Dream BIG, & Live LARGE: Flight to Thailand!

Flight 2 of 3 and in-between

What a difference of a flight! I’m not referring to the difference in the plane, origin of the plane, or anything that is physically different. I’m talking about the way my body has reacted.

When we landed in Tokyo It was still daylight. Actually it was 1:00pm. I didn't sleep one wink on the plane ride, I just couldn’t. It was kind of sucky. I tried really hard too.

While walking off the plane Japan’s heat greeted us with a big, hot, sweaty, gross hug. From the moment I got off the plane until the moment I got on this plane I was sweating…A LOT! I am so happy I thought to pack baby powder to help absorb some of the sweat and cool me down for a few seconds.

It was really neat being in a different country. I wasn't technically “in” or “experienced” the country, but I can still say I’ve been to Japan, after getting off the plane we had to go through security to get to our connecting international flight. It was NOT a tight security. Poor Florida Kat’s camera lens was affected by the radiation in the x-ray machines. I feel so bad for her.

After getting through Security we proceeded to find our gate. (I also had to Pee SUPER DUPER BADLY) We had our first experience with a language barrier, but Hannah and Reed didn't let it get in the way of asking where we should be headed. They asked someone for help right in front of the bathroom. We were standing there for about 10 minutes, and I was told I couldn't pee yet. (I learned that if you have the slightest urge to pee before you get off the plane, go. You never know when you'll be able to pee again) We headed to our gate to find that there was a bathroom, or should I say a toilet room, right there. THANK GOODNESS! I got very excited and sprinted to the toilet. I didn't have time to wait. I peeked in the first stall and saw that the toilet had buttons. I headed to the next stall which almost liked a longer narrower urinal laying on it’s side.

After fearing that there were no normal toilets, I went back to the first stall, because it looked the most “American/European/Western” I peed my river and went to flush. I couldn't figure out how to flush. Luckily there were a bunch of other girls in the bathroom, so I asked “How do you flush the toilet?" They all replied the same and said to hit the flusher thing. I searched for it and honestly didn't see it or notice that the toilet had a “lid”. So, I took Maddi’s advice. Push EVERY button. I was kinda close with the first button: It made a sound that sounded like it was flushing. No really it was a recording of a toilet flushing. The second button I pressed apparently was a massage? I guess some people don't do the “squat” when the go here. The third button started to spray water. (I was kinda freaked by that one, I was afraid that I was going to be uncontrollably sprayed with toilet water.) The rest of the buttons I just pressed and I am not sure what they did, other than not flushing the toilet. Finally I just asked a few of the girls to take a look the first few had no idea. Then finally one of them told me to put the lid down. WOW! I felt pretty stupid after not noticing the lid and that the flusher was hidden behind it. So I finally flushed the toilet!!!

A picture of the Toilet after I learned it had a lid

After my Japanese bathroom experience, Maddi, Kat, Katie, Hailey and I decide to stay put and relax while everyone else wandered off. After cooling down a degree, we really needed water so the 5 of us got permission from Read to walk around. We stopped in a couple shops. I bought 3 post cards at one. I plan of mailing one to Kelly because she used to mail me postcards from everywhere she visited. (even though I haven't talked to her in forever, I still am going to mail it) The other girls got a few more little things. We bought some bottled water from a noodle place we passed. Maddi and I debated on getting noodles, but decide to wait until 4 to get some for a small meal before we boarded.

When we got back to our gate everyone was spread out between the chairs. Eventually we all migrated to a section where we found 5 outlets. (I started this) We plugged in our phones and ipods while adding each other on facebook. When we ran out of outlets, I plugged my laptop in to charge and plugged three phones in to charge on my laptop We had some really nice bonding time. We also met Kayla. She was meeting us in Japan. (obvs.)

When it was time to board we all gathered our things and headed to the place where they scan your boarding pass. We then were packed like sardines in a bus to be transported to our plane. IT WAS SO COOL!! (Daddy, you would have LOVED it) I never got on a plane like that before so it was REALLY neat!

When I got on the plane I was still not “tired” I had also just hit my 26 hour mark of being awake. (My first "all nighter") I was ready to spend another flight up and NOT sleeping so that I could sleep in Bangkok during our overnight 9 hour layover. That all changed after the sun set. I began the flight by taking pictures out the window and Reading my book After taking pictures of the gorgeous red sun setting sky, I pulled my tray down to rest my hands on it as I read. I woke up about a half hour later and I was face down on the tray, (I had put a pillow there before I started reading) not know where I was, why I was there, what time it was, what day it was and where the hell in the world I was. (that was all 100% true rather I just woke up or not) The only thing I have since remembered is why and where I am. I still have no idea where in the world I am, the time or the day. I have tried to turn my head over and fall back to sleep. But now I am awake and feel so tired that it’s not even funny. I am also SO COLD even with my 3 blankets and sweats, that I can't fall back to sleep. So I have decided to write. But the difference between the two flights is my level of exhaustion and I’m pretty sure that has a little if not all to do with it being dark outside. Well, That’s all for now!

---9:45am Jersey Time. Not sure what time it is right now right here.

(PS I haven't wanted to go back and spell check yet, I'll do that when I get back)
(Revised on 8/5)