Jill Worrall: Plastic bags for my own protection

Jill Worrall on an earlier trip to the Ganges. Photo / Jill Worrall

What would worldwide airport security have done if certain plastic bag manufacturers hadn't already invented the resealable bag?

I've been pondering that while packing my potentially lethal travel companion's - lens cleaner, moisturiser and a particularly deadly lip gel.

I know it's supposedly for my own protection but there's no denying airport security has done its very best to eradicate romance from modern-day travel.

This was reinforced for me last week when I saw an old-fashioned travel trunk in Larnach Castle, near Dunedin. The trunk contained a set of drawers and even hanging space - imagine the joy of not ferreting around for that lost sock.

But long ago I resolved I wasn't going to let airport security and long-haul flights erase the pleasures of travel. I like flying, I even like airports - I'm an addict and I'm happy to be incurable.

Tomorrow I am whisking 14 other Kiwis to Azerbaijan on a rather circuitous route that involves transits in Seoul and Istanbul. How could anyone even resist the names let alone the destinations themselves?

It is going to be a long time in the air, however, and as like rust I never sleep I have had to devise other forms of entertainment. One's fellow passengers are a likely bet.

My most lucky break in this respect was on a flight somewhere over Asia (the nationality of my neighbour will remain anonymous to prevent diplomatic fallout).

No movie could have been more riveting than watching this gentleman squirrel away into his hand luggage two packs of airline playing cards, a damp face cloth, a complete set of airline cutlery, two tins of fizzy drink, most of his dinner, his blanket and the ultimate challenge - two aircraft pillows (one of which turned out to be mine).

Could anyone beat that? I'm almost hoping to find out - it's a long way from Auckland to Baku.