Takeoff

Bags all packed to overfilling, I got to the airport just in the nick of time as check in was just about to close. This would be the first time that I have taken business class for a long flight (thanks to an upgrade) but only from KL to Dubai. Went straight through immigration to the aerotrain to the gate. There wasn't really a queue as most people were already boarding.


Some things to pack

Then a group of people escorted by a couple of officials arrived. I think they were Bangladeshis being deported. They didn't look too unhappy and I sincerely hope that they have actually made some money for themselves (not through crime of course) while they were in Malaysia to take back home. Despite all the bad things most people say about immigrant workers, the economy would not survive without them, at least not at the level we are accustomed to. Would you want to do housework, work in the construction industry or the catering industry, long hours with relatively low pay? It's only natural for people to want a better life.

The severity of the haze is best appreciated from the air. The plane actually took off in a south easterly direction so it had to make a 180 degree turn, giving me the chance to take the photos of KLIA below. The plane then flew over Klang (could recognize it from the river, bridges and some of the buildings) on its way north. Over the Malaysian peninsular over southern Thailand, Myanmar and then west to Bangladesh. Wasn't allowed to get off at Bangladesh so had to wait on the plane.


KLIA from the air through the haze

By the time we arrived in Dubai, I had already watched both Shrek 2 and the Day After Tomorrow. Shrek 2 was great - watch out for parodies of other movies, I spotted Star Wars, Crouching Tiger and LOTR. Day After Tomorrow was an average disaster movie, but it has to be commended for introducing the term "North Atlantic Conveyor System" to a wider audience.

Location 25°N 55°E