Flight Across the World - stage one to Dubai

On the evening of Monday 29th August I board my Emirates flight to head north. It is three years since I have set foot in Auckland International Airport; it is eerily quiet in its muted tones of blue, white, grey and wood, with fish swimming on the ceiling. Everything is satisfyingly streamlined. 

There is hardly anyone on board and I have a row to myself. At least as far as Kuala Lumpur, where the plane will do a landfill - a quick stop to load more human beings on board. 

I settle in, watch the sky turn a mellow yellow as the sun sets across the horizon and play a bit of Tetris - gosh it's so long since I played this game midair and I recall how addictive it is. I do not want to let it get the better of me, but of course it always will - especially once the level has been cranked up and a handicap or two added! I always like a challenge ... and the satisfaction of locking those blocks into place ... until you no longer can!

I watch "King Richard" and have to say Will Smith deserved that Best Actor Oscar, but I still can't forget that alarming "slap" moment, which I watched live in utter disbelief. Like everyone, at first I thought it was scripted but it only took a nanosecond, as things unfolded, to realise it was anything but. 

Anyway, the movie was a good watch. My next one was not - "Spencer", about the lead-up to the break-up of Charles and Diana. Why I bothered till the end I have no idea but there was something slightly mesmerizing about focussing on Kristen Stewart's well-rehearsed Diana mannerisms. Most of the film's characters were blurred into an oblivious background throughout the film, quite a clever concept I thought, as Diana slowly went mad around them. Poor Diana. 

I remember being on a flight somewhere back in July 1997 and seeing her in a magazine dressed in the gorgeous powder-blue dress looking as striking and vibrant as she ever could (below). She was off to see Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall. I vividly remember looking at the photos and thinking "I wonder what the world would do if she was to die." I perished my thought but couldn't get it out of my head. A month later I sadly got to find out the answer to my foreboding question.

Perhaps that's why I persevered with "Spencer" but I do not recommend that you should!

Uh-oh, my personal space has just been invaded with water inadvertently squirted from the drink bottle of the kid behind me - he didn't mean to squeeze it so hard and jettison water all over the wall and window beside me and his mother is most apologetic. I am just glad I only get a sprinkle. I've made more mess with wine on a plane!

From KL to Dubai, the flight was packed. A night flight, it was silent and uneventful - but not so smooth due to regular turbulence. More Tetris, more food and a documentary movie called "Claymation" - about American animator and filmmaker Will Vinton. Engaging, enlightening and entertaining, with a touch of harrowing. Something a bit different. 

The guy in front of me has a seat that reclines with more gusto than any airline seat should. I'm not sure if it's him or the seat itself, but it was a case of "get that reclining chair out of my face", especially when it was time for food. The food during the flight has been pretty good, washed down with a couple of glasses of wine. But mostly I am thirsty for water and juice. The kid behind me is snoozing and there is no more liquid sprinkle coming my way from him. I doze a bit too. 

Soon enough - well, actually it's almost 20 hours later, which is quite a long time - we touch down in Dubai, swooping in over bright lights laid out in regular patterns. Transit time ...

OBSERVATION OF THE DAY:
For here am I sitting in a tin can, far above the world, Planet Earth is blue, and there's nothing I can do (Bowie, Space Oddity) ... except enjoy this time to do absolutely bloody NOTHING!

I realise, again, how much I love flying - the experience itself and the opportunities it enables. I really don't mind sitting still amidst my thoughts whilst cruising at altitude towards a new destination.