I decided to keep my diary on-line by way of a Blog. anyone is welcome to read it. I hope you enjoy it but don't care if you don't - just trying to keep something for me to read back in in older age.
Having started planning nearly a year ago last week was a sudden realisation that it was all about to happen. The first few days a plan of military precision. Until we picked up the motor-home on Thursday there really wasn't any room for Mr F*ck Up.
We had to be on the flight at 22.00 from Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur otherwise the first week of the trip's plans would fall apart. We were getting there by BA Shuttle from Manchester at 19.00. That arrived at 22.00 and so we had two hours to connect with the luggage already checked through it should be easy. But two hours with a terminal change always nagged us. it didn't seem long but the airline do it this way. Last week the forecast had taken a turn for the worse and storms had battered much of the UK but no snow and the forecast for the day good; no worries,
A quick check of facebook in bed. There is Steve Mudge once again jetting around the World and now stuck in Istanbul because of the UK weather! What? "The Weather's fine Steve" I posted. What is he on about. An hour later the BBC news confirmed that actually he was probably delayed by an air traffic system failure in the UK. What? Read the article. Stomach lurches. Check flight departure boards at various airports. Mostly going, many delays look like the situation is getting worse.
A 3pm departure for the airport suddenly seemed like not such a good idea. No contact on phone to BA - all lines busy. Shuttle departures being cancelled. Decide to go somehow.
This is when having friends is good and good friends better. "Francoise what are you doing at the moment...". 45 min later she picked us and we were on the way but not really sure where. Various phone calls - told we couldn't just jump a train to London as not checking in at Manchester for non existent flight would result in all flights being cancelled. So head for the non existent flight - at least we could argue that in the airport and catch a train there if needed. So Manchester we went. Got a text from Steph & Sim = Sim offering a lift to Heathrow if needed so another plan on hand.
BA staff at Manchester announce that although all the other connecting shuttles had been cancelled our 19.00 maybe ok. Maybe? Fortunately another staff member intervened and confirmed that in the circumstances we could go to Heathrow if we wanted under our own steam. Then another offer their 3pm shuttle was being replaced by bus did we want to go that way. Free bus - yes please. Also they "helped" by checking us in to the Malaysia Airlines Heathrow flight. Hang on why are all the seat numbers wrong and we are all over the place. Lots of £s had been spent pre-booking exit seats in the upstairs of the A380 and now we were at random points all over the gargantuan lower economy deck. "You'll have to speak to them at Heathrow sir". Sh!t
Our Airbus shuttle wasn't quite the A320 we were expecting to fly down on it was a decent coach with a good humoured driver and only about 18 passenger. We were off with a driver determined to beat the record of 3.5 hrs by road. he did it hooray. and only 6.30pm. We were in Heathrow 90 sooner than we would have been. Blood pressure slightly lower. So this was the new Terminal 5 we were supposed to land in. Trouble is our flight was leaving Terminal 4. Just follow the signs the airport web pages had said. The trouble is the signs are only there if you arrive by plane. Amazingly there seemed no simple way land-side to move terminals. Blood pressure climbing we eventually were told to use the Heathrow Express train - "doesn't that go to London". yes and no apparently. It actually also offer a free way of changing terminals. Free is good and two trains later we arrived terminal 4 still an hour earlier than we would have. Time to sort out those seat allocations.
Plenty of people in the queue (that wasn't moving) for check-in and so Sarah and the kids left in whilst I sent to the ticket desk to sort out the seats. "ah yes sir always happens with BA check ins. Hope the seats haven't been reallocated". Then on to explain that they would check if and when the check-in system cane back on-line - ah that'll be why no queues are moving then...Then it turns out Malaysia Air decided to do a scheduled maintenance without telling anyone at the great time of 3am in Malaysia - quiet then you see unless it's 7pm in London in which case Heathrow check-in you're screwed. Fortunately 20 min later things were back on-line and queues started moving. So then I got told my seats had obviously been taken as unavailable. That blood pressure must have been off the scale. Count to ten explain that we needed exit seats for two with the kids close and fair enough she managed it on the main deck - it would have to do. Collect the boarding pass at check in.
