and here are a few of my favorite shots. For the rest of my Kyoto and Tokyo trip (I love how both these cities use the exact same letters to spell their names)
Friday, March 28, 2008
Kyoto - Land of many Temples
and here are a few of my favorite shots. For the rest of my Kyoto and Tokyo trip (I love how both these cities use the exact same letters to spell their names)
Oil Shortage? Sure, but the coming war will be over
RICE.
Several weeks ago I heard on NPR that rice had tripled in the past year on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Oddly enough, while the Chicago Merch Ex only 'trades' 2% of the world's rice, it sets the price world wide.
Go figure - what some trader on the floor in Chicago says a bag of rice is worth, tells China and India and the other Asian lands that grow the majority of this stuff - what they should be pricing their crops.
Now its gone up 30% in one month! ONE month! What does that mean for the world? Well apparently a bunch of potential rioting as the folks growing this stuff cannot then afford to EAT it themselves.
Now, call me crazy but with the advent of 'middle class' in both India and China - you have millions (yes, the population is over a billion but we aren't talk about the hundreds of millions in poverty), dozens of millions, hundreds of millions (?) of people eating three meals a day. Worse, they can now afford to not eat it all, throwing it out (gasp:wasting it) like never before.
The pressure this is putting on the worlds food supply will continue to mount. And what with a 'virus' running rampant in Cambodia or Vietnam killing or at least stifling further crop growth, its not looking good.
And don't eve get me started on the clean water shortage. Here's hoping Dean Kamen can fix this problem before it begins the riots.
Oh yeah, that's why the murder and bloodshed in Darfur is happening.
Now *YOU* know.
Several weeks ago I heard on NPR that rice had tripled in the past year on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Oddly enough, while the Chicago Merch Ex only 'trades' 2% of the world's rice, it sets the price world wide.
Go figure - what some trader on the floor in Chicago says a bag of rice is worth, tells China and India and the other Asian lands that grow the majority of this stuff - what they should be pricing their crops.
Now its gone up 30% in one month! ONE month! What does that mean for the world? Well apparently a bunch of potential rioting as the folks growing this stuff cannot then afford to EAT it themselves.
Now, call me crazy but with the advent of 'middle class' in both India and China - you have millions (yes, the population is over a billion but we aren't talk about the hundreds of millions in poverty), dozens of millions, hundreds of millions (?) of people eating three meals a day. Worse, they can now afford to not eat it all, throwing it out (gasp:wasting it) like never before.
The pressure this is putting on the worlds food supply will continue to mount. And what with a 'virus' running rampant in Cambodia or Vietnam killing or at least stifling further crop growth, its not looking good.
And don't eve get me started on the clean water shortage. Here's hoping Dean Kamen can fix this problem before it begins the riots.
Oh yeah, that's why the murder and bloodshed in Darfur is happening.
Now *YOU* know.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
...and GET *YOU*! Stuck in Singapore!
Sure it was only 4pm and my flight was at 11:45pm. But there is a lot to do at the Changi Airport (see previous post on my fav place to eat) so that is fine.
What follows is the 'transcript' if it were recorded by an evil-doer standing by:
Inside Terminal 2 of Changi Airport, mid-day, main character (me) approaches the check-in counter after curb side drop off. He walks in, reads sign that says check-in counter is #12. Pulls luggage to counter 12 from counter 2 where he was dropped off:
Me: Hi, checking in for the SQ flight to NRT. (SQ is the airline code for Singapore Air and NRT is the airport code for Narita aka. Tokyo Airport)
Generic Airport Worker for SQ: Oh yeah, you need counter 4. Back that way. (Points back the direction the main character just walked)
Me: Great.
Main character politely turns around and heads right back to where he started. Standing at the counter 4, terminal 2. Biz class check-in.
Me: Hi, checking in for the SQ flight to NRT.
Evil Counter Lady 1: 11 (something something) flight tonight?
Me: Yes
ECL 1: You need to go to Terminal 1.
Me: Ugh.
Main character lugs bags around this gigantic, clean but fairly empty airport. Working up a sweat, our man takes a tram, swings luggage around dozens of long hallways and corners and chugs up to counter number 2, terminal 1.
Me: checking in for 11:45 flight to Narita...
ECL2: Uh, huh, there is no early check in for that flight here.
Me: Say what?! (pretty sure that was what I said)
ECL2: And you need terminal 3.
Me:
Main character repeats moving luggage only in the continued direction ALL THE WAY around the airport to terminal 3. More sweat. Luggage getting larger and heavier by the meter. Main character makes way to counter for Biz Class check-in counter.
