Wednesday, 28 December 2011

The day our holidays started

By the time I write this travel blog we are already arrived safely back from our holiday.  Its been a hectic few days leading up to the holidays.  I was plagued with fever and flu, and not to mention coughing. I went to the clinic twice to get stronger dose of antibiotic so I can get better in time for the holiday.  Luckily the fever cleared up and the holiday went smoothly.  Although the cough still bothering me but the trip went well without a hitch.

We decided to use Air Asia X for the flight to London.  So we went via KL and spent one night there before flying off to London the next day.  We checked in to a nearby hotel called Concorde KLIA to rest before getting up early the next day.  We didnt do much while at the hotel, its too far to go to the city.  There was a shuttle bus to KLIA so we just went there to have our dinner.  Hubby was looking how much it cost to catch the train to KL central and it was RM70 per person return.  We thought it was so expensive!  So we scrapped the idea.

The family who sent us at the airport

Our airplane

Concorde KLIA Hotel Lobby
It was a funny looking hotel, the rooms were all at the same level and it looked like a resort in the middle of nowhere.  But since we gonna be here for just one night, we decided to just leave with it.


At the front of the hotel

Pathways to get to our room

The bed, it was ok but the roon was too small.

The bus shuttle that took us to KLIA.

Us in the bus
At KLIA having dinner

Killing time



The next day we woke up early had a very simple breakfast and off we went to LCCT to catch our flight at 8.30am.  There was no bus to take us to LCCT for free, but when hubby enquired how much if we pay, different hotel staff gave different prices and that made us so frustrated.  So hubby, as resourceful as he is, called a taxi and told him to take us to LCCT for RM50.  Arrived around 6.30am and did all the necessity and waited for the flight to take us to London!

Checking in at LCCT to board our flight

While waiting for our turn to check in and drop the bags.

Inside the plane, D710, as usual hubby did all the paperwork :)

I was really hungry with little breakfast that this airline food tasted so good!

Ayang meal

Is this the Swiss Alps?
The flight took 14 hours!  I was so sick and tired of sitting and sleeping, afterall its not every day we travelled for 14hrs without even stopping.  I tried to walk around and sleep using the travel pillow but the time still dragged on so slowly.  I was glad when we eventually landed!

We arrived at Gatwick International Airport at around 2.30pm London time.  Thats about 10.30pm in Brunei and cant wait to get to our hotel.  Since its winter in London, the days are shorter and its already dark by 3.50pm.  We took Gatwick Express trains to get to the city and it sent us to Victoria Station in central London, (taxi could be quite expensive since Gatwick Airport was quite far, 30mins travel time).  We had 4 big lugagges and it was such a challenge to carry these bags along the train station that we decided to use a taxi to get us to our hotel from Victoria Station.  It cost us around 14 pounds using the taxi.  By the time we arrived at the hotel, it was already dark and cold.

Ayang at the Gatwick Airport

Before we board the train

Ready to explore London!

Inside the Gatwick Express train

Not so many passengers at the train.
Our first hotel in London is called Royal Court Apartment.  It was rather cozy although the lobby was a bit small.  And it operated by Indian and its very clean and comfy.  Except with the lifts!  Whats going on there?  I think the lifts were so ancient and its time they retire but so far they did they job and didnt get us any trouble so its ok.  Again manuvering our luggages were a bit tricky, with the small lifts and small corridor leading up to  our room was quite a challenge.  And there was nobody to help us carry these bags so we had to carry them ourselves.

Our comfy bed, its a one bedroom apartment with all the amenities you could image.
Hubby and Ayang busy at the small kitchen

Our small living room, cozy and nice

Free tea/coffee.

Time for a hot chocolate drink!

Hubby relaxing after the long day, need all the rest to start our day tomorrow.
Thats our first day.  Will update more later with our exploration and joy and fun in the London city.  



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