It seems that just as I am about to leave a country, something happens to remind me I am not at all in control of things. July 1, the day before I was to fly home, the Cambodian People Party held political rallies in preparation for the July 23 elections in Cambodia. There were miles and miles of people on motorbikes wearing blue, waving Cambodian flags, with loudspeakers, music and of course lots of armed security guards all over the streets. There were numerous parades of people throughout Phnom Penh starting at 4:00 am and going to around 9:00 pm from now until the elections. The political rallies have been criticised as a sham as the Cambodian People Party is the only party running, as the main opposition party was prevented from running and dissolved in 2017 over an alleged coup attempt, with scores of its members imprisoned or exiled and civil dissent crushed So, July 2 I made an extra early trip to the airport to avoid being caught up in traffic jams and security surrounding the rallies. After 13 hours of sitting in airports waiting for flights and 16 hours flying time, I arrived home at 1:30 am. I left Cambodia on July 2, and arrived home July 2 - the miracle of travel. I flew from Phnom Penh to Taiwan with no problems, and from Taiwan to Vancouver with no problems. And then I came to the Vancouver Airport. I went through Customs, picked up my luggage and looked for my gate to get to Nanaimo. There was no indication of what to do with my 70 lbs of luggage. I asked an Air Canada person, and they thought maybe I could try the bag dropoff at one place. No, not the correct one. They suggested I try another place. That was the one. Signage would have been helpful. Then, going through security. The line up snaked back and forth for a very long way. Going through security, the staff was stressed and snippy. My tray was pulled over because although my computer was taken out and on the tray, I didn’t remove the protective covering. That meant another wait in line for someone to check my computer and give me a reprimand. Then, to the gate for my 10:10 pm flight to Nanaimo. Delay for 1 hour - there were no flight attendants or pilot available for the flight. Finally, a flight attendant showed up, but another 1 hour delay as we waited for a pilot. A 2 hour delay for a 12 minute flight. I’m not sure how Asia is able to manage air travel, but yet Canada has such problems. I have been back for 2 days, and as anyone who has travelled, it seems like I never left. For a brief time, I feel like I was plucked out of one reality by one of the machines that picks up a toy with a claw, and then dropped in another totally different reality. I love the stimulation and challenges of travel, but it is also great to be home doing mundane things like laundry and dishes…at least for a while. Thanks for following along on my mini adventure.
5 Comments
Sherrill Robertson
7/6/2023 02:44:57 pm
Glad to hear you're home safe and sound despite the last minute distractions... There's something to be said about the mundane tasks of everyday life. Enjoy being home!
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Janet K
7/6/2023 04:20:37 pm
Welcome home Bernice! Looking forward to hearing all about your adventures in person!
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Jan R
7/6/2023 10:23:25 pm
Welcome home!! Hoping to see you soon.
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7/6/2023 10:32:49 pm
Wow! That’s quite a way to exit Cambodia and a ridiculous long wait in Canada. Welcome back! I look forward to hearing about your adventures. Sometimes mundane can be peaceful. 😉😚
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Heather
7/7/2023 04:34:36 pm
Glad to hear you’re home safe.
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BerniceAfter being retired for 4 years, an opportunity came up to go back to the Canadian International School Phnom Penh, where I had worked for 2 years before retiring. Of course, I jumped at the chance. Here is where I will be posting the everyday and often mundane events of going back to work and going back to Cambodia! Archives
April 2023
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