MY SMOKES AND A TRAVEL TALE

1. MY SMOKES AND A TRAVEL TALE Traveling in the COVID era has been an absolute bane, with multiple checks, tests and copious amounts of time being spent on just flying from point A to point B. To make it worse, as smokers, we have to undergo even more scrutiny while traveling, lest to avoid any further eyeballs tracking our every movement at the airport. Much before the start of my trip overseas, I found out about all the smoking-related protocols at the airport and of the place I’m traveling to, whether they have any further restrictions in place. Luckily, the country I was visiting had an established smoking culture and did not criminalize smokers in the same way as where I am currently. After obtaining my COVID-19 negative certificate which was mandatory before flying, I stocked up on my favourite smokes to keep me company on my journey along with a very important item, my lighter. On reaching the airport and successfully negotiating all procedures, I headed for the lounge. The lounge at the airport had a separate enclosure for smokers, which was almost like a godsend after not being able to get my fix of tobacco for nearly 2-3 hours. A few smokers at the enclosure also requested to borrow my lighter, which I dutifully did, having been on the receiving end on a number of occasions Know more about young smoking stories. As I boarded my flight, I made sure I was calm and collected, with a three-hour journey to my destination ahead of me. The cigarettes I had smoked at the lounge kept me going during the flight, while a small nap added to the passing of time. As we hit the tarmac, I heaved a sigh of relief that I was just minutes away from having a smoke. After a relatively quick immigration and baggage process, I stepped out of the airport in this new land, and what greeted me? The familiar smell of cigarettes! Thus, this whole trip which I was desperate to get through was actually worth it, with the promise of a great time in a new land where smoking reigned supreme.