I remember a week before I was hella nervous about the trip. Like, knots in the stomach, nervous. It suddenly dawned on me that I would be glamping in the wilderness alone, probably with a bunch of dudes, by myself. I mean, I'd thought about it in passing, but suddenly the situation seemed ridiculous. On top of that, I would be arriving in the dead of night to be whisked off to God-knows-where. It's not like I could streetview this shit on Google Maps. I was so nervous, I really couldn't sleep well on the flight and as I've stated numerous times, planes usually knock me out. My route was from ATL-Dulles-Amsterdam-Mt. Kili/Arusha. Oh let me backup a bit! I kinda fucked up when I left home for the airport and took the wrong ATM card. The card I did take had approximately 100 bucks in it. Lucky for me, I also took a credit card and had about 600 USD cash. My other bank was where the real dough was. I panicked when I realized at the airport, but it was too late to go back home. I wouldn't make my flight. Also lucky for me this trip was all inclusive, meaning I really didn't have to pay for anything but liquor and souvenirs if I was so inclined.
Ok, back to the plane ride. I can't remember a lot about them. I remember the absolutely shitty security line at Dulles airport. That airport was really pretty though! I remember sitting in Amsterdam airport very comfortable with a row of seats all to myself right in front of the window. Then these two dutch couples made me move my shit I had sort of spread around me so they could sit down. I was silently cursing them out in my head. There were plenty of seats, why my row?!! I know, it's very ugly american, and quite frankly I regretted this later as you will sooner or later find out.
I remember the seats on KLM being kind of narrow. I do remember one of my seatmates and I'm almost ashamed to recount this tale. I'm not sure if it was at Dulles or in Amsterdam. I had checked my seats right before leaving and according to the seatmap on KLM my rows were clear on all flights, but the seatmap lied! I remember getting very comfortable on my row, looking around at all the suckers who had to share their rows. Just about everyone had boarded so I was feeling very confident I could stretch out for the flight. And then I saw this woman, a very large woman, making her way down the aisle and looking intently in my direction. I literally could feel my face drop and felt so ashamed of myself!
I know how it feels to be that person and I'm not nor have I ever been overweight. However, I have always felt that I don't quite fit in anywhere and have had my feelings confirmed more than a few times. At that moment I resolved to try and get my humanity back, but not before I did one more unintentional dumb thing to make this woman probably hate me. I pulled down the armrest right as she was about to settle herself in. I have no idea what possessed me to do that, maybe it was subconscious fat-shaming or maybe it's something I usually do on airplanes when I have to share a row. Boundaries need to be established on a row. Who gets the armrest? Do not let your dumb handbag cross the border...you know, that kinda thing. Whatever it was, I wanted to face palm myself just based on how it might've looked to her. She had a hard time fitting in the seat and I offered to pull up the armrest,but maybe out of indignation or spite she said it could stay down. Anyway, she got settled and actually she was super nice! We kind of bonded because the guy directly in front of her was complaining about how little legroom he had in the basic economy seat and bitched to the flight attendant who then put him in the comfort row...FOR FREE! The flight was full so this poor lady that was in comfort switched with him, I would've let him rot. His attitude was shitty, like he deserved to be placed in comfort. He was very tall, like basketball player height, so surely he had to know economy comfort would be more, well, comfy.
Huh, I guess I remember more about the flights than I thought. Anyway, the rest of the flight was pretty uneventful. There were fits of sleep and reading. Finally I get to Mt. Kilimanjaro airport. Anywhere I go this is usually the most nerve-wracking part for me. Will my luggage be there? How am I going to get out of here? Where am I going? I decided to not do carry-on only for this trip just because there was more than one layover and I couldn't deal with lugging my backpack everywhere.
First things first, getting the visa. I had dressed in layers, but the airport was hot as hell. I was sweating bullets and to my horror I smelled badly (deoderant was in the backpack). I had to keep my jacket on thinking I could contain it. No one ran away so I think I was successful. The lines were a bit long and it felt like forever when in actuality, I think it took maybe 30 minutes. I just wanted to get out in the world whatever it would hold. I got to the front of the line and handed the visa lady a crisp 100 dollar bill and she, in return, gave me my airport freedom in the form of a visa.
I grabbed my backpack and there they were..the wolves outside the door. At almost every airport, you see a phalanx of people waiting to scam, hug, or simply drive the new arrivals. I stopped for a moment to steel myself. Took a breath and walked outside. I scanned the crowd to hopefully see my name scribbled on a piece of paper being held by someone which I hoped would be my driver. And there he was, on the left near the rear of the crowd. I smiled in relief and introduced myself and he told me his name, but can't recall what it was. It was night, can't remember the time. So we get to the van and as soon as I see it, the fear rises up. I'm about to get in the car with someone I don't know in bloody Africa. I am legit freaking a little, but am outwardly cool. I get up front with the driver, because I never know what the protocol is with taxi drivers in foreign countries and I would like to see what's going on in front of me.
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| Come to the light! |
So off we go! It's pitch black on the road. There are no streetlights except when coming upon gas stations. Me and the driver make a little small talk. He asks me where I'm from and I tell him I'm from Atlanta. I always have to explain to people where Georgia is located in the U.S. by saying, 'You know Florida..Miami, Disney...above that.'. I don't know why I bother, no one really gives a shit. Anyway, on the drive he blinks his lights often at oncoming drivers. This totally reminded me of a long drive in the middle of nowhere Brazil I took with this young American couple in taxicab, there was just fields of emptiness and for whatever reason the driver slowed down and the husband says, 'Here comes the ambush.'. I don't know why, but me and his wife cracked up at this...probably because it could've been absolutely true and also because it just seemed ludicrous that it could be true. Anway, this was sort of how I was feeling. Here comes the ambush. I had the window down and I stuck my head outside and looked up and my word!!! Whatever fear or anxiety I had died when I saw the night sky. It was like I was in the planetarium looking at every single constellation and the milky way. I literally saw galaxies. I thought to myself, if I am going to die here and this is the last thing I see, it won't be a bad way to go.
We passed by these small shantytowns/villages by the side of the road. I think it was Friday or Saturday night so people were out and about. I could smell the food coming from bars and restaurants. Some put together with just cement and tin. I wanted my driver to stop to see if I could hang out in one as it looked like people were just sitting around shooting the shit, having a chill time. I realized I hadn't had anything to eat since the plane which seems like hours and hours ago. I was starving! The smell of diesel was very strong also and sometime the roads turned to dust. I think the total trip was maybe an hour. We turned off the dirt road and went up a hill. There was a closed gate and someone came and opened it. I went to reception to get checked in and get the low down on the joint. The restaurant was still open! Once I got to my room, I plopped down my things and went to go eat.
I can't remember what I had for dinner. I think it was some type of curry and a dessert. It was only me and other couple in the restaurant and they seemed to be having an argument. And also who should walk in while I'm eating my entree? The Dutch couples from the Amsterdam airport! I didn't acknowledge them as I was kinda still salty from earlier. I finished dinner and went back to my room, took a shower, and collapsed in bed. I had to get up early the next day. My guide, who I will call, P, was to pick me up the next day at 7 a.m. UGH!
I think I'm gonna have to break this trip report in parts. It's just too long and I'm only on day one! Til next week!
