From KL to Porto Alegre (36 hours journey)

I didn't sleep the night before. I was too excited, or maybe worried about the journey to come. I had never been away from my life for so long, so far. Was very nervous that it is gonna be a terrible journey...

I reached KLIA at about 10am to get my ticket and check-in my luggage. Jie sent me as she needs to get to KLIA Cargo to get her package. Said goodbye to her and walked straight to MAS Golden Lounge. I was so lucky that I bump into Shangker & Prakash (from Commercial dpt) - they are on the same flight with me! Boarded the MH4 flight at around 12.30pm and the hell journey begins!

I was very tired, and thought I can sleep over the 13-hour journey. But well, I didn't sleep at all. Was alert the whole journey and getting myself drunk with Vodka Orange and Transformers... =S

The flight landed at Heathrow at about 6.30pm London time. Said goodbye to the boys as they are staying over at London for meetings and I start to embark on my solo journey to Brazil. Walked a hell 2km from T3 to T4 and finally found my connecting flight counter. Got myself check-in and went to the Holider (or Holifer???) Lounge to work. It is so ironic that lounge as such, there is no FOC Internet connection.. I got to pay  £5 for 1 hour WIFI connection!

Anyway, time flies and I boarded the plane JJ8085 (operated by Brazil TAM Linhas Aereas). I thought it is gonna be good.. but well.. it never turns out well. The moment I walked into the plane and saw my Business Class seat.. I said to myself that this is a journey THROUGH hell...and HELL IT IS!

First, the seat is horrible...although it is wide and spacious but it has some weird noises all around it when you move. Second, the flight attendants are all on PMS! Third, the food was from the garbage bin... and lastly, I am the only ASIAN! Everyone was looking at me as if I am an Alien... =S

Well, the 13-hour journey was really to DIE for... I slept like a pig (coz I didn't sleep on the previous flight). Woke up at about 5am Brazilian time and good enough to catch No Reservation VOD while having breakfast from garbage bin. The food is DARN SALTY!!! sigh.. I have gut feeling that I am gonna need dialysis once I am back to KL.

So glad that I survived the flight and landed on Sao Paulo Guarulhos airport 'on-time'. Pass through the customs and grab my luggages and headed to Sao Paulo Congonhas airport. It was a 1-hour journey that cost BR 50. I shared the taxi with Professor 'Tuline' from Berlin whom I met (and kindly helped me to translate) at the queue. It was a nice ride as we chatted about Brazil and stuff. He even guided me to my check-in counter for my connecting flight from Sao Paulo to Porto Alegre. We grab a light breakfast and continue a short chat before he boarded his flight to 'somewhere'. I was left alone at the small tiny airport for 3 hours before my flight.

I can't wait for the TAM PMS flight attendant to open the gate and I quickly boarded myself and excitedly waited for the plane to takeoff. I took a cat-nap as I was very very very very extremely tired and exhausted. After about 2 hours I finally found myself at Porto Alegre International Airport. Wow!!! I made it!! I met my driver from Souza Cruz at the arrival hall and he kindly fetched me to my hotel at the city centre.

The ride was not good as the traffic was horrible - comparable to Bangkok. Everywhere was congested. The ride from the airport to Sheraton POA was about 40 minutes. Reached the hotel, got myself check-in and found that I am in a room with 2 single bed. Reception said - Yai yam zori meeess Liew, wall doooble bid phull. Wonly tomooroo hap. Weell chainge for you tomooorooo. Wukay? I said YES, its fine... Obrigada!

I haven't taken my shower over the whole journey and feel that this is the best thing to do in this world! Went out for a walk around the hotel area for sightseeing all by myself. This place is safer than I thought. Everyone is on the street, strolling... and the weather is good. Like Genting/Cameron  highlands. Sheraton POA is next to a nice/posh shopping mall and went there for a short window shopping. Really window one.. coz everything there will make me moneyless...

Damn hungry and I decided to eat somewhere out from hotel. Walked couple of streets going in and out of restaurants trying to explain to the people that I want food... and none of them understood what I was trying to say. Well, some gotten me their menu, but hey.. I can't understand a word it was saying... so distraught I went back to the hotel and they said they don't serve dinner until 7pm.. YEWW can WORDER room service Maamm... I don't want to coz I don't wanna be in the room and tempted to sleep... I walked out again and further and found a nice roadside bistro. Went inside and so happy to meet the chef that can speak English.. fluent English accent. He specially prepared me a hot soup as appetizer and a nicely done salmon. So nice... and fullfilling. The surroundings were to die for... quiet street with a nice weather... little chilly but great one.

Well, so far so good in Porto and hope that the days to come will be better. I gotten myself some brochures from the tourist counter and will explore more when other colleagues are here. The driver will pick me up to the office tomorrow at 9.30am, and I am damn exhausted now. Gotta go for my first slumber.. will continue my story tomorrow...

Ciaoz!

Rgds,

Christina

9.17pm