Ok, so I have never blogged before. I am going to treat it as a diary that even my parents can read, so not every thing I say, or want to say will be here, but it should still be pretty good. I will try and write about things while they are still fresh in my mind, because of course after time I tend to forget, and blow things off. I do have commitment issues, so keeping up on this will be a challenge!!
THE FLIGHTS.
Small world. I saw Dr Winnie from our very own Canyons Ski Patrol clinic on the same flight. In the bathroom, there was a girl carrying a water bottle from there as well. We talked. She has worked there for 3 years at The Farm Restaurant.
My foot was feeling much better today I think due to extensive soaking of hot water and doing my morning stretches and keeping it wrapped up. I brought crutches with me just in case, which ended up being a very good luck charm!
When I arrived at LAX, I needed to go to the International Terminal to catch my next flight. I thought I was going to Singapore. When I arrived at the China Eastern Airlines counter, imagine my surprise when I found out I was going to Singapore! HA!! (My other option was to go to Singapore with a 5 hr layover, I must have last minute optioned out of that one, due to this being the shorter time-wise,,who knows?)
The International Terminal at LAX is beautiful. Too bad the rest of the airport is not that nice!
While standing in huge line for security, TSA agent opened the line and let me through, because of me and crutches. I was leaning on them because my foot was starting to hurt standing there. While walking around airport, I was carrying them and hobbling/walking slowly. While I should have been using them, I found it faster and more efficient to carry them.
I got on the plane headed to Shanghai (window seat as always), and an Asian man sat next to me. Of course, by the end of the trip, I had his whole life story and he was giving me Chinese lessons, so I could thank the flight attendants in their language. I think that Hello, Goodbye, and Thank You are the least anyone should learn whilst travelling in a foreign country. Even if everyone does speak English where you are going.
It was funny sitting next to him, because he inhaled and slurped and chomped his his meals loudly when they came. I know this is the norm, but I couldn't help but think about what my parents would be saying if I were eating like this. HA. Mind you, this was a 16 hour flight, so everyone got comfortable with everyone. It was a jumbojet, and I was one of less than a handful of Westerners on the plane.
The food was pretty good, but I was warned by a friend NOT to eat the meals on the China Eastern flights. About an hour later, I got some of the worst gas in my life!! I had to sit on my pillow and fart into it for the next several hours!! I did that to spare everyone the smells of what was going on inside me...Eeew...Haha
Across the aisle from us was an Asian lady with a very chubby, Buddha looking baby. He was sooo cute!!
This was going to be a long flight for her!! And, I noticed that the baby did NOT drink a bottle at all the entire flight, nor did they pack it any toys, and he hardly cried. it made me wonder: What DO parents of babies do with milk, formula, etc for babies on flights since we are not allowed to bring liquids on plane?
They gave away free wine with dinner, so me and my new BFF had a couple glasses so as to help us sleep. oh yeah, and it was free, so it would have been rude not to!!
Got to Singapore, and I was hobbling with my crutches, looking for my next gate. There was a really cute, tattooed girl that was lost too. she said we could be lost together. Got talking, and (of course), she was from Sandy, Utah!!! HA!!
We found our gates. She was headed to Hong Kong, and I to Singapore. We thanked each other and went our separate ways....Next flight, Singapore. I went to the local shop to get me some snacks to last this 6 hr flight. I was NOT eating their food again!! I found some Lay's pork flavored chips. So weird I had to try them. Not bad, I must say!! And, for the first time in years, I am am embarrassed to say, I ate the WHOLE can!! Hey, I am on vacation!! And, they didn't give me gas!! BONUS!!
when we arrived in Kuala Lampur, had many thing to hurdle. Customs, (they waived me through), and then crap, what's the word? Immigration. Ha.
Whoa. Now that was a HUGE line! It was 1;30 am KL time..I was not going to reach my friend's house until maybe sunrise at this point. I was standing there holding my crutches, pulling my Kindle out for some reading ready for the long-haul, when TSA guy puleed me aside and asked me to go over to a different place with no line. At first I thought I was in trouble, or that random person that they choose to interrogate, but no, it was the handicapped and special needs kiosk. I breezed through there!!! I did not complain or argue...
So then, I needed to catch a cab. You must buy cab coupons before catching one. I went up to kiosk, told them where I was going, and then they charged me appropriately, so as not to get ripped off by cab drivers. My friends lived approximately 50 minutes from airport, and I paid $40...and was told tip included. Not bad.
My driver was a 26 year old guy who talked non-stop. His accent was so thick, I only caught part of conversation. The cab was decorated with all kinds of crap on his dash board. He had car on it that when you hit a button, it lit up and made crazy noises. Haha. reminded me of my dashboard of my Jeep at home.
He took a wrong turn near Robert and Chamis house, and we eneded up in some really fancy neighborhood. He kept saying WOW! Look at the BIG fancy houses!! They were pretty impressive.
We arrive at destination around 3:30 am. Robert let me in, and we both went back to sleep. I slept like a log..
