[today]
Today I felt scared. I haven’t actually felt nervous this whole time until now. We have a security briefing at the beginning of each trip so everyone knows the latest situation and what is happening on the ground. However things can change quickly.
Four days ago there was a suicide bomber that attempted to kill the Minister of Social Services. The Minister is Tamil and since he is on the government party, seen as a traitor by the LTTE. The 1st attack was in the morning and less than a kilometer from the FCM field office. There was a 2nd bombing in the evening that was close to the home of our country manager. There were suspicions that something would happen this week because Nov. 26 was Hero’s Day which is the birthday of the leader of the LTTE (not sure how the name of this day came to be) where he typically makes an announcement and foreshadows things to come for the next year. Wayne (the country manager) called it, we cancelled one of our technical missions because we felt that things would be too unstable in the East (along with some other activities that have recently happened), but the attack was in the capital so I guess the LTTE wanted to send a very direct message to the government. The second in command of the LTTE was murdered, I think a couple of weeks ago, and it was anticipated that the LTTE would be plotting retaliation.
I was away in the south and most of our volunteers and consultants were outside the city when the bombs occurred. Security was already heavy in Colombo but now it has heightened and there is military everywhere. Taking this all in and aware of the situation, I still felt ok.
There was an anonymous tip that there would be another bombing at Majestic City, which is the largest mall in Colombo. All the NGO’s have been told to avoid that mall and any other high traffic areas. I have stuck to the hotel most of the weekend but decided go with a friend’s suggestion to the spa for a massage that isn’t too far away. I took a tuk-tuk there and the road that the spa is on was closed and the military guard wouldn’t let my driver turn in. He didn’t speak English so the tuk-tuk driver had to translate for me. He asked for the address of where I was going and I just said down the road to the Crown Spa.
So that was fine I go for the massage which was suppose to relax me, but when I go to the lounge area there was about 8 officers with guns in the building. They asked for my passport and again they didn’t speak English, so the receptionist had to translate for me. I asked if there was a problem - all I could think was that first guard I encountered knew I was coming here, did he send them to look for me?!
I waited until they left to ask what was going on. The staff didn’t seem bothered by it at all, they were pretty cordial with them. I asked why did they want to see my passport (good thing I always carry a photocopy on me), were they checking other customers, why was their road closed, was their some important person who lived on the street?
They assured me that they weren’t specifically targeting me, that even the staff had to show them their ID. They said all the buildings on the street were getting searched and that was normal because of the current situation. They could tell I was a little shaken and even called a cab to take me back to the hotel, but since the road was closed, I would have to walk to the main road and pass that military checkpoint again.
I just wanted to get back to the safety of the hotel. I hopped in the tuk-tuk and didn’t really care how much he was going to overcharge me, I just really wanted to get back to the hotel. We are about 500 m from the hotel but there was another checkpoint that we have to go through. We pull over and have to wait in the queue. Driver shows his ID, mine doesn’t get asked for and we are waved through.
So I am back in the comfort of my room and feel a lot more at ease now. The part that made me worried the most was the communication, not being able to understand what they were asking and having to depend on strangers to translate properly. I am just not use to being around guns (do you ever?) and seeing them slung over the shoulders of people younger than me with the purpose of finding terrorists and rebel members causes a bit of tension. The unfortunate part is my colleagues are used to this and this is all their childen have known.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Saturday, December 1, 2007
The Southern Cool: Galle
[actual date Nov. 27]
Arrived in Galle today, which is near the most southern point of the country. It’s a quaint city, 4th largest in the country. The old Dutch Fort is a UNESCO heritage site and is an impressive fortress that even withstood the tsunami. It was first built by the Portuguese then expanded by the Dutch, and then taken over by the British, so there are strong colonial roots here. The old city was well protected from the tidal wave, but the ‘modern’ part of the city was pulverized. Chris (Canadian volunteer who is the Director of Planning with the Municipality of North Cowichan, BC) and I finished a couple of hours early today and were able to do some exploring around the city. The Fort reminded me of Citadel Hill; however, much more rustic and not as manicured.
Luckily there is a glass pane that separates me from the monkey. There is even a sign posted to tell guests to lock their balcony doors to protect belongings from getting in the wrong 'hands' so to speak.
