India

My trip to India is getting closer, leaving on 26th December for 18 days. Got the shopping list worked out. The first thing I bought was Deet lotion (for the mosquitos),and anti-malarial tablets (£17.50...what)!Enough for 7 weeks, have to get a couple more for those extra couple of days, wonder if its worth it?
Got the ticket, passport/visa. Had the vaccinations (ouch), asked about Dengue Fever outbreak-the nurse said 'just stay away from monkeys'!Aha, but will they stay away from me? Got the camera/batteries,charger etc.

Its a nine hour flight, the last time I went on such a long haul flight (well for me anyway), it was to California a couple of years ago. Talk about stir crazy, once you had seen the movie and had something to eat, listened for a while on the headphones and tried to have a one way converstation with the guy sitting next to you, there is not much left to do. This time I am going to bring a book to read, get my MDA filled up with my own favorite songs, get a sleep mask and one of those things you put around your neck for when you do drop off. I don't want to be asleep, with my head on one side and dribble running down my chin to the amusement of my fellow passengers.

I am always absolutely terrified on take off waiting for the plane to either blow up or crash. Then when my stomach has settled in a little, I still get the heeby-jeebies wondering if I will make it at all. After about an hour, I am ok. Thinking about being up in the blue yonder encased in a mass of steel/aluminium/wires and bolts surrounded by people I dont know stresses me out. So I dont think of it at all, just pretend I am inside one of those mock-up cabins they make movies in. As long as Arnold Schwartseneger doesn't burst through the cabin festooned with armoury, its fine.
These days they say its safer to fly than to walk along the pavement, or to drive your car, right? RIGHT?