ZIA
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
This morning I tool a CNG (stands for "compressed natural gas," is like a motorbike with a cab built around it,) to the airport. Amazing that this little tin can on wheels is allowed to sputter up the ramp to the international departure terminal alonside proper taxis and hotel vans!
After waiting in the initial security line for 10 minutes without moving, I realized that slippy Bangladeshis were simply sliding into the line from the sides. A well-polished man wearing a sweater vest came up to me and said that I was a foreigner, that I needed help, that this line would take too long. He said that for a little tip, I wouldn't have to wait. I said no thanks. 15 minutes later, I was back in front of him. Turns out he was the ID/ticket checker. Good good.
Found out my flight was delayed 2 hours. Then 3 hours. Then ambiguous hours. I was amused that Emirates handwrites their delay notices on a piece of printer paper and pastes it up in the window. No such system for my airline, GMG, though. Airport staff also yell at each other across the waiting areas to communicate, while their standard issue radios hang slackly at their belts.
Some grumpy Bangladeshi businessmen chided the GMG staff to feed us or otherwise compensate us for the delay. After waiting 4 hours past our scheduled departure time, the staff rounded us up and took us over to a restaurant, where they said they would feed us. Then then told us that it was time to board. And so we scurried back.
This morning I tool a CNG (stands for "compressed natural gas," is like a motorbike with a cab built around it,) to the airport. Amazing that this little tin can on wheels is allowed to sputter up the ramp to the international departure terminal alonside proper taxis and hotel vans!
After waiting in the initial security line for 10 minutes without moving, I realized that slippy Bangladeshis were simply sliding into the line from the sides. A well-polished man wearing a sweater vest came up to me and said that I was a foreigner, that I needed help, that this line would take too long. He said that for a little tip, I wouldn't have to wait. I said no thanks. 15 minutes later, I was back in front of him. Turns out he was the ID/ticket checker. Good good.
Found out my flight was delayed 2 hours. Then 3 hours. Then ambiguous hours. I was amused that Emirates handwrites their delay notices on a piece of printer paper and pastes it up in the window. No such system for my airline, GMG, though. Airport staff also yell at each other across the waiting areas to communicate, while their standard issue radios hang slackly at their belts.
Some grumpy Bangladeshi businessmen chided the GMG staff to feed us or otherwise compensate us for the delay. After waiting 4 hours past our scheduled departure time, the staff rounded us up and took us over to a restaurant, where they said they would feed us. Then then told us that it was time to board. And so we scurried back.
posted by Stefanie at 8:07 AM
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