In Flight - Coming To Labuan

Whenever I travel, I will always request for a window seat on starboard side. My favourite seat will always be 27F the last seat on the plane. There is some advantage to it. If I am lucky enough the next seat 27D and 27E might be vacant and I can have all the row to myself. No, not stingy la. Comfort. I can put my laptop, magazine, newspaper or whatever on the seat next to me. During boarding, usually passengers from row 14 to 27 will be allowed in first after those who needs special assistants and those travellling with kids. When you go in first, you will not have problem to store your hand carry items in the overhead compartment. However during disembarkation, you must be prepared to be last but that is not a serback since inside the terminal, we will have to wait for our luggage too.

Being interested in Geography since school days, I like to look at maps and whenever in flight I can see for myself the actual landscape as what I see on maps. That's the reason I love window seat when some prefer aisle because its easy to go to the toilet. I have the habit too to capture what I see on camera and with myself being a blogger, it helps when I want to post entries about my travelling experiences.

In this posting I recollect pictures that I have on my computer to share with my readers what I saw from seat 27F. This is Labuan as I see it from the air.................

Below: Ariel view of Victoria Point or Labuan Town

Below: Approaching runway. The Labuan International Seasports Complex can be seen

Below: The State Mosque

Below: Labuan Airport

Labuan 21-24 Sept 08 - I Missed My Flight.

Labuan Airport: 5.45 pm. en route to Kuala Lumpur on MH 2609

This is my second time this year I arrive her in Labuan. This short visit is during the fasting month and for me a Muslim the glitches of being here is during the breaking of fast and the sahur. Stayed at Hotel Pulau Labuan II. I have to buy packed food and eat a a restaurant on the first day. For sahur is packed nasi goreng kuning. 

Second day break of fast with Nasi Briyani kambing and as usual a glass of iced lemon tea. Sahur is mee goreng mamak in the middle of the night beside the Blue Wave Lounge. 

OMG!!!!!

Now that I had arrived at Labuan Airport and waiting to check in. My flight as I have been remembering is 7.20 pm. So when the counter is opened, I proceed to check in only to find out that I had made a silly mistake of being careless. I was told by the staff at the counter that my flight was at 5.20 and not 7.20. On the ticket it was 1720 and I just don't know why I made that simple and silly mistake. After been flying since 1973 this is the first time I made that mistake and I am for a time being stranded at the airport. 

Immediately I went to the MAS ticket office to enquire and being told that the next flight will only be the next morning and there is only Business Class. It means that I have to pay the fine for no appearance and the extra upgrading to Business class of RM 430.00. There is no more seat until Sunday since its the weekend and nearing the Aidil Fitri holidays. I jsut can't wait until Sunday. So I decided to try Airasia instead and if the fare is more than I have no choice but to take the business Class and it will be my first time flying Business. 

The Airasia office is closed maybe because of the time of breaking the fast for Muslims. The wait is quite stressful thinking whether there are anymore seat on the 8.50 flight to Kuala Lumpur. The stress increased when the MAS ticketing office is close. And It means if there is no seat on Airasia, I have no choice to fly back to Kuala Lumpur the next morning and that too is not confirmed since the ticketing clerk told me that there is only 3 seats left. Time flew so slow and in my mind I am thinking of the price. 

After seeing one man came out of the sales office that is still close I approached and asked when the office will be open. He said that the office will not be opened and that really shoot up my stress. Then I asked whether there is anymore seat on tonight's flight and the good news came. There are seats. 

I can buy the ticket at the counter and it costs me RM 421 plus RM 10 for luggage. That is cheaper than if I fly Business and above that I have to pay my hotel room for tonight which will be totalling more than RM 500 and going back a day late. 

Now that I had my ticket and checked in, I am waiting for the flight which I was told being delayed. The aircraft was delayed in Macau to Kuala Lumpur. However the delay is not a problem to me anymore since I am able to fly back to Kuala Lumpur tonight.