You know, the time you wake up on your
first morning back from holidays with a tummy full of dread and a head that’s
not quite focused.
Sometimes the HH happens a few days before it’s supposed to
- like on my return back to my homeland. I start to think about my holiday
nearing it’s end, and dreading returning back to my “normal” life and planning
on how I can possible make a living out of travelling. Mostly, it happens the
day after my return home. My son once suffered
HH for 6 weeks after our road trip around Africa – to the point that his
teacher called me in to discuss his lack of motivation for year 1 drama. I felt
his pain.
I have tried many times to prepare myself for this
infliction – from extending my holiday to extending my return to work. But so
far nothing has helped me more than to start planning my next trip the moment I
hit the ground back home. I have a journal that gets a work out on the plane, I
write down what made my adventure special and what I’d like to do next. The
thoughts are fresh and raw.
On my last holiday sailing around the blue waters of Flores
(and other parts of Indonesia) – I wrote notes on the freedom I felt at having
no particular plan as well as the awe of the majestic Komodo Dragons. I drew pictures
of their enormity against my small sons frame. One thing led to another and I
started to draw King Kong and various other species of gorilla. And suddenly my
holiday hangover didn’t feel so bad.
I am now planning my next trip – to Uganda and Rwanda to go
gorilla trekking.
