A Night at the Airport

I'm sipping a (big!) glass of four dollar coffee, while watching ESPN and browsing along the web...

It's not easy to beat the "Changi experience". I've have always heard that this is one of the best airports in the world, but I've never had the time to enjoy it. After coming back for I dunno how many times, today I've finally got the "chance" to enjoy this wonderful stopping place.

I'm still sipping my cafe au lait... It's regular, but freakin' big... And Coffee Bean is open 24 hours.

Do you like airport? I do. I like strolling around airport and finding different faces. People look honest when they are traveling, you know :) They would wear anything that is comfortable for them, and reflect themselves through their belongings. You can tell who is an avid traveler, and who is a newbie. The only part that I don't like about traveling is when you have to wait for your baggage. I like the moment when I gave my bag away, and I don't have to carry a thing... but it always suck to wait at the belt. That's why, whenever I fly I'll always try to carry 1 cabin bag and 1 laptop bag only. It's good to save an hour.

This is my forth time sipping the au lait... But not even half of it is gone.

I always take time to put myself back together. To recollect myself and place puzzles at the right places in my head. That is why I always plan to travel 2-3 times a year. It doesn't have to be long, it doesn't have to be far... But I have to get away from everyone I know. Bali and Singapore are those two places that I would visit every year.

Last month Mandala started to open international route to Singapore, Hong Kong, and Macau. I would like to be the one who tried it first. So, without further due, I booked the air ticket. Soon after that, I realized that I would arrive after 11pm (SG time is the same as Bali). The options would be to take a cab (and pay off-peak charge), to ask my friend to pick me up (but that's just mean cuz this is Thursday), or.... to stay at Changi until the next morning. So I decided to choose the last option. 

Mandala managed to arrive on-time, thus reached Changi T2 on-time as well. When I stroll along T2, I saw the Sky Train to T3 was opened for a long time. I didn't think too long, and jumped in. I was the only passenger. Well, I am here. I had a very very busy day at work today, and I was so darn lucky that I arrived at the airport on-time. I was even luckier for not having to bring NPWP in order to get free fiscal. I was panic for a while, but then I showed the officers a photo of my card from my netbook and they authorized it. God is so good to me, I know. Do you get satisfaction when you're planning your day as effective as possible, and it works? I do. I remember my mum used to say that I want too many things in life. You were right, mum. I do want everything. Today I realized that I like reporting job, no matter how hard I must learn on the field, and no matter how hectic my life would be.  

 

Here are interesting moments that I've found at Changi so far... 

- A mother gave her three-year-old son a furry monkey bag. The monkey has a loooong tail, and she was holding the tail while her son was running around in front of her happily. The kid is happy, the mom is happy. Yet, somehow I remember when I used to take my doggie outside the house for a run :p

- Went to Coffee Bean and a blond guy was sitting there for a long time. He was there earlier than I was. He ordered some things and then left his bag and his book just like that. And then he came back. He is still there, watching the football channel like I do.

- A Chinese guy went up to me and asked, "Excuse me, miss, how did you get the internet connection?" He was really polite. He came with his father and he stayed only for an hour, before finally left along with his bags.
 
- This spot at T3 is the best! It is near Hard Rock Cafe and the Coffee Bean. You may choose which sofa you want to sit on, according to the channels that you would like to see. Besides it, there is internet spot, where you may plug your computer in and connect to the internet. A phone charger booth is also available. I found it useful, because I forgot to bring my other Nokia charger. If you walk on, you will find Ambassador Transit Lounge. You can take a nap for several hours, take a bath or just enjoy the lounge. The food court located nearby is supposed to be a 24-hour dining place, but the fact is none of them are open.   

- A lot of people are sleeping at the airport. I'm thinking of making a website... No, I know that "sleeping at the airport" has been made. I'm thinking of another site. Hehehe.

Well, next time you go to Singapore, maybe you wanna try staying at Changi once in a lifetime. It could be fun ;)