Departing dear Mumbai - Forced halt at Addis Ababa - Finally Landing in Lagos
Event Date: March 30, 2006
Location: Mumbai-Addis Ababa-Lagos
Departed Mumbai @ 4:00am and Reached Safely at the Bole Airport, Addis Ababa on time (5.5 Hrs) at 6:45am Local Time. At the boarding gate we were generously provided coupons for breakfast at the airport, thereby implying the next flight to Lagos (expect to fly at 0850hrs) was going to be delayed. Since I had ample time, I strolled around the airport and luckily found a shop where I could get GSM handsets. I selected the cheapest handset ($70), but my SIM didn’t work there. Anyway, I hoped it’d work in Lagos, and bought the handset.
The Bole Airport in Ethiopia is a Large, newly renovated airport. The airport is surprisingly clean and spacious. The Airfield looks like a huge empty Football ground. Since it’s at reasonable height, it provides a very clear view of the sky.
Three hrs later, we were called for security check. The Security check at Addis Ababa even asks you to step out of your shoes! And I thought that part was reserved for holy places only. The waiting area after the security check gives a clear view of the Airfield and we could see our Airline waiting for us at the end of the boarding path to the flight. For some reasons unexplained to the passengers, we were not allowed to board for the next 2 hours and after that when the boarding process started, it was total chaos!
Another long 5.5 hrs later, with 2 episodes of FRIENDS for entertainment, I finally arrived at Lagos Airport at 03:30pm Local time. This airport is the opposite of Addis Ababa. Lagos being a major city of Nigeria, I’d expected a large airport, but this one was a small airport with no seating arrangement.
After I’d managed to get my luggage after a full 1 hr delay the client’s driver (Michael) escorted me into a bulletproof (I think that was it, hope I’m not exaggerating) Toyota SUV. For a moment I was surprised to find two armed policemen and another Car waiting for me at the Airport! (I felt like some high profile VIP), On way to my client’s office from airport (about 30Kms distance), a gun carrying policeman seated in my car, while a second car (with another armed policeman) escorted us.
The Road from Airport to Victoria Island is a highway, but the traffic moves very slowly during office hours. It’s very common to find people trying to sell Recharge coupons for mobile phones, or selling food items in the midst of the road. I've heard that the highway is not a secure place to be on after dark as robberies are commonplace. In fact it’s also not uncommon to find local dadas stopping vehicles (or even hanging on to slow moving trucks as I saw), and collect money from vehicle owners/drivers.
English is the common Language of communication in the city. However, while Michael and the Policeman were talking in English, I found it very difficult to understand it in the beginning due to difference of accent. Mostly the spoken English is Nigerian Pidgin English, and it takes sometime to get used to the accent.
I reached the office in about an hour, met with client, started some work and after next 2-3 hours, was on my way to Guest House in Apapa for a good night sleep. However as luck would have it, the housekeeper left early with the keys to my flat that night, so I had no place to stay. Luckily, I got accommodation with a Yemenese guy (Walid (wa-lee-id) working with my client. Had dinner with a Hyderabadi family and next day’s breakfast with a Punjabi. I guess being an Indian in videsh has certainly got its advantages :).
Location: Mumbai-Addis Ababa-Lagos
Departed Mumbai @ 4:00am and Reached Safely at the Bole Airport, Addis Ababa on time (5.5 Hrs) at 6:45am Local Time. At the boarding gate we were generously provided coupons for breakfast at the airport, thereby implying the next flight to Lagos (expect to fly at 0850hrs) was going to be delayed. Since I had ample time, I strolled around the airport and luckily found a shop where I could get GSM handsets. I selected the cheapest handset ($70), but my SIM didn’t work there. Anyway, I hoped it’d work in Lagos, and bought the handset.
The Bole Airport in Ethiopia is a Large, newly renovated airport. The airport is surprisingly clean and spacious. The Airfield looks like a huge empty Football ground. Since it’s at reasonable height, it provides a very clear view of the sky.
Three hrs later, we were called for security check. The Security check at Addis Ababa even asks you to step out of your shoes! And I thought that part was reserved for holy places only. The waiting area after the security check gives a clear view of the Airfield and we could see our Airline waiting for us at the end of the boarding path to the flight. For some reasons unexplained to the passengers, we were not allowed to board for the next 2 hours and after that when the boarding process started, it was total chaos!
Another long 5.5 hrs later, with 2 episodes of FRIENDS for entertainment, I finally arrived at Lagos Airport at 03:30pm Local time. This airport is the opposite of Addis Ababa. Lagos being a major city of Nigeria, I’d expected a large airport, but this one was a small airport with no seating arrangement.
After I’d managed to get my luggage after a full 1 hr delay the client’s driver (Michael) escorted me into a bulletproof (I think that was it, hope I’m not exaggerating) Toyota SUV. For a moment I was surprised to find two armed policemen and another Car waiting for me at the Airport! (I felt like some high profile VIP), On way to my client’s office from airport (about 30Kms distance), a gun carrying policeman seated in my car, while a second car (with another armed policeman) escorted us.
The Road from Airport to Victoria Island is a highway, but the traffic moves very slowly during office hours. It’s very common to find people trying to sell Recharge coupons for mobile phones, or selling food items in the midst of the road. I've heard that the highway is not a secure place to be on after dark as robberies are commonplace. In fact it’s also not uncommon to find local dadas stopping vehicles (or even hanging on to slow moving trucks as I saw), and collect money from vehicle owners/drivers.
English is the common Language of communication in the city. However, while Michael and the Policeman were talking in English, I found it very difficult to understand it in the beginning due to difference of accent. Mostly the spoken English is Nigerian Pidgin English, and it takes sometime to get used to the accent.
I reached the office in about an hour, met with client, started some work and after next 2-3 hours, was on my way to Guest House in Apapa for a good night sleep. However as luck would have it, the housekeeper left early with the keys to my flat that night, so I had no place to stay. Luckily, I got accommodation with a Yemenese guy (Walid (wa-lee-id) working with my client. Had dinner with a Hyderabadi family and next day’s breakfast with a Punjabi. I guess being an Indian in videsh has certainly got its advantages :).
posted by Narendra Singh Rana at
8:55 AM
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