Haven’t been reading along. Check out Part 1 and then Part 2
There is something exciting about taxiing onto the runway in a plane. Perhaps its the excitement for the upcoming trip or maybe your just lucky enough to have some rather attractive air hostess’s running through the emergency procedure. No matter the reason I was stuck in the middle seat of 3 and at that moment I didn’t care in the slightest I was going overseas woohoo!!
When our turn for takeoff came, the engines fired up and off we went. Bouncing along the runway until we parted ways with the earth and zoomed off into the night sky. Our trip had begun and I settled in trying to make the entertainment system work, only to realise it was locked out till after the seat belt sign went off… oops.
The next three hours passed rather quickly as I mastered the in flight entertainment system and relaxed to watch a movie and play tetris. Somewhere after that the excitement began to fade and I opted to try and get some sleep in my chair that I swear had somewhat shrunk since I first sat down in it.
The gf had dropped off to sleep leaning on me which being the chivalrous type of guy I am, just rolled with it. The person in the window seat had long ago closed their eyes and was comfortably rested up against the window. That just left me unable to move and with my ass going numb.
First up I tried to sleep sitting there… yeah that was never going work. Next was to try and lean back against gf but all that did was wake her up and have the phrase “get off me” sent in my direction. Slumping down in the chair also did nothing to appease my sleep monster. At this point I looked towards my window seat passenger and pure jealous formed in my brain, I wanted the window seat.
So what do you do when sleep eludes you on an overnight flight and you still have 5 hours to go? order a beer and settle in for yet another movie of course as this was going to be an all nighter. My next 3 hours were the slowest in my life. Unable to move for fear of the gf’s wrath but unable to sleep due to a numb ass and a chair that I swear was trying to swallow me.
Eventually reprieve finally came in the form of a warm towel from the air hostess and breakfast carts. The gf made for the toilet and I climbed out of my tomb allowing my ass and legs a flow of blood they so dearly desired. With this small gift it made the final hours of the flight bearable and before too long we were standing in Singapore Airport and on our way to board the final flight to Hong Kong.
Our final flight was scheduled to only take 4-5 hours, I prayed that a miracle would happen and I would sleep the entire way waking as we touched down in Hong Kong. Yes I know what your thinking pigs might fly first and your right. Turns out I spent the entire time in a form of daze from lack of sleep and a numb butt. Needless to say I was overly joyed to land in Hong Kong and even fought back the sleep so that I could take in the sights as we caught the train to our Hotel.
Eventually slumping down onto our bed at the hotel I voted for a nap or I was going to be sleeping in the bath tub for tearing gf’s head off.
Up next Hong Kong and my first Christmas overseas…
Ha! Sleeping on planes definitely takes some practice. I usually purge my body of caffeine before a long flight, then sleep quite well. Then I use the caffeine to regulate my way out of jet lag at my destination.
Although I’ve actually fallen asleep ON THE TARMAC and slept right through take-off, so I may be a unique case.
All that said, how was your game of Tetris?
haha you were asleep before even leaving the ground now that’s impressive. Caffeine and I are great friends so your advice might actually be a good idea, especially with 23 hours of flying ahead of me eek.
As for the Tetris game well it was fun for 10min then I played Mario and it didn’t last longer. Movies were the only real peace I had. This time I’m taking my macbook and flying an A380 so power all the way baby 🙂
I loved flying until I did my first OS trip, now it’s just a painful means to an end!!! I always find myself spending a bit more on a good airline so i can get good in flight movies!!! Oh how Qantas has done well out of me! 🙂
You have come up with quite a good blog formula with this series!!! I keep waiting in anticipation to get to read that next chapter!!! 🙂
I love flying, I just love international flying less. Your right about wanting to spend a little more to be comfortable though, hopefully my trip to paris soon will be with Singapore Airlines on an A380 🙂 I’d like to fly Qantas for the flyer miles but having flown with Singapore before I’m keen to do it again especially on the new plane.
hehe I’m glad you like it Sasha. It’s been fun reliving what I got up too on my first trip. I have video footage that I may edit and post up later from the entire trip to bring it all together.
I can never get a good night’s sleep during a flight. It’s the most difficult thing to do. But what’s worst is that for some odd reason I always tend to be able to get some shut eye right BEFORE the plane is about to land.
.-= Monica´s last blog ..新年快乐！ Happy Chinese New Year! =-.
In 2008 on my way to Bangkok I had the misfortune to sit behind a screaming baby. The solution is lots of red wine, eventually you will “fall asleep”.
.-= ayngelina´s last blog ..The 8 Weeks and Counting List =-.
Screaming kids are horrible. I had not one but 3 on the return flight from Singapore. Just glad they were on the other side of the plane so I could drown them out with music. Lucky it was another over night flight and they eventually slept… not that I could stupid uncomfortable seats.
Hahaha, I CANNOT sleep on a plane. At all. My first flight EVER, I was so hungover…as we landed in London, I actually thought my head was going to explode with the pressure. It was awful.
.-= Candice´s last blog ..How to Deal When Mother Nature Takes a Snow Dump All Over Your City =-.
Oh Candice I can not even imagine being hungover on a plane as well as unable to sleep. All you needed was Ayngelina’s screaming kid to make it the worst flight possible.
Hey Monica, I think towards the end you are just exhausted so your body just says right that’s enough we are sleeping no matter the conditions.
I’m hoping I can score some sleep on the way to Paris as I will arrive there at 7AM if I book the flight I’m looking at. I don’t want my first day in Paris to be sleeping.
I am also one of those cases that’s able to fall asleep on the tarmac. What’s crazy is that I absolutely HATE flying. It terrifies my soul. And my mind is always warped right after. However, for some reason, if I’m dead tired, I will sleep. Once, on a flight to Hawaii, I fell asleep before we left the ground and the wheels hitting the tarmac when we landed woke me up. I’d slept thru the entire flight. If only it was like that every time.