Asia trip of a Lifetime.

I won't be doing any riding for the next month. Viv and I are leaving tomorrow evening for what we consider the trip of our lives. Mixing business and pleasure. Flying to Bangkok for two weeks, then on to Okinawa, and ending up in mainland Japan.

We have a young man over in Thailand that went to school with our two boys, and we were his "suragate" parents while he studied here in the US for over ten years. He has become a part of our family, and he married and recently had his first child. We had a business trip coming up for the dedication of a new factory in Thailand for one of our main suppliers, but that's a long way to go for a three day business function, so we decided to tie it together with an offer to visit Loy and his family in Thailand. They are quite well off, and have set out a fantastic schedule of touring their beautiful country. The only riding I'll get to do is Elephants in northern Thailand! We can't wait to go!

Then it's off to Okinawa with the Pres of the company that is having the new plant dedication. He is married to a lady from Okinawa, and Viv and I have wanted to go back there since that is where we spent the first two years of our marriage when we were young and foolish, and I was in the Air Force. Great memories! We know that it will be different, but it should be interesting.

From there its off to mainland Japan, and a private visit and meeting with our supplier at their HQ in the Nagano area. We'll be spending a couple of days at at Japanese mountain resort in Kuirazawa, another at a traditional Japanese Spa in a spa resort town, three days in Tokyo, then on to Kyoto, the ancient capital, and finally the last day in Osaka, from where we fly home.

Of course, when we get back we'll be eating rice and beans for a while, but it will have been worth it! As I get older, I'm learning to not put off until tomorrow things that I can do today. I've seen too many friends that put things off, only to be unable to do them later.

Whew, all this makes me tired just thinking of it, but in a good kind of a way. The planning, and working "ahead" to be able to leave for all that time has been exhausting, but well worth it.

I don't know if there will be time to post things to Photbucket, and on to this site, but at some point I'll be sharing some photos. Most likely after the trip.

All you guys and girls ride safe, and enjoy yourselves! The weather here in New England has been tropical and in many ways like what we have in Florida, with high temps, humidity, and pop up afternoon showers. Should just have stayed down there. Oh well, "Cest la Vie!".