Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Leaving for and Arriving in Ethiopia! (Part 1: DMM - BAH)

My excitement was overflowing as I tried to figure out what to pack a mere 6 hours before I was to head to the airport. I figured I should probably take clothes and my computer in case I found time to work. I knew that I wasn't going to be able to meet up with my friend who was supposed to have traveled there a couple of days previously as he had missed his plane and decided not to go. This being the case, I had no idea what to expect or do after I arrived.

Finally I decided that I had more than I probably needed, and that it was time to just attempt to relax (something very difficult for me to do when I am about to travel). My mind was racing, my anxiety up, and my desire to leave growing by the second. Finally, it was time! I went to my coworker's room to both exchange some SAR (Saudi Arabian Riyal) for some USD and prepare to go to the airport. He had generously agreed to take me on the hour long trip to what is basically the middle of nowhere.

This particular trip took over that hour, however. We managed to make to the airport fairly easily, but getting into the terminal took a little more doing. While it shouldn't have been quite as difficult as it was, the signs were not quite as easy to understand as they first appeared to be. It said to take the first right, but the first right did not take us where it was supposed to. We knew exactly which road we were supposed to be on, but couldn't seem to find a road that connected. We even looked into parking lots to see if there was an entrance from that side with no success.

We did finally manage to find a connecting road and make it to the airport. Upon entering, however, there was a LONG line that seemed to be waiting to put their luggage through an x-ray machine. I had already printed my tickets, so I went to find the entrance to the international departure area and hoped they would let me through. Success!

Then it was time to stand in line for the next hour waiting to get through passport control. Then I waited for the gate to open. I lost track of time and was only thinking about when the plane left as opposed to boarded, and it turns out that the plane was continuing on to Delhi after it stopped in Bahrain, so the destination they called out was Delhi. I just ignored it. Fortunately, I decided to go to the gate and see if it was open and found that it was boarding. I quickly got on the plane (they almost didn't let me because they were looking for a visa for India, which of course I didn't have), and while I wasn't the last one, there were only one or two who followed me!

The flight was uneventful, save for a few bumps. We got a little container of water just prior to take off on this 25 minute flight. Hydration is good even on short flights!

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