I set my alarm for 7:30am, 2 hours before we had to leave the hotel at 9:30am for our 1pm flight from Hong Kong to LAX. Two hours gave me enough time to shower, get ready and somehow wind everything back into my luggage. I have been using ‘packing cubes’ for a few years now and really appreciate how it helps to keep you organized and the moving from hotel-to-hotel, easy. It also helps you quickly get organized for your final pack for your trip home, especially if you have been good about NOT pulling everything out of your cubes and only using what you need.
We were all ready and left the room by 9:30am and walked to the hotel taxi stand downstairs with our luggage. We would be taking a short ride to the Airport Express train. The same train we took into the City when we arrived. Only this time, they have airport counters there, and they actually check your bags before you step onto the 24-minute train to the airport. The next time you will see your bags is when you land at your final destination. It is a marvel in how they do this and you kind of wonder, will I really see my bags again? But, as with everything in Hong Kong, it all feels so very organized and it was nice to not have to deal with our bags on the train.
On the train ride, there was a little family across the aisle from us. The boy was about 3 years old and his father was talking to him so very patiently and kindly. Amy said to me, ‘Listen, I think that man is speaking Italian to his son.’ I perked my ears up and sure enough, as I listened it sounded like beautiful music to me. After listening to Cantonese all week, oddly, hearing Italian felt like my mother tongue and I don’t even speak Italian or have a drop of Italian blood in me. What is the matter with me? I’m in love with Italy, that’s what. I can travel the world and appreciate so many other cultures, but my heart belongs to Italy…still.
Once we got to the airport, getting through security was quick and efficient and we had some time to grab a nice meal before we boarded the plane. We decided on hamburgers, again. It was a consistent choice that we could count on because the make really good hamburgers in Hong Kong. So I had a coffee and a hamburger, looked out at the planes on the Tarmac and listened to the Dodger game. This was game 3, the Dodgers were down 2-0 in the World Series and this was their first game back at Dodger Stadium. It was super important that they win this game. Amy understood and encouraged me to listen to the game and she’d ask me for updates every now and then.
We boarded the plane, and I was continuing to listen to the game even as we were taxi’ing to the runway for takeoff. It didn’t look good, it was the 13th inning and the Red Sox had just scored the go-ahead run to make it 2-1 and now the bases were loaded. This was such a clutch team, I shut it off at that point as I couldn’t bear to hear the game getting blown wide open right before take-off. I just didn’t want to fly home with my last memory being how they scored a bunch of runs and pounded our relief pitchers (again). I resigned myself to accepting the Dodgers were probably going to lose game 3 at home. Sniff sniff.
Our flight home was only 12 hours vs. 15 hours when we traveled from LAX to Hong Kong. Headed East you pick up a tailwind that really makes a difference. We were relieved to not have that extra three hours as the 15 hour flight going over there felt so long. We watched movies, I blogged, slept, and we ate meals when they were offered as it gives you something to do. After some time, we heard the announcement that you get so excited to hear – when the pilot announces that you are within range of the airport and you have started to descend so get prepared for landing. It’s music to your ears.
When they made the announcement that we were starting our descent, all windows shades were opened, and I peaked out of the window. I saw the mountains of Southern California. It actually thrilled my heart and I felt so comforted to see home and to realize we would be landing in moments. It is wonderful to travel the world, but even more wonderful to come home again and appreciate every thing that feels so familiar.
Once we landed at 10:30am, I turned on my phone and braced myself to check the score of the final outcome of the Dodger game. Wait, what’s this? I couldn’t believe my eyes as I was reading the series was not 3-0, it was actually 2-1 as the Dodgers had actually WON that game in 18 innings. I had a spark of hope that just maybe they could pull off a World Series win against the best team in baseball. I was ecstatic in my seat and was sharing with Amy that they had won, we both were in disbelief. Thank you Dodgers! What wonderful welcome home news.
Getting processed through customs and grabbing our luggage took us less than one hour. We both signed up for GOES (Global Online Enrollment System) a few years back and it is money well spent. You basically don’t wait in any line when you get home. It’s like a fast pass for International travel and after the long journey home, it is wonderful to just be able to pass all of the lines quickly and exit the airport. If you even only travel internationally 1x per year, it is worth signing up for GOES.
I had ordered my favorite Wingz (airport pick-up service) driver, Aaron, to pick us up. He was faithfully there on time and had even texted me the night before asking for my flight information to make sure he could track it and be there on time for us. He really is wonderful, if you are in the LA area and you need airport service to LAX, he is a great resource to have. Because it is the rare friend that will actually drive you or pick you up from LAX, so it is nice to have back-up plans. By the way, THANK YOU to the many friends and family members that have taken me to LAX or picked me up over the years, you know who you are. I appreciate you.
Amy had stored her car at my house before we left so it could be garaged while we were away. So, Aaron took us both back to my house. Once we got there, it was around 12:30pm and we needed to keep ourselves up until the evening to get our sleep back on track. We decided on lunch at Hanna’s and then we both needed groceries so we went over to Trader Joe’s and both picked up groceries. We were back at my house by 2:30pm -impressed that we had gotten so much accomplished since landing at LAX at 10:30am, only 4 hours ago.
We said our goodbyes once we got back to the house. Game 4 of the Dodger game was starting at 5pm, and I was hoping that would keep me up. So I unpacked, showered, went through mail, put on PJs and flipped on the game. My eyes were so heavy, but this was my first opportunity to really watch any game in the championship on my bigger TV, so I was committed to staying up. And I did, the adrenaline really started pumping when they went ahead 4-0 and our pitcher had a 1-hit shut-out going through 6 innings. I was dreaming about the series being tied 2-2 at this point. It was not to be. Sadly, the Dodger manager made some very poor decisions and took out our pitcher in the 7th, when he only allowed one walk and then the Red Sox went on to when that game 9-5 as their bats woke up and they made our relief pitchers look like high schoolers. Ugh.
I hit the pillow at 9:15pm, and I’m pretty sure I was asleep within a minute and would stay that way for the next 10 hours. When I checked in with Amy the next day, she had slept 20 hours. What? I think that is some kind of record. We both were very grateful for this trip and coming home safe and healthy and having the opportunity to experience Southeast Asia.