Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. Wed. Sept 29

I am presently sitting outside on a lounge chair on Deck four of the Disney Magic.  It is an absolutely perfect day, sun is shining and there is an ocean breeze.  We are pulling out of Tortola, an island we only stopped in for a few hours.  I didn’t get off the ship.  We are passing between many beautiful little green hilly islands.  For some reason, this relaxing and soothing feeling I am having gives me motivation to reflect on my trip.

First though, I will recap the last few days.  We arrived in St Maarten and got off the ship fairly early yesterday, about 9:30 or so.  It was our first land since Madeira more than five days ago.  Unlike Nassau, which looks nice and pretty until you actually get off and get mauled by people hawking everything, St. Maarten is genuinely nice.  They make it easy to get around by water taxi, only six bucks for the day.  The locals thanked us several times for coming, tourism is the main industry, and they never were aggressive or bothersome.  My favorite was the water taxi driver who, after thanking us and telling us to come back, said his income is supplemented by tips left in the box by the exit.  He added that if we had any complaints or compliments please just simply write them on a one dollar bill, put it in the box and he will read them and take necessary action.  I am going to start saying that to the kooks at the bar! 

We took the water taxi downtown and walked by the beach and stores.  We tried but failed to get an internet connection at McDonalds but Matt at least got a Heineken from MickeyD’s while we were trying.  We did a very small amount of shopping.  Matt got a carton of Marlboro’s for $15.  I hate smoking but it is still crazy to me that it is five times as much to get the same thing in WI.  We had drinks and nachos at an open air restaurant Greenbush, where we thankfully got an internet connection.  Then, dying in the 90 degree heat and 80% humidity, we got back on the ship a little after 1.

We relaxed during the afternoon and then we had a very unique show at night.  They brought Jodi Benson, the voice of the Little Mermaid and Barbie in Toy Story 2 and 3, onboard for the night to sing.  She was funny and entertaining and sang almost all Disney songs, but for some reason I thought she sounded like a Las Vegas lounge singer.  Part of your World she sang just like the movie though.  We had a fine dinner, Matt tied me up in Yahtzee and then we made our way to Deck 10 for the Pirates in the Caribbean deck party.  Pirates is always a fun time culminating in fireworks shot off the ship to the song “I need a hero.” 

Today I got up early and did laundry.  I figured with most people off the ship in Tortola, the laundry room wouldn’t be swamped for once.  Matt stayed up late so he was sleeping soundly most of the morning.  I didn’t do a whole lot today other than eat and laundry.  As I mentioned, we left Tortola at 3 or so and I have been outside watching the view and chilling for a few hours.  We have our last day at sea tomorrow, Disney’s island Friday and then Kyle and Gene are fun starting Sat!

Anyway, back now to reflections of the trip…

Through the comfort and familiarity of something I love, Disney, I was taken outside my comfort zone, beyond the horizons of my limited cultural experiences and around the world scratching the surface of the amazing human experience that rises above differences people have.

I will admire for the rest of my life the Japanese people.  I will also be back in Japan at the earliest opportunity to share again in their goodwill, kindness, politeness, lack of cynicism, respectfulness and million other qualities that make these people in one word, amazing.

I will remember Hong Kong and being thrown completely out of my comfort zone with the complete chaos that gives this rising world city its’ energy.  I have never in my life seen such a cultural melting pot living and working side by side without divisions of ethnicity, social status or anything else.  I will also remember the beauty of the mountains that surround this chaos.

I will remember Paris and the amazing experience of staying with lifelong Parisians and just having great conversations and learning so much about them.  I won’t forget the fantastic crepes either.

I will always have fond memories of Pep, the hostel owner in Spain and one of the most interesting characters I have ever met.

I will have the stunning landscape and experiences we had in Madeira with local Alex forever engrained in my brain as one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.

And I will, of course, have no shortage of amazing Disney memories.

The unbelievable World of Color show at Disney California Adventure.

The indescribable detail of Tokyo Disney parks and the best theme park in the world, Tokyo Disney Sea.

The most beautiful setting for a Disneyland in Hong Kong in the mountains and also the Disney park with the most potential for growth.

The uniqueness of many attractions at Disneyland Paris that are unlike their counterparts in other parts of the world.

The spectacular Disney Magic cruise, with unrivaled food, service, entertainment and relaxation.

And I am yet to have the last amazing experience, at where my Disney love started, Disney World, with my brother and among my best friends.

There is no possible way this trip could have went any smoother or any more according to the original plan.  We made every single flight we were on standby for, we fairly smoothly found our way to hostels, couches and a cruise ship as well as many theme parks.  We didn’t get robbed, lost for too long or any other terrible thing.

Six months ago I had a piece of paper with a calendar and a hair brained idea for a trip around the world.  I often have crazy ideas like this so this one was just another in a line of trips that probably wouldn’t happen.  I somehow threw it into high gear, worked longer and harder than ever in my life and wished and worked away my summer.

If I have any regrets it is that this trip opened my eyes wide to the world around me and I am afraid my appetite for new places, new people and new cultures will never be satisfied now.  Such is the human experience I guess.

Signing off for now,

Terrydactyl