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Narita International Airport, Japan.

The story of this trip unfolds now.

Among the sterile walls of the airport, our first stop over, my excitement mounted. I sat in the corner of a deserted gate seating area with my carry-on bags scattered near. My right shoulder was cramping from walking down what seemed to be, an endless hall of some futuristic traveler's dream. I played with the idea that each gate of this massive structure, each led to a flying machine. Each one with its own different destination. Step away into any one and you could fly anywhere in the world. Only a one hour layover left little time to absorb the whole place, but I had been here before. It looked exactly the same, even the floors looked as if not one foot had scratched its glossy surface. Every now and then a group of people would walk by, some quick, some slow. The seats that had been my empty companions around me began to fill up with the other passengers on the same flight. Some snoozed quietly (and loudly), others glanced once, twice, thrice at their boarding passes, as if they were trying to decode and make sure all was set on there little pieces of paper that was their ticket off this land. The announcement came over the loudspeaker in high pitched japanese, time to board.

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Uploaded on May 13, 2008

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Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport

Not much enthusiasm held me in this place. It was stuffy with a hint of moldy, overly airconditioned air, and a feeling of unending walls under and above ground. The terminals are in separate buildings and the only way to get from one to another is by taking this little train. My shoulder ache had eased from the 3 hour flight before. I couldn't tell if it was morning or night, everything seemed to coalesce into one long time interval. The transcending chime sounded to alert of the arrival of the next train to the other terminal sounded with soft alarm.

(Since we had a 5 hour layover here, and there not being much of anything to do or shops to aimlessly wander around in, I entertained myself by riding back and forth, over and over, from one terminal to the next on this speedy little electric train. Highly suggested for the bored, curious, traveler passing through here:) )

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Uploaded on May 13, 2008

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Suvarnabhumi Airport New Bangkok Airport Thailand
Part I.

My favorite airport.

Duty-free shops, international restaurants, massage parlors, designer boutiques, lively bars, and a stimulating worldly atmosphere makes this airport a easy place to pass the hours waiting for your next departure. After 20 hours of traveling behind me, my eyes could barely take it all in. I remembered the familiar spicy smell and bright atmosphere. It was nice to feel some sort of recognition half way across the world from where I had started. We made our way to the airports hotel where you can rent a room by the hour and bask in cozy beds, a hot shower, a massage, and step into a change of clean clothes. Thirteen hours to kill, I slept as if my eyes had not seen sleep in weeks. I awoke to a soft ray of sunlight coming through the thick curtains that covered windows that opened up to the terminals. I stepped out of the soft sheets and tip toed over to the crack in the fabric. A feast for the eyes with a love for curves, dives, and windows that lets the sunlight in with perfect patterned direction. The architecture of the terminals in this massive structure are a easy hole for the creative and wondering mind to dwell in. My travel weary body was lifted as my eyes danced over the foreign scene in front of me.

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Uploaded on May 13, 2008

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Suvarnabhumi Airport New Bangkok Airport Thailand
Part II.

I looked right, I looked left and my eyes were met with this image. I inhaled the feelings of anticipation to explore. My ankles and feet were still swollen from the pressure in the airplane cabin. A moment later I felt the weight of the trip fall into my physical body and my mind reached into the endless curving terminal for a distraction. The idea of a shower floated in, and I turned away from the sight outside.

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Uploaded on May 13, 2008

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