Heathrow Airport - Flight Delayed

But only by one hour, so it's all good. In fact it kinda suited us better in honesty. Get to relax for two minutes.

It's been a fairly mad day. Constant removing of clothing really takes it toll on you. That came out wrong. I'm tired. I mean that we have to remove shoes and belts and coats every time we reach security at every airport. It's really silly though. For instance, from Dublin to Heathrow we carried on certain items. Maria and Tom have their video cameras in a camera bag seperate to their backpacks (the small backpacks that they're using for hand luggage). There was no problem getting that on at Dublin, but it's suddenly a problem when going from Heathrow to Nairobi. But it's only a problem if they have it out, if they take the cameras and mics and chargers from the bag and put them piece by piece into everyone elses bag, it's ok. It doesn't make sense! It just adds to stress!

In other drama, June, one of Team Kenya somehow never recieved flight coupons. Ok, let me explain. We picked up our tickets from Camara last week. In the Usit folder we recieved there was a print out with all our flight info (similar to that which you recieve when travelling with Ryanair as a ticket) but unusually enough there was also several flight coupons, basically actual printed out tickets which I personally haven't seen in years.

For some weird and messed up reason, June didn't recieve the coupons, only the print out. Understandably she didn't think there was a problem, because she wasn't expecting any coupons...but...the problem was pointed out when she tried to check in and they wouldn't let her. God, the poor thing, so much stress added and the fear of not being able to make it to Africa...

Luckily she got it all sorted, finally, but it took a while and a lot of explaining and phonecalls and waiting.

So far everything's been smooth enough for myself thankfully. No problems at security, no problems with tickets, I haven't had that heart wrenching feeling of forgetting just yet. I'm a bit tired, but well fed. A little worried about my luggage and guitar which I checked in back at Dublin and won't see til Nairobi tomorrow morning, but otherwise I'm good.

Don't think we'll be sitting together on the flight over which I'm a little worried about just because I love company, but, I imagine most of the flight will be spent sleeping so I should manage. Plus we somehow managed to get premium ecconomy so we get free drink and video games and movies, so, I'm happy about that.

Hopefully this won't be my last entry for a month. And hopefully everything goes ok from here to Africa.

Over and out.

Leanne
xx

Drowney Round the World

So I've decided to turn my unspoken thoughts into a travel diary for the month of July. This Saturday I will be heading off to Africa with Camara to teach basic computer literacy in schools and colleges around Kenya. Hopefully I'll manage to find some sort of web access whilst there so I can keep you posted on my travels.

I am soooooo excited. It's the first time I'll be anywhere remotely different. I haven't been on more than a two hour flight since I was nine!

This flight will take ten hours. We'll get into Nairobi Airport on Sunday morning and then we've another short flight to Mombasa where we'll be spending two weeks. From there we'll go to Malindi and finish up in Lamu.

I think I've everything I need; malaria tablets, mosquito nets, deet, boots, sleeping bag, special pretty pink sun hat that apparently cools you down, money belt, glasses, contact lenses (which I probably won't wear thanks to stories of eye balls detaching and blindness) books, iPod, money, rehydration salts, raincoat, light clothing, etc. I've written up about ten different checklists and checked them all several times. I've been teacher trained, Dtalked, raised money, "cycled" to Belfast, read lots, got my tickets...I think I'm set.

Yesterday I recieved the latest edition of National Geographic and this month's cover article is all about MALARIA...huge writing, huge article, lots of badness...made me feel really not scared at all. Typical. At least I'm a bit more knowledgable and aware...

Anyway, hopefully there will be entries on here once I get there. And the possibility of photos although they may have to wait til I get back. Wish me luck!

*~Leanne~*

Rainy Book Girl

The way I sometimes feel...

...free.