Alhamdulillah...
8 years ago
DEPARTURE
Always. I mean every time when i travel, the one thing left out in my to-do-list- airport shuttle booking. When i fly to Christchurch, i forgot. When i fly to Wellington, i almost forgot. Well i did made booking but extremely last minute and they decline my request. Then flying to Tonga, also i forgot. But this time i still give them a call though quite last minute. Guess what? They took my request.
Perhaps it’s New Year, everyone is in a good brand new mood.
“Pick will be at 7.” The lady at the end of line told me.
I’m sure was it i have a bad time keeping. Like people like to joke around the so called Malaysian time, or was it my watch ticked darn slow, the pick up turn up at the doorstep 8 minutes to 7pm.
35 minutes later i arrived at the international terminal.
Gosh i still got more than 2hours to kill before boarding time, i said to myself.
I was totally wrong. Looking at the long queue. With kazillion of people at the check-in area. I see the point why the lady said, “we recommend the pick 3 hours before the departure time.
I queue and waited patiently (amazing isn’t? Me having patience. Since when?). i looked around and all i could see was pacific islander people. Samoan. Tongan. There i was the only tiny mini asian guy heading to a small remote island in pacific ocean.
“Excuse me sir, are you flying to Tonga”, Suddenly out of nowhere an Air New Zealand staff asked me.
Yeah, do i look like flying to London with capital S?
Well i love to reply that way, instead...
“Yah”
“Can you go to counter 28 please?”
But i’m still in the middle of line? It’s not my turn yet. (Oh yeah, next time if you see typing a line in italic it means i’m talking to myself.)
COUNTER 28
There were two ladies on the counter. They both look like Tongan.
“This lady here carries excessive luggage” The staff explain.
So? What it has to do with me?
“Do you mind if she takes up some of your qouta?” she further explained.
“yah sure.” (i am kind-hearted ain’t i?)
OHMIGOD. Ladies, are you carrying the whole departmental storre with you? My eyes almost popping up looking at her luggage and i have to clench my jaw back from the floor.
You see there’s restriction about maximum weight to carry to fly to certain pacific islands. Well in normal cases you can pay the excessive weight but not to these islands. You see, you’ll be flying above Pacific Ocean for thousands of mile. Therefore the have to keep the weight to its minimal to keep the plane’s balance. I don’t want to end up like in LOST- the hollywood tv series. That’s just scary.
“Can i have your ID number?” i asked the Air New Zealand staff.
In this case you have to play safe. First i don’t know what that lady carries in her humongous bag or i should say moving departmental store. Second, my name was on her luggage claim card. In other word, if anything happen to her luggage i will bear responsibility.
I still remember this one Malaysian lady was detained by Australian custom for carrying bag contain drug of which she held it for other people.
So her ID will secure me later and i bet there should be cctv showing she approached me when i was still in the middle of a long queue.
DEPARTURE FEE
Phew, DONE! Long sighed
Well not really.
i looked around to find money changer and found one but close. I looked around again and found the second one but long queue. I looked around again and there was no other. I went again to the second money changer and still many people.
Erm, maybe i should just do it in Tonga.
Or maybe that’s a bad idea, i told myself because i will reach there at about 1am. I believe there’s nothing open except toilet!
It went down to ground floor at the arrival hall and saw there was one money changer AND no one in the queue. I asked the teller straightahead, “hi do you guys sell Tonga Pa’anga?”
“Yes we do but we don’t have it in stock now. So you have to get it at the departure hall”
What? I walk this far just for that bad news? Don’t tel i have to get to the long queue again.
“Oh really,” i quickly responded, “by the way, what’s Departure Fee? I mean do i have to pay?”
I saw the ‘PAY DEPARTURE FEE HERE’ from all those three money changers’ window.
“It’s like a tax that you have to pay before departing all international flight,” She briefed me, “and it’s only NZD25”
WHAT! ‘just NZD25’? Gosh,New Zealand is really a money making county. The income tax blow my pocket with their 20.8% rate and still i’m not entitle for the free medical services!
I paid. so at least i beat the queue here with the departure fee payment at the arrival hall! Later i changed NZD80 to Tonga denomination at the second money changer.
BOARDING
I walked down the Security Check and saw this one lady. She looks familiar but i just ignored her then suddenly, “Hey Ed!”
I turned around like a shampoo model (just imagining i had a long hair) and there she was standing with Auckland Airport uniform and she was Caroline’s sister. Tell you the truth i forgot her name though we went to Piha together and stay 3-day 2-night together.
“Ah girl, its you!”
“where you going to?”
“Tonga”
“Ah sweet”
She and Caroline- her sister whom we work together at Telecom, they were from Tonga. I should say they are pretty. With even-toned tanned skin and pointy nose. Not like how i imagine typical islanders are.
We talked for a couple of lines then i have to go. Well she has to work to.
i queue up at the moderately short line before the custom and immigration counter. When my turn came, i step forward the male officer and handover my passport, boarding pass, and departure card that i filled up earlier and the departure fee. It went smoothly. I’ve been asked a couple of questions but nothing serious. Then walked through the metal detection and smile at the officer. Luckily this time it didn’t beeping and grabbed my scanned luggage.
