Monday 14 January 2008

The flight

Note: This is more like a personal journal and not a regular AZAIG type of entry.

I have read about people doing it; I have wanted to do it and now, I finally am doing it… I am blogging while onboard a flight. It’s quite a good feeling I must say, particularly when you’re on business class.

Speaking of business class, I am on a flight to London and you know what? There is no ‘gwai-lo’ in here; at least not on my side of the deck. In fact, I am the only Chinese here; the rest of the business class passengers here are all Malays. I am not trying to be racist here but really, who said Malays are poor? And no, they are not on business trip; I can tell because there are a few kids here and are frantically playing with their portable PSP.

Anyway, I am really not quite used to this preferential treatment. The stewardess; Lathia, has been going “Mr Zewt, would you like to have this…?” and “Mr Zewt, would you like to have that…?” and “Mr Zewt, anything I can get for you…?” and “Mr Zewt, can I help you to a cup of coffee?”… I have never heard my surname being mentioned so many times in the space of 2 hours.
The view from my seat is pretty amazing. I managed to grab this shot just as we were passing through the Indian Ocean. Though this is not my first time on board a plane, I am always amazed at the amazing view from the window and the beauty of flying.
I just had my meal. It was a combination of ‘Satay’ plus the ‘Coriander chilly prawn’ and appetiser with ‘Grilled monk fish with spaghetti’ as the main dish. Didn’t ask for dessert as I am not exactly a dessert person. Besides, it was coconut cheese cake. I mean… coconut cheese cake??

For all the hard work and torture I have to put up as a modern slave, I must admit that I feel I am being duly rewarded at least for these 13 hours. I wonder how my apartment will look like. The pictures based on the internet looks pretty cool but then again, looks can be deceiving. By the time I post up this entry, I would have known the condition of it so… I am hoping for the best.

Update:
The apartment is simply amazing. I was given this kitchen.

And I naturally produced this with whatever that was available in the kitchen.
Cheers… and Jules, I miss you already!

68 comments:

H.C. Tan said...

wow.i am actually the 1st to comment...my 1st time!! haha. zewt, the fusili looks delicious...and i love ur kitchen!!! how long u gonna be for ur business trip? take care yea~ come visit to ita! hehe

wahlau said...

yo zewt!

i will never forget my once-accidentally-upgraded business class flight... like what you experienced, i have never had my surname mentioned so often too in 2 hours, and my cup of orange never ran out. Just need to shut your eyes for 1 minute, and your drink is again refilled. Almost felt like the old testament story :) he he he

if you ever cross border to Germany, drop me a message. Else, enjoy London. How long you will be there? maybe we should make our london trip soon since you are there and has a BIG apartment ;) he he he.

Anonymous said...

What? You just got married...and you took off for London without ur poor wife??? (Shakes head!!!)...Then, don't post all those nice,nice things. Moan and groan about how terrible evrything is to make her feel good that she has to stay back!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Pak Zawi said...

Mr.Zewt,
Love your 'only non Malay' travelling first class intro. Now we have enough proof to tell the Government that the NEP is a success and need not be further extended.
I thought you would have used this opportunity to bring Jules to London for a honeymoon. After all you are provided with an apartmrnt while in London. Her air passage will be the only cost to you.
Maybe your Company has reaad your intention of migrating so they are giving you all this opportunities to make you stay on.
Let us hear your takes on London Mr. Zewt.

Anonymous said...

All the perks for working with a multinational company.

Read the reply of yours in the last post's comment, you will need to start searching for match tix if you plan to watch matches like the manchester derby. It's not easy to get football tickets in UK compared to other countries in Europe.

"Joe" who is constantly craving said...

u lucky bugger..grrr i miss LONDON!!!

Tine said...

*cough* show off *cough*

:P

Anonymous said...

What!! Wify not with u??? Can 'tahan' lah?? How long in London??? Woah! I look forward to ur london post & 'nice' pic!!! Have a nice day!

Purple~MushRooM said...

Eh... you go London for how long and when are you coming back? Wah.. Business Class.. shit.. i fly over 10 hours for business trip so many times and none are business class. I hope my next business trip will be business class. Bohoo...