Me: Yeah, checking in for SQ Flight 5902 - NRT at 11:45
ECL3: You need terminal 1. Do you know where that is?
Me: WHAT?! Of course I know where that is, I was there and they sent me here. I have been to all three terminals already.
ECL3: Well, that is a code share flight for SQ and is run by ANA, so you need to check in there.
Me: But my United sheet says this is an SQ flight (pulls out sheet).
ECL3: SQ doesn't do four number flights, that is operated by All Nippon Air. Terminal 1.
Main character turns and says things that make nearby small children cry and little kittens around the world mew in pain. Somewhere a mother is actually embarrassed by a son.
Cursing his way back to Terminal 1, sweating now more than ever and spewing foulness in a 20' radius, our character says to no one in particular:
Me: I HATE THIS AIRPORT.
Nearby Singapore Policeman: I'm sorry - what was that?
Me: Uh, I said 'man, this airport has grown' since the last time I was here.
NSP: Yup, added a whole new terminal.
Me: I know, I have visited it - AND - all the other ones... (the sarcasm didn't get noticed)
NSP: Take care and have a good flight
Our main character, having just narrowly missed a caning the likes of which are reserved only for spitting, graffiti artist, gum chewers checks himself before he wrecks himself. Now having reached Terminal 1, counter 4 AGAIN pushing what must now look like a full freight train, or at least that is what it feels like we are sure.
Me: Hi. REMEMBER ME? (speaking through tightly pulled lips that arrange to a smile last seen in a Batman, on the Joker)
ECL1: You back again?
Me: YES - I'd like to check in for ANA flight 5902, 11:45 to NRT.
ECL1: ANA does not check in this early...
Me: But what about Business class?!?
ECL1: Oh, sure. (takes offered passport, scans it into the system and looks up, worried) Sir, you aren't on that flight.
Me: WHAT ....DO....YOU....MEAN... I am NOT on that flight?!
ECL1: I don't have you on this flight.
Me: (hands over evil United Itinerary) SEE? This flight right here. (Points to the flight leg he is attempting to check in on)
ECL1: Sir, can you step over to the Business check in lounge? I don't have you on this flight and there is nothing I can see here...
Me: Where is this lounge?
Evil Counter MAN1: Over there (he thumbs over his shoulder at the apparent lounge just behind the counter.
Me:French Sailors know> Fine.
Our character pulls luggage over to the business lounge and is directed to a (get this) smiling gate agent.
NiceGateAgent1: How may I help you?
Me: *terminals* *counters* *told to go...* (recalls potential caning and composes self) I am trying to get onto ANA flight 5902...
NGA1: Yes, of course. I can check you in - they don't have agents here now but let's see what I can do. (Takes passport, scans it into system and then looks up) Sir, I don't have you on that flight.
Me: Yes, so I have been told. I have my itinerary right here and as you can see, United says I am on this flight.
NGA1: Yes, but I cannot find you under any name (screen is visible and you can clearly see that even partial first, last and even middle names brings up nothing). Do you have a ticket number from previous flight?
Me: Yes, here is my first leg stub.
NGA1: (already on phone to ANA and confirms no Raleigh or Mann or Dav... or Ral...or Man...) Ah, that will help. (Punches some keys, screen shows entire ticket AND flight 5902 is listed)
Hmmm...Sir there are no seats available on that flight. United didn't push through the record correctly or something - I see its ticketed by ANA does not have a record of this seat request.
Me: Where the heck is United in this airport so I can go have a *chat* with them?
NGA1: Oh, they only have a single flight at 4:30am every day, so they aren't here.
Me: Wha...?
NGA1: I am on the phone with ANA, they could squeeze you on a flight...in coach.... it leaves at
Me: NO, I paid for Business and damned if United won't get me on a flight in Business with SQ.
NGA1: I have already checked and there are two flights that have available seating with SQ. One to NRT via Bangkok and one direct.
Me: DIRECT....please.
NGA1: Oh, I can't book it, United has to do this.
Me: (calling number on back of 1K card, gets universal tone indicating not a number that is reachable) Do you have a local number for United?
NGA1: I am already on the phone with their local reservations desk. (he turns to the phone call previously unoticed) Yes, I am calling from Thai Air for a Mr. Mann...yes, eticket number 555555555555555 (hollywoodized so no one can look up this actual ticket) no seats available on that flight....yes, they offered another flight in coach but Mr. Mann.... Yes, can you see about getting him on...Sure. Ahmed. And you are? Ok, fine. (hangs up) She is going to call back. Can you sit over there please? (points to no-mans-land seating where the crass and unclean go when they inadvertently walk into this lounge)
Me: What are they doing about this?
