We were all grounded by Quarantine, but it was particularly difficult for those whose livelihoods and lives depend on flying. It’s one thing not to be travelling. But not being able to be frustrating.
We all spend hours reminiscing about our past, but there are some things I miss most about travelling.
The Surprises – While people dislike travelling for the same reason, what attracted me to it was the uncertainty of what would happen. I view disappointments as disappointment. I prefer surprises and see them as an adventure. The surprises that travel offers, whether it’s a trip to a museum or a trip to another country, are what kept me interested in it so many years ago.
The Food – The food is what I dream about most when I’m in Quarantine. You can find new foods in good places. But you will not be able to try everything every day in the best places. I am making meals with what I have in my pantry and daydreaming of crepes with Nutella in Paris and green papaya salads here in Bangkok.
The New Perspectives – Being in a new location means meeting new people. While I scroll through Netflix like it will fix my life, there are things I am craving: new books, movies, ideas, and inspiration. Every day you meet new people, so it is easy to forget the constant stream of recommendations from people around the globe.
The Sense Of Accomplishment – I once told a colleague about a trip to Myanmar. When she asked me what I would do, I said I was going there. I told her that “where I’m going” and “what I’m doing” were rarely two different concepts. I miss the sense of accomplishment that comes with discovering new places. It’s the culmination of months of planning, saving, researching, and daydreaming. The reward is delicious.
Movies on the Plane – Maybe it’s me, but I don’t get as excited about a movie when I watch it on a plane. It’s so much easier to lose yourself in a story when you aren’t distracted by the daily grind of life on the ground. A plane is a better place to watch a funny rom-com or an action movie than one with a more complex story.
Flexibility – I almost always travel solo, so having no social obligations abroad is great. I don’t need to be at work (although I have to work occasionally), and I’m not compelled to meet up with my friends for dinner, beers, or attend their events. You can stay up late and get up early. You can. I can get to the airport to take a flight and then abandon it to buy a ticket elsewhere. Because I like something I saw from the window, I can get off the train earlier than expected. You can be as flexible when you are far away from everyone familiar.
Arriving Somewhere New — Of all the miles, years, passport stamps and miles, the sound of the plane landing is what makes me smile. This is when all the anticipations I have built up for my trip crystallise, and I feel more excited than I can handle. Of all the signs my nomad’s brain recognizes as “you have arrived”, the most powerful is the audible ping from the seatbelt sign indicating that your plane has landed at the arrival gate.