Every journey begins with a single step

Another road trip. The air in the car was stale and hot. I cracked open the window, but the sudden change in the air pressure made my eardrums throb. My sister, typical of a preteen, saw my distress and stubbornly kept her window shut, so I had no choice but to roll mine back up. Further up the highway, I could see the warning sign, the faint spiral tower of the "Olde Windmill Restaurant".

I steadied myself for what was to come. If only I could keep my head down and get through the next few minutes, I would be OK. I concentrated on the crisscross patterns of the rubber floor mat. Counting off the seconds in my head, just another minute to safety - and then I heard my mother's purse snap open and the crinkle of paper. It wafted toward the back seat, that unmistakably cloying scent, like artificial banana juice shaken together with overripe pears - Juicy Fruit gum.

The initial rumble in my stomach caused my head to snap up just in time to see the spires of the restaurant pass by. In a nod to Pavlov's theory of conditioned reflex, I did as I always do upon that sight - my three-cheese pizza and orange soda lunch made a reappearance all over the leatherette front passenger seat. My parents were not pleased.

Of course, had I been driving or in charge of onboard snacks, things would have turned out differently. That's why the most stout-hearted, resourceful and lead-stomached people are, time and time again, brought to their knees - traveling and the unexpected go hand-in-hand.

When China opened up in the 1980s, the nation had only one airline for both domestic and international flights. It went by the bureaucratic name of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, or the CAAC. Old China hands will remember fondly the laissez faire onboard safety program - or the lack of one. Although a rubbery lunchbox set was guaranteed for every passenger, a seatbelt was not. Small refrigerators and large television sets were considered carry-on and carefully loaded in the open space by the emergency exits. Pilots were taken straight from the military ranks, so takeoffs and landings were often accompanied by impressive g-forces, sharp landings and prayers throughout the cabin. There was no telephone or online service. Reservations had to be done in person. And success was dependant on the ticketing agent getting a carton of Marlboros.

But today, China has one of the latest fleets of airplanes and is outpacing other countries in new routes flown. By 2030, the national fleet will include more than 5,000 planes at a value of $600 billion. Most importantly, Chinese airlines haven't followed the nickel and dime format of US airlines - baggage, meals, blankets, and alcohol are still free of charge.

However, no matter how new the plane, there are still too many factors out of our control to make any sort of travel leisurely. In my years of flying, I've learned to carry with me a travel bag of essentials for any emergency.

Ear plugs are like pillows from heaven for that crying baby, electronic game or chatty passenger. A miniature spritzer of room deodorizer is handy when the guy next to me kicks off his shoes. A deli counter of snack foods is needed because being stuck on a steel-encased tube high in the skies is no time to fast. And the most important item necessary for a smooth and fast flight - quick acting, long-lasting, pharmaceutical-grade sleeping pills. I find being in the state of unconsciousness the best way to enjoy the deprivations of economy class.

But is traveling, then, with all its foibles, more about the journey than the arrival? As the wise sage Laozi wrote: "A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Only please don't bring the Juicy Fruit gum.

Contact the writer at: dinahchinadaily@gmail.com