Day 1...

…was technically 18 days ago. I’m a little behind on the blogging front, but now I can write with some perspective instead of subjecting everyone to thoughts like “There’s so many trees here!” or “It’s hot” or “Chopsticks give me splinters in my mouth.”

I left Newark International at 11 pm on Wed, Oct. 31¬ on a nonstop flight way up and east, over Europe, the Middle East, Russia and China. Eighteen hours and many, many movies later, I landed at Changi Airport in Singapore at 5:45 am Friday, Nov. 2. It always blows my mind when I lose a day – makes me wonder what would have happened that day if I were on the ground.

While I was in the air, I got to enjoy the deluxe accommodations of Singapore Airlines, rated the best airline in the world (I think, according to other people and not just them, although Singapore does market itself very well). Since it was Halloween, I checked my bags with a guy dressed as a pirate -- Capt. Jack Sparrow, apparently, with long polyester dreadlocks that kept getting caught in the sticky on everyone’s baggage tags. A vampire wench with fake teeth checked my passport, and a slew of beautiful flight attendants in batik dresses (normal wear, not costume) walked up and down the aisles turning on overhead lights as soon as they saw anyone take out anything resembling reading material. Nope, you don’t even have to lift your arm on Singapore Air!

I’d read in a magazine before I left that a business class ticket on Singapore Air from Newark to Singa can cost $8,000 and they feed you caviar and pour Dom the whole way. In economy class, they give you personal cups of Ben & Jerry’s. Cookie Dough. Screw caviar. There’s plenty to keep you busy, with 80+ movies to choose from. I learned that “Transformers” is not that good when it’s on an 8”x11” screen at 5 am, and “I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry” is much funnier in Chinese.

Best part of the flight is the end ¬– the first thing you see when disembarking is a giant sign reading:

“WELCOME YOU!”
Welcome indeed.