Perth 2009, Day One!!

Hey everybody!! Whooo hooo, it's been a long day indeed, but an AWESOME one. Right now I'm back in Perth, baby!! The plane ride over was largely uneventful, save for a few minor wobbles due to turbulence. Oh, except for the part where the old lady sitting next to me began mumbling to herself about feeling very sick, making me wonder if I ought to leave my seat, or show her where the sick bag was, or both. This was around 4am, mind you, when most of the other passengers were sleeping (me being the nervous flyer that I am couldn't fall asleep if my life depended on it... which thankfully it didn't).

Anyway, eventually the old lady told me outright that she wasn't feeling well, that she was feeling phobic and anxious and uncomfortable, and that she needed to call the stewardess for help. Now, if I have one thing to say about Air Asia planes, it's that it's efficient enough (despite your having to pay with cash or card for your food and beverage, even bottled water), but the seats are really congested, and there didn't seem to be a way to get the crew's attention, usually by the press of a button!! Oy!

Finally I saw a steward in the opposite aisle across from the three-seater middle rows; got his attention, waking several passengers in the process, and he came over. Hurriedly the woman explained her predicament: that she needed a new seat, with more room and more air. The steward dude was worried that he wouldn't be able to find two vacant seats (the flight was pretty full up); so I said I wouldn't mind being the one to move. Finally, the steward got me a new seat further in the back of the plane; the lady got my vacant seat next to her and could pull up the armrest to allow herself more room; and the situation was resolved.

But still I couldn't fall asleep, so I spent the time thinking random thoughts, growing more and more exhausted but being too nervous to snooze. A part of me wondered that it was with me and flights... what's with all the odd, albeit in the grand scheme of things minor, things that happen? Like the time I missed my flight after spending a year abroad on my own. Like the time that fight broke out between two burly guys. And the occasion with the runaway bouncing Malteasers. Oy.

A million weary thoughts and tens of thousands of impatient glances at the "time remaining to destination" screen in front of my seat later, we landed in good ol' cold wet and windy Perth. There was the whole immigration blah blah blah, which went without a hitch; and before I know it, it was just like old times, walking out into the arrival area and seeing Judi and Justin, and all of us shrieking and hugging and jumping up and down with heavy objects in our pockets, drawing attention but not caring, even at 630am.

And as we headed to their car and began the commute back to Judi and Justin's abode where I am now, I looked at the street signs (Oorong! Leach! Riseley! Moulyeen!! OH MY!) and the familiar landmarks and realised, with a tinge of happy sadness and wistfulness, that I felt like I was coming home, rather than having just left it. Oy. To be continued... (above)