Friday, January 17, 2020

12 Hours Adventure in Kuala Lumpur Airport

I wrote this story last year. It was what I've experienced personally. I didn't know whether to put here in my blog. But now I'm publishing it.

                             
It was the last day of our Kejohanan Sirkit  2 Boccia , from 5-9 August 2019 held in Pusat Kecemerlangan Sukan Paralimpik, Kampung Pandan. KL

After my last BC4 game finished in which I lost 2-4 to my opponent, it was around 11.30 am. My assistant, my family and I had lunch in the cafeteria in Pusat Kecemerlangan Sukan Paralimpik. After lunch, we met a few friends to discuss our Boccia balls. It was interesting hearing their discussion.

My assistant, family and I went back to our Vortex KLCC Apartment to relax I was in my room clearing my stuff, when suddenly my assistant came into my room. She told me, that they would be going back to Penang for an urgent matter. They wanted to send me back to the dorm together with my other teammates and their assistants, who would care for me.

I quickly thought of what to do. I didn’t want to go back to the dorm because I didn’t want to stay another day. As the next morning, we had to go to Dewan Boccia again for the final game and medal presentation ceremony (which I dread to go) because the Boccia court was super/terribly hot and humid.

What came to my mind was taking a flight back to Penang. I called and told 
Janice that 

I wanted to go back by plane. She agreed to find the earliest flight back.  At the same time, our coach also allowed us to go back.

What I thought looked very easy and simple, turned out that God had another plan for me.  He wanted me to experience a longer journey.

Janice called me back and told me that there were a few Malaysian Airlines flights in Subang Airport. I told my assistant and her family I wanted to take a plane. I told my assistant maybe my niece could help me, but Janice told me she was busy.  My assistant helped me pack my bags and called a Grab car They were unable to drop me at the airport as he was taking another route back.

The Grab driver was a Malay driver. We told him to help me to Subang Airport. The driver took around one hour as there was a traffic jam in certain parts of the city as it was after working hours

When I reached the airport, the driver was kind enough to park his car at the parking lot and helped me with my 2 bags.

He wheeled me near to the Information Counter and asked someone to help me.

I told an Indian female staff member near the Information Counter that I wanted to buy a plane ticket to Penang. She wheeled me and my 2 bags on the trolley to another side which was Malindo Air counter.

The female staff left me with the Malindo Air staff. The baggage was left outside the counter. I approached and inform the staff that I wanted to buy a ticket to Penang. Seeing my condition, in a wheelchair, they refused to help me.

In Subang Airport, Malindo Air and Firefly cater only for able-bodied passengers, there was no accessibility for wheelchair users to go up the airport.Passengers have to walk up a flight of stairs to go into the plane.

I continued to ask the staff there to help me walk up the plane. Their answer was still and that is very risky.

One of the staff told me to go to KLIA Airport as there was a flight at 11.45 pm.

There I was, alone in Subang airport. I tried to think of what to do. I called Janice for help. She asked me to take a Grab and go back to and join my team. In my heart, I didn’t want to stay another day. So I took action and I did it my way.

While I was alone in the airport, I wasn’t afraid or panicked. I stayed very calm. At that moment was 5 something. I had to act fast. I went to the OKU restroom which was quite a distance away. I left my luggage at the Malindo Air counter.

I wheeled myself there and I asked God to help with my toileting, protect me from any danger or any falls. I did it with God’s help!!  I wheeled back to the counter and stayed near my bags.

I saw an Indian lady. She was wearing her name tag. I quickly approached her and asked her to help me push my trolley bag outside the arrival hall. 
I wheeled beside her. She helped me outside the arrival hall. I thanked her for helping me. God really send an angel to help me.

I took a Grab car again and headed to KLIA Airport which was one hour’s journey. I asked the Grab driver to help me to get into the car.  When I was in the car, I prayed that God would send someone to help me when I reached KLIA.

At that very moment, Janice called me and asked about my situation. I told her that I was in Grab car and heading towards KLIA. She scolded me for not going back to join my team.

While in the car, I was thinking instead of making two trips to the airport, I could have done only one trip to the KLIA and take an earlier flight too.

At last, I reached KLIA and it was 8.15 pm. I saw 2 ladies standing and holding plaques in front of the arrival hall. I didn’t bother about them but I instead concentrated in getting out of the car.

After I got out of the car, the driver put my baggage on a trolley, he went off. The two ladies holding plaques approached me and asked if they could help me. I saw their name tags and I knew they were working there. They offered to wheel me, together with my bags.

When I asked them where were they from one of them told me they were Malaysian Airline (MAS) staff. I felt very relieved and pleased that I was with the right people. God really sent angels to help me!

