I was fortunate to be sent on an overseas work trip the past week to Montreal, Canada. Fortunately, a series of fortunate and unfortunate events saw me stop over in New York for one additional unplanned day on the return leg of the journey home. The excerpt below recounts my journey there and back, typed in between all the lull periods waiting and waiting at the airports.
Tuesday, 2 Sep 2008: Departure for JFK via Frankfurt.
With a full flight, it was not surprising to be seated in economy. Despite the long flight time of 12 hours, I was fortunate that the lady beside me on 37E requested to move to a window seat, leaving the adjacent seat beside me empty. Further to my right were 2 senior citizens, who flew from New Zealand, en route to Frankfurt, whom I spoke to regarding their background (as with mine). Johanna, Dutch by birth, had migrated to New Zealand about ten years ago, after having worked as a nurse in the Netherlands. Together with her traveling companion Christine, they were on their way to Dubrovnik on Croatian airlines departing from Frankfurt. Interestingly, they were also making the pilgrimage to Medjugorje, the same one my family and I did more than 15 years ago. Being both Catholics, it was no wonder we hit off in our conversation comfortably. Where I had usually requested for playing cards, I made it a point to ask for two more, and took the opportunity to present them to Johanna and Christine, who were pleasantly surprised and appreciative of my gesture. After all, they already complimented me for this wonderful airline and airport. It was certainly another proud moment to be uniquely Singaporean.
Wednesday, 3 Sep 2008
The transit in Frankfurt airport took no more than 2 hours, which by this time, saw most of the travelers getting off. With a lighter load, I saw a change of luck in my seat, and service no less.
I arrived in JFK ahead of schedule, around 10.30am local time. We hopped onto a shuttle (Olympic Transfer, USD$27 + tips, located at the counter just outside the arrival gates), which took us to Newark Liberty airport in about one hour. There, we had to catch an Air Canada flight to Montreal at 4.25pm. My boarding pass printed my seat number 13C.
To my surprise, the aircraft at the gates was a 50-seater CRJ100, of the Air Canada’s Jazz fleet. To an even greater surprise, row 13 was the last row right next to the lavatory. Perfect.
We arrived in Montreal (Pillot-Elliot Trudeau) Airport at 6pm, and again took a shuttle bus (Aerobus, CAD$15 one way/ CAD$25 return, located at the counter just outside the arrival gates), which took us to the Central Bus Station in 30 minutes. At Station Centrale, we then hopped onto a smaller shuttle bus direct to our hotel (fare is included in the CAD$25 ticket, but tips are encouraged). By the time we arrived at our hotel, we realized every (affordable) diner in close proximity was closed/closing, and therefore retreated to our humble abode back in the hotel.
Thursday, 4 Sep 2008
With the business meeting starting only in the afternoon, we had some time for breakfast and a good walk around town. We headed to Chinatown, where boss scouted around for Dim Sum, and to our luck, was directed by a passer-by to “Ruby Rouge”. We later saw that same passer-by in the restaurant, and concluded he was manager there. But sorry, that did not mean we got any discount.
After breakfast, I decided to walk about town alone, thinking I would not have much time to sightsee the city of Montreal thereafter, and saw myself wandering about Old Montreal (without knowing it was Old Montreal until the day I checked out and re-read the visitor map), and the riverside.
After work, we met for dinner at a cosy restaurant by the name of Fouquet Forchette, a two-minute walk from our hotel, right outside the Place de Congress Montreal.
Friday, 5 Sep 2008
After the entire day of meeting/discussion ended at 4pm, I had the luxury of time to locate my Hard Rock Café and purchase a classic shot glass to remember this city. As I walked towards the place more than 20 minutes away, I soon discovered that Rue Sainte-Catherine was the Orchard Road of Montreal, with your big brands like Zara, Mango, H&M, Oakley and Espirit (amongst others) residing in. By evening and an entire afternoon of walking, I met my boss again for dinner at Chinatown, in a 2nd-floor Cantonese restaurant by the name of Keung Kee.
That same night after a wholesome dinner, I decided to check out our hotel gym, complimentary to us guests. And since the swimming pool was closed for the night, I would save it for the next day before check out.
