Wood Celebration

Hi there,

I packed my backpack, printed out necessary information and got our my passport. I am ready for adventure. Tomorrow morning I'll leave for Singapore, where I'll meet fellow hiking buddies AJ and Jason. One night train north again and we'll be in Malaysia where we'll hike for the next three days in the oldest rain forest on Earth: Taman Negara. Supposedly it will be cooler than in Bangkok (now a sweltering 35C/98F), but there will also be leeches, mosquitoes and other bugs. I practiced walking around Bangkok in my new hiking boots with and without a backpack, but three days of 5-7 hours hiking... blisters, aches and sweating galore. I'll try not to complain.

It should also be beautifully synchronous and a reward to finishing the first book, which revolves around the theme 'Wood'. There are scenes of the Amazon rain forest in it and I have no real reference, so the Asian cousin forest should leave me with a good impression. I'll use it in my redrafting, which will start next week before we head out to the U.S. I'm taking my little note book with me, just in case, but I might for a change not write down any observation. I may just try to stay in the moment and enjoy the ride, because my guess is that's where the real impressions become memories.

So, the next 5 days no blog, unless Nancy decides to write one (hint hint) and I'll see you then.
Peace.