THERE’S something reassuring about hearing the captain’s voice when you are on a plane, even when it is a short journey from Penang to Subang.

The weather was perfect, and in his confident baritone voice (why do pilots all sound the same?), he told us that the plane was travelling at 300kph and cruising at a height of 3,962m.

Unlike bigger planes that travel up to three times that speed at an altitude above 12,192m, flying on a turbo-prop plane is a different experience altogether.

I was deep in thought on that journey but the window seat allowed me to have a good view of what was below.

The meandering rivers seen from above are a contrast to the fairly straight North-South Expressway, reminding me that nature’s way of designing things are radically different from that of human engineers.

The mangrove swamps that remain are a testimony to our foolishness in not appreciating the natural buffers along our coastlines as most of them have been cut down for coastal development projects.

But as the plane flew towards Subang, I am also reminded that there is much pristine land available.

The Main Range, which is truly more majestic when referred to by its Malay name, Banjaran Titiwangsa, remains the backbone of the peninsula and one can only hope that this natural divide will never be compromised in any way.

There is much to reflect on when we change the way we look at things. Planners, even housing developers, need to take to the air sometimes to fully appreciate the impact that their projects can have on areas much further away.

But I was deep in thought for other reasons and the view was a gentle reminder that all things will pass. Problems that seem insurmountable at times, when viewed at a certain level, will become more manageable once we take a step back.

Visiting people in hospitals is fairly routine to me but on this trip back, I realised that when you are visiting someone very close and dear to you, it is definitely not quite the same.

Family members, of course, rallied and supported one another. I was thankful that amid all the emotion, a friend and former teacher showed up to listen and offer good advice and practical help. He even made a bowl of chicken soup for me, which was definitely good for both body and soul.

I rarely fly but I had to take this flight out of necessity because bus tickets were all sold out. And before I knew it, whatever apprehensions I had were gone and the plane landed smoothly, well ahead of time.

Christmas was definitely different for me this year, but it was still a day that reminded me that we are never alone as we go through life with its many ups and downs.

And it helps, sometimes, when we are able to abandon our cares at ground level and view them from higher up.

Deputy executive editor Soo Ewe Jin wishes all readers a blessed 2013 and is looking forward to the general election, where his two sons will be able to vote for the first time.

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