What do you expect from your next plane ride?

Ever since childhood maybe all of us have been mesmerized by the view of an airplane passing by overhead. When we hear the sound of its engines we run outside and frantically search the sky for that big flying object. The beauty of it and how it colors our childhood days is a testament of how we as humans want to fly and see the world from up above. It may have appeared in one of your dreams that you were flying or on the cockpit of the plane and feeling its controls under your palm. Oh how would it feel like to jump from ten thousand feet on a free fall with just a parachute and our innate fear of falling face first to the ground below? The thrill and excitement would be so memorable for those who will ride an airplane for the first time. I have ridden an airplane four years ago, I was sixteen then. It was summer and I was given the chance to go north, to be precise to my aunt's house in Bulacan and spend the vacation there with side trips out-of-town. It was somewhat of a prize from my aunt when I topped the class at the end of my junior year in high school. I still remember the day when she handed over the plane ticket to me and I read all the details written into it. The sheer excitement to finally ride that big flying thing for the first time is something to remember. The day the ticket was given to me and the date of flight was two weeks apart. For those fourteen days I was hopping on my toes secretly and calmly preparing my things and my self for what was about to come. And when the day was near to come I could not sleep for more than six hours, I would instantly wake up in the morning. Childish as it may sound but that is the honest description of how I felt at that time. I can really relate to my batch mates in this Field Trips and Seminars class of Two Thousand Fifteen. They may be hiding their unnerving anticipation of the coming major field trip but they can never hide the look in their faces. I would definitely ready my camera to capture those moments and laugh at their candid photos and how they look like. I myself did not have a photo while on-board on my two flights; the departure from Davao City was my first flight together with my aunt, uncle, and my younger cousin. On my first airplane ride I experienced something like floating on the air upon take-off. I do not know if it was the jitters or if it is science but right then and there I know we were above ground. The elation was amplified when I looked outside the window. The view was majestic. I am a fond of pictures of clouds seen through airplane windows but seeing it right in front of me was surreal. What's even more astonishing was the view of the Philippine islands down below. At that time the farthest I have gone was Tagum City so to see other places from high in the sky was a welcome treat. The images that you can see from Google Maps would come to life; patches of rice paddies, banana plantations, pineapple farms, and even fish pens look like puzzle pieces from ten to fifteen thousand feet. The island of Mindanao was full of greens and floating cotton clouds clustered above mountains on that day. Visayas on that day was not so clear to me since there were thunder clouds due east and the airplane was level so it was impossible to see what was below but I can say that sea routes around Cebu and Mactan was very busy; you can even see big cargo ships as some of them are docked while others were navigating the Mactan Channel. Also I was preoccupied reading the flight emergency manual of the plane in English and Filipino translations and trying out the powder room, not to mention that the flushing system amazed me. When we approached the Luzon airspace it was mid-afternoon, I was clutching the arm of my seat in anticipation of the descent and landing but I suddenly remembered how traffic the Manila Airspace was. It was maybe thirty minutes above North Luzon before we slowly descended so I had the chance to immerse myself into the view of La Mesa Watershed, Laguna de Bay, Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges and the Cordilleras. I could really say that these landmarks were big and it would be impossible to say that these places were in danger because of human negligence of our duty to take care of nature. Yet their enormity was enough to make me remember the saying that we use to say in trekking or hiking in Boy Scouts: "Take nothing but pictures; Leave nothing but memories." Can you imagine how it hit me? All the pain I felt in my ear on take-off from Davao were gone, all that's left was awe. We are so small but we can definitely do great things. The feeling baffled me and made me sit back and sigh. Finally the "fasten seatbelts" sign lighted up, we were on approach for landing: Manila I was definitely there. My second airplane ride was on my way back here in Davao. I did not have anyone with me on that flight which added to the thrill. The fear or exhilaration was not on the thought of the flight itself but on the idea that I would be travelling alone. But that did not stop me, from the check-in counter I just smiled my way through; I noticed that the flight stewardess was the same one on the counter and not to mention she is a gorgeous Davaoeña. The thought that there was someone from where I am on the flight staff was a relief, add to it that she has got the looks, for sure all fear will be blown away by the plane engines. On that