Amazing

Isn’t it amazing that we live in an age where we can just hop on a plane and go more or less anywhere on the planet in matter of hours, or pick up and leave one country and choose to start a new life in another….

Our ability to move around the world is probably something many of us take for granted nowadays, since it’s so common, so easy, a part of modern 21st century life.

It’s pretty much a miracle really, to fly through the air at incomprehensible speed and land in a foreign/exotic destination – just for the fun of it. What a privilege and what a blessing to be able to do this.

Here I go again, having another reflective moment, a moment of appreciation.

Bewildering

Apparently we lose most of our taste bud function when we’re on a flight. Really? Maybe that’s why most airline meals taste so bland (or maybe not – they’re just bland). The shut-down of our taste buds is linked to dehydration, which is inevitable at high altitude –  so another good reason to drink more water on a flight is so that you can actually taste your food lol; apparently, we lose about 8 ounces of water for every hour we’re in the air.

Then there’s the tiny holes in aeroplane windows, the holes I’ve always eyed with suspicion, thinking surely they shouldn’t be there. So you can imagine my relief when I heard that they are deliberately and strategically placed, with a vital role to play in regulating air pressure and cabin temperature. Those lovely little holes also reduce the likelihood of the inner window panes cracking if something goes wrong!!

Fascinating

I read somewhere that worldwide, there’s usually an average of 10,000 planes and 3 million people in the air at any given time. “Flippin eck” that must take some seriously remarkable coordination and planning…..equally eyebrow raising, is the fact that the humble bumble bee can reach heights of 18,000 feet, so don’t be surprised to see one cruising by on your way up. More impressive than this though is the Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture – he’s a real high flyer (or she) known to reach heights of 37,000 feet – hat’s off!!

Interesting?

Mr Bean slapped a pilot!! 

“Rowan Atkinson, the actor who played Mr. Bean, was flying in a small plane over Kenya with his family, when the pilot passed out. Atkinson proceeded to slap the pilot repeatedly until he woke up and landed the plane.” I guess the cockpit was unlocked then.

Vodka scrub and gin wipe

These have been known to be used as cleaning/sanitising agents on planes due to a lack of cleaning products. Hmmmm!!

So….

Like so many things in life, flying is seemingly ‘no big deal’ until you stop and ponder on it.

Actually it is a pretty big deal, amazing, bewildering, fascinating and rather interesting!

Wishing you all happy and safe travels 🔆💛✈