Musings from Singapore: the airport

While living in Singapore, there are many things I've had to get used to. Some are better than others.

But one thing I could DEFINITELY get used to is the airport.

Arriving in Singapore in August was my first foray into Asia and I had no idea what to expect. I mean, I knew Singapore was "first world" and had the requisite #firstworldproblems. And the BF had been here a few months and clued me in to a few things. But getting off the plane at Changi Airport was not what I expected. I was expecting squat toilets and non-potable water, possibly some sporadic air con. But instead, what I found was delightfully clean and automated bathrooms, drinking fountains on every turn, amazing travellators (that's what they call the moving "sidewalk" things in the airport that help you get from gate to gate more quickly. I always wondered what to call them....) and bright, shiny, clean everything.

As I traveled to and from Singapore, my initial awe and respect for Changi Airport has changed into true appreciation.

On my first trip from Singapore (to Cambodia, in August) I noticed a few things:

• People dress up. No one wears pajamas to the airport, because they recognize that they are, in fact, out in public. (I'm looking at you, SeaTac.) Also, it happens to be a portion of "out in public" that sells high end cosmetics, clothing, handbags and even jewelry. I'm not real sure about that, but if it keeps people from dressing skanky (as my dad put it) in the airport, I'm down. I was wearing a cute t-shirt dress and boat shoes and felt a little underdressed, but considering the alternative, I'm ok with that. 
• We got our boarding pass at the counter and proceeded through the gates marked "Departure". In the US, this path takes you to a security checkpoint, where you basically have to strip down and completely unpack your suitcase on the conveyor belt before having your hair patted and sniffed. In Singapore, you proceed directly to an immigration checkpoint. Because every flight out of Singapore is an international flight. The country is 710 square kilometers in size, with one city. There are no "domestic" flights.
• After passing through immigration, I expected the security checkpoint, but still no. It wasnt until we got to our gate that we went through a security checkpoint. The gates are walled off with glass walls and they check your boarding pass and scan you as you enter the waiting area for your flight. This means that everyone in the security line with you is on your flight. There's no missing your flight cuz you were in the security line forever!
• Also...Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks co-exist peacefully...why can't they do that in Seattle?

On subsequent trips to Changi Airport, my appreciation has only continued to grow. They have signs that give the estimated walking time to your gate, so you can plan your journey through the terminal. They have massive duty-free shops and srsly full. on. mall. But probably the best thing is the "express lanes" for immigration checkpoints. If you are a Singaporean citizen - or have a handy-dandy little identification card, like I have, through my long-term employment pass - you can skip the lines at the passport checkpoint and go through the express lanes. You walk up to a kiosk and scan your passport or ID card. Then you walk to the next kiosk and scan your thumb print. The little screen says "Bon voyage!" and you're on your way. (When you come back to Singapore, the little screen says "Welcome to Singapore!") There's no waiting in line, no awkward conversation with the immigration official.....I mean, there are no passport stamps either, but it's a worthwhile sacrifice.

So when it comes to air travel, congratulations Singapore, you're doing it right!

It's been my experience that the nicer, more efficient, cleaner airports are the smaller ones. Knoxville, TN and Columbia, SC are some really awesome airports. But Singapore is no small potatoes! In 2012, more than 51 million passengers passed through the airport on one (or more) of the airport's 6500 weekly scheduled flights. As a point of comparison, LAX handled more than 63 million passengers in 2012 and RDU handled about 9 million. 

Home to more than 110 airlines, serving 240 cities in 60 countries, Singapore is a hub for Asian travel and a jumping off point to the rest of the continent. In addition to the major international carriers (United, Delta, KLM, etc.) it's also home to Singapore Airlines, which is consistently rated one of the world's top airlines* and a handful of regional carriers that offer limited itineraries for CHEAP for people like me who want to eat every variety of noodle in Southeast Asia in its original location. So with all that going on, maybe it should come as no surprise that this airport has its act together.

