Tag Archives: airport

A Clever Hack?

29 Mar

Nowadays, we see people staying connected with their devices all the time, regardless of location. It’s so bad being so attached and dependent on our devices 24/7. If it wasn’t for staying updated with news or social media, it is for games, music, or movies. It is as if a minute of not being connected, one will be so out of touch. Isn’t this terrible?

I confess I am just as guilty, but only at home, with my attachment to my devices. The iPad Mini is mostly for games and movies, and the old iPhone 5S or iPhone XR is for my Spotify music on loop. I leave my iPhone 14Plus for communication and occasional news updates. Separately, I have a Kobo eReader for reading my novels, sparing my eyes from the glare of the iPad.

However, when I travel, I abide by the airline rules and don’t fuss with my devices, keeping them in the bag and turning on the flight mode. After all, the airline does offer some entertainment as an alternative, especially the long hauls. And anything less than a three-hour flight, I have learned and can live without my devices for that few hours being airborne.

On my recent return journey from Hanoi, the passenger in front did not put away his iPhone as he was deeply engrossed in watching the sitcom “Friends.” I couldn’t help but admire his clever hack of using the Air Sickness Bag to feed his sitcom fixation.

The tray table had to be closed, so he used the bag to hold his phone in place to watch hands-free! So clever. But clever as it seems, you won’t catch me doing this for my trips on a flight and leaving the bag intact for its actual usage.

Hand-free using the Air Sickness Bag

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Hello Hanoi!

13 Mar

A month after our trip to Bangkok, Thailand, hubby and I flew off for a golfing trip on Sunday. We arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, three hours later than scheduled after having our flight retimed three times. Uh-oh, not a good start.

It is my first time in Hanoi, and I find immediate similarities and differences with Bangkok. The plus point is the weather during this time of the year, cooling and not humid, is thoroughly an enjoyable factor, unlike Bangkok, which was hot and humid.

However, the sheer volume of motorbikes in Hanoi feels more here than in Bangkok. And it is astounding to see the drivers navigating the congested roads with such skill and patience. Whenever the honks blare, it’s more like ‘Excuse me, coming through’ than ‘Get out of my way!’

The trick to crossing the roads when faced with oncoming traffic is to move slowly and don’t stop or run. You will survive.

Our golfing fun began on the second day after a simple dinner and two thirst-quenching beers at an eatery across the road from our hotel at the Old Quarters.

Welcome to Hanoi!

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Chinese New Year in Bangkok

15 Feb

On the first day of the Chinese New Year, we flew to Bangkok, a first for us to be abroad during this festive time. Waking up in the wee hours of the morning was not ideal, especially after returning home late from the Reunion Dinner. But it was unavoidable because we had to be at KLIA early. There were news reports that the airport could not cope with the volume of travelers, so it was better to be early.

Beautiful dragon display at KLIA

Luckily, it turned out well, and our departure was on time. Yay, the holiday has begun!

It has been some years since our last trip to Bangkok, and it was nice to be back. Although it was muggy, humid, and hot, it did not matter. We were ready with USB-powered fans to keep us cool. There was so much to do, see, and eat!

Always amazed with the electrical cables in Bangkok!

Soon after we checked in, we did not waste time and got going. We walked to check off the list covering coffee, gelato (an impromptu stop), and kakigori stops. The flavors were good, for lack of a better word, and fueled us to keep moving.

Discoveries this trip

We continued our walking discovery of the vibrant city, and before we knew it, we were at The Commons for dinner. Another check off the list. Dinner was safe comfort food, but we did try a Peruvian ceviche, which was excellent with the varied flavors in a mouthful. It had been a long day by then. Time to get back to the hotel!

Comfort food and tried a new dish

Sleep beckoned the minute we entered the room. After the hot shower, it was time to hit the sack to recuperate from the day’s adventure. I clocked in more than 20 thousand steps! Yes, I was dead tired. What a start to the holiday.

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Hello Jakarta!

6 Aug

The last time we traveled was in November 2022 for M2’s graduation. Immediately after that trip, I went to Bali with my high school friends for an all-girls getaway. And no more trips abroad for several months until the travel bug bites.

This morning, hubby and I flew off to Jakarta for golf, our first time here, as it has always been Bangkok, Thailand, as the preferred destination. Exciting is the word for this escapade with a group of golfing friends.

The last time I came to Jakarta, I was just a little kiddo. So yeah, it was dinosaur years ago. And I cannot recall anything about that trip. It’s okay, for I’ll have a new adventure this time.

It has been a long day, and I look forward to the coming games.

At the airports, Jakarta skyline

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Extended Holiday

28 Nov

It seems like the holiday is never-ending! It has been extended with a public holiday today. Unexpected but anticipated (because of the General Election results) and appreciated nonetheless.

From Ku De Ta to local delights, we tried everything!
The must-eat dish when in Bali

Bali was fun, and I was doing things, not up my alley, which was nice for a change. I got to know my high school friends better, and we did things together.

