There’s not much else to do at 4 am in Singapore when your body’s own circadian rhythm is still half a world away, and since I’m a little embarrassed that my last post was over a week ago I think this is the time to get crackin’.

Alas, this is the major drawback on long haul flights, the jet lag that comes with it and in my case I’m crossing thirteen time zones. And here’s a fun fact for you: “they” say that you need one day to adjust for every hour time zone that you cross. Too lazy to verify who the “they” are in this case but just keep that in mind for whenever you’re traveling overseas or even coast to coast.

So why do I love long haul flights? Part of it as with anything is the anticipation of it all, whether you’re new at it or a seasoned vet in this type of travel, I think it’s still exciting to experience the “time travel” effect, lie starting your journey on a Monday and arriving on a Wednesday (or Thursday!) and yet maybe you’ve only been traveling for a little over 24 hours on a technicality, but that’s before you factor in the door-to-door hours of getting to and from the airport. Science. Outstanding.

I also love the airport experience itself–in the interest of keeping it short and sweet, since I could go on and on about my most favorite and least favorite airports as if they were old college buddies of mine, let me generalize here.

I love that in the airport microcosm you can see such a variety of “social classes” and international people, all in one sealed dome as it were, traveling to parts unknown. Especially when traveling solo I sometimes imagine long and elaborate back stories for everyone around me in the security line. There are older people and younger people, whole families with some teenagers who are absolutely miserable to be up and alive at 6 am (I don’t blame them at all), and the families with the mom and the five children that all seem to be under the age of two traveling with a caravan of toys while the dad is conspicuously out of the line and “getting information/a coffee/the hell away from his screaming spawn”–and I secretly pray they are not on my plane though it often backfires such that they are sitting next to or behind me. I love watching people unload everything in their bag to comply with all of the TSA rules (preferably from the vantage point of a distinct line). I look at all the men in suits and wonder whether they are just starting out or they are the CEO of their company, then I look at all the slobs in pajamas and carrying pillows from home–no offense to you slobs but you’re not fooling me, I know you’re American and I also know that the pillow you’re bringing is completely unnecessary for where you are going 😉

I love standing in front of the departure and arrivals board as I confirm my gate but also sneak a peek at all the other destinations and flights today, and I don’t think I’m the only one to do so but I always roll around the crazy idea in my head, of what if I went back and changed my ticket and just decided to fly to a different place with some different feels?

Whenever I am being dropped at the airport my eyes are usually still glued shut from sleep, so I look forward to splashing some water on my face and putting on a little makeup in case it turns out I’m seated next to my soulmate (…or just someone decently cute… More on that some other time). Whenever I do this it brings back memories of getting ready on the go when I was younger.

Overpriced though it may be, I love having breakfast or some meal at he airport, usually I’m not standing around in a food court somewhere and with the exception of the flight crew and regular travel commuters, virtually everyone in the court is inexperienced with the food chains and brands in front of them, which also makes Starbucks a doubly attractive option. But I like to pick and choose, cross the terminal and take my damn sweet time. If you’re already there and waiting an hour or so before you can even board the plane, what’s the rush?

Like Starbucks, book stores and other concession stands become more attractive too. Even with a kindle or iPad loaded with books, I have to agree with the old school people out there that the patine of a book, the smell and texture of pages, ink and binding, is a much more enjoyable reading experience, and I love looking at all the glossy covers and front pages of books and magazines on the racks. What about the increasingly popular Best Buy electronics kiosks, for those who left something at home or just want to make an impulse purchase?

We’ve spent enough time in the airport and the flight attendants start to call you by boarding groups. I have a Pavlovian response to the sound of the scanner as it beeps twice before my ticket is handed back to me, and then it’s walking through a tunnel with often clever advertising making one last effort to reach you, dear solo traveler, honeymooner, family or business man, to alert you to the myriad of global possibilities with whatever company or whichever airline you’re flying, one last fleeting moment of excitement before you’re ready to sit in your sardine can for some 14 hours.

Sardine can?! I think you mean cozy little nest. Ok so just because I have weirdly (sadly) short legs and am otherwise fairly compact, the seat size doesn’t really bother me that much. If you are, however, at least of normal height and build, I can see how you would feel cramped, to which I offer my lay mans recommendation, same as for nervous flyers–take some Benadryl and call me in the morning (or when you land, ha!)

But seriously, in this world where we are all WAY TOO CONNECTED for comfort (and even I’m struggling with it and yet trying to make a go with the whole blogging thing…), it’s kind of nice to have the option of some 100 or so movies or tv shows, flight magazines, your own entertainment and nothing more. You willingly give those 14 hours (more or less) and just go with it, knowing that you will be half a world away–half a planetary body–I’m less than one full days time. Incredible isn’t it?

And still, were missing the food. OH, THE FOOD. I will not lie to you that economy tickets will receive delicious gourmet meals, but I will tell you that, like cheating on your diet with some fast food, it feels good every once in a while to take a walk on the bad side. It’s kind of a surprise, whatever it is you’ll be eating, but it’s always hot and usually includes some kind of dessert (score). Compared to domestic flights in the US where you’re lucky if you find a rogue peanut (on the floor), it’s nice to know that at least you don’t have to worry about being hungry. Pro tip–you could always get some goodies before you fly. Calories don’t exist above 30,000 feet cruising altitude. Also, for $18 for a flight, I’m pretty happy with the meals, thank you very much.

And when all is said and done, even if you don’t sleep well on flights normally, by sheer consequence of time, at some point you will drift into a nap, maybe for an hour or two or maybe enough to span a continent or ocean, and when you do I wish you a deep sleep and pleasant dreams. You, with your head quite literally in the clouds.

Just wake me up when the beverage cart is coming through the aisle.