I travelled for almost 18 hours! My Manila to Hongkong flight was scheduled to depart NAIA 1 at 12:30 and we were in Hongkong at around 2:30 via Cathay Pacific Airways. My flight to JFK, New York was not until 5:30 so I was able to stroll around Hongkong airport for about three hours.
I noted that Hongkong-based flight attendants are not so nice. Or maybe I was just accustomed to the Filipinos’ hospitality? During my three-hour wait, I noted them scolding passengers for not queueing in the right line or for queueing up early when the flights were not announced yet.
Anyway, I could be wrong.
By 5:00 PM, we were called to board the aircraft.
I was initially thrilled when I saw that the seats could be turned into beds with free wine and individual television sets and curtains for privacy! I then felt that it would be my most comfortable travel ever!!!
And then my shoulder slumped when I realized that this was for business class customers. I had economy class ticket. Well, so much for day dreaming. But someday, I’m gonna fliy first class.
For a ticket worth 3,500-US dollars, the economy class compartment was OK. We still had our own monitors with headset, free pillow and blanket. And although you could not convert your seats into beds, you could recline it up to 45 degrees to give your head a better rest.
And movies (read: Recent! Newly-released!) were for free!
And so my 16-hour flight to the US was at least not boring! I think I finished all the movies! And food was served regulary…so I think I could live there for months and not complain.
The views were also amazing!
The first time the pilot announced that we were nearing New York, I immediately raised my window and looked for the Statue of Liberty. Don’t blame me, movies always show the Liberty when the protagonist arrives in New York! And to my dismay, there was none. I later learned that the Liberty is on the other end of New York.
Anyway, there was snow on the ground!!! Real ones! I was actually tempted to go out of the plane, play on the grounds and bathe myself with pure whiteness that is snow until I realized how silly that looked.
So I pretended that everything was normal and that I came from a place where it snows everyday. But deep inside, I was so thrilled!!!!
Despite travelling 16 hours, I arrived in New York at 10:30 PM, same day. This is because of the 12-hour time difference, and the delayed aircraft.
I was fetched by a black man, with a card that read: Christine Po, Ernst and Young! Too bad I wasn’t able to take pictures.
Our ride was a black Lincoln. And it was my first time to see a real GPS. And it was so cool! GPS servicing in the Philippines is kind of costly and Reymar claims that it is unnecessary since he is a “walking GPS”. In fairness to him, he really knows the “twists and turns” of the Metro Manila streets.
Anyway, JFK to Manhattan (where I would be staying) was like half an hour drive. But it turned out to be a 45-hour ride because of the congested traffic. YES there was TRAFFIC!!! But I noted that cars were at least a car away from each other. Unlike here in the Philippines where everything is bumper to bumper.
But the driver (I forgot his name) said that this is a very rare occurrence and then I realized that farther down, a car accident caused the traffic.
Then there was the sign, “Manhattan”.
We drove further down some roads and then arrived at Oakwood, 32nd and Park South. And then I realized, this will be my home for the next three months.
Welcome to New York!
I noted that Hongkong-based flight attendants are not so nice. Or maybe I was just accustomed to the Filipinos’ hospitality? During my three-hour wait, I noted them scolding passengers for not queueing in the right line or for queueing up early when the flights were not announced yet.
Anyway, I could be wrong.
By 5:00 PM, we were called to board the aircraft.
I was initially thrilled when I saw that the seats could be turned into beds with free wine and individual television sets and curtains for privacy! I then felt that it would be my most comfortable travel ever!!!
And then my shoulder slumped when I realized that this was for business class customers. I had economy class ticket. Well, so much for day dreaming. But someday, I’m gonna fliy first class.
For a ticket worth 3,500-US dollars, the economy class compartment was OK. We still had our own monitors with headset, free pillow and blanket. And although you could not convert your seats into beds, you could recline it up to 45 degrees to give your head a better rest.
And movies (read: Recent! Newly-released!) were for free!
And so my 16-hour flight to the US was at least not boring! I think I finished all the movies! And food was served regulary…so I think I could live there for months and not complain.
The views were also amazing!
The first time the pilot announced that we were nearing New York, I immediately raised my window and looked for the Statue of Liberty. Don’t blame me, movies always show the Liberty when the protagonist arrives in New York! And to my dismay, there was none. I later learned that the Liberty is on the other end of New York.
Anyway, there was snow on the ground!!! Real ones! I was actually tempted to go out of the plane, play on the grounds and bathe myself with pure whiteness that is snow until I realized how silly that looked.
So I pretended that everything was normal and that I came from a place where it snows everyday. But deep inside, I was so thrilled!!!!
Despite travelling 16 hours, I arrived in New York at 10:30 PM, same day. This is because of the 12-hour time difference, and the delayed aircraft.
I was fetched by a black man, with a card that read: Christine Po, Ernst and Young! Too bad I wasn’t able to take pictures.
Our ride was a black Lincoln. And it was my first time to see a real GPS. And it was so cool! GPS servicing in the Philippines is kind of costly and Reymar claims that it is unnecessary since he is a “walking GPS”. In fairness to him, he really knows the “twists and turns” of the Metro Manila streets.
Anyway, JFK to Manhattan (where I would be staying) was like half an hour drive. But it turned out to be a 45-hour ride because of the congested traffic. YES there was TRAFFIC!!! But I noted that cars were at least a car away from each other. Unlike here in the Philippines where everything is bumper to bumper.
But the driver (I forgot his name) said that this is a very rare occurrence and then I realized that farther down, a car accident caused the traffic.
Then there was the sign, “Manhattan”.
We drove further down some roads and then arrived at Oakwood, 32nd and Park South. And then I realized, this will be my home for the next three months.
Welcome to New York!
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