Listen now (27 mins) | In this episode: Our insanely ambitious trip from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Perth, Australia. (Hey, that's almost all the way around the world!)
I recently returned from a 10 day trip to Europe. It took me about a week to get acclimated to east coast time. I kept waking up at 4am and not being able to get back to sleep.
After 32 days on an expedition ship to the subantarctic islands of New Zealand, Macquarie Island, Australia, and Antarctica landings at Cape Adare, Terra Nova, Cape Evans (Scot's hut) and Cape Royds (Shackleton's hut) on the Ross Sea ice shelf and an unanticipated walk among Emperor Penguins after an unsuccessful attempt to reach Hut Point and McMurdo, I had to take four flights to get home, Invercargill to Christchurch to Los Angeles to Newark. I coudn't sleep on a plane sitting up, even though, for the intercontinental parts of the trip, I was in economy plus. And, I was a bit younger then, only 63. Not for everyone, but what helps me get onto different time zones is the sleeping pill (by prescription only) Ambien. After about three days, I am back on track. This summer I will be heading from Newark to Darwin, Northern Territory, taking a small ship cruise (150 passengers) to Indonesia and the Kimberley Coast, and ending up in Broome, Western Australia. After visiting a friend near Perth and doing some sightseeing around there, (the quokkas on Rottnest Island are a must re-see,) I will fly home. As I'm 80 now, I will be flying business class in order to be able to lie flat to sleep. Again, I will rely Rx Ambien to acclimate me to different time zones.
The most extended recovery I've ever had is flying from our home in Colorado to our home in Perth... right where you are! We lived there for three years and each time going in that direction kicked my tail! It took at least ten days to recover after adjusting to Mountain Time for six weeks. I always heard that it is a one-day recovery for every hour of the time change. I found that to be true, especially going east to west. Our commute from home to home was between 24 and 32 hours, depending on route, wind speeds, and transfers. That's a long commute! Hey, I have some recommendations while you're in our former neck of the woods. Visit Cottesloe (where we lived on Broome Street) to see one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. While you're there, have a "cuppa," preferably a flat white, at the Barchetta on Marine Parade. You can sit on the oceanside patio and watch the Indian Ocean and count the ships coming into Fremantle. Stay long enough for sunset near the Indiana Tea House when the parakeets and lorikeets gather in the trees for an evening screeching! It's so loud you can't even hear yourself think. The colors of the birds are magnificent. It's like being in a pet shop in nature! You'll also see pink and gray Galahs and if you're lucky, you'll hear and see the famous Kookaburras. One of you mentioned hiking. Go to King's Park outside of the CBD. It is simply beautiful. While in Perth, take a river wine tour through the Swan Valley (which includes a chocolate factory).. a must! If you want to get up close and personal with Aussie wildlife, Caversham is a great nature park. It's your chance to pet koalas, wombats, and kangaroos! But don't try eating kangaroo after you meet these sweet creatures; you'll never do it. Go to Fremantle, just down the road from Cottesloe. It's a great seaport town. Visit one of my favorite shops, Kakula Sisters. I can still smell the wonderful aroma of fresh spices and coffee beans. Oh, have a flat white there, too. Wonderful coffee shops. And, if it's "your shout," have your wallet ready! Enjoy your trip down under! Let me know if I can be of any help or guidance.
Not quite a reply to your question, but this is the first of your podcasts that I've listened to, and it was very frustrating to hear you clearly, but whatever was said by others was so faint that it was nearly impossible to hear. They needed to be closer to the microphone. Then when I wanted to comment, and had to go to my email to get the link, I lost connection to the podcast. Have fun for the rest of your time in Perth.
I lived in Japan for a year. It is 14 hours ahead of Eastern Time. When I got back, it took me three weeks to get re-acclimated. I hadn’t needed that much time on short business trips, but because my body had completely oriented itself to Tokyo time, it was protesting the difference.