NGA1: I don't know for sure, she put me on hold a bunch but says that apparently the seat reservation didn't go through. She is going to call back. (smiles an attempting reassuring smile)
Me: Do you have a local number for United? Never mind. (sends sms for travel friend to send UA direct dial numbers)
Main character is now seated in the 'waiting area' of the check in lounge. A very loudly playing television is nearby, blasting the Ellen Degeneres Show while he is furiously dialing the Evil United 1K desk.
Me: Hello? Can you hear me? (main character covers other ear to block out the cooking segment where Ellen is cooking with an entire Italian family - some sort of fried mozzarella sandwich that looks quite tasty)
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Yes, how may I help you?
Me: Yes, I am trying to get on a flight that *supposedly* was ticketed by United but I am being told there is no reservation for me and NOW they don't have seats so I am stuck in Singapore...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, can I have your reservation number locator?
Me: MVBKVC (close enough), I have been to every counter here in Changi...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: (cutting main character off) Sir, I see this its fine. What do you mean they don't see this ticket in their system?
Me: I don't know what it means but they cannot find me in their system and now there is no seating...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: (again, cutting main character off) I see it right here.
Me: Well why can't I get a seat THEN?!
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, I don't know what to tell you...
Me: (my turn to cut her off) They...DO...NOT...HAVE...ME....IN...THEIR....SYSTEM
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Well can't they find the record by the 16 digit ticket number 555555555555555?
Me: Yes, but I don't have a seat as the record never got pushed to them I am being told.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, someone is changing your record right now, they just deleted this leg...
Me: Yes, a very nice man from Thai AIR cares enough to try to help me and he called the Singapore United reservation desk who said they'd call back. Its been 30 mins and as far as I know I am stuck here in Singapore thanks to U-NITED.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Well, someone is trying to do something...
Me: YES, SOMEONE! Not YOU, why does United hate me and want me to fly everyone else? I will be glad to fly my 110,000 miles with someone else this year if this is the lack of customer care I can expect from United. There isn't an office or agent at this airport, the number on my card doesn't work outside the country and as far as you care - someone somewhere might be helping me.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, would you like to speak to my supervisor?
Me: I just want to hear that you are sorry for my experience and now after 2.5 hours of trying to check in for a flight, that United it going to help me get to my next destination.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1:Hold for my supervisor
A long few minutes pass...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1:Sir, my supervisor says this wasn't united's fault but that perhaps our computer and ANA's computer didn't speak to each other and get this seat booked.
Me: You are blaming the computer when all I asked for was...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: (performing yet another tactical cut off) Sir, we cannot compensate you for something that isn't our fault.
Me: I am not looking for compensation - I want you to put yourself in my shoes and as a representative of United tell me you are sorry for my experience and will make sure I can get to my next destination. That is all I want.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, my supervisor says this isn't our fault.
Me: THAT ISN'T THE CASE FROM WHERE I AM STUCK STANDING
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: I am sorry you having this issue....
Me: Finally, at last you are sorry about something. I will take that as an apology (it wasn't, it was now blaming me for having an issue) that is all I wanted.
(hangs up, says some French words for United)
NGA1: Sir, I have confirmed you are booked on SQ flight 683 to Narita at 11:40, gets in at 7am(ish).
Me: Thank you so much. You have been very helpful.
NGA1: (moving bag back off of scale and onto a trolly) Um, you need to check in at Terminal 3.
More kittens mew, more children cry.
Now if this were a hollywood screen play this would be where we 'end scene' and the audience would have laughed and laughed at our main character's simple plight. But this is real life...
(Cut to Terminal 3 where our main character thinks to himself how much easier the airport is to get around with a trolly pushing the luggage instead of lugging it behind on those little two wheels)
Enter the train where our Nearby Singapore Policeman is on the tram...*still*.
Me: Hi, still lovin' this airport! (sarcasm hopefully not well known yet to this policeman)
NSP: Yes, its nice.
Our character returns back to the same counter (the second one he visited earlier?)...
Me: Remember me?
EGA3: Yes, how you doing?
Me: I am here to check in on SQ 683 now.
Several nearby agents mention something about our character looking familiar.
Me: Just happy to have a seat at this point.
EGA3: Ok, all set. Here is your ticket, leaves out of - hrm, gate isn't assigned yet. Look for the assignment much, MUCH later. (like 5 hours from now)
Me: Will do. Can I get to terminal 2's mall from this terminal?
