Lame in Taipei, part 2. The Unglamorous Truth of International Travel
Taiwan Travelog #8
At the Grand Hyatt Taipei - Sat 2 Oct 2010 - 3:30pm
International travel is rarely the glamorous life it's cracked up to be. I hear from my friends, my relatives, even my coworkers that my life must be exciting and charmed because I "get" to travel around to so many places. I write "get" in quotes because my boss used this line on me a few years ago when I asked for a raise:
"Oh, but you get to travel around to so many places!"
When I shared that line with a colleague he quipped, "Great! Will my next business trip be to Disneyworld or Disneyland?"
The truth is that while travel has the potential to be exciting, business travel is on the whole more of a burden than a gift. For every hour I get to spend doing something pleasurable or exciting in a cool location there are many, many more hours I spend in a beige cubicle in an anonymous office park in the dull suburbs, or cramped in a tiny seat with no room to move my elbows or cross my legs. Even worse, when the opportunity for fun does come around, I'm often so drained from long hours of work, plus long hours of travel, plus the vagaries of jet lag, that I lack the energy to get out and do something.
Take today as an example. After being slothful last night and this morning (see previous blog) all I've done so far today, other than eat brunch, is move to another hotel. Ah, but what a comfy hotel it is! Here's my room:
While all the attraction of Taipei wait outside, all I've been able to think for the past few hours is, "Would it be more comfortable if I stretched out atop the bed instead of sitting in that armchair with my legs up?"
Even worse, I can't relax without feeling guilty. I know I should go out out and take advantage of this rare opportunity for some sightseeing. I know I want do. I just haven't been able to summon the motivation to leave that armchair.
At the Grand Hyatt Taipei - Sat 2 Oct 2010 - 3:30pm
International travel is rarely the glamorous life it's cracked up to be. I hear from my friends, my relatives, even my coworkers that my life must be exciting and charmed because I "get" to travel around to so many places. I write "get" in quotes because my boss used this line on me a few years ago when I asked for a raise:
"Oh, but you get to travel around to so many places!"
When I shared that line with a colleague he quipped, "Great! Will my next business trip be to Disneyworld or Disneyland?"
The truth is that while travel has the potential to be exciting, business travel is on the whole more of a burden than a gift. For every hour I get to spend doing something pleasurable or exciting in a cool location there are many, many more hours I spend in a beige cubicle in an anonymous office park in the dull suburbs, or cramped in a tiny seat with no room to move my elbows or cross my legs. Even worse, when the opportunity for fun does come around, I'm often so drained from long hours of work, plus long hours of travel, plus the vagaries of jet lag, that I lack the energy to get out and do something.
Take today as an example. After being slothful last night and this morning (see previous blog) all I've done so far today, other than eat brunch, is move to another hotel. Ah, but what a comfy hotel it is! Here's my room:
While all the attraction of Taipei wait outside, all I've been able to think for the past few hours is, "Would it be more comfortable if I stretched out atop the bed instead of sitting in that armchair with my legs up?"
Even worse, I can't relax without feeling guilty. I know I should go out out and take advantage of this rare opportunity for some sightseeing. I know I want do. I just haven't been able to summon the motivation to leave that armchair.