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Angkor Wat

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Since my lack of funds has kept me from traveling to places that excite my interest, such as Southeast Asia, I must resort to what is called “armchair travel.” While I was growing up in Cleveland, I had this incredible desire to travel. Unfortunately, our travel destinations were Detroit, Passaic NJ, Schoenbrunn Village OH, and (once) Lake Worth FL. It was not until 1975 when I broke free and went to Yucatán to visit Maya ruins.

On Friday, I got together with several friends for lunch at a local Indonesian restaurant, Simpang Asia, in the Palms neighborhood, where I had a delicious Nasi Goreng.

Each Thursday, when I visit the Central Library downtown, I wait for the return of the Lonely Planet guide to Indonesia so that I can check it out for a few weeks. I remember reading Joseph Conrad’s Almayers Folly and The Outcast of the Islands several times.

So I find myself endlessly preparing for journeys which I may never take. But then, it makes life more interesting by adding to my store of knowledge.

Thailand or Bust

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Scene on a Bangkok Canal

Because Martine and I usually eat at different times, there is a pile of Lonely Planet guidebooks at my right elbow on the kitchen table. Recently I picked up the Lonely Planet guide to Thailand and have been devouring it with interest.

I have never been to Asia, mostly because of the language barrier. In Thailand, the language barrier is even more pronounced because they have their own alphabet, which resembles tightly circumscribed insect tracks. Despite the difficulty, I find their culture fascinating—not to mention their cuisine!

It’s fun to fantasize about future trips, even if one never takes them. In fact, you can call me an armchair traveler who just happens to have visited some fascinating places around the world in Europe and the Americas. Martine seems to be uninterested to joining me in any distant travel (unless it be to Hawaii and, perhaps, Canada); so I would have to go it alone.

As long as I am physically able to travel, I would be happiest if I were able to indulge in my wanderlust. Right now, the biggest problem is not health, but lack of money.