Airport Adventures

Cathy, Lora, Hillary, and I took what can only be described as a scintillating journey into the world of an overnight layover in a Chinese airport. This is my account of that journey.

February 13^th, 2013

11:19 pm: Location: Guangzhou Airport. Mission: Claim the seats where we will bed down for the night.

11:26 pm: Seats claimed. Lora and I journey into the unchartered regions of the airport in search of food and water.

11:31 pm: Water located. Lora ventures off on her own to search for food. Don't know if I'll ever see her again.

11:54 pm: Lora returns. No food anywhere. We tighten our belts and await the morning.

February 14^th, 2013

12:02 am: I cram my body into two narrow seats. Pretend my back and neck are not in pain.  Fall into fitful sleep.

1:17 am: Awoken by the sound of birds chirping. I uncover my eyes and groan inwardly. Still hours 'til dawn. Adjust position, attempt to find sleep once more.

3:17 am: It's my watch. Our bags are safe. No change in the surroundings. Two confused Chinese women stand shouting out letters of the alphabet. I look for the dawn and a return to sanity.

4:21 am: Eerie screams echo through the airport. Can't tell if they're coming closer or not.

4:56 am: Startled into awareness by a sudden rumbling emitting from a slumbering Chinese man.

5:29 am: We mourn the loss of Lora's purse zipper. Sleeplessness has begun to take its toll. We need nourishment. Soon we will march on the gates.

5:53 am: Lora and I abandon the others in search of airport security.

6:30 am: We've passed security. We press on wearily past the few open food shops, cursing whoever dared charge 48 yuan for 10 dumplings, denying our frugal stomachs sustenance. We satisfy our hunger on overpriced apples.

7:35 am: Lora and I rouse ourselves from our stupor long enough to board the plane. We did it! We survived the airport!!