Summer vacays are around the corner for most of us; some lucky blokes have already spread their wings, taken flight and gone off to some exotic spot up north or further
Time to travel: a quick round up of the sights and sounds you need to be mindful of when traveling.
Summer vacays are around the corner for most of us; some lucky blokes have already spread their wings, taken flight and gone off to some exotic spot up north or further. At this point nothing sounds better than escaping this traumatic heat and finding some relief. Wherever you’re headed, one of the most disturbing aspects of travelling is the fear of who’s going to be seated next to you on that long flight to wherever you’re off to. Here’s our guide to being a decent (bearable if not desirable) travel companion. People should look at you and think, “Ooh, I hope I’m seated next to him/her!”
SIGHT: DRESS UP
You want to be comfortable but you don’t want to look like the slob who rolled out of bed and ended up in a plane without brushing his teeth. Surely there’s something
better than your bedraggled sweatpants or crumpled shalwar kameez in your wardrobe? And before we’re judged and committed for snobbery, let’s be clear that we’re not referring to the millions of masses but the majority of those passengers who will wear their track pants low enough to show off the tattoo they got in Bangkok but won’t bother using some deodorant before a flight. Try!
SMELLS: MIND YOUR ODOUR
It’s always a good idea to take a bit of extra care with your hygiene before a flight; something as simple as a shower or brushing your teeth will ensure you’re not killing the person sitting next to you. This is especially important when traveling in Ramzan. But it’s not just the body odours you need to be careful of; you should also take caution in not over-scenting yourself.
Remember, you may be in love with your perfume but it could be overwhelming and nauseous to the person sitting next to you.
SOUNDS: HOLD YOUR TONGUE
No one, not even the most sociable of individuals, wants to be seated next to a chatterbox. Think before you draw the person sitting next to you in an annoying monologue of what seven colours your kid used in his finger painting class this week; chances are your neighbour may not be interested. Also, stay quiet once the lights are out. People who continuously call the steward or stewardess for one thing or another are considered irritating so don’t press the buzzer unless you really need to. To ask ‘when will we land?’ doesn’t make the cut! Look at the TV panels all over the aircraft! And keep the volume of your headphones at an appropriate level and lower the light on your electronic devices so you don’t disturb or distract the
person next to you.
TOUCH: YOU WILL GET FELT UP
One of the strangest things about traveling in and out of Pakistan is the fact that you will get felt up, twice, by airport security whether you’re a man or a woman. Why security personnel can’t use metal detection gadgets is beyond us but anyway, to avoid stretching this tortuous step more than necessary, you need to avoid wearing too much metal because you will have to strip it down for the security check and you will end up holding up the line. Hiking shoes, lace-up boots, metallic belts, chains, big watches etc…try paring it down for your travels!
TASTE: WATCH WHAT YOU EAT
Okay, so airlines don’t always serve the best food but that doesn’t mean you carry your
garlic and onion laden curries onto the plane for a personal meal that will let off an overbearing aroma. Avoid carrying your own food, especially if it comes with chances of stinking, dripping or messing up your space. Mutton korma is a no-no!
