My Speedy Solo Trip

Hi folks!

Last month, on Sep 11, I took a solo trip to a country on my south via plane to attend my classmate's wedding. Most of my former classmate in the same class were invited, thus it is sort of a schoolmate-gathering of sort. And the fact that most of us are married with young children, the wedding of this friend of mine was considered pretty much the near-last gathering we could have with so many of us flying or driving in from all over the places.

 

I took the earliest flight at 6.35am so that I could be on time for the 12 noon wedding luncheon at a well-known hotel in the city. I got up at 3am and DH is kind enough to drive me to airport around 3.30am. We reached the airport well in time for boarding. The KLIA2 is well-known for the long walk to the boarding gate. So I took the 30 minutes. Walk and reached the gate in time, yet the gate opened 30 minutes later than what it originally stated.

And the flight took slight more than an hour. So I reached the country of my solo trip pretty early, around 7.35am. Not having to wait for my baggage as I do not bring any for this one-day solo trip, again I walked about 30 minutes and finally sat down on a café that opens pretty early which serves yummy and affordable hot-soymilk and red-bean pancakes. I browse and replied my Whatsapp to DH to informed that I have safely arrived using the airport wifi and just immersed to the reality of taking my solo trip which I haven't been taking any since after got married and have kids. It is such surreal experience. Something I have wanted to do for such a long time.

Next, I took a walk, familiarise with the airport with three terminals so that I could take my quick dash on my trip home later after the wedding luncheon which could ends late. Making sure I am well-versed with which gate or direction I should go to for my flight back home. After that, I look around for places which I could bring my kids to if I were to bring them here for a visit.

I kinda "loiter", snack and "browse/window-shop" around for 1 ½ hour. Oh yes, forgot to mentioned I spent quite a bit of time in their convenience shop at the airport itself!! Their organic products are quite well-stocked and affordable if I am earning their local currency compared to us in Malaysia which often need to spend arms and legs to lead an organic lifestyle/diet. I see people actually came come to the airport convenience store to buy their daily groceries, which makes me wonder, are they staying close-by or the price are cheaper here? But one thing I do notice is that their mineral water is kind of more expensive than their soft drink? 100 plus 500ml bottle cost 1 dollar, but a bottle of mineral water cost 1 dollar and 50 cents at least!

I departed from the airport terminal around 9.30am as the train ride would takes around 1 hr for me to reach the city, just in time for the malls to open. So another 10-15 minutes' walk for me to reach the train station and got a seat to slumber awhile during the 1 hour distance. Waking up at 3am making me a bit of a zombie..or at least it should have felt that way..lol.

An hour later, I reached the centre of the city and went window-shop at the mall which is right opposite the hotel where the wedding lunch is held. So I planned for an hour of shopping followed with "transformation" from my slumber attire to an attire fit for a wedding lunch, and of course the high heels, accessories and make-up. That takes another 30 minutes. For the first time, I don't have to rush, and just take things slowly. No kids to rush, no diaper to change, and high heels…woot..i can only wear that if I don't have to carry baby, not to mention highly-destroyable lacy dress…a big no-no if I am carrying baby and so prone to pulling out the lace thread.

 

After the wedding lunch and of course lots of picture taking for memory, it was another mad dash to the airport cos I am too stingy to call for a taxi (actually I just worried the traffic jam might cause me to be late for my flight being in the city centre on a Sunday) or just simply their train is so punctual and accessible. Another 20 minutes walk to the train station and then I made my another 1 hr journey to the airport. Upon reaching the airport, taking another skytrain to reach my terminal, it was about 45 minutes wait before my flight. Again, I browse with the airport wifi and chit chat with the same flight passenger which sits next to me.

 

Time passes quickly and again I boarded the plane for another 1 hr plus flight back home. Upon reaching the KLIA2, I texted my siblings on the most efficient and economy way to reach KL Sentral (where I would take the LRT back to my parents-in-law house where DH and kids are having their fun time(hopefully) without me). Voila, the benefit of having well-travelled siblings, I spent RM11 for a bus to KL Sentral that takes around 1 hour, compared to the original plan of taking a KLIA express which will cost RM55? It was another close dash, I bought the ticket at 8.25pm and the bus is ready to move at 8.40pm and I have NO IDEA where to board the bus. Only after that I realised it is another 10-15minutes walk away. I zoomed speedily to the place following the sign board and found a seat. It is another cold 1-hour journey boarding on Skybus which surprisingly, is pretty punctual.

 

Then, I took another 30 minutes ride from KL Sentral to the station which is walking distance from my in-laws' place. Reaching home right on dot at 10pm as estimated.

 

I have clocked the longest walking, flying, and sitting on a train record I have ever done in a single day.

 

Will I do it again? Yes I will, but the next time, it won't be a solo trip but a trip with my daughter perhaps.

 

Staying hungrily looking forward for my next adventures!

 

Cheers~