Of Flights and Flying

Ah well.. the traveller has decided to post about her flying experiences today. Nope, I'm not talking about flying a plane myself but rather the act of travelling by Boeing.

My first flight was from Singapore to Perth. Very exciting for me. When I was younger, travelling usually did not involve anything with wings. It was just the plain old coach ride for 3 days in a row. That's why I'm pretty much a seasoned bus traveller. That's good .. because it means I won't feel sick travelling in any sort of vehicle!

Back to my first flight, I was very eager to take the plane since I'd never travelled on one. Going to Changi airport is the most interesting trip to me. Seeing everyone in a huge airport terminal with luggage bags and waiting for their turns to their destinations. It was just an amusing people watching time. Boarding the plane which would take 6 hours to land in Perth airport. I was really astonished about the size of the plane and the interior. Air travel is like an adventure ride.

Now flying is a common thing if I wish to travel to anywhere else in the world. Most of the excitement have died down. The part when I have to pass the customs of each country (scary) and boarding the plane are all pretty mundane for me. What still makes me long to travel by plane is the thought of what is waiting for me at the other end. Will my Mum be there waiting with tears in her eyes? Will any of my mates give me the nice big hug like they always do? Will my fiance be wearing that beautiful smile that I so longed to see each time? So many uncertainties always wear me out on the plane ride that I can easily doze off to sleep.

Besides imagining what will happen when I get to my destination, travelling by plane means a lot of Loneliness for me. For the past few years, I had to fly 9 out of 10 times on my own. All that 10 over hours of sitting in the plane alone, plugged into my own little world of the in-flight entertainment and waiting for my meals. I usually try not to talk to the fellow traveller beside me. I hate having to make small talk and someone constantly stopping me from nodding off to dreamland. No no.. I hate in-flights conversation.. I'd rather limit it to "Excuse me, I need to go to the loo." Or the occasional sorry when I knocked into someone's elbow. That's about it.

So do I still love to fly? Yes. And my next flight will be bound for Singapore, home. What's yours?