I know what it’s like, since I’ve done it before. But no matter how good you are, traveling for 30 hours across 12 time zones is exhausting. Being trapped in a long tube in cramped space, you come to understand what your laundry must feel like, especially when there’s turbluence. Missing out on two good nights’ sleep before the trip and staying awake intentionally for most of the flights doesn’t do you any favors, either.
When I arrived in Bangkok all I could think of was sleep. Although the airport was new, we still had the same intolerable ride to the immigration line via a shuttle bus. We packed in to these busses, all the 200 or so passengers, exhausted at midnight local time. Immigration itself proceeded quickly, though not quick enough for my tired mind and body, and suddenly I was thrust out in to the 80 degree heat and humidity. The crowd in the arrivals area, even at that time of night, was loud and boisterous. There was no doubt I was back in Thailand.
Within the hour I was in the nicest hotel room I’ve ever stayed in. So nice, in fact, it took an extra 45 minutes before I could figure out how to shut off the lights to head to bed and finally sleep.