This post is a bit outdated (thanks to my selective amnesia)
But to give you a bit of a background, I attended the OR2008 at Southampton, UK.
1) inflight announcement - "welcome to Singapore airlines A380 airplane, the best and most spacious aircraft you can ever travel on"
ground facts - economy class crammed with 9 in a row divided in 3 columns. legspace not more than 22 inches. so hercules has to buy two tkts to fit in.
pity the caucasians and lucky the asians for once.
2) arrived at heathrow airport at 6 something am.
customs was full of Punjabis and Gujus.
baggage conveyor belt was creaky, first class baggage was rolled for 15 mins with no takers,
while the belt was eyed with overwhelming economy class passengers
3) trolley was heavy cast iron and stiff wheels which dont move together but try to go to independent directions
4) bangladeshi's pakistanis clean shaven and trim bearded punjabis madrasi's and what not.
first impression- the airport is dirty and dull.
5) London is gloomy, cloudy and cold around 4 degree celcius
6) airport bus went 2 circles before coming out from the same place to an adjacent lane
7) roads are narrow and all types of vehicles move with equal frenzy to finish the invisible race
8) strange parking rules in southampton.
if vehicle stays for 24hrs then guests get discount else every hour a pound, even if it means exceeding by a second.
9) had fun (mis)navigating using incomplete maps and obscure landmarks.
10) trying to find hertz car rentals in the maze, hertz was hidden infact behind a huge Honda used car show room
11) fish and chips joint run by punjabis who speak equally well in cockney
the medium fish & chips can be easily be fit for an elephant breaking a fast
12) I am in love with 1 minute signals and equally frantic drivers.
13) cold wind, sunshine and cool breeze again. what can be worst with a 2 hour walk covering the entire city under a drizzle.
14) And finally the best, some famous captions and sights in southampton
"we serve hot and cold food and ice creams too"
"Posh Clothes - we sell clothes for big and large men"
"Maritime memorial - dedicated to the Titanic, closed today"
"SCBRIG - Oldest bowling ring - since 1209"
"thieves would love to know you have kept valuables unattended in your car, dont complain if they are not found later"
car wheel cover on road "owner can contact the traffice police recovery department"
signage on a truck - "if you cant see my mirrors then I cannot see you either"
