Hello readers.
It's been quite a while since my last post here. I guess I owe Corey an apology for not writing even though he personally requested that I write about my trip to Europe. So here I am, finally found the mood to write. I've been very busy with school.
On July 11, 2009 I departed from the LCCT on a flight bound for Stansted, London, England. It was the second time I went to the United Kingdom in 1 year. I went once, last year on 27th September, a few days before Eid. However, last year I went to Glasgow, Scotland for a 5-day conference. It was the International Astronautical Congress (this year's IAC is going to be held in Korea). I was basically alone for 8 days. Celebrating eid on my own. Well, I didn't celebrate at all. I had to go for the conference since my trip was fully sponsored by my scholarship provider. Anyway, I was saving my money for almost a year for this latest trip to come true. Makan biskut gula memanjang. I paid for my own expenses this time around. And I went on a journey to a land 16600km away all by myself again.
Picture taken due to boredom.
Last year, I flew with Emirates with a transit for 3 hours in Dubai before I continue my journey to Glasgow International Airport (GLA). This time around, I flew with AirAsia X. A 14-hour direct flight KUL-STN. Sakit bontot oi. The food sucked and there was no entertainment. Well, you get what you pay for. I paid MYR 1200.00 one way. I read that the aircrafts will only be fitted with built in entertainment system later this year (or early next year).
I was excited initially and up until a few hours after take-off. I almost died of boredom for the rest of the journey. By the time I landed in Stansted, it was 5 PM. I was greeted by my better half who then I haven't met in 10 months. Rindu gila okay. Let's just call her M. I had first freshen up, brushed my teeth and washed my face before I went out through the arrival hall. M was waiting for me at Costa (tak wujud kat Malaysia) and she bought me some hot chocolate and sandwich.
After almost an hour, we left Costa because I wanted to walk around the airport to kill time (we had to get on a bus around 8.30 PM). Walking pass an entrance, I felt the cold air that I had missed SO much. It was really refreshing and it certainly brought back memories from the last trip to UK. Since it was in the summer, there was still light. The sun sets around 9 PM. Walking around, I realized that Stansted International Airport is at least twice as big as LCCT.
Airport entrance at the bus station.
While waiting for our bus, we sat on a bench just outside the airport and it was so freaking cold. Baru summer. My body felt feverish. My bus ride was on a mini bus heading for Victoria Coach Station. The journey took 2 hours with heavy traffic. Once there, we went straight into the station because it was raining and it was already dark. We then took a bus to Edinburgh, Scotland. And that was another 8 hours on my butt. Gila. Lenguh.
So yeah, that was all that happened on the first day of my trip. It was tiring but it certainly made the journey memorable. Stay tuned and I will tell you of my experience in Edinburgh, Paris and London :)
Till then.
-rahmanhashim