Enjoy your trip!

missironic said...

guess u r flying business class tats y treat u wif xtra care, hence the many times mentioned of ur surname..lolz..but the food looks gud but does the food taste gud too? lolz..

ur kitchen looks nice! how's the rest of the place?

me said...

wonder if the flight attendant thought mr. zewt is very katak bawah tempurung to take photo of everything liddat :-p

your kitchen is so good. hmmmm, i want pork knuckles, spaghetti aglio olio and herb-baked chicken, please. yummmmmmm. *wipes drool*

next, photo of your room, pleaseeeee. :-)

Anonymous said...

wow great ... didnt know your company is so generous. i wouldnt have expected it from them lol urm i found out where you're workin based on your london address. it's a dead giveable if u've studied in london before ...

Huei said...

Mr. Zewt. Your co wana hire me ar? =P heheheh

cool! i wana get paid to travel tooo!!!! and sometimes i think i hope for that too much..cos what i get is..langkawi T_T

Azlan Zed said...

my late congratulations. :) living the dream, eh?

Anonymous said...

To all your bloggers....OF COURSE I AM GOING! Tomorrow is my LAST day at work and after that I can take off and be a complete bum in London in that awesome apartment! Life is great being Mrs.Zewt! Miss ya baby! Not long more though! Woohoo!! Erm, no pictures of the room etc ..some privacy please! p.s can i upgrade to biz class??..

Anonymous said...

Have lots of fun playing "tai-tai" in London, Jules!!! :p

Btw, a "Make in London" baby sounds great. :p

frostee said...

dude, have a good trip. As for the atmosphere in biz class, chances are that the people in the same 'class' as you are probably either high ranking government servants or MH staff. ANd you are the probably the only going to London to work.

Shucks ain't it.

Supergirlfriend said...

wow....someone flew in business class..Haha..so how long will you be in London, zewt??? Nice that your wifey's coming along too.. :p

Anonymous said...

I don't doubt your observation in the business class flight. They form the majority in our middle class society now. In the past, perhaps 25 years ago, business norm was, set up your business where you had alot of chinese but the scene is totally changed now. The buying power is obvious and thus businesses setup. Make us wonder if NEP still appropriate for certain states or catergory of business in malaysia. The malaysian government should give serious thought to this if they want this country to be competitive.

rainbow angeles said...

Sighhh.. now I want to go back and revisit London... thru' my pics.. :P

One thing I don't quite fancy about London... the smog... quite overwhelming.. is it still the same?

But gotta love the weather! Is it still cold? Cooling? Just nice?

Kimberley said...

just goes to show how the inequality amongst the malays is staggeringly large here eh

Anonymous said...

Oooh.. got oven and microwave! Roast pok!!

I thought you cook your femes vegetarian mushroom... :D

Sigh... looks like only single travelers will get to upgrade. Where will they ever upgrade a silai flying with 2 kids on long haul... :(

zewt said...

H.C. Tan - yes you are the first, cos we are in the same time zone now mah. will be visiting italy but not perugia though.

wahlau - oh yeah, i didnt really want the journey to end until towards the end where the plane had to circle around and it made me sick. wont be crossing over to germany... honeymoon will be in paris and italy.

suituapui - she will be flying here to me and wear are going paris... she just has not arrived yet la... :P

Zawi - hahaha.... yeah. in fact, i saw a few malay families on board business class. i certainly cannot afford it if not becos of my company. jules will be flying over in a few weeks time.

mrbherng - yeah, got a friend who submitted the application for balloting, hopeing for the best :)

constant craver joe - hehe... come come...

Tine - :P... indeed indeed :P

Anonymous said...

Whew! That's a sigh of relief!!! Thank God u're going too, Jules! That handsome hubby of urs, don't let him out of ur sight!!! London...believe it or not, I was walking along the road when a car pulled up and a lady inside said, "I need company." I said, "No, thank you!" and dashed off...took wrong turn in my panic and took quite a while to get back to Malaysia House. That was the early 90's and if suituapui almost got picked up, what more ur hubby!!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! Sorry, zewt! Did I just blow ur chances???

zewt said...

hor ny ang moh - hahahaha... of cos i can tahan. there is so much to do here.

purple mushroom - wooaaahh... your company really kiamsiap la like that. i can tell u... 10+ hours in business class is heaven!

missironic - the food is ok ok only... my cooking better. the rest of the apartment is cool... but no pics... private :P

me - yeah, it was obvious that i was a business class virgin. so many things they asked i didnt know. my room is private... no photos :P... but i can assure u... it's freaking nice.

anon @ 10.11am - even when i blanked out the address? you're good...

