The Cranky Traveller

Have you ever been on a long-haul flight where you were practically stuck in your seat on a plane a few thousand kilometers high up in the skies for hours and hours? Well if you have, maybe some of the things below would struck a cord...

1. Crappy seats

Really, I think this is the major grouse that any frequent flyer would complain of. Some of the planes that I've been on have seats that are too small, with minimal leg room. If you're traveling domestic or short distance then it wouldn't really matter but long distance? Urghh...this is one of the times that I really rejoice in being short. Can you imagine someone who's over 6ft tall having to accomodate his body to the oh so cute seats?...
Another thing that I noticed is that some Asian carriers provide bigger seats compared to European carriers. How do I know? Well, depending on the airline sometimes we had to transit in a neighbouring country before taking the next flight (operated by an Asian airline) back home. Correct me if I'm wrong, but after several observations I don't really believe that my butt had suddenly shrunk after 12 hours of sitting. Seriously. Try and see it for yourself.
Oh, and another thing. Where you sit is also VERY IMPORTANT. Personally I find that seating by the window are warm, though you can have a good sleep sans interruptions. A note to snorers, please choose a window seat and do cover your face with a pillow or at least supply ear plugs for your neighbors to avoid your musical stylings from 'rocking their world' . Choose a seat next to the aisle if you can't seem to hold your bladder for easier access to answer the call of nature.
And the other thing that I can't stand are auto reclining mechanism seats. It''s bad when the person in the seat behind you is fidgety and/or just kept pushing and pushing at your seat until suddenly you wake up from your partial slumber to find yourself in an upright sitting position! Oh god, it happened to me recently and it really really pissed me off royally. And no guesses why I was cranky throughout the whole flight...


2. Bad service, bad planes, bad landings

Cabin crews that are just plain rude or ignorant. Was really shocked when I encountered these individuals because have never experienced anything like it with our local airlines.
Planes that are really bad that the interior of the plane practically groaned, squeeked and rocked especially during takeoffs and/or landings. I've been on one and let me tell you everyone onboard were covering their heads and some had even turned blue!
Bad landings -- self-explanatory. Never experienced those before though. But a friend told of a landing where the plane skidded off the runway and jumped a few feet into the air before touching the ground again. Scary...


3. Sleep amount prior to your flight

Enough sleep and rest before you fly might work for some people but not me!! Why? Because I can't sleep on the plane if I'm too well rested.
But if you do not get enough sleep and can't even get a shut eye in-flight = Cranky+Furious+Extreme jetlag
Pros vs. Contra of enough sleep and rest prior to flights. Verdict is still out.


4. Special meals

Whenever I fly I would request for special meals. It's really convenient, but I have one question though - why serve them early? Generally it's a good idea, but there were a couple of instances where I felt bad especially when an unknown person next to you started to get impatient waiting for his food and starts bugging you about yours (yeah it really does happen ok!)...


5. Last but not least...

Dehydrate, dehydrate, dehydrate…but do stay away from diuretics to avoid the hassle of visiting the lavatory for a time longer than you've been in your seat (for me it is tea!)...


So, anyone else have your own grouses about travelling by air? Do share!

End Of The Torture Session

Yesss!! The exams are finally over!! Oh my, what a relief... Now I can finally do some catching up on my zzzzzz'ss without any nightmares or heart palpitations...

I'm going home soon, yay! But, have to start packing first, hmmm... Now, where did I keep my mini padlocks again, seem to be misplacing them all the time...

And I can't seem to get this song out of my head since yesterday! Help! Oh well, there goes my beauty sleep...


