african time
post by scott
With tears in our eyes we eventually had to say goodbye to Zanzibar and get on a roundabout (via Ethiopia - which is the completely opposite direction..) flight back to South Africa. Departure time was 3am so in the usual custom we arrived to the above international airport a few hours early. Alarmingly, the place was deserted with the exception of a sleepy security guard who assured us we were indeed in the right place to catch a plane. Over the next hour a handful of other passengers trickled in and we sat around on plastic chairs wondering what the hell was going on - still no sign of any check in staff, baggage handlers, pilots, etc. Just after 2am the place kicked into high gear with two men in yellow vests arriving to operate the baggage scales and write out our boarding tickets. First step complete. We led the other passengers across the room to the immigration desk, which was still unmanned. Not to worry though, there was no sign of life on the tarmac yet so no chance we'll be keeping the pilots waiting. As we waited a queue of the remaining passengers formed behind us. The clock ticked.. 2.30am... 2.40am... It's a pretty relaxed place but I'm thinking you still probably have to go through immigration to leave the country? 2.45am... The guard at the security check has now arrived and is waiting for us. He is less patient than us polite westerners and so comes over to investigate. He looks through the glass at the unattended immigration counter. He raps on the glass and shouts in the direction of the door behind the glass where we are expecting an officer to rush through apologetically any moment now. Noone comes through the door... Instead, a head levitates like magic up from behind the long desk. The face is bleary eyed and wears a wry smile. It also turns out to be attached to a body which uncrumples from its recumbent pose across the floor and stands upright behind the counter. Stunned silence on our behalf... "Papers please"........ The guy had been sleeping the whole time! Hidden from view behind his desk and glass pane, the whole group of passengers had been lined up waiting while this guy snoozed away blissfully unaware!! Meanwhile the clock had needled its way disturbingly close to 3am. Not to worry though, it turns out the departure was scheduled for 3am African time.