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Day 49 & 50: 27 & 28/7/13
I got up to have the included Breakfast at 9 and met Denise there. We said our goodbyes after breakfast as she was going to try to see Ho Chi Minh in the Mausoleum again.
I spent the next three hours then going through all my stuff, dumping an odd thing, trying to pack everything and repacking again to fit it better. I knew everything would fit but there's a few souvenirs like the bowls I bought yesterday that need a bit of protection, and that throws out all the packing system!! But I got everything in anyway and sewed it together!! I had a shower then before if head off. I was barely dressed and they were ringing up from reception that my driver to the airport was there- 40 minutes early!! I wasn't supposed to leave until 12:30 but I was gone by 12!
The weather is still really bad, since the thunder storm last night- constant rain. The driver was saying the traffic would be slow and sure enough it took the full hour to get to the airport. But I was still there three hours before the flight!! No fear I'd be late!
It had said on my confirmation email that the flight would be run by Vietnam Airlines so I was expecting that, but usually if there's a different airline running the flight they have all the flight numbers listed. This one didn't, just a Vietnam airlines flight number at the same time. I saw some staff from Vietnam airlines, wearing the lovely long Vietnamese dresses and they said that was the right flight. I didn't think I'd be able to check in for all the flights because it wasn't an Etihad desk I was at and one of the flights is tomorrow really. But, she managed to send my luggage all the way to Dublin with the right flight numbers and everything. And, I got my three boarding passes!! So, that will make life a lot easier for my stopovers!
I got through passport control and security pretty quickly. There wasn't really much in duty free. I bought a little pot that I didn't need to spend the last of my Vietnamese Dong, because you can't exchange them once you leave Vietnam- it wasn't even worth enough t to try and exchange anyway!
I had about two hours to wait so I got some food and went on Facebook. Lots of people online today for some reason- must be a good time- 9am at home, no one working!! I Was messaging Shell for a few minutes and she got a nice picture of me!!
The flight from Bangkok boarded on time and I'd a spare seat beside me for the whole way. How well that was the shortest one- less than two hours! I wasn't expecting a meal on that flight as it was so short, but sure enough, they found an opportunity to give out some rice!! They said we were a little delayed landing, but we still landed earlier than the time I had on my confirmation!
They had handed out the Visa cards on the plane but I checked when we landed and I just had to go straight to transfers and didn't need to bother with immigration or anything. There was a transfer security check close to where we landed and once I was through that I was almost at the gate. They checked our boarding passes before we entered the waiting area which was good because it meant actually boarding the place was very quick. I was told to wait aside while they checked my boarding pass- I think because it was printed by Vietnam airlines and not Etihad- but all was good and they let me in!
I finished the book I had started when I left Australia while I was waiting around. Everyone on our intrepid tour had books, but noone had time to read any! I have more in my bag aswell!
We boarded fairly early as well and seemed to take off ahead of schedule, which is always good. I had the first row of economy class which meant I had lots of leg room. It also meant that I had a baby and a couple inside me and a toddler and a couple across the aisle. The small baby cried and cried and cried for about an hour, but eventually went to sleep and thankfully he slept the rest of the six hour flight!
They were fairly quickly around with more rice, which I wasn't even hungry for! My tv screen and the one the couple beside me were looking at kept cutting out, so after a few episodes of Matthew Perry's programme Go On, I gave up and attempted to sleep! I woke up when they were talking about beginning the descent so I think I slept the best part of three hours, which was great!!
There were transfer signs everywhere I Abu Dhabi but there was no mention of Dublin on the departure screen. I realised after a few minutes that I was just too early. I sat in Burger King for a while and after about a half an hour the flight came up and I could go to the gate. It all seems to be running according to schedule, so hopefully it continues!! There are lots of Irish heads waiting for this flight anyway- it feels like home already!
So, I'll see ye soon!!
