Well.... once again you are probably wondering to yourself... "Hmmmm, what is up with this guy? He isn't updating and he says he's back to work on the plane."

I can't say that your impression is wrong, I haven't updated and I haven't made a ton of progress but I have a good excuse this time, other than I am nearly done with school and have been trying to finish up my final papers. I have actually been around the world since the last time I updated.

Thanks to a a bit of excellent opportunity and preparation (luck) at work, I was sent to Singapore for several weeks on a customer assignment. I am not one to let an opportunity like this slip by, especially given airfares these days, so I took the assignment and made the most of it. This trip took me half way around the world to Singapore, where I then visited the Island of Pulau Tioman, Mersing & Johor Bahru in the country of Malaysia on some spare time. I did a bit of diving in Pulau Tioman (otherwise known as paradise) and the diving was fantastic. But I'll get to that later... (Click read more below for the full article)

-The Way Over-

I departed the big city of Columbus, Ohio on a saturday mid-morning (10:30ish) to catch a flight to Chicago, where I was to meet another member of the team going to Singapore and then make the 'long hop' over the big pacific. The flight was the normal Columbus to Chicago jaunt that I had taken about 15 times already this year except it was actually on time because Chicago was miraculously not having inclement weather! Not a bad start. I had a first class seat on this leg as well due to an requested upgrade for the whole CMH to SIN trip paid for with miles from all those earlier flights to Chicago. Another good start.

After arriving in Chicago (ORD) and meeting up with my buddy at the gate, I found out that my upgrades from Chicago to Singapore (SIN) hadn't come through and that I was going to be sitting in the back of the bus for the long segments. That's what I get for flying a Saturday departure on a long-haul flight. "Oh well" I thought to myself. I'll upgrade on the way back. It's the harder way anyway." and on I loaded to the big Boeing 747-400 to take my seat back in the economy section rather than the nice business-class seat that I had planned on. *Left - That is Gunther (He's a beaver in case you're wondering). He's my version of the traveling gnome. My kids love seing pictures of him as we travel together.

Now I know what you are thinking here; "What!!! You have to fly international and your company didn't pay for business class!!!!" Yeah.... (pregnant pause). that's pretty much what I thought when I found out that they wouldn't pay for me to actually be functional when I showed up. I also know what is going through your head too. "What!!! you had to pay for your own upgrades with your own miles!!!!" I must shamefully admit... that is also the case... (sigh)

But hey! Paid for trips around the world don't come every day for me so if I have to grunt it out in the back, I'll take the trip and fight harder the next time. Also, having gone to China and back just a few months ago, I know that the trip back is what matters more. Read on. 

Moving on... I load onto the big 747-400 for the 19 hour leg to Singapore with a brief stop in Hong Kong. *Hey! I've been here recently! Yep you read that right, 19 hours. Six movies, five meals, one book and a very sore ass later I unload at Singapore into a very new Terminal 3. It's 11.39PM on SUNDAY (going against 12 time zones) in Singapore when I arrive and I am now 12 time zones different than where I left. I am officially on the other side of the world from where I left.

---Nearly There ---  

After standing in line at Immigration for an hour, I was at baggage claim. The hour gave them time to unload the plane at least and if you've ever flown on a 747 before, you know they don't unload quickly. Now I get to pass customs through customs fairly painlessly and get in another 45 minute line waiting for a cab.

The airport was very nice and quite organized, they just need a bit more throughput capacity when you get a couple international flights unloading at the same time. Other than not sleeping much and being 12 time zones off It was a fairly plesant experience.

The cab we caught introduced me again to Singapore's excellent Cab system (Not joking, it's great - New York stinks horribly compared to this system) and reminded me that most countries drive on the left side of the road. The time is about 1am Singapore time on Monday morning... woo hoo... work starts in only 8 more hours!!! We take a 35 minute cab ride to our hotel (Marriott on Orchard-I reccommend it) during which we get our first furtive glances at the city in which we will spend the next several weeks. Check in time: 1:40am; Singapore. Gonna need some sunglasses tomorrow. I am EXAUSTED!

 Part II Coming Soon - "Some Spare Time"