What I've learnt - reflections from my first overseas international rally

So what exactly did I learn from my first overseas rally? The following:

• Always sort adapters before leaving. Also take a power board for multiple charging.


• I need to go over to wherever a day or so early to get comfortable before launching into it.


• Eye drops, sleeping pills, ear plugs and compression stockings are all needed for the plane.
  
• Apparently I sound Australian? - Bill Hayes: "You sound like one of us" - Followed by other comments from both Australians AND New Zealanders that have slight Australian accents?
  
• Took me a bit to get used to Mark Tapper's personality, but now I find it refreshing. - The WRC won't know what hit it next year!
  
• I'm slightly infamous. Two words - Golf carts.
  
• I almost died. Rifat Sungkar came ripping around the second to last corner on SS11, drove over a large concrete block on a culvert and missed me (I was standing just past the inside of the corner) by a metre, if that. No one else got remotely close on that corner. The aprc.tv guys have the footage - I'm getting a copy. > The photo I got - before dodging.


• Malaysian road driving has limited rules. And is incredibly fun. Alan: "You're enjoying this aren't you? I can see the smirk on your face!"


• Don't promise presents for people. Shopping is a pain in the ass. I was there to work for god's sake!
  
• Wicked shirt one of the kiwi guys had: "Fuck the force" [FIA APRC logo] "Get some better work stories." - The joke is that NZ has an ad campaign trying to recruit new cops by saying 'get some better work stories' - For those that don't get it.
  
• I think that infants and any screaming children should be illegal on planes. And also that male flight attendants are horrible - loud, thundering down the aisles and clumsy.
  
• I will most definately be paying more for direct flights next time I go anywhere, and will possibly go on Emirates. Middle Eastern rich oil country fleet. Gotta be better than Brunei.

Photos: Top, Cusco car on SS 12. Beautiful lighting on the first stage on Day 2, Crocker and Atkinson with some Australian Army peeps, Saki San on the job! Me on the job interviewing Rifat.