logs (iMessage form) from the longest flight of my life
preface
boarded a 16 hour flight to Tokyo, the following are texts i sent to family via iMessage that only delivered once i landed.
entry one
3.5 hours in 18:32 GMT, time is moving quickly, the windows dim automatically and there are no blinds but you can undim them to look outside, the cabin lights have gone from white to golden, I suspect that it’s mimicking sunrise or sunset. My window is dimmed because the sun is on my side and really bright. Most of my time has been spent filling out arrival cards and eating food and I’ve been reading too.
The food was excellent. I had chicken katsu curry, bean sprouts and kelp, cold noodles in some sweet sauce, cheddar cheese and crackers, a salad, and a vanilla ice cream that took half an hour to be soft enough to eat. They also gave me a hot wet towel before my meal, miso soup and I drank coke to settle my stomach. And then I got given snacks of a blueberry muffin (tiny) and a lemon cheesecake flavoured dorayaki which I will save for later. Excellent meal
I have brushed my teeth and put on moisturiser and am doing the suggested leg exercises in their little pamphlet. I plan to try to nap next
The toilets are very very nice
They’re dark and lit with purple when you go in but when you lock it it brightens to a nice white light.
The person sitting next to me is a nice elderly Japanese woman, we’re communicated via nodding, squinting, and gestures. I understand almost none of the Japanese announcements, but I also don’t understand the English ones since I’m next to the window. The seat is comfy, I can extend my legs fully if I so wish. And the arm tests are very far from my thighs and hips (wideee)
I haven’t watched any film, mainly because I’ve seen most of them and don’t want to tempt motion sickness to join the club.
The children are quiet, mother walks around rocking baby
Because of where I’m sitting, I get served first.
More to follow.
(Oh and the screen says I have 13 hours left)
entry two
it’s 20:41 GMT, 9.45 hours left of flight. I’m at the top of Canada, going to go over the Arctic Ocean. Just over Baffin Bay. All the windows are dimmed, the lights are off. The sun is still shining onto my window, but it looks like the moon.
I haven’t managed to nap. I have closed my eyes listening to podcasts, changing positions every time that my back starts to ache. Which is often. Leaning against the wall is pretty comfortable.
I’m listening to podcasts about cults, which passes the time pretty quickly.
I’m not halfway there yet though.
Artificial night doesn’t really work for me when I know that it’s the sun.
Not much else has happened.
Children quiet, crying every now and then but quiet down quickly.
(I’m beginning to suspect some people booked two seats for just themselves hm)
entry three
it’s 22:31 GMT, 8 hours to go roughly – half way through. I tried to get the Wi-Fi but I couldn’t even get to the payment stage. Starting to be uncomfy – stretching out every few moments doing chair yoga style things. Got given orange juice about half an hour ago. Realised that Minute Maid orange juice tastes a bit like vomit or that I drink orange juice and proceed to throw up on planes. Will decline it if they come back with more. Declined both black and green tea earlier, wasn’t vibing. Flying over the arctic circle – can see some cool island shapes and cracks through the window – even though everything’s blue because of the window tint. I think it’s ice I can see.
Flight tracker shows us going through a part of Russia – I think we’ll divert from that tbh.
Have listened to a few more podcast episodes, watched an episode of scrubs and am reading my book now again.
Hopefully time goes by quickly.
More to follow
(It looks like we’re going to go more through Alaska to avoid Russia
Nice old woman went to get herself some snacks and got me some too 🥰🥺)
entry four?
Like 7 hours to go. Am looking at the mountains and lakes of Alaska – everything is very snowy, I lightened the window by one and took some v blue photos. Got given coffee, guess I’m not gonna sleep lol
(TURBULENCE)
(Turbulence over Alaska)
(The sea is frozen wow)
entry five
It’s half midnight uk time. As soon as I started getting sleepy, I was handed a snack rip
entry six
It’s 3:40 gmt and we’re approaching Japan – nearing Hokkaido(almost). I have slept (not continuously) but pretty much In little bursts up to now. Some mounting nausea maybe from the sleeping.
entry seven
(3 hours left in the flight)
J’y suis presque et l’envie de gerber augmente
It’s 5:20 now btw
entry eight
Less than an hour to go – 5:46
entry nine
Almost did throw up on landing but held it in, barely
That’s all
Landed in Tokyo.
Justine Russell 