The Other Side of Travelling

Travelling across the world is on everyone’s wish-list. It is fun and gives you a broader perspective on life. Atleast that’s what it did for me. I was a naïve girl from Lucknow - travelling broadened my horizons and I knew so much more than I did from textbooks in my first 25 years of life.

However, all good things in life come with a price to pay. And I am not talking about just the monetary aspects.

The most horrifying thing about travelling is flights. My least enjoyable part of any vacation is boarding that plane and getting off. I hate the airports, I hate the landings and I hate the transfers. This is mainly because of an anxiety issue that runs deep in the family and a personal shortcoming. More than that, it is the way flights operate in this world.

A lot of times we have to connect to a different plane. Often these connections are delayed and you are panic stricken whether or not you will be able to connect to the next plane. Although it is easier to think that we can always get on the plane after that, it is human nature to run and catch what you are meant to catch.

A friend recently had to spend 24 hours at the airport with 6-month old twins because of the reason I stated above. We had to once run across a terminal to catch our next plane. I was literally in tears and panting. We were held at U.S. customs even though we had another flight to catch very soon. It is another thing that no flight in U.S. ever took off on time.

We’ve faced rude flight attendants, un-cooperative ground staff, filthy passengers seated next to us, and the list goes on. A bestie recently told me how she cannot even breathe when she has to catch a plane for reasons she doesn't understand! I really don’t know why flying has to be such a horrifying experience.

Having said that, I love it when we reach our destination and get the most awesome first view of a city. I love it when the doors open and I breathe in the air of a new place. I admire how air-hostesses work tirelessly and patiently. And I absolutely love the low-cost airlines for giving us deals on flying. All this and so much more makes every disturbing experience on the plane totally worth it.

Actually I am waiting for the day we win a million-dollar lottery and get to fly first class every time we travel. Although we wouldn't be able to stop other planes when our plane is getting delayed, we would atleast get top-notch treatment. Wait, why would we travel then? We would buy a mansion in France and drive around Europe in our convertible. Wouldn’t that be just perfect?

*shuts off the browser and enters dreamland*