I think I get too excited when I see a monkey but seeing them play in the trees just makes me smile. The cows command the street and just walk leisurely in the middle of the road. I almost felt they were walking with us, but if they can help us cross the street and protect us mere foreigners from not getting hit by a tuk-tuk (3-wheeler’s that get driven like they are a hummer), then who are we to get in the way of these revered creatures?
Why did the cow cross the road?
Arrived in Galle today, which is near the most southern point of the country. It’s a quaint city, 4th largest in the country. The old Dutch Fort is a UNESCO heritage site and is an impressive fortress that even withstood the tsunami. It was first built by the Portuguese then expanded by the Dutch, and then taken over by the British, so there are strong colonial roots here. The old city was well protected from the tidal wave, but the ‘modern’ part of the city was pulverized. Chris (Canadian volunteer who is the Director of Planning with the Municipality of North Cowichan, BC) and I finished a couple of hours early today and were able to do some exploring around the city. The Fort reminded me of Citadel Hill; however, much more rustic and not as manicured.
Luckily there is a glass pane that separates me from the monkey. There is even a sign posted to tell guests to lock their balcony doors to protect belongings from getting in the wrong 'hands' so to speak.
I think I get too excited when I see a monkey but seeing them play in the trees just makes me smile. The cows command the street and just walk leisurely in the middle of the road. I almost felt they were walking with us, but if they can help us cross the street and protect us mere foreigners from not getting hit by a tuk-tuk (3-wheeler’s that get driven like they are a hummer), then who are we to get in the way of these revered creatures?
Why did the cow cross the road?
Funny, Who You Meet
[actual date Nov. 26]
I get a lot of alone time during my days off and not always sure what to do with myself. Colombo isn’t really one of those places where you blend in with the crowd or people just go for walks to explore the city (they probably think you are a little out there for walking under the blazing mid-day sun). For anyone who has seen me when I get bored, it’s pretty sad, I really don’t know what to do with myself and think if I am awake early in the morning than everyone else must be up, too (sorry to those who I have woken up prematurely ...)!
Yesterday I had the entire day on my own and was feeling a little lonely even though I am staying in a fancy hotel and all my meals are covered (no excuse not to eat well!). It just isn’t that fun if you don’t have anyone to share it with or have anyone to talk to all day. Goes to show money can’t buy everything I suppose. Hotel guests don’t really mingle with other guests, and probably would find an overly friendly Canadian a little creepy. The field office staff is great and has been so welcoming to me, but they have families to go home to and I am sure they want a break from work and its associations. Weekends are my own at home and I don’t like mixing it up with work either; my Sunday mornings are sacred since it’s the only day I can actually sleep in.
But really I am not going to let moi feel sorry for myself since it was only one day. However, today I became Ms. Popular! The field office was getting audited by someone from CIDA who is here from Ottawa and it turns out we are staying at the same hotel and arranged to go for drinks later and then I get an email from a guy who I met in the east last week who works with an Italian NGO and is coming to Colombo on Friday and invited me out for pizza. As well, I was having dinner with one of our Canadian volunteers who just arrived and we were invited to eat the leftover food from a reception that had just ended. Turns out it was hosted by UNDP and the organizer is from Malaysia and has been living here for the last year and invited me to hang out with her and colleagues when I come back to Colombo next weekend (I leave tomorrow for the south). I guess when it rains it pours and it is rainy season ...
I get a lot of alone time during my days off and not always sure what to do with myself. Colombo isn’t really one of those places where you blend in with the crowd or people just go for walks to explore the city (they probably think you are a little out there for walking under the blazing mid-day sun). For anyone who has seen me when I get bored, it’s pretty sad, I really don’t know what to do with myself and think if I am awake early in the morning than everyone else must be up, too (sorry to those who I have woken up prematurely ...)!
Yesterday I had the entire day on my own and was feeling a little lonely even though I am staying in a fancy hotel and all my meals are covered (no excuse not to eat well!). It just isn’t that fun if you don’t have anyone to share it with or have anyone to talk to all day. Goes to show money can’t buy everything I suppose. Hotel guests don’t really mingle with other guests, and probably would find an overly friendly Canadian a little creepy. The field office staff is great and has been so welcoming to me, but they have families to go home to and I am sure they want a break from work and its associations. Weekends are my own at home and I don’t like mixing it up with work either; my Sunday mornings are sacred since it’s the only day I can actually sleep in.
