Oman Air flight 922 had disembarked at Muscat airport and I was wandering around by half past midnight. The next flight was due to leave at 0220 so less than two hours to sit and wait. It was often the same at airports, a couple of hours between flights. Though there was one time. when I was going out to Chengdu that there was a very quick turnaround at Schiphol airport, only 55 minutes. When I got to the check-in gate they wouldn’t let me board as they said my suitcase wouldn’t be loaded on time. So I had to wait an extra three hours for the next flight. The irony was that when I arrived at Chengdu my luggage was not there and I had to wait a couple of days for it to catch up with me!
There is a WH Smith shop in Muscat airport, always a good place to mooch about. I bought the fourth Thursday Murder Club and a Gerald Seymour. I also discovered that it’s a great place to allow the exhaust gases to escape, covered by a loud voice announcing a departure. I think it’s the constant pressure changes and the crap food they serve on airlines. When I sat in the departure lounge I realised I’ve read the Murder club book already.
I once had an eight hour stopover at Vnukovo Airport, Moscow, on my way back from Kazakhstan. It was relatively new at the time and the only all night place was a Burger King. Being Moscow, it sold beer.
We were able to board the Oman Air flight 849 in plenty of time and were all settled and ready for take-off. A French couple sat next to me – I had an aisle seat this time. Within seconds they had their eye masks on and settled down to sleep; I find it difficult to sleep on flights. Then the pilot announced there would be a slight delay due to a connecting flight from Riyadh being late. We waited another hour and fifteen minutes before we were able to depart. Something to do with all the war criminals like Netanyahu, Trump and the fella in Iran causing flight delays and cancellations as they were swinging their Dick’s at each other. It’s always the same; the big mouthed ‘leaders’ shout bollocks at each other and the working-class soldiers go off to die.
The French guy next to me was trying twat games and man spreading but I would let him do it. Trying to slide his feet under the seat in front of me, leaning into my side to intimidate – doesn’t work. I remember one flight out from London when I had one of those seats with extra legroom and no seats in front of me, only to find I was sat in the middle of two massive monsters – they couldn’t intimidate either; I made sure I was regularly banging my tray and monitor into place.
The flight to Jakarta was meant to be seven and a half hours, and yet despite the delay we still arrived on time! So much for schedules. On the flight I watch both of the recent Dune films. Back in school days my mate Coddo was a big fan of Frank Herbert and persuaded me to read both books. I like them and remember Paul Atreides, the Harkonnen’s, Bene Gesserit and Muad’Dib, but they didn’t capture my soul the way Tolkien had.
When I arrived at Jakarta, CGK, I found I had to collect my luggage and check-in again as the next stage was an internal flight. So back through passport control and up to the check-in desks. The first sign said check in at desks E1 to E6. When I got there it was the wrong ones – it should have been F1 to F6. Maybe my eyes were just tired from lack of sleep. Funny thing was that many of the people at saw at the E desks were on the same flight as me!
There we go, just under two hours on GA420 and I was in Bali! I had ordered a taxi via Booking.com which was sent to meet me at International Arrivals and I was at Domestic arrivals! I was lucky enough to get an airport golf buggy across; not that it mattered as the taxi driver was an hour late. When we headed away from the airport I could see why – the traffic is fantastic! Too much – cars, trucks, busses, and motorbikes chopping and changing and swerving all over the road.
It was about 1030 when I got to the hotel after travelling for twenty-two hours, and I was wide awake. Got to my room, had a shower, and changed and headed back downstairs. The reception area also has a cold fridge where they keep beer, so I ordered some! They are 620 ml and cost 50,000 rupiah, which seems a lot but is about £2.26. Bed just after midnight and tomorrow I will acclimatise and start reviewing writing and publishing plans. Of course this diary will go on my blog!
As I lay on my bed dozing off I realised that somewhere over the Indian Ocean I had crossed the equator for the first time and I am now in the Southern hemisphere!!!
Fairy Hanny 