that has direct flight does not fly on Thursday's. So we had to
backtrack. And NO Air India.
Our backtracking started on Thursday morning at 5am. 6:30am we were
at the airport and the Singapore airline counter. But then, no one
understood that I could get into China with a special ID; that caused
a bit of time, not arguing with them. Just explained to the ground
staff. After 10 minutes, they let me go. Whew... I wasn't mad as
these people have not seen enough of a special Chinese ID card
specially 'crafted' for Macau and Hong Kong borned people. Then the
traditional Indian immigration. Totally sucked. Rather than having
the immigration counters facing the people so you can make lines, the
counters were placed side-way. And not enough room for lines. So we
got this chaotic scene of people didn't know which line and where to
line up. After 3 minutes of this "Sh!t", I had enough. I noticed
there were another side of counters not being heavily used. I sent my
scout tracking to the other side and sure enough. No one used and so
I went. I even waved at some Australians to come over; but they just
looked and ignored as if I were some idiots. This happened once too
at Hong Kong Skypier. All the lines were taken up by Chinese tourists
and their tour guides. I knew and ran to the front of the counter and
showed my tix. 5 minutes, check-in done. Then I saw some Brits
lining up "behind" the Chinese tourists and they were complaining they
need to get checked-in. So I told them. And guess what they did,
they shrugged me off as if I didn't know what to do. Well, I had my
boarding pass and they didn't. Idiots.
Anyway, back to the line up at the Indian Immigration counter. 5
minutes, we were up with these lazy, egotistical and didn't give a
"f*^&^ck of you" attitude "officiers". Took their sweet time and then
this guy kept asking me what I was doing in India and why I went to
Shimla, blah, blah, blah... One thing I need to remind myself -
respond clearly and friendly. Don't get frustrated. These guys were
looking for a way to do "you know what". After some exchanges, I got
my "get out of jail" stamp. I moved on. Then the security line, same
line-up chaotic scene. Sure was good to be sitting in the plane
taxing out to the running for takeoff. As the landing wheels lifted
from the ground, I almost broke out some Champaign. OK, I didn't have
any.
5 hours and 10 minutes later, we arrived at Changi airport in
Singapore. I looked over to Audrey and said "welcome back to
civilization". That same night after watching Avatar with a friend,
he asked me the same thing - "How does it feel to be back to
civilization?". When we got off the plane in Singapore, we were
subjected to additional "Security Check" for flights coming in from
India. Wonder "why"?
Our flight from Singapore to Shanghai was scheduled to depart at
1:15am. After all the Singapore immigration and all, we hopped on to
a taxi and headed downtown to Athlete's Circle. Had to get some stuff
for iron-wife's Haikou race on March 15. I was annoyed by the staff
in the store. Didn't know what's what, chaotic. Six people and 4
were like deers staring into headlights. Hello? Customer Service.
You should know what you are doing..... After 20 minutes with our
stuff purchased, we left. Iron-wife thought I was low in blood sugar
and so I was grouchy. No, I was annoyed with the service.
Funny happened at the Raffle Place subway station. We were heading to
a friend's place for dinner before Avatar. As we stepped onto the
platform, load and behold, he was standing there too! What were the
odds?
Avatar was good - animation and action. It kept me interested in my
seat. O speaking of seat, the theatre was lined with individual plush
seats. The seats were like those in an expensive European home.
Comfortable, firm. Too bad, no enough leg rooms for me. Movie
started at 830pm and it was over by 11:15pm.
We sprinted to catch a taxi and 15 minutes later we were at the
airport. And by 12:30am, we were boarded our home-bound flight. 4
hours and 46 minutes later with a plane packed with Chinese tourist,
we arrived Shanghai. One more funny thing, we bumped into another
friend's entire family, Aussie/Brit expats with their kids heading
home after Chinese New Year holiday in Singapore.
Tired.... Tired... and cold. It was -2C when we arrived in
Shanghai.....
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