Mike's Journal

• 19 Nov, Newark
• 21 Nov, Singapore
• 22 Nov, Kota Kinabalu
• 23 Nov, Laban Rata
• 24/25 Nov, Poring / Kota Kinabalu
• 26 Nov, Kota Kinabalu
• 27 Nov, Bangkok
• 28 Nov, Phuket
• 29 Nov, Phuket
• 30 Nov, West Railey
• 1 Dec, East Railey
• 2 Dec, East Railey
• 3 Dec, Singapore
• 4 Dec, Singapore
• 5 Dec, Montreal

19 Nov, Newark

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Friday, November 19 – Montreal, QC - Newark, NJ, USA.

The trip started out well enough – they checked my backpack from Montreal through to Singapore! So no collecting my bags in Newark. However, then things, like me, started to go south. Air Canada decided to turn the 6:15 flight to Newark into the 8:00 flight, including sitting in the plane on the tarmac for over an hour. Shouldn’t I be getting air miles for this? Once underway, we went on an extensive aerial tour of New Jersey before landing. Normally this would be quite nice – the NJ turnpike is as impressive (and intimidating) from the air as on the ground - but I got a trans-Pacific flight to catch here guys.

Waiting for flight SQ21, Newark Liberty Airport

Newark Liberty Airport is pretty impressive. Elevated-train thing connects the terminals, the arrival of which is estimated to the second by the LED display, e.g. “Next train – 46 sec”. The Wal-mart greeter-like lady outside the subway told me what terminal to go to, which was good because it was otherwise difficult to know where to go.

Checked in for flight SQ21 no problems, then went through security (complete with removal of shoes). You know you’re going to be on a long flight when the jaded duty free girl says – in a great Brooklyn accent – “You’se come all the way from Cahnada, an now you’se flyin to Singapoah? Wow, that’s a lot of flyin’. Here’s ya whisky, have a nice flight, sih.” Thanks, sweethaht.

Then a quick stop at the Sam Adams brewpub, a welcome bit of Boston here in deep dark Yankeeland. Almost don’t get served, as the bartender says “sih, da bar’s closin’ in 5 minutes. Ya still want a beah?” My good man, need you ask? So it was chug, chug, chug down a pint of Sam’s Octoberfest as they put chairs up on tables and swept the floor all around me, and then out to board the longest flight in the world.

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