The Pleasures of Modern Air Travel

After a great holiday in South Africa my flight home to Cebu was a 30 hour nightmare!! 

Traveling premium economy with no upgrade to business class, an absolutely full plane, sitting next to a sniffing, coughing Chinaman who I think also had ADHD (up and down, up and down and muttering to himself). So why don't these people select aisle seats?  And a child just behind who communicated by screaming!!

As we left Joburg the captain announced that due to some wind hassle we would have to refuel in Bangkok. This didn’t sound too bad as I had about a two and a half hour changeover in Hong Kong.

We landed in Bangkok and all was going to plan when there was an announcement that there was an ill passenger and requesting a doctor. After about 30 minutes another announcement that there was some doubt whether the ill passenger was in a condition to continue to Hong Kong.

30 minutes later … she couldn’t continue and she shuffled slowly off the plane with about 3 of her family. 

The next problem. Find the luggage that was located in 3 out of the 7 large, full baggage bins … another 45 minutes. By the time we took off our scheduled arrival in Hong Kong was 2 hours after my departure time to Cebu.

Nothing else to do except stuff down a very unappealing breakfast (the fruit and yogurt weren’t too bad) and see what flight I could get to Cebu.

On arrival the ground crew area was organised chaos. With crowds of passengers having connecting flights anywhere from northern China to Sydney. Not surprisingly I was the only person going to Cebu and I was offered a boarding pass on a flight late on the following afternoon. I "politely" refused and said that I would be going to Cebu today however I had to go!!

Finally I was booked on Philippines Air flights going to Cebu via Manila – eventually arriving in Cebu at about 8pm – 9 hours later than planned.

South African Holiday - Christmas 2015

A Christmas first.

Carol headed to Dubai to be with her children and for the 1^st birthday of her granddaughter, Kaylee, and I headed off to South Africa.

After arriving in Joburg I spent a few days “couch surfing” from place to place. Waiting for the arrival of Mark from San Diego. Four nights and 4 different beds. All accompanied by great friends and family, hospitality ... and much appreciated. 

Another great feature of my South African holiday was the quiet nights ... a big change from the barking dogs, crowing cockerels and noisy neighbours of Mactan!!

After the arrival of Mark it was off to Kenton to spend a few days with Andrew and family at his in-laws, Hugh and Ruth. We flew from Joburg to East London and hired a car.

Jan and Josh on our walk

This part of the vacation was highlighted by Andrew’s 40^th birthday, Christmas lunch with a large crowd (32 in all) of friends and family, all ages, from SA and all over the world, fantastic hospitality, great mild weather.  As always time with the grandchildren was hectic (although Uncle Mark was there to take some pressure). They are growing up very fast and at age 7 and 9 are certainly little characters.

After leaving Kenton Mark and I drove up through the Transkei to Durban and I dropped him off with his good friend Emile. They were heading to his home in Kwabonombi. Then a few days in Zululand. Tiger fishing and game watching.

I stayed in Durban with my sister, Pam. It was also my annual visit to see my mother, who at age 91 is not in a great state either physically or mentally. Visiting her at the old age home made me seriously reconsider about living a long life and the quality of life. For many of the people I saw (mainly women0 it is not living but merely existing … not a pleasant situation.

New Years Eve fireworks over Durban

New Years Eve was spent with Pam at her retirement complex. A braai and a bottle of Fat Bastard Sauvignon Blanc (very recommended) made for an excellent evening. Topped off with watching the fireworks over Durban … not quite Hong Kong or Dubai but a lot cheaper!!

I then went down the Natal South Coast for 2 days. Staying in number 14 Trevi took me back to the years we lived in number 13. At Trevi I saw Vera and Desi and reflected on the days of Vera’s cooking!

I experienced the mob visits to the beach on the 1^st of January. Both Margate and St Michaels were places where you wouldn’t want to be!!

Shelly Beach

The annual meet up with Paul, Bill and Roger was a dinner in Westville. We originally met at Whiteheads in the mid 70’s so have over 40 years of shared experiences. With Paul turning 73 this year, Bill 72, and Roger 71 I was the youngest at 68!! It was a pleasant and very sedate evening with delicious dinner ay Chez Nous. Everyone is very conscious of drinking and driving. Not quite the same consideration in the 70’s.

Pam came with me to collect Mark in Kwabonombi and I was surprised by how easy the drive was, both there and back the traffic was a breeze.

We then spent the last few days at Pam’s and visited mom every day. Some days she seemed quite aware and on others quite confused. For her time has become meaningless and the only highlights are tea and meals.

Visiting mom and gran

My final thoughts on leaving South Africa were how much "good" different country’s leave on the table. 

How much a country can offer and how little is offered, the failure of democracy for the average person, how warped views of race and religion can cloud rationality. There are so many parallels between the Philippines and South Africa.

Both countries have lots of potential but for different reasons. But both countries are going down the tubes because of short-term thinking, poor (actually non existent) leadership, compliant manipulated populations and endemic corruption … very sad.

However there is so much to be grateful for. We I am so fortunate in so many ways. There are billions worse off, suffering poverty, disease and wars. The frustrating thing is that so much potential is being wasted.