Dear Pipsqueaks,
So, we’re on our way to New York.
You ask - how in the world did we end up on a flight to New York when
we’re supposed to be en route to Vancouver from Hong Kong? Well, things happen.
In Chinese, there’s a saying, “計畫趕不上變化”, which essentially
means, no matter how well one plans, it will never catch up to evolution of
events. In complete understanding of that statement, we had decided to just go
with the flow.
You see, initially, we were supposed to be on the 4.25pm flight from HKG
to YVR. Except, as we were on standby, it really depended on the load of the
flight in terms of booked seats and the priority list of the standby.
Unfortunately, neither of us made the cut as the flight was overbooked to begin
with. So, we tried our luck with no avail, then walked away from the counter
rather disappointed that our Vancouver trip had begun this way. However, I’m
not normally up for pouting and in strong belief of “if there is a will, there
is a way.”
As expected, the overflow of standbys from our flight would most likely
wait for the next direct flight at 12:30am. So, we started to investigate
alternatives. How else can we get to Vancouver? The considerations were as such
that we could either keep waiting for the direct flight, which meant we would
always be reshuffled into the newest priority list per flight. Ultimately, it
will be a waiting game. Well, I’m not really a person to wait for something so
uncertain.
Instead of wasting time, Apes had discovered another route: via New York
(JFK). No seriously, I laughed quite hard when she put up the suggestion,
because this was definitely not how I imagined my first visit to the Big Apple
would be like. Then again, this is what it takes to be a traveler, I suppose.
Things don’t always happen according to plan, so the best way is to stay
adaptive of whatever the situation may become. Logically speaking, it makes
better sense than to wait. How? By going to New York on the 6:45pm flight
TODAY, we will arrive in the evening on the same day. After taking a good
night’s rest, we have approximately 10 hours – if we wake up for early
breakfast – to roam around New York before our 9ish pm flight to Vancouver! How
cool is that?! I mean, yes we do have to consider the extra cost for that one
night in New York, but that sure beats waiting around all day in HKG crossing
fingers that we MAY luck out and board a flight within the next two days. Forget
it – not for me. I’d rather be on the move than to stay stagnant. Even if it IS
only one day in New York…I’ll take it!
Not to mention, the flight from JFK-YVR was 10x more promising than
HKG-YVR. So, we’re going to be two days late, arriving 1am on the 14th
instead of 1pm on the 12th. Meh. We’ll get there eventually, AND
drop by New York for a day. Sounds perfectly dandy to me! Can’t wait for an
adventure – taking my bite of the Big Apple along the way.
See y’all in New York in no time, and Vancouver in two winks!