Day 0 (26th December 2010, 8:30pm local, AirAsiaX D72409, Seat 10B)
The flight to Iran is pleasantly good even though I am stuck in the airline equivalent of a public interstate bus service (AirAsiaX); in retrospect, will fly using either Emirates or upgrade to the Premium seats for more comfort next time.
AirAsiaX feels like its going through a massive case of identity crisis, on one hand it’s flying a very advanced airplane (A330-300), it has the regular Peon class and the Premium class (which still feels like Peon class anyhow) and the Flight Attendants (ALL MALE! WHY….) act like regular topflight airline cabin crews and then reality sets in when they collect your finished meal trays in black plastic bags and you need to pay for inflight entertainment (RM30) which consist of a portable media player and headphones, if you think you can survive an 8 hour flight with NO entertainment, knock yourself out….LITERALLY! AND, the supposedly Inflight Persian meal (beef kebab with saffron rice) has all been rejected by 90% of the mostly Persian passengers altogether.
Note: Thank god for my IPad and music on my iPhone.
Nevertheless, My host, Ms. Shahrzad has been very forthcoming prior to our departure to Tehran and has briefed me on the purpose and intent of this trip, which is to open new avenues for training, education in the Islamic republic of Iran.
My other travel partner is the very affable Chef Zamzani or Zam for short, he will be sharing his culinary experience with the Persians and promote his culinary school, Silverspoons. As I write, Zam has knocked himself out of boredom and gone to nighty land.
The plane is now cruising at it’s cruise altitude and I can see distinct lights of civilization down below. Somehow, travel does not hold as much excitement and zeal that I used to relished awhile back. Perhaps, now with a stable family life filled with the joys and pain (when your son kicks you in the McNuggets) of two sons and a caring albeit no-nonsense wife; dare i say i have been domesticated?
Special note to my wife: you are have been my guiding light, and you wield it like a lightsaber in my face, and i appreciate you for that as I honour your uniqueness and what it brings to our marriage. I LOVE YOU!
PS: Facebook and Twitter does not work here…Uncle Mahmoud (to quote Chef Zam!) banned it here!