EGA3: Sure, just follow...
(dissolve to next scene - our man sitting at his favorite Noodle House in Changi Airport, previously blogged and mentioned in the very adjacent post to this one).
Me: Hey you have new menus.
Waitress: Yes, you want this? (points to new 'special fried rice supreme').
Me: NO. I am allergic to seafood. No seafood. I would like BBQ Pork fried rice.
Waitress: Vegetarian? No seafood...
Me: No, BBQ fried rice please
Waitress: Oh, seafood ok?
Me: No - no seafood. DEATLY allergic to shrimp, lobster - NO SEAFOOD.
Waitress: Ok, BBQ Pork fried rice
Me: And a tiger beer
Watiress: And a tiger
(montage of some background american rock replayed by Chinese elevator music group - sounds familiar but very hard to place which song)
Our main character pulls out the laptop to blog his encounter. Beer shows up. He writes some more. Some food arrives, some dipping sauces. He begins to eat a dim sum bite and blog in between bites. Fried rice shows up. It looks dry.
Our character takes a bite - too much saffron on top. Pulls it aside. Still dry. Moves back to dim sum, easier to eat and write. Finished blog entry. Music continues. He finished the small plates and his beer. Decides to try fried rice again.
Me: Can I get some soy sauce please?
Waitress: Soy sauce? Oh, sure, ok. Soy sauce.
Main character wonders if he insulted someone somewhere just now.
Waitress returns with soy sauce. Our man looks over his blog. Makes some changes. Relaxes. Thinks to himself that he got worked up over nothing. So a few counters were visited. He had plenty of time. So he didn't actually have a seat on the plane, he has a different flight now that arrives a full 5 minutes earlier than the previous flight.
Plus he is on his second beer in his favorite Noodle House in all of Changi Airport.
Our man moves the rice around to get soy sauce covering rice, takes a bite.
Looks down.
Moves lump of rice.
Lump stays clumped.
Gigantic shrimp reveals itself in rice.
Shrimp all but jumps into our man's mouth screaming 'yeah, eat me, eat me and DIE! AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA'.
What THE F*(K?!?
Me: WAITRESS!
and.......END SCENE. Dissolve.
Queue the audience. Roll laughter. Everyone is rolling around now at our poor sap's simple afternoon trip to the airport. Viola - comedy es tragic, no?
(now someone get me the fuck out of Singapore please?!?!)
What follows is the 'transcript' if it were recorded by an evil-doer standing by:
Inside Terminal 2 of Changi Airport, mid-day, main character (me) approaches the check-in counter after curb side drop off. He walks in, reads sign that says check-in counter is #12. Pulls luggage to counter 12 from counter 2 where he was dropped off:
Me: Hi, checking in for the SQ flight to NRT. (SQ is the airline code for Singapore Air and NRT is the airport code for Narita aka. Tokyo Airport)
Generic Airport Worker for SQ: Oh yeah, you need counter 4. Back that way. (Points back the direction the main character just walked)
Me: Great.
Main character politely turns around and heads right back to where he started. Standing at the counter 4, terminal 2. Biz class check-in.
Me: Hi, checking in for the SQ flight to NRT.
Evil Counter Lady 1: 11 (something something) flight tonight?
Me: Yes
ECL 1: You need to go to Terminal 1.
Me: Ugh.
Main character lugs bags around this gigantic, clean but fairly empty airport. Working up a sweat, our man takes a tram, swings luggage around dozens of long hallways and corners and chugs up to counter number 2, terminal 1.
Me: checking in for 11:45 flight to Narita...
ECL2: Uh, huh, there is no early check in for that flight here.
Me: Say what?! (pretty sure that was what I said)
ECL2: And you need terminal 3.
Me:
Main character repeats moving luggage only in the continued direction ALL THE WAY around the airport to terminal 3. More sweat. Luggage getting larger and heavier by the meter. Main character makes way to counter for Biz Class check-in counter.
Me: Yeah, checking in for SQ Flight 5902 - NRT at 11:45
ECL3: You need terminal 1. Do you know where that is?
Me: WHAT?! Of course I know where that is, I was there and they sent me here. I have been to all three terminals already.
ECL3: Well, that is a code share flight for SQ and is run by ANA, so you need to check in there.
Me: But my United sheet says this is an SQ flight (pulls out sheet).
ECL3: SQ doesn't do four number flights, that is operated by All Nippon Air. Terminal 1.
Main character turns and says things that make nearby small children cry and little kittens around the world mew in pain. Somewhere a mother is actually embarrassed by a son.