But really I am not going to let moi feel sorry for myself since it was only one day. However, today I became Ms. Popular! The field office was getting audited by someone from CIDA who is here from Ottawa and it turns out we are staying at the same hotel and arranged to go for drinks later and then I get an email from a guy who I met in the east last week who works with an Italian NGO and is coming to Colombo on Friday and invited me out for pizza. As well, I was having dinner with one of our Canadian volunteers who just arrived and we were invited to eat the leftover food from a reception that had just ended. Turns out it was hosted by UNDP and the organizer is from Malaysia and has been living here for the last year and invited me to hang out with her and colleagues when I come back to Colombo next weekend (I leave tomorrow for the south). I guess when it rains it pours and it is rainy season ...
Thursday, November 29, 2007
East Coast: Kalmunai City
[actual date Nov. 22]
The tsunami wave was higher than the palm trees and washed away everything in its sight. The reconstruction does not allow development 16m from the coastline, which is about up to the road (fishing related buildings are an exception).
FCM has a project with the Kalmunai Municipal Council, which is located in Ampara District along the eastern coast. It was one of the hardest hit areas from the tsunami and the remnants remain sadly obvious. When I was in Phuket last year and although not as hardly hit, there was virtually no sign of the tsunami, but in Kalmunai along the coast you can see where the tidal wave swept through, vacated homes, and there is an eeriness felt in the air.
The green fenced area is the mass graveyard for the tsunami victims.
We have one Canadian municipal volunteer and a consultant working on a drainage management plan for the municipality. Our goal in all of our work is to build capacity and train municipal staff, meaning when we leave and the program ends, the municipality can use what they learned from the projects and apply it to other work without (foreign) assistance. Kalmunai suffers from prominent flooding, particularly during monsoon season, but much of the flooding can be alleviated from just unblocking the pipes. Although this sounds like a simple task, it required professional expertise and surveying to find out where these blocked pipes are (we take it for granted how organized our municipal services are, but in Kalmunai and most of Sri Lanka there is no mapping of the pipelines or inventory of what condition the drains are in). The other side of the equation is finding out what is blocking the drains which leads to the other component of the project – garbage.
Residents throw their garbage (anything and everything) in the drains and what does this create? Blocked drains, standing water (and mosquito borne diseases), high potential of contaminating water sources, and where does the garbage flow that can filter through the drains ... the ocean, oh course.
Brenda and the Communications Team working on creating an outreach plan.
There are several other international NGO’s working with Kalmunai, where there is a large contingent working on waste collection and recycling. FCM, we have decided to focus on the educational component to the drainage plan to communicate to residents on the impacts of throwing garbage in the drains. Many residents don’t understand what happens when their garbage gets thrown outside and into drains, they don’t know it attributes to flooding of their homes, and consequently leads to health and infrastructure consequences.
I went on a building inspection with a building permits technical officer and this was a severely hit neighbourhood (the ocean is down this road) and most of the housing was funded and built by NGOs. The good thing is they were quickly constructed (without building permit approval, hence our arrival) but a cookie cutter model was used, a plaque was stuck on the front wall where the donors thank themselves, and in some cases the homes are of lower quality than their previous homes. I doubt they had much say in what their new home was to look like.
Sometimes I wonder if it’s right to be there, if its just foreign jargon getting thrown at the Kalmunai municipal staff, or if it is even our place to be implementing these projects? But when I walk down the garbage strewn streets, see poverty stricken areas, and work with politicians and senior municipal staff who don’t have their constituents basic needs as top priority, I worry, and hope our work in the end will have some sort of impact even if its just one employee getting their idealism back.
The tsunami wave was higher than the palm trees and washed away everything in its sight. The reconstruction does not allow development 16m from the coastline, which is about up to the road (fishing related buildings are an exception).FCM has a project with the Kalmunai Municipal Council, which is located in Ampara District along the eastern coast. It was one of the hardest hit areas from the tsunami and the remnants remain sadly obvious. When I was in Phuket last year and although not as hardly hit, there was virtually no sign of the tsunami, but in Kalmunai along the coast you can see where the tidal wave swept through, vacated homes, and there is an eeriness felt in the air.
