Goodbye Sydney Hello PJ

Sydney, Australia May 7 to may 14, 2005

Saturday May 14th 2005. Goodbye Sydney and Hello PJ.

This day we are scheduled to leave Sydney. We continued packing and checked out of the apartment hotel at about 10am. We took the train to the airport. No problems lugging our bags as there are lifts provided at the stations. Our bags are wheeled ones anyway, quite easy to handle. The trip to the airport took about half an hour and we were checked into the flight by about 11am leaving us ample time before the flight at 2pm.

We went through immigration and security checks. The security check was very thorough. I had to remove everything from my pocket, including wristwatch, wallet, pen and also candy that I had with me. I also had to remove my trouser belt. Luckily they did not ask me to remove my trousers as well!! Ram had to remove her shoes!! After all these were removed then only that damned security screen post or pillars were silent when we passed through. Whenever it beeps you will have to remove something. So, to avoid the beep, they ask you to remove everything first. I wonder what they do when someone has metal body inserts of some kind or some purpose, medical for example, that surely will give the beep at the security pillars. All the stuff that were removed were passed through the security screening conveyor machine. I observed that no one was given exemption from this stringent security screening. What were they really afraid of? Was it really necessary to be that stringent? Come to think of it, the strict custom checks at entry on arrival and at security on departure does not auger well to visitors and many were talking bad about it. Or was it shadow play? I was pissed off really and so were many others.

The flight home went without a hitch. It was eight hours of continuous flight and it was tiring but we were well taken care of during the flight. There was a good flow of drinks, water, tit bits of peanuts and biscuits all through the flight apart from the main meals. There was also a very wide selection of video on demand and music on demand plus a good supply of reading materials. MAS have really improved its in-cabin services, much better then what it was just a few years ago. I forgot the hassle I went through at the Australian security in the departure lounge quickly for the pleasure of the services provided by MAS.

On arrival at KLIA we went through immigration and customs without a hitch. It was a breeze going through. Much much nicer compared to what we went through in Australia, the only part, and only that one part, of our travel that has an adverse impression. But still Ram and I felt that in-spite of it, it would be worth another visit in the future, given the opportunity………. and with the will of the Almighty!!

MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Sydney, Australia