Saturday, 6 Sep 2008
Arriving ahead of schedule at Montreal airport, we checked in, cleared all of US immigration and security checks, and arrived at our gate for our AC7742 flight on the small 50-seater CRJ100 aircraft, supposedly departing to Newark at 2.10pm. Here comes the “exciting” part.
Having boarded the aircraft, buckled in and awaiting pushback, the captain made an announcement all of a sudden, saying how Air Traffic Control (ATC) had informed them that the flight was now cancelled, owing to the tropical storm Hanna en route to New York. This being my first experience with a cancelled flight as opposed to a delayed one, I could only gasp in awe as I wondered how we would be able to catch our 9pm connecting flight at JFK back to Singapore.
With nothing passengers could do, we disembarked, passed through immigration, collected our luggage and returned to the Air Canada check-in counter to find out what alternative flights there were. As it seemed, the best option was to fly out of Montreal at 5.45pm and arrive at LaGuardia airport at 7.15pm. It would then be a tight squeeze to scramble to JFK airport to catch our 9pm SQ flight back home.
As Murphy would have it, the 5.45pm flight got delayed another 2 hours, and departed only near 8pm.
We got into LaGuardia at 9.30pm, clearly missing our flight out of JFK. It was also impossible to shuttle over to Newark Airport to catch the other 11pm SQ flight home. We were left with no choice but to check into one of the hotels for the night. “Thanks” to the US open and the last-minute arrangements, most hotels were fully-booked, including the preferred Park Central Hotel in Manhattan (even at USD$599 a night). We finally found the nearby Crown Plaza Hotel available (at USD$389 a night) which, as a plus point, had free wireless in the comfort of each room. With an additional unplanned free day in New York on Sunday before catching the 11pm direct flight home, I could not have asked for better “luck”.
Thanks Hanna.
Once upon a time in the Eternal Kingdom, there lived a Queen who wanted everything and everyone to be perfect. So, when her subjects turn 18, they are sent for “Enhancement”—a programme to correct their flaws. 
a magnet for all people, flying or not. Usually, we'd expect travelling passengers and their friends/relatives to send them off at the departure hall. But for the locals, if they are not travelling, they are "required" to purchase a ticket from a booth outside, so they can at least enter the airport. So there is really just two ways about it - one, to bribe the guards, or two, wait till night when the cover of darkness eases the locals' effort in climbing over the gate. (Yes there is a gate outside the departure hall!)
Performing for the very first time here, this talented Barbadian singer had no difficulty captivating the audience with her signature catchy hits and sexy dance choreography with elaborate stage outfits. Opening the show with her recent hit Disturbia, a technical glitch resulted in a faulty microphone, leaving her fairly pissed, yet sporty enough to pull through the song with fancy moves and that over-confident look which assured audiences she was here to deliver.
“The Internet Is For Porn”, “I’m Not Wearing Underwear Today”, “It Sucks to Be Me”…. These are just some of the hilarious songs that make Avenue Q unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
"French indie rock singer-songwriter Cyril Niccolai is back in Singapore with his band for a concert at the Esplanade Recital Studio for one night only.
ABBA’s timeless songs were written to be enjoyed LIVE and ABBA MANIA gives you just that. Two hours of uplifting, dance inducing hits, as the last concert that ABBA ever gave is recreated on stage in a tribute concert. All the costumes, the lights, the music and the memories of ABBA, altogether in one unforgettable night.
"The Vagina Monologues is an award winning play that has been performed internationally to critical acclaim. Eve Ensler's rich text lends itself to many different interpretations, allowing a keen insight to the lives of women across the spectrum. It makes you laugh, cry, seethe and shudder while it informs, educates, illustrates and inspires but above all, The Vagina Monologues makes you deeply aware about humanity. The stories shared are all real. Be it a happy take of a budding romance or a passionate love affair; a coming to age story of poignant self discovery or the painful sharing of a forgotten memory - neglect; domestic abuse, rape. These stories never fail to strike a chord with all - men or women.
The view of Turns 1 and 2 from the Sky Terrace, with the spectacular Singapore Flyer in the background and the Benjamin Sheares Bridge slicing across the sky.
