Mountain Withdrawal

I've been experiencing mountain high withdrawal since coming back to Taichung. Getting out of the city has made me more sensitive to the smells and noises of the city. I can smell the air pollution quite vividly and sometimes I think I can taste it. The noise pollution seems more raucous than before and my patience for traffic and dangerous driving is much less. I would experience these sensations very strongly in Denver after months of guiding in Utah, but the air and noise pollution is much worse in Taichung so just a few days in the high mountains puts these qualities in perspective. I am also aware of the stress it puts on my body as I could feel muscles tensing in my neck and shoulders as my guide drove me to my apartment in Taichung. It's a good lesson for me and shows me how our perspective becomes dulled by regular sensations.