First, lots of writing ideas that have been unavailable for the last few months. Been staring at the blank page often since few last months of last year and nothing came up. Traveling for a week, drafts line up in an instant.
Second, the cleanest period at home. I have this urge to clean everything whenever we want to travel. Not only as far as Sydney, even one as close as Bogor or Bandung makes me want to clean everything before we go. The further we go, more massive the cleaning done.
On the day we departed to Sydney, I ran the washing machine twice, changed all the bed sheets and cushions, cleaning the table, and many more. In my opinion, when we travel, preparing for the trip is not the only thing we should do, but another more important thing is preparing the post travel mood.
Since we have no one to help us with domestic chores, I will be the one who will do and deal with all the post travel mess. Thus, coming home to a clean and tidy house is important to me.
Is that all? Sadly, no. I am the one who also unpacks all the luggages right away, not that kind of the following day right away, but literally right away after we set the foot at home. I couldn’t sit still until all the suitcases are safely stored in the cupboard, clear living room without scattered things, all souvenirs properly packed, washing machine start doing its job, then I could stop.
This is why the arrival time is also being highly considered when I purchase the ticket. But, based on past experiences, no matter how late or early, I always unpack right away. Arrived home from Tokyo at 2am, unpacked done until 5 am. Arrived home from Paris at 11pm, unpacked until 2am. Arrived home at 9.30 pm yesterday, all clear by 12.30 am.
They say people who unpack the luggage right away after traveling is a cold blood murderer.
Maybe 🤔.
Third, traveling reveals the worst in you. It reveals not only how annoying your partner to you, but also how annoying you are to them. There are times when I have been so annoyed by either the doctor or the little girl and I am sure I have been such a nuisance to them for many times. When everyone directly goes lazing on the bed or couch after spending hours outside, my choice is always tidying up here and there and sometimes I expect them to do as I do.
Je sais c’est impossible.
The golden rule : “You won’t be happy coming home to a messy place”
Last one, traveling brings some stories that are not available in any books out there. The old man while waiting the check in time, the lady in Rudolf Steiner book store, the taxi driver who sent us to the airport, all told stories that I could never find in any book stores. With the old man and the taxi driver, it was the doctor who talked to them while I listened while the lady it was between me and her. I actually like the listening part more than the talking. I found it more interesting (easier) when I listened to other’s’ conversations more than when I was the one who had to do the talk. Lazy girl.
Did I say last above? Well, another one then.
After one trip ends, traveling brings the ‘greed’ to do it another one soon.
The greed that made the four seasons of Ilana Tan trips happen within four years in a row.
A Penny for My Pensieve 