17 March, Tuesday. Bahrain-Athens; Athens-Heraklion
06.15 Good morning ma'am, breakfast buffet is ready on the 10th floor.
Going upstairs, a bit a poor buffet but a nice waiter (the same as last night): I'll bring you your black coffee now ma'am. Nice. Thank you.
Collecting my things, going to the lounge, get my passport back and an early transfer to the airport. Must be another good day ahead of me.
At the airport to the same shop, where I bought my camera. But to my surprise, despite the good special offer I had with my camera, the prices of the laptops are crazy, expensive. Even the special offer is a minimum of 700 euro! Don't think so.
Two nice encounters:
A man from Greece, he is a correspondent for the Army. The last 4 months he has been in Kenya (Kayshani :)), Somalia and surrounding areas to escort convoois who tried to deliver food and medicine to the people. He said he had a huge WHY???(and anger inside) And then after all this poverty a night in a Bahrain hotel : Black and White.
The other person I met is a Palestinian. He wanted to climb mountains in his own country, but was not allowed to enter the Gaza-area, because of his Palestinian passport. WHY???
He did the Mount Everest Basecamp and to have a rest before he starts his scholarship he stayed one week in Bandipur! Beautiful, away from the problems in the world, back to nature, back to basic.
Only nature and loving, caring people.
He also helped in the Bandipur hospital to do repairments, helping with installing a hot water system: OUR HOTWATER SYSTEM! (it IS a small world).
His next flight - with Gulf Air - is also 12 hours later, but because again of his Palestinian passport he is not allowed to go into Bahrain. "Be careful, Rita - he said - maybe you are sitting here talking with a terrorist" :).
He tells about the latest news in the Gaza, everything seems calmed down now. Says that the rest of Israel and surrounding areas are safe: every one starts to accept each other; to realise we are living in a beautiful country, so let's live in it together, build it up instead of destroying it he says. WHY Gaza???
There are no answers, except that both of the complete different men I meet in this short time said: 'They' have to keep the 'SYSTEM' (war) going, some one has to keep the economics going. Who cares that it is the already poor people (Kenya-Somalia) are paying for it. Who cares that innocent people are paying for it (Gaza-Israel).
The Palestinian agreed with me on Global Holi! He was in Bandipur during the colourfestival, playing like a child with the children of Bandipur.
'Yes, let's throw colour at each other, yes let's point our waterpistols at each other. Let's colour the grey, ugly world!'
Sitting in the waitingroom I realize that today I've made my last 'donation'.
I left my jacket in the hotel . I was already thinking: hmmmm I am travelling 'light'.
Oh well, it would have been more useful to leave that kind of jacket in Kathmandu instead of a hot Bahrain, but 'Ke Garne'? (what to do?)
Just call Mike that when he comes to pick me up at Heraklion he'd better bring my woolen Nepali jacket with him, because I heard it is only about 10 degrees in Greece at the moment.
The world IS upside down: Nepal, the top of the world, the HIMALAYAN 29 degrees. In Greece/Crete it is only 10 degrees, at the end of March!
But, in December it was still 'summer' in Crete.
Another confirmation (not necessary, because it was already my plan/wish): Summertime Elounda, working, socializing with my friends from Elounda and the friends that are coming over, going to the beach, enjoying it's beautiful nature.
Wintertime Nepal, instead of paying a high electricitybill at home for the heating, spending almost all winter on my own inside the house. Socialising with my friends, being with 'my' children. Being a drop in the ocean. Taking the groups on tour.
WHO SAID LIFE IS NOT PERFECT!!!!
If NOT perfect, I am getting pretty close to it! THANK YOU UNIVERSE.
Here I am again, day is not finished yet. Universe has a lot more 'surprises' in mind for today.
Sitting now in Gregorys at Athens airport. Why specially Gregorys? Here it comes:
Still in the plane a special announcement: will miss van de Zande please report to the crew.
Joking with the correspondent: not even at home and they already know I am here, looking for me. Trouble is home.
