First Journey to Liverpool

I never imagined that one day my dream would come true. It is going to the United Kingdom to pursue my master's degree in education. So, here is my journey from my city, Bandar Lampung to Liverpool, United Kingdom.

My flight was on Sunday afternoon, 22nd September 2024 from Soekarno-Hatta airport and when I wanted to check in, I had over baggage and sadly I had to pay for it. I tried to unpack and move some items into my handy bag, but it would cause over baggage for my handy bag. For me, the service from the airport was really bad since the officer at the check in counter was not nice, she even didn't smile! When I moved to another counter she even approached and said to the other officer 'She had over baggage and checked her handy bag also' and I was like 'What!?' I wanted to cry at that time, since I was alone in the airport. My sister and my mom were already on their flight back to our city. 

Finally, I was on the plane, and I would have 2 transits in Singapore and Dubai airport. I arrived midnight at Singapore Airport, and I had to move to another gate which is provided by the airport. I didn't know that I had to check in again, so I just sat at the Longue and then when I heard my name called, I realized that I had to check in and they gave me the new ticket, with the Emirates logo, from Singapore to Dubai and Dubai to Manchester. My previous flight which was from Jakarta to Singapore was not on Emirates. Then, the passengers were called to get ready to take off, I got my seat near the window but since it was midnight so could not get any view. I was so sleepy at that time, and it was too long for the plane to take off, so I just fell asleep. Suddenly, the passenger beside me tapped me, still in sleepy mode, I asked 'Have we arrived?'  and he said 'No, we have to go back to the lounge, the plane having technical problems'. I had to gain all my consciousness and took my handy bag from the cabin and followed the others to get back to the lounge. I saw the time and just realized that we were inside the place for one hour without taking off. It was quite chaos since everyone complained about the flight problem and everyone had a connecting flight that would affect their next flight. Then I realized that I also had a connecting flight from Dubai to Manchester, and if it was delayed, I wouldn't be able to catch my flight from Dubai to Manchester. The flight attendants gave assurance to us that they would take care of our next flight and registered that the flight having problems. In the end, we had to wait around 5 hours before the plane was ready to take off. 

Arrived at Dubai airport at 10 a.m., The Emirates officers welcomed all the passengers and helped to renew their tickets, I got my next flight at 4 p.m. It was the nearest flight to Manchester, as complimentary, they provided free lunch from the outlet they provided, so it meant I had to wait around 6 hours at this airport. It had already been one day passed since I left Jakarta, hadn't taken a bath, hadn't brushed my teeth, hadn't changed my clothes, and I felt so tired! I have 8 kilos of my bag pack and 1 heavy handy bag that I have to carry everywhere I go, I almost cried again at that airport. I still keep informing my family of my where being using the wi-fi and at least I got some support from my family and friends who still asking about my condition. 

Finally, I arrived at the Manchester airport, and I switched my card to a UK card so I could still keep in contact with my family in Indonesia, and my sister bought my train tickets from Manchester to Liverpool. When I arrived in Manchester, I had to the immigration first and they stamped my visa (yeeeeaaaa, it's like I want to yell because of the happiness hahaha) and waited for my luggage (it was almost 20 minutes waiting for the luggage), then I withdraw pounds on the ATM and ran to the train station since I didn't want to miss my train. It was already 9 p.m. and the last bus in Liverpool was at 11 p.m. so, I had to arrive at Liverpool train station and move to the bus station before that time. I had to push my heavy luggage, with another heavy bag pack and handy bag, alone in a country I never visited before and knew no one here, what a brave girl! Then, I saw the train as my ticket number and ran, the officer saw me running and helped me with my luggage. I sat there, and my sister texted me that I should wait for the train based on the time exactly written on my ticket, but I was already on the train! The officer asked for my ticket to scan and found that I was on the wrong train, I said 'Sorry, I didn't know it and it is my first time here' Luckily, he said 'Next time you should on your time tickets ok dear' 

From Liverpool train station I had to walk to find the bus station using Google Maps and only a few people were on the street. I asked some people where the bus station was, I got confused with my Google Maps so I walked around there for almost 20 minutes and my sister kept asking 'Where are you? Why haven't you got to the bus station?' in the middle of the new city and it was midnight! Finally, I found my bus station stand and waited there, a nice lady was helping me lift my heavy luggage and when I wanted to pay the bus fare (I only had 20 pounds and the bus fare is 2 pounds, later I found that they don't take change, so you have to pay with exact fare or by card by tapping it on the machine inside the bus) the bus driver didn't want to take my money and that nice lady said 'I will pay for her' I thanked her and she asked me where I want to go, she said to me that she will tell me where I should stop and said 'welcome to Liverpool'. I guess she knew that I just arrived in this city by looking at my luggage (still with the airport tag lol). 

I knew I loved you before I met you, I guess the quote represents this city to me. Arrived midnight at this city and it welcomed me warmly and nicely, I surely will love my stay here.

September 2024, Liverpool