Flying?!...Whew!

I hate flying. For someone who traveled 4 times in 2014 and is likely to travel again this year, that's not necessarily a great "fear" to have. And here's what happened...

When I was younger, I loved to fly. I remember looking out the window of the plane and thinking, "cooool". The feeling of take-off was just wonderful! I mean, you are flying! Landing was just as cool...why else would people clap?! And it seems my imagination was in the clouds at time. I told my primary school friends how "pickable" the clouds were and that the toilets would release their content into the sky (some may've hit the ships or birds below). What fun times!

Years later, I grew up. And with growing came knowledge. And knowledge can oft be a dangerous thing because that's when it went downhill. Planes were now controlled by people (prone to error). Parts can malfunction when one least expects. Turbulence (especially in small airplanes) is not fun. Take-off and landing are the most dangerous segments of any trip. Suffice it to say I get very nervous EVERYTIME I have to fly.

The most interesting of trips took place late last year when I went to Singapore (I will do a post on this in the future) - 4 flights to and 4 flights from. Moreover, the outside wasn't always visible (for me of course!) when landing. Doesn't make for the most comfortable experience. Spending 15 hours over the Pacific with absolutely no emergency area/country/land for most of that was a horrifying thought. Not to mention the cramped seating (stuck between people on either side) in regular economy (vs Premium Economy or Business Class or 1st Class). My response to all this?

I prayed a lot...every leg, every take-off, every landing. I also drew on statistics that show that even with mysterious disappearances and unlikely crashes, flying is the safest way to travel (exact numbers were not important). I also discovered that when I can't see outside, I get more nervous. What calmed me was singing in my head (and doing actions as well) "With Christ in the Vessel We Can Smile at the Storm". Even my firm grip of the seat (on landing) eased a bit.

Up until that trip, I thought one of my worst fears was travelling in dem small planes, where you have to be "evenly distributed". Now I ponder - is not seeing outside when landing worse than flying on LIAT (and other small(er) aircrafts)? I must say that the latter has the edge.  Maybe I'll post more on that in the future. But at least I can say with Christ in the vessel, I can spend more time enjoying the beauty and the newness of my experiences.

Airport in Hong Kong, China

Being cool (literally) while I watched one of many movies.

Approaching Hong Kong

A bridge being built...somewhere

It rained somewhere...Glad it wasn't the theme of the travel.


The beauty of the skies.

The wonderful sunset...somewhere.

LA from the air

Hong Kong views

More travel is in the future. Bring it on!

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