So we touched down in Manila right at 8:30am on time (thank goodness!) and out the front door of the plane we were ushered (my walker had flown in the plane for this flight) and right to a sign with my name on it! For the 3 parties who had short connections to the flight to Bangkok, there were agents waiting to escort them to their next flight! Very cool! YVR should do this too! Okay, lets focus, into a wheelchair I was placed and whisked away with Andrew almost running behind with my walker and the knapsack (single now) on it. We had to go through security AGAIN! Oh dear. This is becoming a nightmare! So this time they did not like my toe clippers. Whatever lets get moving – leave them behind!
Then they power walked us back towards the gate we had just come from? Oh interesting, the flight to Bangkok was at the gate NEXT to where we arrived! However it was a secure gate (one that you have to go through a scanner to enter) and I guess those of us in wheelchairs had to use the “accessible” scanner station instead down the hall. So we lined up waiting to board the plane, they examined my walker about 10 times like they had not seen one before, I demonstrated how it closed etc and they said they would try and keep it on the plane. So we got onto the flight to Bangkok – this is a Airbus 330 – so a different and NEWER configuration! Very nice. We were in 1 D/F together which is in the middle. I had chosen those seats as the ones at the window are singles! Then they came up to me and informed me that my walker had to go into the hold of the plane – I was fine and prepared for that as I knew we were on a smaller plane with a configuration that I was not familiar with. Their “closets” only open half way – they are not full length closets so therefore my walker could not fit. Then we had the “gluten free meal” scenario happen – the previous crew had told me that they had ordered one for this flight (which I HIGHLY suspected would not make it) so I mentioned it to the flight attendant and sure enough no meal. However, I really should not have said anything as then they worried about it! Oh dear – I told them to not worry and I was fine. Eventually they cooled down and the flight eventually left after the back of the bus boarded.
Great flight – it is so bizarre flying Airbus birds from Boeing ones when you are AWAKE. The “wire” flight controls make a different noise from the Boeing ones. Needless to say, I had no knitting to do so I decided that watching a movie would be a great thing instead – do I remember what movie I watched? Nope. I was horizontal by then and sound asleep!
Next thing I knew, Andrew had eaten breakfast or lunch, whatever it was and we were landing in Bangkok and I must become vertical! That was a QUICK flight! Very cool! I like 3 1/2 hour flights like this! As already arranged as I KNOW the Bangkok airport is HUGE, a wheelchair met us at the plane and off we went to immigration and with my fingers crossed to find out 3 pieces of checked luggage – I sure HOPED that backpack made it! Just like last time we arrived and a very, VERY early hour of the am on Air India, we got through immigration just like that and then had to wait about 5 minutes for our luggage. Both our suitcases showed up – where is that backpack! It was NOT checked at the same time so obviously it might have gone in a different container. Then poof! There it was! Wahoo! I was so excited and our escort thought I was really funny I was so happy to see a piece of luggage! So then he pushed us out of the 2nd stage of immigration and into the public area. Now, trying to get rid of him was a bit of a challenge!
We had booked a private transfer to Rayong, where we were going to stay for the next 4 nights, however as our plane landed an hour early, and I had built time into our schedule if our original flight was late, we had about 90 minutes to burn before our driver would be picking us up. Before leaving Dubai, we had heard from the transfer company as they noticed our flight was coming in an hour early, however I told them at that time, that we wanted to stay with our 2pm pick up time. You never know what can happen when arriving at an airport and I sure see LOTS of examples at YVR!
So I explained very politely that we wanted to get some lunch and that our escort had helped us enough and that I could walk the rest of the way. He did not want to leave us though and insisted on taking us up to the 2nd floor where the restaurants are. At that point I got OUT of the wheelchair and thanked him for helping us profusely and Andrew gave me my walker off the luggage cart and where did we go? McDonalds! Don’t cringe please – I just needed some fries and Coke Zero as I was getting fairly hungry! We sat next to a power charge bar and I charged my phone while I ate and I also downed a protein bar at the same time. It was going to be 2-3 hours until we arrived at the Marriott in Rayong.
Now we proceeded back downstairs – it was kind of a freaky experience – they have “escalators” that you get onto that a flat and then they go down – similar to a ramp, then even out and then go down again to get down one floor. That was great for me and Hugo, however for Andrew and the luggage cart (which are allowed on this escalator things, it started sliding downhill! Unlike the malls in the Vancouver area that have similar types of set-ups – the wheels of the buggies LOCK when they are on the escalator! So this time instead of Andrew having to make sure I was safe on some type of transport, it was ME blocking the suitcases from falling off the buggy! We must have looked quite funny going down the slope!
We then went to Door 3 to try and find out ride. Oh my – what a LOT of names of people getting rides! We tried looking for my name but to no avail, could not find it. Good thing AGAIN I had a data plan as I contacted the lady and eventually found where we were to be – we HAD walked past my name however it was listed under a different company that had confirmed with me. Moving on, she then called the car and we went outside and met up with our driver who was driving a beautiful black SUV. In we got and had a very comfortable ride to Rayong.
The Marriott Hotel in Rayong is beautiful! The meeting rooms are on the 1st floor and the large lobby is on the 2nd floor along with the Salt restaurant, Coffee cafe and Lobby lounge. We checked in and we were upgraded to a corner suite which was very nice! With both of us exhausted at this point, we put our luggage away and went downstairs for an early dinner and then a walk prior to retiring for the evening.
