First day into the trip. We are flying from Nairobi (Kenya) to Entebbe, a few miles away from Kampala (the capital of Uganda). It is mid-October, the beginning of the second rainy season (the shortest one of the two) and all of us on board the small propellers-plane are hoping that the black clouds in the horizon are not an advance of the things to come.It is a bumpy ride (actually, a very bumpy ride) and after just over an hour in the air the captain makes an announcement in one the many African languages spoken in the region (Swahili? Luganda? Ateso?). It is a long (and to me unintelligible) message and the news, judging by the rapidly-losing-colour faces of my fellow travellers, are probably not great.
I wait for the English translation for a few seconds (there must be one, surely) ... then a few minutes (perhaps not?) ... and after a while I smile to the lady at my side and ask: "Excuse me, do you speak English? Any idea of what was the message about?" Two deep dark eyes stare at me, intensely, purposely, as she answers: "Nothing serious really. We still have fuel to come back to Nairobi if we fail to land in Entebbe".
I wait for the English translation for a few seconds (there must be one, surely) ... then a few minutes (perhaps not?) ... and after a while I smile to the lady at my side and ask: "Excuse me, do you speak English? Any idea of what was the message about?" Two deep dark eyes stare at me, intensely, purposely, as she answers: "Nothing serious really. We still have fuel to come back to Nairobi if we fail to land in Entebbe".
If we fail to land? Is that an option? Because in Europe we are used to planes that land successfully! But as I am articulating my thoughts the plane turns right and dives into the dark mass of clouds. The firmament disappears as the bumpy ride becomes the closest thing to a 'roller coaster' (a 'jet coaster' for my Japanese friends) that I have experienced recently!
And suddenly we can see the ground through the tiny windows in the fuselage, closer and closer ... until we touch down (a few times actually!) and start slowing down along the runway. I can understand now why humans, unlike birds, chose to evolve as earth-loving-creatures!
There I was, waiting for my luggage in Entebbe's airport. After days of preparation and several vaccinations. Armed with my malaria tablets (once more), my walking boots, and hungry for a new adventure ... welcome to Uganda!
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