Had to wake up at 5am to pack my stuff for my flight here.
Kinda panic midway as couldn't find the flight tickets I had printed out. I was frantically flipping through my folder filled with dozens of notes searching for the flight tickets.
*Ah finally found it*
Managed to grab hold onto it after I realized I had taken it out of my folder and left it on top of my drawer so I would have an easier time looking for it. silly me!
Managed to get my things in order, and rolled my bag over to Shiao Wei's place to call her.
It was already 7.10am by the time we left Shiao Wei's place and we had to get to the airport by 8.15am to check in.
Both of us were rolling our bags in a hurry to the bus station. The night's cold frozen air attempting to numb our faces with only the weak yellow glow from the street lamps and the luminous moon to light up our way. Dawn beckons as the city awakens in a somnolent state and slowly stirs to life to begin a new day with the growing murmur from the sidewalks slowly filling up with people preparing to get to work, and the low rumbling of the cars making their way across the roads.
As we make our way there we lose our way, as we had taken a different route as we figured that we should follow this well dressed old man also rolling a luggage along and we thought that he would be heading in a similar direction as us. Turns out, he was actually headed to the train station. Not to fret, the train station is actually next to the bus station. Had to ask for directions along the way. In the end we managed to find out way to the bus station and by 7.30am, but apparently the bus only leaves every hour, and we had missed the 7am bus! By that time, sweat was pouring out of our very pores, furthermore the extra layers of clothing we had don to protect us from the cold, now felt suffocating and I felt trapped inside the sweltering heat. I loosen my scarf which allowed cold fresh air to fill my lungs and numb my senses.
The bus driver mentioned that there was another bus coming along the way on another road, but by then Shiao wei was too apprehensive and she suggested that we took a taxi instead. I glanced at my watch, the roman numbers gazing at me with a cold hard stare penetrating my heart and jolting me to my senses with the sudden cold realisation that I might not make it to the airport in time just because I wanted to save a few pounds by waiting for the bus.
In the end, we decided to take a taxi. As we arrived at the taxi stand, there was already a long line of taxi snaking its way though waiting to pick up passengers and drop them off. The next taxi in line was a white Mercedes taxi, and I went up and asked how much it was going to cost to go to the airport, and I was quoted a figure of 16 pounds. I thought it was going to be more expensive as it was a Mercedes taxi and to the bewilderment of the mercedes taxi man I went to the taxi man directly behind the white mercedes taxi and ask for the price to the airport, and the man quoted me the same price, and said that all taxis are the same price regardless of the type of cars they were. Also another mistake which I made was, I was actually supposed to sit in the taxi which was first in line. No wonder the two taxi men were looking at me strangely!
Anyway we got into the Mercedes taxi and sped off towards the airport. Such big comfortable seats but at a cost obviously.
During the journey, I discovered that we had both forgotten to bring our passports along, and I enquired with the taxi man whether a passport was required at the airport, and he replied, "Did you not bring your passport?" I was like oh no...Felt like my heart was sinking into the pit of my stomach. Anyway crossed my fingers and hope that they would accept our student IDs.
Along the way, some of the roads seems to be jam and cars were lined up bumper to bumper due to the early morning traffic of people rushing to work, and you could feel the nervous tension in the air hanging there like a heavy cloud of mist. I kept checking my watch over and over again to make sure we were not late yet. Thankfully we had not bothered to wait for the bus, as the taxi driver said that it would have taken even longer, as the bus takes a longer route and stops at various points.
Finally, reached the airport!!! It was already 8.10am.
Shiao Wei gave her final 16 pounds she had left in her wallet. Whereas I had 0 pounds. I'm not in the habit of carrying money around as I have a morbid fear of being robbed.
Rushed to the easyjet counter, and managed to check-in just in time, and yes they did accept our student IDs.
Heaved a sigh of relief finally.
Then had to queue up to pass security, where got into a bit of a scrape. When I passed the magnetic machine, it started to beep incessantly, causing me to be stopped by the security guard, and checked from head to body. Then discovered that I had left my handphone in my back pocket. My luggage bag was also opened up to check, as it contained liquids inside. My empty bottle of Avian water was confiscated, along with a bottle of mayonnaise. haha I forgot that I had brought it along as I had switched off the electricity supply to the fridge at home.
Had to wait a long while before we could board the airport. I wanted to take a picture of a plane taking off, but got stopped by the security guard. I think that they are quite fearful of the terrorists. Apparently not supposed to take pictures of the airport.
Finally settled into our seats, and the flight took off.
It took about one and a half hours to reach our destination.
We were expecting it to be warmer in London, but soon realised that the air was just as cold as in Aberdeen.
Managed to catch an earlier bus to London town which took ages as it stopped at every single stop. Along the way, this elderly man with a white beard carrying a newspaper came on board, and I nudged at Shiao Wei and told her in Mandarin that he might be carrying a bomb to bomb the bus, but then she said that I was just being paranoid. At some point during the journey, he turned around and started chatting with me and mentioned that he had been in China for a year studying chinese, and I was thinking oh crap to myself. But then he didn't bring up anything which I have said, and was going on about how we should learn and speak English being in UK and all.
We got down from the bus at Marble Arch station, and Shiao Wei was in the middle of the busy street rummaging through her luggage looking for her oyster card.
She thought that she might have dropped it when the security guards were going through our bags looking for the liquid stuff. Anyway as she had no oyster card and we had no money, we decided to walk from Marble Arch to China town. We had no idea how to get there, and along the way we kept stopping to ask for directions.
Split up with Shiao Wei along the way as had to meet my brother and she couldn't find her auntie's shop. Met my brother in Leicester square, and went looking for Shiao Wei again.
Went to her Auntie's restaurant and had lunch there.
Was so tired, so we headed back to my bro's place and Shiao Wei used the internet to chat with her bf, whereas I fell asleep.
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