As a child, I always assumed planes flew from point A to point B. Easy peasy!
But hey the earth is round (contrary to some FB scientists touting otherwise)
I remember then being told in whatever grade Geography class that planes will fly in an arc to shorten the flight and thus save fuel.
Little did I realize to get to Bangkok that one flew from Toronto north to Alaska and then down the eastern coast of Asia. One learns something new every day!
Something else I learned...
Flying during a pandemic isn't what it was pre-Covid.
Approaching Pearson International (the busiest Canadian airport) was like a ghost town, even the parking lots around the airport were devoid of vehicles when I arrived for my overnight flight.
Arriving early, something my mother taught me, I thought the procedure would be long and arduous. The airline had streamlined the process with a lot of people to help and guide along the way, pre-Covid---getting a real person to help you was like finding gold, this evening was like the Midas touch.
Three people met me as I approached the counter.
"May we check your temperature?"
They asked me to then see my paperwork, my hotel for quarantine reservation, my COE(certificate of entry), my FlyClear PreFlight Covid test and all other paperwork necessary to enter Thailand. Apparently, Thailand is becoming annoyed that airlines are bringing passengers to the country without all the necessary paperwork.
**If you ever have trouble sleeping, please feel free to call me and get me to tell you the long version of the ream of paperwork I sent to the Thai embassy in Ottawa to obtain my Visa and COE***
Then it was off to the actual agent to check-in, but please let us check your temperature first!
After checking in I was sent to security. I must say I really got my steps in today. EVA Air is at Row 13 at Terminal 1. I was sent to security at Row 3, approximately 1km away. As I had arrived in plenty of time, I sauntered to Row 3. After security and because of "Chip" my replacement hip, I had to have a patdown, after setting the machine beeping. Hey, at least the guy was cute! Then it was back to Gate E77, basically back to Row 13. I took a leisurely stroll down the back way to Row 13, passing what would have been moving sidewalks, but they too were quiet this evening.
There were about 100 people on my flight all seated for social distancing and further seated by returning Taiwanese nationals and transiting passengers of which I was one. (A side note there were only 2 airlines, EVA and Qatar, allowing transit to Bangkok and no direct flights from YYZ to BKK) Needless to say, there were approximately 6 people in my 50 seat section of the plane. What seat do I get? the window closest to the bathroom!
As soon as we levelled off dinner was served, after that the lights were turned down and window shades were drawn. It was like we were being tucked in for the night. Thank goodness reading puts me to sleep. After a few chapters of my current fluff novel series, I slept for most of the 15 hours. Good night John Boy!
Life slowly returned to the plane as our destination drew near. About 2 hours out, breakfast was served.
I must say always look forward to meals on the plane, no matter the quality of them. As my mother told me on my first flight years ago, "Eat, it helps pass the time!" She also suggested I steal the soaps in the washroom, but that was before liquid soap and hand sanitizer, oh the reckless 70's!
When I was doing preboarding check-in I inadvertently chose the vegetarian Asian menu option for my meals. I was pleasantly surprised when dinner consisted of sauteed mushrooms, rice and another stir-fried vegetable dish, fruit and a dessert. So when it came time for breakfast to be served I lifted the lid of the entree with great anticipation and wonder, to be met with congee!! The congee I have had previously has been the consistency of overcooked porridge, which I would rather eat any day over congee! I decided to give it a go (it will help pass the time) and try it. Needless to say, I would eat congee again, but only on an EVA Air flight, when I have to kill another 15 hours.
Upon arriving in Taipei, we were seamlessly put into groups for onward flights and escorted another mile or two through the airport to a holding area where we were to wait until we were escorted to the gate for our flight to BKK. This had me nervous as social distancing was now "every other seat" and there were rows of airport seating back to back. I found a seat against the wall, at the far end of the room, put on a grumpy face and sat, without being disturbed.
A quick boarding procedure for our flight, with social distancing sort of being observed. There were empty rows, but we were told repeatedly we could not change seats to further distance ourselves from others.
Arriving in BKK, we were met by hazmat suit-wearing individuals who lead us through the terminal, down 2 long moving sidewalks, and then we were told to sit in socially distanced seats. ( it reminded me of playing cars with dining chairs as a child)
Once seated we were approached, by more hazmat suited individuals, temperatures and information taken. We were then sent to another desk and gave our papers, were given more papers and told to procedure further down the terminal. Another temperature check, more exchanges of paperwork and then another row of chairs. Sit and wait! We were then told to stand up and we were escorted to immigration. More questions, more papers, etc. Then through to the final stamp, fingerprinting, and picture taking to enter the kingdom. I think I got the trainee as it seemed to take a while. Finally, I went and picked up my luggage and proceeded to the EXIT!
I was met by a man in a hazmat suit (yet again) and asked my hotel name. I was lead outside, a taxi pulled up, popped its trunk, the hazmat suited driver jumped out, my suitcases were sprayed down and placed in the said trunk, I was placed in the backseat, safely divided from the driver by a plexiglass shield, my photo was taken by my escort who waved as we drove off to my hotel.
At the hotel, the driver snaps a pic of the hotel sign, I'm further interviewed by the hazmat suited hotel nurse, told to use WhatsApp to communicate with her and get my picture taken once again holding my passport, told my room number, REMEMBER to take your temperature twice a day and I'm sent upstairs for 14 days, only being allowed to emerge 3 times for covid testing downstairs in the lobby.
Welcome to Thailand!
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