A slight bump in the road
 

Have been very merrily planning my trip, with provisions for change of itinerary due to monsoons etc. What I hadn't planned on was a torn meniscus.

First let me tell you it is very painful, second I am still going.

Had an MRI yesterday and will get a cortisone injection on Friday and plan on loading up on painkillers.
I will be on that plane come Sunday.

Received a letter from the organizers in Seoul, that the majority of the dinners will be sitting on the floor at very low tables. This will be an interesting challenge since I am not that flexible at the best of times.

It's a good job that I am going to countries with cheap taxis and tuk-tuks. Hopefully the pain will subside and fortunately a knee brace helps when walking. According to my reasoning, by the time I reach Cambodia I will be able to manage Angkor Wat without problems.

All in all I think it will be fine.

Cheer up Nywoman. Drink Whisky to dull the pain and Red Bull to enhance your stamina - you'll be able to "spring" up from the low table with ease!

Sorry to hear this! Best wishes for the trip. I did do one trip where I limped almost the entire time (actually, hobbled was closer for part of it!) but I was still glad to be traveling. Just don't mix the painkillers and the whisky!

Oh, NY...
This can't be true.
O.K. - let's make the best of it.

Get wheelchairs at airports [cover your face if you're humiliated and suck it up - it's way way way easier.]

Demand handsome young men to carry everything - including you.

Tip lavishly, retain the services of porters and break into groans of pain until you get what you want.

Do not be stoic. There's nothing worse. If it gets worse then hole up in an expensive hotel for a coupla days. Better to heal in three days than hurt for three weeks eh?

And, yup, painkillers and whisky should really not be mixed - particularly on planes.

Where is your itinerary? I didn't see that. Remember Dog is with you in spirit.

Dogster,

Thanks I know you are, and I will keep it in mind.

Wheelchairs are fine if I need them.
That kind of pride was never mine.

Young handsome men to carry me, absolutely if I can find them. Could you send me some of those delicious Aussies.

I will milk this state of elderly, handicapped, woman for all its worth
except I am hoping that I will be sufficiently healed by the time I get to wherever I'm going. At that piont nobody will think I am anything but a spring chicken, game for adveture.

I have a week to rest, as much as I'm capable of, at home. I may be dumb but I'm not stupid, stoicism is not quite my style.

You can see my itinerary http://nywoman.blogspot.com/

Whisky no, Scotch yes, most likely wine though and off to la la land.
Since I am not piloting I'll be a happy passenger.

Nywoman-I'm sorry for your troubles. However, one of the classic threads on this forum involved a woman and a wheelchair. It even begat several impersonators. From your previous posts, you may also ascend to the legendary. Hopefully, not in the same fashion.

To the most esteemed Panda of them all!

The honor is almost more than I can bear, however it has eased my pain.

I thank thee, most esteemed of the esteemed and excalted gendre.

Gosh, so sorry for you unforseen trouble. Fear not, your charm and resourcefulness will get you thru. and the people of the countries you are visiting are all quick to help someone in distress. Go slow and try not to cram too much sightseeing each day, remember spring chickens could end up in a pot of boiling water.

You've locked onto the secret of the legendary. Flatter the regulars and they'll lavish praise.

Excalted? This sounds like Bob thought it up.

Nywoman-I'm sure you will be fine. You seem to have an excellent attitude about it already.
I checked out your itinerary and it looks amazing. I am envious of your two whole months in Asia.
Will you be blogging from the road?

You'll be fine - I wish you the best - we will be spending 5 days in Hanoi next April so I very much look forward to reading about that here or on your blog.

Kristina yes I will be blogging from the road. Bought a Wind laptop, to bring with me, it is
small, light weight relatively speaking, and very portable.

Fortunately, as opposed to Dogster's friends mine are very curious about my trips. I will be mailing to them from the road as I go along. Will most likely post here, which will be a self indulgence. Though in all honesty, there are so many truly great trip reports and writers already on this forum that I am not sure how valuable a contribution I can make.

Nywoman-I think it's safe to say we are interested in ALL trip reports here, so write away! It is not self-indulgent.
There are very few reports on Korea here, so I'm sure people will want to read about that.

Oh, please do post your trip report here! You have an interesting itinerary that includes places many of us haven't been.

I hope the cortisone helps. I has developed rotator cuff tendonitis before my trip to Sri Lanka last year. It was healing but still sore, and the cortisone shot helped a lot.

Have a wonderful trip!

PS I hope the weather cooperates for you to visit Hue and Hoi An. The November we went to Hanoi and had hoped to go to Hue the rains were terrible and there was flooding with loss of life in that area. My friend (who I warned not to go in November but she went anyway) had fine weather to visit Hue and Hoi An.

Kathie,
My two weather contingencies are, (1)the water towns outside Shanghai. My friend was rained out last November. (2)Hue and Hoi An. If there are bad rains, I'll spend an extra day or so in Hanoi or go straight to Saigon and spend more time in Cambodia. That's the beauty of being solo and flexible, if not in the body at least in the soul.