Piayot Goes to France

The Adventure Continues

AUGUST 28, 2005

Flight from Manila to Muscat
4:00 pm Manila Time - 8:40 pm Muscat Time
Flight time: 08h 40min

I guess the reality of the fact that I'm leaving the country all alone for 10 months just settled in. Memories of the past weeks and months flickered in my mind while I tried very hard to concentrate on the french crash course I was listening to, or while trying to sleep. I couldn't help but be afraid of the things I'm going to miss, and of what the state of things will be when I return. I tried finding solace in watching the other people in the plane, but everything was in vain because the plane was like an isolation box. Everyone else was asleep, or was at least trying to sleep. I could see a few lone lights turned on, but the people were just reading, or were like me, staring into space. The only bright scene I found in the plane was that of a baby and her mother. The baby was so cute, and she smiled back at me when I smiled at her. At that moment, I couldn't help but wish that I was in her place. She was probably travelling for an international trip for the first time in her life, and she was so bouncy and happy, unaware of the baggages (literal and emotional ones) adults like me have to bring with them when they travel.

Yes, i'm an adult already. I'm not a teenager anymore and it is my first time to travel alone. It might be too late an age for some people, but just the same, I'm thankful that I had the opportunity to do this trip even if there are so many thoughts bothering my mind. I couldn't help but think that in a few months, I would again be in a plane, but this time going back home. Maybe I'll be so excited that I'll be going home finally, or maybe I might not want to go home. Whatever the mood will be, I just know that I'll survive and life will go on.

Muscat Airport
Some time between 8:40 pm and 10:00 pm Muscat Time

The Muscat airport looked just like any other airport. It had lots of empty space and bare walls. Nothing was new, save for the fact that there were lots of Arabs, Muscat being in an Arabian country. I'm a good traveler, I don't know which country in particular.

I wanted to go to their souvenir shop while waiting for my next flight but the stares of the people around scared me a little. Besides, Naomi texted me and warned me not to go wandering around so I just stayed in the waiting area and watched everyone go about their business. There were lots of Filipinos, and it was nice to have someone to relate to. I met a Filipina who was going to Bahrain to visit her relatives. She helped me reserve a spot in the line, and we went to the plane together. She came from the same flight as mine. She said that if I had met her in NAIA (the international airport in the Philippines), she could have helped me get a 1st class seat to Muscat. Anyway, the time came for us to board the plane and we had to part ways. I hope I'll meet her again.

Flight from Muscat to Bahrain
10:00 pm Muscat Time - 10:30 pm Bahrain Time
Flight time: 01h 30min

The food was bad. The moment the food was served, my mouth started to water since the food smelled really good. When I gulped in a big serving however, I was severely disappointed. I don't know how to describe it, but it was starchy. Then I remembered meat wasn't allowed in that plane because it was an Arabian plane. So I just put my food aside, and I just watched the people around me and the lights in the desert below. By this time, I was too tired of nostalgic thoughts that I just wanted to enjoy the view.

Bahrain Airport
Some time between 10:30 pm and 1:15 am Bahrain Time

Bahrain's airport was grand. The rooms were really large, and the seats, comfortable. Besides, there was a Duty Free shop so I was spared from the boredom of just sitting while waiting for my plane. After looking through the shops and the expensive prices attached to the goods, I decided to buy phone cards to call home. I enthusiastically went to the nearest phone booth, read the instructions, dialled the number home, and waited for someone to answer the phone for eons. (Yes, i forgot that i might be calling at such an ungodly hour.) Anyways, my mom answered the phone after a while and we had a short chat as to what had happened to me. I then tried calling JC next and luckily, he answered the phone and we also had a short chat. I wanted to call Naomi but I remembered that yes, I was calling in an ungodly hour and bothering 2 people was enough.

I tried to stay put while waiting for my flight because of the strange looks of the men who were also waiting for the flights, but I couldn't. I saw women who wore black from head to foot, with only their eyes exposed for the first time in my life, and I found the sight unnerving. Since I didn't want to see the sky-high prices of the duty free goods either, I decided to just buy an internet card (yey! they had wi-fi!) and bring out my laptop. The cashier looked very Filipina and with the way she smiled at me, I could feel that she was also wondering if I was Filipina. Being lazy to ask however, and being quite enthusiastic to go online, login to Chikka and send messages to everyone, I just bought a card and plopped into the nearest, safest spot I could get. After sending messages to everyone and e-mailing ICAM and friends, the internet card ran out just in time. Since the terminal number for my flight was already available by that time, I went to the terminal and waited for them to open the line. An airport personnel was there and seeing that I was alone, he asked if I needed help. I told him I was waiting for my flight to begin accepting passengers. He asked where I came from, and when he learned that I was from the Philippines, he said "Mabuhay!". He was funny and very friendly. It was nice to see that he was interested in the Philippines also. Anyway, the time came for him to leave, and I continued waiting for my plane. Finally, it came and as I fell in line, I couldn't help but notice that I was the only Filipino, and with that came another wave of feelings of anxiety.

posted by Pia @ 11:08 PM