NOTES FROM MY DIARY
30 April 2014 @ Melbourne
Today, I embarked on a journey to Dubai, the first step in obtaining my Afghan visa where I am to work as Senior Geologist for the USAID’s project called MIDAS (Mining Investment and Development for Afghan Sustainability).
My flight, Singapore Airlines, SQ408, from Melbourne to Dubai, was scheduled to depart at 6:20 PM.
The morning was a flurry of activity spent finalizing travel preparations. Telly kindly brought Ampy to work while I finalized my packing. After sending a few emails and relocating the Apple MAC computer from the study to the studio, Telly and Ampy returned to drive me to Tullamarine Airport. Thankfully, I had completed the online check-in the previous evening, streamlining the airline departure process.
Everything went smoothly at the airport; check-in was hassle-free, and I boarded the plane, securing my seat in 57D. Unfortunately, the flight was far from peaceful. A family – a mother, a boisterous four-year-old daughter, a crying two-year-old son, and a grandmother – was seated nearby. The constant cries of the young child were particularly disruptive, and the situation was further compounded by the child's parents' request to use the empty seats beside me. Despite the inconvenience, I couldn’t refuse. Unfortunately, the disruptions continued throughout the night, including the unpleasant odour of multiple diaper incidents.
Despite the noise, I managed to enjoy the in-flight meals and passed the time by watching "I, Frankenstein" and "Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit." However, the pilot's announcement of a 7-hour and 20-minute flight, longer than anticipated, cast a shadow over the smooth journey. This unexpected delay meant I would miss my connecting flight in Singapore. As scenarios raced through my mind, I resolved to build in at least two hours of layover time for future connecting flights to account for potential delays. For now, there was nothing to do but relax and hope for some sleep.
1 May 2014 @ Singapore – Layover
As expected, plane was delayed. The flight arrived in Singapore at 12:25 AM, and I exited the terminal around 12:35 AM. Panic set in when I realized my connecting flight's boarding time was at 12:10 AM! I braced myself for the inevitable chaos and headed to the information counter.
Anticipating potential travel chaos, to my astonishment, the agent informed me the gate was still open for my flight. Confused, as I hadn't seen SQ498 on the monitor, she directed me to Terminal 2, Gate E11.
The race against time began. I sprinted through Terminal 3, hopped on the Skytrain, and continued running towards Terminal 2. Grabbing a trolley was a lifesaver. The frantic dash to the gates felt like a high-stakes reality show (The Amazing Race), and I was the sole contestant that my body was screaming for mercy.
Miraculously, I arrived at the gate just as the last passengers were clearing security. Exhausted but elated, I boarded the plane and claimed my aisle seat, 57H. Unfortunately, my seat neighbour had a strong body odour, making for an unpleasant start to the flight.
I attempted to distract myself with movies but found little enjoyment in "Invisible Woman" and couldn't muster the enthusiasm for other options. Sleep became my only refuge.
Dubai, UAE
My flight arrived in Dubai on time at 4:45 AM. Navigating the massive airport, I spent ten minutes clearing immigration and customs, both of which were surprisingly hassle-free compared to my usual experiences. The process was far less stringent than I expected, with no forms to fill up or questioning by an immigration officer. The relaxed atmosphere was a pleasant surprise. A good sign to have a pleasant day ahead.
I took a taxi to the Le Meridien Airport Hotel, paying AED60. I arrived at the hotel by 8:00AM, and unfortunately, no rooms were available until 10 AM. While waiting, I recharged my Vodafone phone for AED50, giving me an AUD75.73 credit. I contacted Bismilla the travel agent at Skylink Travel who is arranging my visa. I also sent an SMS to update Ampy and Telly.
Waiting isn’t my strong suit, and the hours until the room check-in felt interminable. The constant Nokia ringtones in the lobby were grating. A Sony Xperia ad with dual SIM card caught my eye, a very tempting prospect.
After what felt like an eternity, I finally got a room at 10 AM, only to be disturbed by two false fire alarms caused by someone smoking in the stairwell. To top it off, I discovered an error on my newly issued visa: my birthplace was listed as Australia instead of the Philippines.
All of these, I say it is an initiation to working in a conflict zone – Afghanistan. I wonder what the future holds. I wish myself luck.
2 May 2014 - Dubai to Kabul
Today I take my first trip from Dubai to Kabul.
More to follow....
