Author archive
26 November 2021
Above: Steps taken this trip, as measured on my phone. Swabbing Today I had my single outing during my week in hotel quarantine. I was guided down to the lobby for a PCR swab test down the throat and then up both nostrils. I was then guided back and unlike last year, I have a […]
24 November 2021
Above: Very welcome change of meal cooked by Elena plus cans from Cecilia. Niggling health issues After having two days of waking up at a respectable local time, I overslept and woke up after 0900. Flying from west to east is a bugger. I had woken up around 0300 and took half a pill to […]
21 November 2021
Arrival processing I had planned on checking-out from the Sama-Sama Express Airside Transit Hotel at 0400. I couldn’t sleep beyond 0230 having had about 5h sleep already. The extra complimentary hours given to meant that I could have a cuppa tea and leave around 0430 to commence the arrival process into Malaysia. A bus was […]
20 November 2021
Above: Scenery as we descend. I’m guessing this is near Sekinchan in northern Selangor, or somewhere in southern Perak. A very light flight Walking through the departure area to the gate, there were no water fountains available anywhere airside (but I saw one landside) to refill my empty bottle for the long flight. Our PCR […]
19 November 2021
PCR Swab With remnants of Paris time in my body clock I fell asleep at midnight. But for some reason I woke at 0145 super alert. This is so unlike me. After sitting up till about 0300 I took half a pill and slept till 0800 After breakfast, my priority was to 5 mins away […]
18 November 2021
Why I’m in Istanbul I came to Istanbul because Covid-19 PCR tests here are ridiculously cheap and fast. With my entry into Malaysia and Sarawak on consecutive days, longhaul flights and an overnight in connection, there was the possibility I’d end up having to take two separate tests for the two entries. A free stopover […]
17 November 2021
Above: The queue at arrival passport control at Istanbul looked shocking but it moved pretty quickly. Leaving Paris Having gone to sleep at 2100 last night, I woke up at 0400 after 7 respectable hours. I had set the alarm for a 0545 wake up and a walk to the Roissybus at 0610 and departure […]
16 November 2021
Today I continue to revisit the various sights that make this city so spectacular. I started with a metro ride to the Notre Dame and a walk in the surrounding area where I once stayed with a friend. The cathedral has been inaccessible and boarded up for over two years while undergoing fire reinstatement. Next […]
15 November 2021
Train to Paris Lou and Riccardo took me to Joigny this morning, driving me around its old town before dropping me off at the railway station. It had been a somewhat sudden meet-up but very enjoyable. I took the 1109 train to Paris Bercy station where I’d have a two night (one full day) stay. […]
14 November 2021
Above: Unfortunately, I hadn’t seen any of the local wildlife such as foxes or wild boars. It was relaxing day again, giving Lou a massage and checking the travel requirements for my next country Istanbul. Fortunately, Turkey’s relatively easy entry conditions hadn’t changed and I did my arrival declaration to obtained “HES” health code. I […]