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Airline: Saudia Airlines

Flight: SV116

Time & Date: 12th Dec 2009, 20:45

From: LHR - London Heathrow airport

To: JED - Jeddah King Abdulaziz airport

Thinking I have time to check-in then do some shopping at the tax-free stores in the airport, I arrived at Heathrow airport around 18:40 to be shocked with the amazing long queue at the Saudia check-in counters, I took me more than an hour to finally get to the counter, and another 35 minutes at the security check. By the time I'm done putting my belt back on, carrying a heavy backpack, 2 large bags, and a shoulder bag I looked up the screen to find that they are closing the gates, so I decided to move to Plan B which includes my sister, and asking her to buy what I needed from there. After a long walk to the gate, I finally arrived to find they didn't even open the gate and everyone was sitting waiting for the announcement. Bought me a bottle of Coke zero for the road from the vendor machine standing there next to the gate.

Got on the plane to find it's the new ones, with the light blue leather seats, amazing space for the legs, and the remarkable yet a bit slow touch screen LCDs.

As usual, I always take the aisle seat so I can feel free to do whatever I want, but this time it was at the far end of the plane, best place to be honest. I sat down next to this guy who was talking to his gf in Saudi as I presumed because I couldn't help it but to eavesdrop on his call. Then after that he made another call telling his father "After a year and half, your boy is finally coming home dad", I can't believe he never went back for that long, I couldn't do it, as most of you know. And I guess he didn't tell his Mom and he wanted to surprise her, how thoughtful.

After taking off, first thing I've done was checking the in-flight entertainment list, from arabic movies, to big Hollywood ones, and decided what I'm going to watch in this 5:20 hours flight.

I started with watching an arabic movie, I was enjoying it till the moment that the guy next to me decided to spill his glass of Coke all over my jeans, shows, and bag that was on the floor. And for me to make him uncomfortable, I decided not to say any word and just clean my self up, I guess he didn't know what to say or do and felt totally embarrassed because it took him more than a min to finally start functioning again and apologise for it, since I was really tired and I couldn't really be bothered of such a foolish thing, I simply told him not to worry about it, It's nothing. I finished cleaning my self up, he kept feeling stupid, then went back to my movie.

It took me 2 movies and a half, couple of annoying little kids, and parents too, to go through the flight without sleeping. Arrived to the empty airport of jeddah around 5:50am, found my dad waiting for me at the luggage belt.

So far, haven't done anything in jeddah, but hopefully when I start feeling better, I'll pick my self up and go the volunteering work to help the unfortunate people after Jeddah's flood.

"We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year" Pink Floyd

Xmas Decoration in my building Sussex Heights - Brighton