Arrival to Bangkok was an earned affair. My 15 hour direct flight to Beijing in Air China was uneventful enough. I even had an empty seat next to me, so I did not feel so constrained in economy and managed to grab a few hours of sleep. As the plane dropped gracefully through the sky for its flawless landing, I scrutinized Beijing for hints of its offerings, contemplating the Vegas-like lights and oversized, seemingly random boulevards largely free of cars. I know better than to judge a City by its view from the air.
My connection to Bangkok was tight, and I was mildly anxious. As we got closer to the ground, I saw it: a thick, unpleasant haze that was clearly discernible in the dark. I've been to very polluted cities (Santiago, Chile, for example), but I've never seen anything like this. The Vegas-like lights disappeared in the fog of pollution. No wonder the streets of Beijing were so empty!
I was feeling pleased with myself. At the end of my 20-hour journey to Bangkok, I had a beautiful luxury hotel lined up, complete with a pre-booked 2 hour jet-lag therapy spa treatment. Following that, I would go on a personal "foodie tour" with a local expert. Culture shock had nothing on me!
I could not have been more pleased to find the Air China staff person greeting passengers for Manila and Bangkok at the top of the ramp. The tight transfer had inspired Air China to personally escort us to our gate! How efficient of them! When I booked Air China, I was slightly wary, I was unfamiliar with the brand. The price was very, very attractive, 30% or more less than other carriers. I rationalized it. A Communist nation would have an efficient and disciplined airline, I decided. With the pressing of a few buttons, it was done. I was going to China, even if it meant only for a few hours in an airport.
China, as it turns out, had other plans for me.
"You missed your flight." The Air China ambassador was indeed disciplined and efficient as he gathered a group of us and imparted this unfortunate news. As I took this in, I noted that there were others, including a woman who, like me, was traveling alone. And then, many more, mostly young and trusting as they laughed with each other anticipating their vacations in Thailand. In fact, there were several efficient, disciplined Air China ambassadors greeting, gathering, and herding about 40 of us. Given the fact that Our flight was not scheduled to take off in at least an hour, an unsettled feeling crept in, and I began reviewing all the news I had recently consumed about China.
Clearly, a group of 40 Americans are not likely to be kidnapped by China, but then again, a commercial airplane should not be shot out of the sky either, as had recently occurred in Ukraine. The world is an unstable place. Who knows what could happen?
I realize I have an over active imagination. But that imagination has helped me more than once, so I scoped out the scene and got busy with my cell phone. A quick email off to loved ones providing an update was little comfort. Over the next few hours, we were processed through immigration and herded onto buses. I figured that if we entered into a gates area with armed guards, my alarm would be justified. At any rate, there was nothing to be done. I was in Beijing! My plan: I would focus on making friends with my captors! No email back from the lived ones. Clearly they were not alarmed!
The gates did materialize about 15 minutes from the airport. It was a cheesy, low budget hotel. We were stuck until the AM. The hotel paired us up and I roomed with Diane, the woman I had spotted earlier. As we shared a lousy Chinese buffet dinner, she told me about her son, who will be marrying a Thai woman in two weeks. A new resident to Washington DC and an accomplished woman at the top of her game, Diane was a bonus in an otherwise thoroughly unpleasant situation. As I contemplated my paid for fancy hotel and spa treatment at 3:30 AM in the morning as I prepared to go to the airport 4 hours before my flight per our instructions, I reminded myself of the rules of the travel game: flexibility and finding the gold in every situation. I found two: 1) Diane, whom I'm sure I will see again; and 2) I now know to more closely evaluate the carrier brand. I heard Thai Airways has great service!
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