Its 6th of December, 2010.
I was flown to Adelaide, business-class, to bring a freighter back the following day. I am given a 24-hour layover here. The ground handling agent handed me a hotel sheet, and told me to enjoy the day. Adelaide is expecting heavy rains the next few days. Looking at the sky, clear and blue, I hardly believed her.
I walked out of the hotel into a foreboding heat. Everyone is in shorts and light tops. I had 2 layers, just in case. I walked around, trying to remember the last time I was here. It must have been 10 years ago when I was undergoing a finesse program for a month, upon joining Cathay Pacific as a Second Officer. Or maybe it was a trip between then and now, somewhere lost in the haze.
I went to eat in a local restaurant I recognized with outdoor seating, it was near an Independent movie theater that seems to have disappeared now. How things change. I had a vegetarian burger.. it was big and robust, but sadly fried on the outside.. disappointing, as I inquired prior to the order and was told it was oven-baked. It tasted good nonetheless.
On my way back to the hotel it started to rain. But it did not just rain, it poured large, voluminous drops that soaked everything in their wake. I was completely drenched by the time I got to the hotel room. I filled the bath tub with warm/hot water, and soaked my body for a time. The bed looked too attractive to pass up, and I laid on it for another bout of deep sleep. Each time I awoke was difficult.. like an awakening from a drowning experience.
As the sun began to set, a Jewish group was forming on the grass below my hotel window. I was on the 14th floor, and quite a ways up, overlooking a small rectangular grassy park. A big menorah was erected, and the small gathering of people joined to light the 5th or 6th day (I lose track) of Hanukkah, with a rabbi holding and speaking into a microphone. His extended belly, dark garb and top hat was so peculiar to his clerical role, he looked like any other rabbi that has ever lived before him. There was even a keyboard player who played along to those simple tunes I remember quite well from childhood. My window was open just enough to hear them. I participated from afar.
I wondered about the Dalai Lama who supposedly said to a Jewish follower once, go back to your own religion. Many took this to mean the Jewish path was the "right" path. Maybe one people's path should remain that group's eternal path forever. A Jewish man should not practice Hinduism or Buddhism, etc. But what religion is the Jewish religion? Unless you delve deep into the heart of it (Kabala), you will find only stories about Abraham, and all his children. It could have been a soap-opera from ancient times. And no tale or story is without its horrors, murders, sodomy, betrayal, even mild-amnesia. Ah.. but we can learn from those stories, someone says? So we can from every story, every man, woman, or child that has ever walked this earth. The one exception, I suppose, is that the characters from the Bible all had a deep-rooted connection to God--and spoke to him often. In the soap-operas of today, God is never present.
So here were these Jewish people in a grassy park below my hotel window, all dressed in different colors, with no uniformity amongst them except perhaps their seemingly displaced awkwardness. Men in white pants, and colored shirts, ladies over-sized, everyone with a baby trolley. Was this a "spiritual" gathering, or a gathering to associate with Jewish folklore, or a delving into childhood memories? Was it to simply say, I am Jewish? If so, fine. But lets not call it a spiritual path. Not yet.
As they sang and chanted, I observed with both familiarity and mild shame, these songs and jingles are simple, almost juvenile. And yet the people gathered, and with what strength to guide them I don't know, they sang along. And then I started seeing something.
It was as if I was looking down from above, way up, like from a Holy place. I saw these people as a group of beloved people, small, unique, and special. And when they prayed to God, the prayer of Hanukkah, I felt almost a shiver run through me. I believe that if God existed then, he would have heard the prayer too. All the jingles and juvenile stuff disappeared.. and there was silence. The jingles were but a light-hearted dance around a sacred fire. And in that prayer the fire rose straight to Heaven.
And as the light heartedness re-appeared again, it was as if to say, we know... you know... (Him)... but we do not have to point, as much as we do not ever utter His name. But He is with us, and we are not alone.
Happy Hanukkah...
Monday, December 6, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Anchorage
November 12' 2010
Here I am in Anchorage again. There is now snow everywhere, and it is below freezing. The snow is white and consistent, not the soggy mud-type. It is quite lovely.
