub, followed by dinner at Patara's always pleasing Thai restaurant and home before midnight for a new Prince charming turning up with the right shoe at my doorstep! Thank goodness for the pre-travel waxing appointment earlier. Haha.
Saturday's birthday party at Dabbous was an invite from Sydney to help celebrate his special night with his partner Denzel and an entourage of their delightful friends, with whom I got the pleasure of mingling and ended a great night with the late appearance of Ernest and Kelly's superb company. I met two lovely sisters who were so loving towards one another. It was beautiful to see.
Monday was a Bank holiday, and my flight for a three-day stopover in Miami had arrived, staying with a dear friend, Clarence and his charming partner, Tiago. I had met Clarence years ago through Lady Saba in London, where I drove him to a house party and did not get him back home till after 2:00am. The latest hour he had ever been out, probably in his life. Then, I saw him again in Miami not long after, where he took me to a Christmas Eve dinner at a couple who owned a well-known dermatology practice in town. Only to call him two days later in desperation, where he accompanied me to that same couple's surgery to find out I had come down with shingles due to stress apparently. Me, stress?!? When we left, as Clarence drove me back to imprison myself in the hotel room for the following three or four days, he sang:
"Shingle bells, shingle bells ... Shingle all the way!"
It was Christmas, after all, and my friend's sense of humour broke outbursts of laughter, which I could barely endure with the pain my body was going through.
This time, I was staying at his magnificent apartment facing the marina in the Coconut Grove area. On my first night, as Zuma's was full, we visited the Shokudo Japanese restaurant while driving by the attractive shop windows of the Design District. The days were spent in various shopping malls with Tiago, where his patience must be fully credited with the hours spent purchasing Victoria's Secret goods and looking for hiking shoes, a headlamp and more gear to accommodate my next trip at a yoga retreat in Costa Rica. The cheeky stop at Misha's famous cupcake shop was naughty and nice.
Saturday's birthday party at Dabbous was an invite from Sydney to help celebrate his special night with his partner Denzel and an entourage of their delightful friends, with whom I got the pleasure of mingling and ended a great night with the late appearance of Ernest and Kelly's superb company. I met two lovely sisters who were so loving towards one another. It was beautiful to see.
Monday was a Bank holiday, and my flight for a three-day stopover in Miami had arrived, staying with a dear friend, Clarence and his charming partner, Tiago. I had met Clarence years ago through Lady Saba in London, where I drove him to a house party and did not get him back home till after 2:00am. The latest hour he had ever been out, probably in his life. Then, I saw him again in Miami not long after, where he took me to a Christmas Eve dinner at a couple who owned a well-known dermatology practice in town. Only to call him two days later in desperation, where he accompanied me to that same couple's surgery to find out I had come down with shingles due to stress apparently. Me, stress?!? When we left, as Clarence drove me back to imprison myself in the hotel room for the following three or four days, he sang:
"Shingle bells, shingle bells ... Shingle all the way!"
It was Christmas, after all, and my friend's sense of humour broke outbursts of laughter, which I could barely endure with the pain my body was going through.
This time, I was staying at his magnificent apartment facing the marina in the Coconut Grove area. On my first night, as Zuma's was full, we visited the Shokudo Japanese restaurant while driving by the attractive shop windows of the Design District. The days were spent in various shopping malls with Tiago, where his patience must be fully credited with the hours spent purchasing Victoria's Secret goods and looking for hiking shoes, a headlamp and more gear to accommodate my next trip at a yoga retreat in Costa Rica. The cheeky stop at Misha's famous cupcake shop was naughty and nice.
 |
| Jet lag - Sunrise from my room |
On the second night, Clarence booked a table at the outdoor Cecconi restaurant, set in the garden of the Soho Beach House, lit gently with Christmassy-looking tree lights. The only table not occupied by women or couples happened to be next to us of four men while we tried to figure out their sexuality. In a garden of mainly Eves, the Adams next door must have simply been 'very' married, as I presumed, as they were only interested in their own company. On my last night, my hosts threw a dinner party, where Tiago cooked a delicious Brazilian meal with red wine. The dermatologist friend of Clarence, who had diagnosed my shingles, happened to be single now and was invited to join an international group of their friends.
Over all the years of travelling, so many trips to Miami, from teenage days to family visits to Disney, the shingles episode, the most fun time with the girls' Pigs on tour at the music conference, and this time round, a very heartfelt, special period spent in the company of two amusing friends, each in their own extraordinary way, have helped open a distinguished place in my heart over this city. Thanks to the generous hospitality of my wonderful hosts, Miami has grown on me again.
Saying goodbye to Tiago at the airport was sad. Through an upgrade on the Miami flight to San Jose, I met Jones, who mentioned going to university decades ago in the US with a lady he named, who happens to be a friend of mine! What a small world we live in.
In San Jose, Conversing in my poquito (little) Spanish with the lady taxi driver from the Costa Rican capital's airport to the Hotel Luisiana in Santa Ana was a great way to start my journey. Once we arrived, Tania's warm welcome awaited me. Our afternoon began with checking in, meeting the few arrivals, and heading straight into a challenging yoga class at the Krama Centre. What did I let myself in again for?! An early dinner afterwards while I seemed in a haze as to who anyone was... All will be sunk in during the coming days...
I am back in London now, and my family is visiting. I am not sure where the time is going, but it sure is passing very fast, and I need to get over my jet lag and sleep!
My every cell is filled with the love I feel all around me, and I cannot wait to tell you what a life-changing experience this fun-filled yoga retreat was yet again. Until next time... Na night.
Over all the years of travelling, so many trips to Miami, from teenage days to family visits to Disney, the shingles episode, the most fun time with the girls' Pigs on tour at the music conference, and this time round, a very heartfelt, special period spent in the company of two amusing friends, each in their own extraordinary way, have helped open a distinguished place in my heart over this city. Thanks to the generous hospitality of my wonderful hosts, Miami has grown on me again.
Saying goodbye to Tiago at the airport was sad. Through an upgrade on the Miami flight to San Jose, I met Jones, who mentioned going to university decades ago in the US with a lady he named, who happens to be a friend of mine! What a small world we live in.
In San Jose, Conversing in my poquito (little) Spanish with the lady taxi driver from the Costa Rican capital's airport to the Hotel Luisiana in Santa Ana was a great way to start my journey. Once we arrived, Tania's warm welcome awaited me. Our afternoon began with checking in, meeting the few arrivals, and heading straight into a challenging yoga class at the Krama Centre. What did I let myself in again for?! An early dinner afterwards while I seemed in a haze as to who anyone was... All will be sunk in during the coming days...
I am back in London now, and my family is visiting. I am not sure where the time is going, but it sure is passing very fast, and I need to get over my jet lag and sleep!
My every cell is filled with the love I feel all around me, and I cannot wait to tell you what a life-changing experience this fun-filled yoga retreat was yet again. Until next time... Na night.
No comments:
Post a Comment