Finally some luck Sarah was at the front of the queue so off to the desk we went. "There should be seats moved for us" I say; "yes to not these ones he says". Panic. Then what seats were they. Turns out the very ones I wanted and had paid for months ago. Hooray top deck here we come.
If you ever have the misfortune to have to fly economy long haul then top deck on the A380 with Malaysian is the least painful way to do it. They have a small economy section upstairs for around 60 people and you get to board with business class people and have the final indignity of walking best their lie flat beds on the way to your economy shed. But a better shed than the cattle herder's ranch downstairs it is. Also apparently no kids under 12 so no screaming babies.
That is unless they are out of maybe space downstairs in which case up they come and guess what right next to me is one full of cold and in a foul good ah well!
They say the A380 is huge - maybe but I didn't see it. On the way back I'll ask for look downstairs to remind me of the little good fortune. Off we go. Take off is great fun they even have a camera somewhere on the tail looking down the plane so you get a view of the runway as you amble down it - or so it seems the quietest and fuss-less take off I have ever had.
Things I learned today:
Immigration was painless and actually has smiling staff. The airport hotel that we'd booked also had a check in at the baggage hall all so by the time we had the bags we had the room keys. The highlight of the day was then being collected by electric buggy and whisked through the terminal via the connecting air tunnel to the hotel - great fun.
8pm - a dip in the pool is very welcome after the last day and night. Then a great dinner at the hotel. Figuring going to bed at 10.30pm is good. You sleep a normal night and wak
e up around 7am yes? No actually.
Things I learned today:
So what do you do with a day in KL and jet lag. If your sensible have an easy day and a good night's sleep. Or if you're us get out there in the heat, see something and then get on a plane for another ten hours.
The gentlest option was the bird garden. So one fast train and one taxi later there we were. The largest free flying aviary in the World. Hadn't figured it was on the side of a hill and any walk down means a walk back up - nice in the heat and humidity. The excitement at seeing a peacock in full feather wore thin after about the 50th peacock. But it was all nice enough and everyone enjoyed the bird feeding - from parakeets to emus! So what are the odds of getting shat on in a place like this? Guess who the lucky one was.
Nice.
The garden also had its own pack of monkeys and it was time to hold on to bags - they were definitely out on the rob.
After lunch at the airport (BK for 4 for a tenner - bargain) it was time for a siesta. Well it may have been time for one but it didn't happen just a couple of hours of lie down wishing for 10 hours sleep. Whisked back by buggy it was time to check in again.
It would be good to say that this was all very easy this time. It nearly was except that for some unknown reason our seat allocations had once again been randomised! Fortunately we were there early enough to produce written assurances from the airline and successfully demand back the allocated seats.
No separate cabin this time. The Boeing 777 economy has a 34" eg pitch and our exit seat about 8 feet of space - great for people to come and stand in - nice being near the toilet queue. So not the nice airbus but ok and once again pleasant crew with plenty of free food and drink on offer. A 9 hour flight seems easy after the 12 hour the day before but after little sleep it was just another slog.
Things I learned today:
Check in and up we go. It is nice enough - two bedrooms and we opt for the twin room (space to sleep - no energy for anything else. Tomos grabs the double and Elin ends up on the sofa but tempting as these all are we elect to hold out a while to try and shift the body clock.
A bleary eyed trip to town and we look for food. That means some wrong turns on what should have been an easy walk. Nobody really knows what they want to eat and Auckland may well be a foodies dream but at 4pm the choices are limited. The mall foot court manages to get us all fed from various outlets - kebabs, Chinese and MacDonalds (nice one kids).
At 6.30pm we can hold out no longer. Three seconds after hitting the pillow we're out cold. A lovely 10hrs sleep is welcome.
Things I learned today:
We have a day here before getting the motor home tomorrow. We decide the Sky tower and the city museum are the best option for the jet lagged family.
The Skytower is 328M high. Apparently the tallest in the Southern hemisphere. The trouble is we've just come from KL and saw the Patronas towers (we visit them on 31 December). These are over a 100M higher and don't cheat by having a 100M of inaccessible spire above like this one. Still impressive enough though and up we went.