I had a good flight, I was PF (Pilot Flying), with a Captain under-going a line-check, so had a Check-Captain observing from behind. I managed quite well, stayed relaxed, and made a soft landing. Even though it was not my line check, but the Captain's, it is imperative we all do well. The Captain later thanked me for making his life easy. Its nice to fly with a nice Captain too.
I received my 10-year pin recently, a corporate recognition, pure gold... don't know what I'll do with it. Its a show-piece, I guess.
After a short nap I waited for the crew downstairs, as we agreed on meeting up for a bite at Sullivan's restaurant. While no one showed up (a common occurrence, we are all on different time zones), I left for Sullivan's alone. There, the Captain sat with two other Cathay Pacific pilots, drinking beers. Later the Check-Captain arrived. They all had a burger (it was a half price special), but I had the salmon and sweet potato. I do not eat burgers... or most meat. I like salmon for its Omega 3 factor, and sweet potato is a great slow burning complex carbohydrate. I always do things for a reason.
The chatter became a bit out of control, with each person trying to out-wit, out humor the other, leaving no rock unturned. I wanted to be more serious, to carry on a real conversation, although allowed myself the occasional chuckle here and there, feeling mostly like the guy who always suffers at a party. I found much of the vulgar humor distasteful, and the references to South Park or other TV cartoons for adults, quite uninteresting.
At one point we spoke about jazz. There was a lovely 3-man jazz band playing in the corner, and one crew member admitted knowing nothing about it. I explained a few things about the fundamentals and technicals of jazz, and how to properly listen. But then the conversation quickly turned humorous and shallow again.
To me flying a Boeing 747 is easy. Its dealing with people that's hard.
After a short interlude, I excused myself, paid the bill and left. I went again to Century 16, purchased a movie ticket, and off I went to Barns and Nobles bookshop. On the way I saw a star-filled sky, snow capped mountain peaks, and a half crescent moon. I passed by two kids playing in the snow, their little bodies bundled up to their chins in warm clothes, the mother prodding occasionally to move on, or to be careful. I rejoiced in their rejoicing. It felt good to be alone, in a quiet place. I could finally hear my own breathing.
It felt good to be me, unburdened by unnecessary chatter, by reckless noise, by constant humor. I was alone, and yet I was full, in all manners human, and in Spirit.
I saw the movie Due Date, with Robert Downy Jr. I do not recommend it. It was adolescent. And yet I could not help appreciate the acting by this very special actor.
And yes, I finally got that almond butter I was seeking on my last trip from the 24-hour supermarket before returning to the hotel.
Here I am in Anchorage again. There is now snow everywhere, and it is below freezing. The snow is white and consistent, not the soggy mud-type. It is quite lovely.
I had a good flight, I was PF (Pilot Flying), with a Captain under-going a line-check, so had a Check-Captain observing from behind. I managed quite well, stayed relaxed, and made a soft landing. Even though it was not my line check, but the Captain's, it is imperative we all do well. The Captain later thanked me for making his life easy. Its nice to fly with a nice Captain too.
I received my 10-year pin recently, a corporate recognition, pure gold... don't know what I'll do with it. Its a show-piece, I guess.
After a short nap I waited for the crew downstairs, as we agreed on meeting up for a bite at Sullivan's restaurant. While no one showed up (a common occurrence, we are all on different time zones), I left for Sullivan's alone. There, the Captain sat with two other Cathay Pacific pilots, drinking beers. Later the Check-Captain arrived. They all had a burger (it was a half price special), but I had the salmon and sweet potato. I do not eat burgers... or most meat. I like salmon for its Omega 3 factor, and sweet potato is a great slow burning complex carbohydrate. I always do things for a reason.
The chatter became a bit out of control, with each person trying to out-wit, out humor the other, leaving no rock unturned. I wanted to be more serious, to carry on a real conversation, although allowed myself the occasional chuckle here and there, feeling mostly like the guy who always suffers at a party. I found much of the vulgar humor distasteful, and the references to South Park or other TV cartoons for adults, quite uninteresting.
At one point we spoke about jazz. There was a lovely 3-man jazz band playing in the corner, and one crew member admitted knowing nothing about it. I explained a few things about the fundamentals and technicals of jazz, and how to properly listen. But then the conversation quickly turned humorous and shallow again.
To me flying a Boeing 747 is easy. Its dealing with people that's hard.
