Chasing the sun!

Day two, the real trip begins. 
Last night was pleasant, chilling out in my room,  watching a classic, no not to kill a mockingbird, but something about mary. Went to bed just after midnight (KL time), a good sleep, it was interrupted by pouring rain, and the fear that my alarm wouldn't work, but each time i quickly fell back asleep. Woke up feeling great, really refreshed after a beard trim, shower and breakfast, and yes mum i brushed my teeth! I don't always brush them in the morning, most mornings i don't have time for breakfast, and i just chew gum. Activates the saliva glands and my breath doesn't smell, but if i eat, i brush the teeth and floss. I must be doing something right, my dentist is very happy every 6 months. My taxi was organized, and i had my "i's" charged.......my iPod, iPad and iPhone. Yep I'm apples new bitch! Everything at the airport is smooth, x-ray machine was on the fritz so they searched me and my bag manually ;-) they look so serious at the airport, but the only chappelle i have on me is Dave Chappelle's best of on my iPad. Three quotes from it so far.........."morning niggas" "white power" and "come on titty" and that's just in the first episode! If you don't know Dave Chappelle is a black comedian, got his own hilarious tv show, my favourite character is a blind black man who is a member of the Klu Klux Klan, and doesn't know he's black, he finds out he's black and he divorces his wife for being a nigger lover!

Back to the trip now you have some background on Dave! 12:30 flight from KL LCC airport to London Stansted. Approximately 14 hours. I have massive leg room and a window seat. And looking over the ocean it looks like a 14 hour episode of the world around us, that they cut out. And for good reason! Not much happening. I am getting something out of the view though, some amazing cloud formations, the starts of storm fronts. It looks awesome to fly right above a front that will in about an hour as high as the plane is flying. 

It's pretty packed on this flight, no sprawling across 3 seats like yesterday, dammit! But it'll get me where i need to go. Along the trip I'm trying not to have too many expectations, it can only lead to disappointment. I am taking risks, but when in Rome. I was going to wear a monty python shirt that says romanes eunt dommus, "Romans go home" and if it's not done by sunrise I'll cut your balls off. Both flights I've had the chicken. This time it was the chicken foccacia. Most of you know that I'm a very fussy person when it comes to food, but watching bear grylls do his man vs wild show, you can eat anything if you have to. Most of the time i don't have to, so I pick and choose, bit like a woman, don't want them all just one that I want from the menu, and I'm willing to starve until the right girl. This meal 'woman' will be like my pizza, never get sick of it, salivate over the thought of it, and would have it every night! And just to clear this up, I have never had sex with pizza. I know some of you are thinking that.

You are probably wondering why sober virgin traveller........ Well in a nutshell, it's my first time travelling overseas and I don't drink alcohol. I'm not a virgin, i have layed with a woman romantically. I know i cant believe it either! Why have I waited until i was 28 yrs old to finally pop the traveling cherry? Well no one else was going to! I had booked a flight to New Zealand with an old work friend, she pulled out and then i found a girlfriend, wasn't under the sofa cushion either. I would have liked her to go but couldn't change the name on the ticket, so I cancelled the first trip. But now I'm in a stable place in my life, i'd finally paid off my camera debt, i have a great job, i'm happily single and I'm financially in a place where i can do what i want. I have always wanted to travel to Europe, so much history, so much beauty and the exact opposite of everything Gold Coast. I will see buildings that have more history than our entire country of Australia. So I'm doing it, inspired by Frankie and her trip to Europe earlier in the year, i decided to pull my finger out and get over there. I have always been envious of my family and friends who have travelled before me, but this is my time, doing the things i want to do. And thank you to everyone who has helped me get here, all the tips, borrowed guides, maps, website addresses, you name it, my friends and family have been there. I'll try my hardest to keep this blog informative of all things europey and of course funny.

I can tell I'm out of my comfort zone, because I'm not as sharp as i normally am. Getting things caught, tripping over nothing, in general clumsy. I just shake me head and laugh. The hotel in KL was hilarious, i turned around nearly tripped over, told the front desk my air conditioning wasn't working in my room, only for the hotel guru of all things technical to grab my entry card and put it in the wall........I've been in hotels like that before and I wouldn't have given it a second thought, card in the wall, lights on..... Durrrrr! As the trip wears on I'll get used to being out of my comfort zone, and these little faux pars will happen less frequently, but it gives me and the hotel people a good laugh.  

Ok move forward a few hours, only 4 and a half hours left. It's hard to think it's nearly midnight at home. But it's just before 3pm in London. Feeling good, only briefly napped on the flight, watch the rest of anchorman, bit more of Dave Chappelle and the start of step brothers, there is so much room for activities! The sun has about an hour to go before it disappears. I've looked out the window periodically and seen some cool things, some great sand formations, rugged terrain and city with a stadium about 5 hours out of London, has two airports, big sporting stadium. I'll have to google maps it to see where we were flying. I think I've prepared for the jet lag well. I've broken up my sleeping patterns the last few weeks, staying up until 4:30am, starting work at different times so I'm not getting up always at 7am. I want to hit the ground running when i get to London, sights to see, things to do. So when i touch down it'll be about 4:30am AET, Then go through all the check points, trains and then walk into London with a very accommodating Chinkin family, allowing me to stay in their house while I'm in the UK. So thanks to Mark, Christine and Paul for taking care of the sober virgin traveller! Should be there between 10:30-11:30 (7:30-8:30am AET). I guess I'm going to sleep pretty well. I think last night was the first time in months I've had 8 hours sleep. The aim is not to sleep till i get to London, but a nap in the ever cooling plane will probably be inevitable. Ok, fingers are going numb, time to rug up. And yes i know it's only going to get colder when I land! Wait until i get to Norway!!

I forgot to mention that I was looking through the duty free catalogue on the first plane, it had model Air Asia planes and one of them is the Oakland Raiders Airbus, both Pete and I aren't a fan of the LA now Oakland Radiers, very tempted to get it for him, but i went one better with the plane I am on right now is the Oakland Raiders Air Asia plane!!! Even comes with a painted on helmet, hopefully i can get a pic of it on the tarmac. Ok, time to warm these hands.......and women takers?? :( nope.

Warm now, had to warm them myself! I'm here, London! And you can't wipe the smile off my face! A perfect night, cool, about 10 degrees, clouds all gone since landing. Had some Chinese with my amazing host Paul. Went for a quick stroll with Paul down around The Thames. There it is Victoria garden tower, parliament house, Big Ben (the clock, not Bas from work). A good breeze to keep the massive union jack flag up and proudly displaying, this is britain! I was completely in awe, the biggest smile on my face with the realization that this is London. Not a picture, not a jigsaw or a dream, but this was it. I'm finding it hard to describe the emotions, i guess gob smacked is the term I'd use. I've talked and talked about one day heading to Europe for many years, and now I'm here. The flying and travel is nothing. When you land you sit back and think, is that it? Ohh yeah that's it (for the FOC fans). But when you are sitting there you keep looking at your watch.....8 hours to go, 4 hours to go. Then came the approach into England, it's midweek which means for this week anyway, Carling Cup, and i did manage to count 4 football pitches lit up, and a stupid tennis court that got my hopes up for a 5th. I've showered, brushed my teeth and it's time for me to sleep, got a big day of sight seeing ahead. And a massive thank you to my hosts Paul and Christine, they have done everything for me and Paul took me for a walk around just to show how close we are to everything! Can't wait to wake up!