Apparently the glass we jumped on and leant against up there is 3.8cm thick and didn't break! Morning coffee in the sky; very nice.
Returned to the apartment for a sandwich lunch and low energy activity of writing this and the above commenced.
Fortunately the Skytower had let me spot the fact that although the city museum wasn't that far from the apartment. It was though up a bloomin great hill. Taxi arrived.
The museum was good and whilst Sarah enjoyed the Maori cultural exhibits I enjoyed the war sections.
Back the the apartment we hold out for an 8pm bedtime. Please let us get the long sleep we need.
What I learned today:
Saturday 7th December 2013 - The Best Laid Schemes of Mice & Woods
But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft a-gley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promised joy.
Robbie Burns
Having started planning nearly a year ago last week was a sudden realisation that it was all about to happen. The first few days a plan of military precision. Until we picked up the motor-home on Thursday there really wasn't any room for Mr F*ck Up.
We had to be on the flight at 22.00 from Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur otherwise the first week of the trip's plans would fall apart. We were getting there by BA Shuttle from Manchester at 19.00. That arrived at 22.00 and so we had two hours to connect with the luggage already checked through it should be easy. But two hours with a terminal change always nagged us. it didn't seem long but the airline do it this way. Last week the forecast had taken a turn for the worse and storms had battered much of the UK but no snow and the forecast for the day good; no worries,
A quick check of facebook in bed. There is Steve Mudge once again jetting around the World and now stuck in Istanbul because of the UK weather! What? "The Weather's fine Steve" I posted. What is he on about. An hour later the BBC news confirmed that actually he was probably delayed by an air traffic system failure in the UK. What? Read the article. Stomach lurches. Check flight departure boards at various airports. Mostly going, many delays look like the situation is getting worse.
A 3pm departure for the airport suddenly seemed like not such a good idea. No contact on phone to BA - all lines busy. Shuttle departures being cancelled. Decide to go somehow.
This is when having friends is good and good friends better. "Francoise what are you doing at the moment...". 45 min later she picked us and we were on the way but not really sure where. Various phone calls - told we couldn't just jump a train to London as not checking in at Manchester for non existent flight would result in all flights being cancelled. So head for the non existent flight - at least we could argue that in the airport and catch a train there if needed. So Manchester we went. Got a text from Steph & Sim = Sim offering a lift to Heathrow if needed so another plan on hand.
BA staff at Manchester announce that although all the other connecting shuttles had been cancelled our 19.00 maybe ok. Maybe? Fortunately another staff member intervened and confirmed that in the circumstances we could go to Heathrow if we wanted under our own steam. Then another offer their 3pm shuttle was being replaced by bus did we want to go that way. Free bus - yes please. Also they "helped" by checking us in to the Malaysia Airlines Heathrow flight. Hang on why are all the seat numbers wrong and we are all over the place. Lots of £s had been spent pre-booking exit seats in the upstairs of the A380 and now we were at random points all over the gargantuan lower economy deck. "You'll have to speak to them at Heathrow sir". Sh!t
Our Airbus shuttle wasn't quite the A320 we were expecting to fly down on it was a decent coach with a good humoured driver and only about 18 passenger. We were off with a driver determined to beat the record of 3.5 hrs by road. he did it hooray. and only 6.30pm. We were in Heathrow 90 sooner than we would have been. Blood pressure slightly lower. So this was the new Terminal 5 we were supposed to land in. Trouble is our flight was leaving Terminal 4. Just follow the signs the airport web pages had said. The trouble is the signs are only there if you arrive by plane. Amazingly there seemed no simple way land-side to move terminals. Blood pressure climbing we eventually were told to use the Heathrow Express train - "doesn't that go to London". yes and no apparently. It actually also offer a free way of changing terminals. Free is good and two trains later we arrived terminal 4 still an hour earlier than we would have. Time to sort out those seat allocations.
