From Hong Kong To South Africa: A 20-Hour Journey Across Continents

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Mail
• Link

Leaving Hong Kong

This is it! I was leaving Asia and all the Theme Parks behind! I was successful in cpmpleting the 2 Disney Parks and 1 Universal Park in Japan, and now one Disney park in Hong Kong. I felt I did almost everything I wanted to do in the short time I was in those destinations, and now comes Africa, a part of the trip that was not as planned, and was full of uncertainty. I was leaving behind some of the safest places on Earth, to go to one country very recognized for its high crime. But as a Latinamerican myself, I was not going to let that stop me from getting to know not only a new country, but a new culture and new places (and hopefull new food).

One of the constraints of this Round The World trip was about to happen, and it was leaving Hong Kong Disneyland after its fireworks, and then going to the airport before my flight right before midnight. Fortunately, the airport is only a few minutes away from the park, and after rushing from the castle to the Uber pick up spot, I called the Uber and it picked me up right away.

I got to the airport with an hour to spare, and fast-walked to my gate.

I got to the gate, and boarding was not going to start anytime soon, so I decided to explore the airport and get some supplies for my 11 hour flight like water, food. I also needed to buy a nail cutter and a sleep mask (I lost mine on the train to Osaka ugh). Starbucks was closing soon, so I got the food from there (including a sandwich, orange juice and decaf mocha). And then for the sleeping mask and the nail cutter I googled stores in this terminal, and I saw a TripAdvisor store. I needed to see it. I got all I needed from there, including a souvenir for my family, and went back to my gate.

Boarding done… 11 hours to go

I had not been in Africa since 2016 when I went to Egypt. 7 long years that was owing a visit to this fabolous continent, but I was and am confident that I will visit it more often now. My flight of 11 hours was through Ethiopian Airlines landing in Addis Ababa, waiting a couple of hours and then flying 6 more hours to Cape Town.

On my way to Addis Ababa

The flight boarded very smoothly, and even though it was a very odd route, the flight was full. It seemed like a connection between many countries in Asia and Africa. Right after midnight the plane took off and when we reached the proper height, the dinner was served.

After taking my Melatonin and covering my eyes, I fell asleep and woke up a few hours later.

The sun was finally catching up on this Western bound flight. A couple of sandwiches were served as breakfast, as we approached Ethiopia. The rest of my flight I just saw some donwloaded YouTube videos and played my favorite offline/cellphone game: Two Dots.

Addis Ababa airport

We finally arrived to Addis Ababa, and the whole thing was messy. After getting off the plane, everyone had to get in line for a security check, and I was like, we just got off a plane, why checking right away again? People were cutting in line and it moved very slowly, but finally made it through and was in the international connections terminal. I had a visa to enter Ethiopia, but after that I just decided to stay in the airport. I did not have time now to pass immigration, go into the city, explore and come back. I just felt that specifically in this airport that task was going to be impossible.

Now that I found my gate it was time to explore the terminal in these few hours that I had. I was surprised there were not coffee stores, and instead they had a couple of full breakfast restaurants that were expensive even for airports.

I was tempted to go in one of those, but I prefered just to eat the sandwiches I still had from the previous night. After a couple of hours we finally boarded the plane to Cape Town.

While waiting to take off, I witnessed something hilarious. The guys in charge of the luggage dropped a few suitcases. They did not even noticed until someone called them and had to pick them up.

People on my plane were laughing at the situation, and this is why I do not flight with checked baggage in almost a decade. And everytime they try to put my carry on in the hold, I fight against it.

Final flight: Getting to Cape Town

Taxi hour, and you could tell this airport was the HUB for Ethiopian Airlines, the Bole International Airport.

We took off and was able to see Addis Ababa from the plane. Now I was kind of sad I missed exploring a new city, but the connection time had been made short since before the flight when Ethiopian Airlines changed both flights.

A few minutes later we passed by what it seems like Mount Ziquala, an extinct volcano to the south of Addis Ababa. And yeah, by the way, I was about to cross the Equator once again. It had been some time since I did not do that.

I was not expecting food on this flight, but I was glad we got some, and it looked very filling. I finally got a coffee with it.

As we went more into the south the scenary changed quickly from green, to desertic, to green again.

Table Mountain sneak peek

And it was green again because we were seeing the southwest part of South Africa, where Cape Town was located.

I had not even landed yet on Cape Town and I had already seen what I came to see: The Table Mountain, one of the New Nature Wonders of The World. And all that in the background of two major oceans meeting: The Atlantic and the Indian oceans.

I was so excited seeing Table Mountain that I was forgot we were about to land and do all the immigration process.

We landed and I was officially in my country #75: South Africa. The views from above made me anxious to go and explore, but I needed to pass immigration still. Fortunately, the line was not too long, especially the one for tourists. It seems like many of the people coming on that flight were nationals from South Africa and did another line.

I finally got out the airport and call an Uber that would take me to my hotel.

I could see the Table Mountain from here, but my plan was to see it the next day. But it had to change when I finally met my hotel host…

TO BE CONTINUED…