When I last spoke to her, she mentioned she had difficulty in finding the older Kazakhstan posts on this blog, that listed some of the things newcomes to Kazakhstan might notice, and a few tips for those who have not yet left home.
She came up with the idea of having a static page, with a brief introduction to each post, and then a link, so other people could access them more easily.
She could have just either clicked on the Kazakhstan category, and gone to the older posts, or to the July and August 2006 Archives, but I think her idea was good, so I’ll let her off 🙂
(Lets see if this gets another complaining comment 😉 )
June 19th, 2007 2:57 am
Hey – I was just thinking about posting a comment (not necessarily a complaint as you did say my idea was good which is high praise indeed) until I read your last sentence – very presumtious of you – then I thought “bugger it, I’ll post a comment anyway”.
Not to complain though – to say 6 DAYS & COUNTING !!! 🙂
My only stress now is all this new fannying rigmorole with heightened safety on the plane.
Apparently you need a special clear zip lock plastic bag jobber to stick all liquid type stuff (and makeup?!) in when going through security. Rumay told me you could buy them in Tescos – BUY? That’s exploitation!
Then there’s the fact that you are now allowed liquid as long as it is carried in this clear plastic bag and is not in a container more than 100ml in capacity – WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU COULD GET A DRINK THAT WAS NOT MORE THAN 100ML? No doubt I will have to PAY a king’s ransom even for toilet water once they have my captive audience. Toilet water? Now there’s a thought – No good though – I already had the idea of taking an empty bottle with me and filling up in the bogs once through security but darn it, guess what? – You’re not allowed to take empty bottles!
THEN (wait for it) there is the fact that apparently one is allowed to take non disposable contact lenses and all the associated cleaning liquids in one’s hand luggage (as long as the containers are not more than 100ml in capacity each) but for the likes of me who wear disposable contact lenses, I’m only allowed to carry enough pairs of lenses on my person for the flight (i.e. 2 pairs). Now what could be the problem with that I expect you are wondering? Well, no problem if you have complete trust in the baggage handlers and can 100% happily know that you are going to receive your hold luggage intact at your destination complete with your full designated supply of disposable contact lenses.
However, what if you like to play it safe and have a “prepare for the worst case scenario” plan in place? You are one of those people that keep all your most treasured and “simply cannot cope without under any circumstances” possessions about your person at all times whilst travelling to your destination? (i.e. ME!) Well, apparently 100ml of already opened, could contain anything, bottles of saline solution is deemed safe whereas my 15 pairs of eeny weeny sterile sealed packets containing not more than 5ml (probably less, it doesn’t say) of saline solution plus lens could be a potential terrorist threat? GET YOUR HEAD ROUND THAT!
All I can say is my luggage just better not go missing!
… and breath – Now I did say I wasn’t going to complain didn’t I? Lol, I wasn’t – that was just few observations!
Anyway, when all is said and done I’m really excited about my visit and can’t wait. I have even got my suitace out already (which is amazing for me as I normally like to rush about the night before lobbing things in as I dash frantically past). Then again, i have only got it out. Nothing as yet has actually made it into the said suitcase 🙂 Then again, I could just go and quickly fill up half of it with Chris’ thingers and jobbies which would make the reamaining space a lot less daunting ot fill! Good idea – I will go find my round tuit and do it now 😛
June 20th, 2007 2:51 am
Well at least the ploy worked 🙂
5 days and 3 hours until you have the joy of Kazakh driving, though at that time in the morning, the traffic should be light, so less scary.
Re. the heightened safety, take the plunge, splash out & treat yourself, a couple of quid for a few bottles of mineral water once you have passed the security checks. If it were a weekly occurrence, I’d have muchos sympathy. Mind you, until I lived in Kazakhstan, the principle of buying water irked me too, so maybe you will feel a little different after your fortnight here?
Ref. the clear zip lock plastic bag jobber, umm, well, how to say this publicly… http://www.everyonedoesit.com sells them, so I guess you could say the bags are multi purpose, and re-usable, so think of it as an investment, not money waster. Just make sure you don’t buy any with dodgy logos on 😉
Don’t be tempted to use washroom taps for your drinking water, unless you are certain it is drinkable – it just isn’t worth the risk, IMHO.
When it comes to the disposable contact lenses… as they are disposable, have you considered keeping one extra pair in a pocket, and accidentally keeping another pair in your hand luggage? That way, worst that happens is you have one pair confiscated.
We have not had any items of luggage go missing in our UK<>Kazakhstan flights, and we have flown through Moscow, Istanbul, London City Airport, Heathrow, Gatwick, Almaty, Astana and a random Swiss airport over the years, so try not to worry about it too much.
Looking forward to you arriving, showing you the sights, talking shit long into the night, and both of us getting drunk for the first time in… ummm, well… ever 🙂
Re. the suitcase, Steve has posted the two or three DVDs, and ChrisD, I think, has finished kindly downloading and transferring the files to the portable hard drive.