One of my goals for this year is to fly more, and fly further. I’ve got Mauritius, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea at the top of my list.
I know some people find airports to be stressful or a chore, but there’s something about just sitting in an airport cafe in the early hours of a sunny morning that gives this vibe I can’t really articulate. I just love it. I’m still like a little kid whenever the plane is taking off, and even in cruise I just can’t get over the fact that we’re travelling in a metal tube so high above the Earth at incredible speeds, and we could be on the other side of the world in less than a day! Getting a window seat is a must!
It makes me feel really proud to live in an era where it’s possible for us to fly to one continent to the next within hours…
I used to be an avid flyer, but the turn airlines have taken to become cattle cars of the air has removed that shine. I recently flew from Wuhan to Seoul to Calgary to Ottawa (and back) in order to do a road trip from Ottawa to Victoria and back (to Calgary, bypassing the Ottawa->Calgary leg) and in the process just reaffirmed my complete lack of desire to do air travel for anything but the absolutely necessary ever again.
I love travel, but I’ll stick to rail for as much as is practical. The road trip was great but exhausting for our driver (my stepfather), and here in China rail is just the best option for long-distance travel. Comfortable and fast. Air is no longer on the list except at specific great need.