The Really Sleepy Airport Blog Post

Don’t sleep. Don’t sleep. Don’t sleep.

It all began with a misplaced Singapore Airlines booking reference number. Due to this, I was unable to do online check in for my flight Melbourne-Singapore-Jakarta this morning.

I queued to check my baggage in with the other normal, not-as-tech-savvy, passengers. (I did have a little noble-turned-commoner feel, as I have always done e-check in – proud me got my lesson D:). It took longer than normal, but all good. After I hug goodbye my two awesome sisters in Christ, Yu Ying and Florence, who had sweetly sent me to the airport, I dragged my feet slowly but steadily (had two ‘overweight’ handbag and laptop bag crushing my shoulders) across the hand-carry scanner, and finally had my DIAC clearance done (where you gave your outgoing passenger card). As soon as the airport weighing scales were out of sight, I shoved a couple of heavy items from my bags to my hand-carry. I gave myself some time to stare at the rows of sunglasses across me while repacking… daydreaming and thinking of the uncertainties that lay ahead of me…

At that time, I was already not as early as I usually was. But still, when I arrived at the gate, no boarding calls had been made, and every traveller sat happily on their seats chatting their mornings away (or singing jumping bobbing their little heads up and down and running and peeking at you with playful eyes). I was at ease.

Knowing my phone had very low battery, I tried to find a plug to charge my phone just so that I can make a call when I reached Jakarta. (My housemate Steph had kindly reminded me of that and I snatched my beloved converter moments before I left the apartment). Unable to find one, I gave in and decided my mom and dad would find me anyway. So I find myself a seat slightly a little further from the boarding counter, just to give me a little breathing space from reality and maybe last few moments of denial that I AM leaving to stay at home for awhile. I texted my friends, bid them goodbyes, said my thankyous, ‘listened’ to my mom’s naggings electronically one more time, and posted a couple of farewell status updates on Facebook.

And then the final boarding call was made.

I looked up and around the waiting hall, and it turned out almost all seats were already empty. I glanced at the airport officers pacing impatiently and decided to finally make my stroll towards them. As I walked, I started my efforts to find my passport and boarding passes. I rummaged around the outer pockets of my handbag, then my laptop bag, then.. the inside pockets of both of them.. and.. still nothing. I began to freak out, I smacked open my hand carry, shuffled things around.. and even after a very thorough search of taking all things out I couldn’t find it!

Time then was 11:09 am, and the plane was scheduled to take off 25 minutes afterwards. Turning whiter than walls, I explained my situation to the airport officers. One of the lady ordered her colleague to accompany me to where I repacked my hand carry. I went there with her, looked up down right left and nope. We asked the sunglasses salesperson, and nope, no one has found anything. The lady officer assured herself it must be in one of my belongings, we walked back, and one of her male coworker we met midway told me I was already not going on the flight. Those airport officers at the gate found my baggage number tag and called for its’ search, just in case I was too late to board. Unfortunately for me, they found it a bit too quickly.

A trip to airport security followed, and guess what, praise God, they waved my passport in a gleeful -___-“. They told me it was indeed found where I repacked, but surrendered by the shop besides the sunglasses shop! (I really did sit across the sunglasses shop) The salesperson has asked the police to come collect it just around the time we were there looking. And if only my baggage wasn’t found, I would have still be allowed to board.

Oh wells. Haiz.

Throughout the whole ordeal, I endlessly zoned out in disbelief. Speechless. I mean, I have travelled to and fro home and for some holidays with my family – multiple times basically – in the past decade, and NEVER had a passport issue. When a trip involves one of the most crucial travel date, this happened. Well, I decided to laugh it off to cheer up. I indeed still wanted to stay in this city, maybe that’s why I unconsciously left (or dropped) my life documents there.

I was very lucky for the events that follow suit (ever grateful, thank you God!). I was offered, at no extra cost, to either take the next flight at around 3 pm to Spore, stay overnight there before going to the airport in the morning to take a connecting flight to J-Town, or, hang around in the airport until the midnight flight. Considering the hassle of more check-ins, plus two expensive taxi rides back and forth my sister’s rented place in Spore carrying my bulky baggages (well, at least I have a place to stay!) I chose to wander aimlessly in Melbourne Tullamarine Airport for the next 10 – 12 hours. 

So here I am, writing a blog post about this, whatsapping, snapchatting, facebooking, and reading (soon! Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom and Six Thinking Hats by Bono in store!) and struggling not to fall asleep after all the late nights packing. They let me out of the checked in area and I am like a little stranded Robinson Crusoe with her raft and food supplies (not the 1st time in Tullamarine, did once for a failed stand-by flight few years back)

I am now comfortably warming the seat of the $2 massage chair, the only place I could find that allowed me to charge my phone. Got a large coffee to accompany me too.

In times like this, I do wish I’m not travelling alone. It will be good to have someone physically here to show this look to

and laugh together at it.

And yes, after knowing the luxurious Changi Airport, it is a little hard to be satisfied with the cubicle size Tullamarine toilet has. Together with my trolley, I felt like I’m an elephant trying to do my business in a sheep’s washroom and kicking everyone out!

I am still grateful I get to go home on time though. Really. God took care of me so that I didn’t drop the passport outside, at home, or at some hard-to-notice corners. And maybe now I get to call my closest friends again to say more proper goodbyes. Yes, this whole drama must have happened for an unknown reason 🙂

Signing off for now to do other things and sipping my latte (which I accidentally made Chai by adding cinammon.. thought it was cocoa powder.. dropped some chopsticks and spoons too.. oh sleepiness..),
JESSICA (AND HER TROLLEY)