I will never forget the first time I’ve been to the airport to travel, not just to pick-up relatives vacationing from abroad. To travel not for leisure but for work. I was always fascinated with airplanes flying so high above me when I was a small girl. And so I was so flabbergasted when I got face-to-face with an airplane on one of the wide windows of the airport that night I’m bound for Kuwait. It was huge and magnificent that I had to stop, look and tell myself that it’s real, I’m looking directly at an airplane that I just used to see flying above me. I felt like the plane was staring back at me, too. It was wow! Then I went looking for my gate and I’ve seen a lot of people mostly Filipinos but many others with different nationalities, too! The shops, the monitors. And since then my love affair with airports has started.
I don’t travel much but yes, I love airports. There’s a different feeling whenever I arrive in airports. I love reaching them way earlier than my flight. For the past nine and a half years, I’ve been living eight minutes away from the airport. Sometimes, I go there to kill time. I go around then sit in a cafe as there are no cafes in my area. (Yes, you’ve read that right, none! Only Arabic style coffee shops that’s filled with thick, suffocating smoke from cigarettes and hookah/shisha/hubbly bubbly.) The Kuwait International Airport is small but development works are on progress so we’ll be seeing more of that in the next few months/years. Still, it’s okay to just go around the area where non-travelers are allowed.
When I travel though, as I’ve mentioned earlier, I love reaching the airport way earlier than my flight time. I go around the area before immigration then check-in then go around again. Once I pass the immigration, I continue walking around and checking all the shops without the intention of buying anything. (The only things I buy in airports are books and coffee.) Then after giving myself a tour of the entire place, I choose which cafe I’ll buy coffee from and find a good spot to read, write or just people-watch while waiting. People-watching in airports is never boring. Human drama right in front of your eyes.
Sometimes too, I just stare at several tv/monitors, big or small, showing the departure flights. Yes, I enjoy doing that. It makes me happy staring at all those flights change their status one by one — boarding, departing, delayed. Furthermore, I also like watching the ground crews do their jobs when a plane arrives at the gates. And I like seeing the pilots pass by us before boarding. Well, it’s nice to know who’s flying the aircraft, right?
I love airports not the way I love a certain restaurant, museum or shop. How so and why?
When I’m at the airport with my luggage and all, I know I’m set to another adventure. I’m riding an airplane. I am going somewhere. Some place other than where I am at the moment. A place I haven’t been to before or a place I’m returning to. Somewhere, someone or no one, is waiting for me. A place I might like or not. I’m going far away. Or I’m going home.
In addition, I feel most interconnected whenever I’m in airports. It’s a place so full of movements. A place full of change. My brain cells get so alive, active and energized. The diversity of people who crowd the airports, coming and going from one place to another for whatever reason. It’s compelling to see people of different nationalities, young and old, families, tour groups, solo travelers, waiting for their flights or just arrived.
Next, airports make you step back and wait. I mean, in this present world where everything just go by so fast, it’s just nice that whether you’re just transferring from one plane to another or having a really long layover, airports make you stand still, stop, pause, wait and think.
What’s more is that it makes me temporarily escape from my everyday life. From the person I choose to become. From the life I’m leading. It reminds me that I can go somewhere else again and start all over though it’s not going to be easy. The point is, there are many other possibilities, many cities, many countries to go to. Sometimes, seeing all the destinations in the monitors makes me realize where I really wanted to be.
Airports are a beautiful place of transition. For some, it’s where their journey begins, to others it’s where it continues or to many others, it’s where it ends. One thing’s for sure in airports though — no one stays. Everyone leaves.
Both photos are from Google. Credit to the owners.
Reblogged this on WORLD OF CREATIVITY.
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I too love Airports… loved your writing mate..
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Thanks a lot, Chiru!!!☺️
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Love this – and couldn’t agree more 😊💫
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Oh, thanks a lot for reading! 😃
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Another awesome post. Love the way you put across your thoughts…I can connect
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Thanks so much for reading! Such kind words make my day! Thank you! 😊
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It’s the same effect it has in me. …not at airports but at stations (here in India) the emotions…the sudden rush that u feel when a train comes into your station…the hugs, the goodbyes…the joy of being back…
Airports…I guess, I’ve not really reached thay stage in life that airports are a frequent visit. Airports I feel are a bit too sophisticated for me…I’m more a railway person. But anyone giving me a free ticket…I’m on baby!
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I’ve only been on a train once. But I would love to travel with it more. Yeah, I guess it pretty much gives the same feeling.🙂
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…that makes me ask, which country do you live in? If its in India…the emotional drama is definitely on the higher side…It may not be the case with everyone
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I am currently residing in Kuwait. Not an ideal place to live in but I can’t complain.😉
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I have a friend there too, from Goa, India..residing there with her husband there. Making the best use of what’s around is the best way to handle change.. and complaining makes it all the more verse. Stay positive and write these amazing blog posts that you write… you’re like super-woman-blogger and kinda cute too :p
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☺️☺️☺️ I can’t thank you enough for such nice words! You’re very kind, thank you.
There are a lot, I mean a lot, of Indians here. But unfortunately, I don’t really have that much I can call friends. I know a few from Goa. 🙂
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Really, you do… pls tell me if I’ve missed them. Would love to connect to fellow goans. Add me to your Goa-list 🙂
And c’mon now, you don’t have to thank me for anything. I, like you – love talking, chatting or simply replying to comments here on WP 🙂
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I didn’t mean Goans here on WP. I meant here in Kuwait… One of them, a woman, I like her a lot, she’s very nice to me.
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Oh that’s nice 🙂 My friend from Goa, her name is Rosanne. No idea where in Kuwait she stays though :p
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Haven’t met a Rosanne so far! Now that I think about it, I only know three Indian women! 😬
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That’s still a good number… 3 is better than none at all
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I love this post so much. No one could’ve worded this better than you did. I think airport is the one place where I can stay for hours on end & never get bored. Returning to the humdrum of life outside the airport is almost always the sad part. I wish I could live at an airport lol. Just as you said, it’s the best place for people-watching, the only sport I’m exceptional at! 😀
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Thank you for your kind words, Nameera! ☺️ I’m delighted you loved it.😍 Ha! It’s fun to know you’re exceptional at people-watching! It must be really cool doing it with you! 😁
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This was fun to read! A wonderful post indeed!😊
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Such kind words, Richa! Thank you! ☺️😊
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Beautiful post and although having worked in the airlines years ago, still can relate deeply to most of your reflections.👌 🤗❤
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Oh, it’s wonderful to receive such kind words from you, Savvy! ☺️ Thank you so much!😊
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You are welcome my friend 😊
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I loved your thoughts, but I could never love airports and waiting and reaching there prior time..
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I could understand you and I actually hate waiting, too. Airports are the only exception! 😉😅 Thanks a lot for reading! 😊
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Penned well
Liked it
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Oh, thank you! ☺️ And thanks for reading!
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I loved your post… Mostly last line no one stays everyone leaves👍
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I’m glad you loved it! ☺️ Thanks a lot for reading!😊
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Your welcome! 😊
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Really great write, My Dear!!
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Oh, Chuck! It’s very nice to know that from you! Thank you! 😊☺️
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This was a really nice one
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Oh, that’s so sweet of you! Thanks for reading! ☺️
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