New York! New York!

Hearing: Hum of PC

Guido i know you'll want to kill me over this.

In a very flaky move by me, i stupidly (i cant say that word often enough), forgot to pack pants.......yeah i know, how on earth can i forget that right? Ive been asking myself the same question since i got into the hotel and opened my suitcase...and i still don't have an answer. I packed everything else - beanie, scarf, gloves, coat, jumper, 2 woolly tops expecting it to be cold (which it is - it snowed a little last night) and determined to go out with my 2 friends and batch mates. Oh in case your wondering i've already asked 4 girls on the flight if they have a spare pair and if they did well i wouldn't be here would i? Ugh, very stupid.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry, i swear. I was really looking forward to going out to Manhattan and taking in the sights even if it is a short layover but now...

I do have another trip at the end of next month but i dont know anyone on that flight and going out alone isnt the same as going out with friends. Did i mention what a stupid move this was?

A very frustrated and annoyed,
VP

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Where can i let my salt water out?

Hearing: Micheal Buble

I just got back from a DAM flight and though I'm very sleepy i just had to hop onto blogger and share this little tidbit. Even though i was working down the front, for take off and landing my jump seat was down the back which was cool cuz i got to chat with some of the other girls. As we landed back home one of the girls told me of a new way one of the pax had asked to use the toilet...one guess how. LOL!!! I couldn't stop laughing! She thought he might be asking for the loo but when she asked do want the toilet he said no i want to let my salt water out! Now that's what i call original!!!

VP

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Cairo collapse.

Hearing: Elissa - Law Ta3refo (Arabic - my cousins suggestion)

Yesterday i was called off my standby for a CAI flight. Turns out i was the only Arabic speaker (way to go CC) but it was ok. I was Business galley and it was a smooth flight till we hit a medical situation. On the way back we had just finished with the service and i was making a pax a cup of coffee when one of the girls looking all flustered came up to me. "You the Arabic speaker?" I had barely said yes before she had grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the galley through the cabin and into economy...

There I saw a guy collapsed in the isle and our CM lifting his legs and calling out to him to see if he could respond. Luckily there was another guy on our crew, with his help the CM dragged the poor man into the galley. Also as luck would have it one of the girls was a trained nurse so she handled most of it but i was there since there was a strong chance the guy couldn't speak English (and he couldn't). I'm sure every airline has this, we contacted a medical center via satellite phone to get permission for hypo stop gel. As it turns out the man had diabetes and his sugar level had dropped. It wasn't a serious form as he didn't use insulin and he refused the hypo stop gel, instead we gave him just some sugar dissolved in water once he regained consciousness after putting him oxygen.

I admit that initially i was worried especially since he wasn't responding but as he was breathing and i could see his eyes flicker under his lids i knew he was just unconscious. Once he started to slowly come out of it and was able to talk a little i was able to explain what happened, ask a few questions, tell him what we were doing etc. He didn't seem surprised at what had happened (apparently its happened a few times before) though he did seem relieved that there was someone who he could communicate with. Slowly he got better and i kept talking to him asking how he was feeling, making jokes and such and then we sat him in business for landing since the airport doc's had already been alerted to what happened and would be waiting for us. He was fine but the docs had to check him anyway. Really a nice guy, good humored too and thankfully it turned out ok and wasn't as bad as it could have been.

One gripe i really have to air is the total lack of consideration shown by the rest of the pax. Though the rest of the crew continued with the normal service i had some really inconsiderate B**tard tell me to take their trays as they guy was being dragged past them. Another kept sticking his head into the galley asking for coffee when he could clearly see the man on the floor with us occupied with doing what we could for him! What was he thinking????!!! Honestly people, do i have to say it? When there is a medical situation, cut the crew a break! Be patient, yes we still try our best to complete a service but believe it or not, it is not our priority, saving a life is, so just get real and don't be so stupid! Sad to say but this is also going under flying 101. Ugh! *eye roll*

Anyway, kudos to the CM, Captain who was just as supportive and helpful and nurse. They were great, and kudos to me too, just coz i can! LOL.