I walk few metres then...
“Excuse me, this is a random security check. Can you please put your bag here(he pointed the place).”
“Oh-kay” now i start to feel scared.
“Can you empty your pocket”
I took out my mobile phone and wallet and placed it next to my hand luggage.
“spread your legs and your arms” so he ran this gadget that very alien to me all over my body.
“Turn back.” He ordered.
Gosh i felt very smalled and much humiliated. A lot of people going through the customs check looking at me. I bet they think i’m some kind of terrorist that bear the Bin in my paspport. I guess that what will happen also i were to go to America- the discrimination and prejudice to all male muslim. Did they know that Bin means son of?
“OK. Clear.”
I took all my stuff and i don’t smile at him. Just don’t feel like throwing my precious smile after being embarrased in front others.
Gate 7, that’s where i’m going after looking at the monitor.
But i didn’t go there straight instead i stop by Burger King and unpack my laptop trying to get connected to the wireless internet which i thought it’s free. Gosh, there are hardly free stuff here except the air i breathe in!
Giving up and i walked to Gate 7.
Titanic was on the TV.
“Why there’s no sound?” Remember the lady with the departmental store luggage? She sat next to me.
“This is the announcement area. If they turn the volume on...
You’ll end up watching it till the end OR in other words you going to miss your flight, Missy!
...you can’t hear when they call.” I replied.
I glanced around. Searching for Non-Islander. Saw a couple of Pakeha (White), a family i guess and that’s it. I would be the only Asian on the flight.
Ten minutes before departure time we’ve been called on board.
“Passanger travelling with children and the elderly please kindly be on the line.” The chinese ground staff announced with thick Mandarin accent.
But i saw many young and single also on that line.
Minutes later he announce, “Passengers seat from row 20 to 28 please be on line.”
“Come let’s queue.” the lady with the departmental store luggage urged me.
I looked at my boarding pass my seat reads, 6A.
“Okay then.” I sighed and exhaled.
I walked down the Security Check and saw this one lady. She looks familiar but i just ignored her then suddenly, “Hey Ed!”
I turned around like a shampoo model (just imagining i had a long hair) and there she was standing with Auckland Airport uniform and she was Caroline’s sister. Tell you the truth i forgot her name though we went to Piha together and stay 3-day 2-night together.
“Ah girl, its you!”
“where you going to?”
“Tonga”
“Ah sweet”
She and Caroline- her sister whom we work together at Telecom, they were from Tonga. I should say they are pretty. With even-toned tanned skin and pointy nose. Not like how i imagine typical islanders are.
We talked for a couple of lines then i have to go. Well she has to work to.
i queue up at the moderately short line before the custom and immigration counter. When my turn came, i step forward the male officer and handover my passport, boarding pass, and departure card that i filled up earlier and the departure fee. It went smoothly. I’ve been asked a couple of questions but nothing serious. Then walked through the metal detection and smile at the officer. Luckily this time it didn’t beeping and grabbed my scanned luggage.
I walk few metres then...
“Excuse me, this is a random security check. Can you please put your bag here(he pointed the place).”
“Oh-kay” now i start to feel scared.
“Can you empty your pocket”
I took out my mobile phone and wallet and placed it next to my hand luggage.
“spread your legs and your arms” so he ran this gadget that very alien to me all over my body.
“Turn back.” He ordered.
Gosh i felt very smalled and much humiliated. A lot of people going through the customs check looking at me. I bet they think i’m some kind of terrorist that bear the Bin in my paspport. I guess that what will happen also i were to go to America- the discrimination and prejudice to all male muslim. Did they know that Bin means son of?
“OK. Clear.”
I took all my stuff and i don’t smile at him. Just don’t feel like throwing my precious smile after being embarrased in front others.
Gate 7, that’s where i’m going after looking at the monitor.
But i didn’t go there straight instead i stop by Burger King and unpack my laptop trying to get connected to the wireless internet which i thought it’s free. Gosh, there are hardly free stuff here except the air i breathe in!
Giving up and i walked to Gate 7.
Titanic was on the TV.
“Why there’s no sound?” Remember the lady with the departmental store luggage? She sat next to me.
“This is the announcement area. If they turn the volume on...
You’ll end up watching it till the end OR in other words you going to miss your flight, Missy!
...you can’t hear when they call.” I replied.
I glanced around. Searching for Non-Islander. Saw a couple of Pakeha (White), a family i guess and that’s it. I would be the only Asian on the flight.
Ten minutes before departure time we’ve been called on board.
“Passanger travelling with children and the elderly please kindly be on the line.” The chinese ground staff announced with thick Mandarin accent.
But i saw many young and single also on that line.
Minutes later he announce, “Passengers seat from row 20 to 28 please be on line.”
“Come let’s queue.” the lady with the departmental store luggage urged me.
I looked at my boarding pass my seat reads, 6A.
“Okay then.” I sighed and exhaled.
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