I haven’t taken one of these in a long time, but I brought them along for the jet lag. I arrived at the Kowloon Shangri-La after midnight and took one as soon as I got to my room. Then I showered and tried to send a couple of last minute emails. Ambien apparently takes about 30 minutes to kick in. Not long after starting the emails, my computer screen went 3D on me, with windows pulsing and protruding off the screen. I remember the characters falling off the windows or fading away. The windows then started bending on the edges. I was at least cognisant of Ambien’s effects so I tried willing myself to finish the last email. I couldn’t, so I immediately tried to shut down the computer. But, I started feeling so dizzy that I could barely sit in the chair, so I just slammed the laptop shut and staggered to the bed. I fumbled with the lights but managed to turn them off. By the time I got to the bed though, it felt like I was in a dream. My head crashed on the pillow and the bed felt more like a nest of sandy lumps. I remember feeling that I wasn’t on a bed. It felt like the rough, loose surface was moving, like it was turning on it side and I was struggling to hold on to keep from sliding into the unknown. I turned over and the lights, or what I discovered the following morning were reflections of the city lights on the ceiling, looked like marching figures coming towards me. It felt like I was in a crowded street trying to hold onto a sandy wall to keep from falling. Then I felt nauseous and started coughing. I realized what was coming…thankfully; I knew that I would soon be spared this awful ‘trip’. I somehow remembered where the bathroom was (I honestly don’t know how) and then got sick. I crashed back on the bed afterwords and passed out. When I woke up the following morning feeling refreshed, I vaguely remembered the event. Was it a dream? I got up and went to the bathroom and discovered it wasn’t.

I became more conscious of my manners on this luxurious trip to Seoul, Korea. Seated in business class with more comfort than I’m used to on a flight, I tried to discreetly peer left and right to see how to properly eat the little miniature cakes and shrimp that were given to us. Was I supposed to spear the food with the little sword or pick it up with my hands. I’m trying very hard to capture all of the customs so that my guests think that I’m a polite guest. Of course, the people seated next to me are probably just as ignorant. The ones to the left are from Microsoft ’cause I just read the Microsoft Confidential papers laid out in the seat next to me. To the right is someone who went to sleep immediately after takeoff and is still asleep. I’m going to try to stay awake for the entire flight to Seoul. Maybe I will sleep on the way to Hong Kong. Already, I’m further west than I have ever been.

The stewardess is very proper. She even turns my little wine class properly so the Asiana insignia points at me. I continue to watch for this throughout the flight and the next. They all do it.

Looking out the window over Japan:

Inside Seoul’s kick axe airport: