The last bit of paradise
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Here I am. The end of my journey, the same place where I began in some 10 weeks ago.
So we left Vilanculos, the beautiful place where the seabed is so shallow that you can walk out to sea for meters and still have the water around your knees. The place where the sea is more like a bay and during low tides one looks out onto a view where bands of white sand interlock with bright cyans and turquoise of the sea.
Coming back to South Africa was actually pretty nice. I was awed by the airport, the 4-laned highways, the efficiency of the car-hire people, the different buildings – some old and crumbling and then also the new colourful blocks that is the urban revamping that is slowly but surely happening in this bustling city. Most of all, I was awed by the people – how different they seem compared to Mozambicans and Swazis. I thought they were edgier, more artistic, beautiful. And don’t even get me started on the internet. No internet access for more than 2 weeks until Vilanculos actually. Here, I get connected even when I’m in bed – quite the bliss actually. Right – I think I’m painting an entirely poetic picture of South Africa. Maybe it really is so, but I think its more so to do with the getting around these other African countries that makes me appreciate South Africa and look at it with new eyes.
Don’t get me wrong though. It wasn’t all smooth sailing coming back. Flying into South Africa from Mozambique in a little propeller plane and then having them loose my luggage was not that great. Seriously, just how many luggages do you load at the teeny tiny Vilanculos airport and yet the airline can STILL loose my luggage? I mean, you smell the gasoline from the airplanes which are parked behind the check-in counter and the airline can STILL loose my luggage? But being a seasoned person-of-lost-luggages, I got to talk to a clerk and told him my complicated travel plans and told him it was in the airline’s best interest to figure out my luggage’s location today and not going to the trouble to send it to Spain, Belgium or France where I will be in the next couple of days. I was actually incredibly calm and after several calls, I was reunited with my backpack a couple of hours later at the hotel.
And wait, that wasn’t the end of the adventures. After renting our car, just outside the airport going to the hotel, we were stopped by a cop. And of course he wanted to fine us for something stupid. 250 Euros. I was about to work up some tears, because crying helps sometimes. And I was in the mood for it, the flight, the luggage and now this. And of course, he so kind-heartedly relented, on the condition that, you know hilarious really, we had to “buy” him lunch. His exact words actually. And so we “bought” him lunch for 10 Euros. And we haven’t come across any of this bribery bullshit all these weeks till now. On our last day.
And yet despite it all, there is something about South Africa that I finally appreciate and like.
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So now, its back to school life and to figure out post-MBA plans. Yes, I am a broken record when it comes to talking about my post-MBA plans. But I’m so ready. I’m so ready for this next step in my life. So until my next big trip/ challenge/ move, its been quite the ride and see you the next time!
