It was pretty salty to be honest with you. A month ago I would not have noticed, but know I can really tell, since I have been cutting out almost all salt from my diet. The doctor threatened me with death if I did not get my blood pressure under control, but that is a different story altogether.
So as I was saying the tiny bit of meat with three slices of mushrooms on it, surrounded by gravy on one side and pureed potatoes on the other side, was a really expensive and salty meal. Although I must admit they were serving free wine along with it, to enhance what little nutritional value that might be found somewhere deep in this dish.
The reason I call this the $500+ meal, is that I had to buy this ticket a second time. And it cost four times as much the second time as it did the first time. Competition would be nice. Then these airlines in the hairy armpit places of the world would not have monopolies and be able to charge whatever they want for a given ticket, because more venders would create more options and more options would create an environment where one company would charge less or give more options for the money. Competition always results in lower prices eventually. They don't really know what that is here in Ukraine.
So as I was saying I had already bought this ticket once and now I had to buy again. And I mean HAD to. There is no other way back home. So when you are stuck somewhere because of visa problems, and the only option left to you is to go back the way you came, and there is only one flight going that way, well that places you at the complete and utter ruthlessness of the one selling the ticket. The way I look at it, I basically paid $524 for a very poorly made meal.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Shame on me
This is being written in a rather bad way. I feel terrible because I have been bad-mouthing British Airways and Raptim travel all day . . . and now I find myself sitting in a business class seat -backwards. Yes I said backwards. The reason this is so, and that I am uncomfortably close the man facing the proper direction is that these seats fully recline and the way that they accomplish this is by facing one seat forward and the other one toward the rear.
Worse yet, this is actually my wife's seat. She gave it up for me, because she can't bear the thought of being in business class with all these high-fluting souls who can actually afford these seats. Brenda had what is known as a "forced upgrade" whatever that means. How do you "force" an upgrade? Anyhoo it was totally weird taking facing the rear of the aircraft, but I am glad that I am being forced to do so.
Being able to cross my legs and eventually lay down is such a huge relief. The lack of possible positions in standard coach seats is one of the reasons that long distant travel is so tiring and exhausting. But I feel a little ashamed for talking bad about all these companies and then having such a gift bestowed on me. The moral of this story, don't complain, because you never know what good thing is coming.
Worse yet, this is actually my wife's seat. She gave it up for me, because she can't bear the thought of being in business class with all these high-fluting souls who can actually afford these seats. Brenda had what is known as a "forced upgrade" whatever that means. How do you "force" an upgrade? Anyhoo it was totally weird taking facing the rear of the aircraft, but I am glad that I am being forced to do so.
Being able to cross my legs and eventually lay down is such a huge relief. The lack of possible positions in standard coach seats is one of the reasons that long distant travel is so tiring and exhausting. But I feel a little ashamed for talking bad about all these companies and then having such a gift bestowed on me. The moral of this story, don't complain, because you never know what good thing is coming.
Jots of the moment
This is a journal of the moment. At this moment I am sitting in an Indian outdoor cafe on the island of Penang in Malaysia. If that sounds weird to you then you need to understand that 50% of the 800000 people that live on this island are Chinese, 40% are Malay and 10% are Indian. So the Indian food is quite authentic and tasty. I would have enjoyed this meal more, except for the waiter who was fascinated with my iPad and was a serious Apple fanboy, and wanted to talk Mac OS throughout my meal. All I wanted was some peace and quiet and a good meal. The meal I got, the quiet I did not. Sometimes being an early adopter of technology is rather hazardous. But the tandoori chicken was still excellent.
I got to see a disappointingly small amount of Malaysia and the island of Penang. One has to work it seems, and after coming so far, it would had been a pity to have not garnered everything possible from the conference. Yet, it would hzve been more relaxing to have toured a bit.
Two very very short days after my return to Macedonia from Malaysia, I find myself on another flight bound for London. I have no idea what time zone my bod is in, but my watch seems to be swinging wildly from one time zone to the next. In London more of the same sit down and type as fast as I can mode, gaining the material as cogently as possible for digestion at a later date. I hope the food is better than I have been told, and that the beer is as good as promised.
I got to see a disappointingly small amount of Malaysia and the island of Penang. One has to work it seems, and after coming so far, it would had been a pity to have not garnered everything possible from the conference. Yet, it would hzve been more relaxing to have toured a bit.
Two very very short days after my return to Macedonia from Malaysia, I find myself on another flight bound for London. I have no idea what time zone my bod is in, but my watch seems to be swinging wildly from one time zone to the next. In London more of the same sit down and type as fast as I can mode, gaining the material as cogently as possible for digestion at a later date. I hope the food is better than I have been told, and that the beer is as good as promised.
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