Travelling the World on Wheels.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

At 1 o’clock in the afternoon I left my house in Maidstone. My friends Safia and Aasim and their little baby boy Aayan also wanted to come and drop me to Gatwick airport. As I was on my heavy motorised wheelchair I had to travel to Gatwick by train. My friends took my luggage in their car to Gatwick which was very kind of them. It takes approximately 45 minutes by car and 2 hours by two train, as one has to change at Victoria Station and then Gatwick Express (which takes exactly 30 minutes from Victoria Station London). I have all the pictures while travelling on trains and I am also going to be uploading them along with my post.

I reached Gatwick at 3 pm. My journeys via trains and the change at London Victoria Station all went smoothly. The trains tickets from Maidstone to Gatwick cost me £22.

Friday, February 11, 2011

How I ended up vacationing in Karachi, Pakistan?!!

Initially I was off to Israel for a ten days vacation in February this year. I am so dying to check-out the Dead Sea, Wailing Wall and the famous Masjid-e-Aqsa. I also found a great, reasonably priced, group travel package, especially for wheelchair users; which was perfect for me. Awesome, I thought. Quickly, filled with excitement,I sent the travel agency an email asking them for further details. (The name of the travel agency is Imaginative Travel and their website is http://www.imaginative-traveller.com). That evening I also spoke to my brother-in-law online (on my facebook group page ‘Travelling the world on wheels’ as well as on twitter, I had already mentioned about my travel plans to Israel and asking if anyone could be of help?!!) ‘You mentioned travel plans to Israel on ure facebook status?!!’ he asked. Yes, you did read correctly and hopefully if alls well then I shall be leaving next month (February), I told him. ‘Nadia, did you know if gone to Israel, you are then not allowed to enter Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan and a few other Muslim countries!’ Astonished I was on hearing this. Are you sure Zohair (thats my brother-in-laws name), I asked as I was very worried and aggravated to hear such disturbing news. But after a bit more research I found out that just visiting Israel then its alright, entering Saudi Arabia is fine, although still one cannot entre Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and a few other Muslim countries (so please make sure to find out before arranging a trip to Israel, its certainly the Forbidden Land not to sure about sanctified anymore). I guess everywhere on earth its so troubled by natural disasters and wars that no place can be called blessed or sanctified anymore! L

Anyways, so the next day I received a reply email by Imaginative Travel with all the travel information, all sounded good but they were fully booked for February and said that I can book a place for the August trip. I though thats good might as well pay a visit to Pakistan, Karachi and check-out my family there before visiting Israel. And that is how my folks I came to Karachi, Pakistan for a month and a half’s vacation on the 4^th of February 2011 by Emirates Airline from Gatwick London.

Hopefully my next blog post is going to be all about my ‘adventurous’ travel experience from Maidstone (where I live in UK) all the way to my destination Karachi (where my family lives in Pakistan). My following blog posts shall have more pics and less text, therefore creating a visual read.

Enjoy, shall be anxiously waiting for ure comments and feedback. X

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Hi my friends, Happy New Year and hope alls well.

I know what I am gonna say now is completely not about travelling, but for this year I somehow managed to invest a bit of money in a business. I have now my own fashion collection called 'nadiahmed COLLECTIONS'. I dunno if its gonna be successful or not, but at least I can say I tried it and its a great learning experience.

Please support me by checking out my blog at http://nadiahmedcollections.blogspot.com/

I also have a facebook page athttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Nadiahmed-Collections/132730403454228?ref=ts

And if you do like something you can always contact me here and special prices for my friends on my blog. Thank you and take care, Nadia

Friday, December 31, 2010

Hello United Kingdom!

The Fuerteventura airport was huge, shops and dutaty frees and restaurants everywhere. I roamed and roamed around the airport. Did not use my snack voucher as I was tired of eating, oh God I have gained weight, my entire holiday I just ate and ate and ate. So I gave the voucher to another passenger waiting as well.

