The Year of the Wolf

Wikipedia says: “Wolf packs are often portrayed as strictly hierarchical social structures with a breeding "alpha" pair which climbs the social ladder through fighting, followed by subordinate "beta" wolves and a low ranking "omega" which bears the brunt of the pack's aggression. But there are also Lone wolves, which were driven from the pack or left it and live independently. Typically these lone wolves are stronger, more aggressive and far more dangerous than the average wolf that is a member of a pack. Occasionally, a lone wolf will encounter another lone wolf of the opposite sex and the two may start a new pack” And the circle closes.

Quick question. When did you realize that another year has passed…again? I found out just after I came from Czech back to Qatar and found an invitation for New Year Eve celebration on an island somewhere on the north of Qatar. I thought to go to UEA for New Year weekend, pick up my last things I left there, visit Rune and other friends and sneak into some party, but because travelling to UEA got more difficult and expensive since I’m Qatari resident and I had no “real” business there, I chose the island expedition.

The island is accessible by 4x4 car only twice a day during low tide and low tide is at 7am or 7pm. One way to early and the other way too late. But no problem for well equipped adventurer with own boat J So after sleeping enough I loaded the kayak with everything required for pleasant camp nigh plus kite gear, because there should have been nice wind on the New Year Day and set off for 5km ride to the island. It was beautiful sunny and warm winter day, with no wind or waves, just perfect for some kayaking.

On Facebook there were only 4 other people signed up, so I was expecting to be there almost alone with the organizer Ovi. But what was my surprise when I saw bunch of local guys around an all inclusive camp hut. They had cars, electricity generator, huge speakers, video projector, jet ski and boat. They had everything J And with such a background you do also everything

Welcome tequila shot from Ovi and right to the water try wakeboarding and riding a supercharged jet ski. When it was too cold we went back to the campfire for some gin and deliciously cooked fresh fish my new Bahraini friends caught in half an hour. Yum yum!! After first dinner we took wetsuits and with head lamps went into the shallow water with harpoons to catch some more fish and crabs. I wouldn’t think it that easy to catch a fresh food!! So for the second dinner from even fresher fish we had also toast crab desert J Well fed we put on the video and had some more drinks. Even the coolbox full of cold beer I brough with me came handy…just completely chilled out New Year night.

The next morning I woke up around midday just when we the wind came so after a quick breakfast I pumped up my kite and went to wake up to the sea for the second time. But it was just too freezing for me and I was thinking more about not falling into the water than about trying out some new tricks, so I quit soon and went instead for fire and more fresh fish.

       Unfortunately in the afternoon I had to leave this paradise island, where he time was passing so gently and you didn’t have to worry about anything…just enjoying. But when I was paddling in the dusk and fog between the waves back to the car, not able to see any shore and seemingly lost, I realized again where I really was.

Think about it like this…Life is like a wolf pack. You try to fight through the life you have up for satisfaction and happiness, but in one moment you are driven out of your track by others, which are stronger than you or you are just not strong enough. So you leave, hide, disappear and became a lone wolf. But lone wolves have more time, space and peace to train, practice and prepare for comeback. And when they come back to the old pack they are stronger, wiser and ready…and they take reigns!!

Enough thinking…let’s start doing and let this year be 

THE YEAR OF THE (lone) WOLF!

And I wish to all of you that this year is also YOUR YEAR J

Czech Republic winter challenge

Same time, different place. Just six hours flight away from one challenge came another. Although in kind of different sense J

Wherever I’m, I always try to get back home to see my parents, brother and old friends at least once a year. I don’t think it’s enough, but all those virtual technologies and them to come and visit me also once a year, I feel that I’m not that far away. And Christmas is the best occasion to plan this voyage. Although this year it was a bit more difficult decision, because I had no more leave days left for 2010.

“Hmm…I need to take one week from 2011 for Abu Dhabi Challenge anyway…so why not to take another right after and go home for some regeneration, feeding and cool down” I said and let my company book a straight Dubai – Prague - Dubai Emirates flight. Everything was set. “I just hope I’ll survive the winter there” I thought when hearing that there is plenty of snow.

After the Desert challenge I was not that wasted as I expected, but that’s another story, so I arrived full of energy to do something different. And Jan knew exactly what I had in mindJ Right after my arrival we went to a beautiful new indoor climbing wall, which was built in the past year and was opened couple of weeks back…Lucky!! I haven’t been climbing for at least half a year, but it wasn’t that tragic. I was still more or less able to maintain my difficulty level around 6b – 6c, which was good and the fact that I got quite far on some crazy 7a overhang felt even nicer. After we finished we sat in the adjacent bar and some beer…OK I had tea, because I was really cold and was driving home…but even with the tea I was quickly absorbing the cool atmosphere in a friendly place with same minded people around. Relaxing…

Next on the program was cross-country skiing. We live in the mountains so it was close to go for our usual 20km loop and it was just nice…and even the cold was not a problem. “You just need to get properly dressed and no weather is a problem” Jan said and when looking at him covered up to his nose with special winter wear, I felt it was warmly true.

