Gaelle And Henry

Last week I had the pleasure of getting to know Gaelle and Henry two tourists from Wallis and Futuna visiting Kiribati. Thanks to them I have discovered that Wallis and Futuna is a French overseas collectivity, it seems that I am worse in geography than I thought.



This nice couple was blocked on the island because there was a hole on the airport runway and no plane could land as long as the runway wasn’t fixed. The problem is that there are only 2 flights a week-end between Fiji and Tarawa and there is even less flight between Fiji and Wallis (one a week). Moreover Air Kiribati which is in charge of the runway was forbidding planes to land, the planes from Air Fiji couldn’t come to the island anymore and the couple had to take a flight from Air Calin to Wallis; who was responsible for what? As long as they were in Tarawa, Air Kiribati would take care of their accommodation but once in Fiji who would pay for the hotel bill as they were waiting for their flight with Air Calin? As Air Kiribati only flies to Kiribati’s islands, they have no office in Fiji for my Wallisian friends to go ask questions. Of course other people were blocked on the island but their bill would be paid by their companies as they were not tourists.



Gaelle is one of the 5 physiotherapists of Wallis and Henry is a teacher at the agricultural high school. He used to be a farmer and travelled a lot in Africa as a French aid worker, they met in Chad were she was working for an ONG. We spent the week talking about the different things we have seen in the world, it was great to share experiences. I didn’t ask them why they decided to settle down in Wallis after so many travels, maybe they needed to be in a quiet place after seeing so much of the world. I wonder if it is a feeling I will have when I stop travelling.
The runway was finally available a full week after being broken and they went to Fiji to wait for their next flight. I have to admit: waiting for a plane in Fiji is much better than waiting for a plane in Kiribati.


La suite!

Up In The Air

Here is what i wrote while i was in Los Angeles.
I am in Los Angeles, it is 3h15 AM in Paris and 6h15 PM here if I am not mistaken. I am patiently waiting for the boarding time for my flight.



When I exited the plane, I told myself that even if I had 6 hours to wait I could do it at the Air France lounge. There is Internet, there are drinks and there is food, I could wait there. I went to get my ticket for my flight to Fiji and the one to Kiribati and I found out that Air Pacific the company I was supposed to take was not located in the same terminal as Air France. Goodbye Air France lounge and hello waiting area, I couldn't get miles benefit from the flights from Los Angeles to Nadi and Nadi to Tarawa and to top it all I had to wait in the cold with an empty stomach. I usually take the opportunity of being in Los Angeles to enjoy a good whopper at Burger King as there are none in France but there is no Burger King in the other Terminal.



After doing the check in I went through the customs and found a panel displaying the location of the skyteam lounge on the superior level. So there was hope after all, I wouldn't have to be bored out of my skull. The lounge door didn't open as I stepped in front of them, a woman behind a desk looked at me and said that the lounge wouldn't open before 7h30, my flight was boarding at 8h30. When she saw I was disappointed by the news she asked me if I had a priority car, I flash I platinum card, she looked at it and repeated that the lounge wouldn't open before 7h30. What kind of airport lounge is not open as long as the airport is open?



I am now seated close to the gate where my flight will depart in a little less than 5 hours, I am BORED. I try not to use my electronic devices this way they will still have battery during the 2 flights I have to take to get to my destination. I have to be strong, I will get there Tuesday at 3h00 AM Paris time and I left France Sunday at 1h30 PM, now that's what I call a trip!


La suite!