'You must be famous then', he laughs.
'Yeah, or in trouble, which usually is the case'.
A girl waits for me at the exit of the plane: Miss van de Zande, I am from the airport police, would you be so kind to follow me please. ??????????????????????
While walking she explains to me that Gulf Air contacted her about my luggage. (did somebody put 'something' in my bag???????)
But, then she goes on: your luggage will be checked through to your next flight with Aegean at 18.00 departure. I am escorting you now to the Aegean check-in counter to collect your boarding pass and here is a voucher of Gulf Air for you, offering you a free lunch at Gregorys, close to your gate.
- Sorry, Universe- how could I even doubt you for one minute, I just have to hold on to my faith in you and everything is gonna be fine. You have showed me that I don't need to 'fight' anymore, I will never be 'alone' anymore, I just have to put my trust, my soul, my existence in your hands and everything is gonna be alright!
(Big John will take care of you :)) (inside information).
So, a VIP escort through passport control (no waiting line), a VIP check-in at the Aegean counter: 'don't go and stand in line, I will take you to the Business Class check-in'.
There she left me, asking if everything is alright. YEP, Perfect, Thank YOU.
'It's not me, ma'am, it's courtesy of Gulf Air, and I'm just doing my job'. Well, thanks anyway.
At the check-in a bit of confusion: You have to go to the Gulf Air desk to get your ticket issued, you are not in our system, blablablabla.
With my experience at the Gulf Air Office in Kathmandu fresh in my mind I pull out every single piece of paper I have, concerning my flights, including the printouts of the emails from Georgos Plora Travel and somewhere along those papers the man finds a E-ticketnumber. Aaaah, your ticket from yesterday is still standing open, I only have to transfer it to today and everything is arranged. One minute please, I will call upstairs to pass on this number and in a few minutes I can print out your boardingcard!
And indeed, 10 minutes later I am on my way, with my boarding card, looking for a computershop (without paying anything extra George!):)!
At Germanos they have a real beauty of the new HP-mini. Small, light, with normal keyboard, 2 USB entrances, plug for modem, plug for cd-rom drive, etc. etc. If I take a contract for 2 years of 39 euro a month for Wireless Internet connection on the GO this laptop is for free!
Knowing however that in this world nothing is for free, except sunshine, love and compassion - and being tired after being such a long time in the air, travelling, thinking of my blooper donation of my jacket this morning, I ask the boy if this offer is at the same conditions in Crete. The answer is Yes, so that is easy. First go home, unpack, have a good rest and then later this week I will have a proper look at all the offers in Agios Nicolaos (Germanos, Vodafone, Multirama, etc.)
Today the only thing to do is to go and have some (free lunch) now, watching the world pass by, wait for Rita2 (she is flying the same flight to Heraklion, so we left together and are coming home together), while sitting at Gregorys.
Rita is arriving not much later and in a slow pace we go through passport control.
The flight Athens-Heraklion is almost empty: about 30 people in the plane!, so everything goes quick.
At Heraklion we have our luggage quick and Harrie is waiting outside to bring us home (with my Nepali jacket). It is very cold here!
Coming home, calling mum and dad that I am home safe, saying hello to the neighbours and then time to have a proper sleep in my own bed!!!
The end of once again a wonderful, amazing, inspiring, full of events journey to Nepal, where I voluntarily lost my heart and where I will return EVERY winter if possible (healthwise, financially). Peri Betonlah Nepal! Peri Betonlah C.W.A. kids. Peri Betonlah my H.E. Family. Thank you, miss you already and see you soon.
P.S. Keep checking regularly this site, I will put more pictures on it AND I will keep reporting from Crete and give you later more details about the groups I am going to organize for a 3 weeks encounter with Nepal: cultural, inspirational, adventurous, volunteering, so much to do, so much to see! A once in a lifetime experience, and maybe also you will catch the 'Nepali Fever'?
Suba Rathri!!!
