7/31 3:20PM

I'm at the hotel now--the Visa line was super long. A man with a sign met me--thank goodness because I could not have been more lost or confused.
The hotel is nice! I took my first and last shower here! Then found my exploded sunscreen in the side pocket of my backpack...awesome. Let's hope that's the first and last of my bad luck.
I'm getting homesick though. Boo. I need to accept it and overcome. There's extreme poverty in some areas here. I just wonder what a day in their shoes would be like.
I used a squat toilet for the first time and saw bunches and bunches of baby goats (Alex would love it!) I miss him. I'll have to fake happiness for a few hours.

7/30 9:15AM

Just boarded for Jakarta. My hair is looking wild. My feet smell. I'm greasy-faced. Hong Kong airport had free internet and computers so I got to send some emails! That was nice. No cell service for me though, so the goodbyes I planned to say once I landed here, never happened. It might be better this way based on the end of last flight. And goodbye emails work just fine.
The mountains outside Hong Kong's airport are fantastic. Big Chinese mountains like in a movie--foggy, dense, dark green plants.
On the screen in front of me, I have the plane's camera on. It will be a better show than when I left San Francisco because it's daytime here and I can see what's going on. At home, the chickens have just gone to bed.
Once I get to Jakarta, it's go time. I'm pretty sure I need to 'check-in' to the country and get my Visa, hopefully get my bag and then find the person with my name on a sign! Then off to the hotel! I just took a dramamine, because I started getting a little sick last flight. Maybe I'll get some sleep on this flight--not too much though--I need to stay awake till at least 10 tonight to help the jet lag.

Also--I'm glad I'm getting served vegetarian food on the flights, but I'm already sick of the flavor. Alex--I don't know how you like it so much! It's okay...but ehhh...at least it's veggie. My biggest gripe is that last night everyone got ice cream except for me. I'm better off anyways I guess. At least that's my only complaint about the flights so far! =)

7/30 4:43 PM

After this post, I'm switching my time zone clock...I need to start living in Jakarta time. The longest flight of my life is nearly over! Over 200 free movies, bunches of TV series, countdown to arrival, and a camera showing me the outside of the plane all accessible in my seat. I watched the Hunger Games and The Lovely Bones. I tried to sleep but it's hard to sleep during the 'daytime.' I left over 24 hours ago but it doesn't feel like it.
I get sick when I think about how my family at home are just getting home from work and living my normal life. Between exhaustion and my usual homesick tendencies, I'm a wreck right now. It didn't hit until I was served yogurt from Buffalo, NY, which is way closer to home than I am now. I need to sober up, if you will, once I'm off this flight, because then it's off to Jakarta and on to meeting people. There's no room for mopey-Erin then. I cried a bit now, let's hope that's it for the rest of the trip. I need to be strong here. Also--it's not like I can go home (and why would I want to!?). I just need some time to adjust. Mom, Dad, Paige, Hunter, chickens--they're all still there and will be there. Alex and I have been through a LOT together, this is hard, but I feel like we've had harder. I have my claddagh ring for Alex, my duck stuffed animal for Paige, note from Dad, and my baby blanket for Mom-I'm good to go.
Only adventures and new friendships await! (And lots of pressure changes...boo.)
17 minutes till Hong Kong.

7/30 3:24AM(home)/12:24AM

All ready to go to Hong Kong--I keep thinking I'm already in Hong Kong but I still have 14 hours to go. I had at infected sliver that I found last flight that I just squeezed out and washed...already injured, how'd that happen?
Right now it's 3:28 AM at home, 12:28 AM here in San Fran, 3:28 PM in Hong Kong and 2:28 PM in Jakarta. That's a lot of different time zones.