8.5 hours and counting ...

Dateline: Monday, 3:30am

The day has started with earnest. At approximately 7pm, China Standard Time, we will be home.  However, we must go through the day first.

We are promised the night before that breakfast, which normally is served at 5am, will be delivered at 4am to our room.  We do not ask for a wake up call, and are thankful for the prospect of breakfast.

What should have been my first indication of a day gone wrong was the unasked-for wake up call at 4am.  I should have asked then about breakfast, but I was cheerful of promises.  However, at 4:10am, no breakfast, and a call to the front desk produced a fluster, and a promise of immediate breakfast.  Hmm.  Seems that our breakfast call was confused with a wake up call.

We get to the airport with no breakfast, get moved through customs, and grab some coffee.  We proceed to buy some liquor and cigars at the duty free, which is a right all men and women should exercise.

As the plain is taxiing away, is suddenly stops, and the captain revs the engines, and then turns around to the gate.  Apparently, there is engine problems, and we need to wait for a bit for the repair.

Now, I must stress that the flight from Manila to Beijing is only 4 1/2 hours.  As of right now, we have been sitting for 6 1/2 hours, and have been at the airport for 8 1/2 hours.  We have already bought our allotment of liquor (3 liters), and have run out of Philippino pesos.  We have been served breakfast, a snack, and a lunch, and are still sitting the same terminal.  Spirits are fairly high;  at least, we are not pulling our hair out.  Hopefully we will receive a good travel voucher for this experience.