our apartment in Shanghai and finally arriving in the room at Makati
Shangri-La in Manila. We could have taken Philippine Airline but it
would not give us any points that benefit us. And on the way back, I
have to stop in Hong Kong/Macau to get some errands done.
We left at 7:55am. The No2 Subway line took us to LongYang station.
20 minutes on a Sunday morning. We made the 8:30am MagLev for Pudong
Airport with 4 minutes to spare. 8 minutes later, by 8:40am we were
at the Cathay Pacific counter. 8:55am, we were thru Immigration and
Security. I still cannot say how much NICER the immigration officers
and the security staff were!!!! All smiling and always hand back my
boarding pass and ID WITH TWO HANDS!
8:58am, we were in the Cathay/Dragon Air lounge. 9:10am, announcement
was made to get our asses over to the gate for boarding. Umm...
Strange, our flight didn't leave until 9:45am. O well. Probably want
everyone boarded and shut the door before the c0M m!e Traffic Control
slowed us down. We were in the sardine cans. Lie flat beds. Wow.
All full too on a Sunday morning. Then at 9:30am, the captain came
on. "Hi folks, it's very busy this morning at the airport. We are
being slotted to take off; but do not know when yet. It can be 5
minutes or 20 minutes. Hence we scheduled our flight for 2 hours and
30 minutes. Our actual fly time is 1 hours and 50 minutes". Here we
go again. "You are a bit optimistic, captain. My experience has told
me it will be about an hour wait at the very least". Tick, tick,
tick, tick..... I read my newspaper. Darn where was my International
Tribute? Some bloody J34k took it while I went to the bathroom!
Welcome to China flying even in Biz Class. Rule #1: always watch your
stuff. Wallet, passport and cash on your body all the time. And lock
your carry-on! You just never know nowadays.
10:30am, backing out the gate. Flight was good all the way to Hong
Kong.
12:35pm landed in Hong Kong. The captain said "folks we are only 20
minutes behind schedule and to make up time, we are parked at gate 3
which is just next to the Immigration". 20 minutes behind? Try
longer. With your padded 2 hours and 30 minutes plus the 20 minutes
minus the actual 1 hours and 50 minutes, how far are we behind? Do
the math. Never mind captain. You probably have the computer to
calculate it for you anyway. Answer: 1 hour behind! Wasted to the C0M
m!e Air Tr@ffic / C 0Mm!e milit@ ry that would not let civil aviation
to control air space higher than 25,000 feet.
We did the transfer in HKIA. I am not sure what, maybe the dense air
due to humidity; there were tones of stupid people doing the transfer,
didn't know how to line up. Just stood there. Finally, I just push
them aside getting to the other line that had NO people. After we
were thru security. The escalator was broken. But people could still
walk up. NO. It was fenced off! And there were only two elevators
that would take passengers to the Departure level. And when I got
there, people just stood there staring at the elevators. No ONE
pushed the buttons to go up!!!! The the previous group of people got
in didn't know how to press the button to the Departure level; they
were back to where I was. FULL. Being from China (ha!), I just pushed
in to create space for iron-wife. We moved up.
Had about an hour to kill. Cathay lounge was 30 some gates away at
Gate 63 in a place that if I were to take a flight from gate 60
onward, I would have use the lounge. Otherwise, it would be like
hiking couple kilometers. Never mind that. My gate was at 33.
Flight to Manila took off on time at 2:45pm. 1 hours 30 minutes
later, we were circling Manila airport. Busy la! (In case people
don't know, adding the "la" is like Singaporean speaking English la.)
We landed shortly after 5:15pm. As we were taxing to the terminal,
omg what a pity airport. All the shacks encircled the airport. I saw
a twin prop plane collapsed on its side on a taxi-way; wonder if that
was the reason we were circling. Good thing for strong legs and biz
class and the door opened just two rows from our seats, we dashed to
the Immigration; since the International airport was so small, a short
walk. Then I saw a wave of people moving from opposite side to the
Immigration counter, I walked faster. Phew, made it. The Immigration
officers didn't bother looking at us, just stamped stamped and we were
left along to fetch our bags.
Ground staffs kept walking up and down the belt to bring up "handle
with care" bags and boxes. They literally walked on the belt where
luggages came out. "Mind your head"! And they disappeared back in
the basement.
Got out of Custom and we were greeted with the Shanghri-la sign. We
were ushered to the hotel waiting area. Actually, it was a small
lounge. A young graceful woman greeted us. Matched our names with
the reservation. 10 minutes later our car arrived to pick up us.
This is the second city I notice that the hotel car service was done
thru Avis.
We left the airport under ominous cloud. Rain followed 5 minutes
later. We drove all the way to the new Terminal 3 then double back
half way to Terminal 3 in order to get to the right street for Makati
City. Left hand turn wasn't allowed in front of the DHL office.
So... 2.5 K of wasted driving around in traffic jam. Yes, with rain,
small floods in low lying areas. Expected in Manila.
As soon as we left the airport, we already saw the poverty first
hand. Kids were under the bridge, living perhaps.. 30 minutes later
we were at Makati City, the financial hub. It was like a different
city, a different country! It reminded me of India. The poverty was
blocked from entering the oasis. Heavy security at Shangri-la. Truck
was checked. Then dogs sniffed our luggage; and then everyone had to
open carry-ons to be inspected. What life.
Check-in took a bit of time. Internet was complimentary though. That
was good. Time check: 7:15pm.
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