Huei - well... submit your CV... but travel not guaranteed. hehe.

alan zed - not yet.... maybe in a month's time :P

PabloPabla said...

I am still dreaming of that Business Class flight to London :D

And erm, yes, I've seen whole family buying business class tickets at MAS office before (to London)...cash. They brought a stack of cash. I wonder why they brought cash ;)

zewt said...

JULES - should have gotten the buy 1 get the second 80% off hehe... nice being mrs zewt eh?

Jemima - london baby... hmmmm...

F.O.N @ frostee - yup... from the way i see it...i am sure i am the only modern slave in the flight... sigh.

Supergirlfriend - will be here for 7 weeks and then off for honeymoon! :P

william wang - indeed... but it's a fact that we cannot publicly accept, and it's a fact that has to be distorted for political mileage. which is why... is there hope?

angeles - 11 degrees and it's drizzling... hate the weather.

Kimberly Ho - very much so... and my flight is paid my my company... me aint rich enough to pay for it myself.

kat - me no upgrade.. my ticket is biz :P

suituapui - hmmm... i tot you're a girl... so you're a bloke? haha...

pablopabla - cash???? wow... it sucks isnt it... to know that we are claimed to be the richer ones but aint so.

Mcmercedez said...

Wow.. Travelling in business class? How i wish i can have that as well.. The only chance i'll get is if i go business trip with my boss.. hahaha.. praying for that.. haha..

Anyway, apologise for the long disappearance from the comments.. been very busy for the last 2 months on wedding stuff.. hehe.. And.. CONGRATULATIONS on your wedding...

So how long you'll be there? Hope you are not a football freak..

Cutiez said...

wah sai ~ *jealous* so both of you is going there for short term work or already migrate ?? @.@ so confusing ... haaa~ anyway all the best to you both ~

Anonymous said...

damn syioka r...can go to London...haha

wasted la u didnt get another ticket of biz class at 80% off.

So its a honeymoon rite?

day-dreamer said...

The kitchen sure does look nice.

Have a nice time there and don't forget to update us back here! ;)

Seaqueen said...

Oh wow. Looks really good eh. So now you can't say they "ah long" didn't treat you well lar. Hahahha!!

whisperingshout said...

Have fun!

I thought only the msia sports center lobby group would get business class seats, are you? lol

Anonymous said...

Gosh...sorry to disappoint u! I'm a man! LOL!!! Why would a girl sing "Beautiful in my eyes" or songs like "This I promise u" or "Can't help falling in love". They're all guy's songs! And women, u know how vain they can be, would ever admit they're "tua pui"; "sui" perhaps...but definitely not "tua pui". Right, ladies? (Runs and hides...!!)

Anonymous said...

Zewt I am so happy for you. You should get what you deserve. Good move! A blessed journey in seberang laut. All the best!!!

constant drama said...

Wow, at the beginning of the post I thought you were talking but the Mile High Club...one of these days, I really do have to take my mind out of the gutter.

Hey I flew business when I went to Chicago. It was my 1st time, my parents flew business all the time but not the kids. But I got lucky coz I was upgraded thanks to the Enrich program.

I spent the whole 21 hours flight drinking gourmet coffee, coz they're gourmet =p and when its time to sleep I can't sleep a wink coz I was high on caffeine. Ended up chatting up the male air hostess. Not because I found him particularly hot, its just that I was on caffeine high.
And can't sleep.

And rmbr Zewt..."The Government would never lie to us".

rachel said...

hmmm... so being a modern slave aint that bad now?

rinnah said...

I can't wait for more pictures of London! More more more!

And do show some picture of Paris when you go there for honeymoon. *wink*

I think Made in Paris, France baby sounds even better than Made in London baby. Hurhurhur.

WaiKee said...

wow business class seats!! May I know which airline is that? Delicious food I never seen before in Airlines @@

Sunshine said...

hmmm nice place :)

now got to be very rajin to go and look for overseas postings!!

svllee said...

