I was insured through QBE and yesterday (30 Jan) received the cheque for the extra accommodation and food expenses incurred as per my policy. Processing time was very quick once I submitted the claim.
Again the virtue of booking on line and turning up to the (New World Lodge) Hotel with a confirmed booking pays off. There were lots of walk ins trying to book a room and the staff were frantically checking whether or not you held a booking. If so check in was very quick.
Once settled in a quick call to Qantas to let them know where I was and hopefully get home soon. Anyway I am back in BKK so I may as well enjoy it. I plan lots of temple visits to see what I have missed on my previous visit here. There is a different feel to the town now. Everyone knows that lots of people are here only because the airport has been closed. The touts seem less forceful as if they know that the farangs either haven’t got money or are resentful of being stuck with no apparent way of getting home.
The talk around is what actions people are taking to try and get out of the place. Some people are taking bus trips to Cambodia or Malaysia to see if they can catch a plane out of there. I decide to wait it out, I am safe and the thought of spending many hours on a bus trip with no guarantee of a plane seat once I get does not appeal to me.
On Sunday evening I am near the river waiting for sunset to get some photos of the Rama VIII bridge when some Thai women ask me to use their camera and take their photo. Nothing unusual about this it has, I am regularly asked to do this. They ask if I am affected by the airport blockade and apologise profusely for my inconvenience, again nothing unusual, lots of Thais have done the same.
Then they identify themselves as being members of the PAD and mention that it is really important that the government be overthrown. This is my cue to say that I am a guest in their country and that I cannot comment on matters of which I do not understand, I also comment on how nice the Thai people have been especially during my stay.
They then point out their headquarters which was nearby and tell me about the daily bombings they endure, usually late at night. There are nets all over the building which apparently assist in deflecting the small bombs as well as the boarding over the windows to prevent them being damaged. I realise that this is not a good place to be and thanking them for their good wishes return to my hotel.
I receive a message that Qantas has called and quickly call them back. There is a hold time of approximately 45 minutes and then my call is answered. Once I give my name and travel details they she asks if I want to travel to coughet on their bus and then fly home. Yes please.
The requirement was to be at the Shangri La hotel by 9.30am Monday morning to catch a bus to coughet which will leave at 11.30am and arrive at 11.30pm. Then a 2.00am flight from coughet to Singapore, then a flight from Singapore to Sydney and then to Canberra. I assure her that I will be there early and thank her profusely.
Emails home are received with great relief that the adventure is nearing an end. I start packing and preparing for the long journey home. Monday morning I check out and make my way to the Shangri La arriving about 8.30am as did lots of other people. Qantas have booked several large areas, conference and ball room etc to handle their passengers. There is lots of signage about where to go and the hotel staff are happy to guide as required.
When I enter what is the main waiting area there are lots of people and seats, Qantas staff, Australian Foreign Affairs staff and the odd journalist. There are tables set up as check in desks and once they start the process I use the J class desk (which is my booking class) and with a check of my passport and a reminder that I will not have access to my check in luggage until I get back to Australia I proceed through to a large waiting area which has food and drink (non alcoholic) for all pax as we wait for the check in to be completed. The hotel staff are very attentive and the feeling of relief that we are finally going home is immense.
Once everyone is checked in (I believe about 300 pax) the Qantas team leader comes in to address us all. She tells us that there are seven coaches taking us to coughet and that one is reserved for ill and elderly pax and there will be nurses looking after them. There will be food stops along the way and explains that some pax will get early flights out of SIN and others will have to wait until the evening. Also pointed out were the Foreign Affairs staff who had been very proactive making their way through the room talking to people and making sure they were ok. She asked if there were any questions.
There was one question about accommodation for pax who were going to spend more than a few hours in SIN until their flight out. She noted that day rooms were booked for all these people. Then a bloke stood up and said what many of us had been thinking. He thanked Qantas for their magnificent effort and everyone clapped and cheered the staff.
We boarded the buses and took off with a police escort and several journalists there recording our departure. A long bus trip is just like a long plane trip without taking off. We were fed and given drinks a couple of times, I never went hungry nor did anyone I spoke to. A couple of stops, the second of which we had dinner at a restaurant paid for by Qantas. The person next to me had an I-Phone with an internet connection and late that evening watched our departure on the news. Out police escort got us through the numerous police checkpoints
coughet airport was absolutely packed and the buses were unloaded two at a time to avoid overloading the place. Remember Qantas doesn’t normally fly here and therefore doesn’t have computer facilities so the boarding passes were printed in SIN and brought up with the plane. There were people everywhere hanging around in the hope of getting on a flight anywhere out of Thailand. Am very glad I was flying Qantas and getting out. There was an Australian journalist (and I use the word in its loosest sense) and cameraman from channel 7 who was desperate for someone to say bad things about Qantas. If you wanted to praise Qantas for their excellent effort they weren’t interested in talking to you or hearing about it.
Eventually get my BP and proceed through immigration and customs, a very quick process and into the waiting area. There are people everywhere, it was very crowded and given the late hour (after midnight) everyone was very tired. I walked around to avoid going to sleep. Once I waited near the gate we were going to check in and talked to a fellow passenger. Naturally the talk was about how long we had been delayed and what we had doe whilst delayed. Unfortunately I picked loser of the year to talk to, he was actually flying out on the day he was meant to. He then started whinging loudly about Qantas saying he had had to ring them and harangue them about getting onto this flight and it wasn’t fair he had spent all this extra money on phone calls. He also mentioned he had contacted the Australian Prime Minister and channel 7 to get on board this flight. I told him he was a loser and that he should be thankful he was safe, not excessively delayed and getting out of the country. He wasn’t impressed and I was pleased to get away from this drop kick. He was the only person I spoke to who whinged, still I guess there has to be one in every crowd.
Up the front I was enjoying the space and looking forward to leaving. Amenity kits were handed out and the FAs very attentive. Now this was but a few hours into December and already the magazine was current. The planned takeoff time was 2.30am but we eventually left about 3.40am. As soon we took off I but the seat into bed mode and went to sleep waking up as we approached SIN.
One more bit to come and I am writing it now.
