The 207th Episode : The roof of the world
[October, 2010 Dubai, UAE]
The return trip was made by Emirates Airlines from Dubai to Japan. It was bound for Haneda, Tokyo, via Kansai AP, Osaka. It's recently become one of the most popular airways with a good reputation for its exotic-looking female cabin crews and good in-flight service.
After take-off the aircraft flies over Pakistan, north of the Himalayas and across China. I think the outbound route was similar but I couldn't see outside because my seat was on aisle side and besides it was a midnight flight. This time the seat was on window side.
The roof of the world gradually revealed itself, and the spectacular view of the mountain range was overwhelming. I wonder I could see the Everest, the highest mountain in the world, somewhere in my sight. I couldn't recognise it, since it's not an independent peak like Mr. Fuji. Nor could I tell which the highest was.
The Himalayas spread 1,500 miles wide from east to west and more than 100 mountains higher than 23,622ft exist. Only the bare, treeless rock surfaces and endless stretches of white perennial snow could been seen and also showed the harshness of the area even the view from the aircraft. It was the scene where none of the life could exist at all, I felt.
The 206th Episode : The azure sea
[October, 2009 Dubai, UAE]
The UAE faces the Persian Gulf. On the way to Ghana, we flew over the Gulf just after take-off from Dubai. The sea was as calm and beautiful as the Caribbean Sea. But it was a war-torn and very hazardous area due to the war between Iran and Iraq from 1980 to 1988.
The marine insurance for war damage was basically separate condition when we export to such ports face this gulf as Kuwait, Bahrain... etc., and if it was attached very expensive insurance premiums were required. Actually an ocean vessel I arranged for Kuwait was attacked and had a big hole on the hull. As the cargoes were already discharged no direct damage was caused fortunately. And some years later the Gulf Was broke out.
I was looking at the beautiful sea thinking those things. I do wish a war never breaks out again in future.
The 205th Episode : City in desert
[October, 2009 Dubai, UAE]
The centre of the city is urban with many skyscrapers like the big cities in the world, but it's still city in desert. There are many small sand grains at corners of streets, pavements, buildings... etc. Roads run straight in desert in a suburb, a side of which wild camels were eating grasses.
Our taxi was heading our hotel after dinner. Then a Japanese guy wanted to take a pee, due to much beer from the kettle maybe. The taxi driver said no bathroom in such a place. The guy in question once said to try to hold out up to the hotel, no idea of the distance and time. Standing pee was prohibited as a matter of course. The same as Japan. We were in Islamic world, of which rule is mush stricter. They say heavy sentences are beheadings and cutting off the wrist on even theft. Moreover it's a public execution. Will they cut that off if you pee standing up? In a public execution!
No, no, not the case of laughing. In the meantime, he was at his limit! Stop anywhere he screamed! The taxi driver was also embarrassed. Even to stop was prohibited. The sides of the road were desert spread with good visibility. But a little further some small buildings could be seen. The taxi stopped by those buildings a little later and the driver said "behind them". Few street lights was there and dark fortunately.
The Japanese returned to us with a refreshed look on his face, saying "it's sandy down there without flowing, just well soaks in."
The 204th Episode : Islamic world
[October, 2009 Dubai, UAE]
I was waiting for my turn at the immigration control. Huge here, too! The ceiling was so high like a gym. The number of the contacting booth is usually 5-6, but there were well over more than 10. And the officers sitting inside of the booth were all in white, yes the traditional racial clothes called kandoora, and ghutrah and iqal on the head. Of course they all had beards as a sign of adult manhood. That was an odd sight in my eyes.
In the Islamic world, women are not allowed to work and go outside among the masses. Men, as mentioned above, have beards as a sign of adult. I have some muslim friends but it was the first time to get myself into the Islamic world.
Alcohol is of course prohibited. However it seemed to be a little eased as many foreign tourist visit and/or foreign people immigrated. Or it is still illegal but might be tolerated. In a restaurant located at the high floor beer was served in a beer mug normally, but it was served in a kettle in a restaurant on the ground floor. People drink it as if they drink tea. They intend to cheat police officers at a glance. Everybody should've known it already!?
