h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The sunny beach part sounds rather pleasant, but 36°C is a tad on the warm side for me. I seem to handle colder weather better than warmer- I don't get cold as quickly and it doesn't take me as long to get comfortable again if I do. Except for my feet.

Thanks for the well wishes, Kelepabesar. The old bronchi seem to be doing well today.

I could do with some nice tropical fruit, though.

Hope your "tickle" clears up, Vix, and isn't the precursor to something worse. Don't you hate when you feel it coming on... can't do anything to prevent it? I felt the tingling of a cold sore forming the weekend before Thanksgiving, and knew I'd be getting the flu soon.

I have conjunctivitis (what my son used to call 'eye junctus') in one eye. Light makes it hurt - especially oncoming headlights - and every time I move my head it feels like it's been kicked.

Plus I'm exhausted, over-stressed with unexpected work and have a Panel in just over an hour.

'tis the season to be jolly...

Sorry to hear that, Ed. I hope you have a chance for some rest soon.

Conjunctivitis is miserable. As is being overwhelmed with work. I too hope that you'll get a break soon, Edward.

Hey PC!

BTW. Having a beach nearby deals with the heat very nicely!

Indeed it does, especially if you enjoy swimming as much as I do. The only time proximity to a beach has ever caused me any difficulty was on a snorkeling expedition in Cozumel where I drifted a bit too far from shore and wound up with a helluva sunburn to boot. Otherwise, I have to say that nice, warm tropical waters are one of the most pleasant places to be.

I've never been to Bali.

It's lovely. Although, to be honest, I like the neighbouring island of Lombok better.

Been to Cozumel...over 30 years ago. There was only one (or maybe two) hotels on the island at the time...beautiful! Dove on Palancar Reef, ate ceviche on the beach...loved it!

Cozumel was fairly un-touristy when I visited last, about 10 years ago, as well. A friend of mine had moved there and I stayed with her, and at a lovely hotel in the town square, called Hotel Lopez, which had TWP king-size beds, the hottest shower I've ever had, and a view to die for, for $7 a night. An ocean-front room in Puerta Vallarta (on the opposite coast) the following year cost me $300 a night.

I've never been anywhere in the South Pacific beyond Hawaii. I'll have to look Lombok up.

TWP= two. I'm experiencing minor technical difficulties today.

A friend of mine caught a bug in Bali which ended up as diverticulitis...and the removal of a few feet of intestines. But then he did meet his husband in hospital. Tout bien qui fini bien.

Stomach bugs sure are a risk in tropical countries!

I had a friend get a tapeworm in Mazatlan and I had to self madicate with something like Mezcal in Venezuela. I spent a great deal of time on my knees worshipping the porcelain gurgling god.

Managed to keep my intestines, though.

I met my wife here on the equator, though. So indeed, all's well etc...

Some of those "bugs" are pretty scary! A friend of mine wound up with malaria while we were in South America several years ago, and apparently he still gets occasional fevers and night sweats, and has to take medication for the rest of his life.

Crikey!

Hey MV, you see my latest journal entry? Twisted ankle.

Yes, you poor thing ...I just posted there, is it ok?

I sorta did that wrenching thing a couple weeks ago at work, my ankle just folded underneath me and I got it x-rayed - it turned out I had broken it before unbeknowst to me!