On flying

[nanila]

Since the age of six, I've been on an average of four flights a year, with the average increasing significantly over the decade since moving to the UK. I have therefore flown more than a hundred times.

And it never, ever gets old. When we take off, I sit there going, "I know physics says this is possible, but oh mygod ohmygod ohmygod metal tube is lifting off into the air, ground is dropping away, WHY HAPPENING, wowowow look how far out there I can see! Tiny cars! Tiny houses! Ooh, we've reached cloud level! THIS IS AMAZING I AM EXCITE." I fail at being a coolly unimpressed experienced frequent flyer.

I always take a window seat if I can get one on short-haul flights and spend as much time as possible gazing out of it. Even when all I can see is the tops of clouds. Because they make cloud-cities and cloud-mountains and cloud-deserts*, you know, so it's still interesting.

Now I'm in Noordwijk and it's wet and cold and horrible but I'm snug in my favourite boutique hotel where they gave me an upgrade to a room that's twice as expensive because I'm a loyal customer, and soon I'll be going to dinner with one of my lovely colleagues. So that's pretty good.

On a different note, I'm blown away at the response to my last Unscientific Poll. Firstly, I had no idea people were so passionate about what they put on their chips. Secondly, cheers for the suggestions of new crisp flavours and sauces to try on my chips. And thirdly, I had no idea that many people were still around, particularly on LJ. It was most heartening to see. Thanks!

* Also I may have watched a few too many Miyazaki films

Comments

[lurkingcat]

I am not convinced that there is such a thing as too many Miyazaki films :)

[darkemeralds]

I love the moment of take-off, exactly where the plane reaches its maximum ground speed and starts to fly. I haven't flown perhaps quite as much as you have, but that moment never fails to thrill.

I'm committed to LJ and DW. Despite its having quieted down a lot and lost a lot of users (many of them my first LJ friends), I still find that when I post and comment regularly, it becomes a pretty lively space.

[quoththeravyn]

There's also that "those poor schmucks down there under all those pretty (from the upside) clouds" thing.

But yeah, looking out of airplane windows never gets old.

[askygoneonfire]

That tiny, split second where your stomach seems to float, the very moment the tyres lift of the concrete and you're actually *in flight*? That is one of my favourite sensations in life, out of everything.

I completely agree with you about the thrill that flight holds. I haven't flown anywhere near as much as you but I've clocked up a fair few miles over the years and yeah, still totally awed by the experience!

I'm now going back to have a look at the final chips and crisps results, important research; gotta be REF-able, right?!

[lark_ascends]

:-D :-D

[kaberett]

<3

[redsixwing]

I love flying, too. One of my goals in life is to experience all the kinds of flying (or creative falling, really) that I can.

Here's to delightedly staring at the tops of clouds, and seeing landscapes and stories in them!

[calissa]

I don't get to fly very often (very rarely, in fact), but I also do it with my nose pressed up against the window and looking at the clouds.

Whenever I take off in an aeroplane, I always expect the tail to scrape a little bit like a car going up a steep driveway.

[nanila]

Neither am I. I think I need to re-watch "Spirited Away" very soon.

[nanila]

I always find myself leaning forward during take-off. You know, just to give the plane that little extra nudge. :P

My LJ community goes through bursts of activity. It's easy to forget that lots of people are still reading when most of them don't comment. Not that I blame anyone for this, since commenting is so much more effortful than "Likes" or "+1" or kudos and sometimes there aren't enough spoons, especially with so many online communities to keep track of.

[nanila]

Yes, especially when it's hammering it down at take-off and then you drift up into bright sunshine.

[nanila]

Between LJ and DW, there were 78 responses. We must be able to draw some statistically significant conclusions from that data set!

[nanila]

Heeeee. *grins*

[nanila]

♥!

[nanila]

Would you be willing to go skydiving? I want to go skydiving but I might also be too scared.

I definitely want to go in a hot air balloon one day. And a helicopter. Never been in a helicopter.

[nanila]

I have to travel to mainland Europe for work, and the fastest way to get there, usually, is flying. Otherwise I doubt I'd fly nearly as much!

I never thought about the tail/rear bumper scrape thing before. That's going to give me a chuckle next flight. :)

[darkemeralds]

Your reply has prompted me to google "not enough spoons" and now I'm educated on something I'd never thought consciously about before. What a wonderful article!

[redsixwing]

I very much want to go skydiving. :)
SixSpouse is not OK with jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, and would be very nervous about me doing same, and would thus be on the ground, with a camera.

A hot air balloon sounds like fun! And helicopters too.
Edit: I live near (in rural US terms, anyway) a large balloon festival, and every year, I think I ought to go. I'm sure I couldn't get a seat in a balloon for the mass ascension, but how cool would that be...

I think my most desired form of flight right now is to learn to hang glide, because strapping myself to a giant kite sounds like a lot of fun.