Howdy folks, been a short while since I updated! I just returned from a very relaxing week-long trip back to the States. Wait, did I say relaxing??? Oh yeah, the stay in the USA was nice, but those 14 hour flights in economy seating definitely are not! Well, if you have the extra leg-room, maybe they are. True, all the entertainment options are available during the flight - movies, basic games, and popular tv shows - and there are many meals and snacks served, but even this becomes difficult during the fourteen hour flight. Movement is difficult; especially so if there is a laptop bag under the seat in front of you (no room for your feet), and the person in front is reclining, AND your seat is broken so that it cannot recline, and still further if you are about six feet tall (which is about average, I would think...).
Alright, it's out! No more complaining now. The flight isn't that difficult, especially if there are people to talk to along the way. To make the trip easier, I always enjoy walking around and walking to the aft of the aircraft to stair out the window at the North Pole. Invariably there are others at the same location who have trotted back for similar reasons; it can be fun to break the monotony and start up a conversation with some of them. Some tips for making a long flight easier (at least from my experience) are to:
(0) Travel economy class. $6,000 USD for transoceanic first class doesn't cut it (unless the company is
paying), even if you can lay out
(1) Sit in an aisle seat if traveling alone [extra leg room may be worth the extra dollars]
(2) Eat very lightly during the 12 hours before the flight
(3) Take walks frequently for at least ten minutes duration - if permitted during the flight
(4) Remove your shoes while seated to allow the feet to "breathe"
(5) Attempt to go without sleep the night before and then allow yourself to sleep during the destination's "night" time (helps to significantly eliminate jet lag, especially for 12-13 hours time differences)
Oh, one other tip. Carry-on baggage only is always a plus; less hassle, less worry, and more free time allows for shorter time required between travel connections. This results in a happier traveler :-).
Photolog
... for the short journey
Alright, it's out! No more complaining now. The flight isn't that difficult, especially if there are people to talk to along the way. To make the trip easier, I always enjoy walking around and walking to the aft of the aircraft to stair out the window at the North Pole. Invariably there are others at the same location who have trotted back for similar reasons; it can be fun to break the monotony and start up a conversation with some of them. Some tips for making a long flight easier (at least from my experience) are to:
(0) Travel economy class. $6,000 USD for transoceanic first class doesn't cut it (unless the company is
paying), even if you can lay out
(1) Sit in an aisle seat if traveling alone [extra leg room may be worth the extra dollars]
(2) Eat very lightly during the 12 hours before the flight
(3) Take walks frequently for at least ten minutes duration - if permitted during the flight
(4) Remove your shoes while seated to allow the feet to "breathe"
(5) Attempt to go without sleep the night before and then allow yourself to sleep during the destination's "night" time (helps to significantly eliminate jet lag, especially for 12-13 hours time differences)
Oh, one other tip. Carry-on baggage only is always a plus; less hassle, less worry, and more free time allows for shorter time required between travel connections. This results in a happier traveler :-).
Photolog
... for the short journey
It's cold in the USA right now... but some critters always know where to get some food!
Before departure... this was to be a long, arduous day!
I traveled on Delta airlines for this round-trip flight... very affordable if you fly out of Hong Kong on an off-season! [for the record, this was a connecting flight to a major delta hub; the long flights are always the larger planes, Boeing 747, 777, or similar]
The cloudy skies above a still-frozen, yet thawing landscape
Hong Kong! Finally, a chance to relax with a pulled-pork sandwich and a cold
mocha cappuccino. Ahhh, a nice break after nearly 21 hours of transportation time!
Skypier ferry terminal connected to the Hong Kong Airport. If you use the Skypier, you can bypass going through Hong Kong customs/border security and technically never enter Hong Kong!
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