It took 12 hours to get back to Hong Kong from Phuket. This should normally take 2.5 hours or just shy of 3 hours flying time so maybe 5 hours in total. It started in Phuket. First I had to change my flight because it overlapped with my connecting flight. I suffered a 500 Baht penalty...$17. If I had known my connecting flight would be 2 hours delayed it would've been perfect. My budget flight from Phuket was delayed as well but there was no announcement indicating the delay and for how long. I started to queue up 30 min before take off time because it's budget and there are no assigned seating. We waited a good hour before they let us on board and by that time everyone was anxious to get on. The old Thai ladies were booking it down the corridor to get the front seats. I was trying to walk fast and not look like I was trying to over take them. But man, they were fast...granted they're jogging. The Korean family with 2 kids sprinted past me. I thought to myself that this was just ridiculous but proceeded to swing my hips from side to side and do the quick step thing down the corridor as well. This whole process wasn't too civilized.
When I landed in Bangkok, the baggage took 40 minutes to come out. I don't know what they were doing in the back because the distance from the gate to the carousel wasn't too far. I was getting frustrated. After my baggage came out, I went to check in in the international departures area and found out that my flight was delayed for 2 hours and they were unable to check anyone in. I killed time by having a snack with the $9 voucher they gave me. After check in, I killed more time at Duty Free Shopping and emailing. The only good thing about this whole ordeal was that I was flying Business Class and able to use the lounge which included internet, dim sum, food, drinks. Of course I decided to get wasted in the lounge while i waited.
Instead of getting in at 11pm I got in at 1am and then waited for the Bus to shuttle us back to Hong Kong island (even Airport Express doesn't run at that hour). I tried to sleep on the bus but I had 2 Hong Kong annoying ladies yapping away behind me. Even with my earplugs in, it sounded like their cackling was right in my ear. When I finally arrived home it was 2:45 am, 3 hours later than my original arrival time. I think yesterday may have been the most delayed travel day for me. I hope I slept off the bad vibes.
2 comments:
ah, phuket. 12 hours ain't that much... (poor joke, I know!)
Glad to see you're doing well!
Jon (still in cruddy LA)
dude, you should have done what I do. Drop-kick the old ladies and sucker punch the babies. Babies go down quick.
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