Signs

It’s been a few long days. And I still haven’t reached my destination
I should have known that when my flight from KL to Shanghai was delayed by 1 hour due to an aircraft error that it was just a taste of what’s to come
I’m not usually a superstitious person, perhaps that’s why I never looked at it as an omen
But now, as I sit here in front of the flight departure schedule board in the domestic lounge of Shanghai Pudong Airport sipping my coffee feeling ‘pasrah’, I begin to question all the events that have taken place and what I could have done had I known how to read the signs

Sunday late pm
Arrived at the airport on time
Thanked my lucky stars that it wasn’t as crowded as it was the last time I made my trip to Shanghai
Proceeded to the flight departure schedule board as is the norm every time I have a flight to catch (perhaps this is not worth mentioning since every tom, dick and harry does this?)
Checked-in at counter E
Said my goodbyes to mom and kid brother
Arrived at Gate 24 on time
Was about to go through security when all the flight attendants returned from the plane
After a small commotion, was told that we had to wait for another plane
After about 30 minutes, the replacement plane was ready
Went through security
Waited for another 30 minutes before finally boarding the plane

Monday am
Arrived Shanghai at 7:30am
Proceeded to the domestic check-in counter to check-in for my flight to Dalian
Was told that I was too early and to come back at 9am
Came back at 9am, was told that I had the wrong counter (no other explanation was given)
Checked the board and it indicated that I had the right counter
Went back to the check-in counter but this time the queue had gotten very long
Went straight to the front and told the attendant I was right and he was wrong
After checking the ticket booklet carefully, he apologized (a bit late since my anger was already on the rise) – I didn’t even thank the poor guy when he gave me my boarding pass
Walked in a huff to Gate 10
15 minutes before the flight, an announcement came on announcing that my flight was delayed

Monday noon
Flight still delayed, no time given
Was asked by Information to go to Gate 53

Monday early pm
Flight still delayed, no time given
Was asked to wait at Gate 53 still

Monday late pm
Flight still delayed, no time given
I finally snapped
Approached the counter and lava spewed forth much like Krakatoa in 1883 (the poor attendant kept apologizing but I wasn’t having any of it)
It was then announced that the flight wasn’t going to take off that day
Was told that the airline was going to take us to a hotel to ‘rest’ for the night
After going through some back alleys much akin to Lorong Alor in KL, we finally arrived at Jingyue Hotel
Checked in and went up to my room for my ‘rest’
I wasn’t surprised when I found out that the room was just big enough to fit a single bed and a bathroom and that the bed was as hard as plank
After dinner, paid for by the airline, I ‘rested’

Tuesday am
Was awakened by a phone call at 7:46am by the operator to let me know that we were leaving for the airport
Rushed downstairs
Got into the bus
Arrived at the airport and followed everyone to the check in counter
After a bit of a drama at the check in counter as the attendant didn’t seem to know what to do with us, we were told to proceed through security (no gate was given)
Went through security
Followed everyone still as I had no clue where to go
Arrived at Gate 53 only to find that the flight was still delayed
Abandoned everyone and headed for Gate 10 as that’s where the good coffee place is

Will someone please tell me how I could have read the signs better?