A historical moment

A historical moment developed while we were flying thru Bangalore, South China Sea at 36,000 ft back to Hong Kong. If we weren't flying, my iron-wife would have glued to the TV all night in Bangalore's hotel room with CNN on. Instead, we had to fly just as the election started in the States.

First a 30-minute check-out. Yes, 30 minutes. Slow... India style. Then, 40 minutes drive to the new Bangalore airport, 40 KM outside of town. Checked in was a breeze as it seemed we were the only one there. The staff wasn't ready for us. But before that, we had to go thru the Indian military style security check. Yes, always on some sort of alerts. The security guards checked our tickets and passport. Immigration was a breeze. Stamped, stamped, stamped. Then this guy who just sat between behind immigration and before security check examined each passport and the boarding pass. You see, he had to make sure the stamps are matched on both passport and the boarding pass. Then, just in front of the security check - male and female are separated. Body search, so intimate with the host country. Each carry-on piece MUST be stamped by the security screener. YOU better has an airline name tag on each piece of the carry-on. Mine got roughed up a bit as one guy insisted I had matches. He searched high and low after the other guy searched. After rummaging thru my stuff, he steamed off to look at the screen again. The security check did not make me comfort feeling; it was more about ensuring the proper stamps were stamped. Not if passengers are not carrying banned items.

Just before boarding, at the gate, another security check. This time, have to ensure a stamp is on the airline name tag. If you don't, you were to be sent back to the security. Stupid.

Flight was uneventful; except it seems the "locals" did not know how to use the toilet or use it a snail pace. The plane was almost empty but we had to wait LONG time to use. Geee.... Luckily though, we each could grab a row and slept for most of the way. Come to think of it, we had better lie down beds than the Biz class's 65 degree tilt. Haha...

Zipped pass HK immigration with my quick pass. Now, I think HK is getting stupid too; by my observation, this place is going down the toilet. A new security check was placed at the entrance to the departure. Guards and computers. They scanned the boarding pass and match to the passport. Why? We have done that many times prior to getting to the gate. This a new rule, same as the policy makers who said one cannot carry on squash racquet but badminton racquet is ok. Rather than going thru quickly, we are getting road blocks everywhere. For what? Even the Chinese gov't does not have that stupid rule at airports. It wants fast, speedy, no hassle's coming and going for the visitors. Besides the hotel industry, everywhere in Hong Kong I see rules enacted by gov't or on behalf of the gov't are either stupid or totally outright dumb. Must have followed the North American standard. Another example is: taxi fare, now, the short fare is more costly but if you are going farther distance you get a discount. How are the heck do you calculate with a meter? And taxi drivers lose out on income with that type of fare structure.

Anyway... we missed all the development on CNN. Had to rely on SMS messages back to the US to find out. As least hi-tech works these days.