THE SOUTH EAST ASIA SERIES PT1
THE DAY I LEFT HOME FOR 2 YEARS OF TRAVELLING 20/10/15
My Nightmare Malaysian Flight. I left my cousins Stevie and Wendy after a good weekend in London. I still didn’t feel like I was actually going to travel for six months (which turned out to be two years!). It was great to see them and the kids, who were always entertaining.
IT LOOKED LIKE A BUTCHERS TABLE
The flight was a nightmare. I thought Malaysian Airways would have improved after the incidents with their two planes. The seats were almost unbearable, made worse by my restlessness. The plane looked like it belonged in an aircraft graveyard. I had flown long haul plenty of times before: to America, Canada, South Africa, and once to Australia with Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines remains my favorite airline after that faultless experience.
NEVER PICK A MIDDLE SEAT
Anyway, I was stuck in a middle seat beside a gentleman who couldn’t stop fidgeting and coughing up phlegm for 13 hours straight. I can deal with that since everyone has their problems, and I have plenty of empathy. I was used to the phlegm issue after being so close to my nana; she would have given this fella a run for his money.
Things went a bit Pete Tong once he ordered the red wine. I noticed his hands often shook, and again, I can empathize with him, but I knew what was to come. As soon as he put his glass down, I knew where it was going to end up, so I shifted myself and everything I had closer to the girl on my right. She was slightly confused by me suddenly entering her personal space. Of course, two minutes later, off the table it went. Fortunately, most of it only went on him, not once but twice. The same happened with the two cups of tea he ordered later. By the end of the flight, his tray looked more like a butcher’s table.
SLEEP
Now, eager to get some sleep on this red-eye, I closed my eyes and hoped for the best. After a few moments of complete bliss, someone tapped my shoulder and woke me up. My seatmate apologized in my ear and continued watching his movie. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. That’s the thing about traveling solo; you can’t choose who you sit beside! I didn’t reserve a seat this time because I bought my ticket the night before I left. From that moment on, I became a “window person” for the view, reserved armrest, and added head support for sleeping. You live and learn.
SAFE TRAVELS, DS x
This post is part of The South East Asia Series, for the next article click here.
To watch the video of my trip, head to my highlights on my Instagram.
