Timezone arithmetic 1

When I travel long distance, the timezone difference always concerns me. It affects how I feel when I reach the destination and I take it into account when planning the route. It's easier going west than east simply because it's easier to stay up later. Nonetheless, large differences are not easy to cope with.

Sydney is normally at UTC+10. Western Europe is at UTC+1 but Portugal, like the UK, is at UTC. Then there is DST. The easiest way to think about DST is that it shifts the zone one hour to the east. So there is currently 9 hours difference between Sydney and Porto.

In the days before setting out, I tried to stay up later and later. I was going to bed around 3 am days before departure. But that still means that here in Porto, I'm starting to fade at 6 pm. Conversely, I wake up around 4 or 5 am and want breakfast. As days pass I will be able to stay awake later into the evening. So that's why a night out on the town is not high on my priorities at the moment.

When I got into KL at 9 pm Monday, it was like 11 pm in Sydney. I had a shower in the KLIA Airside Hotel which was worth the MYR20. I slept on the plane after dinner was over. That's why the 12.5 hours to CDG passed quickly. But by the time I got to Porto late afternoon, it was towards the end of the day for my jetlagged body. Most disconcerting for it in the bright afternoon sunshine. But sunlight helps nudge the body clock into sync.

A pair of eye shades helps to get to sleep while dorm mates are moving about a lit room in the late evening. I have ear plugs too but haven't had to use them.This morning, a bunch of hostellers got in at 5 am. It was a bit inconsiderate of them not to speak and tread softly. Fortunately I was nearly awake already. Serves them right that I was rummaging through my things at 9 am to get ready for a day out, hah!