flight I was a sleepyhead, I just slept almost halfway and only woke up when we were in the airspace of Mindanao. Thank God this time there was lesser pain in my ear; I can attend our band practice right after landing. Luckily I was on the seat near the window again and I saw the white sand lining the beaches of the Island Garden City of Samal. The airplane was banking then for the descent, many times we circled around the said island so I had the bird's eye view of the grandiose. I did not want to compare how green Mindanao was than Luzon but the difference was very noticeable. In Luzon when you were in the Metropolitan area you would not see a tree nor a plant for kilometers, and when you see one it would be crowded with overhead power lines. The traffic was ten times more congested comparing Cubao in Manila and J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City. Although I only had few chances of riding a jeepney in Manila because most of my side travels I rode train, the traffic was visible right after we went out of Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal Three. Well going back to the flight experience, when I approached the airplane doors of Cebu Pacific Airbus A380 on my very first departure flight from Davao I was surprised of how airy the tarmac was. By the way we walked from the airport terminal to the airplane that time because all passenger tubes were occupied by other airliners. The tarmac walk experience made me jumpy because you could see the enormity of the airplane itself; you could see its turbofan engines rotate and feel its light pull on the air as you take the stairs boarding the plane. When we arrived in Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal Three and I was on the airplane doors I was surprised at how hot the air was I said to myself "Are we still in the Philippines?" The temperature difference was very evident and I bet my batch mates in this field trip would notice. I had a short tarmac walk upon arrival in Manila on our way to the waiting coaster which was nice because it was air-conditioned. The runway there was a lot bigger but way more crowded with waiting airplanes than here in Davao International Airport Terminal. On my flight going back home I was refreshed when I went out the door of the Zest Air Airbus A330 and felt the cooler Davao sea breeze. The air is definitely am identification of where and what city you are in the world. Now to answer the question "What do I expect from my next plane ride?" I would answer it with a smile, why? Because I am confident that I would control my self not to be too cocky or should I say boastful about my first airplane experience to my batch mates. Yes I would tell stories about how it went but I will be more cautious about how I would tell the story because I do not want to appear as someone who knows everything. Who would want to be called boastful right? I can say proudly I have experience but as much as I can I would share it prudently. I am also expecting more excited faces as the day of departure comes; as excited like a kid who expects a candy falling out of a piñata. I have not seen my face nor my reaction and actions on my very first plane flight that is why I am excited for those who will ride an airliner for their first time. At least I could picture my self in them when that day comes. Witnessing someone's first time is always memorable right? Especially when they are your friends the shared memory becomes a lot more meaning full. Another thing I am expecting is that the pain in my ear upon takeoff and landing would be minimal and bearable. I pray the first timers would enjoy and welcome that pain as an experience and think of it as a rite of passage; more like circumcision or losing your virginity (no pun intended). Truly everyone must pass that pain or else they would not enjoy their very first flight experience. I also expect that everyone be calm, collected, and professional when boarding the plane. I know my classmates in Computer Science to be loud sometimes but I do hope they collect their demeanor. Peace classmates! Haha. I also hope that those people who try to control the crowd be more patient; I know and understand their concern but we must bear in my mind that this flight will be there first time so let us expect lots of excitement on their part. On the side of us that have flight experience I expect that we try to be happy for our batch mates who will have this first time, let us be models on how everyone must act; not too boastful and very prudent and mindful of our manners and most of all watchful of our things. I expect no one throws bomb jokes or else I would punch him myself. I have witnessed someone who threw a very bad bomb joke on a park ranger without knowing that such act is punishable by law. Not to mention the fear of being in jail just because of a very bad joke is beyond regret, I am afraid you would be afraid to smile again after being caught especially on an airport as Davao International Airport which was bombed before and security is always high. Lastly I am highly expecting to be on a window seat again so that I could see how the landscape has changed over the past five or six years. Or better yet I be placed on an aisle seat so that I could chat with my friends and watch over those who need assistance. Yes I know I am too concerned but this who I am. This is the scientist on the run expecting a great field trip soon.