Yesterday, I went to Strange World Tattoo in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to get my first ever tattoo. I decided to get a tiny airplane on my left wrist.
I never thought that I would get a tattoo ever in my life! I don’t know what made me get one, to be honest. I was just looking at travel tattoos for the past couple of weeks then I decided to check out a tattoo studio to inquire and ask my questions. I walked out with a tattoo afterwards 😛
I am terrified of needles and I always faint whenever someone takes my blood sample. The lady at the tattoo studio told me that she, too, faints whenever she gets blood work done but she has tattoos and she tried her best to explain to me the feeling of getting a tattoo. She told me it’s just like getting scratched. That getting a tattoo is having the needle only up to the fourth layer of the skin compared to getting blood work or shots done where the needle goes up to the seventh layer. She also told me that they have openings in the afternoon and I could get my tattoo done in half an hour.
I left the studio and gave myself some time to think. I called back half an hour later and set up an appointment for 2:30. I got there and Stu did my tattoo. He is a really nice guy. He made me feel really comfortable and he’s really friendly. He told me he’s got one of the lightest hands so that really helped me feel at ease.
When he started doing the outline, it did not hurt as much as I expected it to hurt. Filling in the outline hurts less. It did not even feel like a scratch. For me it felt just like a pinch. I really don’t know how to explain it.
It only took about less than half an hour from start to finish. My tattoo is about an inch in size. This tattoo will remind me that my one and only love is travel. I also put it on my wrist so when I take a photo of me holding my passport and boarding pass, my airplane tattoo will always show. Haha. I got it facing outwards because it shows that I am always going out. Although, Stu suggested to do it facing inwards so it is pointing towards the centre of my body. I thought about it and facing inwards can mean always going home which would also be a nice meaning but I wasn’t convinced and he helped me make a decision by asking me what does your gut say, and I instantly said “out” and he said, we’re doing it out then. He said gut feeling is what we should always listen to.
I really liked the look of the airplane tattoo when it was just an outline, as well. Heck, I think it looked better but I also felt like something is missing if I don’t fill it in. So, I decided to fill it in and it’s not so bad. Either way, I am happy to have my tattoo. It is truly addicting! Gaah. The next tattoo I want is a colourful world map. I just have to think of where to put it and save money for it.
Aaaahh. I still can’t believe I got a tattoo!
Expenses: CAD$120 plus tax
Wow! Congratulations! I have yet to jump on the tattoo train but if/when I do it will be travel related, too. That’s great it didn’t hurt as much as you were anticipating. 🙂
Beth Blair recently posted…Six Things to Pack for a Theme Park
I’m not hugely into tattoos, but this is nice!
Dannielle Lily recently posted…North East Date Ideas: The Botanist Newcastle
@beth Blair: Thank you! Let me know when you get one! I’m thinking of getting a tiny world map next! hehe
@Danielle Lily: I wasn’t into tattoos either so I don’t understand what made me get one! lol 😛
What a cute little tattoo! And so perfect for a traveler:) I am terrified of needles so I won’t be able to ever get one but I like the airbrush or washable ones:)
Terumi recently posted…Just the best parts of camping at the Astoria Koa (Oregon with kids)
Terumi! I am terrified of needles too! I faint whenever I get blood work done but getting a tattoo was not as bad as I expected so that’s a good thing? maybe? haha. I never ever thought I would get one but I did 🙂
Congrats on your cute tattoo 😀 We’ve got some travel related tattoos as well, and they means so much for us.
We Travel Together recently posted…Chobe River Safari
Very nice tattoo – congratz.
I really love how subtle your plane is, it’s like a little secret My husband, Michael, just got a new travel inspired tattoo. He wrote about it along with a bunch of others, sorry we didn’t see yours earlier to include. Check it out on our site anyway, and let us know what you think!
Shannon // Camera & Carry On recently posted…38 MORE Travel Related Tattoos from Backpackers, Globetrotters, & Bloggers