Always be prepared!

It's been 4 months since my last journey blog. My last entry as a virgin traveller was on the 16th Dec 2010. It's May and I'm back traveling. Yurop part two. 

My three week journey starts at 5:15am this morning. I've had 3 hours sleep and it's a bit 'fresh' on the gold coast. Nothing like the winter temps I experienced on my last trip! I walk out the door and realise i have four minutes to get to the bus stop. So i run, with two back packs in tow again, but nothing like the cargo i had last time. That warmed me up! Bus leaves at 5:44 (according to translink), low and behold the bus stop says it comes past at 5:40. Don't panic, this was the early bus I would have preferred to catch, but there is another one in half an hour. Sitting there as my body slowly starts to cool from my morning jog, I'm thinking that I could still be in bed right now, but if this is how the journey starts then let's play the waiting game........ (as homer simpson says, "aww, the waiting game sucks, let's play hungry hungry hippos!)

The bus was an easy ride. And I already had my tourist photog eyes on. There is some really nice shots to be taken in surfers as the sun rises in winter. So when I get back more local photography to be had I think. As I make my way through Mermaid Beach I start reading the motel names, costa brava.......hmm going there. Riviera.....hmm going there too! The excitement starts to sink in, it had eluded me for sometime, maybe it's because I'll be traveling with someone, maybe travel has lost that spark already..... Nope it's back!

Arrived at the airport and I'm glad I did the Internet check in, as much as I love standing in lines, the drop off line was two people. Though, have you noticed that it seems to take longer to drop your off bags than to check-in?? You still have to show your "boarding pass" and then they print you another one, then do the bag thing, ask the questions about your bags, that's the same process as checking in!? I did miss out on the queue, but maybe i'll save that one for a special occasion! So a quick drop off of the bags, two checks for bomb making residue (i even shaved, still look dodgy) and a pre flight vanilla milkshake, then into my seat, window, exit, best $40 spent! 

I was much better prepared this time, I had roll on deodorant and I didn't offend the air hostesses or myself with a stench! I thought I'd sleep better after 3 hours sleep but, it didn't seem to work out. I still managed 4hours of sleep, but it took hard work, sleep isn't supposed to be hard work! The fat guy who was separated from me by a seat was a massive snorer, and was snoring through the safety briefing. He wasn't a constant snorer, but more of a once every 5 mins power snorer! The constant snorer was behind him. I should have stood up and conducted them, a good constant melody and the crash symbol! ZZZzzzzZZZZzzzzz! Everything was as expected, limited service, a strange mushroom chicken pastry thingy. (I'm pretty sure that was the description in the menu!) I'm not looking for flashy headsets, screens in the back of your seat, and people throwing free stuff at you. Firstly its not free, you paid for the service. I want a plane that flies me to a destination. If it wasn't for air asia, this trip and maybe even the previous on would not have happened. All up, return flights, meals, baggage allowance and choosing my mega leg room seats (there is so much room for activities!) it cost me $1,149. Thanks Air Asia!

I've arrived and sitting on the floor in KL's low cost carrier terminal (LCCT), affectionately called 'the she'd by me. I just happen to see a group of about 8-14 year old boys being led by a man in uniform, I thought they were holding hands, nope the little un were in handcuffs, and he must be a policeman. I have a bit of a wait until our flight to Paris. 10 hours for me, only 3 for Lizzie. She is having fun with some of her family in Singapore. I'm really excited to see her and travel with her. Beforehand I was a bit apprehensive about traveling with someone, I asked people, didn't expect anyone to say yes. Especially if they read my last blog, don't get your hopes up and I hope you don't mind getting lost!! Or as I like to call it, the scenic route. We've been together not even three months, and already traveling together! I had most of my plans sorted and paid for before she decided to come along. I don't believe she'll be joining me at any of the F1 festivities, but we'll see each other pretty much every night, so that's nice to know. Some places not in the same room though. It'll be great to have the company, as last time that was the sad part, not being able to share cool moments unless I was with Gina, Stephan, Alena or Steggles!

