Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History’s Greatest Arctic Rescue – Buddy Levy
Arctic explorer and American visionary Walter Wellman pioneered both polar and trans-Atlantic airship aviation, making history’s first attempts at each. Wellman has been cast as a self-promoting egomaniac known mostly for his catastrophic failures. Instead he was a courageous innovator who pushed the boundaries of polar exploration and paved the way for the ultimate conquest of the North Pole—which would be achieved not by dogsled or airplane, but by airship.
American explorer Dr. Frederick Cook was the first to claim he made it to the North Pole in 1908. A year later, so did American Robert Peary, but both Cook’s and Peary’s claims had been seriously questioned. There was enough doubt that Norwegian explorer extraordinaire Roald Amundsen—who’d made history and a name for himself by being first to sail through the Northwest Passage and first man to the South Pole—picked up where Walter Wellman left off, attempting to fly to the North Pole by airship. He would go in the Norge, designed by Italian aeronautical engineer Umberto Nobile. The 350-foot Norge flew over the North Pole on May 12, 1926, and Amundsen was able to accurately record and verify their exact location.
However, the engineer Nobile felt slighted by Amundsen. Two years later, Nobile returned, this time in the Italia, backed by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini. This was an Italian enterprise, and Nobile intended to win back the global accolades and reputation he believed Amundsen had stripped from him. The journey ended in disaster, death, and accusations of cannibalism, launching one of the great rescue operations the world had ever seen.
Steeple Chasing: Around Britain by Church – Peter Ross
Churches are all around us. Their steeples remain landmarks in our towns, villages and cities, even as their influence and authority has waned. They contain art and architectural wonders – one huge gallery scattered, like a handful of jewels, across these isles.
Award-winning writer Peter Ross sets out to tell their stories, and through them a story of Britain. Join him as he visits the unassuming Norfolk church which contains a disturbing secret, and London’s mighty cathedrals with their histories of fire and love. Meet cats and bats, monks and druids, angels of oak and steel.
Steeple Chasing, though it sometimes strikes an elegiac note, is a song of praise. It celebrates churches for their beauty and meaning, and for the tales they tell. It is about people as much as place, flesh and bone not just flint and stone. From the painted hells of Surrey to the holy wells of Wales, consider this a travel book . . . with bells on.
Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Never Set Foot On and Never Will – Judith Schalansky, translated by Christine Lo
There are still places on earth that are unknown. Visually stunning and uniquely designed, this wondrous book captures fifty islands that are far away in every sense-from the mainland, from people, from airports, and from holiday brochures.
Author Judith Schalansky used historic events and scientific reports as a springboard for each island, providing information on its distance from the mainland, whether its inhabited, its features, and the stories that have shaped its lore.
With stunning full-colour maps and an air of mysterious adventure, Atlas of Remote Islands is perfect for the traveller or the romantic in all of us.
Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia – Christina Thompson
For more than a millennium, Polynesians have occupied the remotest islands in the Pacific Ocean, a vast triangle stretching from Hawaii to New Zealand to Easter Island. Until the arrival of European explorers they were the only people to have ever lived there. Both the most closely related and the most widely dispersed people in the world before the era of mass migration, Polynesians can trace their roots to a group of epic voyagers who ventured out into the unknown in one of the greatest adventures in human history.
How did the earliest Polynesians find and colonize these far-flung islands? How did a people without writing or metal tools conquer the largest ocean in the world? This conundrum, which came to be known as the Problem of Polynesian Origins, emerged in the eighteenth century as one of the great geographical mysteries of mankind.
For Christina Thompson, this mystery is personal: her Maori husband and their sons descend directly from these ancient navigators. In Sea People, Thompson explores the fascinating story of these ancestors, as well as those of the many sailors, linguists, archaeologists, folklorists, biologists, and geographers who have puzzled over this history for three hundred years. A masterful mix of history, geography, anthropology, and the science of navigation, Sea People combines the thrill of exploration with the drama of discovery in a vivid tour of one of the most captivating regions in the world.