The 203rd Episode : Air of vulgar prosperity
Dubai UAE
[October, 2009 Dubai, U.A.E.]
October, 2009, I got at Dubai International Airport, UAE (United Arab Emirates). First visit to the middle east in my life. I usually transfer here on the way to/from Ghana but the first time to enter the country. Dubai was originally a small fishing town, but with the oil, it quickly became one of the world's major cities. It's now transformed into a city where the rich and powerful are living.
Mmm~ something was strange. At the first landing, the size of this airport surprised me very much. It was too large, no, huge it was! I had to walk to the transfer gate, that was too far. It made me walk sooo long, I remember. The ceiling of the terminal building was so high and palm trees were lined on the both sides of the passageway as if they were a row of trees.
I have no choice of the words specifically how to express, it was sparkling or not!?!? It looked like a grown-up's taste!?!?
A poor man's prejudice?
The 202nd Episode : That's Mr. OS for me!
[June, 2009 Conakry, Guinea]
All the schedule in Guinea was over and the time had come to leave. This time should be with smooth... Not so fast again...
As usual, there was no problem with the baggage inspection and boarding procedure at the counter of the air company. Next was the inspection for carry-on bag. The officers' attitude turned the switch of the time bomb ON. I put my carry-on bag onto the belt conveyor for the X-ray inspection. The same was done on my body. Nothing was ever supposed to happen. I tried to pick up my bag and go forwards. Then an officer said me "wait a minute". "What? Nothing to do, was it?" I said. He sneered and said "money". Did he want to mess around again?
Money? For what? In Ghana, they were so carefree that they required it for lunch. Well, what answer did I get? I was waiting for his answer as if I enjoyed a game, then his answer was "for a handling charge". What? Handling charge!? I'd never heard it was required at this spot. What did he handle? Their job for the boarding procedure was the normal task and no special charge was to be required. I had no money, even a penny, to be paid you!
Repeated arguments and counter arguments began again as ever. However the next scene was not as ever but the first experience for me. I was surrounded by a couple of guys and they forced to put their hands into the pockets of my jeans. Oh man, it was bad!!! It wasn't so much but I had some notes there. All was picked up by them. "Give me back", "No", "Give me back", "No", arguments again that no doubt. My god, they were quite stubborn. I guessed the total amount was about US$10.00 and little time I had... I was almost about to give it up like the Venezuelan event and then a good idea's flashed in my mind.
OK, I got it now. But tell me the total amount you picked up from my pockets. I had to report to 'Mr. S' how much handling charge I paid from our company's expense. Before I finished or even finish my words their expressions changed and they murmured in a small voice.
Mr. S?... They looked one another and began to return the money to me and said "please go ahead". Now it was my turn to smile wickedly. They I glared at them and left.
I said only Mr. S (last name) without saying O (first name), so they might misunderstand that was elder brother, the minister of education. I was committed a metal mould from OS, when I left Japan. I needed documents describing the details of the products he didn't give it. I called OS to to ask the details to make out documents. He told me the outline and he said and laughed that you can tell them my name, S, if you had any trouble. I thought it was stupid, but was true! Mr. OS was a man to be feared, or was it his elder brother?
The 201st Episode : Tough reality
[June, 2009 Conakry, Guinea]
Sorry but Guinea was one of the poorest areas, where I'd ever visited. The gap between rich and poor is obvious just looking around the city. Shabbily dressed children in a vacant land next to a mansion, where they were sharing to eat some kind of foods. Boys were playing football in a square. But not all of them were wearing shoes.
Even a little child was selling flowers, bread, vegetables, fruits, paper, daily necessaries... etc. on the street side. Some young women sellers were carrying babies on their backs and carry loads on their heads. The young children on the backs would have to live in such a tough society in future. The young playing djembe and dancing in the last column would be wealthy or middle class!? I appreciate again being born in Japan.
The region known as Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and other part of West Africa, is considered the poorest region in the world. It is, however, true that still tougher places exist than this region.