The green fenced area is the mass graveyard for the tsunami victims.We have one Canadian municipal volunteer and a consultant working on a drainage management plan for the municipality. Our goal in all of our work is to build capacity and train municipal staff, meaning when we leave and the program ends, the municipality can use what they learned from the projects and apply it to other work without (foreign) assistance. Kalmunai suffers from prominent flooding, particularly during monsoon season, but much of the flooding can be alleviated from just unblocking the pipes. Although this sounds like a simple task, it required professional expertise and surveying to find out where these blocked pipes are (we take it for granted how organized our municipal services are, but in Kalmunai and most of Sri Lanka there is no mapping of the pipelines or inventory of what condition the drains are in). The other side of the equation is finding out what is blocking the drains which leads to the other component of the project – garbage.
Residents throw their garbage (anything and everything) in the drains and what does this create? Blocked drains, standing water (and mosquito borne diseases), high potential of contaminating water sources, and where does the garbage flow that can filter through the drains ... the ocean, oh course.
Brenda and the Communications Team working on creating an outreach plan.There are several other international NGO’s working with Kalmunai, where there is a large contingent working on waste collection and recycling. FCM, we have decided to focus on the educational component to the drainage plan to communicate to residents on the impacts of throwing garbage in the drains. Many residents don’t understand what happens when their garbage gets thrown outside and into drains, they don’t know it attributes to flooding of their homes, and consequently leads to health and infrastructure consequences.
I went on a building inspection with a building permits technical officer and this was a severely hit neighbourhood (the ocean is down this road) and most of the housing was funded and built by NGOs. The good thing is they were quickly constructed (without building permit approval, hence our arrival) but a cookie cutter model was used, a plaque was stuck on the front wall where the donors thank themselves, and in some cases the homes are of lower quality than their previous homes. I doubt they had much say in what their new home was to look like. Sometimes I wonder if it’s right to be there, if its just foreign jargon getting thrown at the Kalmunai municipal staff, or if it is even our place to be implementing these projects? But when I walk down the garbage strewn streets, see poverty stricken areas, and work with politicians and senior municipal staff who don’t have their constituents basic needs as top priority, I worry, and hope our work in the end will have some sort of impact even if its just one employee getting their idealism back.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
So I stick out like a foreigner …
[actual date Nov. 25]
Today was my first real day to explore Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka situated along the western coast next to the Indian Ocean. We arrived from Kandy yesterday, which is located inland and in the mountains. It was the last standing Sinhalese city before it fell to the various colonizers (Dutch, Portuguese, and then British) and it was beautiful. Very lush and green and so far it is my favorite place I have seen. Kandy was just an overnight spot as we were coming from the east coast where I was participating on our project in Kalmunai (refer to upcoming post).
Many countries have travel advisories to Sri Lanka since the political situation and ethnic strife is quite unstable that it literally could change the next day. FCM’s work is classified as essential so we are able to travel even under the Government of Canada’s travel restrictions.
I remember driving in from the airport into the city (about a 45-minute drive) - it was late, dark, and I was tired but that did not let my eyes flutter because immediately I noticed the military checkpoints and soldiers with guns along the way. It is common to see this in Colombo, there is heightened security to protect the President and the government MPs as the civil war from 1983 has still yet to be resolved. There was suppose to be a peace agreement between the two sides but it has basically collapsed since there has been attacks, rebel groups, and killings. It’s hard to say that it is one group against another or that it is one ethnic minority against the majority – conflict has been so engrained into the culture, it’s too complicated to say what it is really about or perhaps it is too simple but it just can’t have a simple solution.
There aren’t that many foreigners traveling though Sri Lanka or have been here and many are here working with various NGO’s. When I get picked up for work by the office driver (it’s safer to move around in marked cars and less hassle getting through security), you see a swarm of NGO jeeps picking up their staff.
On my free day today I wanted to stretch my legs and see the city. I been cooped up in a car for most of the time or in a office during the day, plus it isn’t advised to be out when it’s dark. Since I am FCM staff I feel that I should follow the rules/guidelines we have for our volunteers and set an example. So when Sunday came and it was a sunny day I planned a route for my own little walking tour.
