Well well, the year winds to a close as we welcome 2012 in 2 days time. Has your year turned out the way you expected when 2011 began?
I certainly did not anticipate what 2011 had in store for me. The plan was to limit my travels and if possible not travel at all this year cause I was looking to save up enough money for a place to buy. No chance of that happening, as I soon found out.
Earlier in the year, I was kicking myself in February about missing a chance to attend a meeting in my company's headquarters in Sandefjord, Norway. But I thought to myself, maybe something better is in store. And it turned out to be true. In March I was able to go to Amsterdam for 3 days meeting (and I took additional 3 days off to travel around with my sister). Then what came up was even more exciting! I was approved to travel to Norway for subsequent meetings in May, June, August, October and November, for a bout 10 days each time.
And in between I went Dubai and Abu Dhabi twice in November and December for a total of 3 weeks. If I said I didn't want to travel, I would be lying! And for my company to send me over to attend these meetings, I feel blessed. Never in my wildest dreams would I have envisioned that I was able to jet off almost every month this year.\
All those trip earlier were for work, and I also managed to squeeze in 2 personal trips this year. First was to UK for my sisters graduation with my family. We stayed for almost 3 weeks and visited London, Paris, Rome, Geneva and Interlaken before flying back. Next trip was a small family trip to Sandakan, Sabah from which we then drove to Semporna for a few nights in the middle of the ocean.
So this year for me was a year of super ridiculous travelling. Some statistics:
- I have spent 50 hours in transit at Amsterdam Airport.
- Almost 50 days in Sandefjord Norway.
- More than 120,000 miles flown this year.
- About 90 days in a hotel.
But then, there is always more to life than travelling (for work or otherwise). I have made new friends. More friends have gotten married. Caught up with my friends (though much less than last year). Going thru my resolutions for 2011, It seems I achieved most of them except losign weight (cause of all the good food while travelling and lack of time for gym) and spending more time with my friends (same reason as earlier).
I shall look forward to 2012 with excitement (though I know there should be considerably less travelling). Wait, I'm not too sure about that as I have Bali, Bandung, Sabah, Singapore, Jakarta, Thailand, Vietnam, India scheduled for next year. And I should be looking forward to receiving the keys to my place soon. Hehehe fingers crossed, I would be able to move in by the first quarter of next year.
Anyways, I think I am a bit long winded here. I wish every1 a great year ahead and live prosperous!
Boodyboy, out!!
