Canada, Here I come!

Hi all,

Ok, enough of the hate mail... I know I have not posted in a long time (well only 5 days really), but did you not read about the secluded beaches of Ko Samet? Blogging was obviously too much pressure for my 'john learning to relax' crash course....and it got in the way of my volleyball and napping marathons, and my sunburning time.

Well my friends, the time has come. Tomorrow morning I head to the Beijing International airport to HEAD HOME! Two months and two days sure can fly. Ko Samet was wonderful and we did not want to leave. We made great new friends, swam in the ocean morning and night, I got eaten alive by every multi-legged creature on the island, and perhaps had a beverage or two.

Then it was back to Beijing yesterday (saturday). It was actually very surreal coming back to the city exactly two months after we first arrived. I am not going to go into it on this blog, as I am planning to do a few debrief, decompression blogs upon my return to Canada, once I have had time to step back and really get a grasp on what actually happened on this wild ride over the last two months. I have to say that it is nice to end our trip here in a way, as it is familiar and David, Ethan and I have been able to visit some of our old haunts. Also, it doesn't hurt that by sheer serendipity my mother happens to be working in Beijing at the moment and, as a result, I have spent my last two nights at the St. Regis, Beijing (finally a COMFORTABLE BED IN CHINA!)... and my room comes complete with my own butler... I have not had the nerve to make him do anything, but from what I understand, butlers buttle.

My last moments in Beijing have been quite chill, as I am preparing myself for my reentry into 'reality' and the reverse culture shock that is sure to ensue. I will have to refrain from pushing and shoving my way onto the subway, slurping and shoveling all of my food, and voiding my nasal cavity and throat of all phlegm whenever I see fit. When I arrived in Beijing we were picked up by our own car and brought to the St Regis - nice. Then I met mom for a drink (or a bottle really) and we chatted and caught up. We had only seen each other one day in the last five months (as I was in Costa Rica, vancouver and Vegas right before Beijing). It was actually really nice and she did not remind me to eat one fruit or vegetable (she learned her lesson from the 'amsterdam incident') - she may even be realizing that yes, most of the time, I can in fact take care of myself. We were later joined by Ethan (who is bunking in at the 'Reeg' as David is staying with friends in Beijing and that way, Ethan can save a buck or two... but he is on his own tomorrow when I leave - sorry dude).

I have to say it was odd to have my two worlds collide. Mom represented both family and work (as she is working the Mary Kay incentive trip that I have done the last five times), and Ethan represented my olympic life (jet set) as well as my old backpacking life... they got on just fine which was a relief... I think mom was relieved as well to find out that I did not travel with complete and total boobs. Following drinks, it was out for one last night on the town. Today, I met all my old Mary Kay friends for breakfast, helped mom prep a few things for their day, then David, Ethan and I went off to the 798 art district which is an area of beijing that is all free art galleries in multiple warehouses.. very neat and low key. Then we met up with Jared (our other traveller from Ko Samet) for one last dinner together... which brings us up to present time.

So it is here my faithful reader that I will say, not goodbye, but see you tomorrow! I board my flight to San Fran at noon and then connect through to Toronto. My Canadian cell will be up and running as of 8:00pm Monday night Toronto time. I can't believe it! Alas, I have no idea what will become of my blog. I expect that I will do a few more posts (mainly about tibet as I was not allowed to write what I really wanted to - and my final thoughts) but I suspect that I will become very hum-drum shortly upon my return. Perhaps I will keep it up, perhaps not (it is my new laissez faire attitude I suppose). All I really want to say is that it has been fun having someone (real or virtual) to 'talk to' about my experiences here and I really appreciate everyone's comments, questions and mostly support during rougher spots. This incessant rambling of mine really helped me, and I thank you all for taking even a passing interest.

Here I will also give a shout out to David, Ethan, Jared, Mirjam and Fran - the core members of the David Daldwin Tours Team... I could not have survived with such a smile, constant laughter, and a song in my heart while learning so much about the world around me, Sarah Palin, and most of all myself, if it were not for my travelling mates. Here is to you all until David Dalwin Tours reconvenes in the future - perhaps Africa? South America? Laos? Cambodia? Vietnam? New Zealand? Wherever it may be, it would be a pleasure and honour to travel with all of you again.

Zai Dien (ciao from China)
See you in Canada Eh!