My normal life is like being on holiday.
– Valentino Rossi
“Wake up, sleepyhead!” my alarm seemed to shout. As I groggily looked around, I thought, “Oops, not at home again.”
For a split second, I was back on a Grecian beach, the sun warming my face, but reality quickly whispered of the meetings ahead.
“You know the drill,” I mumbled, eyeing my suitcase. No beachwear and flip-flops, just the all-business type with those suits and ties I’ve grown tired of seeing.
“Back-to-back meetings, then a mad dash for the 11.30 am flight home,” I sighed. Every tick-tock mattered. Familiar routine? Absolutely. Easy? Never. I’m just flat-out exhausted.
Midway through packing, my phone lit up with a text from my wife, “Another five-star hotel? Reminds me of our honeymoon.” Beneath her playful tone, I felt the pangs of her longing.
“Business class, 5-star stays, fancy dinners, and yet there’s no real time to savour any of it. How ironic!” I replied, punctuating my message with a wink.
Fumbling a bit, I switched to voice mode. “Remember our promise? A family getaway every year.” I let out a chuckle, thinking of how we’d crossed our pinkies and made that pact.
Her reply came quickly. “I remember Greece last year, but also how we struggled to sync it with your unpredictable work schedule.”
Oh, just saying “Greece” takes me on a trip down memory lane! – the whitewashed alleys and the laughter of our kids echoing in the ancient ruins. I couldn’t resist then. Channelling my best King Agamemnon impression, I bellowed, “Achilles!” just like in Homer’s The Iliad. A couple of tourists looked our way, amused. My wife? She just rolled her eyes and laughed, her hair shining under that Mediterranean sun. She looked … wow. Just wow.
“I remember us taking the subway,” I typed, letting the memories flood back. “The Acropolis, the Parthenon … all those places straight out of a history book. And Mars Hill! Remember the sermon of St. Paul?”
A string of laughing emojis from her, “Oh my God, how could I forget? Haha. And your terrible Greek accent! You were trying to imitate the sermon in Greek!”
Okay, that was something. Me, trying my hand at Greek. Honestly, I had read that the Bible’s New Testament was originally in Greek. I thought it’d be fun to try, and, well, it turned out more hilarious than historical.
Anyway, Greece wasn’t just historical sites for us. “We drove to Piraeus and took a boat ride to Aegina, Poros, Hydra….” I mused. “Then, there was Corfu Island or should I say, Kerkyra.”
“Was that the island from your Durrell book?” She quickly replied, always remembering the little things.
“Yes! ‘My Family And Other Animals’. Reading about it is one thing, but being there felt like walking through his pages,” I added.
If you ever pick up that book, you’d see Corfu through the eyes of an English naturalist, Gerald Durrell, who lived on the island for several years. It humorously detailed the life of his family and explored the nature of the island.
Our journey back to Athens was another chapter altogether. “The mountains!” I exclaimed. “The thick snow, the mist… and then, we made a stop at the hanging monasteries of Meteora in Kalambaka. It was otherworldly.”
I paused, fingers hovering over the keyboard, and then typed, “You know, I hope we’ll have another adventure soon. One where we make more memories, maybe.”
The three dots indicating she’s typing appeared, and then disappeared, leaving me in suspense. Finally, “Promise?”
“Soon,” I responded, hoping she’d feel the conviction in my words.
But her response was tinged with skepticism, “You always say soon. Then work comes in the way.”
I paused again, reflecting on her words. Then an idea sparked. “What about the MATTA fair next month (today)? They have fantastic deals for families. It might be our ticket to another memorable holiday.”
I’ve seen how well-prepared some of my Western colleagues are. Trips meticulously planned months, even years, in advance. Everything, right down to their daily attire, is a science even!
Fast forward to the airport scene …
Trying to multitask, I wedged my phone between my shoulder and ear while my eyes darted across the departure board.
“You’ve heard of that early bird thing, right?” I said, while my voice was half-buried under the blare of airport announcements. “Book ahead and we save. I mean, some airlines are practically giving away seats with those discounts!”
I could hear her sigh, a mix of hope and resignation. “But our schedules and our finances after COVID ….”
“I know, I know,” I cut in, trying to rally her spirits. “But what if, and hear me out, what if we play it smart? Plan everything just right?”
Her laugh warmed my ear, “So, a travel heist of sorts?”
I grinned, “Exactly! Like Bonnie and Clyde, but for holidays lah! Remember our posh dinner in Taiwan? People around us used vouchers they bought months ago. They dined in luxury, for a fraction of the price!”
She exclaimed in mock surprise, “Wait! That Michelin restaurant where you spilled expensive wine on yourself?”
Rolling my eyes, I shot back, “Hey, let’s not bring that up. But seriously, if the Joneses can do it, why can’t we?”
As the buzz of the airport surrounded me, I found myself smiling. Our conversation, usually rife with the frustration of these plans, now holds a note of hope, especially with the MATTA fair at AEON Mall happening until tomorrow. Though, a heads-up, peak season might see a price hike. But if you’re snappy, early birds definitely get some juicy worms, and maybe there’s a travel heist waiting for you too.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the New Sarawak Tribune.
