Off to Asia

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35739555.post-8924201670761656642007-10-15T12:52:00.000+01:002007-10-15T13:45:18.395+01:00Off to Asia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://edition.cnn.com/TRAVEL/blogs/richard.quest/uploaded_images/art-789695.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://edition.cnn.com/TRAVEL/blogs/richard.quest/uploaded_images/art-789691.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://edition.cnn.com/TRAVEL/blogs/richard.quest/uploaded_images/art-703193.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://edition.cnn.com/TRAVEL/blogs/richard.quest/uploaded_images/art-703190.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>So my long <st1:place st="on">Asia</st1:place> trip is underway. I usually do one of these trips a year, and usually around this time of the year.<o:p></o:p> I left <st1:city st="on">London</st1:city> about ten days ago – and headed via <st1:city st="on">Los Angeles</st1:city> to <st1:city st="on">Tokyo</st1:city> and onto <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Singapore</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p> I have been trying out some of your suggestions to keep my shirts neat and tidy. Hmmmmm. Well, you can judge for yourselves on the shows – but just in case you think I didn’t get to grips, I attach a photo. <o:p></o:p>I tried the various suggestions although, frankly, some of your instructions ranked alongside origami for complexity. Fold this sleeve over that shoulder and then tuck the etc. By the time I had finished I’d put more creases into the shirt than if I had just bundled it into a ball and shoved it in a shoe.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>So my conclusion? Rolling the shirts works to a point but if there is anything pressing down on them from the lid of the suitcase, well they come out like a string vest. Not for me.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>Now I am trying the “wrap them in tissue of dry cleaning plastic.” Results later in the week from <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Tokyo</st1:city></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p>A quick mention to the men and women I met last week in <st1:place st="on">East Timor</st1:place> (pictured). They are either with the United Nations as part of the integrated <st1:city st="on">Mission</st1:city> there or the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) for which read <st1:country-region st="on">Australia</st1:country-region> and <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">New</st1:country-region></st1:place><st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on"> Zealand</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>The full scope of our report can be seen in Quest for Peace in November. But I just wanted, through the blog to thank you for your help. Whatever people may think of why you are there, you are along way from home, for many months at a time and that in itself should be remembered.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>And to anyone who is thinking of visiting <st1:place st="on">East Timor</st1:place> for a holiday, you probably have a few years before the rest of the tourist world realizes its beaches are wonderful, its water is clear and cool and its people friendly. According to one knowledgeable person – The President himself – the Timorese coffee might even have some “special” viagric qualities.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>And yes, it is by and large safe. Very safe. Except from some especially nasty mossies who were determined to inflict bites in tricky places.<o:p></o:p><o:p></o:p>Richard Quest, CNN, sitting uncomfortably on board the plane.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/35739555-892420167076165664?l=edition.cnn.com%2FTRAVEL%2Fblogs%2Frichard.quest%2Findex.html' alt='' /></div>Richard Questnoreply@blogger.com4