keithslater.net

I am currently at about 18000 feet (this is the height you get to when they turn off the seatbelt lights - I know, I have read a lot about flying!!).It is a little unfair to say I hate flying. I don't enjoy the impersonal nature of it, the not being in control, the being buffeted around in turbulence (every flyers favourite word), the occasional rude person who seems not to appreciate that you have spent more on the flight you are just about to take than they earn in a month and it may have taken you many months to save this and they are spoiling it by being an arse. Let me give you an example. I was in Chicago a while ago and on the way back I asked if I could upgrade to business class (it was a night flight and I was exhausted. I can never sleep unless I am at a reasonable angle - sitting in a chair just doesn't do it). The guy at the front desk said it may be possible but I should discuss with the guy at the gate. I did this. His immediate response was to turn round and sarcastically say 'sure - that will be $295'. I handed him my Amex card. It turns out there are no more business class seats and he just 'presumed' I wanted a free upgrade which was not the case at all. I sat and watched and he did exactly the same to 3 other passengers, going as far as saying 'sure - that will be $6000' to a lady who wanted to upgrade herself and her husband to first class as a birthday treat.

So anyway, there are aspects of flying I do enjoy. I love to come through the clouds and see the Earth covered in a fluffy blanket. I love to site and just watch the World go by down below on a clear day. 2 instances spring to mind. The first was on that same trip to Chicago. I was actually flying to see my GF and decided to take a little side trip to Arizona. The landscape all the way on that 4 hour flight was breathtaking. Gorges cut into the land, huge mountains - amazing (as was Arizona itself). The second was a trip to La Digue in the Seychelles last year (which in itself is the single most beautiful place I have ever visited). On the way back we went along the African coast and it was stunning. The colours of the water around the islands was just amazing. Then as we came into Europe the snowcapped mountains of the Alps was just as stunning.

I am a bit of a photographer (with the advances in technology of digital photography I think everyone is nowadays) and one of my favourite photographers is Yann Arthus-Bertrand. He writes books such as the Earth from the Sky, which are, unsurprisingly collections of aerial photography. I recommend at least checking out his website.

Well, I think that's enough of my meandering for a while. Will post this later when I get an internet connection.

posted by keith @ 19:26 Comments: 0