Cursing his way back to Terminal 1, sweating now more than ever and spewing foulness in a 20' radius, our character says to no one in particular:
Me: I HATE THIS AIRPORT.
Nearby Singapore Policeman: I'm sorry - what was that?
Me: Uh, I said 'man, this airport has grown' since the last time I was here.
NSP: Yup, added a whole new terminal.
Me: I know, I have visited it - AND - all the other ones... (the sarcasm didn't get noticed)
NSP: Take care and have a good flight
Our main character, having just narrowly missed a caning the likes of which are reserved only for spitting, graffiti artist, gum chewers checks himself before he wrecks himself. Now having reached Terminal 1, counter 4 AGAIN pushing what must now look like a full freight train, or at least that is what it feels like we are sure.
Me: Hi. REMEMBER ME? (speaking through tightly pulled lips that arrange to a smile last seen in a Batman, on the Joker)
ECL1: You back again?
Me: YES - I'd like to check in for ANA flight 5902, 11:45 to NRT.
ECL1: ANA does not check in this early...
Me: But what about Business class?!?
ECL1: Oh, sure. (takes offered passport, scans it into the system and looks up, worried) Sir, you aren't on that flight.
Me: WHAT ....DO....YOU....MEAN... I am NOT on that flight?!
ECL1: I don't have you on this flight.
Me: (hands over evil United Itinerary) SEE? This flight right here. (Points to the flight leg he is attempting to check in on)
ECL1: Sir, can you step over to the Business check in lounge? I don't have you on this flight and there is nothing I can see here...
Me: Where is this lounge?
Evil Counter MAN1: Over there (he thumbs over his shoulder at the apparent lounge just behind the counter.
Me:
Our character pulls luggage over to the business lounge and is directed to a (get this) smiling gate agent.
NiceGateAgent1: How may I help you?
Me:
NGA1: Yes, of course. I can check you in - they don't have agents here now but let's see what I can do. (Takes passport, scans it into system and then looks up) Sir, I don't have you on that flight.
Me: Yes, so I have been told. I have my itinerary right here and as you can see, United says I am on this flight.
NGA1: Yes, but I cannot find you under any name (screen is visible and you can clearly see that even partial first, last and even middle names brings up nothing). Do you have a ticket number from previous flight?
Me: Yes, here is my first leg stub.
NGA1: (already on phone to ANA and confirms no Raleigh or Mann or Dav... or Ral...or Man...) Ah, that will help. (Punches some keys, screen shows entire ticket AND flight 5902 is listed)
Hmmm...Sir there are no seats available on that flight. United didn't push through the record correctly or something - I see its ticketed by ANA does not have a record of this seat request.
Me: Where the heck is United in this airport so I can go have a *chat* with them?
NGA1: Oh, they only have a single flight at 4:30am every day, so they aren't here.
Me: Wha...?
NGA1: I am on the phone with ANA, they could squeeze you on a flight...in coach.... it leaves at
Me: NO, I paid for Business and damned if United won't get me on a flight in Business with SQ.
NGA1: I have already checked and there are two flights that have available seating with SQ. One to NRT via Bangkok and one direct.
Me: DIRECT....please.
NGA1: Oh, I can't book it, United has to do this.
Me: (calling number on back of 1K card, gets universal tone indicating not a number that is reachable) Do you have a local number for United?
NGA1: I am already on the phone with their local reservations desk. (he turns to the phone call previously unoticed) Yes, I am calling from Thai Air for a Mr. Mann...yes, eticket number 555555555555555 (hollywoodized so no one can look up this actual ticket) no seats available on that flight....yes, they offered another flight in coach but Mr. Mann.... Yes, can you see about getting him on...Sure. Ahmed. And you are? Ok, fine. (hangs up) She is going to call back. Can you sit over there please? (points to no-mans-land seating where the crass and unclean go when they inadvertently walk into this lounge)
Me: What are they doing about this?
NGA1: I don't know for sure, she put me on hold a bunch but says that apparently the seat reservation didn't go through. She is going to call back. (smiles an attempting reassuring smile)
Me: Do you have a local number for United? Never mind. (sends sms for travel friend to send UA direct dial numbers)
Main character is now seated in the 'waiting area' of the check in lounge. A very loudly playing television is nearby, blasting the Ellen Degeneres Show while he is furiously dialing the Evil United 1K desk.
Me: Hello? Can you hear me? (main character covers other ear to block out the cooking segment where Ellen is cooking with an entire Italian family - some sort of fried mozzarella sandwich that looks quite tasty)
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Yes, how may I help you?
