Notnem

Chris got toe the apartment for about 0400 and within 15 minutes we were on our way. Myself and Damo had already unpacked and repacked to make sure we were going to come in under the 20kg limit. The plan was to be at the airport for around 0415… and as it turned out we were the first BMI customers to check in that morning. Things seemed to be going well, but then we got news our flight was delayed. Heathrow was fogged in, but we were assured that all outgoing flights were also delayed. The problem was that we only had a 2.5 hour window in Heathrow to connect to Doha. We were delayed twice more and moved to 2 different different gates. The problem was that no matter what gate we moved to, there was no plane there. No plane no fight.

Eventually we took off over an hour and a half late and landed in Heathrow with 47 minutes before the flight was going to be taking off. As it tuns out, fog only effects incoming flights and not out going. The fog of Heathrow was incredible. We could see out the window of the plan and we knew were descending for landing. The clouds looked to be very low. We entered the cloud thinking that once we get through this we will be landing… then out of no where, in the middle of the cloud wee saw the runway. Visibility was somewhere between 15 and 20 meters at the very most, but even at that you could only make out shapes.

One the plane stooped and we were allowed off, we ran from our gate in Terminal 1 to Terminal 3. Damo and Chris set the pace while I struggled with Asthma and the several cups of coffee I had already had that day. We got to the Qatar airlines desk but we were told it was too late and they wouldn’t check us in… but worse yet, Qatar Airlines were refusing to endorse our tickets and told us there was nothing they could do for us.

We decided to head back to BMI to see what they could do for us. As it turned out the timing of that decision was crucial. We got into the very long queue for the help desk at BMI. I decided to head back to Terminal 3 to check the other airlines to see availability of flights that could get us into Asia before Christmas. The only options were to Singapore on Christmas Eve or to Hong Kong that day, but with no connection onwards from Hong Kong.

BMI told us that Qatar had to honour our tickets and got us on standby for the next 3 flights to Doha. If we made any of the flights to Doha that day, we would have to overnight in Doha because we would have missed our flight to KL. At least this option had us going in the right way, and had Qatar back honouring our tickets. We headed back to terminal 3 and to the standby list. There were already 13 people ahead of us on the list, so it wasn’t looking good. They took our tickets off us and started checking in the others. We were still in play. As luck would have it, we got on, and even better we were sitting beside each other. We got our tickets and ran… taking all the short cuts through security we could to get there. The flight must have been delayed by a few minutess so we were ok and they were only just getting ready to board the plane. We had no idea where our luggage was. BMI had told us it was in Heathrow waiting to be claimed while Qatar said it was on the way to Doha.

The flight was fine, helped along by the fact we all took sleeping tablets. Our attention had to turn to what we were going to do in Doha. Any flight to South East Asia would do for us. We landed and got through security and went to the transfer desk. We already knew we had missed the flight to KL, so we asked to get on any flight going to either Singapore or Bangkok. The guy took our tickets and started working on them. He talked for with a few people and made a few phone calls… we didn’t actually know where we were going, but we new we were still in play. He took us up to the departure gates and hand wrote us tickets, as it turns out to get us on the flight to KL which had been delayed by an hour because it was late leaving KL on the other leg. If we had of misssed this flight, information we later learned, we would of been spending Christmas in Doha. This flight was the last flight between Doha and KL till after Christmas. After landing in KL, we went to see if our luggage had managed to keep up with us. Not surprisingly it hadn’t.

We checked into our apartments, had a shower and went to the Mega Mall to get some essentials to get us through that night and the next day. Mum and Dad were having a BBQ later on, but we needed non air plane food now. The plan had been to have breakfast in Heathrow,  but that plan had gone out the window. Mum and Dad’s house is fantastic. It was the first time I had seen it since it was a building site. They are obviously enjoying it a lot. We headed back to the apartment… and to bed. What a day.

Just booked my flights… leaving on December 19th

Anybody who has read my old blog (spaces.msn.com) will have seen this picture, but for those of you who are new to my blog… I wanted to put up a picture to brighten up the place.

This was taken while white water rafting in a small town just South of Ipoh. Myself and my mate Chris did this one on our backs for the fun of it. There is two steps in the particular rapid (the one you see in the picture is the second step)

It was pretty painful as there was so many rocks, but it was well worth it. We enjoyed it so much we did it twice. We were in fact the first people to ever do this part of the river without a boat which is something to be proud of

The Twin Towers in KL are something that has to be seen to be believed. Before I got to Malaysia, I thought it was just a great big building… but as it has turned out for Malaysia it is much much more than that.

Anyway, I took this shot in early Jan 05 and I really like it…

This is some of the pictures of my parents new house in Kuala Lumpur. The first one is still in the early building stage while the last two are much more recent. As it stands at the moment, I think it is finished and the folks should have/be getting the key any day now…

This one is from March 05 (I think)

This one is from Sep 05

This one is from Dec 05

This is the only picture with all of us who were in Pangkor for Christmas 2005…

After spending 3 months in Kuala Lumpur it is time to reflect and think back over the last few months and everything that has happened. I am heading home in a few days, and while I am looking forward to hanging out with my mates and getting back into my life, I will always be sad leaving such a great place.

