Across The Universe

When I was an undergraduate student at UCLA was  probably the first time I realized I was a part of the bigger world that what was beyond where I grew up and the people I knew in my community and around the same time it was the first time anyone ever asked me..."What sign are you?" and... "What is your favorite song?... both questions have been asked numerous times since and the answers are both still the same... Aries... and Across The Universe from The Beatles last album Let It Be ... from the fist time I heard it the words and the music spoke to me and it's the first time I ever looked into researching Sanskrit because the song prominently features a Sanskrit mantra.... I've always somehow heard this song when I needed to hear it to be reminded of what I used to be and/or what I have become from it or it just popped into my head for the same reason.... I heard it again by chance recently and decided to add it to my regular playlist from my music library because I could not get the chorus of the song out of my head... But I'll get back to all of this later.

I've been very lucky that in some of my travels I have come close to seeing across the universe... literally and figuratively... from certain beaches, summits but mostly from the cockpit of a Pan Am 747... some of the most interesting conversations I've ever had were in darkened flight decks or galleys when all the passengers were sleeping or watching a movie... one that I remember most vividly is "In space, there is no weather or atmosphere or seasons... none of the things that we take for granted in our everyday lives"... what I took away from this is being more mindful of all the things we do have even on bad days... The planet we are living on is alive and we are lucky to be a part of it... I remember one year on 24, December our flight was going over the North Pole.. and I thought about what almost everyone probably thinks about flying over the North Pole on Christmas Eve... and also how lucky I have been to have these amazing experiences and eventual memories... I thought about pretty much the same when I was running around on the South Pole once, except for the Santa Clause part... and.. Did you know that when you stand at the geographic South Pole all lines of longitude converge at that point and you are literally standing in 24 time zones?...in theory you can step from today to yesterday... and back into tomorrow... that's one of the reasons I've always wanted to go back.

From this and everything in-between I've seen some amazing places and met interesting people and tasted phenomenal food and cultures... one of the best pieces of advice I was given very early in life was "Don't be a tourist with your life... be of the world"...by all this as it was explained "don't ever feel like you are visiting a foreign place... it's another place in the same world you live in but offers you the chance to expand your knowledge and horizons."  I love to travel because you really have no idea who you really are until you experience yourself through new people and experiences... one of the best educations you can get is traveling, nothing else teaches you more than exploring the world and accumulating new experiences and ideas. I like to do some of the touristy things that most places offer a traveler... but I also like to go off the beaten path and visit the neighborhoods and the restaurants and shops... I usually visit a grocery store, and a dry cleaning establishment and go see a movie or two (especially if it's raining)... all in all I like to do the things I normally do at home with some foreign flavors added in...on one of these excursions someone told me... "The secret to your future is hidden in your daily routine." ... meaning... Don't ignore yourself and your own needs...always be mindful of your posture... take extra special care of your hair and skin, drink plenty of water (at least 2 liters a day) and eat food that gives you energy... get fit and take care not to look sloppy... when you look good you feel good. With that advice I've kept my A-Game... but no matter what and no matter where I am I always get fresh air every day and take a walk and see the world even if it's in my neighborhood... during my walk I think about the things I'm grateful for and some of the things I need to work on improving... my mantra since 2018 has been.."If you focus on the hurt you are going to keep suffering from it... If you focus on the lesson you need to learn from it you will keep growing and move on."...  and on the flip side...

...Happiness comes like luck or love according the the life we lead and the people we are and just as importantly the people we know and associate with regularly... I learned the following from an interview I read once about Eli Wallach... he said "I've learned the secret to pissing people off... I'm happy!"

Ever since the first boarding pass crossed my palm I plan for the trip by doing research about where I'm traveling to and the cultural similarities and differences... as well as handy things like... currency exchange, what the weather and climate are like... but maybe most importantly cultural do's and don'ts... as well as a few handy words and phrases that will come in handy...