Plenty of people in the queue (that wasn't moving) for check-in and so Sarah and the kids left in whilst I sent to the ticket desk to sort out the seats. "ah yes sir always happens with BA check ins. Hope the seats haven't been reallocated". Then on to explain that they would check if and when the check-in system cane back on-line - ah that'll be why no queues are moving then...Then it turns out Malaysia Air decided to do a scheduled maintenance without telling anyone at the great time of 3am in Malaysia - quiet then you see unless it's 7pm in London in which case Heathrow check-in you're screwed. Fortunately 20 min later things were back on-line and queues started moving. So then I got told my seats had obviously been taken as unavailable. That blood pressure must have been off the scale. Count to ten explain that we needed exit seats for two with the kids close and fair enough she managed it on the main deck - it would have to do. Collect the boarding pass at check in.
Finally some luck Sarah was at the front of the queue so off to the desk we went. "There should be seats moved for us" I say; "yes to not these ones he says". Panic. Then what seats were they. Turns out the very ones I wanted and had paid for months ago. Hooray top deck here we come.
 |
| See that top deck - that's us! |
If you ever have the misfortune to have to fly economy long haul then top deck on the A380 with Malaysian is the least painful way to do it. They have a small economy section upstairs for around 60 people and you get to board with business class people and have the final indignity of walking best their lie flat beds on the way to your economy shed. But a better shed than the cattle herder's ranch downstairs it is. Also apparently no kids under 12 so no screaming babies.
 |
| We the one next to me was nowhere near this happy... |
That is unless they are out of maybe space downstairs in which case up they come and guess what right next to me is one full of cold and in a foul good ah well!
They say the A380 is huge - maybe but I didn't see it. On the way back I'll ask for look downstairs to remind me of the little good fortune. Off we go. Take off is great fun they even have a camera somewhere on the tail looking down the plane so you get a view of the runway as you amble down it - or so it seems the quietest and fuss-less take off I have ever had.
Things I learned today:
- Heathrow staff don't know much about where they work
- An A380 maybe the biggest passenger plane it is also the quietest
Sunday 8th December - Airport KL
The shortest day. It lasted 16 hrs thanks to that 8 hour time shift. Plenty of it spent on that 12 hour flight. No sleep (because I wasn't in my bed). Good friendly service from the Malaysian crew. Apparently they all aspire to getting on the 380 so you get the good ones. Breakfast served at 7am UK time or 3pm Malaysian time - take your pick but the chicken biryani was delicious - as was Sarah's who couldn't cope with curry breakfast!Washed down with strong coffee it saw me through the last two hours to KL and off we got - gone 3C and cloud, hello 28C and humidity.Immigration was painless and actually has smiling staff. The airport hotel that we'd booked also had a check in at the baggage hall all so by the time we had the bags we had the room keys. The highlight of the day was then being collected by electric buggy and whisked through the terminal via the connecting air tunnel to the hotel - great fun.
 |
| The buggy ride to the Sama Sama |
e up around 7am yes? No actually.
Things I learned today:
- It is possible to have friendly immigration staff
- I like Malaysia
- It doesn't matter how tired you are, your body thinks it knows when it should be awake. It get's it wrong when you mess it about.
 |
| The Reception Area - the rest was good too! |
Monday 9th December - Birds and Planes
So much for that anti jet lag plan. Zing 4am and I'm awake. 6 hrs sleep in two days - not good. Take solace in that it's 10pm the night before in the UK and plenty of people to chat to on-line! Turns out Elin is awake too and had the same idea. Other Woodies keep sleeping. We are in breakfast early and if not full of beans then at least full of croissants, fruit but even I couldn't face the curry this morning.So what do you do with a day in KL and jet lag. If your sensible have an easy day and a good night's sleep. Or if you're us get out there in the heat, see something and then get on a plane for another ten hours.
The gentlest option was the bird garden. So one fast train and one taxi later there we were. The largest free flying aviary in the World. Hadn't figured it was on the side of a hill and any walk down means a walk back up - nice in the heat and humidity. The excitement at seeing a peacock in full feather wore thin after about the 50th peacock. But it was all nice enough and everyone enjoyed the bird feeding - from parakeets to emus! So what are the odds of getting shat on in a place like this? Guess who the lucky one was.