December

I arrived on December 2^nd to a typically hot KL day. I landed at the airport and took the KLIA Express to Sentral Station and from there a taxi to where my parents were living. My parents wanted me out in KL because my little sis was about to do her mock exams for her incredibly difficult IBs. I also wanted to come out as since my little sis left for KL two years ago, I have only seen her during the brief times we happened to be in the same country.

The first two weeks in December flew by; I got into a routine of working and relaxing which was great. Around the 14^th of Aunty Mary arrived. She was the first of the many relatives and friends coming out for Christmas. Mary and I went to Penang for a few days during which time she kept telling me I wasn’t eating enough. This ‘not eating enough’ then turned into the possibility I don’t have enough blood and I might be damaging my organs…

I got back to KL and 2 days later we left for Penang for Christmas. Penang and is a beautiful Island it is my favorite island on the west of Malaysia. It is a fishing island with a road around which is great for riding motorbikes. My little cousins were with us so I had great fun.

New Years Eve was spent in KLCC where we had dinner and then watched the amazing fireworks display. It was great having such a large number of the Mentons and several close friends together.

January

January was a quite month. I was sent for blood tests to make sure I was ok, which it turned out I was. The only thing I had to watch was that I was getting too much protein from my diet which was great since I was a vegetarian and I wasn’t even anemic. Luckily my organs are still unharmed J

The only two major things were I joined a gym and started working out again and we moved apartments. Life in the other apartment had grown unbearable due to awful air conditioning to such an extent certain rooms were not useable. The management company didn’t do anything about it despite numerous complaints over a number of months. They knew Mum and Dad were moving to a new house in the near future so I think they backed them to stay and put up with it.

The new apartment in Sri Tiara is fantastic. I have stayed here before with Damien, Danny and Chris in September. We are on the 13^th floor and we have amazing views over the city.

March

With my focus very much on work, thoughts started to turn towards going home. I went out with Niamh’s friends a couple of times and while there are a number of them I like a lot, I also learned the downside of an American style school. If you have seen the film ‘Mean Girls’ you will know what I mean, if you haven’t, watch it.

People who I had been very friendly with and had met several times just blanked me. I am old and wise enough to not let this bother me, and I will never meet these people again if I can help it, but I also learned more about what Niamh must have gone through when she first joined the school.

It is only a few days before I go home. I may or may not go out tonight to meet some of Niamh’s friends. Tomorrow morning I am going hot air ballooning for the first time which should be amazing. Mum is now getting worried. Initially she thought we would only be going up in the air a little bit and she was worried about threes and electric wires. I put her straight that there will be no trees or wires where we’re going (slight back to the future reference J) and now she is more worried.

Overall

It has been a great trip and although I didn’t achieve all that I wanted to while I was here, and at time so much family around was a pain, I enjoyed it. I had thoughts of spending next Christmas in Ireland, but we will see….I know my accountant is looking for me, so life goes on.

This was a celebration for Niamh’s (my sister) 18th birthday. As it happens Damien, Chris and Danny were in KL at the time and Aisling (other sister) was there with her friend Kate. The rest of the people are Niamh’s friends from school…

Danny & Kate

Chris and Me

Steve, Damo & Chris

Danny

Megan & Aisling

Megan & Me

Chris & Damo

Chris

Me

Chris

Danny

Damo

Damo & Chris

Aisling & Kate

Me (Just after Megan Soaked me )

Chris after getting splashed

Megan & ME

Damo

Danny

Chris and Me

I went to an open house in Kuala Lumpur today. I had no idea or preconceptions of what an open house was but it turned out to be a great idea and I had lots of fun there. Basically an open house is held in a neighbourhood where there is a pilgrim from the neighbourhood making the trip to Mecca.

An open house is held to allow people support pilgrims making the trip to Mecca for Hajj. In this case it was people who work with Dad that were making a 49 day pilgrim to Mecca and another holy city in Saudi Arabia, Medina. Although this is not an essential part of the pilgrimage, many people visit Medina to see the Mosque of the Profit in which lies the tomb of Mohammad.

The pilgrimage to Mecca is central in the life of a Muslim and a pilgrimage can only be made when all other affairs are settled. For many Muslims, the Hajj marks the pinnacle in their spiritual lives.

The general idea is that you arrive at the open house (held in the case between 2 and 4) and have something to eat, meet friends and family and wish the pilgrims well on their journey. You are not expected to stay for the whole 2 hours. Many people would only stay 45 mins. When you are leaving you offer the pilgrims a financial gift to help them on their pilgrim and in turn ask them to pray for you in Mecca.

Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Next time somebody in the neighbourhood is making the trip, another Open House will be held and the neighbourhood will again prepare food and help in anyway. Next time it could be their turn.