Well, I'm back now and with stories to share to will everyone please gather around the campfire, turn off your mobiles, get a drink and enjoy.
Day 1. 16/08/08
Couldn't really sleep the previous night, and I awoke early in anticipation of the impending trip. We left at 7.30 or 8 I think, my flight being at 10 if I'm not mistaken. And luckily I left early because as soon as I reached KLIA, I noticed something that probably will only happen in a airport as nice as ours. I think they had only 1 or 2 counters open for London, the line was longer than that you would normally get standing in a bus stop. So much for being one of the best airports in the world.After awhile, and with the help of an Enrich card, I was checked in and ready to go. I had never been on a flight as long as 12 hours. 12 bleeding hours. Basically a whole day, cooped up, seat-belted down into a metal tube, 30000 or so feet in the air, eyes glued to a screen
about the size of a big guys palm. Well that's exactly what it was, I watched some Ashton Kutcher show that helped pass time. What stays in Vegas etc... Something I learned while on-board. I'm no racist and this isn't meant to be racist but I've noticed that the most irritating people on planes are usually the middle easterns. Their children are extremely whiney, they run around everywhere, the father dosn't give a shit, and the mother is bullied by her kids constantly. Add that to a young baby that had to share a seat with her mother and perfect, non-stop irritation for 12 hours. I swear the Australian dude sitting next to me was on the verge of getting up and throwing them out.Touched down at Heathrow International Airport at about 3pm London Time.
Wasn't as grand as I expected it to be, but extremely big, and extremely busy. Heathrow has 5 terminals by the way. Waited quite awhile at immigration but I was finally there. Stepping into UK and into London. Much like KLIA, you can take a subway straight from inside the airport. Exactly what I did, taking a train straight to Gloucester Road, where my hotel would be located. As you will see, hotel is quite an exaggeration on my part.
Ah, the Cromwell Crown Hotel. With your typical non-responsive Indian receptionist who hates her job. Room was basically 2 foldable beds of sorts and a double bunk bed. Toilet was comparable to that of the airplanes. With everything sorted, and stowed away. Time for dinner. The area I lived in appeared to be quite middle to upper middle class. Holiday Inn was nearby and within the first hour or so I was there, I had seen at least 6 Porsche's, a Lamborghini and various BMWs around. So we walked around abit and settled on fish and chips. What else?! Typical english food, except, served by some guy who looked and spoke more french than english. Nevertheless, it was good. A good way to end my first day in the great city of London.That wraps up day 1. I'll report on day 2 tomorrow. Cheers.
By the way, if any of you tossers wants to check out the full album of Sepia photos that I took, feel free to browse through them on facebook here.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.
