25 July 2998; 2320hrs New York, New York (USA)
I’m at JFK Terminal 1. The plane circled around New York for about an hour before landing. So it’s 2320hrs now. I don’t feel at all tired cos it’s only 1120hrs back home and I virtually slept throughout the 14 hour flight from Shanghai to New York. Really good flight. Sat next to the window with a good view and the seat next to me was empty. That meant I could curl up on both seats comfortably.
Clearing customs was a bit confusing though. I was give the white disembarkation card to fill in on the plane but in fact because of our Visa Waiver Program, I was supposed to fill in the Green card instead. And I was asked a number of questions on what I would be doing in America especially when they saw the black tube I carried with me.
It’s going to be a long wait... I miscalculated the timings. For some weird reason, the terminal from which Delta operates (Terminal 3) closes. Yah... it actually shuts its doors. And the baggage storage area in T1 closes at 2300hrs. I’m stuck with a huge bag and my hand carries. I can’t find any power point to charge my lappie, so that sucked. Even with wireless, I may not be able to surf the internet for long to spend my 14 hour wait here. Boring!
Good thing it’s rather crowded here, so I don’t feel so lonely. Ha! But I’m sure the crowd will thin out soon. I want to explore but not with my baggage. Lugging them everywhere is no fun at all. I know. I walked from T1 to T3 and back.
Know what? There’s a vending machine selling flowers! Starts from US$10 to US$25. I wonder if anyone buys flowers from this machine. Of course there would be business, otherwise the machine wouldn’t even be here in the first place.
Fresh Flowers Vending Machine
JFK is a confusing place. Actually all airports are. Think I can’t read for the next 10 hours or so until I walk to T3 again to check in. Then breakfast? We’ll see.
Finally found a seat where I can lean back. Seriously I can’t see how I’m going to spend 10 hours waiting here. I’ll go mad. Never again. If you see an extremely long post, it’ll simply mean that I was aimlessly writing in my notebook while waiting.
Can’t sleep. Both cannot because I’m not tired and cannot in case I lose my luggage and money. This is really something else. I should have hoses the more expensive flight that leaves early. Ah well... Now I know. You too.
There’s an Iranian man beside me. He just completed his prayers and left his bag beside me unattended. SAFE??? Hahaha... I’m thinking too much yet again.
Tried their WiFi service. Nothing. A number of unsecured networks, one of which was Free Public WiFi which I assumed was the right one. But after connecting there was nothing but limited connectivity. Tried the other unsecured networks and nothing worked.
The Iranian man has left with his bags already. I’m not basically all alone in this sitting area. Safe or not ah? And it’s only 2350hrs.
I wonder if there’s a 24-hour cafe in this terminal. Perhaps some food and drinks will keep me occupied. But if I lose this seat there may be no better ones. Or would there?
This is really a foreign foreign land.
The departure area looks so much more happening. Perhaps I’ll take a walk up there in a bit to have a look at what’s there.
There is now this bunch of middle eastern looking kids popping by this seating area every now and then. Wonder why. Actually they look more Indonesian than Middle Eastern. But their English accent shows that they’ve been here for some time now. Comfirm. So inter-city kids? They don’t look it. I think it’s quite odd they are wearing singlets beneath their T-shirts. I guess it’s an American thing? And all of them are wearing Nike shoes and slippers! Wah... consumerism is rampant here.
It’s 0000hrs! Only 10 more hours to go... And they are turning off some lights. Guess they are shutting down their service already.
Perhaps I’ll go to the departure area soon. Shouldn’t walk too much with these boots. Already have a blister. Just changed to my walking shoes, and it feels so much better.
Another 15 minutes have passed. I’ll read for an hour or so before moving to the departure area to have a look. There must be some 24-hour cafe or something to that extent...
26 July 2008; 0115hrs New York Time
I was chased out of T1 5 minutes ago. Apparently only T4 is open 24 hours. So dutifully, I went to T4. This time luckily enough, they told me I could take the Air Train to all terminals! Don’t need to walk lor! Without luggage I don’t mind but with an 18-kg bag and the hand carries...
T4 is another quiet place. But there are other travellers like me. Saving money on hotels, sleeping on the floor at T4. Lol...
I’ve receeded the place. There are shops on the level below (closed) and a food court that’s open 24 hours. I’ll make my way down at about 0430hrs to have a bite and a drink. Hope I can tong until then. My stomach’s growling already. Then at 0800hrs I’ll make my way to T3. Will have a light tea there before I check in at 1100hrs. Another arduous 12-hour journey. At least I’m saving a bit and don’t have to carry my luggage with me.
Camwhoring at JFK Terminal 4
JFK Terminal 4
26 July 2008; 0255hrs New York Time
Fell asleep for about an hour. Feeling a lot more refreshed now. Am no longer feeling peckish. At least not yet.
But thank goodness for my double layered jacket. It was rather warm in the afternoon, and I could remove the inner layer. Now that it’s a tad cold, without the inner wool layer, I was basically freezing. Foresight I tell you, foresight.
An airport staff was rather cute. He seemed like a middle age guy with a huge belly, and wanted to catch some shut eye. But my line of sight was in direct view of his sleeping area, so he moved the chair and dragged a trolley like thing to serve as a screen to hide himself from me. Hahaha... His legs are still sticking out lor. So can still see him skiving.
Sleepy sleepy
I wish time will pass more quickly.
26 July 2008; 0506hrs New York Time
I survived 6 hours! Only 8 more to go... My plan was to go have breakfast at the foodcourt but I’m too lazy to move. It’s way too comfortable here. Plus I get to see how check-in is done here. It’s different from Changi, and most places I’ve been to so far.
For one, the check-in counter opens 4 hours before the flight. 4! Not 2! Perhaps it’s this particular airline – Caribbean Airlines. And another thing, after checking in, and having weighed their luggage, they (the passengers) have to take them back and proceed to another queue where they deposit their bags to pass through security screening. And indeed those people handling the bags... they were never gentle.
A first! The first three Caucasian passengers I see taking Caribbean Airlines! The rest were all of African descent.
Onward to a long wait ahead!
