In 1993...Continental Micronesia flight from Bali to Guam to Hawaii. We were the last flight to land on Guam as a typhoon moved onto the island. Of course, we were not informed of this by the crew, but it was evident as the huge DC-10 lurched and bounced violently down the runway as heavy rain and winds pounded the aircraft. Long story short, the airport was closed and we had no way off the island. We were rushed through arrival and Continental made hotel arrangements for everyone.

Hours later, as the storm came ashore, power failed, winds howled, the hotel went to emergency generator and we were moved from our 10th floor room to the hotel lobby. As the hotel bore the brunt, windows bowed and atruim roofs were ripped away. We all were simply amazed that we had been in sunny Bali just a a mere 12 hours earlier! The storm passed, but the airport had considerable damage and power was out island wide. All flights on and off the island were still cancelled. Did I mention the heat and humidity?! And no running water!

Anyway, it took three days to be evacuated from the island. As additional evac flights, the government chartered several DC-10s from Northwest Airlines. On the third day, and by lottery, we found ourselves literally crammed onto one of the last flights out to Honolulu, our original destination. And I swear to this day, there were passengers sitting in the aisleways! My companion insists I was just a little out of my gord due to stress and exhaustion...but I know what I saw. And maybe the worst part was the fact that none of us on that flight had bathed in four days! Nice.