A-Z Challenge Reflections: What a trip

Made to Z as scheduled. Wow what a trip. My first time and am I glad I did it.

It is not the writing that was difficult but deciding what to write was more of the challenge for the A-Z. And I think that is also true for many things in life. It is not just about doing thing right but doing the right thing - the old management book said. Rather than prepared post I'd instead went for a day at a time post ... although the working titles, in our case working destination, the actual writing was done on the day of posting ... the most, was done a day before. And such relief was felt when a post was already written for the following day. Less pressure and more fun visiting other blogs. Felt less self centered. Perhaps for next challenge it would be wise to prepare my posts ahead of time.

Still the experience and lesson learned for opting a day at a time posting method is priceless. Write no matter how you feel, no matter if the creative juice stops flowing or as DL Hammons said you get constipated idea wise. Write without apology, J.A. Bennettt gave her most valuable of writing tips. Go on -- write and just have a good time, many of the A-Z Challenge home posts push you on. Everywhere you look and read words of support and encouragement were presented and shared so generously. That took you to the top of the wave of writing crest and moved you onward.

Side by side your writing buddies continue on even with daily life calling for attention. I'll be forever grateful for the opportunity to be a member in such writers community. Thank you all of you of A-Z Challenge Team Organizer and participants. All the best, and see you around the blog.

Alternative Foodie

Zombie Dice

We departed Kuala Lumpur at past midnight of February 20th, 2011 and arrived back at 4 am, August 20th 2011. A few hours extra than six months. We had much less in luggage than when we left. The first in our trip. Usually we have much more when we are back from a trip somewhere. This time our mementos are small in sizes. Digital brought home his Zombie Dice pack and I've all photos in our memory cards.

Digi Playing Zombie Dice by himself in Washington D.C.

Digi playing Zombie Dice with Rob in NYC

We are a long way from adopting a nomad life but we have learned many lesson while on the road - travel light and always be ready to adapt to changes. We also received so much kindness from so many people during our travel and that is the best of memories we have ever had. There is indeed so much to be thankful.

With that I wish everyone success in your writing and future endeavour. Keep in touch and take care.

Alternative Foodie
A-Z April 2013 Challenge

Yelps!!! Yellow penguins took our plane!

Two Yorkshire Terriers went to London
Highly energetic and eager for adventure
They thought they could find some Yak
To help haul their bulging backpacks

Instead they Yapped away with some couchsurfers
Exchanging stories of Convent Garden's treasures
And danced the night in between sips
Of carrot juice and mango lassi

It is not surprising they kept Yawning
Thinking about a plane to Paris
3 pm the next day it should be
Yay till noon then they could sleep

Was that a Yellow penguin flying by my window?
Or perhaps a Yaffingale?
No no ... Those were penguins riding a plane.
That was my plane too, mummy terrier said. Waking up from a nightmare.
3 pm plane had flown to Paris
Not 3 pm leaving for airport.

Two Yorkshire Terriers left London
Heading for one night in Paris
A plane late only
In time for KL breakfast
In 24 hours.

Alternative Foodie

X is the XXIVth Post of A-Z Challenge

What is the XXIV post is to say THANK YOU to all the followers and visitors to nuttybean. It has been really incredibly awesome being able to share with you of our unforgettable six month road trip to Europe and USA. There will be two more letters to go after X but there will be no more photos to share. We dropped our camera from waist height on our last evening in Columbus. It broke. There was no time to shop nor the budget to buy a new camera - not even the point and shoot one. We had a long way home, every US Dollar, every British Pound and Euro counts. Those pictures of farmland posted in the previous W post, were among the last of our six months travel photos. We were not home yet. Two more letters ... Y & Z coming up next.

It is strange for me to write without illustration. I'm far from being a professional photographer but when words are difficult to put together and a photo speaks a 1000 words, the choice was easy. I tend to have photos to my words. How about you?

xo
Alternative Foodie

Wooster

Today is the letter W - and it is for Wooster, Ohio.

While in Ohio, we spent most of our weekends at Mike's parents'  in Wooster. There were special occasions, birthdays & Easter to attend. There were also spontaneous family gatherings or just lazing around.. We worked some weekends -  for food of course. We also went kayaking at the Mohican State Park, North of Mount Vermont with the local crews - Mike, Megan and Zack. Thoroughly awesome time but no photo - too scared that we might gotten our camera wet ... one never knew when kayaking if you could stay in your kayak all the time. Digi and I relatively stayed dry, but Megan and Zack got all wet as their kayak turned over. That could make a good photo capture but they would probably kill us for taking advantage at their misadventure.

Juicy looking raspberries next to be picked

This is the color  of berry you can pick ...

Have to say goodbye to the farm too

Long road ahead - driving on the wrong side for me

Our stay in the USA had come to an end, a few days short of six months since we left Kuala Lumpur. It was another difficult goodbye. Digi who had a hard time leaving Kuala Lumpur six months ago, was having much harder time saying goodbye to his Ohio friends. He did't cry though. Had grown so much while on the road.

Till next time, USA
Alternative Foodie