It was a dark and stormy night...no wait, a greyish morning when we set out for Singapore. First stop, Pearson Airport. After the limo got us there, we found out that our flight was delayed, albeit a half an hour. Then it got delayed another half an hour. Everything seemed to be going smoothly after that until they made an announcement on the plane while we were on the tarmac- "The mechanical crew has found a issue with one of the wheels on the plane, and it will have to be replaced. We should be in the air in 45 minutes or so". An hour or so passes, another announcement, "When the mechanical crew removed the wheel, they found an issue with one of the brakes, and unfortunately it will take another hour to replace". You could see the frustration in everyone, and the flight crew raced into action to make up for the delay and promised us free alcohol once we got into the air...the great equalizer.
When we finally got up in the air, it was a little over 3 hours after we should have been but we tried to keep our spirits up. With no information about our connecting flight (which we would surely miss with only 90 minutes to connect in Tokyo to Singapore). Nonetheless we were on our way! I will tell you 13 hours in the air is long time but it feels even longer when you've been on the ground for 3 extra hours in your seat. Feet got restless, backs and necks tensed up, and for most of us- insomnia abound. I had maybe an hour worth of sleep in the first leg of the trip. After many movies and attempts at slight, we finally landed in a hot and muggy Narita airport terminal in Tokyo. The ground crew in Tokyo was great and had a new connection ready for all 130 passengers who were connecting on our flight. We'd be leaving in 90 minutes.
Once we arrived in Tokyo, I was on the search for two things: sushi and underwear. Now, I know what you are thinking, what happened on that flight? It is a little more innocent than that. Andrea and I had been fantasizing about eating Tokyo airport sushi since the moment we had found out our connection was through Tokyo many months ago. In the short time we had on the ground it was nowhere to be found, so I settled for some Japanese Pepsi Max. As for the underwear, my friend Ben had wanted me to take a picture of the clean underwear machine at Narita- yes this actually exists- also nowhere to be found. Maybe on the way back.
After a short reprieve in Tokyo, we hopped on a Singapore Airlines flight where they treated you like gods, or as close to gods as economy passengers can be. I'm still jealous of the bed style seats in first class. They were always coming around with drinks, the female flight attendants were all done up nicely like they would be in an episode of 'Mad Men', and you could learn a foreign language while you flew. I chose Thai but all I really remember is the Thai word for zero- which is 'soon' by the way. After 7 hours in the air, and little sleep later, we finally landed in Singapore. Customs was a breeze as it was 3 am by that point, and picked up some McDonald's as we waited for Jen (Andrea's cousin who lives in Singapore). Once she arrived, we hoped in a van, took a quick tour of their beautiful condo, talked up a storm, and crashed into bed- safe and sound.
What happened in Singapore? Well that's for the next adventure.
That's all for now,
Steven
Steven will return in 'Singapore Slings' or 'I forgot how close we are to the equator'.
p.s. pictures will be on the way once I have time to upload some.
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