European Escapade

1:00pm: I’m super early to get a good seat.
*ding dong* “Attention ladies and gentlemen…”
OK, thirty minute delay, I can handle that. No dramas.

1:40pm
*ding dong*
What’s that? Another thirty minutes? Technical difficulties with the plane you say? Oooh that’s no good! Sure, take you’re time. Want to be sure we’re flying on a safe plane and all that!

2:20pm
*ding dong*
Hm? Further delays? Any idea how long? None huh? Sucks.

3:00pm
Excuse me, any idea why all the employees are in a big huddle over there? They look like they are going through some sort of training? Anger management? How to deal with difficult people? This really doesn’t seem too…

3:20pm
*ding dong*
“Attention passengers of Thai Airways Flight 982 to Bangkok: Thai Airlines wishes to advise that this flight has been cancelled.”

Now watch everyone break ranks as they scramble up to the counters to get re-booked on the next flight.

4:00pm
G’day mate. Paul is it? Jesse mate. Yeah it’s not good. So what’s on offer in terms of fixing this up? Midnight flight? What time does that get me in? You don’t know. OK. How long a delay in BKK? Don’t know that either. Right. Good. I think it’s six hours; can we check?
OK so it’s six hours. So what time does it get into London? Can’t say huh? And if I want the same flight tomorrow? Dependant upon availability. Right. So can we check that availability now? We can’t. OK. So Thai Airlines is really plummeting on the experience-o-meter.
Wait, what’s that? I can find out whether or not I can get on tomorrow’s flight? Just stand in that mammoth line over there. Haha. Good one. Oh you’re serious. Let’s work together to determine which situation is going to work out best for me.
*thinking music*
OK, so the midnight flight it is. Since I’m here, and the flight check-in is in only 5 hours, can we do the whole check-in thing now; I mean I have been in line for almost 4 hours. We can’t huh? Yeah, didn’t think so.

4:30pm: in the car, heading home.
Oooh need to make sure I’ve got my special meal catered for.
“Welcome to Thai Airways, our office is closed”
“Welcome to Thai Reservations, this office is closed”
“Welcome to Menzies, our office is closed”

4:40pm

Hey Ashik. You’d never believe how bad this is. Any chance you can find out some stuff for me since all the damn offices are closed? I know this bunch aren’t related to your company, but since you’re in the industry and all… Wicked, I’ll await your call. Thanks mate.

5:10pm
Hey mate. What’s the good word? I’m definitely on the midnight flight? And you’ve had my special meal set up, despite working for another company. Legend. Yeah, I promise next time I’ll fly with someone who Aerocare supports. Cheers bud.
(Seriously, thanks Ashik)

Most people know me; I don’t get excited about things until they are completely upon me. I was expecting it last night, and again this morning, but it hasn’t hit yet. Actually all I’m doing at the moment is talking to Strok about maintaining the website while I’m away.

I don’t feel excited, just… ready I guess. Then again, yesterday I took a look at this brochure I picked up ages ago about BusAbout tours for Europe - basically a hop on, hop off service where you go along on of their planned routes but do all your own touristing - and it’s really quite … maybe exciting is the word.

Anyway, I’m thinking I might do one of these BusAbout things. I know you need to book seven days in advance, but all you get is a little docket which you print out so I figure I can still do it when I get over there. It seems smart because their itineraries go literally everywhere I want to go, they stop at the door of hostels, I’ll likely meet other single travelers on route with them, and you can stay in each location as long as you like; you just catch the bus which comes the next day if you want to stay on.

I’m all packed and my bags are sitting neatly by the door. Technology wise, I’ve limited myself to my iPod (complete with Pimsleur’s first “Teach Yourself French” unit it on), my camera, and my crappy old phone which I plan on getting a SIM for when I get there. I’ll post my new mobile number on the blog. Apparently O2 in the UK have this crazy concept of free SMS. Anywhere, any time, to anyone. So I think I’ll be getting a pre-paid O2 SIM, and SMS spamming the lot of you!

For any who didn’t get my email yesterday, you can contact me via email at: jesse [dot] stratford [at] gmail.com. But don’t expect too many replies! This blog will be my main communication mechanism. Comments are working (thanks Neen) so go nuts with commenting and I’ll probably read them. If not, keep in mind that others will

A’ight. That’s it for today. Ciao.

There’s nothing like being spontaneous. It makes you fun. Chicks dig it (apparently; chicks?) I wonder if the concept of spontaneity requires that the person being spontaneous is doing so as a conscious choice. That almost seems ironic. In my own case, I’m likely to end up being very spontaneous overseas, but for the first week at least that’ll be because I haven’t had a chance to plan a single thing before I left!

So that’s my long winded way of saying I’m so busy I can’t find the time to research where Big Ben actually is, let alone how to get to him. Huh? What do you mean it’s not a ‘him’? A building? Man, I really need to look into these things.

Anyway, with just three full days remaining until I leave, I’m gradually becoming more and more excited about the fact that I am actually going overseas! It’s not looking like all the stuff we wanted to get done with the website will come together in time, but I’ll be damned if I pay too much attention to that while away. I’m so looking forward to my holiday.

In preparation for the trip I’ve adopted a “travel haircut”. That is so say, I’ve shaved the best part of my hair off. I gotta say, if one sets aside the remarks the next day at work — of which the best was “I hope some charity made some money out of that so at least something good came of it” — I’m very satisfied with my new do. It’s so bloody easy as compared to faffing around with product and stuff like that. In fact, “easy” doesn’t even cut it (pardon the pun). It’s just brilliant.

I’ve booked my first two nights in London at the well-recommended Ashlee House. It’s in King’s Cross which is a few kilometers from all the major attractions; apparently a very lively area, though it’s over the other side of the city from most of the hostels. I still have no idea what my plans are in terms of where I’m going an when. Think I’ll decide a lot of that once I get over there… Anyway, right now I’m sick and need to go to bed in an attempt to sleep it off and ensure the trip does actually happen!

OK gang, following the success of the Amazing Asian Adventure blog, I’ve decided to set up another one for my trip to Europe. This time around, it’ll just be me posting, as I wander around Europe (and briefly through SE Asia), hopefully making lots of great friends and having some fantastic experiences!

It’s a few weeks yet until I leave, so most of you won’t read this post until I announce the existence of this weblog via email, soon before my flight. When you do, I hope it finds you happy and safe.

Let the fun begin!