33+ hours, Asian AIRPORTS, We LOVE the USA!

Our morning started out great, although it seems so long ago as I write this on my final plane from JFK to PHX. Please know when we booked these cheap tickets long ago my 10 hour layover was in NY, giving me a chance to see friends or family. Rach was gonna arrive home Sun night in LAX and all was planned with perfection. Lesson learned, NEVER FLY China Southern Airlines. Prior to the trip, I got notification that my original flight out of China was cancelled and they rescheduled me to have a 10 hour layover in China, and a quick connection in NYC to get home Mon AM. Due to Rach missing her original flight and booking a new ticket to make it to me in Asia still on the day planned, unbeknownst to us that triggered her entire ticket to be cancelled. UGH!!

We had a lovely last breakfast  in the rain at our hotel, were seriously serenaded with love upon leaving and made our way to the tiny, yet beautiful Siem Reap airport. Thankfully we followed directions and arrived 2.5 hours early for this 33+ hour travel day to fly across the world. As we approach the desk is when we learn Rachels ticket had been cancelled and they say she cannot get on my flight. We had grand plans for a silly day running around the China airport for hours together. While Rachel remained calm, the emotional Laurie started crying to the ticket agent, demanding he fix this error and allow my friend to fly with me, I was not leaving her in Cambodia. He tried his best, but please know we are in a 3 rd world country and the customer service at the airport is powerless. They don’t accept $ or have anyway to help you solve any issues. He says it has to be done online. Thankfully Rachel has the worlds greatest husband, who is truly her knight in shining armor! Grant to the rescue from miles away. As my mascara is running down my face, Rachel is talking to her love on the phone while I continue to beg. My flight is full, no seats vacant. We had such a quick separation with no proper good bye. It was a bit traumatic, as I had no clue what was going to happen to her, but she assured me she would be okay, Grant was handling it. I had to still go through passport control- immigration and couldn’t miss my flight. No hugs were exchanged it was a quick problem solving, smack back to reality moment. We went our seperate ways in a panic. 

As I type this Rachel is also flying home, we will both have been on planes for 33+hours today, stuck with crazy layovers in many Asian airports, she ended up waiting 5 hours in Cambodia, flying back to Saigon, than Taipei, than to LAX, with many layovers. Thankfully we cant complain as we have been spoiled with magical life experience and are truly rejuvenated. Yet Im sure her bank account wont like her as she had to book a brand new ticket, thankfully she is a PR genius, and a journalist major. She will raise hell with China Southern and Im sure do her best to get refunded or scream from the rooftops about their poor customer service for the world to be aware. I think I have outgrown cheap tickets and am getting too old for long layovers. Rach keeps referring to us as middle aged woman, I don’t know that I identify with that term as i still feel like Im 25. Perhaps the difference of being a single lady still without children yet. We have seriously, different levels of responsibilities for sure. None the less we both made the most with our solo Airport adventures. 

My 2.5 hour ride to China was peaceful, minus a bit anxiety not knowing where she was….upon landing we face timed and I got the low down. I had my yummy Wonton soup and started to venture around this airport. I stumbled upon a Premium VIP lounge where you could pay $48 for 3 hours to hang out and rest.  It was luxurious; they had a buffet, cocktails, desserts, massage chairs, a relaxation room with recliners, free wifi, and charging stations. Rach and I face timed and I felt bad showing her the luxury I was experiencing with out her. She was still stuck sitting on the dirty floor in Siem Reap airport to charge up her devices for the long day ahead.  We got another last hysterical laugh as she has taken this solo time to start writing down herself about this trip. I think she might be birthing a book. She sent me the intro and it brought tears and laughter immediately. We laughed SO hard about it and were determining what movie stars would play us, if it becomes a movie hit! Lol I know big Scorpio dreamers, thats us! After I ate some mango pudding,2 glasses of red wine,  another noodle soup( if I NEVER eat asian food again it will be okay :-). And a cheese sandwich, they kicked me out , my 3 hours were up. Granted I still had to find something to do for 4+ hours….. hmmm I moved to the coffee shop and face timed my Core 4( sisters and mom) , uploaded photos, finished other post, wrote some TA reviews and people watched. Miraculously time was flying by. I still have yet to look at my work calendar, as I want to save that true reality until touchdown in Phoenix. Soaking up my wonderful care free life as long as possible. 

At 12:50 am they finally announce its time to board, remember I had landed in China at 3 pm…..I made it. Time to board my 14.5 hour flight to NYC. Im seated next to a Thai family, lady is a skin Dr in Chiang Mai, I tell her all about Jules and I’s adventure there 4 years  ago, and how much I loved it. Wow, look at me such a globally rich girl who has been blessed with truly exploring so much of the world that I can converse with people from all over. Feeling Grateful and Lucky!! The kosher meals on this flight were not the best option, again NEVER fly China Southern Airlines. With all my food reviews, I have definitely lost weight on this trip, another Asian bonus for me.  I watched the cutest romantic comedy ” Love, Rosie” , it was recommended to me by our Hanoi guide Jenny as her favorite American Rom/Com. I was surprised I had never heard of it and of course told her she needed to watch Serendipity. I will be letting her know I loved it. A total Chick Flick, I started another film , but in all honesty with my mix of plane pills I slept for a good 7-8 hours. Well needed. Shall be interesting to see how my sleep adjusts back to normal once home. None the less besides the meals being inedible and I was starving- trust me not a catastrophe, lol the flight was a fast uneventful 14/15 hours.   

As we touch down in my favorite American city of NYC, I see my dads hometown listed on the airplane TV screen that were flying over Suffern, approaching touch down at JFK. Its SO good to be back in America. I certainly LOVE my global adventures, but there is no place like the USA/home. The global entry was a quick process! Passport control ✅, collect luggage at immigration ✅, Airtrain to American Terminal ✅, nice helpful friendly NY Americans ✅, my first Starbucks in 2 weeks ✅…… feeling safe, refreshed, and happy to almost be home. Had received a text from Rach that she found a yummy brisket noodle soup in Taipei and was boarding her last flight. I will land in Phx at 9 am Mon and she will land at LAX 7 am Monday…..we should both be to our respective homes by 9:30am,  as she still needs to drive to San Diego. It was all worth it. We always strive to find the silver lining in any hiccups In life. Feeling grateful for these past 2 weeks together and  ready for my re-entry. I always have a difficult time with it as the escapism part of me loves adventure. I guess why I am still someone who cant have a corporate job in America. Gotta be able to run away on my own schedule when necessary. I sure do appreciate my alternative life style. Cant wait to snuggle my babies, who are all getting SO grown up before my eyes. 

We shall see what the stars have aligned for me next on this journey through life. I hope you all enjoyed following us on this grand adventure. All the comments and replies are held so close to my heart and mean a lot, as do the comments and likes on FB. Interaction and communication, sharing with those  I love is what life is all about to me. 

Until the next adventure……
All my Love,
Laurie Sue, AKA dora 🙂
XOXO