The garden also had its own pack of monkeys and it was time to hold on to bags - they were definitely out on the rob.
 |
| Watch your bag Tomos |
After lunch at the airport (BK for 4 for a tenner - bargain) it was time for a siesta. Well it may have been time for one but it didn't happen just a couple of hours of lie down wishing for 10 hours sleep. Whisked back by buggy it was time to check in again.
It would be good to say that this was all very easy this time. It nearly was except that for some unknown reason our seat allocations had once again been randomised! Fortunately we were there early enough to produce written assurances from the airline and successfully demand back the allocated seats.
No separate cabin this time. The Boeing 777 economy has a 34" eg pitch and our exit seat about 8 feet of space - great for people to come and stand in - nice being near the toilet queue. So not the nice airbus but ok and once again pleasant crew with plenty of free food and drink on offer. A 9 hour flight seems easy after the 12 hour the day before but after little sleep it was just another slog.
Things I learned today:
- You can avoid getting ripped off in KL Taxis if you can buy a voucher for the journey first
- It only takes a day to miss a bacon sarnie when you're tired.
Tuesday 10th December - We Arrive
Great views of Australia and Sydney as we passed over and then the Tasman sea and New Zealand. Another change of the watch by 5 hours and we were now 13 hours ahead of when we started. Confused body clock - you bet. At 1300 we were here. Auckland airport isn't that big but is busy enough. They have cheerful staff but your wouldn't want to mess with them. Beware of bringing muddy trainers - they may bin them! Airport procedures done in a good enough time and an efficient shuttle service awaited to transfer us to the apartment.Check in and up we go. It is nice enough - two bedrooms and we opt for the twin room (space to sleep - no energy for anything else. Tomos grabs the double and Elin ends up on the sofa but tempting as these all are we elect to hold out a while to try and shift the body clock.
A bleary eyed trip to town and we look for food. That means some wrong turns on what should have been an easy walk. Nobody really knows what they want to eat and Auckland may well be a foodies dream but at 4pm the choices are limited. The mall foot court manages to get us all fed from various outlets - kebabs, Chinese and MacDonalds (nice one kids).
At 6.30pm we can hold out no longer. Three seconds after hitting the pillow we're out cold. A lovely 10hrs sleep is welcome.
Things I learned today:
- There are now two countries in the World with friendly immigration staff.
- In the Southern hemisphere the sun at your back doesn't been you're heading North.
Wednesday 11th December - Auckland
10 hours sleep may be very welcome but when you go to bed at 6.30pm it means you're awake at 4am - oh no not again. This time three of us are awake, The teenager has no such issues and is dragged out at 6am. At this time of the morning I discover that if you want a bacon sarnie then MacScumy is as close as you're going to get in Auckland.We have a day here before getting the motor home tomorrow. We decide the Sky tower and the city museum are the best option for the jet lagged family.
The Skytower is 328M high. Apparently the tallest in the Southern hemisphere. The trouble is we've just come from KL and saw the Patronas towers (we visit them on 31 December). These are over a 100M higher and don't cheat by having a 100M of inaccessible spire above like this one. Still impressive enough though and up we went.
Apparently the glass we jumped on and leant against up there is 3.8cm thick and didn't break! Morning coffee in the sky; very nice.
Returned to the apartment for a sandwich lunch and low energy activity of writing this and the above commenced.
Fortunately the Skytower had let me spot the fact that although the city museum wasn't that far from the apartment. It was though up a bloomin great hill. Taxi arrived.
The museum was good and whilst Sarah enjoyed the Maori cultural exhibits I enjoyed the war sections.
Back the the apartment we hold out for an 8pm bedtime. Please let us get the long sleep we need.
What I learned today:
- In the first world war 1 in 10 eligible Australian men joined up. In New Zealand it was 1 in 5 - the highest commonwealth percentage.Many didn't return.
- Typing a Blog takes ages. Hope I can keep it up.
Paul, Sounds facinating, I shall be availing myself of your experience and planning sometime in the future as one of my plans when I retire is to visit NZ and Oz :-) Enjoy your vacation :-) Az
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