In my last blog I alluded to this trip being a test. A test of mental fortitude and humility.
So, let's start with a bit of history.
I always hope for the best, but deep down I know it's just going to go all wrong.
For example, the last time I went on holiday while having to adult… and by adult, I mean pretending to be a grown up while working, having to pay rent and bills and that sort of thing… it didn’t turn out well.
In fact, that is an understatement to say the least, as 4 months after that my then wife and I were evicted, I declared bankruptcy (due to some not very sound financial advice) and well, that is what I think about every time I go on a vacation these days!
So, as you can imagine, there was a little apprehension coming into this one too.
Just recently moved into a new place, a little over seven months into a new job, but I needed to get out. It had been a year since living in the USA and I missed it and the people incredibly. So, I had planned a trip to visit the states and visit a few people along the way, but to especially hang with no other, than my brother from another mother, Tucker.
I am a frequent flyer points hoarder, so I knew that flights would be relatively cheap, which is handy, because everything I had earned to that point had basically gone to my new place, bills, and well, I had a fair bit of unpaid leave due to some mental health issues the months prior.
So basically, it will be activities, accommodation and car hire that would be the main expenses.
Looking into flights, I knew on this trip I wouldn’t be visiting Disneyland this time round as I was optimistically waiting to visit for its 70th anniversary, but I did want to visit New York again to see and do some of the things Simon and I didn’t have the time or money to do when on my way-out last time.
So booked a flight from Sydney to New York to enter the country, then it would be onto Florida and finish up in Utah, still honestly to this day the most beautiful place I have been, and that's including Bavarian Germany... Basically a quick and easy two-week adventure.
This leg of the trip started off uneventful as it usually does when flying from Adelaide Airport.
- Check in was a breeze.
- Security was quick.
- My McDonalds breakfast order took 35 minutes to prepare and was ready once my flight boarding was called.
So, nothing out of the usual.
Didn’t really know how much I missed travelling until take off, just the freedom and the excitement of the unknown ahead.
Sydney Airport was as much of a breeze to get through as it possibly can, especially when you have to go from one side of the airport to the other by bus.
It wasn't until about 30 minutes before boarding was called that we received a notice saying that on our flight from Sydney to New York, the inflight entertainment will not be available.
I thought that was fine, because I basically intended just to chill with music for most of the way and catch up on a couple of shows I'd saved on my phone.
But it wasn’t until boarding that I realised the first thing I myself made a mistake over, a mistake that I hadn’t made in quite a long time and had since forgotten about.
I had booked the last row window seat, assuming the flight wasn’t going to be full and that being only two seats, no one would willingly choose the aisle seat there for a 24+ hour flight. Great, I’ll get to rest my head and stretch out comfortably on the way there.
I don't care that the seats don't recline as much in the back, just as long as I can stretch across the seats...
But, yea, nah...
My mistake was thinking the window seat was the window seat.
There was in fact almost another seat width gap between the window and my armrest. And the armrest was not retractable either.
So, there was me, cursing to myself from Sydney to Auckland where we had a two hour stop over.
Remember folks, before booking your flights, always check Seat Guru to know what you are in for. Always.
I made the mistake of trusting the Qantas seat map when booking. It had been a while.
Another issue that I had overlooked was that I thought as New Zealand was just a stopover on the same flight number meant we’d be able to stay on the flight while others got on.
I didn’t realise that people use this Sydney to New York flight just to go from Sydney to Auckland, and so we all had to alight as our luggage was also taken off the flight to be sorted and returned to the aircraft.
It was a small inconvenience, the customs agents at Auckland Airport were some of the nicest I have come across in the world and made entering New Zealand an absolute delight… I had always thought Australian Customs was laid back, but still professional. These folks clearly loved their job. Joking with each other, with the travellers. Just having a good time, while still being thorough and protecting their border.
Another Maccas meal later and it was time to board the flight to New York.
It’s amazing how the difference missing that window seat makes when it comes to getting comfortable.
I tried laying with my head toward the aisle and my legs dangling over the armrest by the window, but I kept feeling my hair brushed by people walking past and was like, “if that’s a meal cart, I’m a goner”.
I tried a few other interesting positions, but I just could not find that spot, until I just gave up, put my headphones on and eventually drifted off due to pure exhaustion.
Not sleeping the night before a flight helps me sleep on flights if I can.
I’d never been to JFK airport, so this was going to be a great start to the adventure. I got out my camera, started vlogging the landing, as you do, really prepped and pumped for the adventure ahead.
Customs went quite quickly and smoothly, which is why I thought it a little odd, that after about 20 min seeing people grab their luggage at the carousel and walking off, eventually leaving me standing there alone like a weirdo.
And then it stopped. The luggage carousel stopped.
Checked the flights it was servicing… Yep, QF3, check. But no sign of my luggage.
I had arrived in New York, but my luggage hadn’t.
I had dressed for the trip, but not the destination.
It was -3°c, and I was dressed in shorts, leather slip on dress shoes and a light hoodie.
As I knew I was going to be taking public transport, not a rental car or ride-share, from the airport to my accommodations in Chelsea (there will be stairs, and lots of them!), I had packed what would usually be used as my carry on, within my main suitcase to save time and hassle of navigating multiple cases.
All I had with me in New York was my backpack full of electronics and lithium batteries.
I had approached the oversize luggage room to enquire, and they confirmed that everything had been taken off the flight. I gave them a description of my luggage and then they informed me that given my previous destination, IF my luggage were found, it would not arrive for at least another four days.
Now if this was Luek from a year ago standing in the airport in this situation, he would have probably broke.
Thankfully months prior I had taken the initiative to see a psychiatrist as I had felt my meds were actually making me more emotionally unstable than helping me regulate my mental state, and even though we were now only a month and a bit from weening off, I could already tell, I’m handling this situation much better than I ever though I would have.
I thanked them for their help and headed to the subway and to my accommodation.
It hadn’t really hit me yet though. Sitting on the subway, I was happy to be somewhere different, sitting on a different kind of train, in a different country surrounded by different people, knowing I’m going to see different things.
It wasn’t until I checked into my accommodation, put my bag down and plonked myself onto the bed that it dawned on me.
I have nothing to change into.
Nothing to clean myself with.
And chargers… well they were in the carry-on packed away in the main luggage either in Sydney or New Zealand... or wherever in the world my luggage may be.
Thankfully my laptop had full charge, so I was still at least able to charge my phone.
I gave myself a moment to feel what I guess my brain needed to feel and then decided, there's no more time for moping. Even in my situation, millions of people would kill to be where I am right now.
So, I made a list of things that I’ll need. And headed off to Union Square to buy some essentials.
This would be painful, as mentioned before, money was kinda tight on this trip, and this is an event I didn't account for.
Two Targets and a Nordstrom later, I had basic essentials and bought a couple of cheap shirts for layer and an extra pillow. Feeling hungry I headed to the Catholics answer to Chick-fil-a, PopeYes.
Boy Howdy did I miss their chicken!
After a satisfying meal, I headed back to the accommodations. It’d been a long day, and my body was needing rest.
Unsure as to how the rest of the week was going to pan out, I closed my eyes, hoped for the best, and drifted off to the sounds of distinct sirens and car horns.
A soundtrack that can really only be heard in one city.