Perth Confidential: G'Day from Australia!
I recently returned from a 10 day trip to Europe. It took me about a week to get acclimated to east coast time. I kept waking up at 4am and not being able to get back to sleep.
After 32 days on an expedition ship to the subantarctic islands of New Zealand, Macquarie Island, Australia, and Antarctica landings at Cape Adare, Terra Nova, Cape Evans (Scot's hut) and Cape Royds (Shackleton's hut) on the Ross Sea ice shelf and an unanticipated walk among Emperor Penguins after an unsuccessful attempt to reach Hut Point and McMurdo, I had to take four flights to get home, Invercargill to Christchurch to Los Angeles to Newark. I coudn't sleep on a plane sitting up, even though, for the intercontinental parts of the trip, I was in economy plus. And, I was a bit younger then, only 63. Not for everyone, but what helps me get onto different time zones is the sleeping pill (by prescription only) Ambien. After about three days, I am back on track. This summer I will be heading from Newark to Darwin, Northern Territory, taking a small ship cruise (150 passengers) to Indonesia and the Kimberley Coast, and ending up in Broome, Western Australia. After visiting a friend near Perth and doing some sightseeing around there, (the quokkas on Rottnest Island are a must re-see,) I will fly home. As I'm 80 now, I will be flying business class in order to be able to lie flat to sleep. Again, I will rely Rx Ambien to acclimate me to different time zones.
I don't listen to the episodes...because I can't. I'm sorry there isn't an option for a transcript.
The most extended recovery I've ever had is flying from our home in Colorado to our home in Perth... right where you are! We lived there for three years and each time going in that direction kicked my tail! It took at least ten days to recover after adjusting to Mountain Time for six weeks. I always heard that it is a one-day recovery for every hour of the time change. I found that to be true, especially going east to west. Our commute from home to home was between 24 and 32 hours, depending on route, wind speeds, and transfers. That's a long commute! Hey, I have some recommendations while you're in our former neck of the woods. Visit Cottesloe (where we lived on Broome Street) to see one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. While you're there, have a "cuppa," preferably a flat white, at the Barchetta on Marine Parade. You can sit on the oceanside patio and watch the Indian Ocean and count the ships coming into Fremantle. Stay long enough for sunset near the Indiana Tea House when the parakeets and lorikeets gather in the trees for an evening screeching! It's so loud you can't even hear yourself think. The colors of the birds are magnificent. It's like being in a pet shop in nature! You'll also see pink and gray Galahs and if you're lucky, you'll hear and see the famous Kookaburras. One of you mentioned hiking. Go to King's Park outside of the CBD. It is simply beautiful. While in Perth, take a river wine tour through the Swan Valley (which includes a chocolate factory).. a must! If you want to get up close and personal with Aussie wildlife, Caversham is a great nature park. It's your chance to pet koalas, wombats, and kangaroos! But don't try eating kangaroo after you meet these sweet creatures; you'll never do it. Go to Fremantle, just down the road from Cottesloe. It's a great seaport town. Visit one of my favorite shops, Kakula Sisters. I can still smell the wonderful aroma of fresh spices and coffee beans. Oh, have a flat white there, too. Wonderful coffee shops. And, if it's "your shout," have your wallet ready! Enjoy your trip down under! Let me know if I can be of any help or guidance.
Not quite a reply to your question, but this is the first of your podcasts that I've listened to, and it was very frustrating to hear you clearly, but whatever was said by others was so faint that it was nearly impossible to hear. They needed to be closer to the microphone. Then when I wanted to comment, and had to go to my email to get the link, I lost connection to the podcast. Have fun for the rest of your time in Perth.
I lived in Japan for a year. It is 14 hours ahead of Eastern Time. When I got back, it took me three weeks to get re-acclimated. I hadn’t needed that much time on short business trips, but because my body had completely oriented itself to Tokyo time, it was protesting the difference.