I decided to check out the waterfront promenade which has been recently opened as a public park. I thought it would be a nice walk along the ocean, but I was instead hounded by guys who wanted to know where I was from and let me know what is going on in the city (and for a small fee they would arrange to get me there). I got a lot of stares because I guess they aren’t use to seeing Asians or single females walking about (and I have a fast paced walk so they were probably wondering where was I going in such a rush?). I get a lot of “where are you from?” and “Canada” just didn’t seem to suffice. I get a lot of attention from even people driving by in cars where I get some hissing and hooting sounds (similar to Cuba), perhaps that is their way of flirting. There was even a police officer who waved me over and wanted to know where I was staying, which I didn’t really want to tell him, but slightly intimidating talking to someone who has a rifle slung over his shoulder.
I guess I just forgot what it was like to really be a foreigner. I went under the radar when I was in Vietnam and traveling around Southeast Asia (until I opened my mouth anyway) and am use to traveling around cosmopolitan places where it isn’t a shock to see people from around the world. Sri Lanka is only what the majority of the locals know so when there is something different and out the ordinary – there is a natural curiosity to find out more about it (i.e. me). There is definitely a different feeling in Colombo than the other small town and cities I been to, I wasn’t really bothered and people just continued with their business after the did a double take when I passed them (I like to think it was because of my breathtaking beauty ... ).
The character of the females is opposite, very quiet and meek. They are curious but they just look down if we make eye contact. I think they almost sympathize when there were people around me. I probably seem very independent and bold as I walk around the city with my head up high and have my cheeks puckered in (although it is more my ‘don’t even think of messing with me face’), but the religions practised are where women have a more subordinate role that they just can’t do what I am doing without some repercussions or public disapprovement (I know that really isn’t a word, but you know what I’m getting at).
I can’t help who I am but least I can try to set a good example and help mould a positive impression of Canadians to locals and continue the stereotype that Canadians are polite and friendly (while smart and not going to fall for any scams).
Today was my first real day to explore Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka situated along the western coast next to the Indian Ocean. We arrived from Kandy yesterday, which is located inland and in the mountains. It was the last standing Sinhalese city before it fell to the various colonizers (Dutch, Portuguese, and then British) and it was beautiful. Very lush and green and so far it is my favorite place I have seen. Kandy was just an overnight spot as we were coming from the east coast where I was participating on our project in Kalmunai (refer to upcoming post).
Many countries have travel advisories to Sri Lanka since the political situation and ethnic strife is quite unstable that it literally could change the next day. FCM’s work is classified as essential so we are able to travel even under the Government of Canada’s travel restrictions.
I remember driving in from the airport into the city (about a 45-minute drive) - it was late, dark, and I was tired but that did not let my eyes flutter because immediately I noticed the military checkpoints and soldiers with guns along the way. It is common to see this in Colombo, there is heightened security to protect the President and the government MPs as the civil war from 1983 has still yet to be resolved. There was suppose to be a peace agreement between the two sides but it has basically collapsed since there has been attacks, rebel groups, and killings. It’s hard to say that it is one group against another or that it is one ethnic minority against the majority – conflict has been so engrained into the culture, it’s too complicated to say what it is really about or perhaps it is too simple but it just can’t have a simple solution.
There aren’t that many foreigners traveling though Sri Lanka or have been here and many are here working with various NGO’s. When I get picked up for work by the office driver (it’s safer to move around in marked cars and less hassle getting through security), you see a swarm of NGO jeeps picking up their staff.
On my free day today I wanted to stretch my legs and see the city. I been cooped up in a car for most of the time or in a office during the day, plus it isn’t advised to be out when it’s dark. Since I am FCM staff I feel that I should follow the rules/guidelines we have for our volunteers and set an example. So when Sunday came and it was a sunny day I planned a route for my own little walking tour.
I decided to check out the waterfront promenade which has been recently opened as a public park. I thought it would be a nice walk along the ocean, but I was instead hounded by guys who wanted to know where I was from and let me know what is going on in the city (and for a small fee they would arrange to get me there). I got a lot of stares because I guess they aren’t use to seeing Asians or single females walking about (and I have a fast paced walk so they were probably wondering where was I going in such a rush?). I get a lot of “where are you from?” and “Canada” just didn’t seem to suffice. I get a lot of attention from even people driving by in cars where I get some hissing and hooting sounds (similar to Cuba), perhaps that is their way of flirting. There was even a police officer who waved me over and wanted to know where I was staying, which I didn’t really want to tell him, but slightly intimidating talking to someone who has a rifle slung over his shoulder.
