Acclimation to Kuala Lumpur Travel

After the travel from Lake Jackson, Texas to Houston Intercontinental, wait 2.5 hours for international flight, Houston to Moscow, Moscow to Singapore, Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, & KL airport to hotel via taxi. Total travel time my house to hotel was just under 33 continuous hours plus a 13 hour change in time made for a 46 hour delta. 

After I checked into the hotel, I brushed my teeth and took a shower, and I went out and explored close to my hotel.  I couldn't really find any food that seemed appetizing so I just came back to the hotel after about an hour and a half of wondering around aimlessly.  I decided to eat at the hotel.  It was nice, but unexpected.  They were having a "high tea", which was hot tea served with bite sized pieces of food.  However the food was varied and international; Sushi, noodles, shrimp, shellfish, Chinese dumplings, vegetables, breads, and several tables of desserts.  It was all delicious.

After a meal, I decided to go to the hotel room and try to rest.  I actually went to sleep for several hours and then woke up around 8pm, watched TV and talked on the phone a bit.  Went back to bed and slept until about 5am the next day.  That helped me out a lot because I didn't realize how draining that flight was for me.  Looking back, that helped get me acclimated to the new time zone. Although I lost all day Saturday for the most part.  Knowing this, I could potentially make the trip Friday night instead of Thursday night and should be able to go into the office on Monday morning.  But it was nice to have the Sunday to explore around the city.  Especially since this was my first trip.

When you make a flight this long...

Now that I've made the flight from Houston to Kuala Lumpur (all 27 hours of it).  Here are things that I will remember to do next time:

1. Take a toothbrush....probably no explanation needed here.
2. Don't eat everything.  Just because they want to feed you, you don't have to eat and snack the entire time.  Otherwise all that food is just going to sit with you for a very long time and make you feel gross and bloated.  Eat a little bit, drink lots of water and try to make the best of it.
3. Bring extra deodorant....chances are you will sleep twice during the flight plus it will take some time to get to the destination.  You can't go this long without needing a refresh.
4. Bring glasses and contact solution.  Again its just another comfort item.  But you can't expect your eyes to handle it that long.  There's too much recycled airplane air.  It's not cute.
5. There is no internet access on Singapore Airlines even business class.  They trick you with an Ethernet jack but nothing happens.  Not cute.  I would have loved to have internet on the way.  But put that out of your mind for next time.  Maybe another carrier??  Not sure??
6. Bring mouthwash. 
7. Take the KLIA Express train to KL Sentral.  I took a taxi because it seemed easier since I didn't know exactly where to go or what to do.  Now that I've been here the KLIA Express train is half the price, half the time, and right across the street from the hotel.  It's easy!

Internet in Malaysia

Okay, I have no idea why internet woes follow me where ever I go, but it has apparently made it's way along with me to Kuala Lumpur. 

I've been here a week and I can not get any external internet even at my office--which is related to different proxy settings within the region. ??  However Asia's proxy settings won't work for me either.  It's got the helpdesk stumped.  And my blackberry keeps dropping the data & internet service.  I haven't lost voice service, but even when the phone displays I have service, I don't.  Then randomly I get a blackberry registration activation message and BOOM all my delinquent emails flood in.  Normally I can keep service for about 2 hours after that.  Then I have to wait for it to randomly sync again.  I have another ticket in for that.  Lastly at the hotel, I couldn't get internet service either.  I finally called their helpdesk and finally got it figured out yesterday. 

If you come here, don't tell everyone you're going to keep up with them on internet.  It just don't work....or at least for me.  I think I'm in business now at the hotel.  Tomorrow is Monday so hopefully they can get this resolved for me.

Getting Ready for the first trip

Here's some things I'm documenting for myself for future trips.  I'll probably have to add to it once I make the trip.

• Registered my travel and hotel arrangements with the USA State department.  https://travelregistration.state.gov/
• Alerted banks and credit cards of international travel.
• Registered for frequent flyer program for Singapore air (which seems to link to Continental Airlines somehow--but that's another day....)
• Transferred some money around in case I have trouble with my primary banking facility.
• Packed the power cord converters & transformers.
• Packed the work provided medical kit.
• Take the passport!
• Remember all your PIN numbers in case your primary ATM card has trouble overseas.