Traveling by accident

I am a firm believer that over planning life takes the fun out of it. A bit of chaos and the odd unexpected turn of events keeps things interesting.

08 August 09 – Heathrow terminal 3 

I get as far as check in before things start to veer of course. Firstly they won't let me on the plane. Having not thought about visa requirements as thoroughly as one should, I had negated to purchase the very important ticket out of their country. This was an issue for them as understandably they were not that keen on the thought of me meandering around their country ad infinitum. 

Reaching a bit of an impasse, a solution suddenly presented itself. Book a ticket it to Tokyo from Seoul sometime within the three-month meandering time allowed to tourists. I chose 23 September on the spot, as I am partial to a prime number.  Ten minutes later I am the proud owner of a return ticket from a country I've never been to, to the Land of the Rising Sun. A few more minutes later and a very nice man proceeds to print out a boarding ticket to the plane I so very much want to get on.

He stops and looks at it. His brow furrows.  He tells me with a note of incredulousness that I will be sitting upstairs. We are both confused.  His confusion was likely due to my wild homeless man look and face of pleading desperation.  My confusion stemmed from my having prebooked 42C and my lack of knowledge on the lay out of a 747.  Slowly it dawns on both of us. By some inexplicable miracle I have been upgraded. 

NB. Travel itinerary-philes and lovers of order, beware - he who makes it up as he goes along sometimes basks in unexpected glory.