It was ten now and the guy who left me in the waiting area had came back. He then guided me towards a queue and placed me right in front of the queue. All of us in the queue where patiently waiting to get into the air craft. At exactly 10:30 pm the barriers were opened and all of us one by one got into the aircraft. I was the first to entre, the same process, I was picked and placed in a small wheelchair and then taken into the aircraft. After being placed into my aircraft seat the rest of the passengers came in. Oh I was dead tired, just wanted to eat and then sleep and that is what exactly what I did.

I woke up when we were landing at Stansted airport, it was 2:00 am. I could see the snow, beautiful and brrr. Thank God, I had kept my jacket in my hand baggage. When the plane had landed and it was safe and the door of the aircraft had opened (the cool breeze came in...oh the sun in Fuerteventura) and all the passengers had left, except for me. I had to wait a long time in the aircraft for my wheelchair and the entire cabin crew had to wait with me. Soon the pilot came and all of us got talking. One of the crew member asked where I was going. ‘I have to go to Maidstone, Kent I live there but first a Thomas Cook taxi will take me to Gatwick from where I catch a train to London Victoria and then from there I catch another train to Maidstone’. ‘Oh God!’ said one of the crew members. ‘But Maidstone comes before Gatwick, I’ll speak to Thomas Cook staff at the airport to book you a taxi straight home’. that would be lovely I said. Anyway, finally my turn came and I was taken out of the aircraft.

From then on I was taken care of by the ‘Special Assistance’ staff. They were all lovely and funny. Finally I had arrived to the luggage arrival area. After getting hold of my luggage which the ‘special assistance’ girl helped me with, I was then taken to the taxi office inside the airport. The man at the desk told us that no taxis are willing to go to Kent as the weather is really bad over there. Oh no! Now what?!! The ‘travel assistance girl asked me to follow her to her office. They were all very nice and asked if I’d like a hot drink, all of them were very busy searching for a taxi to take me home (I even got a picture with them).

After a very long wait Thomas Cook called the ‘Special Assistance’ staff and asked them to put me in the next door airport hotel, where I can have breakfast and take a nap. I was then transferred there, where I had waffles for breakfast and was then provided a room to rest. Which was all provided by Thomas Cook and I am very thankful to.

At 11:00 am the phone rang next to my bed. I woke up with a jolt from my nap. ‘Good Morning...Miss. Ahmed, a taxi driver has agreed to drive you all the way to Maidstone.’ I was so happy to hear that ‘when will it be here?’ I asked. ‘In 20 minutes’ the lady replied ‘I’ll send someone upstairs to help you with ure luggage’. I was so happy got up visited the lu, washed my face, and soon someone came to pick up my luggage. I followed him downstairs. At the hotel reception the taxi driver was waiting for the customer and thats me.

It took me one and a half hour to reach home. There was fog or hails just loads and loads of snow everywhere, but soon I was back hosme safely at around 1 o’clock in the afternoon, on Thursday the 2^nd of December 2010.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

My last few hours in Fuerteventura and an Adventurous departure back Home. (Part 2)

After been explained my entire departure process, I went downstairs to the pool, Victoria and John were not there, they must have thought that I have left. Anyways I choose a nice sunny spot near the pool and sat there thinking about the snow back home and enjoying the warmth of the sun. After a while Calum and his Mom came up to me, what lovely company they were. They told me that they had seen me around the hotel and would like to be friends with me. Sweet, I thought and yes I wanted to be friends with such lovely people as well I thought. They were from Scotland, both of them were cat lovers, well I am as well so that makes three of us. Calum wanted to go for archery, which was also being done at the hotel premises, part of the hotel guest entertainment. He asked me if I would like to join them. And yes I agreed. After a short walk we reached the archery area, they were lots of people there waiting for their turn. Calum had to wait for his turn as well. I do have pictures and I’ll upload them along with my blog post.