Rita Sanghita - Kushi Aga
Going upstairs, a bit a poor buffet but a nice waiter (the same as last night): I'll bring you your black coffee now ma'am. Nice. Thank you.
Collecting my things, going to the lounge, get my passport back and an early transfer to the airport. Must be another good day ahead of me.
At the airport to the same shop, where I bought my camera. But to my surprise, despite the good special offer I had with my camera, the prices of the laptops are crazy, expensive. Even the special offer is a minimum of 700 euro! Don't think so.
Two nice encounters:
A man from Greece, he is a correspondent for the Army. The last 4 months he has been in Kenya (Kayshani :)), Somalia and surrounding areas to escort convoois who tried to deliver food and medicine to the people. He said he had a huge WHY???(and anger inside) And then after all this poverty a night in a Bahrain hotel : Black and White.
The other person I met is a Palestinian. He wanted to climb mountains in his own country, but was not allowed to enter the Gaza-area, because of his Palestinian passport. WHY???
He did the Mount Everest Basecamp and to have a rest before he starts his scholarship he stayed one week in Bandipur! Beautiful, away from the problems in the world, back to nature, back to basic.
Only nature and loving, caring people.
He also helped in the Bandipur hospital to do repairments, helping with installing a hot water system: OUR HOTWATER SYSTEM! (it IS a small world).
His next flight - with Gulf Air - is also 12 hours later, but because again of his Palestinian passport he is not allowed to go into Bahrain. "Be careful, Rita - he said - maybe you are sitting here talking with a terrorist" :).
He tells about the latest news in the Gaza, everything seems calmed down now. Says that the rest of Israel and surrounding areas are safe: every one starts to accept each other; to realise we are living in a beautiful country, so let's live in it together, build it up instead of destroying it he says. WHY Gaza???
There are no answers, except that both of the complete different men I meet in this short time said: 'They' have to keep the 'SYSTEM' (war) going, some one has to keep the economics going. Who cares that it is the already poor people (Kenya-Somalia) are paying for it. Who cares that innocent people are paying for it (Gaza-Israel).
The Palestinian agreed with me on Global Holi! He was in Bandipur during the colourfestival, playing like a child with the children of Bandipur.
'Yes, let's throw colour at each other, yes let's point our waterpistols at each other. Let's colour the grey, ugly world!'
Sitting in the waitingroom I realize that today I've made my last 'donation'.
I left my jacket in the hotel . I was already thinking: hmmmm I am travelling 'light'.
Oh well, it would have been more useful to leave that kind of jacket in Kathmandu instead of a hot Bahrain, but 'Ke Garne'? (what to do?)
Just call Mike that when he comes to pick me up at Heraklion he'd better bring my woolen Nepali jacket with him, because I heard it is only about 10 degrees in Greece at the moment.
The world IS upside down: Nepal, the top of the world, the HIMALAYAN 29 degrees. In Greece/Crete it is only 10 degrees, at the end of March!
But, in December it was still 'summer' in Crete.
Another confirmation (not necessary, because it was already my plan/wish): Summertime Elounda, working, socializing with my friends from Elounda and the friends that are coming over, going to the beach, enjoying it's beautiful nature.
Wintertime Nepal, instead of paying a high electricitybill at home for the heating, spending almost all winter on my own inside the house. Socialising with my friends, being with 'my' children. Being a drop in the ocean. Taking the groups on tour.
WHO SAID LIFE IS NOT PERFECT!!!!
If NOT perfect, I am getting pretty close to it! THANK YOU UNIVERSE.
Here I am again, day is not finished yet. Universe has a lot more 'surprises' in mind for today.
Sitting now in Gregorys at Athens airport. Why specially Gregorys? Here it comes:
Still in the plane a special announcement: will miss van de Zande please report to the crew.
Joking with the correspondent: not even at home and they already know I am here, looking for me. Trouble is home.
'You must be famous then', he laughs.
