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Day 1: VYR - KUL

 4:00 am, Shah Alam, 27 degrees Celsius

Should be sleeping but I will make it a point to 'journal'.

That was not a very pleasant trip, but I am grateful and relieved that I made it in one piece. Apart from in-flight service which was sub-par at best, I didn't get much shut eye. So, I caught up on my reading but still felt extremely exhausted once we landed in Pudong, Shanghai.

My first impressions of the airport was a good one - gleaming panels, immense concourses, expansive architecture. Once you're in it though, I can't say that I've had a bigger hassle as a transfer passenger. I am glad China blocked Blogger, I don't have many kind things to say about my experience there.

First, why do transfer passengers have to line up at an immigration checkpoint upon arrival? As far as I know, passengers-in-transit head straight to their gates and have a short security check before entering the lounge. I had to stand in line for about half an hour just to clear the FIRST checkpoint.

Then came the SECOND checkpoint. Then the THIRD. I am starting to think either the Chinese Big Brothers are paranoid; or perhaps they want to flex their bureaucratic or policing muscles; or maybe dressing up in military uniform or official dress lets males feel less impotent and women more empowered. Or maybe they just want to create more jobs, paperwork and experience for the mostly adolescent security personnel stationed there.

Okay, maybe carrying a suit bag, bag pack and laptop case makes me more irritable and agitated. But, mineral water that costs 5 USD? Unsuitable outlets for laptop, dying ipod - yes, maybe I wouldn't want these things to happen on my honeymoon. Flight to KL delayed for an hour because of unsuitable weather conditions.

Arrived in KL unceremoniously at 2am, long walk to Bus Terminal to get to Arrival Halls. Sweltering heat plus fatigue did not make matters better. Straps of my backpack dug into my shoulders and my suit bag weighed as much as a body bag.

But.

The sight of my relatives changed all of that. They were there waiting patiently in the wee hours of the morning. Talk about being grateful. As I type this entry in the comfort of my air-conditioned room, a heavy tropical thunder storm raging outside, I feel as if I am in the best of hands and hospitality here.

You can say that I am exhilarated to be home.

p.s. Two people I sat next to on two consecutive flights chatted me up. I did not even make eye contact, but I didn't know I was that approachable. According to many, I look intimidating. Maybe this time around I resonated a different aura.

Selamat Malam.

Comments

  1. Tim7 March 2011 at 15:05

    typo: its YVR
    and sorry! i forgot to loan you my plug adapter. oh well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rabiyah7 March 2011 at 22:31

    Dennis Kam you crack me up! I am glad you had a safe flight, and I wish you had this blog around when you went to the VICTORIA Regionals event...Anyway, enjoy yourself!!

    ReplyDelete

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