It’s off to Phuket !

Today I’m off to Phuket. The end destination is to learn to sail with YachtPro (bookings@sailing-thailand.com). Aim is to get the Competent Crew certificate. Me - Competent ? Well, we can but try. So, what about the journey? From Nanchang, we go via Kunming. As the first jump is a domestic flight, it’s impossible to connect straight through. So, in ploy to gain maximum advantage, all luggage is hand carry. Fluids are limited. You can buy that when you get there. Clothes - surely I can manage a week with just one T Shirt and a spare pair of shorts? What else goes in ? Well, after my Nesspresso machine, my drone. I have a DJI Mavic Air. Small enough to carry, big enough to have a decent flight time. I also put in a DJI Osmo Mobile. (https://store.dji.com/) I like the stabilised images and easy tracking this gimbal device gives. Enough techy stuff, I’ll cover that in my Gadgets pages. Notice my priorities here - More gadgets, less clothes. As I’m off to learn to sail - so a coil of rope, to practice my knots. Although, if I’m honest I’ve been carrying this coil of rope for weeks now. Not tried a Bowline yet ! That’s about it. As a friend once said. All you really need to travel is a passport, a credit card and a sense of humour - I’d also add an ability to be calm in chaos helps. Check-in no issue. Off to go through security. Now this was sat on the desk, and I noticed it again in Kunming. Not sure what it does, but who decided to put the power socket there?

Now with all those electrical items, I’ve got used to pulling them out and sticking in a tray. It will happen anyway if I don’t. There was a great bit of Chinglish as we go through.

Discarding of Fire - I’m sure the airport would love me to put fire in the rubbish bin. Great way to start an emergency. Actually more like Dispose of Flammable Items here.

Liquid Implantation - I struggled with this. Is that what I do when I drink too much G&T ? I guess they mean, put fluids here. Now we have that horrible thing in China - the wait to board. China has some of the worst statistics for on time departure, so out of bitter experience I never have a connection out of China that’s less than 3hrs.

Today is no exception for worry. There have been thunder storms and the majority of planes are delayed. Nothing on the flight to Phuket. But that doesn’t mean much. I’ve seen planes tagged as on time an hour after boarding before. But - things are looking up. There is a plane at the gate ! Even better we are boarded on time. Don’t think you can stop worrying now. They don’t ask for air clearance until the doors are closed. So you can still sit there, for hours, before you get the OK to leave. All my friends and colleagues have horror stories. My worst was being put on the plane about 10pm, took off at 6am - for a 1hr flight! But today - success. We’re off on time.

I almost ended the Blog here, but when we landed in Kunming, I actually had a new Airport experience - even for me.

Following the International Transfer signs we get to the Transfer Desks - we have no Boarding Passes so need to Check-In. It was about 10pm. There is no one there. A security guard just waves us on up the escalators. Now, they go to what looks like a dead end. And there is only an up escalator. Talking Heads - Road To Nowhere?

We finally arrive at the Immigration Counters ! Still no Transfer Desk or Boarding Pass. Next we go through Customs screening - the wrong way ! One more escalator and we get to the Passenger Only check - except we're going out, not in.

And there we are at the International Check-In!

Just when I think it can't get better, we queue up in the China Eastern Check-In queue for Phuket. A long queue, but we have time. Nothing moves.

Then the man at the front turns around with about a dozen Chinese passports all with Boarding passes. He was checking a Chinese Group in. Just our luck.

But wait - why have the people in the queue still got there luggage ? Oh - he'd just checked them all in, got boarding passes and then they were going to do it all again to check there bags in !!!!!!!!

#Travel