RANGER BOB'S JUNGLE HEADQUARTERS

RANGER BOB'S JUNGLE HEADQUARTERS

Monday, February 8, 2010

Happy New Year

Finally, we will begin our long trek to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and then down to Melaka for the start of the Chinese New Year. This will be the start of "Year of the Tiger". Nice, but to get there Ranger Bob has to go through hell! I'm 6'4" and like my food and drink. I intentionally pick an airline that starts with more leg room "gratis" and then my real work begins. Thank God, for www.seatguru.com . First, find out what type of aircraft you will be flying,it is normally on your reservation, or you can find it online. Fill in your airline and aircraft type - and presto! It shows which seats are best and how much extra room you can get. Remember, only those 18 yrs and older, and no one of limited mobility( not yet, but soon)can sit at the emergency exits. However, lately airlines strapped for cash have started charging for these seats. It's not as bad as Ryan Air, where you have to pay a deposit for an emergency oxygen mask! I'm flying KLM tomorrow and they charge me 70 Euros each way to K.L. for a "Extra Legroom Seat". O.K., so my wife is petite and doesn't need special seating, but wants to sit next to me in case this turns out to be a flight to the Twilight Zone. So 4x 70 is like 280 Euros! Well, if I could afford it, I would book Economy Comfort with even more legroom and more recline space(and a free pass for the mile high club) for 150Euros a pop. which would end up being 600 Euros. That would be like sitting in Business without the Champagne or better food. It's better than sitting in a cage in the Cargo Hold (I can just see my wife arguing with the check in, "No it's not a fat man in the cage, it's a Shar Pei).
Another travel tip I can give you is this: When you get on one of these airliners, and you happen to get a seat all the way in the back of the plane and you see they are starting the meal service. It takes for ever for them to reach you with your food. All the people sitting in front of you have been served food and coffee and cognac, little drinks with umbrellas in them, you name it! You can just hope it's not lamb. Mmmm!Mmmm! Nothing better than cold lamb fat with my wine...
Besides, I always book so it's a night flight and want to sleep. By the time they come around with my food, I've brushed my teeth and taken my sleeping pill, and almost pass out in my serving tray. The solution is: Order a special meal. On this flight, I've ordered a Hindu Meal. They serve the special meals first, besides after I eat that, I can probably get a regular meal by slipping the used tray in front of someone with one of those little sleeping masks on already. You pick between Hindu, Asian or Western Vegetarian, Kosher, Muslim and a few others that are not so tasty. If you want to really confuse them, order "other" or a Kosher Hindu Meal.....and see what they give you.
Anyway, I sooth my nerves with pleasant thoughts of what awaits me in Melaka (lost baggage, long taxi lines, lost hotel reservation.......)No, some of the best food in Asia! Talk to you after we are booked in at the Puri Hotel....

Ranger Bob