The Addlebrook Airport Bluff March 25, 2005
Posted by Martin in : Thailand , trackbackMy first post of significance is written in honour of my good friend Sue Addlebrook who imparted a radical philosophy to me before flying off to live in Taiwan last year.
Her concept of getting to an airport involves leaving everything until the last possible second, that way airport staff will give you that VIP express treatment, shuttle you through the airport in a modified off-road buggy to get you to that departure gate so that they avoid the other 200 or so passengers discovering why their plane is severely delayed and their departure slot posphoned indefinitely. Chances are, if your flight is delayed it’s often because one person could not yet decide whether to pack the blue towel in the bottom of the bag or the red towel at the top – and that person is often Sue.
It’s a travel philosophy for the traveller with nerves and a bladder of steel (presumably stainless steel), enough cash to book a later flight, skin thick enough to withstand 200 or more death-glares from your fellow pasengerees and a need for adrenaline rushes in everyday life.
I today discover that I am not an airport adrenaline junkie. I hope Sue can forgive my normalness.
I’m heading to Udon Thani , a province in the North East of Thailand. I’m excited to meet Tik again, to see her family and spend 4 days with her, exploring the country and booking into an adventure activity resort on the Sunday and Monday.
Why the hell has travel become so damn complicated? October 2001 I arrived in Bangkok with a 25-litre backpack, half of it taken up with ridiclous science and teaching books and my credit card. I used to define myself as a natural traveller. Call me up tonight and by the morning I’ll happily be the other side of the world with a backpack, a blister and a big smile.
Four years later our lives have been hijacked by time-saving gadgets which do nothing but instill in us a constant fear of losing the damn things.
It took me hours to get ready …
- Backup my SIM card for my phone
- Backup the photos from my camera
- Backup my Laptop
- Copy my important files onto my Pen Drive
- Copy important songs onto my MP3 Player
- Pack drivers, cables, chargers for every appliance I own
Then there’s all these damn non-gay men’s cosmetics which 4 years ago I’m sure never existed (as you will probably notice from my photos). Never before have I half filled a case with so much, deodorant, aftershave, hair gel, shampoo and conditioner.
I’m running late, but I’m ready, and my taxi’s ready. The roads to the airport are certainly not. I arrive. I have 20 minutes, to get to the check-in, to check-in and to get to the departure gate. I am dropped off at the wrong terminal.
I’m running like crazy, all over the place,
I sweat like a sumo and it runs down my face.
I’m knackered, I’m flustered, I’ve a rather hot heart,
Yet I find a true hero, and he drives airport carts.
I hop on with some ladies and through the aiport we flew.
I clutch my three bags, yet I leave with just two!
I arrive at the check-in with 5 minutes to go,
I look for my bag, and I search high and low.
I’m far from relaxed, and I search far and wide
and it’s then that I realize it had my passport inside.
I am really quite lucky because the flight’s running late,
and my bag has been found so it’s brought to the gate.
The flight was quite pleasant, which was a relief,
But next time I’ll pack faster, as I don’t need the grief.
Tik comes to meet me at the airport and we head for the hotel. I feel flattered and a little embarassed to find I’ve been bought a dozen red roses and I’d not had the opportunity to even pick up a toblerone for her at the aiport. I’ve only been given roses once before, and that was valentines this year from my maid.
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