A 33 hour flight for my 27th birthday.

As I have finally gotten approval from for my new research visa, I will (at last) be returning to the field next week. Because I am already a few months behind I had to snap up the first reasonably-priced, weekend-flight plane ticket to Jakarta. To finish the research permit process and immigrate to Lampung Province in time (maximum 7 days after arrival) I need a full Monday to Friday week in Jakarta. That is, I have to arrive on a weekend or Monday at the latest to get a short breather to make myself presentable enough for the bureaucracy. Of course I can only hope that they do not notice that I wear the same two outfits (researcher kaki and button-up shirt) every time they see me. As it turns out, to meet all of these flight requirements I had the great pleasure of buying a ticket for a flight on my birthday Sat. Feb. 23rd. So, as the most expensive birthday gift I or anyone else has ever given (myself) me, I will fly for 33 hours (that's right 33 HOURS actual air time) on my birthday. But, maybe I should not count it since I will traveling forward in time and by the time I get to jakarta it will be two days later. Still it may seem romantic to someone that does not know better - wisking myself of to exotic Indonesia on my birthday. At least I am going on the good airline (Singapore Airlines) and will get the good vegetarian food and good movie selection this time.

Look for more interesting, more field-based "blahgs" soon.