On the plane, blissfully free of WiFi, I’m also free of the burden of preparation.
Google Maps? Nope.
Browsing blogs? Nope.
But—
A whirlwind of problems is quietly brewing, and the moment we touch down, they demand attention.
Where exactly am I going?
Where is the airport from there?
What’s the best way to get there?
Is there a shuttle? A public bus? A train? If not, which app do I need to download to call a ride?
And where, exactly, do ride shares even pick up—because it’s rarely at the arrival curb.
Do I have the right currency? What’s the conversion rate?
Will I need to bleed fees at an airport ATM or exchange counter?
Can I speak the language well enough to solve any of this?
If not—what now?
This chaotic burst of questions has become a ritual.
After three months of repeating it across Asia, I can only conclude:
I must enjoy these staggering, semi-panicked moments of problem-solving.
Because I keep not preparing for them. And, I don’t mind.
Like that time I landed in Delhi and struggled to find the Uber Moto parking area. I stood outside the terminal, as unfamiliar taxis circled like vultures, waiting for an Uber Moto that never arrived. I should have been stressed—but mostly, I remember the scent of grilled pork, and the thrill of being so utterly in it.
So I wonder:
Am I alone in this ritual of controlled chaos? Does anyone else actually like that scramble to figure it all out?
And do you have any spectacular stories of arrival—the kind that felt like a disaster, but now live in your memory with a strange kind of affection?
Cheers Friends!
Stay Stoked.
Hi, I’m Colin—a travel writer and geologist who’s endlessly curious about the world and how we move through it. I write to make sense of the chaos, the beauty, and the small moments that often go unnoticed. Welcome to this little corner of my writing life—I’m glad you’re here.