There is something truly
inspiring about traveling. The constant flurry of meeting new people, new smells
and new sites, is enough to excite anyone with a dose of the travel bug.
I write this out of Tanzania.
Didn’t think I would ever get here and yet, here I sit in the Flamingo
Cafeteria enjoying an orange flavoured beer called a Twist. Before you get too
excited, I am only in the airport. However, you are still surrounded by locals
who are speaking Swahili and sharing their smiles.
My September journey out of Muscat, Oman to
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia started at 4h35 am this morning, or so it should have. I
was sitting on the runway for an hour, only to leave at 5h40 – an hour late.
With my connecting flight to Johannesburg, South Africa only having a 45 min
leeway, I knew I would miss my flight. But optimism seems to follow me and so I
willed the plane to race ahead, possibly being able to catch up the time so
that I could make my flight. It was not to be.
On the way to the plane at Muscat
International Airport, some of the travellers are also a part of this race.
Lots of bumping and pushing and “Yes, that is my toe!” and “No thank you, I
would actually like to keep all 10”. Everyone likes to get close and hold onto
you when there are bumps in the road, sometimes so much that you have to
retrieve your arm back. But otherwise, we got on the plane all toes and arms
connected.
Landing in Addis Ababa, we were
met by a very friendly Ethiopian man who was dressed in all his airport gear,
tie and all, who said quite matter of frankly, “The flight has left already. We
will put you in a hotel and you fly tomorrow.” My initial thought was this is
exciting – a free hotel stay in a new country! However, with an appointment
scheduled at an embassy in Pretoria, there was no way I could arrive a day
later. And so I make my way to a transfer desk where they offer me some other
options. At this point, I am debating whether to raise my voice and demand that
I get on the plane. But I just can’t do that. In addition, the lady that
assisted me with other options was incredibly sweet and very willing to help.
So smile on, we discuss the options. Either I leave tomorrow, or I catch a
flight to Dar Es Salaam (new place!) and then catch a 3rd flight to
Johannesburg. I would arrive 5 hours later than originally anticipated but I
would arrive today. So decision made, I was issued with tickets to Dar Es
Salaam and off I went. At this point, considering I would be traveling more
than 12 hours, I was very grateful I blow dried my hair as to not deal with a
curly mess traveling through Africa.
Through the entire process, I
cannot fault Ethiopian Airlines, aside from the delayed flight. Everything
after that, they have approached with a smile and with the attitude that
anything is possible and how can we fix this. This trip has also sparked a
massive desire to travel into Africa. Addis Ababa – now that I have seen it for
the first time in the daylight – is gorgeous. It consists of rolling green
fields and beautiful hills begging for some adventure. And this was only what I
saw from the airport. The sites from the airport in Dar Es Salaam are a little
different. A bit drier and you don’t see the rolling green fields, but this
country holds Mount Kilimanjaro. And that, is an attraction enough.
Although my day hasn’t gone
according to plan, I cannot help but feel alive and fulfilled. It’s incredible.
Africa is truly an amazing place and I want to see more of it. Africans as
well, are a delight – a nation that loves their lands and its people and only
wishes to share that with everyone they can. Every person should at some stage
in their lives, fly through Africa. Don’t be conventional and choose the normal
airlines. Be different and give yourself a cultural experience albeit from an
airport cafeteria.
I will leave this little heaven
soon and make my way to Johannesburg. I will be greeted with smiles and a
comfort of feeling like home. Then I will catch the Gautrain for the first time
and make my way to Pretoria. So many firsts in one day – it’s addictive. Wonder
what tomorrow will bring – definitely something great J