Also twice we went snowboarding for half a day. I was afraid that after not standing on the snowboard for two years or so it would be painful and not fun, but it was exactly the opposite. After few first unsure turns all previous skill came quickly back and at the end of the day I was riding steadily “on switch”, doing small shy 180s and enjoying. I felt I wanted to stay more are learn more, but time was short…

I wanted also to see some old friends, so I ventured to Prague for one evening. I stopped by the Old Town Square for Christmas market, had hot mead (liquor with taste of honey), typical sausages, “langos” and one more mead on the way back J Christmas and friendly atmosphere was touchable. Next morning, after a joyful evening with two friends I hadn’t seen for a year, I was standing on the snow covered balcony of my mom’s flat in Prague, looking far over the buildings and still full of this different state of mind I got into when I landed I was thinking “If the cold is not the problem…then what is?” I remembered when I was leaving to Dubai two years ago how happy I was…

And complete “Cherry on the cake” was a reunion with some of my old classmates from high school back in my town. Good Czech food and beer and mostly the perfect company made that evening hard to forget…even when I might have lost some details at the end J

In the evenings in our house we were playing cards, drinking the best beer in the world and chilling out. We had funny company of our dog and cat always provoking each other, like they wanted to show me that they are also part of this family. And was feeling good…I was home J

But one week is just too short and I had to leave right on the Christmas Day. And my mood was gone!! It was it was also because I had a tricky connecting flight in Dubai to Doha from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 and work day just three hours after landing. “Welcome back JIRI!!...Welcome home”

Of course that I missed my connection because of bus driver going 15km/h all the time and I was back in business. “Hello…I missed my plane so I need to buy a new ticket. Can I go out to the booth and buy one?” I asked a guy behind information desk. “No, you need to wait for FlyDubai people to come here”, “Can you call them?” “OK…wait…OK…they are coming” he said after talking with somebody. “Can I please speak to them?” I asked “Actually no, because I don’t have their number…but don’t worry, they have flights here and are coming and going…just wait until 3:30am”. My blood started to boil!!

I had 5 hours before the next flight at 7am so I went behind the corner to have a Big Mac and while eating I was scanning carefully the hall for FlyDubai staff. “So? They have flight in 45 minutes and nobody is here!! When they are coming?” “Oh Sir, we were looking for you. They were here” he was lying into my face again. There was another guy, kind of boss of all the people checking boarding passes. “They are coming in 10 minutes. I called them” he said after I searched for somebody else who could do something. Half an hour nothing happened. Three hours to the flight. I was getting extremely pissed and nervous. FlyDubai was just on the other side of the wall!!

“OK then…nobody is coming…could you just go there? It’s 50 meters?” I begged him. “No..It’s not my duty” “And what the hell is your duty…!!!!” I wanted to scream to his face. I tried to ask three fat Arab ladies doing baggage screening to go back through. “No, you cannot” they didn’t want to bother. “Look…I changed my mind” I desperately chose a different strategy. I don’t want to fly anywhere anymore. I want to get out of here. I can buy visa on arrival. How to get out? “Eeee…” he had no idea.   

Fortunately that other “boss” probably did call to somebody and before I tried to jump through the security gate two FlyDubai guys appeared and what was even more lucky…they KNEW what to do and were not lying or trying to dodge unusual situation. As I’m thinking about it now…I could have solved it easier myself…open laptop, get on internet, call them myself, etc…but I got blinded by the virtual proximity of their office and idealism brought from Europe. Anyway...I mercifully got one hour of sleep on the airport and one in the plane and I was ready to go to work. No really, because in the meantime they shifted arrival terminal to some other place, so when I got out of the terminal in Doha I opened my mouth in disbelief that it was not over “Where the hell I am???”

Same time, different place. Just few hours flight away and you are in a different world, different life. Same person, different troubles. Just couple of thousand kilometers further and you have different options, different view.

And which “different” is the best? Only time will tell. Easy to say after going on holiday for two weeks “I love it here. I want to live here”. But only couple of years show all the hidden treasures and flaws. So even when I felt so good at home, I stay on the ground. I know that place for long after all J

Although…I think I’m starting to hear the time telling me something...