Flight connecting time between Singapore – Hong Kong and Hong Kong – Beijing was supposed to be a perfect one hour. I was eagerly waiting at the boarding gate at 2.30pm for the 3pm flight. Then came the announcement – flight delay. Come back at 4pm for the next announcement. Extremely bad weather in Beijing. So I went shopping, net surfing and back to the gate. “Please come back at 5pm for the next announcement”. I was so hungry, I had to ask for food voucher which I thought should automatically be given out to passengers when we went back to make enquiries. So I went eating, net surfing, contacted my friend I was supposed to meet for dinner and postponed that to supper, and back to the gate. “Please come back at 6pm for the next announcement”. Yes! Boarding at 6pm! When we were all settled down, the captain made an announcement – Apologies for the delay due to thunderstorm in Beijing and airspace control. Good news is, we’re second in the queue to take of which is I guess is at about at 8pm…” called my friend again to wish her good night and would meet her directly at the hotel.
I thought my kay-poh-ness/friendliness saved my day. I started talking to the uncle next to me to find out where he’s from cuz he’s definitely no China Chinese. And he really is my neighbour – Malaysian. Upon landing in Beijing at 11.30pm, health officials including 2 astronaut-looking guys dressed in space suits came onboard to take everyone’s temperature. 3 people on the flight were running a fever, and one, an Indonesian was sitting 3 seats away in another block! So the 3 rows side, front and back had to put on mask and had the items we used on onboard discarded. After the chickens tried to question the duck about his illness, the Malaysian finally stepped in to help with the translation.
By the time we got off, it was 12.30am. And if the Malaysian uncle hadn’t showed me the fastest way to get out of the airport and given me a lift, my next plan was to watch flag-raising at tiananmen square. The taxi driver was equally important cuz he provided the dose of humour I so needed after such an eventful day! He said the weather that afternoon was so bad it was like the end of the world. My hotel was located in a secluded (?) hutong and he couldn’t find it. 你这酒店儿订得可真好啊！So we called the hotel to ask for directions and I think the receptionist mumbled. 他说话怎么象小鸡一样儿!
I thought my kay-poh-ness/friendliness saved my day. I started talking to the uncle next to me to find out where he’s from cuz he’s definitely no China Chinese. And he really is my neighbour – Malaysian. Upon landing in Beijing at 11.30pm, health officials including 2 astronaut-looking guys dressed in space suits came onboard to take everyone’s temperature. 3 people on the flight were running a fever, and one, an Indonesian was sitting 3 seats away in another block! So the 3 rows side, front and back had to put on mask and had the items we used on onboard discarded. After the chickens tried to question the duck about his illness, the Malaysian finally stepped in to help with the translation.
By the time we got off, it was 12.30am. And if the Malaysian uncle hadn’t showed me the fastest way to get out of the airport and given me a lift, my next plan was to watch flag-raising at tiananmen square. The taxi driver was equally important cuz he provided the dose of humour I so needed after such an eventful day! He said the weather that afternoon was so bad it was like the end of the world. My hotel was located in a secluded (?) hutong and he couldn’t find it. 你这酒店儿订得可真好啊！So we called the hotel to ask for directions and I think the receptionist mumbled. 他说话怎么象小鸡一样儿!
I flew on cathay pacific/dragon air. Why did I not take SQ and went on cathay pacific and dragon air instead? Not b’cuz I’m going to dragon land, but I “gian” the Cantonese shows on cathay, and shopping n food in HK airport. My screen was flickering for the full 3.5hours on flight from sg to hk. And the only next available seat was right at end by the window, outside the toilet. So no go. No inflight entertainment on dragon air. Only HK and majority china cabin crew. But I will still take the airline when possible cuz I really love the Cantonese programmes!
1 comment:
I am really very turned off by your trip somehow sorry about that!
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