Flying

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This is a terribly strange thing. The ease and swiftness you pass between two unrelated places is truly amazing. You go to a building called "airport" in one city and a few hours later you are somewhere else, with the previous city a distant memory. They tell you how you flew over the sea but you can't really feel that, not like when traveling in a car or on a boat. For all you know the plane could have landed everywhere or not have flown at all - you have no impression of the way there, as if you were teleported.
This is part of the reason it feels weird for me. I was in Auckland which I already knew pretty good, in the country I spent two months in. I had my familiar guidebook with me and I understood how everything worked, from the accommodation through spermarkets to public transportation. And more importantly, for me, I had a very good mental picture of the land itself, and where everything is located. I KNEW the place.
And now, with not enough time to get used to the change, I'm in Melbourne, Australia and suddenly I'm a novice again. Things are similar but nothing is quite the same. And all around are unfamiliar grounds, Terra Incognita. No orientation, no context. Opening the new guide book, trying to get my bearings, find out where I am, where could I go and what might I do once I get there.
Here we go again.

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Comments

[Anat]

Australia can be scary for a moment
I remember landing in Sydney, I also felt lost. I hated Australia in the first few days and missed NZ. But you'll see OZ has its own charm... Enjoy!

[anonymous]

It's even more apparent when flying to Eilat, for instance - I've driven there. I know the way. I know how far it is. But now I go to a building in Tel-Aviv and end up in Eilat 45 minutes later, so... WTF? Also, you start out in the middle of the city, so you have no idea where you come in or out.

[Avner]

That flying/Eilat comment was mine, just forgot to add my name. Silly form.