• Greetings
• Eating Out 
• Hotel, Airport and Train Station lingo
• Directions
• Help (I'm lost, I need help, I need a doctor etc)

Most everyone everyplace I've ever been usually speaks English as a second language (except in small towns and rural areas)... but If you make a sincere effort to try to speak their language... it makes a world of difference. (All of this is available on your smart phone in a pinch)

... No one has an excuse with this anymore with the technology available now (We used to have to go to the library or book store and do research)...  Do yourself a favor and buy or download a map of where you are going and also if you are going to use public transportation ( which I wholeheartedly recommend especially in big cities)... get a hold of the transit system map and the timetables, rates and rules and regulations...

OK I might as well say it since I've been dying to say it almost my entire adult life... "If you are going to complain that things are different from the way you are used to... stay home and save yourself and everyone else the grief from your endless whining and complaining"... if on the other hand you want to immerse yourself in a new culture and ask questions with an open mind and are sensitive to cultural norms... you will move around more easily, blend in and I'm going to say probably make some new friends...and speaking of blending in... think about where you are going and what you are wearing... I'm all in for people having their own unique style and flavor...  that's all part of your savoir faire... but don't stick out like a broken thumb... I can usually spot a tourist with one eye closed from a pretty good distance based on what someone is wearing  and their attitude...

You would be amazed what comes up if you google.... "What should I wear in Paris during the summer"... easy-peasy packing advice... My own personal packing advice is whenever I am going somewhere I really like to do carry-on only if possible (it makes getting through customs and immigration and being on your merry way whistling a happy tune much faster without having to wait for baggage claim) I wear my best outfit on the flight (people judge your airport travel outfit especially if you are hoping for an upgrade) everything else in my baggage goes with it in a mix and match kind of way... don't make the mistake of packing with the idea that you can make choices at your destination... make the choices before you pack. If you really need something that you did not pack then buy it. (I was once invited to an outdoor family wedding of a friend in Italy during the summer...my wonderful airport/airplane ensemble was not going to cut it. If you go back and read about my first round the world adventure (click on)  Around The World In 30 Days Part 2   I did it all with carry on luggage until the last two legs of the trip (Shopping in London and New York forced me to check a bag)

You have to remember that no matter where you go in the world... there you are... don't travel with the idea of running away... travel with the idea of finding yourself again under new and auspicious circumstances... explore new places, meet new people, try new foods... come up with new ideas and devise an updated plan for your life... and perhaps discovering new places and people and things that you did not know you were looking for until you find it and/or them...that to me is the idea of being of the world and not an ordinary tourist just seeing the sights.

Someone recently asked me what song I would want to have played at my funeral and/or memorial service... I explained that I was going to be an organ donor after I died and would not be having a funeral... I'm not really all that keen on any sort of memorial service particularly if it going to be swathed in sadness and tears... but If the few people who I still have some meaningful connection with want to get together for a couple of drinks and toast to the good times and fun memories... than I would not mind if Across The Universe was played when all is said and done.. because  for me it's always represented  that the world is big and most of the trivialities  of life really don't matter... But at the same time, every little thing has meaning and we should be hopeful and eternally grateful to everything that has made us who we are. The song  at its very core, is a song about the human experience... no matter if the story is near the beginning... the middle... the end of the beginning... the beginning of the end... or the end... there is still more to the story.

Across The Universe (Youtube)

All that being said when it's all over for me I hope there is someone able to get a few of my molecules on a floating lantern in the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Ceremony in Honolulu on Memorial Day.

So now I'm bidding you adieu until September... I'm taking my usual summer off to regroup and recharge... June, July and August are my favorite months in the northern hemisphere because my hair gets lighter, my skin gets darker, the water is warmer, the drinks are colder and the music seems to sing a little more joyously for some reason... I do have a little bucket list fro the rest of the month...

Thanks for reading... Have a great summer... what is your favorite song?... and why?... see you in September!

PS... don't forget the sunscreen and make sure to drink extra water!