Jet lag has a funny way of turning exhaustion into connection.
We flew west—from San Francisco to Hong Kong—chasing a new time zone and, unknowingly, a few unforgettable late-night conversations.
Our day started early: a 5:30am pickup for a 9:50am flight. We braced for chaos after hearing about government shutdown delays, but somehow breezed through check-in and TSA in under 20 minutes.
We landed around 7:30pm local time. Bags? Quick. Immigration? Not so much.
Picture this: long zig-zagging lines, waves of incoming flights, and a slow but steady shuffle forward. Two hours later, we finally stepped out into the city.
After debating transportation options, we skipped the airport express train (the most direct and cheapest option) and grabbed an Uber to Kowloon.
And then—just as we were checking into our hotel—the lights went out.
Not a blackout. Not a glitch.
Earth Hour.
From 8:30pm–9:30pm, the city dimmed in solidarity for climate awareness—this year marking its 20th anniversary. The hotel even welcomed us with custom Earth Hour desserts. A surprisingly thoughtful (and delicious) introduction to the night.
Night One: Expectations vs. Reality
We had grand plans to “do it right” and beat jet lag.
What we did:
Hydrated constantly on the flight with Liquid IV (sponsor us, please)
Skipped alcohol and caffeine
What we didn’t do:
No compression socks
No melatonin
No adjusting our schedule ahead of time
No sunlight exposure (arriving at night didn’t help)
And dinner?
Room service pizza.
My dad would be horrified to know our first meal in Asia wasn’t local cuisine.
We showered, crashed… and then woke up. Again. And again.
1am.
3am.
Wide awake.
Jet Lag Diaries: 3 Versions of the Same Night
Jet lag didn’t isolate us—it pulled us together.
My Brother’s Version
A midnight snacker’s dream.
He demolished the hotel’s welcome desserts (one per sibling… allegedly) and made his way through a stash of snacks from a pastel Trader Joe’s tote my sister packed from home:
The Good Crisps
Peanut M&M’s (sharing size)
Bobo’s oat bites
Solely mango fruit jerky
My Sister’s Version
Connection > sleep.
She’d video called our dad on WhatsApp, perfectly synced with his 5am mornings back home. He’d be reading The Wall Street Journal, coffee in hand, easing into his day.
She, on the other hand, was fully charged—like the Energizer Bunny—recapping everything we’d done.
His advice each time?
“Go to sleep.”
My Version
Quiet reflection.
I wrote in my Moleskine—capturing small moments, thoughts worth revisiting. Then I’d switch to my Kindle.
I packed three books. I finished all three.
In the Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros
The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
That’s 1,200+ pages.
After falling in love with Yarros’s Empyrean series (dragons, war college, chaos—I’m in), I think it’s safe to say I’m officially a fan.
The Unexpected Gift of Jet Lag
It took us three days to fully adjust.
But somewhere between the restless nights and shared wake-ups, jet lag gave us something unexpected:
Time together we didn’t plan for.
Conversations we wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Let’s Compare Notes
Do you find it easier to travel east (U.S. → Europe) or west (U.S. → Asia)?
And what actually works for you when it comes to beating jet lag?