I told them I wanted to book a flight ticket back to Penang. They were pleased to help me. The two staff wheeled and pushed my trolley of bags for quite a distance before we reached the ticket counter.

At the Malindo Air Counter, I asked them to help me find the earliest flight to Penang.  

They said there was only one flight at 11.45 pm. There were no other flights for that night. There was a Malaysian Airline Counter by the side, but the fare was very expensive. They said if I wanted an Air Asia flight, I would have to go to terminal 2 (I had to take a Grab car there.)

There was an earlier flight if I wanted, but at Air Asia, there was no one to help if I went there. So I bought a flight ticket for 11.45 pm with Malindo Air. When I was at the counter, a male staff checked-in my 2 bags.

After checking-in my bags, the male staff asked me to have my dinner while waiting. I asked him, how to contact him if I needed help. He gave me his contact no. and asked to message him, when I needed his help. Thank God for sending another angel to help me.

KLIA was big and spacious. I slowly wheeled myself to a spot where I could rest and have dinner. Some shops were still open. Fast food restaurants were open, with people queuing to eat/buy dinner.

From far, I saw the KFC outlet. There was an OKU restroom when I passed by. I decided to go to the restroom first before heading to KFC.

I asked the Lord to help and protect me as I was alone in the toilet. I asked HIM to keep me safe from danger or a fall. I could feel HIS presence there with me. I felt relief after coming out of the toilet.

I wheeled myself towards KFC which was quite a distance away. I was quite tired when arrived there. It was after 9 pm but there were still a lot of people of all races lining up to order their food.

I queued up to order my food too. As I’m a small eater, I only ordered mashed potato, salad, and ice-cream. The KFC staff was kind enough to bring my food to my table.

I ate as well as observed the people who came in and out. Many people were having their dinner/supper too.

There were many locals and foreigners lining up to order their food and also eat there. It was very interesting to see people coming in and going out.

Around 10 pm I messaged the staff to come and push me as I was too tired to wheel myself back there. He messaged that he would come for me at 11 pm. I didn’t know 

Janice had messaged me until she called me saying that my flight was delayed for 1 hour.

My goodness, that would be another one long hour waiting! Around 11 pm, the staff came to me together with another young staff. They wheeled a small wheelchair with them.

They wheeled me near the check-in place and transferred me over to the small wheelchair. This wheelchair is for disabled/elderly passengers when boarding the plane.

They helped me until the departure hall than they left.  I was really thankful to God for sending these angels to help me in my hour of needs.

Many people were waiting in the Departure Hall. It was nearly midnight and some people were half asleep. I was also very tired sitting in the small airplane wheelchair. 

We had to wait another hour for our plane. Some passengers went to the front counter to enquire what had happened. They were told that the flight was delayed.

Nearing the time, air stewards and plane crew came in. Slowly the door opens, and I was the first to be wheeled into the plane. I sat in the front row. Other
passengers slowly came in. There were many passengers on that flight as in the next few days, there was a Public Holiday.

When the plane started moving, I thought to myself, “This was the first time, after nearly a decade, that I entered into an airplane.” I was happy that I was able to fly by myself.

We were each given a cup of plain water. When we were in mid-air, the pilot made an announcement. He told us some bad news. Penang airport was closed and our plane had to turn back to KL. It was already after one am. I heard them saying the Penang line way closed at 2 am

Everyone jumped up with questions but there were no answers. I panicked too as it was very late and I was very tired. I wanted to reach home as soon as possible.

At that time, I closed my eyes and said a short prayer “Lord please let the plane reach Penang as everyone is very tired.”  Within minutes, the pilot announced “Good news.  Penang railway will be opening for our plane to land”

Wow! My heartfelt so relieved and I thanked God for answering my prayers. God was good at answering prayers. It was a miracle!!!!! There were smiles on everyone’s faces.

When we reached Penang runway track and the stop, I felt happy and relieved that I was in Penang Airport at last! 

Passengers slowly walked down the passager way. I was the last person to leave the plane. When I got down, the plane’s assistant wheeled me to collect my bags. The whole airport was so quiet and empty.

Janice was alone waiting for me at the Waiting Hall. When I saw her, I was really happy. She took me to the restroom, before going to the car.
It was around 3 am, when I got into my brother in-law’s car. They took me home.

I reached home at 3.30 am. I felt so relieved, happy and proud of myself that I could back from KL by myself with God’s help.

Thank you, Lord, for helping and guiding me back home safely.

1 comment:

chin chin said...

Such a greet experience. Well done. You do it.

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