VP

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I can be just as sneaky.

Crew control, give it a rest.

I was woken up early by a call from them but i have learnt my lesson, never answer unless you want to. Last time i picked up they put me on a 9day trip! Today i have a short turnaround and the last thing i want is for them to change it - esp since my cousin is here. And guess what they want to do? Put me on a 3 day trip. HA! How do i know? I signed into my friends account and went through the different flights till i found my name on the crew list.

Bugger off CC, they have called me no less than 5 times since 8.30 am this morning! Im not doing them any favours coz i know they wont do me any. Ugh!

That aside, since i was so rudely woken up i checked out Trays site and did the "What airline are you?" quiz. Since it had such a cool result i decided to post it. Apparently im a Seychelles!! Hee hee, me like very much.

VP

What Airline Are You?

You are Air Seychelles. You are laid back and relaxing. An easy-going person like you knows how to kick back. You could live your life island hopping, taking in local cultures and pursuing exciting water sports. Eat it up, but be careful, you might get sunburned one of these days.
Take this quiz!







Quizilla |
Join
| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

EDIT 10.56am: But CC can be sneakier!!!

Bugger! and double BUGGER!!! Guess what they did? They called my flatmate! She was on standby this morning and they called her in for my flight and then asked her if she was my flatmate and if they could please talk to me since they had been having no luck reaching me - those sneaky little bastards!............ So looks like im on that BKK flight after all and there is one girl on it who i really dont want to fly with too.

Freaking little rats. I hate CC.

VP

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My cousins here!

Hearing: Angel - Sarah Mclachlan

She arrived in the evening on the 11th. It was her first time on an aircraft. I think this visit for her holds a lot of 'firsts'. First time out of Syria. First time away from her family and on her own. First experience of flying standby. First time to the cinemas - today (don't ask).

Unfortunately i couldn't give her a proper welcome since i wasn't feeling too good. And the next morning i woke up early to seriously scary pain in my stomach and echoing all around my torso. It was that intense i woke up my flatmate (i didn't want to scare my cousin) and went to the hospital. I could barley hold myself together i was in so much pain. They put me on a drip and some seriously good meds.......aaaaah relief. It lasted till i got home then it started again not so much as before though. I took the tablets the doc prescribed but they didn't help. My poor cousin watched as i wriggled around in pain then as i fell asleep from exhaustion and then waited till i woke up. Boy did i feel like crap when i saw her just sitting there patiently looking out the window. Definitely not a good start.

After a huge amount of gasbagging and catching up i took her to the cinema. She has never been before and it was a treat. We watched Flushed Away and i could tell she enjoyed herself. Now shes sound asleep while i catch up on some blogging. I have to say I was nervous before her arrival wondering how it would be to see her after 7 years and it is a little weird. I mean i was so eager to have her come visit so by no means am i complaining, its really good to see her again, shes always been like a sister to me. Also i feel as though by seeing her I'm also seeing all my relos in Damascus. I'm just saying i don't think we've found the same footing we were on all those years ago that makes things just flow and be easy. But I'm sure that we'll find it again soon enough.

As for my Istanbul-Edinburgh holiday posts (including photos), after a month or so, they are all up so you can check them out in the October and November archives. I just have the Manila photos left and i should be right.

Always
VP

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You know your sick when...

You sleep with a box of tissues next to your pillow. LOL. *cough* *splutter*

Hearing: Morning traffic

Ok so I've felt it coming on for a couple of day but nothing to worry bout and then my 2nd day in Manila after I get back from the city tour my throat starts really hurting and that carries over to the day trip to Taal Volcano (which i did end up doing with another girl from our crew - Georgiana). On the flight back yesterday my nose kept running that I ended up looking like Rudolf and last night my ears wouldn't let me sleep. It felt like there was water stuck in them but every time I tried to sleep a certain way it would really hurt. And now I've been awake since 8am waiting till the medical clinic opens so I can go see the doc, I'm supposed to have a flight tonight, a short turnaround, but I doubt its a good idea with my ears playing up. I flew once when I had the flu and wow was it painful, I thought my eardrum would burst.

