Last update: 05th of January 2004
Jambo - Kenya
Kenya 2003
In the last week of November one day my mobile rings. Ah, Tanja terminated her language course and wants now to go with me for lunch. Instead of of this I heared the question: "how much days of vacation do you have actually left for this year?"
Good question, fast my planner checked and 7 days remaining found.
"Why do you ask?"
"I found an offer here in the old part of town in a travel agency, one week Kenya with 2 days Safari for a superb price."
That was the beginning. In the evening we examined then the prospect of the African Safari Club and, because I had stress at work in the last weeks and months, we decided to book the short vacation. Probably also the argument, they have their own airplane, we do not fly with Lauda air.
That was,of course, an argument.
Thus fast booked, we could still book the last two places in the Economy class.
Was there only the problem with the camera. After our vacation to the Netherlands a few little things at the camera were to be fixed, therefore I had delivered it 2 weeks ago for repair to Minolta and that was not finished yet. The photo dealer has inquired himself with Minolta in Vienna however, no chance, everything in sequence and my camera would only cope in the week, in which we are in Kenya. Sch...
Without camera to Kenya, never ever. Thus researched, what was applicable as inexpensive temporary solution. The new Minolta Z1 would have been ideal, there the filters and the Telekonverter fit, and an ens with an equivalent of 380 mm would be perfect for a Fotosafari. Problem was only the kind of the memory cards, an adapter onto CF cards was nowhere available and the SD card does not fits into my image tank.
Thus after other alternatives looked, but either the filter threads does not fit or the memory cards were not compatible.
My face became ever longer.
The only alternative was the new Minolta Dimage A1, there everything fits, from flashlight to the Telekonverter, but of course the most expensive solution. When the decision was made, fast the net searched for the cheapest price, and really, an offer, which was about 200 Euro below the most favorable in Austria, had come out straight on this day and with Tax free it was then even still cheaper than in Germany.
I will publish here a practice test soon.
Sunday in the afternoon we drove to the airport Vienna Schwechat, the tickets fetched and into the queue at the Counter. Amused we observe a woman in front at the neighbour-counter, which tries convulsively to find or re-sort something in her luggage and bags. She leaves other traveler again and again pass by, in order to go on with their check in. Unfortunately we had to check in soon and could not observe the game for a longer while.
Even the hand baggage was weighed, and only one piece may be taken into the cab. Thus photo and video bag together-fastened, is now one part, Tanja carries forward one of the backpacks now, one we gave to the luggage. Few Kilos too much, but apparent within the tolerance.
Quick something for reading bought, a coffee drunk, a few cigarettes smoked and already is it time for boarding. Some the co-travellers already look completely safarilike, some like a bad Indiana Jones copy. Looks terribly well in Vienna with 2.5 degrees of outside temperature.
The first intermediate stop is in Milan, where the travelers, who flew back from Mombassa to Italy, would step out and new travelers join. Since that lasts approximately 2 hours, we have to move into the transit area of the airport.
Over bent ways in the airport, passing by a detector portal, we reach the transit area with all its home leagues charm. At least we will not starve to death, a sales shop offers for sale all necessary food. About the prices I do not want to complain here, the Sandwiches were probably delivered by a four-star restaurant.
An enormous deficiency appears here. Everywhere smoking is prohibited. On the whole airport.
Somehow amusingly, one feels carried back to its school time, if one creeps on the toilet for smoking.
Was then nevertheless sometimes too stupid me. Gesture and word-rich I succeeded to persuade the Karabinieri to leave me out of the transit area so that I could smoke a cigarette in peace. Together with me still 2 further travelers came. In cold weather we enjoyed our Cigarettes and made ourselves on the way back.
To all abundance again by a detector, the waistcoat has to pass by the transillumination. That the custom officers probably never had seen before, it meant, I was had to unpack the waistcoat, so that one can see, what was in the pockets.
Storm lighter, spare lighter, folding eyeglasses, handkerchiefs, documents of identification, car key, chewing gum, sweets, nicotine plaster for the far flight, handkerchiefs, cigarettes, Zigarillos, Palmtop, etc.. Everything which one needs on the way and into the many bags of a waistcoat for trecking fits.
Subsequently, again into transit-area, where some travelers are drawn by the nicotine withdrawal already and also the Indiana Jones for poors runs around nervously. Some enjoy the beer and also liquor, which was carried forward obviously as gift, would never arrive the destination in a bottle.
Finally it goes on. I placed fast the nicotine plasters, so that I can enjoy the remaining 7 hours flight.
The flight was actually completely cosy, I rather slept well.
© Ulrich Hoffmann 2004