Me: Yes, I am trying to get on a flight that *supposedly* was ticketed by United but I am being told there is no reservation for me and NOW they don't have seats so I am stuck in Singapore...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, can I have your reservation number locator?
Me: MVBKVC (close enough), I have been to every counter here in Changi...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: (cutting main character off) Sir, I see this its fine. What do you mean they don't see this ticket in their system?
Me: I don't know what it means but they cannot find me in their system and now there is no seating...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: (again, cutting main character off) I see it right here.
Me: Well why can't I get a seat THEN?!
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, I don't know what to tell you...
Me: (my turn to cut her off) They...DO...NOT...HAVE...ME....IN...THEIR....SYSTEM
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Well can't they find the record by the 16 digit ticket number 555555555555555?
Me: Yes, but I don't have a seat as the record never got pushed to them I am being told.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, someone is changing your record right now, they just deleted this leg...
Me: Yes, a very nice man from Thai AIR cares enough to try to help me and he called the Singapore United reservation desk who said they'd call back. Its been 30 mins and as far as I know I am stuck here in Singapore thanks to U-NITED.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Well, someone is trying to do something...
Me: YES, SOMEONE! Not YOU, why does United hate me and want me to fly everyone else? I will be glad to fly my 110,000 miles with someone else this year if this is the lack of customer care I can expect from United. There isn't an office or agent at this airport, the number on my card doesn't work outside the country and as far as you care - someone somewhere might be helping me.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, would you like to speak to my supervisor?
Me: I just want to hear that you are sorry for my experience and now after 2.5 hours of trying to check in for a flight, that United it going to help me get to my next destination.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1:Hold for my supervisor
A long few minutes pass...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1:Sir, my supervisor says this wasn't united's fault but that perhaps our computer and ANA's computer didn't speak to each other and get this seat booked.
Me: You are blaming the computer when all I asked for was...
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: (performing yet another tactical cut off) Sir, we cannot compensate you for something that isn't our fault.
Me: I am not looking for compensation - I want you to put yourself in my shoes and as a representative of United tell me you are sorry for my experience and will make sure I can get to my next destination. That is all I want.
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: Sir, my supervisor says this isn't our fault.
Me: THAT ISN'T THE CASE FROM WHERE I AM STUCK STANDING
EvilUnited1KCustomerDisServicelady1: I am sorry you having this issue....
Me: Finally, at last you are sorry about something. I will take that as an apology (it wasn't, it was now blaming me for having an issue) that is all I wanted.
(hangs up, says some French words for United)
NGA1: Sir, I have confirmed you are booked on SQ flight 683 to Narita at 11:40, gets in at 7am(ish).
Me: Thank you so much. You have been very helpful.
NGA1: (moving bag back off of scale and onto a trolly) Um, you need to check in at Terminal 3.
More kittens mew, more children cry.
Now if this were a hollywood screen play this would be where we 'end scene' and the audience would have laughed and laughed at our main character's simple plight. But this is real life...
(Cut to Terminal 3 where our main character thinks to himself how much easier the airport is to get around with a trolly pushing the luggage instead of lugging it behind on those little two wheels)
Enter the train where our Nearby Singapore Policeman is on the tram...*still*.
Me: Hi, still lovin' this airport! (sarcasm hopefully not well known yet to this policeman)
NSP: Yes, its nice.
Our character returns back to the same counter (the second one he visited earlier?)...
Me: Remember me?
EGA3: Yes, how you doing?
Me: I am here to check in on SQ 683 now.
Several nearby agents mention something about our character looking familiar.
Me: Just happy to have a seat at this point.
EGA3: Ok, all set. Here is your ticket, leaves out of - hrm, gate isn't assigned yet. Look for the assignment much, MUCH later. (like 5 hours from now)
Me: Will do. Can I get to terminal 2's mall from this terminal?
EGA3: Sure, just follow...
(dissolve to next scene - our man sitting at his favorite Noodle House in Changi Airport, previously blogged and mentioned in the very adjacent post to this one).
Me: Hey you have new menus.
Waitress: Yes, you want this? (points to new 'special fried rice supreme').
Me: NO. I am allergic to seafood. No seafood. I would like BBQ Pork fried rice.
Waitress: Vegetarian? No seafood...
Me: No, BBQ fried rice please
Waitress: Oh, seafood ok?
Me: No - no seafood. DEATLY allergic to shrimp, lobster - NO SEAFOOD.