Hi Zewt, sure you can, take this down 0781 0848470 you can call me whenever and I can show you some London sights if you want, South Bank, Tate Modern etc..and pubs.

PS Angeles, London has no smog anymore, in fact it is one of the cleanest cities now that there is a congestion tax imposed on vehicles entering the centre, and the UK vehicle emissions standards are one of the the toughest. There are so many hybrid cars in London now, (I have one too!).

Anonymous said...

romantic-nia...mr and mrs zewt...even chat here...kekeke

business class is superb! neverbeen to one before but heard lots of study abtit!
how long are u going to be in london?

Anonymous said...

I love their satay! Always ask for more everytime. (And psst : the coconut cheesecake is rather nice)

jlshyang said...

staying anywhere near Liverpool St. financial district? Might be able to see you around if you are. lol.

mistipurple said...

wah! work and pleasure! enjoy your honeymoon with the missus!

Anonymous said...

Eh mr.zewt, off topic fr ur post a little while ah, i'd always wana tell u [but now only remember]that the spelling for "vicious" in ur banner shud be "vivacious" la. u check online dictionary and see what "vicious" means :p

I can somewhat guess ur employer. Are u taking over the jobs of ur British counterparts who are moving to Dubai's IFC? Why didn't u go to Dubai instead la?

zewt said...

Mcmercedez - well, i am a football freak! hahaha... well, travel with your boss... just take it lor...

maegen - short term only la... better than nothing though.

pookyma - that deal... have to travel together and jules cant take leave yet mah.

day-dreamer - sure thing.. plenty of update i am sure.

seaqueen - i was made to starve today and worked till 8pm!!!

whisperingshout - sports center lobby group? i wanna join leh, sounds cool...

zewt said...

suituapui - but then hor... what is tua pui?

Melly - thanks melly... work was hectic hough.

constant_drama - hello... welcome to AZAIG. business class to chicago???? wow... that must be really heavenly.... yes yes, our govt will never lie to us... and of cos... i always believe the govt.

rachel - only for that 13 hours.

rinnah - hahahahaha... yeah... paris baby is certainly a good thing. otherwise, the process of making is also good... in paris.

MerDurian - our national airlines... have to admit... quality....not that good la.

zewt said...

Sunshine - hahaha... come join my company :)

svllee - okay, i will call u when i get my simcard... that is a mobile number right? yeah, i noticed the air in london has improved since i last came. hybrid cars... yup, my pick up was one of it. very powerful!

lynnwei - will be here for about 7 weeks and then off to europe for hols :)... so is hillsong here?

TsuLin - really? but i think i wont fancy it :)

jlshyang - hahaha... my nearest station in barbican. i think it's near liverpool street no?

mistipurple - thanks thanks... will do certainly.

sooi2 - well... i know the meaning... i am not perfect la... so i guess vicious is ok. but what is vivacious la? got such word meh? woooaaahhh... my counterpart who moved to Dubai is wayyyyyyyyy higher ranking than me la.

jlshyang said...

'hahaha... my nearest station in barbican. i think it's near liverpool street no?'

Yea, only 2 stations away.

Yea, attending uni here but in Wales, i'm just going down to London for a visit. :)

missironic said...

ooh..okok...wont want to pry ur private space either..hope u n ur wife will have a wonderful time there..;)

Anonymous said...

I was lucky enough to be bumped up to Biz Class last month while traveling back from Hong Kong. It was my first experience, the food looks very much the same and was never stopped being addressed as Mr Lim throughout the flight.

Anonymous said...

I totally know what you mean about biz class treatment - I had a small cut on my finger and 3-4 people came with first aid kits and all.

zewt said...

jlshyang - oh... then perhaps we could have bumped into one another.

missironic - hehe... i am sure it will.

anon @ 9.46aM - hahaha... indeed... they really address u by name.

diggy tiger - hahahahahaha.... isnt that a bit... too much?

Anonymous said...

hey zewt, ahaha....i didnt mean hillsongs..erm...i meant the church - Hillsongs Church London. they have one in London....should be quite similar with the one in Australia, eh?
really hope i can make it there!

svllee said...

Yes, Zewt its my mobile. Lookinig forward to it.!

