Im writing from an airport that is so small that it looks like a drivers ed. course. The size of the runway makes me wonder how big the plane is going to be...Im a little scared! This place reeks with adventure... even sitting in this airport makes me feel like I am in another time. Its an open air waiting room with big fans to keep people from passing out from the oppressive heat. The runway is lined with palmtrees and backed by a mountain. I feel like I'm on Lost... where's the men in the jumpsuits working for the Darma Initiative? Better question.... where's Sawyer? Joking... I'm an engaged women : ). My trip to the airport was also an adventure. I love when public transportation and extreme sports collide into one. It's a good way to feed your need for a rush and get where you're going in one bill. My transportation here was a speed boat. It was a really nice ride and I got to see the waterfront on some of the other resort beaches... I liked mine the best, it wasn't in the tourbook so I think its less known making it less populated. I do have some complaints about the "resort." When I got there I was absolutely exhausted and just wanted to go to bed, but first I needed to ensure that I would never make the trip that I had just made... it was way too long and complicated and ate up too much precious time. I had seen that there was an airport on the island but never looked into a flight because I assumed that it would be too expensive. While I was waiting for the ferry to the island I went to KFC and used the WiFi to look up a flight. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought so I booked it, or so I thought. While sitting on the ferry, I looked at the screen shot that I had taken of my flight information and saw that it wasn't the final confirmation page. This was a serious problem because I had booked a one way boat ticket to the island and they said that there is no way to book ferry tickets once you are on the island. This meant that if that flight was booked, I was stuck. Im running a pretty tight ship here and don't have much room for error... Only one flight goes to Kunming from Malaysia a day and if I miss it, I'll miss my flight back to the States. Soooo my first order of business was to look into this flight. The internet at the "resort" didn't work. I politely talked to the receptionist about it and explained that I reallly needed internet to book a plane ticket. She was neither helpful nor concerned. I tried to hold the "ugly American" in me back but this place advertises that it has internet... THIS IS FALSE ADVERTISING... I wanted to scream. One thing that I've learned is that customer service is viewed very differently in different countries and I don't really know if they care about false advertising here. I was almost in tears. I went to her again and she agreed to call the airport.... they were closed. As I walked to my room, I carefully crafted the review that I would post online about this resort. It couldn't be overly bitter or it would be cast aside as the ravings of a lunatic... I would get my revenge one way or another. Then I went to my room.... the key didn't work... so I dragged my suitcase back to reception... the women there looked like she wanted me dead... they called maintance and then I dragged my bag back to my room. He opened the door for me... the pictures online displayed a nice, clean room... FALSE ADVERTISING! I actually think that there were more bugs in the room than outside. Luckily they weren't scary bugs, they were fairly small. Although a couple of them were jumping around happily on my bed... "are those flees?" I wondered. I don't know... there's no internet so I can't look it up! Then I saw the bathroom. When you flush the toilet the water runs all over the floor. A lot of water, truely it floods the bathroom. On closer examination, I noticed that the water running everywhere is coming from the pipe in the back so at least it should be clean. After showering I watched half of "The Butler" (great movie!) and went to bed. In the moring life was better. I called the airport and booked my flight... as I sit here Im laughing at myself for my panic... there are five people in this airport, its unlikely that the plane will be full. Internet access returned after I booked my flight over the phone which was good because I wanted to let Bill know that I had made it. One more comment about the room... the next day I noticed that the pillow was the moldiest piece of material I've ever seen. Half of me was concerned for my health since I sleep on my stomach and basically inhale my pillow, the other half of me wished that that pillow could talk. Oh the tales it must have. How could a pillow get that moldy? Was it in a flood, perhaps it was shipwrecked... I can't even fathom what could make a pillow that moldy. There weren't moldy pillows in the pictures, but there might be after my carefully crafter review! I love the power that internet gives the consumer, we always have a voice and I like it!
The room came with a free breakfast buffet which was nice. Unfortunately I mistook the fish sauce on the table for syrup. That was disappointing as I have really been craving pancakes... I didn't expect fish sauce to be a staple for breakfast. Next I embarked on my goal to relax. I relaxed for about 45 minutes and then got bored so I decided to go for a hike in the jungle. My hike was cut really short... I started to enter the jungle but a huge reptile jumped out at me. I don't know what it is called (I asked a local person but they told me the local name which I forget) but it was basically an iguana the size of an alligator. I ran and never ventured into the jungle again! So that drove me back to relaxing and let me tell you, I need a hammock in my life. I love them! I was a little sad as I ate dinner at the ocean front restaurant. The waiter asked if I was alone and I said yes. My adventures have been amazing but Im ready to have an adventure buddy for life with me ; ). Miss you Bill! I went to bed pretty early. Im used to traveling alone, but this country makes me a little nervous. The guide book recommended that women not travel alone, which I didn't read until I was on the plane here and it was too late. That warning made me a little nervous because they said that people think of western women as being loose and can target them. Its hard to know the line between being cautious and being paranoid, but with two days left, I'm not taking any chances. This morning I returned to my hammock until taking the boat to the airport. I can's wait to see this plane!
Pictures of the airport!
Update: I have a whole new respect for aviation. You really realize the miracle that flight is when you are on a plane with a propellor. I sat in the window seat right next to the propellor and realized that if anything stopped that little device from spinning, we would fall into the sea in seconds... It was a terrifying realization, followed by another terrifying discovery. I looked at the arm rest that I was clutching and saw the rectangular metal box with the word "push" carved into it... AN ASHTRAY! How old is this plane? When was the last time people were allowed to smoke on a plane?
I'm now sitting at my hostel. I went out and saw the towers but that was all that I had time for. My hostel is in a shady area and I was afraid to be out at night so I'm getting up extra early tomorrow to go visit a mosque. Also I can't believe how western this place is... I forgot how amazing it is to have so many food choices... My head was spinning from the choices!
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