Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Back from Phuket my longest travel day ever for the shortest distance...
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.
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.
Monday, December 10, 2007
My Backpacking Days are over...
Once you've stayed at a 5 star hotel/resort, there's just no going back. I'd say that I'm pretty easy going, at times, but recently i've noticed that I just can't do the budget travel anymore. With age comes experience and preferences and when you've experienced top service and accommadations you just can't take a step down. Top reasons how I knew when my backpacking, 3-star hotels, and budget airline days are over:
1) The only people I meet are in the 21-24 age range.
2) When meeting new people just isn't as fun as it use to be.
3) When the smell of mildew in the bathroom makes me gag.
4) When I don't want to touch anything in the room I'm suppose to be spending the night in.
4) When I get into fights with management because they won't provide hot water (okay exaggeration but arguments of some sort nonetheless).
5) Walking out of the guesthouse after one night, foregoing 50% of the room rate, begging IBIS hotel for forgiveness for leaving in the first place and to take me back.
6) When a backpack that's bigger than me just isn't cute anymore.
7) When running down the aisle in a cattle call to beat the old ladies and the family with children to get the first seat in the airplane isn't my idea of fun or a competition.
8) Getting into arguments with old ladies with child in stroller because she's trying to cut the line to get on the plane.
My inner diva is coming out thanks to the help of a friend. Things just won't be right unless there's complimentary two bottles of water at the perfect temperature, turn down service, clean sheets and towels folded in the exact way I like, and hotel greeters with a hot face cloth and tea.
1) The only people I meet are in the 21-24 age range.
2) When meeting new people just isn't as fun as it use to be.
3) When the smell of mildew in the bathroom makes me gag.
4) When I don't want to touch anything in the room I'm suppose to be spending the night in.
4) When I get into fights with management because they won't provide hot water (okay exaggeration but arguments of some sort nonetheless).
5) Walking out of the guesthouse after one night, foregoing 50% of the room rate, begging IBIS hotel for forgiveness for leaving in the first place and to take me back.
6) When a backpack that's bigger than me just isn't cute anymore.
7) When running down the aisle in a cattle call to beat the old ladies and the family with children to get the first seat in the airplane isn't my idea of fun or a competition.
8) Getting into arguments with old ladies with child in stroller because she's trying to cut the line to get on the plane.
My inner diva is coming out thanks to the help of a friend. Things just won't be right unless there's complimentary two bottles of water at the perfect temperature, turn down service, clean sheets and towels folded in the exact way I like, and hotel greeters with a hot face cloth and tea.
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