*I'm flying Singapore Air next week and will report back. 

It finally happened!

Cambodia is where dreams come true.

Ok, not really, it's actually a very poor country where people have been oppressed, tortured and exposed to the evils of several intense and homocidal regimes. Because of all the turmoil - oh yeah, and the wars that have left landmines scattered about the forests STILL - the country has little to no functional infrastructure, for things like roads and telephones. And so many of the people here are followers of Buddhism or Hinduism or animism and dont have the peace or hope that comes from knowing Jesus. So it's very sad.

But, thanks to tourists like me, some areas are beginning to pick up. Siem Reap, the town nearest the temple ruins at Angkor Wat is now the country's busiest, cleanest and safest city, with travelers from around the world coming in by the thousands, bringing industry and dollars to the area. The local businesses depend on this income and recognize the role tourists are playing in their economic development and as such, are very accomodating.

For example, we booked a trip via the internet (Expedia or some such) and found a deal on a flight/hotel package. Part of the package included airport transfers to/from our hotel. I was figuring this would mean a shuttle van from the airport with us and 9 other tourists, packing us into town and making the rounds of the various hotels. But no!

You know how I always say "some day I want to be one of those people at the airport getting greeted by a driver holding a sign with my name on it?" (I'm especially prone to saying this when I'm at the Vegas airport...for CES or otherwise).

Well that "some day" was TODAY! We exited the customs check point at the Siem Reap airport and rounded the corner to exit the terminal and there she was: a lovely young lady holding a sign with my name on it. (Ok, technically it had The BF's name on it, "& party", but that still counts! I'm "& party"!)

Her counterpart grabbed our bags and showed us to our car, where they had chilled bottled water and cool towels waiting for us. What a lovely way to enter a country. Thank you Cambodia.

Douchebag of the Week

There are a lot of men in this world. Some of them are good, some are bad and some are just plain douchebags. Also known as d-bags, tools, asshats and jackholes, you know who I'm talking about. (See http://www.douchebagalert.com/db/ for examples)

Part of really being a douchenozzle* is complete oblivion to one's social ineptitudes, therefore spotting a doucheasaurus rex* is usually cake. The trouble comes when an otherwise charming young man pulls a douche move; it makes said move that much more douchey because it was so random. The inagural recipient of the Douchebag of the Week recognition is one such a doucheappotamus*.

My friend, the Belton Belle, is in grad school on the east coast, where she's teaching classes while finishing her research. Not that long ago, one of her students introduced her to a guy in need of an escort to an upcoming function. He's a doctor, a nice guy, funny, smart, good-looking and came with the recommendation of one of her favorite students. She met him for dinner then agreed to accompany him to the hospital function. They had a great time and continued seeing each other. When he told her he was moving to Michigan, they decided to continue seeing one another and coordinated trips back and forth to spend time together.

Having a long weekend for Fall Break, the Belton Belle made plans to fly to Michigan for a visit. She arranged all the details, made exciting plans for fun things to do during her time in the state shaped like a mitten and began packing. The day before leaving, she called to let him know what time her flight arrived, share excitement for the weekend and just talk. The day of the trip, she gathered her bags and headed to the airport. After a relatively uneventful trip to the check-in counter and through security she sat down to wait for her boarding call. And that's when her phone rang.

She got a voicemail from the guy that basically said "I dont think you should come this weekend. In fact, I dont think we should see each other anymore. Take care."

After the meaning of the message really sank in, she walked back through security, back to the other end of the airport to the counter to tell the airline she would not be getting on that flight. And then she began begging them to find her checked bag and pull her luggage off the plane so she could take it home with her. Then she called the friend who had just dropped her off at the airport, to return and pick her up.

Cancelling plans after she bought a plane ticket is a pretty douche move in and of itself. But cancelling plans via voicemail, when she's AT THE AIRPORT, given he talked to her 12 hours earlier is worthy of the title of Douchebag of the Week.

*colorful synonyms for douchebag