I guess I just forgot what it was like to really be a foreigner. I went under the radar when I was in Vietnam and traveling around Southeast Asia (until I opened my mouth anyway) and am use to traveling around cosmopolitan places where it isn’t a shock to see people from around the world. Sri Lanka is only what the majority of the locals know so when there is something different and out the ordinary – there is a natural curiosity to find out more about it (i.e. me). There is definitely a different feeling in Colombo than the other small town and cities I been to, I wasn’t really bothered and people just continued with their business after the did a double take when I passed them (I like to think it was because of my breathtaking beauty ... ).
The character of the females is opposite, very quiet and meek. They are curious but they just look down if we make eye contact. I think they almost sympathize when there were people around me. I probably seem very independent and bold as I walk around the city with my head up high and have my cheeks puckered in (although it is more my ‘don’t even think of messing with me face’), but the religions practised are where women have a more subordinate role that they just can’t do what I am doing without some repercussions or public disapprovement (I know that really isn’t a word, but you know what I’m getting at).
I can’t help who I am but least I can try to set a good example and help mould a positive impression of Canadians to locals and continue the stereotype that Canadians are polite and friendly (while smart and not going to fall for any scams).
The Pending Arrival
[actual date Nov. 22]
I will try not to dwell on this or let it overshadow my trip to Sri Lanka, but I must describe a few details of my journey to Sri Lanka that stretched into a prolonged 43-hour stint.
I took a layover in London so I could visit a friend I have not seen in forever, Ms. Lina Serafini, who I went to Dal with and also followed to Uganda for our self-graduation presents. She lives in Brighton which is about a 2-hour bus ride away and the trip started out smoothly - the ride on Air Canada was fine and I didn’t get lost at the Heathrow Airport. Lina took me to some cool shopping spots, beat me in air hockey 3 times (I tied once, but that must just means she is not studying very hard), went for fish & chips, and she wanted to get back at me for I somehow was responsible for her getting appendicitis (in my defense she gave me ring worm) and she graciously gave me her cold … all in all she was a great hostess.
I said good-bye to her the next morning and take the bus back to the airport to be told that the flight to Dubai was delayed 7 hours due to fog at the Dubai International Airport. Oh well, I wasn’t too upset since these things happen and getting mad isn’t going to make the time go by any faster. I let mother nature take its course. Emirate Airlines gave us a 20 pound voucher so I went for a nice complete meal at TGIF since we could only use the coupon at one place. I was able to amuse myself with some shopping at Harrod’s and checking my email every little while. I check the departure screen, flight is delayed another hour but we finally depart for Dubai at 9:45pm.
I will admit Emirate’s in-flight service is great, good food, lots of booze and endless films and tv shows to watch at our disgression. However, I was not prepared to handle what I was to encounter at the Dubai airport. We get off the flight expecting to find out when our connecting fights to the various destinations will be but there is nothing, no staff to direct us or signs to let us know is going on. We have to make our way to the transfer desk where there are hundreds of people waiting to get their new flights. I guess when the airport shut down because of the fog, it messed up the scheduling of all their flights. There was only about 4 people working to get these people all fixed up. I being a person who appreciates orderliness could not believe there was no one to handle and calm down the crowd. It was absolutely wild, not only were people just plain upset, but fights almost broke out because of people butting, but we were all overtired, dehydrated, and just frustrated. You had to fend for yourself and I was also guilty of pushing in line, however I did not get service after 4 hours and I was one of the lucky ones. When I got my new ticket it was not scheduled to leave for another 5 hours, so I immediately looked for a shower because I was just dirty, felt gross, and just needed 'lone' time to escape the crowd. It’s interesting to find out how much you are willing to pay for something you really want – a warm shower at the airport health club was worth $13 for me and I have to say it was well worth it. I was recharged and could kind of laugh (mildly) of the previous day’s events, plus I had not slept much during this time so I think I was becoming slightly delirious.
I was about as grumpy as the man on the right hand side. I and many others took photos to document the experience and will be submitting with my complaint letter.
We board; we are all excited that we are actually moving and not just killing time at the airport anymore. The flight isn’t too long but in the back of my head I think only one thing could make the trip worse - damn, my intuition is good and I was right. I wait at the carrousel and I and along with many other passengers slowly have to accept that our luggage did not come with us and I am officially in Sri Lanka except sans luggage. I have to wait again in a non-orderly line and about 2 hours later finally am able to submit my claim. Now I can leave the airport and take the hotel taxi to Colombo (the capital) which is about 45 minutes away. I arrive at the hotel at 2:30am and have a meeting at 9 am.