As to the photos from my 2 tours I'll post them as soon as I can - backdated of course. I had such a good time and learned a few things about the Philippines and Manila in the process that even some of the Filipino girls didn't know!


VP

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Manila City and Taal Volcano Photos

I know that these photos have taken ages to be posted but they are here finally. Enjoy!

Manila City Tour

The American War Memorial - the only land other than the embassy that belongs to the US in the Philippines and the only other place you will find an American flag.

A sea of white crosses and the occasional star (near the tree).



Walls of the memorial are filled with names of the missing but not forgotten - out of all these, only 145 are found.



A monument to the national hero guarded by 2 soldiers and fenced off to the public.



The Intramuros' Fort Santiago with a grisly history. 1) The main gate and icon. 2) Looking back at that gate after passing through. 3) Looking forward from the gate, you can also see my patient tour guide waiting. 4) Looking across the water from above the dungeons. There were little kids floating on large pieces of wood or tiny canoes begging from the tourists they could see.









5) The bottom half of a prison used to kill inmates by drowning when the tide came in. Last time it was used 600 Filipinos died. 6) A statue of the national hero who was executed here and whose death began a revolution. This is where the Palace chapel used to be. Apparently he was married to his German wife moments before his execution and then left the chapel to walk his last walk to the face the firing squad. 7) Following the last walk of the national hero. The path he took is now marked with golden footsteps and its hard to imagine while you walk in them what that man could have been thinking or feeling.







The Intramuros still. 1) San Agustin Church, one of the only 2 remaining Spanish Churches - the other tower is missing from when the walled city was attacked in an 8-day siege 2) Inside one of the San Agustin. Only the rich get married here and on weekends there is a constant procession of weddings. 3) A view from the outside of Manila Cathedral.







A blurred photo of the Bay Walk. A waterfront strip that is very popular with couples and comes alive at night with restaurants and live music.



Jeepneys!!! Only in the Philippines!






Taal Volcano Photos

What an amazing trip! I loved every minute including getting soaked on the boat ride back! The scenery was breathtaking and even on the drive there was so much to see - loads of roadside shops selling fruit (mainly Pineapple and tiny bananas called Lady's Fingers), hand crafted wooden furniture from tables to swings and almost anything you can think of!

Driving through the "Fruitbowl" of the Philippines. Ever wondered how Pineapples grow?









Our first look at Taal Volcano.






The boat ride over to Taal and horseback up to the edge of the volcano. At the top there were little 'huts' set up for refreshments. The people who live and work here are very poor and will try to sell anything and if you don't want it, what about your guide?? Our guide - in the brown t-shirt - was 16yrs old. Those that wanted to sell something or begged for money were just children.













View from the top...or the edge of the volcano's crater, and in case your wondering, yes it is an active volcano. The red earth is hot and steam kept rising from it but nothing you could be burned with.

Georgiana (sweet Romanian girl on my crew)

Ahhh, lunchtime, grilled local fish, stir fried veggies, rice and a typical Filipino chicken dish i keep forgetting the name of. Hot food after being soaked to the skin from the boat ride back is perfection...the view ain't too bad either.



VP

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Manila!

Hearing: elevator bells and travel agent on the phone

I'm in one of the hotel lounges next to the travel agents desk. I arrived into Manila yesterday - YAY me! Its my first trip here, i had to request the flight to get it. So devoid of sleep I went out with 2 friends of mine, both Filipinas, to grab a bite. And did we ever! We ordered so much the waiters could barely fit it on the table! S- ordered Escargot (ew - snails) but after working up the nerve I tried it for the first time...they taste fine but the image really makes your skin crawl!!!

In an hour or so i have a city tour, probably on my own but i want to do it and tomorrow I'm thinking of visiting the Taal Volcano, but again the tour is for a whole day and no one else is booked on it. I don't know, i really want to do it but i don't want to go alone, I'll have a think about it and see.

VP

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