I'm Off to Spain!!!
I’m finally on my way to Madrid to rejoin my family…. I’m looking forward to it, and I’m not going to think about all the drama that had prevented me from joining my family as scheduled….
But with London being on such high alert due to imminent terrorist threats, it was going to be a trial in itself to board the plane and leave Heathrow…. Long queues are the norm now, with all bags and coats to be opened and checked…. Even belts had to be removed and put through the X-ray machine….
There were very strict regulations concerning bringing on fluids of any kinds on board the planes…. Any gels, toothpaste, medicine, baby instant formula had to be packed in transparent plastic bags which would then be inspected by security personnel…. They were helpful enough to have posters illustrating such rulings, which included a statement which allowed containers containing any liquids below 100ml onto the plane….
But the implementation of such rulings leaves a lot to be desired….. I had a little bottle of water, containing 100ml of drinking water, which I packed into one of the transparent bags provided…. So you can imagine my surprise when I was stopped and told rudely that I was not allowed to bring it in…. Despite me pointing out the ruling on the poster, my protests were brushed aside, and I was not allowed in….
What irked me most was the manner in which I was treated…. Here you are, being singled out as a terrorist target, hence such security measures are to be expected…. But with treating visitors with such disrespect, it is difficult for me to sympathise England for the position that they now find themselves in…. it is precisely such high handed behaviour which got themselves into this situation in the first place…..
Oh well, I still leave London with many happy memories, such as my visits to all the tourist attractions I never got to visit during my days there as a student…. Or my reunion with my friends and ex-colleagues….. plus, there is a lot more for me to look forward to, after all, I am on my to Spain…..
But with London being on such high alert due to imminent terrorist threats, it was going to be a trial in itself to board the plane and leave Heathrow…. Long queues are the norm now, with all bags and coats to be opened and checked…. Even belts had to be removed and put through the X-ray machine….
There were very strict regulations concerning bringing on fluids of any kinds on board the planes…. Any gels, toothpaste, medicine, baby instant formula had to be packed in transparent plastic bags which would then be inspected by security personnel…. They were helpful enough to have posters illustrating such rulings, which included a statement which allowed containers containing any liquids below 100ml onto the plane….
But the implementation of such rulings leaves a lot to be desired….. I had a little bottle of water, containing 100ml of drinking water, which I packed into one of the transparent bags provided…. So you can imagine my surprise when I was stopped and told rudely that I was not allowed to bring it in…. Despite me pointing out the ruling on the poster, my protests were brushed aside, and I was not allowed in….
What irked me most was the manner in which I was treated…. Here you are, being singled out as a terrorist target, hence such security measures are to be expected…. But with treating visitors with such disrespect, it is difficult for me to sympathise England for the position that they now find themselves in…. it is precisely such high handed behaviour which got themselves into this situation in the first place…..
Oh well, I still leave London with many happy memories, such as my visits to all the tourist attractions I never got to visit during my days there as a student…. Or my reunion with my friends and ex-colleagues….. plus, there is a lot more for me to look forward to, after all, I am on my to Spain…..
posted by zufar | 5:09 AM
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