Let's just say 10 hours waiting is a long time!! Wouldn't recommend it. But its part and parcel of long haul traveling. Right now I'm two hours outside of Paris. The flight has been pretty good. Both Liz and I were pretty tired by the time we boarded and fell asleep not long after take off. Since I booked in February and Liz sometime after we weren't originally sitting together, luckily someone didn't show up beside me so we got to sit together. The bonus for Liz is she go to, a) sit next to me, and, b) got to sit in the Air Asia 'hot seat' the $40 prepaid seats with mega leg room! And she didn't have to pay for it! We both slept pretty solid for 7 hours straight, then an hour little bit later. 

It was very exciting to see Liz when she arrived, walked pretty much past me in the arrivals area. We had planned to meet up at Mc Donald's but i wanted to surprise her when she arrived. She wasn't really sure it was me since I shaved my beard. I don't think she had seen me clean shaven ever! We sat and chatted about her Singapore adventures. She had been talking to her friends and family in Singapore and they had told her to watch out for thieves in Barcelona. Apparently unemployment is at a bit of a high and there has been a lot of theft going on. Well looks like my money and passport is going up my bum! As we boarded the plane I checked my emails and checked out the news on Facebook, you know its not official unless it's on Facebook. My friend Gina had a status update, she'd been robbed in Barcelona, passport, €450 in cash etc! Reality kicks in. I'm not sure if it's stolen a bag, robbed at knife/gun point, or a pick pocket? But I'm thinking extremely carefully about how to carry my valuables. If I wear my jumper I can't get pick pocketed at all. But its late spring and a jumper might be a bit warm. My bag will never leave my side since my camera is in it. We will only be in Barcelona for less than 48hours, but most theft occurs in the first day. I'll have my ear to the ground and fingers crossed we'll have an incident free holiday. I know a few friends who have been to more dangerous areas and been fine, but I know a few that it just happens so soon. But I don't want to have this feel that all I'll be doing is looking for dodgy people. Be aware, be prepared and have fun! 

Not long and we'll be touching down in Europe. Have a four hour wait for our Spanish flight then get to the hotel and find Gina. Catch up and see how she is. Our shuttle to the other terminal, i then realised. You're not in Kansas anymore Luke. Our flight was delayed, why? I'm guessing siesta time interfered. I'm just glad there was no siesta'ing while flying our plane. We flew in over the Costa Brava, beautiful day, perfect blue water, and soon I'll be staying there for my F1 grand prix package. Landed, bused it to Plaça d'Espanya followed by a short walk to our accom. It's a really nice place, small would be an understatement, definitely not big enough to swing a cat! I haven't been feeling the best for the last few hours. I think the 42+ hours, of air con, flights and poor airline food has come back to me. It seems like a bit of a chest infection maybe? It's not going to slow me down one iota. I have things to see and places to photograph! 

Speaking of things to see, Gina is way up there. She's not receiving my texts but I can get hers. So I can only call her........$$$$$ or Facebook her! So after a long walk along the riviera, seeing columbus' column we made it to Barcelota, the area where Gina and Kelly was staying. I called her and received a text with her address. Walked towards the beach, then just decided to take a different route that looked a bit more promising. And, as my random walking luck would have it one street later I hear a "LUKE, LUKE!" Gina had just got on her balcony to see if I walked past! It was good to see the girls again, and great for them to meet Liz too. We couldn't stay to long as we were pretty wrecked and tired after our long haul flights. I haven't been this tired in a very long time. The candle has no ends anymore, no spark left. We walked our way back to the hotel. It was a bit fresh with the wind coming off the marina. It's 9pm and the sun is just setting. A small restaurant just around the corner had everything we wanted, pizza, no, but maybe tomorrow.

The last few days have been a big journey. A lot of waiting, sitting on cold floors and my immune system taking a back seat for a day (i hope only for a day). I'm very tired and looking forward to a bed, shower, clean teeth and someone next to me. Liz is out and fast asleep, I think it took 4.3secs after her head hit the pillow. Time for me to join her. I hope to be a bit better in future blogs. There are many more experiences and random things to happen. I'm prepared, and bloody tired!