Fetching up a friend in Changi Airport

While I was waiting to meet with Desmond, a call just came in. It is form one of my close friends Soe Wai Linn. He said Aung Win Tun, A-Phoo-Gyi is his nick name, means the old man in Burmese, is arriving with this afternoon flight. So I questioned for more information about the old man’s flight schedule, the departure time, flight number, etc. However SWL can only estimate the flight time and he assured that is a direct flight from Yangon. So I surfed internet and checked the arrivals flight from Yangon.

Airline	Flight Number	Arrival Time	Terminal	Belt
SILK AIR	MI511	14:03	T2	32
SING AIR	SQ5011	14:03	T2	32
Jet Star	3K586	14:44	T1	16
MAI	8M6232	14:44	T1	16

As you can perceive, I came out the office round about 13:30 with sick leave. Just after I passed through the site compound, a thought came into my mind. It would be very nice for the old man if I wait him and pick him up at the air-port. Again, SWL is ready to provide an accommodation for him. This was one of the reasons that he called me earlier. So I set up my mind to go and fetch him suspending to go the clinic until the evening. Both of us are pretty positive that the old man would be arriving either of Jet Star or MAI.

As other habitants of Singapore, I went to Changi airport by the city train, MRT. I could make it the appointed spot at 14:44 the very moment of the plane touched the ground. I waited 2 hours at the spot but none like him came out from the door. Knowing that something wasn’t right, I started making inquires. I called to immigration but I got busy signals. About 17:00, I decided to go back home to have some rest and consult the doctor for my illness.

Just a few second before I enter my key to enter my home, SWL informed me that he got a phone call from the old man who was recently hosted by immigration officers in a special room because he is Mas Selamat look alike. I really do have no idea about why these guys are treating this way to the tourists. Of course, he has a beard with a few hairs but he doesn’t really look a like the escape convict. I can guess it must be the hell of experience for my dear friend. To be optimist, we got my friend in one piece and he was deported or black listed. It will be a story of a life time to tell in between our friends.

I promise that I’ll post his photo on my blog comparing with you know who.