Almost two hours in Changi and I’ve already:

• had dinner with my brother
• window shopped
• had a foot massage
• watched CNN
• checked my mail
• posted three blog entries

…and there’s still time before my flight boards and a couple of other things I haven’t done or tried.

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Hola! I am taking advantage of Singapore’s Changi Airport’s free internet service while I wait for my flight, which is still more than 2 hours away.

In all the times I’ve been to Singapore, I never really had the chance to wander around and discover the wealth of activities you can do inside the airport while you wait in transit. So far, I’ve only tried the internet, but that’s not really surprising.

It’s amazing how different Changi is from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. Apart from the huge difference in size, there is so much more to do to keep you entertained here. The only thing you can do in Manila’s airport is to eat, shop and stare into space.

Ah, speaking of NAIA, I had this encounter with an airport personnel as I went inside the waiting lounge. The guy inspected my hand carried luggage and asked about the big paper bag I’m also toting. He asked me to open my cabin trolley, and said that my handcarry is over the allowed baggage weight limit, and that the frozen longanisa my mother made is not allowed onboard. He told me he’d help me, seeing that it’s the Christmas season.

He told me to wait because he has to ask some other officer regarding checking in my bag, blah blah blah. He asked me twice more about it, and I refused each time.

From experience, cabin attendants would usually stand near the entrance of the aircraft as you board and if you have too many hand carried luggage, they will tell you and personally tag it. When I boarded, they did not make any comment about my handcarry. They even helped me stow it on the overhead bin.

Tsk, Christmas season my ass! He just wanted a pamasko.

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