“She is free in her wildness, she is a wanderess, a drop of free water. She knows nothing of borders and cares nothing for rules or customs. ‘Time’ for her isn’t something to fight against. Her life flows clean, with passion, like fresh water.”

From finishing all training I wait in anticipation for the roller coaster of flying to start.

First briefing and uniforms were handed and London bound was the first flight as mentioned.

The journey was just too good. In Europe I was able to trolley around my cabin bag in countries like Paris, Madrid, Italy, Rome, United Kingdom, Amsterdam to mention a few. The lifestyle at some point was full of fun and enjoyment but with time I got home sick – weekends I was working and weekdays i came home and travelled again.

On arrival at JKIA from a night flight I would call my mum and ask her  to make me a hot breakfast composed of a piping hot mug of masala tea and masala puris with my favourite accompanist:  pickles, yummy!! Like all mothers would do, she would keep it ready for me. Reaching home, I’d have breakfast, shower, unpack the bags for laundry and sleep.

With the flying I did, I saw life at a different angle which unfolded the reason for life in travel and I found myself a happy bunny and did things to make myself happy and also the rest that mattered in life.

Borders of countries did not stop me from wandering and exploring the best of travel life. Like the saying do like the romans when in Rome, I tried various local cuisines, shopped in the high streets, danced away enjoying the night life of each and every country I visited. As a result the passion to continue the journey was just developing, to quench the thirst was just the beginning for more and more to come.

Due to the nature of my work, the communication gap with my friends became bigger and drifted away with time. Luckily I make friends with ease and indeed made very good male and female friends in this journey. I now have friends from the travel industry itself who are in the security department , cargo department and also ground staff from famous airlines like Emirates, Malaysian airlines, Singapore airline and many to name.

The dream was about to come to an end when I heard rumours from fellow crew members when having breakfast that the airline was closing due to financial constrains in maintaining the air crafts and the airline as a whole. The day I heard the rumour I wandered while being on duty and serving passengers as to  how an airline would close down yet the flights were fully booked to the destinations I flew with almost zero empty seats. I got home and shared the news and did the usual, only to wake and hear the news was true to core and East African Safari Air has ceased operations.  Suddenly the phone rang and I skipped a heart beat not knowing who was calling, the number was from the head office and all the staff were asked to report to get a briefing the next day with all the property that belonged to the airline.

With a long face I went to the head office only to see people gathered in the ground area near one of the offices. All the crew was standing and waiting to be told what was happening. The briefing from the operations manager was given with the presence of the directors and managers and in no time letters went handed over and a few selected crew were asked to stay back to maybe handle office work or not sure what else they would have done.

I left the premises of the airline with tears and heartbroken to head home.