It was finally time for me to leave Thailand for the last time (on this trip) and get myself to Kuala Lumpur. With the Orient Express very slightly out of my price range, and a 24 hour bus not sounding appealing (especially with knowledge of a few overnight crashes recently and awkward overland border crossing points), I found myself a cheap flight. Already running into problems as I'd booked it for the wrong day (due to my confussion over my KL to Borneo flight), I struggled to convince the lady at my guesthouse that there are buses that go to the airport from Krabi town...I just need to know where to meet it. She insisted that I had to be driven by her son until I managed to prove the exsistance of the shuttle bus (there is also a public bus, but to get her to agree to that was asking too much). Suddenly she remembered there was a shuttle service afterall, and instantly knew the number to call off the top of her head!
I surprised myself when I got to the airport with plenty of time, so found a quiet corner in the departure lounge to listen to some music. One time I looked up to see the room full, the next it was entirely empty. I thought it strange that everyone would have gone, and having watch troubles, I hurridly worked to confirm the time to myself. Putting it down to it the fact it was a whole hour till my flight, and Krabi being only a small airport, I assumed people tend to leave themselves less time here, and will start arriving soon.
Bording time soon rolls round, and looking about now, I can see that still not a soul has arrived, and even the people working at the gift counter and coffee bar have left. Certain this isn't right and slightly concerned that still I'm there on the wrong day, I go for an explore. A confused AirAsia assistant spies me and hurries over. Turns out I was in the Domestic Lounge, not the International Lounge. I hadn't even cleared immegration! The International Lounge was reassuringly busier...and bording fast when I arrived.
Pleased to be on the plane, I reflect on how many flights I've come close to missing...Hong Kong-Bangkok, Krabi-KL and KL-Borneo. I was pretty late for my St London-Petersburg flight too, leaving only my Hanoi-Bangkok flight (which I booked the day before) and Bangkok-Krabi flight (which I was already at the airport for) that have gone smoothly. I also reflect on the only other time I've flown on my own somewhere, and remember how 30mins prior to take-off, instead of being at London City Airport bound for Edingburgh, I was sat outside Tate & Lyle Sugar factory after getting on the wrong shuttle bus from Canning Town. I'm beginning to not like planes and think I have a mental block towards them. Next time I'll get the train.
Anyway, it's a three hour flight so I use the last of my Thai Baht to get an expensively cheap meal. Hated doing it, but I'd be hungry later otherwise, and it's rubbish trying to find your way into a big city feeling weak. I was really baffled when we touched down just 40 minutes after take-off. Took me ages to confirm I'd gotten on the right plane and was in the correct city! If I hadn't already nearly made it to the end of my trip, I'd think my travelling future was bleak.
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It seems that the locals are just having fun turning you round your nose :)
ReplyDeleteAnyways, it's funnier to go on your own than with a guide 24/7, but riskier.