It took me a week to pack. Partially due to excitement-induced paranoia that I'd leave something important behind, and partially because I had to vacate the house I have lived in for the past year, so everything had to be sorted.
Hauling my humongous bag into the back of Ian's car, I was desperately hoping that it would be under the 30kg limit... it certainly didn't feel like it! Here I was, finally about to make my way out to South Africa for the second time in my life, but this time I would be gone a total of two months and four days. The thought made me queasy. Over two months away from my beloved Ian! But two awesome months studying the majestic, awe-inspiring beast known as the Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias)... sorry, my inner science geek coming through there!
As the signs for terminal one loomed above me in the car, I unexpectedly burst into tears. I'm not usually a soppy type at all, but I think the thought of coming out of my precious little 'Leeds bubble' caught me off guard and the tears began to flow. Once in the terminal, a drink and a croissant with Ian managed to calm me down. We sat and chatted for about an hour and a half, before the time came that I had to head to security to wait for my plane. As Ian turned to hug me goodbye, I couldn't help it... I was full-on sobbing! Feeling sad, extremely embarrassed and worried about the adventure I had in front of me, I eventually had to let go and head into the bag-checking area with the bravest face I could muster. I knew my eyes looked red, and I was extremely jittery, and so was very surprised when I wasn't pulled aside for extra security checks!
In the waiting area I found some comfort in reading the only book I had managed to bring with me: The Hobbit. I could totally sympathise with Bilbo as Gandalf and the dwarves tore him out of his comfy little hobbit-hole off to fight a dragon.
The plane was fantastic! I've never flown with Emirates before, but the food, entertainment and comfort was lovely. By the time I was at Dubai airport, I felt well-fed and ready for the mini-adventure that was finding the correct departure gate! Powering through the airport along the travelators, sweating from the heat and stress (Side note: I don't think I'll ever live in Dubai, far too hot! Midnight and 30 degrees!!!) I eventually reached the end of the terminal, where my gate was. More waiting around and reading The Hobbit. Dubai airport reminded me of a clean and less-hostile version of Mos-Eisley Spaceport. The range of races, colours and religions all packed into one building was fascinating!
So, it was time for my final flight. The flight was nothing exceptional, except that coming in to land in Cape Town, I was surprised at how green it was. I realised it was winter in these parts, but the majority of Africa I had seen from the plane window, even south of the equator, had been a sandy brown colour. Struck by the beauty of this part of the world, I was now ready to face the adventure in front of me.
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