The Flight That Was

I don't know how it had happened, for the first time in 12 years of traveling I missed to look the right date of my flight. I was supposed to leave a day earlier than I thought. This so freaking strange to have happened thinking I was even the one who chose the dates of my flights for booking and this was my third travel of the same route and time slot.

It was my fault. I was too confident that everything was fine and didn't bother to check my ticket days before the flight. My nonchalance has taken its toll on my holiday budget. I had to buy new tickets for both local and international flights. What a mess, it cost me a fortune.

On the eve of my assumed departure I was still busy packing the last few things that I had to bring to Africa. I got tired of the boring routine so I thought of taking a short break by checking-in online. I couldn't believe what I discovered. I was supposed to leave for Manila in the morning of that very day to catch the flight for Dubai later in the afternoon. WHY? It was a shock of my life. I felt like the sky was going to fall on me. I closed my eyes and tried to regain my composure and sanity that's left in me.

I had to think of a plan. I should be able to leave on the following day. I must or I would be charged for AWOL.

I called the office of Emirates airline in Dubai for a possibility of ticket re-booking as Manila office was already closed. I waited for 10 minutes before that cacophonous answering machine diverted me to a desk clerk who spoke English with an Arabic accent. He also told me to wait and it was like forever. He came back after an agonizing 15 min. and said that he had already booked me for the next day's flight and I must go to an Emirates counter in Manila to pay the 100 Euros no-show fee. That was fine with me as long as I can leave.

Next, I called Airfrance in Paris for the re-booking of my connecting flight to Bamako. There was no problem. My flight was re-scheduled without penalty. It was 12 midnight and I was not yet done with packing. I had to get some sleep, so I did. This is one thing I like myself I can sleep over worries and problems.

I woke up full of hope. We left for Cagayan de Oro City early in the morning to give us enough time to settle my flight for Manila. On the way I called the Emirates office in Manila to confirm re-booking that was done in Dubai. I thought the ordeal was almost over but it was not. I was told by the clerk that my ticket has restrictions: it can't be re-booked and it's non-refundable. All I could do was to sigh. I have to take the consequences of my own folly. It can't be undone anymore.

To add insult to injury, my PAL ticket for Manila was also forfeited. It too has restrictions. Damn, this promo tickets. It's cheap but you must be very careful not to violate any of its restrictions, not one or you'll end up buying another ticket.

We went to find a booking agency to resolve this ticket story. I paid about a Thousand Dollars for all. It was a mixed feeling of relief and dismay that I felt like jumping off the bridge and just perish...ha, ha. What a costly lesson in life.

I reached in Dubai airport with the happenings of the day still milling in my thoughts. I look around the shops while waiting for my flight to Paris. I saw a laptop of a good brand. Damn, I remembered again the money wasted for nothing. It was worth to buy the good brand. The one I'm using now is just of a so-so brand because I was saving. Saving for what, for the rainy days? No, it’s for days when my memory will fail me.

In May I will be going home again taking the same itinerary. Never will I forget again because the first thing I will do upon my arrival is buy a white board slate and hang it on the wall of our kitchen. I will write in bold capital letters the date of my departure.

Alas, sometimes shit happens in life.

D - Disenfranchise

I was thinking of a topic that would best fit for letter "D". Nothing would come to my mind. I took a break, watched TV. It's a movie that I haven't started. The word "disenfranchised" was twice used by the lead actress whose name I don't know. So I thought of picking it as the word for D. As defined by Encarta it means deprive of right, especially voting: to deprive a person or organization of a privilege, immunity, or legal right, especially the right to vote. In the movie it was used to describe a dilapidated house; and the second time was to describe the protagonist's dull and nerdy friends.

As the story unfolded the plot and characters became familiar to me. It's a modern adaptation of Snow White. I researched it and I found out that the title was Sydney White. It's a 2007 movie, quite ancient though. But it didn't matter, what's important I learned a new term.

C for Cargo and Cooking

As I write this blog I am not sure yet of what topic to tackle that is significant to letter C. I was out of the blog circle for quite a long time enough to make me forget the password of my google account. Right now I am in the Emirates lounge in Dubai waiting for my next flight, to Paris. Final destination is Bamako. The mark of the end of my holiday.

I was not able to keep my affirmation to Randomness' call for a common topic on time. My leave is short that I don't have time to sit and tinker the internet. I should say I am not committed to the blogspot that I started. Laziness and procrastination has killed the momentum.

Anyway it's not total abandonment to the craft yet. Whenever I get the time and the fire to write I do write like now. I wont wait for Friday. The idea might be shelved again, as the old adage says "Strike while the iron is hot". But until now I am still thinking of what to write about C.

Aha! now I know--- C is for cargo. For the first time in my life I brought with me a big and heavy cargo that I checked in. Its a big carton, about a meter square and half a meter high and 26 kgs heavy. I'm a light traveller, this box is already too much for me.

In the local flight where only 15 kgs. is allowed I paid for the excess kilos. But in the international flight we can go as heavy as 30 kgs. If already a silver member of Skywards another 12 kgs more of entitlement. So, I'm spared.

Well, what is inside this box and what prompt me to carry it painstakingly? It is a melange of cooking and kitchen ware and other personal things. Ever since I started cooking my own food I got interested of acquiring the basic things needed in a kitchen--- a rice cooker, oven toaster, steamer, pressure cooker, casseroles, utensils, knives, etc. My folks said I'm already bringing the whole kitchen with me...ha-ha, indeed I am.

I started preparing my own food 4 months ago. I eat what is right for me. And as a result I lost 11 kgs. from my former 93 kgs weight (I gained back 2 kgs during my leave, I vow to lose that again). My blood pressure has gone down to normal. The ankle pains in the mornings was also gone. Good for me to initiate the move to cook my own food. I would have not achieve anything if until now I still continue to eat in our canteen.

I should say C is for cooking too.