Newark here I come....19th October 2006

I like flying. I don't get air sickness, I can live with the food and it gives me time to read or sleep without having to worry about phone calls. But flying to the US is another thing. It isn't the distance that worries me, it's just the fact that there's an outside chance that I could be in trouble going through immigration, or a terrorist deciding to target NY again after all these years....

My flight was at 8:50am and I had asked the taxi to pick me up at 5:30am. I never liked rushing to the airport at the last minute because you can never tell when you would arrive at KLIA to be greeted by the long lines at international check-in. This means I have to be up by about 4:30am. Doesn't leave too much time to sleep, since I only finished packing at 2am. Hit the sack, and proceeded to toss and turn like a roti canai on the frying pan. 3am, received and sms and still not awake. I was really getting worried this time cause I know once I really fall asleep, there's very little chance for me to get up in an hour and a half time. This being based on pass sleeping history. Thus I hugged the pillow one last time before kicking off the blanket and getting up from bed.

Arrives at the airport with 2 hours to spare, checked in and got seat 41G. As usual, I would take my time to go over to McDonald's to have my breakfast, but this time, the place was unusually packed. I really didn't want to wait in line, so I turned around, got pass immigration, and went to Burger King at the satellite building.

Right after breakfast, I walked to my gates. Since I saw there were quite a lot of people waiting at the gates, I found a seat further away and proceeded to log into the internet. It's nice to know that the WIFI provided by KLIA actually works and has a strong signal. I used to keep a list of "hotspots" location within KLIA in a spreadsheet but that's not necessary now. Most locations have very strong signals...only thing being speed not being one of it's forte. Anyway bravo to the management of KLIA.

By the time I went into the gate, my eyes were feeling pretty heavy due to the lack of sleep. It wasn't help that seat 41G is actually the aisle seat right at the back. Yes it's the last seat in the plane. The good thing is, I don't have anyone behind me so I can always recline by seat without having to worry about breaking someone's kneecaps. I also had the 3 seats next to me empty, so lot's of space to put my carry-on. Normally I would have included a book in my carry-on but since I didn't sleep that night, I had taken it out - really did not want anymore distraction than the ones provided by the inflight movie on demand.

MH90 took off on time (Goodbye hazy KL, here I come NY)with about 50 - 70% of the flight filled. I don't really have an idea since I don't get to see what's in front. In between occasional sleeps, I ended up watching Nacho Libre, Break Ups, X-Men III, most of the TV comedies and some documentaries....I worry for my flight home.

After about 13 hours, we landed in Arlanda Airport, Stockholm. We had to be screened by metal detectors and X-rays before going into the waiting room. Since we weren't allowed out of the waiting area, there isn't much to say about the airport, except that there's a coffee stand, a smoking area and toilets that you have to line up to get in. I spend the time mostly sending sms and before we knew it, it was time to board again. And again we were screened and people who were carrying larger than allowed containers of liquids had to dispose of them.


Since I would be arriving in the evening, I forced myself not to sleep on the flight over the Atlantic. We were served a hot meal after take off. Watched some more movies and after 7 hours, we reached Newark. Due to air traffic, our flight ended up in the holding pattern for about an hour...don't really know cause I wasn't wearing a watch.

Walked into an almost empty airport, till we reached the immigration. There were only 3 counters open for the non-US travellers. The officials tried to divert some to the US line whenever possible but with my perenial bad luck in lines, I got sent to a line that was moving at a glacial rate. After an hour, I was among the last from the flight, before it was my turn.

"Did you have to do the interview before?"

"Yes the first time, and this is only my second time."

More checkings on the computers.

Left index finger scan, right index finger scan, look at the camera.

OK, I thought I would be done and out of there.

"You would need to follow that officer to be interviewed".

Crap.

Suddenly, the officer who was suppose to escort me got distracted and asked me to wait. He walked up to a chinese lady (from our MH flight) and told that no photos are allowed to be taken in that area. There were prominent signs all over the place, but I guess she thinks it's ok if she just takes one of her daughter. After checking her photo, the officer warned her not to do that again.

The office where the interview was done is brightly lit, with rows of government issued standard PVC clad cushioned chairs on one side and facing the counter. Now, the difference is the counters are located at much higher height, so you have to really look up to speak to the officers on duty. I walked by a few men that I remember from my flight and also 2 women, all seated. There were lots of chairs but I chose one at the end of the row, thinking that it would be a while before I am called.

One of the officers on duty started calling a name, I didn't recognize it and didn't care. I was prepared for a long night. But when nobody responded, he looked around and pointed at me. Oops...still not used to people mangling my name and calling me by my given name first. Lugging my notebook bag, I quickly walked over to the counter. I was hit with the standard questions about my visit and after another round of finger scanning and picture taken, my passport was stamped and I was on my way again.

...more later.