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The adventure begins. The airport. Feelings of being unprepared, rushing around and being completely overwhelmed. Bags are packed...to the absolute limit may I add, but I manage to get an emergency-exit seat upon check-in which is like Christmas morning for a 5 foot 10 giraffe (lady). It feels slightly odd having to choose between writing 'lady' or 'girl' here when referring to myself. I don't feel like I'm either right now especially with a tortoise-looking green shell on my back apparently called a back-pack and no sign of femininity whatsoever!!
...Anyhow, I am greeted by my friends soon after and we head to get a coffee and relax. Soon enough, before I could take it all in, I was reminded thanks to the airport speakers that it was time to go through the gate. I must admit I was feeling quite calm until we approached the line of other travelers and families waiting to go through. I really didn't know how to do this whole goodbye-but-ill-see-you-soon-right? thing so I thought hugging would be a good start. Apparently not. I started to feel the emotions running and tears building despite my best efforts. The last person to hug was my dear friend Chantelle and somehow, that was the trigger. Man I was crying like a baby but not really too sure if I was upset, overwhelmed, sad, happy or excited..or maybe all of those things at the same time. I suddenly felt the nerves and couldn't believe how quickly this day had come. This was it, no turning back now. I set my mind and had a dream; I set the date and suddenly here I was. I waved goodbye to my Mum, Dad and my friends; Georgia, Ellen, Bradley, Lydie and of course, Chantelle.
Breathe. At this moment I had my first realisation; just how important our friends and family are and the different roles they each play in our lives. Life is but the people we share it with and the memories we make with these people. A sense of gratitude and a feeling of 'no matter what lays ahead now upon my path, I know that I have an army of loved ones behind me, protecting me and loving me every step of the way'...
Boarding the plane and I sit next to a middle-aged gentleman who seems shy at first but goes to inform me that he and his father-in-law are on their way to Paris (and other places) for 5 weeks. Of course the father-in-law is in Business Class to which he later comes and hands us the menu he is indulging in, just to tease! (totally not acceptable! go back to your seat!) Anyway, the gentleman went on to tell me that his wife would be joining them in 2 weeks time and I observed him as he seemed oblivious to how much I admired his situation and the holiday he would be having over the next month. I now have the next 8 hours sitting quite comfortably elbow to elbow with this man but decide to start a book that my cousin gave to me as a gift for my travels called 'A Dogs Journey' by W. Bruce Cameron. The book is written from the perspective of the dog and is apparently a present from my beloved Bodey (or my cousins dog, same same!) I plan for this to be my in-flight book to keep me calm but also so that I can pass it to another traveler to avoid carrying any extra weight; which leads me to my first tip of many that I will be sharing as I experience the life of a back packer around these lands. So, Solo Travelers Tip No.1: PACK, LIGHT. like really light. and if you think it's light enough, think again and take some more out ....Day 1 and I already understand that I have packed too much as I stand with the blood being cut off in my shoulder hahaha...
After completely submersing myself in this 'dogs journey' and reading nearly half of the book already, I notice that the plane is virtually empty. Maybe this has something to do with it being a Malaysian plane right now but then again maybe it doesn't! (I'll leave you to decide on that!) I definitely wasn't complaining though and took my pick of empty rows to catch up on some much needed sleep....
Before long we are descending into Koala Lumper and I soon manage to get myself another emergency-exit seat (hiigh fiive) for the flight to Heathrow which will be a hefty 12 hours.
I know I now have 3 hours to spare before my next flight so I plan to finish my book somewhere quiet and close to my gate. However, things never really do go to plan do they!.....
- comments
Gillian Grillo Such a good idea Chloe...maybe one day you will be able to publish this well written account of your travels. I look forward to many more chapters as you experience the journey of life. Love you always, Auntie x
Phoebe Hunter Go chloe, I look forward to your next story :) :) I have been looking for a travel blog this site is great xx