thinkcink.net

As the plane landed at Changi airport amidst grey clouds and a hazy sky, Ms P asked, “So, did you get your epiphany?”

Knowing full well I didn’t, of course. It appears epiphanies do not come on demand. Who knew.

6 hours later, I took off in another plane again, and this time alone and with a different set of luggage. I couldn’t sleep on the flight here to Frankfurt. Which was an utter let-down, especially since I’ve mastered that nonchalant shrug for use when people seem amazed at my back-to-back travel schedule and I assure them, “I’ll just sleep on the plane. I can sleep anywhere.”

So here I am. 6:15am Frankfurt time. Wide awake.

I watched the plane descend into Frankfurt – I don’t think I’ve ever taken this particular route to the US. The lights of the city emerged gradually as we left the clouds behind. My eyes were first drawn to the clusters and network of neatly lined street lights in the city, then as we got nearer to ground, I saw little spots of light leaving the cities and dispersing into the great black sea. It’s not really a sea, of course. Though there might be a river? Mostly forests? I couldn’t tell. It’s all darkness. Where are people going? At 6 in the morning? Away from the city?

I am still thinking things through. There’s no big aha, but I have some ideas. I loved the holiday in Laos, especially with my best friend. But sometimes travelling alone is good too. Talking to myself (in my head, people, I’m not that mad) gives me time to look more carefully at those little spots of light, and wonder about the darkness.