Some weeks ago, I explored the option of purchasing an e-visa to enter Kenya. I thought I was on the Kenya Government website, but the price of the visa was more than twice what it would be at the airport. At the airport, I pay $50 for a visitor visa. On-line, they were asking $109. Furthermore, the charge was being routed via Spain! At that point, my credit card fraud watch called me, and that was the end of that transaction.
So, when I arrived at Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi the other night after an eight-hour flight from London, I was prepared to queue. Unfortunately, there was a family at the front of my line, and it took about 45 minutes to process them. After that, the queue continued to move slowly, and so having arrived at 9:00 pm, it was about 10:30 before I had my visa and moved on to collect my luggage. I figured after all that waiting my luggage would be waiting for me. Wrong again!
I checked all the bags on and off the carousel, but none of them were mine. I had a red bag and a purple bag, pretty distinctive. So, after some searching, I headed for the Lost Luggage desk. There was a queue there as well, and it was not moving at all. I chatted with a Kenyan lady would was missing one of her cases. Suddenly the carousel started to move again, and more bags appeared. We went over to look, and happily we both found all our suitcases. With some significant relief, I loaded up my trolley and headed for Customs. No one stopped me, so I pushed on through.
Now I need to explain that even though I had a mobile phone with me, I did not have a SIM card that would function in the phone. The one from England didn’t work here, and I wasn’t quite sure where my US one was. So, I had no contact with the driver that was supposed to be collecting me.
So, when I and my luggage came out of the airport, I was disappointed to find no one that I knew. I went all along the row of expectant people, down to the parking area, back up again and into the coffee shop. No driver! Well, that was okay, I just needed to get some Kenyan Shillings and I would hire a taxi. I knew where I was going, after all.
I went back into the airport to the ATM machines and proceeded to open my handbag to get out my purse with my credit cards. It wasn’t there – the purse, I mean. I hunted carefully in every place I could think of. No purse. I decided it must have fallen out of my bag on the plane. So, I rushed back to the Lost Luggage counter and interrupted someone to explain about my purse. The woman kindly sent someone to call and inquire while I stood around and waited. I did meet two other ladies from Knoxville, TN who had lost one bag and had a miserable experience traveling. I took the opportunity to leave my trolley in their care while I visited the ladies’ room and changed some money, which I had in my travel pouch around my waist. So, at least I had money to pay for a taxi.
After another half an hour, the lady asked if I had had news about my purse. I said, “No” and she went to check. Nothing had been reported, nothing turned in, nothing found. By this time, the plane has left again for London.
A guy had offered to get a taxi for me, and while I waited for news, he chatted sympathetically. He assured me he would make sure I got to where I was staying.
The lady went to check again, but still nothing had been found. She wanted me to go to the BA office in a different terminal. By this time, I’m planning to cancel all my credit cards, which is unfortunate since I’m going to be in Kenya for two months! Thankfully, I didn’t have a lot of cash there, but I did have my driver’s license and the SIM card for my phone in the US. UGH!
The helpful taxi guy took me to a car and rode with us to the terminal so I could see the BA office manager. There was nothing she could do, so eventually I left and got to the guesthouse about 12:30 am. I spent the next hour phoning banks to cancel credit cards. I hope I got them all. I fell into bed about 1:30 and was up at 7:00 for breakfast at 7:30. Needless to say, I took a nap that day!
Instead of driving to do my shopping, I got to hike. A colleague kindly accompanied me to help carry things back. I was footsore and knee sore, but grateful at the end of it all. I’m supplied for a bit. I still have a little money left and I have a working cell phone again. However, I have to say, it was the WORST arrival I have ever had in ANY country!
So, when I arrived at Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi the other night after an eight-hour flight from London, I was prepared to queue. Unfortunately, there was a family at the front of my line, and it took about 45 minutes to process them. After that, the queue continued to move slowly, and so having arrived at 9:00 pm, it was about 10:30 before I had my visa and moved on to collect my luggage. I figured after all that waiting my luggage would be waiting for me. Wrong again!
I checked all the bags on and off the carousel, but none of them were mine. I had a red bag and a purple bag, pretty distinctive. So, after some searching, I headed for the Lost Luggage desk. There was a queue there as well, and it was not moving at all. I chatted with a Kenyan lady would was missing one of her cases. Suddenly the carousel started to move again, and more bags appeared. We went over to look, and happily we both found all our suitcases. With some significant relief, I loaded up my trolley and headed for Customs. No one stopped me, so I pushed on through.
Now I need to explain that even though I had a mobile phone with me, I did not have a SIM card that would function in the phone. The one from England didn’t work here, and I wasn’t quite sure where my US one was. So, I had no contact with the driver that was supposed to be collecting me.
So, when I and my luggage came out of the airport, I was disappointed to find no one that I knew. I went all along the row of expectant people, down to the parking area, back up again and into the coffee shop. No driver! Well, that was okay, I just needed to get some Kenyan Shillings and I would hire a taxi. I knew where I was going, after all.
I went back into the airport to the ATM machines and proceeded to open my handbag to get out my purse with my credit cards. It wasn’t there – the purse, I mean. I hunted carefully in every place I could think of. No purse. I decided it must have fallen out of my bag on the plane. So, I rushed back to the Lost Luggage counter and interrupted someone to explain about my purse. The woman kindly sent someone to call and inquire while I stood around and waited. I did meet two other ladies from Knoxville, TN who had lost one bag and had a miserable experience traveling. I took the opportunity to leave my trolley in their care while I visited the ladies’ room and changed some money, which I had in my travel pouch around my waist. So, at least I had money to pay for a taxi.
After another half an hour, the lady asked if I had had news about my purse. I said, “No” and she went to check. Nothing had been reported, nothing turned in, nothing found. By this time, the plane has left again for London.
A guy had offered to get a taxi for me, and while I waited for news, he chatted sympathetically. He assured me he would make sure I got to where I was staying.
The lady went to check again, but still nothing had been found. She wanted me to go to the BA office in a different terminal. By this time, I’m planning to cancel all my credit cards, which is unfortunate since I’m going to be in Kenya for two months! Thankfully, I didn’t have a lot of cash there, but I did have my driver’s license and the SIM card for my phone in the US. UGH!
The helpful taxi guy took me to a car and rode with us to the terminal so I could see the BA office manager. There was nothing she could do, so eventually I left and got to the guesthouse about 12:30 am. I spent the next hour phoning banks to cancel credit cards. I hope I got them all. I fell into bed about 1:30 and was up at 7:00 for breakfast at 7:30. Needless to say, I took a nap that day!
Instead of driving to do my shopping, I got to hike. A colleague kindly accompanied me to help carry things back. I was footsore and knee sore, but grateful at the end of it all. I’m supplied for a bit. I still have a little money left and I have a working cell phone again. However, I have to say, it was the WORST arrival I have ever had in ANY country!
RSS Feed