I was trying to use Hong Kong airport's internet to the maximum when an elderly Indian gentleman approached me. He was searching for his wife in the huge HK airport! All his belongings, including his walking stick, were with his wife. He had left her for a short visit to money changers and he just could not find her again! He asked me whether I could walk with him and help him look for his wife. I had too much time to kill anyway, so I agreed.
We walked all around our section of the airport and at every spot, he would say "I am sure this is where she is", go near and realize that she wasn't there. We talked to various airport support staff and help desks, but none of them were able to help. They could not even make an announcement on their system. Walking slowly around one section of the airport in circles was surely not the most efficient way of looking for his wife. I suggested a number of times to him that he should sit somewhere and I would go around and look for his wife. However, he just did not want to let go of me. "Now I have at least got you to help me. If I lose you too, I don't know what I will do next" was his reasoning. I wasn't of much help so far, but I suppose he liked to have someone to talk to.
There was only one way this deadlock would end: He had to get tired and forced to take some rest. That's exactly what happened after a while and he now agreed to sit down. I decided to take a bigger walk around the airport and look for his wife. He was able to describe his wife's looks and their luggage quite well. I left for my lookout, wondering "What the heck am I doing?" However, in less than 10 minutes, I found an elderly lady who matched his description, looking restless and looking out for someone. I walked up to her and asked her "Are you Mrs <>?" Of course she was! I then reunited the couple, accepted their gratitude and went on my way!
For once, the long wait at HK airport turned out to be an interesting one!
We walked all around our section of the airport and at every spot, he would say "I am sure this is where she is", go near and realize that she wasn't there. We talked to various airport support staff and help desks, but none of them were able to help. They could not even make an announcement on their system. Walking slowly around one section of the airport in circles was surely not the most efficient way of looking for his wife. I suggested a number of times to him that he should sit somewhere and I would go around and look for his wife. However, he just did not want to let go of me. "Now I have at least got you to help me. If I lose you too, I don't know what I will do next" was his reasoning. I wasn't of much help so far, but I suppose he liked to have someone to talk to.
There was only one way this deadlock would end: He had to get tired and forced to take some rest. That's exactly what happened after a while and he now agreed to sit down. I decided to take a bigger walk around the airport and look for his wife. He was able to describe his wife's looks and their luggage quite well. I left for my lookout, wondering "What the heck am I doing?" However, in less than 10 minutes, I found an elderly lady who matched his description, looking restless and looking out for someone. I walked up to her and asked her "Are you Mrs <>?" Of course she was! I then reunited the couple, accepted their gratitude and went on my way!
For once, the long wait at HK airport turned out to be an interesting one!
