TCX48L PUJ-MAN 17 JUN 10 (ECONOMY)
Posted: 18 Jun 2010, 19:19Anyway, Thomas Cook said they'd pick us up at 13:30 but we had to be out of our room by 12 so we left about 11 because we thought at the lobby we could get some drinks. The hotel's very open and to get to the lobby you have to walk through gardens so typically it chose that moment in time to throw it down with rain! So for after the first time that week I'd straightened my hair it was ruined within seconds. There was also the odd rumble of thunder which I hoped didn't continue because I didn't want a bumpy flight. Luckily it cleared up and was roasting again.
The bus finally came and we dumped spare suncream/shampoo/lilos etc on the rep because we would never use them again and had no space left in our luggage (15kgs is awful for hold luggage). It was about 20-25 minutes to the airport. The queue for check-in was quite long but it went down very quickly. We paid the $20 departure tax and got 3 seats together by the window. We then went onto security which was very basic but it was very quick because of it. We then went onto hand in immigration forms again, passports got stamped again to say we were leaving and then finally we got through to departures. We found the picture we had taken when we arrived however we didn't have any money left to buy it which was a shame because it would have been a nice little keepsake. Departures was rather surreal, you could stand outside and look at the planes with only a waist high wall between you and the apron! There was security around though so I doubt anyone would dare do it.
We went and got something to eat, I had some chips as there wasn't much else but it kept me satisfied until I next got fed.
Boarding started on time, we went on around halfway through boarding when we couldn't be bothered waiting anymore, we were sat on 34 ABC so would have to mooch down the back anyway.
Again, we left slightly early, although the flight back was slightly longer at 8 hours and 20 minutes but still, not a bad time. Take off was smooth, again apart from the runway, they really need to resurface it! Within about 30 seconds we went over the coast and we were over the pond, this time I was alot calmer though. Once we settled down we got our headphones out from our outbound flight and after the crew had sold the rest and got some snacks out they put on the IFE which was alot better this time around. I watched my family and scrubs with a small bottle of wine and some crisps I bought because by this time I was atarving! I got a few pictures of the sunset which I was quite chuffed with, to make sure it was dark though I had to put one of the blankets over my head which looked abit dodgy but it was worth it.
Dinner time seemed to come round really quickly and again we got a meal and a lunchbox style thing to go with it. I again got curry but this time with rice and I must say it's one of the nicest currys I've ever had! Not too spicy but spicy enough. Similar food in the box with a bun and some fruit but for desert was a chocolate brownie which was also one of the nicest I've had. I must say I was pleasently suprised by the standard. Everyone else had chicken and potatoes in a red wine sauce which was I was told was very good as well. I spent the next hour or so watching abit of telly and listening to the radio which was actually playing some okay music.
The crew came round with duty free, so I decided to buy myself some aftersun lotion which apparently enhances your tan, a charm bracelet and a watch which came to about £56, but I thought I may as well because it's cheaper than a shop, but any excuse I suppose!!
They dimmed the lights however there was no chance I was going to get any sleep, I was shattered but just couldn't get comfy. It got a little bit bumpy and the plane started swaying slightly about 5 or so hours in which because it was dark and I was tired gave me abit of a wobbly moment, I was downstairs in the toilet area with my friend who luckily knew a crew member so we sat down there for abit (there's seats down there in case there's very bad turbulance) which calmed me down alot.
After about another hour, maybe less it started to get light which just confused my body clock even more but I decided it was time for more pictures, especially because the cabin was dark. I was in the middle of taking these pictures though when the guy from Liverpool behind me switched his reading light on to which I tutted slightly louder than I should have done to which I got a "sorry" and an immidiate switch off of the light which I found quite good
!About an hour and a half before landing we got a blueberry muffin and some orange juice but I wasn't very hungry and not being a fan of blueberry I decided to pass on breakfast. We were also given customer surveys to fill out which got alot of 'excellent' boxes ticked.
We circled for about a minute before going down in fog, it was pretty much covered until about 100ft off the ground. Smooth landing, hard breaking though, but that doesn't bother me, I'd rather have a firm foot on the break! We finally got off and jumped the queue at immigration, went through the iris bit which let us through at least! Bags came off very quickly so we headed straight out to get the bus to the staff car park to finally go home after what felt like a day and a half of travelling!
I'm glad to be home now though, even though I have a broken body clock!
![][|)](./images/smilies/icon_smile_sleepy.gif "Sleepy"){kind=icon}
I know you were very anxious about it all.
It is good to have some view of how Thos. Cook rats against VS - and in some respects things are indeed much of a muchness