Japan 2010 Day 0

080910 0825 local time (GMT +8)
B-HLG at Singapore Changi Airport

Once again I'm flying off, this time to wonderful Japan. At the moment, I'm in 60K of Cathay Pacific's A330-300 B-HLG waiting for pushback at gate D44. I'll be flying to Hong Kong first, obviously. Now parked next to 777-246ER of Japan Airlines. Not going to see them around in Singapore soon, but no doubt I'll see many where I'm going. A Garuda 738 is near too. Oh and we just started pushback and startup. Trent 700s powering us here.

2145 local time (GMT +8)
B-HLG over the South China Sea

Took off at 2037 in front of a Tiger Airways A320. We passed by a company 777-267, probably headed for Colombo. Watched Wall-E in Cantonese, at least the front of it. Interestingly it seems to be in sepia. Probably some problem with the projector. Ah well. Dinner hasn't been served yet either, wonder when they'll get round to it.


2337 local time (GMT +8)-
B-HLG over the South China Sea

Well, almost there. We're beginning our descent into VHHH now. Dinner was below average. The vegetables had the same texture and consistency as mashed potatoes, and the actual potatoes were bland. The chicken wasn't too bad though, and this meal at least beats the last one I had on this airline.

I'm feeling really tired, for some reason. Ah well, it'll help me sleep later.

090910 0030 local time (GMT +8)
B-HLG over Hong Kong

This feels like a scene from Red Alert 2. There is a massive lightning storm outside, and we tried to land through it. As a result, we got hit by the worst turbulence I've ever seen, passengers started screaming and the pilot, probably wisely, decided to give up. The aircraft dived and climbed countless times before finally surging up and out of the storm. We're now in a holding pattern while he decides whether or not to divert. On a plus side, the lightning has been rather magnificent, and it's a pity I can't capture it on camera well enough.

0100 local time (GMT +8)
B-HLG over Hong Kong

We seem to be deciding. Is the captain going to shoot for it? But the destination marker's on top of Macau now?

0206 local time (GMT +8)
B-HLG at Macau International Airport.

Evidently my suspicions were confirmed. We landed at 0102 on runway 34 at Macau International Airport, thus allowing my record of having never flown directly from Singapore to Hong Kong to stand. I wasn't sure at first, but I knew it when we turned onto the taxiway bridge over the water, not to mention when I saw the casinos.

There seem to be quite a few other stranded aircraft here. Saw a Cathay 747-400, some random Cathays and now parked next to an Air Hong Kong A300-600. We've been here an hour now, wonder what will happen from here on out.

0300 local time (GMT +8)
B-HLG at Macau International Airport.

We've been here for a good two hours now. Luckily it seems like we'll be heading over to Hong Kong very soon. Gonna miss the view of the Crown and the City of Dreams.

0425 local time (GMT +8)
B-HLG at Hong Kong International Airport.

Finally we arrived. This is the shortest airliner flight I've ever been on, possibly the shortest flight ever, taking off on 34 at 0356 and landing on 25R 20 minutes later at 0416. Feels good to be back.

0510 local time (GMT +8)
Hong Kong International Airport

Whew what a long journey. And it's barely the half way point. Good thing I was connecting though, I got a free hotel stay and a $40 voucher for breakfast once I got off the plane at E1. I'm now lying on the bed at the good old Regal Airport Hotel, enjoying my runway view out the window. Hopefully today's leg will be less eventful, I really need some rest.

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