After the short archery experience Calum, his Mom and me went for a walk around the hotel gardens. We arrived in an area where they were lots of cats, it was cat haven, it had cat food and even a small shed for cats. It was a cat charity for stray cats in that area. It was then that Calum’s Mom told me that they love cats. Nice! Then all of us went to the pool side bar to have a snack before I had to leave. Mom and me ordered tuna sandwiches and Calum ordered some sweet stuff, I think it was some kind of a cake slice. Soon our food arrived. Our sandwiches were warm and scrumptious along with lots of French fries, as we ate I told them about my adventurous journey which I have to make back home. We also exchanged numbers and facebook contacts so we can be in touch. It was almost 5:00 when we finished, I did say that I have to get my luggage out of the room and be at the reception as my taxi will be there at half five. They agreed to accompany me as well to the reception, soon I managed to get the luggage out of the room and got myself checked out of the hotel. Now Calum, his Mom and me were just waiting in the lounge waiting for my taxi.

It was 5:30 pm, my taxi ware here, Calum, Mom and me exchanged good byes and now I was in the taxi heading towards the airport. The driver didn’t speak English at all so I couldn’t converse with him. The roads were all clear, it took approximately 20 minutes to reach the airport. Outside the Thomas Cook lady waiting for me. She welcomed me with a smile and took my luggage from me. Then both of us headed towards the check-in area of the airport. Showed my passport and my luggage was checked in, I was also given a snack voucher, which I could use at the waiting lounge of the airport. As my flight was at 10:30 and I had almost 3 hours to kill. I was then taken to the waiting area, the guy who brought me here, told me that he will come back here at ten when my flight is due.

Friday, December 24, 2010

My last few hours in Fuerteventura and an Adventurous departure back Home. (Part 1)

Yes, it was my last day of my vacation in Fuerteventura, all packed and ready to go back. As usual got ready went downstairs for breakfast. Had lots of pancakes and water melon with Victoria and John, then went outside sat with them outside. They kept saying your flight will be cancelled as Gatwick Airport is closed and you’ll have to stay here for one more day. I wouldn’t mind that as it was warm here, not eager to go in the cold. Plus I was enjoying their company. The only issue was that I had to go home to write my blog, already I am so slow, sorry about that.

I got a few drinks and snacks from the pool bar, sat with them till 11:00 am, and then hugged them and greeted them good-bye, as my taxi to the airport was at half eleven. My flight was at 2:00 pm. As I approached the reception at 11:15 am to ask for help to take out my luggage from the room, I was told that I had to stay one more night in Fuerteventura due to the bad weather in UK all flights to Gatwick have been cancelled. We spoke to Denise (one of the Thomas Cook representatives) she advised us that I should not go to the airport instead stay at the hotel and wait for her, said the Spanish hotel manager at the reception. I then went and sat in the lounge which was situated next to the reception. Soon Denise was here, she first spoke with the manager and then came to me. She explained me the entire situation. She told me that definitely I am leaving today, except ure flight is delayed. Instead of flying at 2:00 pm it will leave Fuerteventura at half ten at night and as Gatwick airport is closed, it will land at Stansted. Well that was not good news at all, I had a many questions to ask and I did ask all my questions. Then she answered, ‘don't worry Nadia’ she first comforted me, ‘the taxi is gonna pick you from here at half five. Then one of our Thomas Cook representative will meet you at the Fuerteventura airport and will guide you from there. At 10:30 pm is ure flight. You’ll land at Stansted airport but I can assure you that from there a taxi arranged by us will take you to Gatwick, then you can catch ure train from there.’ That means I’ll be arriving UK 2 in the morning and by the time a taxi drives me to Gatwick it will be around four. The trains start running at half five, that means I have to wait for an hour at Gatwick. Apparently there were lots of people even sleeping at Gatwick as their flights had been delayed or even cancelled.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Changing my Disappoints into Pleasures. (Day 3, Monday, 30th November ‘2010)

It was the third day of my holiday today. Woke up with a smile all fresh and excited, ready to kiss the sun, as it was bright and warm and not cloudy and wet like yesterday. Anyways I was all ready at 9:00 am in the morning, downstairs at breakfast waiting for Victoria and John. At quarter past they were down at breakfast as well, all three of us sat together. I got myself a pile of pancakes with caramel sauce, a fresh vegetable omelette and a couple of slice of red, juicy water melon with a glass full of cool fresh orange juice. Yes, I love breakfasts in Fuerteventura! Victoria (bless her) helped chop-up my pancakes and after breakfast we all went out and sat near the pool under the shady palm trees and chatted about are trip to the city with excitement.