Air travel has shrunk the world, making it possible to cross continents in a single day. Today’s aviation marvels, like direct flights from Singapore to New York or London to Sydney, make journeys once considered arduous more accessible. But behind the allure of clocking 14, 17, or even 19 hours in the sky lies a set of physical, psychological, and logistical challenges.
So what happens to your body on (ultra) long-haul flights?
Dehydration and Humidity: Aircraft cabins typically have humidity levels significantly lower than those of most deserts, often below 20%. This causes rapid dehydration, leading to symptoms such as dry skin, parched lips, sore eyes, and an overall sense of tiredness. Prolonged dehydration may also aggravate headaches and impair your body’s ability to ward off illnesses.
Circadian Rhythms and Fatigue: Long-haul flights often cross multiple time zones. This disrupts your circadian rhythm, or your body’s internal clock, resulting in jet lag. Symptoms include insomnia, daytime fatigue, impaired concentration, digestive issues, and decreased physical performance.
Reduced Oxygen and Cabin Pressure: Aircraft cabins are pressurised to simulate an altitude of 6,000 to 8,000 feet. Oxygen saturation drops, which can lead to a sensation of breathlessness, mild hypoxia, which is especially concerning for people with pre-existing heart/lung conditions, and increased fatigue.
Immobility and Blood Clot Risks: Extended periods of limited movement can slow blood circulation in the legs, increasing the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots that can be life-threatening if they travel to the lungs. Swollen feet, muscle stiffness, and general discomfort are common byproducts of sitting for hours without movement.
Bloating, Gas, and Digestive Upset: Lower cabin pressure can cause gases in your intestines to expand, resulting in bloating, indigestion, or abdominal discomfort. It’s common to feel gassy or experience changes in bowel habits after long flights.
Stress, Germs, and Energetic Drain: Travelling exposes you to more germs and stress; think airport crowds, queues, and irregular routines. All these factors contribute to fatigue and lower immunity upon arrival.
Weighing Your Options: Nonstop vs. Transit (Connecting) Flights When deciding between nonstop flights and those with transits or connections, travellers need to weigh several considerations. Nonstop flights are undoubtedly the fastest and most straightforward way to reach your destination, sparing you the hassle and potential stress of layovers, missed connections, or lost luggage. This simplicity and predictability can contribute to a smoother travel experience, allowing you to maintain a more regular sleep and meal schedule. However, nonstop ultra-long-haul flights can be more expensive and exert a greater physical toll, as being confined to an aircraft seat for extended periods increases discomfort, fatigue, and risks related to prolonged immobility. Not all city pairs offer nonstop service, which can also limit options.
On the other hand, connecting flights typically present a more budget-friendly alternative, often costing less than their nonstop counterparts. They also break up the journey, providing you with opportunities to stretch, refresh, or even explore a new city during a layover. These routes offer greater flexibility in terms of airlines, schedules, and potential stopover destinations. The downsides, however, include a longer total travel time and more opportunities for travel disruptions due to delays, missed connections, or baggage mishandling. Ultimately, choosing nonstop or connecting flights comes down to balancing priorities: whether you place more value on speed and convenience or on cost savings and the ability to break up the trip.
When Should You Choose Each? If you prize speed, simplicity, and convenience, and your budget allows, nonstop flights are preferable. If you value saving money, increased flexibility, or want a physical break on ultra-long trips, connecting flights may suit you better.
Making Long- and Ultra-Long-Haul Flights Bearable: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks Surviving (and even enjoying) hours in the sky requires planning, adaptability, and a toolkit of comfort strategies. Here’s what seasoned travellers and medical experts recommend:
Rest Well in Advance: Try to get a solid night’s sleep before your journey.
Exercise and Shower: A brisk workout and relaxing hot shower right before traveling aid relaxation and circulation.
