Safe landing in London

Published: July 19th 2012Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London » Heathrow Airport
July 19th 2012

Departing Sydney

This is my first blog entry ever! I hope I've done it correctly!
I arrived at SYD International Terminal with my family at 5:40pm to check in my baggage. Generously 30kgs with Emirates. I was asked a few security questions by the lady serving me. I knew these questions were not compulsory as Mel was not asked anything. She asked what was in my luggage?, who packed my luggage?, what I would be doing in the UK for 5 months? The one which worried me was "How are you getting back to Australia?" A little confused with how she wanted me to answer I sarcastically replied "uhh ..Plane". "Which Airline?" She asked. I answered with the truth, I had only bought a one way ticket as it gives me the option to stay or go as I please. "Right" she replied in a tone which had me worried. I didn't even stop to consider researching my rights to enter the UK as an Australian for a long period of time. I do have a Maltese passport which does give me the right to work in the UK and is valid for 10 years but her tone of voice had me worried right up till when I got to customs at London. Maybe they thought I was illegally fleeing to London was what worried me! The Emirates Airbus A380 was a massive plane compared any other plane I've travelled on. It was double decker and 10 seats wide. There was a TV for each passenger and a huge variety of movies, TV shows, podcasts, news, games and radio stations. The flight left SYD at 9:10pm. Earlier that day, I bought myself and Mel a copy each of the book "Fifty Shades of Grey" for the plane ride. We stepped into the plane, seated on the aisle seat of our row was a Croatian male named Frank aged about 50yrs old. He let me into the window seat and Mel sat in between. He started some little talk about travel which we got out of my turning our TV's on. He then opens up his book, and alas he's reading "Fifty Shades of Grey" I giggled to myself silently and pointed it out to Mel who cracked up at the coincidence and awkwardness if we were all to sit in that same row reading THAT book! So instead we grabbed our remotes and put on our headphones. For dinner we were given a menu and could choose out of the options. Drinks were free, including alcohol but I did not drink, though it would've been good to aid the uncomfortable sleep. The flight was 14 hours long and in the morning we were served breakfast. After breakfast had finished we began our descent into Dubai. It was 5:40am and dark but the lights at night were beautiful. We had to get off simply to transfer planes and our next flight which departed at 7am and was an 8 hour flight. Again it was an airbus A380 and so we watched movies for most of the flight. Departing Dubai was amazing, as we got further off the ground I could see Dubai in the light of day and it was a desert compared to the green Australia. Literally everywhere surrounding the houses and buildings was sand! After 2 long flights and the hour stop over in Dubai we finally landed at London Heathrow airport. I entered the UK as an Australian as advised by the customs officer. He also mentioned that while travelling Europe I should use my Maltese passport. We then caught a taxi (and yes they're black and look like toy cars) to Mels home in Langdon Park. The taxi ride home was about half an hour and within that time we drove past and saw Buckingham Palace, London Eye, Big Ben and London Bridge! When we got home we put our luggage away and then caught the DLR past the newly built Olympic Stadium to Stratford Station which was near a massive Westfields. I was so excited by all the shops but after the long flights I could not be bothered trying anything on :( We then went to Poundland where EVERYTHING is a pound and so I got a few toiletries and we caught the DLR back home. We don't have much planned for the rest of the day and I'm ridiculously tired right now so I think a hot shower and an early night is all I've left to do as I know tomorrow is going to be a big day organising my bank account, NI number (for tax) and comparing phone networks so I can get a sim card. This entry sounds more like an unedited novel than a blog but I haven't slept in 36 hours :P Also, every house and person reminds me of Harry Potter. I don't watch many english shows or movies so I feel as if I have stepped into the movie! Its now 5am in oz and 8pm in London so goodnight :) x