At around 11o’clock we all had to be at the hotel reception as we had booked a trip with Thomas Cook to check out the fort and have authentic Spanish lunch somewhere in the city of Fuerteventura. Well, at half eleven our coach arrived, we all went outside. An English lady came out of the coach. First she spoke with Victoria and John, then Victoria got off her wheelchair and with the help of her crutches climbed on the coach. Then John folded up her wheelchair and the driver kept it in the luggage compartment of the coach. Now was my turn the lady came up to me and asked if my wheelchair was collapsible of, I denied and also added that its really heavy. But John interrupted, ‘never mind we’ll manage to pick it and keep it in the compartment’. I kept quiet hoping that it will all work out. Then I got off my wheelchair and with the help of John started climbing the steps of the coach. Well, that was a struggle, the lady outside the coach stopped me and said ‘I am sorry to say but its better if you don’t go, as the fort has many steps and there is no way you’ll be able to manage the old stony steps’. Oh NO! I thought, it felt as if my heart was shattered into a million pieces. The lady apologised a million times, Victoria and John also apologised, ‘sorry mate but hope to see you at dinner’.

Aaa well, this was my fun day gone down the drain, feeling awful and depressed went up to the outside bar ordered a cool but fancy fruit cocktail along with a few snacks. Oh no, I thought what am I doing, I am on holiday this thing cant make me upset, I began to read my English travel guide. Soon an English lady (tourist) came and sat next to me, ‘oh good, you know English,’ she said and soon we were in a conversation. She was from Liver Pool, England, as most of the tourists were from Scotland. She was here with her mom and son, fair enough, I thought unlike me all on my own! She told me that she was a mammogram screener for the NHS back home. ‘back home for a living I have to examine boobs and here for holiday as well I have to look at more boob, hahaha!’ she laughed. That was funny, after a bit more of chit chatting, her son, who was only ten was calling her. She then excused herself and went to attend to her son. There I was once again on my own.

After a silent couple of minutes and staring at people around me in boredom, a spark of light was trying to ignite in my head. I tried to concentrate on the light, I do hope its ‘hope’, I thought. Eureka, it was! Let’s get a haircut I thought, well I do have lovely long hair but thats what others say. What do I say while touching my hair I thought, yes its long and boring. Aaa well had 50 euros in cash went outside of the hotel to the next-door shopping mall. Though it wasn’t very big but it did have a hair dresser. Went up and waited for my turn as the hair dresser was cutting another customers hair. Soon my turn came, she only knew Spanish but somehow I managed to tell her I need a hair cut as short as possible. ‘No, no, no...!’ she said with a very worried expression and something else which I didn’t understand. Then another customer waiting after me knew a bit of English, she explained me that shes saying that very short hair cut will not suit me. I then told her to cut it in any style I just need my hair short as its difficult to manage. She then explained the hair dresser.

Soon I was getting my hair washed, then I on my wheelchair was brought in front of a mirror, she sectioned my hair and snip, snip with a pair of scissors she went. I enjoy getting a hair cut its so therapeutic. It took her 25 minutes to chop off my hair and give a hair style. Then she blow dried it and it looked nice, surprisingly, I always though short hair does not suit me. I also got pictures with the hair dresser and the other English speaking customer.

After my hair cut, just wandered in the mall and then on the beach, it also rained at the beach for a bit (I also have lots of pic, shall be uploading them for even you to enjoy). At around 6:00 pm came back to the hotel, saw a bit of Sky news on television, it was snowing in UK, had a cheeky smirk then on my face, and yes, I am in sunny Spain, hehehe. At around half seven went down for dinner, met up with Victoria and John, they said the trip was not good as it had been raining yesterday therefore the roads were closed.