Reflections

Sorry for the long silence... I've just been trying to recover from the trip - both mentally, and financially...
Anyway, it's time for the long awaited recap on my trip, and the uploading of the many photos that I snapped. My memory of the start of my trip is fuzzy as hell, but going through the photos really helps.

DAY 1: Departure



I was given a farewell dinner the night I left. Mum made a nice potato thing, I can't remember what it was, as well as a fish salad.

For dessert we had some sort of yoghurt ice-cream thing made by my sister. It was a really great "summery" meal and the weather held out pretty well - it was a really nice way to farewell Melbourne.

We then bundled my luggage and ourselves into the car and headed out to the airport for my midnight flight.

Some last farewell snaps.


DAY 2: Arrival in Malaysia

Arrived at KL LCCT. The flight was... one of the worse I've had so far. Mainly because I couldn't get to sleep, and the seat was... it didn't recline! I can usually sleep anywhere but I reckon the mix of excitement, and the economically fitted out seats of AirAsia, combined to create an atmosphere where my body and mind just refused to get some rest.

Anyway, whilst on the plane, I looked through the ticket for my connecting flight to Penang, and I had assumed it was at 7:30 when in fact it was 6:30. I began to get a little worried as I saw that I was scheduled to arrive just before 6. I couldn't get my eyes off the time that was displayed on our personal screens - yes AirAsia has personal screens now, but you gotta pay to actually utilise its full entertianment value.
As soon as the plane landed I was outta my seat, and I literally ran to the luggage belt. I was hoping and hoping that my luggage would come out first, as it usually does, but fate seemed to be having fun with me this time round.
I waited. And waited. And waited.
Luggage after luggage trundled past, none of them mine.
The time ticked on... I began to panic.
The crowd grew smaller and still... nothing.
FINALLY, a familiar black case emerged through the plastic drapes. I reached down, grabbed my bag and ran off. As i crossed the hall I rememberd to double check the suitcase to make sure it was mine. It was.

At the checkin counter, I had to pay RM20 (20 Rinngit-malaysian dollars) becuase mysteriously, my bagged gained an extra 2kg during the flight. I was in rush so I just paid it. As I ran off, it crossed my mind that it was a little suspicious - I just hoped that it wasn't anything sinister.
I passed through the security gates and emerged in the Domestic Departures hall.
It was empty for the most part. And it got me worried... did I miss my flight?
I checked the time again, and for some reason... I actually still had about 30 minutes left till the flight. All that rushing for nothing! Clearly, I overreacted...
Anyway, I spent the next few minutes taking some photos.

This was where I snapped the photo I posted earlier with the kid and his dad/gramps. I'll post the 3rd photo I took of them here.

Soon after, my plane arrived. Hopped on and 45 minutes later was heading out the terminal doors and into the hot humid air of Penang. Cousin picked me up and took me to a PC fair where I got a 4gb m2 card for my phone for about... $15AUD. BARGAIN.

The stadium where the PC fair was held.

My cousin and his girlfriend. The umbrella = sun protection.

Inside the PC fair. This was the inside - there were a whole bunch of other stalls in the hallways outside the main arena.

Inside one of the many malls that seem to spring up everywhere all over developing Asia.

One other thing - I had bought over chocolates for my cousins and my friend's cousins. I left them in my Aunties car when I went to see some things... I am still not entirely sure but I think those choclates were melted.. just a little. They felt soft when I returned to the car. Either way, my little cousins ate some anyway.. even if it wasn't for them...

More refelctions and photos coming soon.