Round The World and other travels

A frequent flyer's collection of trip diaries

This is: Indian Ocean 2012

Final North Sea hop

There was absolutely no need for any kind of rush on this final morning of the trip. I got up when I was ready to and had an enjoyable and leisurely breakfast in the Hilton's top-floor Executive Lounge, which I remembered from my New Year trip 2010-11. I spent most of the morning relaxing in my room, but wandered over to the terminal shortly after breakfast to use a self-service check-in kiosk in preparation for my flight back to Edinburgh in the afternoon. It was one of those lovely, fresh, sunny mornings and - for the time being at least - it felt good to be back in a temperate climate.

   
  ABOVE: Copenhagen Kastrup, Terminal 3   

I checked out just before noon and once more made my way across to the terminal, only to find that it was now heaving with bodies and that the queue for Security was horrendous. Once through, I made a short visit to the Priority Pass lounge, but it was in a similar condition to the main part of the terminal and I didn't linger. The gate area turned out to be a haven of peace and quiet, if lacking in any kind of facilities.

(Link to flight log in side panel)

Back at my home airport, the weather was a little more changeable than in Denmark - well, there's a surprise! - but at least it was reasonably warm compared to that depressingly wintry day in the middle of May when I had set out on the trip. I retraced the initial steps of the trip and again managed to make perfect connections all the way. The train was absolutely stifling and the window beside my seat bore a sticker proclaiming that this coach had been fitted with improved air conditioning for my added comfort. I couldn't help smiling and thinking to myself: Dear old Scotrail - welcome home! The Singapore metro, which I hadn't actually used on my recent visit, could cope with equatorial heat and humidity, but our trains downed tools and went into a sulk if the mercury reached 20C. I made it home by 1715 and found everything to be in order, with the notable exception of a decidedly out-of-control garden.

And so ended another memorable adventure, one that had given me a whole spectrum of contrasting experiences in the endlessly fascinating continent of Asia and its associated islands, including new destinations and a few old favourites. Especially given that I had never previously set foot in South Asia, the biggest eye-opener for me was Sri Lanka, and particularly the south of the island - see it soon, before it becomes too well-known!