Tuesday 8 January 2008

Return to Oz

We're on the way to the airport in Port Elizabeth for a connecting flight when we both get the following text message from an Australian number :

Qantas flight QF64 05 JAN from JNB now est to dep at 1430 06 JAN.


The flight we're connecting to is running a day late... Suddenly the whole trip home that we're all packed for, dressed for and are on our way to is thrown to the wind for another day. But we're still headed to Johannesburg... we don't quite know what will greet us when we get there.

We contact our friends David & Dennis who have travelled the opposite direction (and found spectacular weather, in contrast to us). They are landing in Johannesburg a few hours later and promise to save us from a day in an airport / airport hotel. So past the high walled security fenced estates, the shanty towns crammed filled with people and surrounded by more meandering on the streets, past new shopping centres with designer labels, cars patched together with tape and BMW X5's fresh off theproduction line, we make it to the oasis of a suburban home replete with swimming pool, tennis court and our haven from an uncertain city.
Everyone has different views of Johannesburg, but no-one describes it as safe. It's a great add-on day to our holiday. Had we planned it - we'd probably be somewhere else.

But the next day's flight (delayed yet again) finally leaves in the evening and we make it home for a hot sunset and a swim in Coalcliff pool. We're back home, back to work and I've taken so many photos my hard drive can't breathe.

7 comments:

Sue said...

We cannot wait to see them!

Unknown said...

After the ordeal of being delayed in South Africa,I bet it was a warm feeling as the plane touched down there in sydney for the both you..Oh and welcome back Mate.

Superchilled said...

Sue: Watch out for photos... Just need to get my hard drive sorted...

Wally: thanks, it is always nice to be home - but I was quite happy traveling and would easily have kept on going for a while! South America seems nice this time of year...

Unknown said...

Yea, I know once you have the travel bug..hard to shed that thought from the memory bank!..but duty calls...to save those $$ for that South America Aventure..I hope first day back was not too Stressful for you..cheers.

GeoffnTerry said...

Welcome home boys...sounds like a great trip...waiting for those pics with baited breath
xo
G

Darwin said...

At least I was not the only one with massive delays in flights!

It is exactly that contradiction of the rich and the poor, developed nation and developing nation that is difficult to understand unless you have seen it...

Glad you had a good trip!

Superchilled said...

G&T: wait no more

Martin: yes it is quite the mix that is appreciated better once you're there. Quite a challenge I would think though to make inroads into - education education education I say...

Hope your trip was a good one - despite delays. What happened there?