In a nutshell – the journey

After nearly more than 24 hours of traveling, I am finally in Sheffield. The flight from KLIA to Dubai was at 2am 12th June. Took about an hour plus to go to the airport, 7 hours to Dubai (not including the check in time and etc), reached Dubai at 4 something in the morning and left Dubai at 7.55am Dubai time. Took another 7 hours plus and reached Manchester at 12.32noon (UK time). It took quite a while at the immigration since we are non UK and EU passport holders and then we waited for our ride to Sheffield and another hour plus to reach Charlotte Court and another hour to be assigned to our rooms and finally my place to rest my head for the next few months. (Can’t tell you how much I appreciated seeing the bed, Heavenly!)

Our rides

Of course the ride to the airport was the best!!! =) The plane to Dubai was not too bad but was quite uncomfortable as I was woken up every few minutes by passengers walking up and down the aisle. I didn’t have any appetite to take the light snack that was offered as I had a very good dinner so I tried to sleep. My legs had little blood circulation on the plane but were much better on the ride to Manchester. Had two breakfasts I guess coz one followed Malaysian time and the other followed Dubai time. Watched 3 movies and a couple of tv shows on the plane. The service provided by the Emirates staff was good. Did everything to make our ride comfortable the flight to Sheffield however the pillow I brought from home was what makes my back feel much better in the 2nd flight. The 2nd flight faced water shortage according to the air-steward it’s their first time encountering such a thing. Too much eggs served in a day (not their fault I guess since it was breakfast meals) the best was the savoury snack at the last 2 hours of the flight. Tasted really good! (Lyn even ask for Jack Daniels on the flight though she just pointed to the bottle not knowing what she had just asked). We could watch the view from the pilot point and also from beneath the airplane. The plane has a forward and downward camera option. Awesome!! Shuttled bus to the Dubai airport was quite similar to the one in Manchester. The coach ride to Sheffield – Charlotte Court is like the bus rides in KL.

Dubai

According to the pilot the temperature was 34c. We thought we would feel hot but when we step down from the plane it was not hot at all. Smelled Dubai before being whisked away to Terminal 3 where we spent our hours taking pictures and seeing what the duty free area has to offer. It was a pretty crowded Terminal 3.

Manchester

View in Manchester is somewhat similar to those of PJ with the brick walls and etc. Felt probably the same way the Africans feel when they are in Malaysia. Everyone was staring at us at the immigration, standing at the airport, even on our coach ride. I encountered a very nice immigration officer which just stamped my passport and allowed me through not even looking at my banker’s draft. Some of my friend were unfortunate and had to undergo long questionings before being allowed across. Temperature 15c not too cold feels just like Camerons or Gentings.

Sheffield

Sheffield is a whole lot more scenic. Although I was rather tired I forced myself to take all the view from the coach. Sheep, cows, rivers, creeks, woods, hills, reminded me of the story books I have been reading that describe the country side. My mum would really love the view. The greenery never seem to end just acres and acres of land with nothing but greenery.

Charlotte Court

Just like the hostels in the movies. Pretty much like a budget hotel apartment. Had to climb 3 flights of stairs to reach my room! Thank God for friends. After the long journey we hardly had any strength left in us what more to carry our huge baggage that we brought. (Could not fit in the coach and they had to get 2 little vans to put in the excess baggage’s – which delayed our journey as well L) The staff in Charlotte Court obviously had a difficult time trying to sort our accommodation as many wanted to stay with friends but could not because the UK students are still around. The staffs however were pleasant in dealing with us. We were then left on our own.

The flat was ok. My unit in particular was quite filthy. I guess because we still had the UK students. Met them when we reached too tired to even talk to them we must have given them an impression that we are snobbish but we were actually breathless. The individual rooms and toilets are satisfactory. Cleaner than the hostel rooms you find in TARC hostel when you first arrive. However, the kitchen is in a total mess. Booze bottles around, stove covered with grease, fridge with lots of food stains everywhere, living room a mess! We decided that we are not going to do any cooking till its all clean. The aisle outside our rooms also not welcoming! The phone in the flat is spoiled. My toilet door looks as though someone punch it in the middle. The facilities in the flat however is all provided and rather equipped.

Did not get our sim cards as mentioned earlier so was rather disappointing as most of us wanted to call back home to tell our beloved anxious parents that we were safe. No internet connection just yet which was another blow as we were all looking forward to e-mail our loved ones. I resorted to just sending an SMS. Thank God my dad is one that thinks in advance and had already set the international roaming for me. Should have brought my digi prepaid as prepaid are automatically changed to international roaming and I would have used my credit to call home.

After unpacking which is 8pm already we of course were not aware of the time as if you look from outside the window you would have thought it was only 4pm. Sun was still up and shinning. Time to search for food! Most stores are close by now. (No more mamaks and night life)

Ask the grocery store owner whether we could find anywhere we could fill our growling stomachs and he was friendly and gave us some directions. Sorry we could not follow the directions given. The wind and temperature in Sheffield is much colder than Manchester. Steven reminded us that if we wanted to find any food we better hurry as our next bet would be KFC and it closest at 10pm. (Arghhh! All the way to Sheffield and my first UK meal …. KFC!!)

Beggars can’t be choosers right? So well KFC it is. There were no customers at KFC. We had a tough time finding what we wanted to order which certainly amused the KFC employees. Only two of them there at that time saw no one else. Steven decided pretty fast on what he wanted though. Nope no rice on the menu and definitely no jom jimat! I ordered Zinger Meal Set while the others odered two barrel sets and shared. My friends said the chicken taste much better here. My zinger burger was definitely bigger than the ones you find in Malaysia taste pretty much the same to me though. The 7up tasted different. The fries… Nice! NO CHILLY SAUCE only Ketchup! L A torture! People in UK don’t take chilly like we do back home. No Wi-fi connection in KFC. We thought we could get one here. Too bad will have to wait till we are connected by the hostel (hopefully today 13th June)

The walk back after the meal was really warm as the weather was so cold we huddled up together to keep warm. (SUMMER??) Well we will leave shopping and sightseeing for the next day. Everyone was pretty exhausted. I slept at 10.40pm which is 5 in the morning in Malaysia.

Still feels like we are in Malaysia though. Except for the cold weather… Doesn’t feel as though we are hundreds of miles away from home. Though that I would have a different sort of feeling apparently not.

Day 2

Up at 5 something in the morning. Dad called from home not realising the time differences its noon back home. Who cares about being woken up so early in the morning! I would rather have that then my sleep!!! Could hear mum scolding Dad at the back telling him that it was sleeping time here. She wanted Dad to quickly put the phone down but I wanted to talk.

Very much awake now! It was a very comfortable sleep as I brought my Dad’s sleeping bag which certainly made the sleep so comfortable and warm. Its 6 something here and I can hear my other Malaysian flatmates awake. Decided to write down before I forget. Will be going church later. Suppose to be going to Sheffield Chinese Church but since I can’t go online I am not sure how to go there. Belinda and Michelle Oo are in different blocks we can’t contact each other so I guess I will be going on my own to a nearby church which I saw along the way.

That’s enough for now...