Dress for Comfort: Wear loose-fitting, layered clothing; consider compression socks to reduce DVT risk.
Packing Essentials
Hydration Helpers: Bring a refillable water bottle to fill after passing security. Drink often, and minimise caffeine and alcohol, which amplify dehydration.
Entertainment Arsenal: Pre-load your device with movies, books, music, podcasts, games, and chargers; avoid relying solely on in-seat entertainment.
Snack Savvy: Pack healthy snacks like nuts, fruit, or energy bars. Airline food schedules may not suit your hunger or dietary preferences.
Travel Comfort Gear: Don’t forget a supportive neck pillow, sleep mask, earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones, and a lightweight blanket or scarf.
Personal Care Kit: Moisturiser, lip balm, toothbrush, toothpaste, and facial wipes will keep you feeling fresh.
In-Flight Hacks
Move Regularly: Walk the aisles as allowed; at minimum, do foot pumps, ankle circles, mini stretches, and stand up every 60–90 minutes.
Stay Hydrated: Sip water throughout the flight, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Minimise Alcohol and Caffeine: Alcohol disrupts sleep patterns; caffeine heightens dehydration and can delay recovery from jet lag.
Sleep Smart: Adjust your watch to the destination time and try to sleep in blocks matched to your new schedule. Use a sleep mask and neck pillow for better rest. Consider (with medical advice) light sleep aids or melatonin.
Dress Warmly: Cabins can feel chilly; layer up as needed.
Plan for Arrival: Use spare time to review destination details, meet work deadlines, or journal about your trip, it makes the time feel productive and meaningful.
East vs. West: Does Direction Matter? Flight times are often shorter when flying eastward, particularly on transcontinental and transpacific routes. This is mostly due to prevailing jet streams, powerful, high-altitude winds that generally move west to east in both hemispheres. Planes heading east can ride these “sky rivers” and cut total flight time by 30–90 minutes or more, depending on the route.
Jet Lag: East or West, Which Is Worse? Jet lag is typically worse when flying east than west. The reason: your body clock finds it harder to adjust to a shorter day (phase advance, flying east) than a longer one (phase delay, flying west). Essentially while flying west, you “gain” hours, and your circadian rhythm is better able to stretch the day, a process more natural to most people. On the other hand, if you fly east, you “lose” hours, compressing the day and forcing your body to adapt to an earlier bedtime, which most find harder. So if If minimising jet lag is a top priority and routes/fares allow, opt for a westward journey to make your arrival a bit smoother, especially on multi-time-zone or ultra-long-haul flights.
Is flying ultra long-haul safe? Yes, for healthy individuals, though special care is needed if you have heart, lung, or blood conditions, or if you’re pregnant or have recently gone scuba diving. Always consult your doctor before booking.
Should I pay for that non-stop ticket? If time, routine, and convenience are huge for you (especially for business, families, or mobility concerns), the extra cost may be well worth it. If you’re price-sensitive, want a leisurely journey, or don’t mind breaking it up, connecting flights shine.
How can I make the economy class feel like business? While there’s no substitute for lie-flat beds, you can maximize comfort in economy by choosing an aisle or bulkhead seat for extra legroom, boarding early to settle in, and upgrading with miles or bidding for premium economy.
Embrace the adventure, be prepared Long- and ultra-long-haul flights can be challenging, but with some preparation, smart choices, and a bit of flexibility, you can emerge healthier, more rested, and even excited to explore your destination. Whether your journey keeps you aloft for a single epic haul or you opt for the scenic route with strategic stopovers, understanding the physical, logistical, and psychological factors at play will ensure you arrive, body and mind, ready for your next adventure.
So, during a long- or ultra-long-haul flight, hydrate, move often, and pack for self-care; make a choice between nonstop and connecting flights based on your own priorities, not just the price; if you can, fly west to minimise jet lag; and treat ultra-long-haul flights as part of the journey’s adventure, not just an ordeal.
Memories and Such 