Waitress: Ok, BBQ Pork fried rice
Me: And a tiger beer
Watiress: And a tiger
(montage of some background american rock replayed by Chinese elevator music group - sounds familiar but very hard to place which song)
Our main character pulls out the laptop to blog his encounter. Beer shows up. He writes some more. Some food arrives, some dipping sauces. He begins to eat a dim sum bite and blog in between bites. Fried rice shows up. It looks dry.
Our character takes a bite - too much saffron on top. Pulls it aside. Still dry. Moves back to dim sum, easier to eat and write. Finished blog entry. Music continues. He finished the small plates and his beer. Decides to try fried rice again.
Me: Can I get some soy sauce please?
Waitress: Soy sauce? Oh, sure, ok. Soy sauce.
Main character wonders if he insulted someone somewhere just now.
Waitress returns with soy sauce. Our man looks over his blog. Makes some changes. Relaxes. Thinks to himself that he got worked up over nothing. So a few counters were visited. He had plenty of time. So he didn't actually have a seat on the plane, he has a different flight now that arrives a full 5 minutes earlier than the previous flight.
Plus he is on his second beer in his favorite Noodle House in all of Changi Airport.
Our man moves the rice around to get soy sauce covering rice, takes a bite.
Looks down.
Moves lump of rice.
Lump stays clumped.
Gigantic shrimp reveals itself in rice.
Shrimp all but jumps into our man's mouth screaming 'yeah, eat me, eat me and DIE! AHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA'.
What THE F*(K?!?
Me: WAITRESS!
and.......END SCENE. Dissolve.
Queue the audience. Roll laughter. Everyone is rolling around now at our poor sap's simple afternoon trip to the airport. Viola - comedy es tragic, no?
(now someone get me the fuck out of Singapore please?!?!)
....and *GET* to you
Readers: remember how just last post I was talking about not knowing the room number? Well, imagine shopping in Singapore (the main thing to do here) and forgetting the exchange rate - while shopping at Hermes! (for those who care, turns out there is a HUGE difference between 7.7:1 - the rate in HongKongDollars to US that I had in mind and 1: .72, the SingaporeDollar to USD, actually close to a 10X difference). Ouch, oh well live and learn.
When you are in Singapore, you have to go to Orchard Road and shop at both The Paragon Shopping center and, my favorite, Takashimaya across the street. Takashimaya is both the center and a department store (like in Tokyo, again one of my favs) where there are loads of boutiques outside in the 'mall' area as well as the gigantic department store.
After you work up an appetite, head downstairs to the basement where there are two floors of food. Well, one and a half (the 'half' is a KFC and McD's on the one floor) the main floor I am writing about is B2. Its a veritable Japanese Harrod's, except that it has a Harrod's food shop too! And a Fortnum & Mason and a whole SLEW of other specialty food stores.
If you like food, donuts, baked goods, teas, coffees or anything else you consume for fun or nourishment - its here. Like vegan soups? Its here. Want sliced and grilled star shaped bacon? Yup, here too. Deep fried ham and cheese mini-sandwiches? Ding. Gelato or Ice Cream? Check. Much of it Asian inspired (of course) but a cornucopia of dining to feast on. And cheap to...
Trust me on this - for both shopping and eating Singapore is great, and this area of Orchard Road is the best. After a day of nibbling and shopping, save room for a real dinner over at Raffles Hotel - eat at the Long Bar Steak house. And trust me on this: order the sauteed spinach with your steak and don't bother sharing.
Last tip: the escalators on the MRT run fast - and I mean fast. Prepare when you step on to 'hang on' and jump off. But otherwise the MRT is a great, cheap, easy way to get around and best of all - its Air Conditioned.
When you are in Singapore, you have to go to Orchard Road and shop at both The Paragon Shopping center and, my favorite, Takashimaya across the street. Takashimaya is both the center and a department store (like in Tokyo, again one of my favs) where there are loads of boutiques outside in the 'mall' area as well as the gigantic department store.
After you work up an appetite, head downstairs to the basement where there are two floors of food. Well, one and a half (the 'half' is a KFC and McD's on the one floor) the main floor I am writing about is B2. Its a veritable Japanese Harrod's, except that it has a Harrod's food shop too! And a Fortnum & Mason and a whole SLEW of other specialty food stores.
If you like food, donuts, baked goods, teas, coffees or anything else you consume for fun or nourishment - its here. Like vegan soups? Its here. Want sliced and grilled star shaped bacon? Yup, here too. Deep fried ham and cheese mini-sandwiches? Ding. Gelato or Ice Cream? Check. Much of it Asian inspired (of course) but a cornucopia of dining to feast on. And cheap to...
