Andrew Aigner-MuehlerThe Day of departure..
December 12th 2008 15:41
It was the evening of September the 28th 2008. Like usual, I am nervous. I am always nervous before going on a big trip. I am at the Adelaide airport with my family. I was ready to board a domesic flight to Sydney, where I had to stay the night.
There was alot of fuss at the Adelaide airport. Then I knew. Everyone went to the window. The Qantas Airbus A380 was making its secong practice landing into Adelaide.
Shortly after. I had to say my goodbyes to my family. I needed to board my flight. I am always the last one, now on the plane after working for Qantas. If you want to know why. Go and work for a airline. See how they clean the plane. I tell you, you just want to spend the least possible time on one.
Within two hours, I was in Sydney. I stayed at the Formule hotel. I needed to try to see if I could get my passport that evening. So, I just chucked my bag down and headed over to the terminal. The domestic terminal told me, there would be no one at the sales desk at the international airport.
I headed back to the hotel. I had a early night. I had to get up early for my flight. I could not sleep. I did not have my passport.
The next morning arrived. I checked out of the hotel. I got a shuttle bus to the international airport. The sales desk was open. My passport was there, with my visa in it. I was releived. Like anyone would. I headed down to the check in desk. It was not exactly time to check in. I just stayed there until check in.
Before I knew it, I was boarding the Air China flight to Beijing via Shanghai. I think it actually hit me then. I was on a plane with just Asian people. I was the only white person, I could see.
The flight was good. Asian flights are usually the best. It wasn't Cathay Pacific, but it wasn't bad.
I got to Shanghai. I needed to go through immigration there. I did not know what to expect. I did not know, what questions they might asked. I did my usual thing. I was overly friendly. I talked alot. This way, they just want to get rid of you, so they wont ask you any question. It always works. Thankfully, as I was walking, I heard a English voice behing me. He was calling for my flight to go a certain way. I showed my ticket to the transit desk and started my long boring walk to my gate. If you have been to Shanghai airport, there is nothing much there. They have shops and that, but not many. I got to my gate and I had about 30 minutes to boarding, so I just watched the television, they had blurring.
Next, I was boarding.
It was only a few hours to Beijing.
I was getting nervous about my arrival. Is there anyone picking me up. What do I do, if no one is there to pick me up.
The plane landed. It pulled up, in the middle of the tarmac. Three big buses greeted us. We had to board certain buses. One bus was for the international arrival, the other was for the domestic arrival. I was hoping that I was on the right bus. The bus ride from the plane to the terminal went for ever. It was around a 5 minute plus ride to the terminal. I did not have to wait long for my bag. I proceeded to customs. I just walked straight through. I then headed to the waiting area. I exited, and saw my name on a sign. I pointed to the driver, and then pointed back to me. He saw me. He took me to his car and drove me to the hotel where I was staying.
I was thinking in the car. I do not know this guy. What do I do, if I get into trouble. I do not know Beijing. Like usual, you put your trust into people. We got to the hotel. I checked in, and spent my first night in Beijing.
There was alot of fuss at the Adelaide airport. Then I knew. Everyone went to the window. The Qantas Airbus A380 was making its secong practice landing into Adelaide.
Shortly after. I had to say my goodbyes to my family. I needed to board my flight. I am always the last one, now on the plane after working for Qantas. If you want to know why. Go and work for a airline. See how they clean the plane. I tell you, you just want to spend the least possible time on one.
Within two hours, I was in Sydney. I stayed at the Formule hotel. I needed to try to see if I could get my passport that evening. So, I just chucked my bag down and headed over to the terminal. The domestic terminal told me, there would be no one at the sales desk at the international airport.
I headed back to the hotel. I had a early night. I had to get up early for my flight. I could not sleep. I did not have my passport.
The next morning arrived. I checked out of the hotel. I got a shuttle bus to the international airport. The sales desk was open. My passport was there, with my visa in it. I was releived. Like anyone would. I headed down to the check in desk. It was not exactly time to check in. I just stayed there until check in.
Before I knew it, I was boarding the Air China flight to Beijing via Shanghai. I think it actually hit me then. I was on a plane with just Asian people. I was the only white person, I could see.
The flight was good. Asian flights are usually the best. It wasn't Cathay Pacific, but it wasn't bad.
I got to Shanghai. I needed to go through immigration there. I did not know what to expect. I did not know, what questions they might asked. I did my usual thing. I was overly friendly. I talked alot. This way, they just want to get rid of you, so they wont ask you any question. It always works. Thankfully, as I was walking, I heard a English voice behing me. He was calling for my flight to go a certain way. I showed my ticket to the transit desk and started my long boring walk to my gate. If you have been to Shanghai airport, there is nothing much there. They have shops and that, but not many. I got to my gate and I had about 30 minutes to boarding, so I just watched the television, they had blurring.
Next, I was boarding.
It was only a few hours to Beijing.
I was getting nervous about my arrival. Is there anyone picking me up. What do I do, if no one is there to pick me up.
The plane landed. It pulled up, in the middle of the tarmac. Three big buses greeted us. We had to board certain buses. One bus was for the international arrival, the other was for the domestic arrival. I was hoping that I was on the right bus. The bus ride from the plane to the terminal went for ever. It was around a 5 minute plus ride to the terminal. I did not have to wait long for my bag. I proceeded to customs. I just walked straight through. I then headed to the waiting area. I exited, and saw my name on a sign. I pointed to the driver, and then pointed back to me. He saw me. He took me to his car and drove me to the hotel where I was staying.
I was thinking in the car. I do not know this guy. What do I do, if I get into trouble. I do not know Beijing. Like usual, you put your trust into people. We got to the hotel. I checked in, and spent my first night in Beijing.
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