I guess I went into great detail but the moral of the story is to not travel Emirates! I will be submitting a formal complaint and there were so many simple things they could have done to deal with the chaos. Although I started off the trip with a lot of woes, I did learn I can live on minimal supplies and packing an extra change of clothes was smart!
I will actually start talking about Sri Lanka and the work I am doing here in the following postings ... so stay tuned!
I will try not to dwell on this or let it overshadow my trip to Sri Lanka, but I must describe a few details of my journey to Sri Lanka that stretched into a prolonged 43-hour stint.
I took a layover in London so I could visit a friend I have not seen in forever, Ms. Lina Serafini, who I went to Dal with and also followed to Uganda for our self-graduation presents. She lives in Brighton which is about a 2-hour bus ride away and the trip started out smoothly - the ride on Air Canada was fine and I didn’t get lost at the Heathrow Airport. Lina took me to some cool shopping spots, beat me in air hockey 3 times (I tied once, but that must just means she is not studying very hard), went for fish & chips, and she wanted to get back at me for I somehow was responsible for her getting appendicitis (in my defense she gave me ring worm) and she graciously gave me her cold … all in all she was a great hostess.
I said good-bye to her the next morning and take the bus back to the airport to be told that the flight to Dubai was delayed 7 hours due to fog at the Dubai International Airport. Oh well, I wasn’t too upset since these things happen and getting mad isn’t going to make the time go by any faster. I let mother nature take its course. Emirate Airlines gave us a 20 pound voucher so I went for a nice complete meal at TGIF since we could only use the coupon at one place. I was able to amuse myself with some shopping at Harrod’s and checking my email every little while. I check the departure screen, flight is delayed another hour but we finally depart for Dubai at 9:45pm.
I will admit Emirate’s in-flight service is great, good food, lots of booze and endless films and tv shows to watch at our disgression. However, I was not prepared to handle what I was to encounter at the Dubai airport. We get off the flight expecting to find out when our connecting fights to the various destinations will be but there is nothing, no staff to direct us or signs to let us know is going on. We have to make our way to the transfer desk where there are hundreds of people waiting to get their new flights. I guess when the airport shut down because of the fog, it messed up the scheduling of all their flights. There was only about 4 people working to get these people all fixed up. I being a person who appreciates orderliness could not believe there was no one to handle and calm down the crowd. It was absolutely wild, not only were people just plain upset, but fights almost broke out because of people butting, but we were all overtired, dehydrated, and just frustrated. You had to fend for yourself and I was also guilty of pushing in line, however I did not get service after 4 hours and I was one of the lucky ones. When I got my new ticket it was not scheduled to leave for another 5 hours, so I immediately looked for a shower because I was just dirty, felt gross, and just needed 'lone' time to escape the crowd. It’s interesting to find out how much you are willing to pay for something you really want – a warm shower at the airport health club was worth $13 for me and I have to say it was well worth it. I was recharged and could kind of laugh (mildly) of the previous day’s events, plus I had not slept much during this time so I think I was becoming slightly delirious.
I was about as grumpy as the man on the right hand side. I and many others took photos to document the experience and will be submitting with my complaint letter.We board; we are all excited that we are actually moving and not just killing time at the airport anymore. The flight isn’t too long but in the back of my head I think only one thing could make the trip worse - damn, my intuition is good and I was right. I wait at the carrousel and I and along with many other passengers slowly have to accept that our luggage did not come with us and I am officially in Sri Lanka except sans luggage. I have to wait again in a non-orderly line and about 2 hours later finally am able to submit my claim. Now I can leave the airport and take the hotel taxi to Colombo (the capital) which is about 45 minutes away. I arrive at the hotel at 2:30am and have a meeting at 9 am.
I guess I went into great detail but the moral of the story is to not travel Emirates! I will be submitting a formal complaint and there were so many simple things they could have done to deal with the chaos. Although I started off the trip with a lot of woes, I did learn I can live on minimal supplies and packing an extra change of clothes was smart!
I will actually start talking about Sri Lanka and the work I am doing here in the following postings ... so stay tuned!
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