After a short interlude, I excused myself, paid the bill and left. I went again to Century 16, purchased a movie ticket, and off I went to Barns and Nobles bookshop. On the way I saw a star-filled sky, snow capped mountain peaks, and a half crescent moon. I passed by two kids playing in the snow, their little bodies bundled up to their chins in warm clothes, the mother prodding occasionally to move on, or to be careful. I rejoiced in their rejoicing. It felt good to be alone, in a quiet place. I could finally hear my own breathing.
It felt good to be me, unburdened by unnecessary chatter, by reckless noise, by constant humor. I was alone, and yet I was full, in all manners human, and in Spirit.
I saw the movie Due Date, with Robert Downy Jr. I do not recommend it. It was adolescent. And yet I could not help appreciate the acting by this very special actor.
And yes, I finally got that almond butter I was seeking on my last trip from the 24-hour supermarket before returning to the hotel.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Anchorage
In Anchorage, Alaska.
After a nice sleep, I went out to the Cinema 16 complex to purchase a ticket for The Social Network about Mark Zuckerberg who started Facebook.
I got the ticket, but first went to have my dinner, my first meal of the day. I went to Outback Steakhouse and had a nice grilled salmon and vegetables. I then meandered to the Barnes & Nobles bookstore. I drank a nice decaf-soya-latte in their cafe area. Yumm... especially on a cold day, 0 degrees or so here.
The moon was half crescent above the snow-capped mountains. Few clouds wafted in the sky. It is magical here sometimes. The air is crisp and fresh. I went to the movies then.
It was a good movie!!! It showed many things, like how one idea can come over-night, and bulldoze its way into something BIG. It showed the rigors of the social networks at Harvard University. It also showed that an idea without the skill to execute the idea is worthless. Zuckerberg had the idea, but also the brains, to start the Facebook program on his own from his dorm room at Harvard.
I missed my days running a Bulletin Board Service, much prior to the internet. I later wondered why I did not think of the Facebook idea. It was not an entirely dissimilar application. People logged on, wrote on message boards, interacted, uploaded and downloaded games, etc.
I then went to Denny's, 24-hour diner, and ate a nice white-fish with rice and spinach. This was really tasty, I just wonder how much butter they put in the rice. I ordered a turkey sandwich to go, with special grilled onions! Yum!
Before returning to the hotel I did some last-minute grocery shopping at Carrs, a 24-hour supermarket. But the taxi driver was already waiting for me, so it was quick and I missed out on an entire healthy section I only noticed through the window as I left. I was on the hunt for almond butter. It might have been there. A note for next time.
I got the ticket, but first went to have my dinner, my first meal of the day. I went to Outback Steakhouse and had a nice grilled salmon and vegetables. I then meandered to the Barnes & Nobles bookstore. I drank a nice decaf-soya-latte in their cafe area. Yumm... especially on a cold day, 0 degrees or so here.
The moon was half crescent above the snow-capped mountains. Few clouds wafted in the sky. It is magical here sometimes. The air is crisp and fresh. I went to the movies then.
It was a good movie!!! It showed many things, like how one idea can come over-night, and bulldoze its way into something BIG. It showed the rigors of the social networks at Harvard University. It also showed that an idea without the skill to execute the idea is worthless. Zuckerberg had the idea, but also the brains, to start the Facebook program on his own from his dorm room at Harvard.
I missed my days running a Bulletin Board Service, much prior to the internet. I later wondered why I did not think of the Facebook idea. It was not an entirely dissimilar application. People logged on, wrote on message boards, interacted, uploaded and downloaded games, etc.
I then went to Denny's, 24-hour diner, and ate a nice white-fish with rice and spinach. This was really tasty, I just wonder how much butter they put in the rice. I ordered a turkey sandwich to go, with special grilled onions! Yum!
Before returning to the hotel I did some last-minute grocery shopping at Carrs, a 24-hour supermarket. But the taxi driver was already waiting for me, so it was quick and I missed out on an entire healthy section I only noticed through the window as I left. I was on the hunt for almond butter. It might have been there. A note for next time.
I am in the hotel room now. My flight has been delayed, so perhaps I will get a few extra hours sleep before the flight back to Hong Kong. It is past 4am Anchorage time. Is anyone else awake?
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