Trust me on this - for both shopping and eating Singapore is great, and this area of Orchard Road is the best. After a day of nibbling and shopping, save room for a real dinner over at Raffles Hotel - eat at the Long Bar Steak house. And trust me on this: order the sauteed spinach with your steak and don't bother sharing.
Last tip: the escalators on the MRT run fast - and I mean fast. Prepare when you step on to 'hang on' and jump off. But otherwise the MRT is a great, cheap, easy way to get around and best of all - its Air Conditioned.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Traveling can get to you...
...and I don't just mean missing the family - which is the single most wretched thing about business travel: you don't get to come home and be greeted by your lovely, beautiful, sexy wife and two wonderful little tramps of white fuzziness of loving dogs.No, the second hardest part is figuring out where and when the heck you are at. Am I on the eighth floor or was that this morning's hotel back in (wherever the heck I just was this morning)? Was it room 15 or is it 13? Eventually you give up trying to remember and just keep the little card they give you at check in with the number written down for you.
I used to not carry that, what if someone found my key? Then they have my wallet and I am in a world of hurt anyhow. Of course it isn't smart but how the heck are you supposed to remember when you've been in 5 hotel rooms in four days?! (for those techies out there: check out in the AM at hotel 1, check in to hotel 2 same day, rinse repeat and you get to X hotel rooms in Y days where Y=X-1)
Phew, its remarkable I can even get that straight considering when I woke up this morning it was ... 4:30am in Queensland, I flew to Sydney (3 hour flight) where it was an hour ahead and then after two hours in the airport flew to Singapore (8 hour flight) where it was three hours behind Sydney. So now its 11pm local time and I have been up for 22 hours and can't sleep...
...I am thinking/wishing/dreaming of being home with my lovely and those two furries of ours. They'd keep my straight on the wheres and whens I can tell you that much.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Perspective and the news delay when your half a world away
So for me on my Saturday, I heard on skynews (fox in Australia and I don't mean the equivalent but actually the same company) that Tiger Wood's winning streak was on the rocks. He shot a 70 for the day and was way down on the leaderboard.You see, in the states the headline would have been 'expect a (Yet another) comeback' but here, it was less resolved, more doubt. I don't know if that is the American thing - expect big things - or simply what you expect from someone so far ahead of everyone else's talent but I found that twist a little strange. "Toothless Tiger at Arnie's Invitational" said one headline.
Then I am sitting in Sydney waiting for the flight to Singapore and lo and behold, I see a clip on Sky News with Tiger sinking the 20+' putt for the win by one stroke, then he threw down his hat after a pumping of his fist. They showed this clip twice - IN A ROW. Not sure why they only showed his emotional outburt - perhaps because he is generally reserved...? I dunno but they seemed to be saying that it was a remarkable victory.
They must not get Tiger Woods news down here very often. The man is magic and purely so. I heard on a morning show the other day that Tiger played a backyard tennis match against Roddick. Tiger played on clay, barefoot - and won. One of the talking heads at the desk said that something like 'well, it was a friendly game, I am sure Roddick eased up' (clearly not understanding the world of competitive sports).
The other talking head got it right: "Perhaps Roddick should play barefoot from now on...", now that is more the American Spirit. Can't wait to get back home and spoon up that American optimism.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
The beauty of data, part II
Came across this blog post in a blog I read via google reader (which is a handy way to read blogs like mine without having to check if there are new posts, this reader does that for you).
Anyhow, I digress. I read a blog called 'Strange Maps' and its all about different data (ways and means) to which a map can represent a visual for said data-sets. This post shows that others out there love data like I do, even to an extreme of 'geekiness'.
Someone listening to some 'rap' about the *ahem* prowess to which they are able to collect 'friends' in various area codes, displays the apparent travels of said rapper in a map form. I love that someone took this public data and produced a somewhat interesting data set.
As you can see from the map, Ludacris favors the south along with the eastern seaboard for his 'hoes' (his words, not mine or the mappers). So while the data set itself is not particularly 'beautiful' the idea of mapping the data set over the geographical equivalent is cool, at least to me. To each his own I suppose.
Other interesting 'maps' of recent past on this blog: Sauces of the South and Country Music's Favorite States (where someone took the mention of states from country song lyrics and mapped the 'importance' of each state proportionally). Of course some post are simply celebrating the art of cartography and others silly (like the previous three examples) and some are political (see: America's Religious locals).
So don't just take my word for it - add Strange Maps to your Google Reader for Blogs today. (And mine too :-P)
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