Yay! So 2 days ago I booked my ticket to Japan. Desmond and the Tutus are going back for another tour in the last week of May and I’m going to join them afterwards for 10 whole days. I have never been to Japan before, but I have only heard good things and I’m super super excited to go, except for the fact that I hate flying and the trip is long and I have to do it alone. Yikes.
I keep trying to picture my destination and how amazing it’s going to be, how I’m going to get to see one of the best cities in the world, but then a small wave of panic over takes me. I don’t know why I don’t like flying as much as I do, I just don’t and the older I get the worse it gets. I remember when I was a kid I loved flying. I loved collecting the little soaps from the bathroom and looking out the window at the ant world below. I just wish that I could just flip a switch and be like ‘pshhh flying, whatever. I’ll just watch some movies, drink whiskey and sleep’. I’m not like that, I try to zone out but if there are any bumps or nosies I literally hold my breath. So I’m really hoping I man up by the time my flight rolls around.
Any of you scared of flying too? Anyone have any tips for my scared face?
And on a more positive note, can anyone recommend any must sees in Japan?
Had to go for new passport photos because mine expires soon. The guy at the FotoFirst was like. “no smiling, no jewellery, no hair in your face, no fun times. Just look miserable and don’t move”. Click.
Rescue remedy helps to start me off. I also imagine, when I am in the air, all the other planes that are in the air at the same time. There are thousands of them. Its like you’re in a new community all of your own. Also, all of those planes need to land and fly again in the next 12 hours and the liklihood of it being your plane that doesn’t out of all the planes flying on all the days in all the years of flying is so ridiculously small that the fear gets swallowed up. Sometimes if I think about it enough it almost turns the fear into a sense of adventure. The emotion gets swung in the opposite direction. Then I have a glass of wine and watch the movie.
Hope that helps!
x
Hey Angie
My husband Joe and I went in December for our Honeymoon. IT WAAAAS AAAAAMAAAAAAAZING!!!! like incredible and great and wonderful and good. We literally ate ourselves around Japan. Joe researched it to the end of the earth and thus if you need any food suggestions, restaurants expensive-ish and cheap, let me know.
I am sure you have done ample research, but in terms of shops, obviosly Uniqlo and Muji are great but there is also Tokyo Hands- a stationary shop, Tokyos’s Tokyo, a great shop of just Japanese design thingies and GU a cheaper version of Uniqlo.
EEEEEENJOOOOOOOOOOOY is LITERALLY the best place I have EVER been
Lucy
Oh my goodness this is sooooo exciting! Japan is like, the best place, it blew my mind. I also hate flying though. Sometimes I take Valoid to make me sleep. But then it also makes me feel gross and groggy… But, you are going to beautiful amazing summer time Tokyo, so at least it is all worth it 🙂 Better start saving 🙂
I’m super scared of flying, but last time I pretended to be on a rollercoaster and somehow that helped. Good luck! (And enjoy Japan, super jealous!)
Angie. Do this: breath in (count of 5), hold breath (count of 5), breath out (count of 5). Repeat 5 times.
Do this while taking off. FOCUS on the breath and the counting.
I swear it will help. This comes from a very good anxiety doctor, who helps people with fears as ridiculous as chewing gum.
DO NOT HOLD YOUR BREATH. you make it much worse, because it intensifies the feeling of “something is about to happen to me”…
So happy for you friend. You’ll be totally fine. Kon’ichiwa.
Angiesun,relax flying is cool ,i always wanted to be a pilot,so i do not know where you got this fear,taking off and especially landing is so exciting.Its all part of havind a great time so sit back and enjoy. W ISH I WAS COMING WITH YOU. Love sushi and geisha girls.
Take a sleeping pill with a glass of wine & knock yourself out x
You are going to love Japan – when in Tokyo you have to visit Tokyu Hands – you will spend hours there & lots of money!
Enjoy
Hi Angie,
I have a friend from SA who has married a Japanese guy and she has a blog called Origamiliving which you can check out for tips and info on things in Japan 😀 she is also super sweet and is always keen for a saffer hook-up, especially since you are both of the blogging-kind 🙂 She lives in Tama Plaza, close to Tokyo….
I went there for her wedding in Yamanashi in 2010 and it was the place I have been yearning to live in my entiore life; what an awesome place for artisits, designers and the likes. Every second you are there is dripping full of inspiration so enjoy!
In Tokyo, you must check out Akhiabara (electric town; AWESOME for figurines and other otaku fetishes), Shibuya (for people gazing at Starbucks at the famous zebra crossing and to see Hachiko’s statue at the exit of the JR station) and of course Harajuku is a must (Gallerie Lafayete etc.)- then there is Yoyogi Park, Tsukiji Fish market for the freshest sushi breakfast and if you have time and if you love Miyazaki like I do then A MUST SEE is the Studio Ghibli museum in the Mitaka District, Tokyo WOW! – eish, I could continue like this punting the wonders of such a richly cultured society…. take it all in 😀 and know there are may jealous people envying you right now har har!
The only tip I can give you is to hire me as your flying partner 🙂 I love flying.