A New World

A New World

Here I am in London (again)...Haha.. a post from overseas, never thought that would happen...After an 18 hour journey, I am quite composed actually. It actually feels like I took a bus from Singapore and got off a different part of the planet. Unlike the first time though, I don't feel lost or overawed by the experiece though. A caveat for this post, it is going to be one of those typical life event posts with no deep insights into life or society or humanity.

I am currently in my aunt/cousin's home office in London. The family here, they are ultimately the coolest Muslims I've ever met and I reckon I won't be out of place staying here with them. In the background, my aunt/cousin is screaming at her employee in Pakistan. Apparently they have a software company there and she barks orders to them in the comfort of her home. How mega cool is that?!!! That's what I'm talking about. Living above the system, no boundaries, no restrictions and making full use of life instead of being stuck in an office. Money is not to be made only at a workplace. Money can be made anywhere.

So anyways, flight from Singapore was at 10.40pm. After being a traveller for the past year, I have finally come up with ways that would make travelling an enjoyable experience. Some tips that I would like to share to my reader/readers...Firstly, try to check in over the internet and get a seat near the emergency exit, especially if you're a long legged guy like me. Once you get that seat, it is as good as a business class seat. With that much space, you never feel constraint and somehow or rather, that makes life in a dick-like vessel a whole lot better. 2ndly, the check-in counter at the airport will always lie about what time the gate closes, so go to the gate at the lastest possible time (before the flight takes off). That way, you'll feel like you're on an express lane. By the time you enter the plane, all the other sheeps are seated down and you won't have to push and shove your way around. 3rdly, always have an ipod and book handy. That should keep you occupied, expecially on a 13 hour flight like mine. I found that if I couldn't sleep, I still had something to do instead of just staring into space. 4thly, if you are travelling alone, try to bring a backpackers bag instead of suitcase for several reasons. First, it is cool. Second, it makes you more mobile. Third, you don't look like the other sheeps who drag their suitcases on non-suitcase friendly places (platforms with stairs come to mind). Lastly, never ask for Muslim food. Though it helps to know that your food is halal, you might get stuck with something which is a poor excuse for food. I didn't and I had a wonderful breakfast of scrambled eggs and crossaint, which is what I have always wanted instead of something the airlines try to pass off as nasi lemak. Just in case one of my readers work in the airline industry, please tell this to your boss. Microwaved rice should never be served to people unless you want a lawsuit on your hand. It is hard and it hardly tastes like cooked rice.

So, I got off the plane at 4.30am. An ungodly hour if you ask me but I felt I had enough sleep to continue my journey. I knew I had to take a bus to Hatton Cross tube station but being on my own instilled a sense of adventure in me so I tried to make my way to Heathrow tube station (whether it exists or not was a different matter). It took me an hour but lo and behold there was one . One and a half hour later, I reached Woodford. My 18 hour journey came to an end.

On the tube though, I had this thought. Seeing Londoners stroll into and out of the tube train, I wonder if they realise that in another part of the world (an island city that should not be named) they are considered to be respectable members of society. They are given better treatment, they have the better pay and they get better looking woman. I wish to say that this is a generalized statement though but since this is my blog, it is thus without contestation. But here in suprisingly sunny London, they are nothing but mere mortals, going to work in the wee hours of the morning, trying to make a living, just like myself back home. Till my next post, to my friends and family in Singapore, a very big Hello all the way from London. It feels like I never left.