'Yeah, or in trouble, which usually is the case'.
A girl waits for me at the exit of the plane: Miss van de Zande, I am from the airport police, would you be so kind to follow me please. ??????????????????????
While walking she explains to me that Gulf Air contacted her about my luggage. (did somebody put 'something' in my bag???????)
But, then she goes on: your luggage will be checked through to your next flight with Aegean at 18.00 departure. I am escorting you now to the Aegean check-in counter to collect your boarding pass and here is a voucher of Gulf Air for you, offering you a free lunch at Gregorys, close to your gate.
- Sorry, Universe- how could I even doubt you for one minute, I just have to hold on to my faith in you and everything is gonna be fine. You have showed me that I don't need to 'fight' anymore, I will never be 'alone' anymore, I just have to put my trust, my soul, my existence in your hands and everything is gonna be alright!
(Big John will take care of you :)) (inside information).
So, a VIP escort through passport control (no waiting line), a VIP check-in at the Aegean counter: 'don't go and stand in line, I will take you to the Business Class check-in'.
There she left me, asking if everything is alright. YEP, Perfect, Thank YOU.
'It's not me, ma'am, it's courtesy of Gulf Air, and I'm just doing my job'. Well, thanks anyway.
At the check-in a bit of confusion: You have to go to the Gulf Air desk to get your ticket issued, you are not in our system, blablablabla.
With my experience at the Gulf Air Office in Kathmandu fresh in my mind I pull out every single piece of paper I have, concerning my flights, including the printouts of the emails from Georgos Plora Travel and somewhere along those papers the man finds a E-ticketnumber. Aaaah, your ticket from yesterday is still standing open, I only have to transfer it to today and everything is arranged. One minute please, I will call upstairs to pass on this number and in a few minutes I can print out your boardingcard!
And indeed, 10 minutes later I am on my way, with my boarding card, looking for a computershop (without paying anything extra George!):)!
At Germanos they have a real beauty of the new HP-mini. Small, light, with normal keyboard, 2 USB entrances, plug for modem, plug for cd-rom drive, etc. etc. If I take a contract for 2 years of 39 euro a month for Wireless Internet connection on the GO this laptop is for free!
Knowing however that in this world nothing is for free, except sunshine, love and compassion - and being tired after being such a long time in the air, travelling, thinking of my blooper donation of my jacket this morning, I ask the boy if this offer is at the same conditions in Crete. The answer is Yes, so that is easy. First go home, unpack, have a good rest and then later this week I will have a proper look at all the offers in Agios Nicolaos (Germanos, Vodafone, Multirama, etc.)
Today the only thing to do is to go and have some (free lunch) now, watching the world pass by, wait for Rita2 (she is flying the same flight to Heraklion, so we left together and are coming home together), while sitting at Gregorys.
Rita is arriving not much later and in a slow pace we go through passport control.
The flight Athens-Heraklion is almost empty: about 30 people in the plane!, so everything goes quick.
At Heraklion we have our luggage quick and Harrie is waiting outside to bring us home (with my Nepali jacket). It is very cold here!
Coming home, calling mum and dad that I am home safe, saying hello to the neighbours and then time to have a proper sleep in my own bed!!!
The end of once again a wonderful, amazing, inspiring, full of events journey to Nepal, where I voluntarily lost my heart and where I will return EVERY winter if possible (healthwise, financially). Peri Betonlah Nepal! Peri Betonlah C.W.A. kids. Peri Betonlah my H.E. Family. Thank you, miss you already and see you soon.
P.S. Keep checking regularly this site, I will put more pictures on it AND I will keep reporting from Crete and give you later more details about the groups I am going to organize for a 3 weeks encounter with Nepal: cultural, inspirational, adventurous, volunteering, so much to do, so much to see! A once in a lifetime experience, and maybe also you will catch the 'Nepali Fever'?
Suba Rathri!!!
Rita Sanghita - Kushi Aga
posted by Rita Sanghita at
11:10:00 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home