Balik Kampung - Allahyarham Sudirman Haji Arshad

Perjalanan jauh tak ku rasa
Kerna hati ku melonjak sama
Ingin berjumpa sanak saudara
Yang selalu bermain di mata

Nun menghijau gunung ladang dan rimba
Langit nan tinggi bertambah birunya
Deru angin turut sama berlagu
Semuanya bagaikan turut gembira

Ho ho ho... Balik kampung (3X )
Hati girang
Ho ho ho... Balik kampung (3X)
Hati girang

Terbayang wajah-wajah yang ku sayang
Satu-satu tersemat di kalbu
Pasti terubat rindu di hati
Menyambut kepulangan ku nanti

Words to ponder upon

Someone forwarded this to me in my mail. Would like to share it with all of you out there...

Read Each One Carefully and Think About It a Second or Two:

1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you..

2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.

3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean that they don't love you with all they have.

4. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them. (sigh, so true...)

6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.

7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you.

9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful.

10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.

11. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around.

12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you.

13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.

REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

True friends: How many people actually have 8 true friends?

Hardly anyone I know ! But some of us have all right friends and good friends!!!

and

Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age...

Father's Day

This is something that I posted in my other journals to commemorate this special day. Thought I'd put it up here too...

Fathers play an important role in a person's upbringing. To some extent, they have a major influence on their children's lives. To receive a father's love is a blessing, because it is UNCONDITIONAL. No matter who you are, what you do or what you've become, they will always love just as you are. They are not perfect, mind you they are after all only humans, but for some fortunate souls they are perfect fathers. I wish that everyone would get the chance to experience that unconditional love, because it really changes you and makes you a better person.

"Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preseveres. Love never fails..."

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Post-Wedding Ramblings

Weddings are supposed to be about the people that you love, your family and friends, coming together to celebrate your special day. And with that also comes the chaos, tension, busy-ness, and drama that seemed to be attached to a wedding preparation. But amidst all these chaotic, nail-biting, hair-rising, mind-numbing craziness, at the end of the day you could still feel the love and care that are shown to you by the people that matters to you and made your special day a success.


Well, that just about describes my sister's wedding. In the end it all turned out well, alhamdulillah. More than just well, actually. It was a beautiful day, filled with love and happiness and some funny moments too. I hope it will be a day that the newly weds will cherish forever...


Weddings as some of you may know are stressfull. Honestly. The wedding preparations alone can give you stomach ulcers. And being born a Malay doesn't help either. Don't get me wrong, I am proud to be a Malay, rich in culture and traditions, but sometimes they can be a tad overwhelming especially when it comes to weddings or to be precise the process of getting married. There are also those authoritive, "I have eaten salt earlier than you..." elders that you feel are a bit intrusive and that you just can't say no to but deep inside you know that they do mean well. But no matter what, I am glad that they are there to give advice and wisdom to us, the young and inexperienced lot, to be passed on to the next generation. Without them we ceased to exist. Since we were small we were taught to respect the elders and to honour our culture and tradition as long as it doesn't go against the religion. And basically that was what I kept reminding myself of whenever I felt that I was going bonkers. Just a couple of deep breaths, some time out and then I am good to go. Lucky thing I didn't develop a post-wedding over-inflated lung syndrome, heheh...


And on top of that, I also had to deal with the one question that seems to pop up whenever we have any family gatherings or functions, especially weddings. Yup, it's the famous "So, when is it going to be your turn, my dear?"... Seriously, nothing else to ask is it? Hmm... Funny thing is, it always comes after the how are you greetings, and then BOOM!! Honestly, by the end of the day I really sounded like a broken record machine/cassette player/scratched cd when it comes to answering that particular question. Guess I should have taken a friend's advice to record a standard answer and just play it back whenever anyone asks me that question. Silly me...


Anyways, to my dear sister, Congratulations! I am really happy for you and glad that you have found someone that you are willing to spend the rest of your life with. For all my siblings, I wish you all a happy and blessed life with your families. Treasure your loved ones and live your life to the fullest. This also goes out to my friends and to all of you out there. You only have one shot at living and make sure that it is worth your while. And to you guys whom are tying the knot soon, Congratulations and Best of Luck!