Mohd Hazreen Rashid said...

hey zewt congrats on your wedding. I thought you were blogging somewhat anonymously but the wedding pic? Heh, anyway your wife is beautiful.

Hey London sounds fun. I'll be heading there too for my winter break. Here's me hoping to bump into you.

Anyway, about your opinion that Malay are not generally poor, I'm a Malay and I hate to admit that that's quite true. They can spend quite lavishly on things like the most modern home theatre system, latest handphones, new kayu jati sofa but place all the burdens of education expenses on government. It's almost like hey, since I came out from a Malay vagina, I am entitled to every previlege/special rights/free education from the government. That's so sad.

Anyway, enjoy London.

Bee Ean said...

Hey,

I'm sure you are going to have a wonderful honeymoon in Paris. It is such a romantic and artistic city. Since unions had done their strikes in November 07, you should be safe.

Anonymous said...

Wah Zewt...so kewl get to go London and Paris and Italy...*dreams of the day I'll be able to set foot there*...
Got vacancy ha ur company???Gimme...

zewt said...

Lynnwei - yeah, i just heard about it from my friend and we will be going there this sunday :)

svllee - right... thanks. will see how things go.

Mohd Hazreen Rashid - hello.... let me give you a warm welcome to AZAIG. mate... malaysia needs more people with your mentality. i mean, i am ok with ppl getting help, but it should be open to everyone and to those who truly deserves it... dont you think? if you bump into me... say hi!

Bee Ean - hehehe... well, i certainly dont want to see any strike...

mar - got... but have to work like hell... want or not?

JamyTan said...

Zewt,

Sounds like you are all excited about it. I feel the excitement too.

It is nice to be treated special. Whenever I take my flight from L.A to K.L, I found the Malaysia steward, stewardess are especially nice to us, Americans.

In fact, it is very sad. In my humble opinion, we all should treat everyone like what we want ourselves to be treated. But, in this world, everything is $ talk, power talk.

Even custom officers are more friendlier to me when I passed through the custom line with American passport than Malaysian's or even a Sarawakian IC.

To me it is pathetic. I have not change (except of course my weight lah) but just holding an American passport make so much different in how these people treat me. Such is the world standard, sigh.

Jamy

Anonymous said...

So Mr Zewt, was seat 18K good? Window seat, main deck, nice personal screen too. :)

Awwww you skipped the coconut cheese cake? You should at least try a bit of it! It's really really really good. Not sweet at all, with some coconut bits in it! My favourite! MH actually make pretty good cheesecakes!

I hope you get upper deck when you come back. It's like a world of its own; first class is another story altogether.

Have fun in London.

Anonymous said...

Business class sounds really great but i don't think i can afford that! But the coconut cheese cake sounds really weird to me too!

Your kitchen looks really nice and spacious. I want that dish washer!

Hope that you are having good times there..Take care!

zewt said...

kayatan - yeah, whe you're an ang moh... they treat you better... it's kinda sad.... very very sad...

Lil' Ms Pinky - wow... you must have een working there for the longest time!

seokthong - can you find the fridge? it's hidden! hahahaha... it' really nice.

Anonymous said...

Hi Zewt
Hope it is not too late to wish you and Jules Selamat Pengantin Baru. Been on a first/biz class only once before, from Sydney (leaving for good> to KL, in 1992. I was the only passenger, so you can imagine the endless attention lavished on me. What a brilliant start to a new chapter in your (married> life!
aMiR
a Malaysian in Riyadh
note: sorry for the wonky parentheses

zewt said...

anon aka a Malaysian in Riyadh - wow.... the only passenger... u can literally demand for anything! hahahaha...

Jacss said...

kenot believe my eyes seeing yr kitchen loh....eeee....so envious, looks nicer than my own kitchen, how can????

i was upgraded to bis class seat "by chance" at d expense of 2 extra hour transit time at S'pore during my last bis travel to HKong and that was my very first time too & being a 'san pah'/jakun, there were so many
"wah...wow...oow...ehh...ahh..."
u know what i mean?? simply awesome...worth my wait !!

happy honeymoon...paris & italy another 2 places that i yearn to go...one fine day!!!

btw, how long is yr posting there?

zewt said...

jacss - hehehe... that is why i just have to cook everyday... cant resist. i will be here for a month plus more... only... sigh....