Throughout the week, we indulged, ate, drank, laughed, shopped, swam, and luxuriated in our private apartment and villa (we stayed at two different places) together. We also pampered ourselves with not one but two three-and-a-half-hour and four-hour spa sessions.

Our private villa

There was no golf, no playing tourist but merely enjoying the presence of each other and having a good bonding time to catch up. I am thankful that, at this age, I still have such friends. It was as if we were never part despite all these years.

After this trip, we understood each other better, with our friendship forged to a deeper degree. I look forward to the next trip with this bunch of besties.

Last local delight before we left
Goodbye Bali!

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A Break Again

21 Nov

Sometimes when we return from a hectic vacation, we need to go off on another one to recover from the trip. And I did just that!

We reached home almost midnight after touching down in KLIA. The eight-hour layover in Doha was too long. And when we got home, everyone was so tired. But I wasn’t jet lagged, or I couldn’t feel it, even though I did not sleep much for the last 20 hours of traveling.

I was like an Energizer bunny, unpacking and clearing stuff away. But on Saturday, I flew off again with my girlfriends to Bali for a break to recuperate from the UK/Ireland trip.

Although Saturday was a big day for Malaysia, being Election Day, I did my part and then left. So this break is a break from writing and sharing and will return to routine after a week.

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Hello Dublin!

8 Nov

It was gloomy when we arrived in Dublin. Our RyanAir flight was delayed a bit due to the weather. But no further delay in clearing immigration and getting the bags. Our prearranged transport was right there waiting for us.

The chatty, friendly driver kept us entertained with his Irish hospitality during the ride. Before we knew it, we were at the doorsteps of our hotel!

This city center hotel is much more comfortable than the one in London. More spacious and thoughtful in terms of essentials like USB ports and plug points at each bedside!

Thoughtful touch at each bedside

After settling down, we went out in search for food and ended up at a pub. I am not a Guinness drinker, so I opted for an Irish lager. I have never had a beer that had such a big beerhead. My Rockshore lager was divine! Our pub grub was very satisfying. Lots of potatoes, which should not be a surprise as Ireland is the land of potatoes!

Our pub grub: seafood chowder, cottage beef pie, braised beef and Galic chicken

It was drizzling but windy, with gusts up to 34km/hour! Our driver had advised us earlier not to bring out the umbrella because I would end up fighting for the umbrella’s life. It was certainly good advice to follow.

Both hubby and I also changed our berets to beanies because the berets will fly off in the wind! So different from London. With rainy, windy, and chilly conditions ahead, our plans may change to suit the weather. We shall see.

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Traveling Soon!

1 Nov

After months of planning, we will be traveling soon! I have mixed feelings about the journey because of the traveling hours but not so much of the destination. Despite the relaxation of Covid precautions for travel in most countries, I’m not sure I want to be on a plane without a mask. We shall see. After all, it is for our safety and to start the holiday on a healthy note.

So it’s time to pack and get the mindset ready for the impending trip! Stay tuned to follow our adventures.

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Traveling Again, Part 3

30 Aug

I have always flown into Singapore via Changi Airport. However, for this trip, I flew in via Seletar Airport. And what a pleasant surprise it was! There was no crowd, no queue, and no delays at all.

I chose to fly from Subang Airport instead of KLIA as it’s more convenient. Subang and Seletar airports are smaller compared to the two main big airports. And Changi is world renowned as a destination by itself. But being smaller, certain perks are missing, like buying duty-free things. Oh well, this is not critical.

The trip ended too soon, and the weather was not kind during our return flight. As the plane descended, we experienced turbulence going through the clouds. It has been quite a while since I flew, so the nauseous feeling was just ugh.

Leaving Seletar Airport

Thankfully, the journey was not too long, and we arrived safely. Rain greeted us, and traffic built up on the way home. Not the best welcome home situation, but it’s nice to be home after an enjoyable getaway.

Arriving at Subang Airport

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Traveling Again

26 Aug

It is exciting that I am traveling again by air! The last time I flew was in October 2019, going to Langkawi with all my high school girlfriends to celebrate our friendship. Three years have passed since that memorable trip. And as we all know, the pandemic struck in early 2020, and the whole world went into lockdown, my country included.

There were a lot of travel restrictions of varying degrees since then to manage the pandemic, and flying was the furthest thing from my mind. There was no need to fly anywhere, especially for the last two years. Also, it was a hassle with strict SOPs in place. But as the world is moving towards relaxing the travel restrictions, people are traveling again.

Two of my high school girlfriends and I spontaneously decided to go to Singapore for a short four-day getaway. We thought it would be great to catch up with friends and family whom we have not seen for so long due to the circumstances.

Besides visiting people, we will take this opportunity to enjoy the local food and play tourist in the city-island-nation. Exciting as it may be, we will be extra cautious for the four days in Singapore to avoid any unnecessary Covid-related situations. We fly off an hour past noon today! Whee.

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