I find myself back in south east Asia for the second time in less than four months. A final decision to travel was decided literally the day before departure. More about that in a moment but first, it seems the airlines are out to get me because we experienced another huge delay on the flight over. The flight departed DFW on February 5th headed to LAX without a hitch. I boarded an AA flight LAX to Hong Kong around midnight. We were just entering Chinese airspace when a medical emergency occurred a few rows behind my seat. The flight crew made the decision to make an emergency landing in Beijing about 4:30AM.
An elderly woman passenger had suffered a stroke. We pulled into a freight area and a medical crew immediately came on board so that the ill passenger could be moved off and that we could be on our way to Hong Kong. The problem is the Chinese government does not work that way. They made an issue out of the fact that the woman with a stroke did not have a visa to enter the country. After 90 minutes they finally got her off the plane and the pilot announced we would be departing shortly. That DID NOT happen. The flight time duration of the original crew exceeded a limit and they were unable to continue to fly. Everyone from the flight deck exited the aircraft. Thus we, the unlucky passengers, were stuck in the middle of nowhere for over five hours waiting onboard for the customs people to decide our fate. We finally were allowed to disembark into a 15 degree blowing cold winter wind.
Next, trying to get a 24 hour visa was a nightmare. This was my first and, most likely, last time to set foot on Chinese soil. Below is a photo of three guys (including one in a T-Shirt) walking in the frigid air toward the bus shuttle to a hotel. These guys were from LA on a 48 hour sightseeing trip to Hong Kong. Our departure was rescheduled from late night to the next day. We left the hotel at 4:00 am to board the same plane, still parked in the freight area. I finally arrived in Hong Kong, departed late Bangkok, and was rushed by Cathey Pacific ground personal to catch my final flight to Koh Samui.
During this long journey I was given a (stuffed) pig at the airline lounge in Beijing. It was the Chinese New Year and the year of the Pig. His role as new travel buddy is questionable. The group of photos below show my flight over and an early morning walk along the beach.
Where the beach is maintained daily, it is beautiful. The stretches of beach not maintained daily show the damage being done to our oceans by the global crisis of plastic pollution. I challenge you to try to go one day without touching plastic.
Finally and at last, I was welcomed back to The Absolute Sanctuary with a beautiful handmade flower petal arrangement on my bed.
Regarding the actual impetus of this last minute sabbatical to south east Asia, I’d like to share with you a very special message written by Michelle and sent out the day of my departure. Her kind and well chosen words describe my state of mind in ways I have been unable to do. As life sometimes provides, this trip has been exactly what the doctor ordered.
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