I’m currently in the San Francisco International Airport, doing whatever I can to pass the six hour layover between my earlier flight from Chicago and tonight’s flight to Singapore. The international terminal here is much livelier than when I flew through last March — it’s a testament to how much Oceania and Asia have opened back up for travel in recent months.
In my last post I shared that I forfeited a flight attendant interview with United in order to keep backpacking. It feels unbelievable that I am finally embarking on a multi-month trip to SE Asia. I developed a curiosity to visit this part of the world while on my first cruise ship contract back in 2019. At that point I was in South America for the first time, and prior to that I couldn’t imagine a trip through Asia while still in graduate school. So by early 2020 I began planning a trip to Asia to follow my second cruise contract. Thanks to Covid the trip didn’t happen, and my cruise was cut short in Australia.
I have to say, it’s crazy to be heading out on another long trip this year following five months of a working holiday in Australia. Had I stayed there for a full year as originally planned, perhaps I would feel less distressed. Because no matter how excited I get to travel it is always a emotionally draining process to come and go so often across long distances. There’s always so many goodbyes, and you can’t help but wonder what the hell people think of your life. But this wild type of travel is a wonderful perk of the standby flying experience — allowing one to exist across countries, continents, and states without much financial burden.
This year is shaping up to be my year of ultra long-haul flights. Tonight’s flight is United flight #1, which feels special even though I’ve never kept track of flight numbers. With an in-air time of almost 16 hours, this is United’s current longest flight, and my fifth flight this year that has been at least 14 hours long.
While I still haven’t found the secret to avoiding crippling jet lag, I have somewhat gotten better at preparing my body for these extended periods of time spent inside a big metal tube. Being based in Wisconsin I always have at least two to three flights ahead of me when traveling across the pacific — and fortunately I’ve had long layovers in which to adjust. This afternoon I visited a yoga room for the very first time at the airport. I tried to focus more on simple stretching rather than anything too intense. I’m not the type who gets up to stretch much on planes, so doing anything I can before a long flight to feel loose is good. I’ve also noticed that trying to drink as much water during a flight as possible tends to lead to slightly less aches and pains. Otherwise I try to use layovers to walk around and get in my steps.
Once I arrive in Singapore I will have seven hours to fill before my third flight to Hanoi, Vietnam. I didn’t get a chance to really explore the Singapore airport last month when I transited through en route home from Australia, so it’ll be the perfect place for another layover. I feel comforted knowing I’m heading to a well trodden and cheap part of the world, but I’d be lying if I said the distance didn’t weigh on me.
Up Next: Vietnam I. “Hanoi“
thelaststandby 