I had the same seat for this flight, loads of leg room! You don't need to get up either for people in the inside to get out, and your the first row to get food! This time there were no babies near me and here was an empty seat beside me so that was great! I was tired when I got on so I tried to sleep straight away. I'd say I slept for about four hours! Breakfast came soon after that and then I watched the last few episodes of that Matthew Perry programme. I started catching up on the blog then which is going to take me forever! I was too tired to write most of it during the tour, but I'm afraid that might mean that a lot if details are missing! Hopefully my memory is good enough! Between the three sets of photos I have and whatever bit of a blog I'll manage- I'm sure every other minute of the trip will be well documented!!
There was an Irish man in his 50's I'd say in the window seat of my row. He put the blanket over his head to go to sleep after breakfast and then started snoring mad. It was so loud!! Luckily, after about half an hour he woke himself up with a really loud snore!! I couldn't really sleep any more as I'd already slept about 7 hours and it's heading for midday in Indochina time!
The plane actually landed in Dublin early. My itinerary said we were to land at 7:30 but we landed at about 6:55. When they told us we could turn on our phones I had a Facebook message from Shell asking where I was. I told her we'd landed and she was in a panic as they were just outside Dundalk! She had plenty of time though as the gate weren't ready for us. We sat on the tarmac for about 15 minutes. I sent a text to Corofin saying that I was home and Mam rang me back. I saw one of the air hosts pointing in my direction and I was afraid I shouldn't be on the phone- so I didn't stay long!!
I was one of the first off the plane, given the good seat I had, so I'd no queue at immigration. I went to the bathroom then to brush my teeth and stuff and thought my bag might be almost out by the time I was finished. There were bags there, but not mine! I'd to wait a half an hour for it. There were a few faces I recognised from Bangkok so I'd say all the connecting bags were left until last. I always get excited when I see the Corofin colours coming on the carousel- and it is always that side of the bag that comes around first!
Shell and Shaun had had loads of time and had been waitin for about 20 minutes by the time I got out to them at 8. They picked a good spot so that they were right in my eyeline when I came out! She had a Welcome Home balloon for me and lots of hugs!! It was really good to see them!
We had plenty of talk in the car in the way down. They had general news from Glenmore and Corofin. I was talking about my last few days in Vietnam and the flights and stuff.
With the motorway and everything we were down in no-time. There were balloons and banners up outside the door for me and Mam, Dad, Shane and Alva were all there for hugs!! We went in and were chatting and then the tea and fry was produced which I was dying for!! Mam went to great effort to make sure that she had everything ready. Don't, worry there is photographic evidence of the fry!!
I was talking about random people in our last group and stories from Vietnam like the locals on the ferry and the locals with the snails. After some chatting we went to Corofin as there was an agricultural day on for The Gathering. It was a complete immersion back into Irish culture again as it was like D'unbelievables! Peter Mc Donagh was doing the presenting and there was sheep shearing, butter making, hay tossing, a dog show, tractors, vintage cars, sheep, goats, horses, bouncing castles....... everything under the sun!!
They had had a mock wedding then the night before and the bride and groom were driven in still in their wedding outfits and they had to go shearing sheep too. They were brilliant actors- a real fancy wife and a rough farmer of a husband! We met Kathleen with Sadbh and Niall and the baby up there. We also saw Laura and Padraigh and their two kids. The Mc Donaghs then were there too and Caroline had spotted the balloons on our door!!
After that I gave out the few little bits of gifts I had and then Sarah came with Bernie, Wendy and Fiona. Not long after Mary and Muireann came and another hour or two later Sally and Emma came! So, there was great talk all evening! When they asked about my favourite things I can't even pick!! I'm sure I'll pick stuff eventually! I just liked sitting back listening to them with their news as I hadnt heard them in so long!
Galway lost in football yesterday and hurling today so a bad weekend for the gaa! We were glued to the tv though in the evening as Shell is on an ad for the Galway races, but I didn't see it! I had to give up and go to bed!!
It's good to be home!! In ways it feels like I never left which is a nice feeling too!
393 days travelling
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