So — America
I had more fun yesterday (technically the day before yesterday, due to the time it took to write this) than I’ve had in a long time.
The trip down to London was completely eventless.
The trip from London to Dallas was quite cool, also eventless. It was a British Airways Boeing 777 which is a really cool plain that i’ve been wanting to have a go in for a while because it’s really efficient, and generally nice. they have seat back tv’s, with about 12 channels of films and a map to show you where you are now and where you’ve been, along with a load of other info like ground speed, outside temp, etc.
Customs was a pain in the butt. The forms that they give you to fill out on the plane before you get there contained the question “are you taking any food into the country or have you been on and pastures/farmland?” now I live on what is technically a farm, so I had to tick yes. once i spend 20 minutes queuing I finally got to the front, and found a reasonably pleasant woman who looked at the stuff, and took fingerprints and photos etc, then asked me to follow her. She wandered off to a waiting room where I effectively watched paint dry for about 40 minutes while they processed the other 6 people in the room. I can only assume that this was because I’d forgotten to brush my beard… so anyway when they call me forward, it was a really pig ugly woman with a mustache, she asks to see my ticket and ask a few random questions about where I’m going and how long I’ll be there for, then eventually (after spending 10 mins looking for a pen) let me continue.
I collected my bag and then found another layer of customs — I was directed down a long corodor into a large hall full of xray machines. After waiting 15 minutes to get to the front of the queue past a sign that said “Agriculture” I informed the bloke that I was likely here because I lived on a farm, after a brief conversation I was directed round the back to have my shoes dunked is some yellow gunk.
Some background info here — when booking the last leg to San Angelo I had the choice of a 2 hour or a 6 hour transfer. I chose to take the risk of a 2 hour transfer knowing that there was a chance that I would have find a hotel and buy another flight the next day.
I left there after looking at my watch, and to my dismay I was told that my bag wouldn’t have time to get to the plane, and that more than likelly niether would I. They checked my bag in for the next plane and put me on sandby for it, and told me try to get the first one anyway. so I legged it across the airport and missed it by 5 minutes. I did finally make that one with no further cost, and had nearly 4 hours to wander around the airport.
I have to say that Dallas airport was utterly amazing — it has a 10 stop monorail and 5 terminals. below is a greatly outdated map, but you get the idea:
So anyway that’s all for now folks — later.
October 5th, 2007 at 1547
We’ve all greatly enjoyed reading about your missanters wi immigration! But as I told you, and it is the unoficial 6th “K” of the Sikh religion, always Komb your beard before setting off on a long journey! Hope the natives are being friendly - don’t chat to any snakes. Bet the weather is better there for yer average trow!