暫時逃離工作的潛水旅遊

English version

       訂位中心：「嗯..你可以在六點四十五分之前到達接送地點嗎？就在..」

       我沒等她說完：「可以，我知道在哪裡。」

       已經是六點二十分了，但是有預先準備好行李，早早就抵達接送地點。第三次參加這個旅行，已經是訓練有素的乘客了。

       到了船上，有些船員已經認得我了，不再多費唇舌指示什麼。船員伺候其他乘客時，我只是坐在一旁看著。在水下，潛水導遊在照顧其他潛水客時，我只顧著拍照片。回程，潛水團隊在甲板上收拾裝備，我在乘涼午睡。這趟旅行讓我回想起以前參加潛水旅遊的樂趣。真希望每週都可以暫時逃離工作來潛水旅遊。

    照片是大堡礁小丑魚（Barrier Reef Anemonefish），拍攝於 Agincourt 珊瑚礁群的潛點 The Gap

A Diving Getaway

   “Hmm, can you go to the pickup location by six forty five? It’s…” the reservation centre said.

   “Yes, I can,” I interrupted her, “I have been there. I know where it is.”

   It was six twenty already, but I had prepared my bag in advice and arrived at the pickup location early. I became a well trained passenger for the third time on this trip.

   On the boat, some crew recognized me and did not bother to give me instructions. I sit back while the crew was serving other passengers. Underwater, I took photos while the dive guide was taking care of other divers. On the way back, I took a nap under the shed while the dive team was packing up equipment on the deck. This trip reminded me those fun dives I used to have. I wished to have a diving getaway every week.

    The photo was a Barrier Reef Anemonefish, taken at The Gap, Agincourt Reef.

出乎意料的員工旅遊

English version

        「嗨，我是公司員工，名字是Sean。幾天前有傳真員工旅遊申請，不曉得今天船上有沒有位子。」我打電話給訂位中心時，還沒完全清醒，人還躺在床上，聲音沙啞到連自己都嚇一跳。不過，同樣的電話打過好幾次，沒清醒也能說出問題。

        訂位中心回答：「 這艘船今天訂滿了，」

        「喔，」又沒候補上，準備掛電話繼續睡覺。

        訂位中心繼續說：「不過，另一艘船還有一個位子，」

        瞬間清醒了。完全出乎意料，以為和前四週一樣又沒位子。要訂的船沒有位子居然還可以候補別的船。更重要的是，我還躺在床上，卻要在30分鐘內抵達接送地點。掛上電話後，把所有東西丟進包包，趕去接送地點。直到坐上了接送的遊覽車，還是興奮不已，一切的等待都是值得的。

        這次的照片是粉紅小丑魚

Surprising Staff Travel

    “Hi, I'm a staff member and my name is Sean. I've faxed a travel request a few days ago. Is the boat fully booked today?” I called the reservation centre. I was still in bed, not totally awaken. Yet, I could spit out the question without thinking since I had asked the same question for many times.

   “The boat is fully booked today,” the reservation centre answered.

   “Oh,” I was disappointed again. I was about to hang up the phone and get back to sleep.

   “But there is one seat available on another boat,” the reservation centre continued.

   I was totally awaken now. It was surprising because I thought I would fail again as same as the past 4 weeks. Moreover, I had to get on the pickup location within 30 minutes but I was still in bed. After hanging up the phone, I chucked everything in my bag and rushed to the pickup location. I was still thrilled when I got on the pickup coach. All the long waits were worth.

    The photo is a pink clownfish.

員工旅遊福利

English version

        「這裡是訂位中心，有什麼能為您服務？」

        「我在候補早上的員工旅遊。可以幫我查一下有沒有位子嗎？」

        「是Sean嗎？」訂位中心神速回答。

        「是的。」莫非我的名字在旅客清單中？怎麼這麼快就找到我的名字？

        「很不幸地，今天已經訂滿了。」

        不知道是不是候補太多次，訂位中心已經知道我的名字了。公司提供員工旅遊福利，只要是公司經營的旅遊行程沒訂滿，都可以用很低的價錢去玩。在這家公司工作之後，每週休假都去候補，目前為止一勝三敗。12月是這裡的旅遊旺季，希望下週能候補得到。

        圖片是凱恩斯下週的天氣預報

Staff Travel

    “This is the reservation centre. How can I help you?”

    “I am waiting for a staff travel this morning. Could you please help me check if I can take the trip?”

    “Is that Sean?” the reservation centre responded instantly.

    “Yes,” I answered. "How come he got my name so quickly? Is my name on the passenger list?" I wondered.

    “Unfortunately it is fully booked today.”

    I wondered if I had made so many travel requests that the reservation centre already knew me. The company I worked for provided employees travel benefits. I could have a trip operated by the company for a low price only if the trip was not fully booked. Since I started working for the company, I made travel requests whenever I had a break from work. So far, I successfully got only one out of 4 requests. December was the high season for tourism business here. Hopefully I would get a trip next week.

    The figure is Cairns Weather Forecast for the following week.